Many myths persist in US history, but never fear, author Christy Mihaly is here with a super new book for this year’s 250th anniversary! I can attest, it’s a fascinating read chock full of info delivered with great voice and engaging graphics to capture any reader. GIVEAWAY! Leave a comment below for a chance to … More #AmericanRevolution250: “Exploring What Really Happened” by Christy Mihaly
Have you ever stood in a historical spot and let yourself imagine the people and happenings there? There is truly something special about being in a place “where it happened.” In this post, author Jennifer Robin Barr takes us to three lesser known historical sites in Philadelphia that have a role in her newest book … More #AmericanRevolution250: “Spotlight Philadelphia” by Jennifer Robin Barr
Like me, author Gretchen Woelfle enjoys digging into untold stories from the revolutionary era. Here she shares some of the people whose stories have the power to widen our understanding of the American Revolution. SPECIAL GIVEAWAY FOR EDUCATORS! Leave a comment below to get into the drawing for a copy of ANSWERING THE CRY FOR … More #AmericanRevolution250: “Chasing Liberty in Michigan” by Gretchen Woelfle
Writing about current technology presents the challenge of how to keep up with ever-changing information. In this post, author Elaine Kachala puts the future in the hands of students with capable imaginations and critical thinking skills. GIVEAWAY! Leave a comment below for a chance to win a copy of BUILDING HOMES FOR ALL by Elaine … More Especially for Educators: “What To Do When the Information Keeps Changing” by Elaine Kachala
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
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
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
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
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
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
Beth Anderson, Children's Writer 