Category: Middle Grade

Behind the Scenes Halloween Edition: “Making It Scary Meant Facing My Haunted Past” by Stan Yan

October 31, 2025

Happy Halloween! There’s a lot of scary stuff out there. But there can also be a lot of scary stuff inside oneself! With THE MANY MISFORTUNES OF EUGENIA WANG, amazing author/illustrator Stan Yan faced his fears. Here he shares his process of digging into the personal. GIVEAWAY! Stan is offering a copy of THE MANY … More Behind the Scenes Halloween Edition: “Making It Scary Meant Facing My Haunted Past” by Stan Yan

Especially for Educators: “Creative Collaboration” by Teresa Robeson

July 18, 2025

I was so surprised to learn about author Teresa Robeson’s experience creating DISGUSTOLOGY: THE SCIENCE OF GROSS because it’s the opposite of the usual way authors, illustrators, and publishers work together. And what a great idea to share this collaborative process for use in the classroom to practice communication, creative thinking, and working in partnerships! … More Especially for Educators: “Creative Collaboration” by Teresa Robeson

Behind the Scenes: “Crafting an Enticing Opening in Nonfiction” by Ann McCallum Staats

May 9, 2025

Ah, the HOOK! How can you grab the readers’ attention? Snag their interest? And pull them in to read your work? Hooks are key, but sometimes hard to come up with. Take a read through Ann McCallum’s post to learn four specific ways to create hooks. And then leave a comment to be in the … More Behind the Scenes: “Crafting an Enticing Opening in Nonfiction” by Ann McCallum Staats

Behind the Scenes: “Write What You Know” by Nancy Castaldo

March 14, 2025

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

Behind the Scenes: “Emotions Across Eras: Creating Characters That Connect” by Rosanne Tolin

December 20, 2024

Today we join the virtual book tour for FREEDOM’S GAME with author Rosanne Tolin and hear how a story opened up and a picture book moved into new territory to become a middle grade historical novel. The link for a GIVEAWAY follows the article, with an opportunity for multiple entries to win a signed copy … More Behind the Scenes: “Emotions Across Eras: Creating Characters That Connect” by Rosanne Tolin

Behind the Scenes: “Top 10 Things to Know About Writing a Basic—but Effective—Author Bio for Promotion” by Laura Stegman

May 17, 2024

Sharing your books with the public takes authors and illustrators into a whole new world. So much to think about and so much to learn. In this post, author Laura Stegman share tips for writing an author bio for promotion, an excellent place to start.  GIVEAWAY! Laura is offering a copy of Summer of L.U.C.K. … More Behind the Scenes: “Top 10 Things to Know About Writing a Basic—but Effective—Author Bio for Promotion” by Laura Stegman

Behind the Scenes: “‘Twas a Long Time Coming: A New Look for Benjamin Franklin” by Gretchen Woelfle

October 20, 2023

One look at my bookcase will tell you I’m a fan of Benjamin Franklin. That man was into everything! For a writer, no matter what you want to share about him, there’s the challenge of focus, scope, and finding the best way to tell the story. In this post, author Gretchen Woelfle shares how she … More Behind the Scenes: “‘Twas a Long Time Coming: A New Look for Benjamin Franklin” by Gretchen Woelfle

Mining for Heart: “Making Learning Real in Traditional Expository Nonfiction” by Julie Danneberg

January 21, 2022

Writing expository nonfiction has its own challenges, and finding “heart” may be one of them. Julie Danneberg shares her approach to this genre and how she brings it home to middle grade readers. Her post might send you directly to your closet! Don’t miss Julie’s GIVEAWAY! Leave a comment below for a chance to win … More Mining for Heart: “Making Learning Real in Traditional Expository Nonfiction” by Julie Danneberg

Behind the Scenes: “The Research Roller Coaster” by Kathlyn Kirkwood

January 14, 2022

Even when YOU are part of the story, research can be a challenge. Kathlyn Kirkwood shares a few of the ups and downs she experienced in the research phase of her debut book, AIN’T GONNA LET NOBODY TURN ME ‘ROUND: My Story of the Making of Martin Luther King Day. This middle-grade memoir about her teen … More Behind the Scenes: “The Research Roller Coaster” by Kathlyn Kirkwood

Behind the Scenes: “The Power of Yes!” by Jolene Gutiérrez

November 13, 2020

All it takes is one word to launch you on a new adventure! Jolene Gutiérrez shares how a picture book manuscript grew into a middle grade nonfiction book, and also how she embraced opportunity to stretch herself in the process.  And thank you, Jolene, for offering a copy of your book to one lucky winner! … More Behind the Scenes: “The Power of Yes!” by Jolene Gutiérrez