“Finding a way in” is one of the challenges for an author. But it was also the challenge for the subject of author Jeanne Walker Harvey’s biography of architect I.M. Pei which focuses on his process of creating a way into the Louvre in Paris. You’ll be fascinated by this story behind the story of … More Behind the Scenes: “Finding a Way into the Story” by Jeanne Walker Harvey
One of the challenges in writing for children is finding a creative way to frame meaning, along with everything else you want to do. In this post, author Ginny Neil shares how she found a structure that would bring home the meaningful hook she wanted to convey. GIVEAWAY! Ginny is giving away a copy of … More Behind the Scenes: “Finding the Magic in Structure” by Ginny Neil
Here’s a post from kid lit friend Teresa Robeson who I was fortunate to meet long ago and far away—before the pandemic, when we were just getting started on this journey. In her latest release about a favorite Chinese holiday, CHING MING, Teresa had to find a way to make a cultural story meaningful to … More Behind the Scenes: “Celebrating Connections” by Teresa Robeson
People often ask authors where book ideas come from. The answers can be wide ranging. While some ideas require tons of research, others are right in front of us. How do you dig into the familiar and see it in new ways, with new eyes? Here, Nancy Castaldo shares how two new books came from … More Behind the Scenes: “Write What You Know” by Nancy Castaldo
Ideas for books are everywhere, and sometimes arise from a question. In this post, author/illustrator Janice Hechter shares her process of gathering information, which ended up stretching her beyond what she’d anticipated. GIVEAWAY! Leave a comment below to get in the drawing for a copy of WHERE ARE THE WOMEN by Janice Hechter. You’ve got … More Behind the Scenes: “Going Off Script” by Janice Hechter
I’m a fan of Selene Castrovilla’s writing…and the ways she finds to tell stories. I know how hard it is to take a snippet of history, dig out the information, and create a story that’s engaging and meaningful! Her new book, GEORGE WASHINGTON’S SPECTACULAR SPECTACLES: THE GLASSES THAT SAVED AMERICA is fabulous! Here Selene shares … More Behind the Scenes: “Telling Your Story” by Selene Castrovilla
I love to hear about how the illustration process happens. I didn’t know about “Easter eggs” in illustrations until I saw the sketches and ideas from Sally Wern Comport for HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT. Indeed, it’s a thing! Here, local critique partner Julie Rowan-Zoch shares some of her own special touches and a bit of … More Behind the Scenes: “Momentos for Momentum” by Julie Rowan-Zoch
One of the great changes in nonfiction for kids is that, unlike the old days with a standard, sterile, informational text format, now we see all kinds of engaging nonfiction, including informational fiction, creative nonfiction, and narratives. Creative approaches broaden understanding by allowing kids to see a familiar topic in new ways, as well as … More Behind the Scenes: “Making Your Book Stand Out in a Crowded Market” by Suzanne Lipshaw
The words “wonder” and “play” make us think of kids. But, guess what? Wonder and play are beneficial for all of us! Here’s how author/illustrator Jami Gigot found an engaging path into story by following the wonder and freeing up her imagination to play with how she saw the real world around her. Giveaway! Jami … More Behind the Scenes: “The Importance of Wonder and Play” by Jami Gigot
Are you considering writing an early reader? Wondering where to start? Here’s an informative post from author Kim Larson on how she took what she learned from a webinar, did her research on the form, and worked her way to a published book. Leave a comment below to get in on the GIVEAWAY for a … More Behind the Scenes: “The Ins and Outs of Writing Early Readers” by Kim Larson
Beth Anderson, Children's Writer 