Among the most prolific and award-winningest authors of our time, Jane Yolen has authored more than 300 books, including OWL MOON, and HOW DO DINOSAURS SAY GOODNIGHT? Here are just a few of her newest releases. SISTER BEAR: A NORSE TALE (Marshall Cavendish, 2011) ages 5-8 Yolen has retold an old Norse folktale that has… Read more »
My currrent work-in-progress has had me befuddled. That’s a good word, isn’t it? Befuddled. My Webster’s Dictionary defines the word as, “To confuse or stupefy.” Yep, that sums it up. Said manuscript is complete and it’s not half bad. Yay! I’ve got a compelling story with suspenseful scenes and historical significance. But, my inner-editor has… Read more »
Cardinals vs Texas Rangers = World Series 2011 It’s the curse of a writer to always be in critique mode. Once the inner editor is brought to life, there’s no stopping it. When I go to movies, I subconsciously pick apart plot problems and character inconsistencies. When I pick up a magazine or journal, I… Read more »
The only photo I took was of Kadir Nelson. Another Texas Book Festival has come and gone. Sigh! Thousands of people crowded the streets surrounding the state capitol, where a tent city housed book sellers, music, children’s entertainment, and author readings and signings. Inside, seemingly every nook, cranny, chamber, and extension room of the capitol… Read more »
The 2011 Texas Book Festival kicks off this weekend, October 22-23. I’ll join 40,000 of my closest friends at the State Capitol complex in Austin. I’ve lined up my own personal festival schedule, prioritizing which sessions, signings, and readings I simply can’t miss. That’s important because I’ll be making multiple treks between this bookish slice… Read more »
The first impression we have of a book always begins with the cover. The visual introduction makes promises about the story before the spine is ever cracked. Even in classrooms around the country, students are encouraged to illustrate covers to their stories. It’s the final touch for the author and the first impression for the… Read more »
The below interview with author Marc Tyler Nobleman published on my blog in 2011. I’m pleased to share that Thirty Minutes Over Oregon was released on October 8, 2018 from Clarion Books. In the seven years since this interview—and before Thirty Minutes published— Marc wrote and published many other books. He never gave up on this story. What an example… Read more »
(apologies for the inconsistent formatting. Blogger isn’t cooperating) In HARNESS HORSES, BUCKING BRONCOS & PIT PONIES (Tundra Books, 2011), author/illustrator team Shelley Ann Jackson and Jeff Crosby (who happen to be married, too) offer a gloriously illustrated and well- researched introduction to the earliest domestication of horses. Each of the chosen forty-three breeds highlighted… Read more »
We’re all faced with decision on a daily basis. But, what about those choices that cause sleepless nights and endless analysis? The cliche is right. The only thing worse than making the wrong decision is making no decision at all. Indecision, the unique blend of fear, spiced with insecurity, can lead to one heck of… Read more »
Happy 60th birthday to Sparky the fire dog! Meet Sparky, the adorable Dalmation spokesdog for The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA,) the leading advocate for fire safety. Since his debut in 1951, millions of people have learned about fire safety through Sparky’s extensive educational programs. NFPA teamed up with Charlesbridge Publishing and Emmy-award winning… Read more »
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