October 24, 2020
Ahhhh — that was time well spent on this dreary late-October day. How did I spend it, you ask? Reading. Voraciously. As if the book were a scrumptious cupcake I couldn’t wait to devour. Cupcake? Yes. If you read FROM THE DESK OF ZOE WASHINGTON by Janae Marks, you’ll quickly learn that cupcakes are very important to Zoe. As is baking, and especially getting a chance to be a young…
September 19, 2020
The wonderful and creative Susan Verde and Peter H. Reynolds, who have brought us such books as The Museum, I Am Yoga, and I Am Peace, among others, have collaborated on another inspiring book — and I think this may be their best yet! In the wake of the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, many people have been inspired to take action, but some, especially children, may be thinking, “I’m…
September 15, 2020
Since March, when we had to all retreat to our homes and could no longer meet in person, the wonderful Laura Backes Bard and Jon Bard of the Children’s Book Insider have been hosting weekly online meetups for writers and illustrators called KidLit Distancing Socials. Each week at 8 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, 5 p.m. Pacific, Laura and Jon host a Zoom mini-webinar featuring a different special kidlit guest, and…
April 24, 2020
I want to alert everyone to the fabulous event coming up ONLINE on May 1 and 2 — it’s free, and features amazing book people — authors and illustrators of picture books, middle grade novels, and young adult novels. It’s just what we need in this time when we’re all staying home, staying safe, but wanting connection, learning, and FUN. The EVERYWHERE BOOK FEST is going to be an amazing…
January 15, 2020
Today I’m delighted to feature my dear friend, Donna L. Martin. Donna and I have been online friends for years, and I’ve been following her progress as a writer with joy and admiration. Thank you, Donna, for agreeing to this interview. First of all, I want to congratulate you on your newest venture, HISTORY’S MYSTERIES. I’ve been intrigued ever since the first glimpse of the cover for the first book…
September 23, 2019
I’m very happy to welcome Lydia Lukidis to my blog today! Thanks for participating in this interview, Lydia. For those of you who don’t know Lydia, she has several books published – mainly as work-for-hire projects – and recently her first “all hers” picture book came out. We’re celebrating that book today! NO BEARS ALLOWED by Lydia, with illustrations by Tara J. Hannon, published by Blue Whale Press, is the…
My dear online friend, Ashley Franklin, recently launched her debut picture book, NOT QUITE SNOW WHITE, illustrated by Ebony Glenn, and it’s now available, delighting and empowering young readers everywhere. Here’s a link to the publisher’s website. I’m grateful to have been watching the preparations for this launch, and to have been retweeting my fingers off as she did interview after interview during the launch period. Beth: Thanks, Ashley, for…
February 13, 2019
Yes, it’s time once again for one of Susanna Hill’s Pretty Much World Famous and Totally Amazing writing contests — THE VALENTINY CONTEST! The rules are simple. Write a Valentine story for kids, no more than 214 words (2/14. Duh.) in which someone feels guilty. And so, without further ado (or adon’t) I present my entry. AND be single, double, TRIPLE sure to pop by Susanna’s blog and read all…