Welcome to my blog (scroll down to see individual posts), which was originally on a separate site at Inkygirl.com. I also have a separate Inkygirl newsletter on Substack at debbieohi.substack.com.
Also see: Inkygirl interviews – Resources
?? Also see Debbie’s Main FAQ index: Frequently Asked Questions This is a question I often get asked, so I thought I’d finally write a post about it. Also do check out this excellent post by Naseem Hrab that includes answers from various Canadian publishers. In all the books I’ve . . .
FREE IN-PERSON EVENT: Meet Nancy Pearl, Karen Henry Clark and Sheryl Murray in person on Tuesday, October 11th, 2022, 6:00 pm (PT) at University Book Store in Seattle! More info and RSVP here. Also, retweet this post by Oct. 13, 2023 for a chance to win a copy of the . . .
After decades of being a freelancer, first as a writer (mainly nonfiction) and now as a writer and illustrator, I’ve streamlined some of my business and creative routines. I’m going to start sharing some of these tips in my blog, in case it helps any other creatives out there. In . . .
I’m honoured to have my blog included in the MY PET FEET Virtual Book Tour! I encourage you to visit the other stops along the way so far, including Imagination Soup, Simply 7 on Jena Benton’s blog, Cabin Reads, Librarian’s Quest, Unleashing Readers, Pragmatic Mom and Here Wee Read. Billy . . .
Adriana Hernández Bergstrom is a Cuban-American artist and children’s literature author-illustrator. She enjoys learning languages and lives in Florida. Abuelita and I Make Flan is her debut picture book, and comes out from Charlesbridge on Aug. 9th! I was lucky enough to see an early version of Adriana’s picture book . . .
Congrats to my writing critique partner and friend, Carmella Van Vleet, whose NOTHING IS LITTLE launched from Holiday House Books this week! This middle grade book has already received many accolades, including being a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection. NOTHING IS LITTLE is about 11-year-old Felix, who likes being . . .
Rebecca Gardyn Levington is a children’s book author, poet, and journalist. Her debut picture book BRAINSTORM! (Sleeping Bear Press, 2022, with illustrator Kate Konreif) hits bookshelves August 3rd, 2022 – you can pre-order a personalized, signed copy from her local indie bookstore, Words in Maplewood, NJ. She has four more . . .
Does this happen to anyone else? I hit the 54k wordcount today in my middle grade novel. My original goal was around 50k but my characters won’t let me end the story yet. ? I figure I can let them take over for now since it’s just a first draft; . . .
I’m up to 51,000 words in the first draft of my middle grade! In the home stretch now. If you’re confused about why I’m talking about writing middle grade and not picture books, please see my Perseverance post. Using Linda Sue Park’s #12minutes first-drafting method helped me get going, as . . .
Ah, rejections. It’s part of the business, before and after publication. If you’d like to get straight to the poll results, feel free to browse the original Twitter thread about writer rejections. As someone who has received many rejections over the years, I am well acquainted. In the years I . . .