Inkygirl

“I hope young readers walk away with the knowledge that their voice matters!” Chrystal D. Giles on Her Debut MG Novel TAKE BACK THE BLOCK

Feb 3, 2021

By Sara Truuvert When I reached out to Chrystal D. Giles back in November 2020, the excitement around Take Back the Block was already palpable. A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection and Kids’ IndieNext Pick, the novel has garnered praise from numerous authors and a starred review from School Library Journal. Take Back the Block follows Wes, a funny, stylish sixth-grader whose main . . .

Video interview with Basil & Kevin Sylvester about THE FABULOUS ZED WATSON!, which launches TODAY

Jan 26, 2021

I am thrilled to be interviewing Basil Sylvester and Kevin Sylvester about their new middle grade book, THE FABULOUS ZED WATSON!, which launches *today* from HarperCollins. You can attend the virtual launch party tomorrow (Jan.27) courtesy Glad Day Bookshop and HarperCollinsCanada: see the Facebook Event Page and Glad Day Lit TV page. Excerpt from the Quill and . . .

Ghosts, Rootwork, and Fostering Empathy from an Early Age: Eden Royce Discusses Her Debut MG Novel ROOT MAGIC

Jan 8, 2021

By Sara Truuvert How do you teach children about intolerance? How do you teach them about death? How do you introduce to them a culture with which they may not be familiar? You turn to books like Root Magic, the MG debut of author Eden Royce. Hailed as “spellbinding”, “necessary”, and a “must-read”, Root . . .

Happy New Year! Chance for a fresh start….

Jan 1, 2021

Happy New Year, all! Not making any New Year’s Resolutions. Things went VERY wonky last year, but I’m heading into this fresh, shiny new year with cautious optimism. How about you?

Humor in children’s books, animated GIFs for you to use, Happy Holidays!

Dec 24, 2020

(Note: feel free to use my GIPHY animations in your blog posts, too!) I find that I always hesitate a bit whenever I hear the phrase, “How are you doing?” There’s part of me that feels like answering, “Pandemic-fine.” Because like many others out there, I have behind-the-scenes stresses going . . .

Author Shelli R. Johannes, with Co-Author Kimberly Derting and Illustrator Joelle Murray, on LIBBY LOVES SCIENCE: MIX AND MEASURE

Dec 9, 2020

By Sara Truuvert “My daughter said she wasn’t going to science camp because ‘science was for boys.’” Shelli R. Johannes had never written a picture book when she heard her daughter’s stance on science, but it sparked the idea that she, with co-author and friend Kimberly Derting, would turn into the Loves Science series. Libby . . .

Self-Doubt, Advice for Young Writers, and the Surprising Link Between Science and Art: Christina Li on Her Debut MG Novel, CLUES TO THE UNIVERSE

Nov 25, 2020

By Sara Truuvert Christina Li likes to keep herself busy. At just 14, she began querying literary agents and at 15 pitched live to her current agent. Now, Christina is making her literary debut with Clues to the Universe, an MG novel she wrote and sold all before beginning her junior year at . . .

For those who are doing NaNoWriMo this year (and for those who aren’t)

Nov 22, 2020

If you are doing NaNoWriMo this year, good luck! Though chances are good you don’t have the time to read this blog post. If you attempted NaNoWriMo and gave up partway through, or avoided doing it at all because you knew you wouldn’t have the time, don’t abandon all hope! . . .

Nosy Pencil Sharpeners, Making Time To Write and More: Three Questions With Erin Dealey (DEAR EARTH…FROM YOUR FRIENDS IN ROOM 5)

Oct 23, 2020

Erin Dealey grew up in Oakland, California, where she often did her homework on the roof of her garage. She has written over a dozen children’s books and dearly hopes her Dear Earth…From Your Friends in Room 5 will find its way to Earth Heroes everywhere. You can find her online at www.erindealey.com and on . . .

Reminder for writers & Illustrators: All the networking/promo in the world can’t help unless you get your book FINISHED first.