Welcome to my new blog, which now includes content from many of the blogs I’ve created over the years. You can now also access content via category from this one page instead of having to search for my individual blogs, which were scattered over various platforms and websites.
Part 1 (Larry The Driver) – Part 2 (IL: Carol Stream, Science & Arts Academy, Avoca West, Anderson’s Bookshop) – Part 3 (IL: Peterson Elementary, River Woods, Media Escorts) – Part 4 (NC: Irving Park, New Garden Friends, Scuppernong) – Part 5 (NJ: Lincoln Elementary, Hillside Elementary, Books Bytes & . . .
Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3 – Part 4 “WHERE ARE MY BOOKS?” FINAL STAGES AND LAUNCH When Debbie’s illustrations were nearly finished, she started brainstorming ideas of the cover. Here are just a few: Everyone liked the first idea the best, so that’s the one Debbie developed into a cover. Debbie also needed . . .
Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3 – Part 4 ILLUSTRATING “WHERE ARE MY BOOKS?” Debbie needed to decide what the characters in Where Are My Books? would look like. She decided that the mother would be Asian and the father would be Caucasian: Here are some Debbie’s early sketches for Spencer: Debbie’s art director, Laurent Linn, . . .
Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3 – Part 4 WRITING THE STORY FOR “WHERE ARE MY BOOKS?” Every children’s book author/illustrator has their own method for creating a story. Debbie started with writing only the text. Here is the first version of the story: Here is another version: When Debbie was happy with the . . .
Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3 – Part 4 COMING UP WITH THE IDEA FOR “WHERE ARE MY BOOKS?” Every book starts with an idea, but where does the idea come from? Debbie carries a small notebook around with her all the time, where she can scribble down ideas and sketches whenever inspiration strikes. . . .
Constantly comparing yourself to others can suck joy out of creating. Find your own pace and savor the journey.
I recently received an Apple Watch for my birthday, which I am loving. Not because it keeps me in touch with the digital world — in fact, I’ve turned off notifications for most social media and have decided NOT to check Twitter or FB via my Watch. I mainly plan . . .
For Part 2 of the YOU NEST HERE WITH ME series, please see Three Questions With Jane Yolen. Heidi Stemple didn’t want to be a writer when she grew up. In fact, after she graduated from college, she became a probation officer in Florida. It wasn’t until she was 28 years old . . .
For Part 1 of my YOU NEST HERE WITH ME series, please see Three Questions With Heidi Stemple. Photo: Jason Stemple. I was thrilled to meet Jane Yolen at a recent SCBWI conference, and even more excited when Jane read my f&g of Where Are My Books? and liked it (see photo at the very . . .