To note or not to note? That is the question on the minds of most writers. I am referring to illustration notes. With my books Gertie Save the Day and Two Wins for Wiley I could not be happier with the illustrations. Did I use illustration notes? Illustration Notes If you write picture books, you’ll … Read more
This was a new idea for me. A bookcation? It seems simple enough. A vacation in which all you do is read books. The beauty of a bookcation is you can make it whatever you want. You can read whatever you want, for as long as you want and you can read any where you … Read more
Summer, for me, is a quiet time with fewer book signing events, but not this year. I have three opportunities to share my books with children. There is only one thing that can make or break the event – engaging children during story time. If you are like me, you want to ensure that story … Read more
Not everyone feels the same as I do about ebooks for children. I believe that ebooks provide some advantages that paper copies may not. When my first book, Gertie Saves the Day, was being released I had mixed feelings about releasing it as an ebook. Naturally, I wanted everyone to have a paper copy of … Read more
When revising one of my picture book drafts, I like to spend time checking my page turns. I ask -Have I created a reason for the reader to turn the page? In my research, I found many techniques authors use to create an irresistible page turn. Feel free to try one or more. Pose A … Read more
Authors are a buzz! At each author event I attend this month there seems to be a Back Matter Buzz among the authors. While non fiction books often have back matter, it is new territory for picture book authors. What exactly is back matter? Do picture books have back matter? Where should I be adding … Read more
I love celebrations, especially those that involve books. International Children’s Book Day is a day to celebrate children’s books which includes picture books and easy-to-read stories written exclusively for children, and fairy tales, lullabies, fables, folk songs, and more. What is International Children’s Book Day? International Children’s Book Day (ICBD) is a celebrated event dedicated … Read more
When people ask me what I am writing, the truth is most of the time I am editing a story. While every author needs to have their manuscript edited by a professional editor, but authors can begin with a good self edit. I have found that incorporating self editing techniques before sending my manuscript off … Read more
On February 7, 2024 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 the read aloud for children … Read more
The power of quitting is very liberating. I am not talking about quitting writing altogether, but rather knowing when to quit a story when it just is not working. I belong to a writing group, Teach Write, of teachers who teach writing. They are a wonderful and supportive group of writers. Each week we set … Read more
