I always love featuring books that entertain and educate … and when they are written by one of my dear kid lit friends, that makes it even more enjoyable! Author Liliana Tommasini and I met at Miriam Laundry’s Believe Conference in Canada last fall … and what a wonderful event for picture book authors. When … Read more
I am not really breaking up with writing, but taking a short break for the month of August. It is no secret that writing is hard work and writers need and should take a break. Every writer needs time to rest, relax and regroup. I am calling it my summer writing break. Burnout When you’re … Read more
Whether you’re just starting out or deep into your publishing journey, one of the most powerful tools in your writing toolkit is read picture books like a picture book author. It’s not just about enjoying the story — it’s about analyzing structure, language, pacing, and illustration interplay. In my last post I challenged you to read … 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
Make a Book Day is an exciting celebration of creativity and storytelling. On this day, people are encouraged to learn about the world of bookmaking. It’s a perfect opportunity for everyone, whether they’re experienced writers or first-time authors, to explore their imagination and share their unique stories. The day highlights the joy of writing and … Read more
As an author, school visits are a special and unique experience. They offer students a unique opportunity to connect with authors, learn about the writing process, explore different genres and envision themselves as future writers. The magic of an author visit happens when students see authors as real people with stories to tell. Author visits … Read more
April 10th is Encourage a Young Writer Day. This national event gives teachers and parents an opportunity to support young writers to use their ideas to create a story. Most children are natural storytellers. Their imagination and creativity allows them to come up with some of the best stories. Reading cultivates imagination, vocabulary, and basic writing skills. … Read more
National Storytelling Week (February 1-9, 2025) is an annual event that celebrates the art of storytelling. I come from a long line of storytellers. For as long as I can remember, my Irish grandmother would share stories about her childhood. One of my favorite stories was about her “bellyflopping” in the snow on Halloween! I loved listening … Read more
Reviewing 2024 is an opportunity for this author to look back at her writing life for the past year. A look back at what I have accomplished, big or small, helps me to plan next steps for the new year. It is important to focus on the positives – what you were able to do … Read more
November is for writing and it is not too late to start. Maybe you’ve never thought of yourself as a writer. But you have been thinking about giving writing a try. Here’s the good news. You do not need a college degree to be a writer and author. What you do need is to write. … Read more
