Karen Nespoli Staying motivated as a writer can be hard. I have my fair share of days when pursuing my writing goals is the last thing I want to do. Writing is a journey and there will be times that you may lack the motivation to push past those moments. It is in those moments I try to … Read more
If you are like me, you probably have too many picture book writing ideas and you are not sure which one to write. To tell you the truth, I have a notebook full of ideas, which is a good thing for me. At the opposite end of the spectrum there are writers who are looking … Read more
Maybe the reason why I write badly is this typewriter; it has been in my family for years. Or maybe I am not just not a good writer. Does that sound familiar? The last two stories I have written were not very good, in fact they were BAD! I have been looking for someone or … Read more
Groundhog Day is celebrated every year on February 2. This year my Groundhog Day Celebration was extra special because it was a double Gertie Day. Gertie Saves the Day met Gertie the Groundhog at the Wildlife Prairie Park. What is Groundhog Day? Groundhog Day, it is an unusual holiday that can be traced back hundreds of … Read more
(Redux) World Read Aloud Day On February 1, 2023, classrooms around the world took time to celebrate and honor the power of reading and sharing stories and expand the scope of global literacy. As Pam Allyn, creator of World Read Aloud Day, reminds us, “World Read Aloud Day celebrates the power, magic, and influence of … Read more
Do you have curling curiosity? I love watching curling tournaments and always wondered what it would be like to curl. Recently, the Long Island Curling Club offered Learning to Curl sessions and my daughter signed me up! Curling is harder and more exhausting than it appears to be on TV. What follows below is an … Read more
Let’s be honest, picture book critiques are hard. Whether you are giving the critique or receiving a critique. Over the last few years I have participated in several critique groups. Some groups were a good match and others, not so much. The critiques however, were always respectful and useful. I have just joined a new … Read more
Authors write books for many different reasons: money, recognition, to teach, and sharing our stories. Winning a book award is one way to get validation and recognition for your book. Book awards can also be a great marketing tool. For my latest book, Two Wins for Wiley, I am starting to narrow down the field … Read more
Joining a writing community can be one of the most important things that you can do as a writer. Children’s writing has been in my blood for years, but it wasn’t until the end of my college teaching career that I could really spend the time fine tuning my craft. Writing for children was the … Read more
Are you ready for World Read Aloud Day? This year World Read Aloud Day will be on February 1, 2023. World Read Aloud Day is an annual celebration bringing attention to the importance of sharing stories by challenging participants to grab a book, find an audience, and read-aloud! Reading out loud to kids is a fun way … Read more
