Category: fiction

Mining for Heart: “Layering & Language- Moving Beyond Autobiography & Into the Universal” by Costantia Manoli

July 29, 2022

TOMATOES IN MY LUNCHBOX hit me right in the heart! It’s truly a special picture book. Here’s a post from author Costantia Manoli all the way from Cyprus in which she shares how she built this story.  GIVEAWAY! Leave a comment below for a chance to win a copy of the book!   Layering and … More Mining for Heart: “Layering & Language- Moving Beyond Autobiography & Into the Universal” by Costantia Manoli

Behind the Scenes: “Building Layers from Life” by Helen Wu

May 13, 2022

This week’s guest blogger, Helen H. Wu, shares how she found the layers in TOFU TAKES TIME. When you write from a personal experience, paying attention to emotions and details can contribute to the creation of a multi-layered story. Helen has a special giveaway, too—a signed bookplate and a limited edition art print! Just leave … More Behind the Scenes: “Building Layers from Life” by Helen Wu

Behind the Scenes: “How to Write a Chapter Book Series” by Christine Evans

March 25, 2022

In today’s post, Christine Evans shares the basics of writing a chapter book series. AND Christine is offering a giveaway! Just leave a comment below for a chance to win a copy of THE WISH THAT GOT AWAY!  Congrats to Robin Brett Wechsler, winner of MAKE WAY FOR ANIMALS by Meeg Pincus! How to Write … More Behind the Scenes: “How to Write a Chapter Book Series” by Christine Evans

Behind the Scenes: “The Dive and Soar of Picture Book Writing” by Brooke Hartman

February 18, 2022

I doubt I’m the only one who has received feedback that a story is “flat.” In this post, Brooke Hartman shares how she enhanced the highs and lows, the dive and soar, to bring emotional impact to the pages of her two upcoming releases.  AND Brooke is offering a fabulous GIVEAWAY: signed copies of her … More Behind the Scenes: “The Dive and Soar of Picture Book Writing” by Brooke Hartman

Behind the Scenes: “From Life to Story: Connecting Cultures” by Harshita Jerath

February 11, 2022

I’ve always been a fan of familiar stories told through other cultures. Harshita Jerath has created a delightful new version of the familiar Gingerbread Man by shifting the setting to India. Here she tells how that idea sprang from real life experiences and her efforts to connect her children to her native land.  Harshita is … More Behind the Scenes: “From Life to Story: Connecting Cultures” by Harshita Jerath

Behind the Scenes: “Connecting to Characters” by Kirsti Call

November 26, 2021

Today I welcome back author Kirsti Call to share a bit about creating COLD TURKEY, her latest picture book. I truly think authors put a bit of themselves in the characters they create. In my case, working with historical figures, I always find a bit of myself in them. That author connection can serve a … More Behind the Scenes: “Connecting to Characters” by Kirsti Call

Behind the Scenes: “Letting Math Tell the Story” by Ann Marie Stephens

October 8, 2021

As an educator, I’ve always favored engaging stories that support curricular areas. So, math stories? YES! A series with chickens AND math? FUN! And math illustrated by the phenomenal Jenn Harney who did “Smelly” Kelly and His Super Senses? OH, YEAH! Thanks to author Ann Marie Stephens for sharing a bit from “behind the scenes” … More Behind the Scenes: “Letting Math Tell the Story” by Ann Marie Stephens

Mining for Heart: “Logline as Lifeline for Whole Whale” by Karen Yin

August 27, 2021

I know too well that loglines can be pure torture. All the essential pieces of story have to be there. I absolutely love Karen Yin’s post about her process using the logline to guide her writing—pure gold! Read on to see how her debut picture book, WHOLE WHALE, came to be. AND don’t miss the … More Mining for Heart: “Logline as Lifeline for Whole Whale” by Karen Yin