This post from author Darcy Pattison is a perfect sequel to Colleen Paeff’s post last week. Both authors experienced the power of place as they approached a story. A trip to Poland helped Darcy visualize the life of Copernicus so very long ago to create NIGHT: HOW COPERNICUS MADE THE SUN STAND STILL AND THE … More Behind the Scenes: “The Power of Place to Find Story” by Darcy Pattison
Visiting a place is magical, but authors can’t always do that to research a story. Here’s a fantastic post from author Colleen Paeff on how she landed on the heart of her puffling rescue story in Iceland, along with some tips for how to get a sense of place, people, and the heart of a … More Mining for Heart: “Finding a Story’s Heart in the Place Where it Happened (and How to Get There Without Leaving Home)” by Colleen Paeff
The pandemic a few years ago put us all in the throes of history and pushed thinking in many ways, not only medically, but also regarding human connections. And here we have a children’s book by Zewlan Moor impacted by creative greetings that widened the scope of greetings in the animal world. Giveaway!! Leave a … More Mining for Heart: “Widening the Scope of an Animal Concept Book” by Zewlan Moor
What a treat to share this post from author Omar Abed about the beginning of DEBUG THIS BOOK, a creative story, illustrated by one of my critique partners, the uber creative Julie Rowan Zoch! It was a long time coming, but it’s out in the world June 30! Like Omar did, we all hope that … More Behind the Scenes: “Deconstructing Debug This Book” by Omar Abed
Any kids who fill their pockets with rocks definitely need this book! In this post, Melissa Koch shares the spark that started STONE BY STONE: A ROCK’S JOURNEY THROUGH TIME and how she revised for the heart in this engaging approach. GIVEAWAY! Leave a comment below for a chance to win a copy of STONE … More Mining for Heart: “The Heart of a Story Starts with a Spark” by Melissa Koch
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
In this post, author Jilanne Hoffmann takes us through the submission process for THE OCEAN’S HEART: THE TINY CREATURES ESSENTIAL TO LIFE and the question of what she was willing to change to get this book published. GIVEAWAY! For a chance to win a copy of THE OCEAN’S HEART, leave a comment below after the … More Behind the Scenes: “What Are You Willing to Change?” by Jilanne Hoffmann
We’ve got another revolutionary true story for you! Another example of how children’s books widen understanding, engage all ages, and invite us to consider the range of people who contributed to the American Revolutions and the challenges they faced. GIVEAWAY! For a chance to win a copy of GEORGE WASHINGTON’S ENGINEER: HOW RUFUS PUTNAM WON … More #AmericanRevolution250: “How George Washington’s Engineer Won a Battle Without Firing a Shot” by Darcy Pattison
It’s a nonfiction writer’s worst nightmare! All your research, meticulous questioning, and writing suddenly hit with a sledgehammer of doubt…YIKES! It’s stressful just to think about it! But fortunately author Patricia Newman and her editor found their way through, and even added another layer of “interesting” to a gorgeous book! Fake News? by Patricia Newman … More Behind the Scenes: “Fake News?” by Patricia Newman
Welcome to 2026! I’m kicking off the #AmericanRevolution250 blog series with a cover reveal—your first peek at THE PATRIOTS AND THE POX: GEORGE WASHINGTON’S BATTLE TO SAVE THE CONTINENTAL ARMY, illustrated by Ashley Yazdani, who came up with creative ways to depict disease, contagion, and immunity! Releasing September 29, 2026, it’s up online now! While … More #AmericanRevolution250: Cover Reveal—The Patriots and the Pox by Beth Anderson
Beth Anderson, Children's Writer 