American dueling took root as early as the first colonial settlers in the 16th century and was popular throughout most of the 19th century. During these times, nothing was more valuable to a man than his honor—how he was viewed by the public. In the 19th century, politicians, lawyers, and newspaper editors were the most… Read more »
As a society, we are a very casual lot these days. It was different in Lincoln’s time. A man’s worth was wrapped up in his honor and how he was esteemed by others. Only gentlemen were allowed in upper-class social circles and in many business and political dealings. To be considered a… Read more »
The most difficult part of writing a nonfiction picture book is deciding what to leave out of a space-constrained narrative. In Step Right Up: How Doc and Jim Key Taught the World About Kindness, it was especially painful to leave out amazing anecdotes and details. At almost every school visit presentation about the book, kids almost… Read more »
Approximately twenty-five miles from St. Louis, Missouri—smack-dab in the Mississippi River— is a lovely fishing/picnic/nature-rich park called The Lincoln-Shields Recreation Area. Unfortunately, there is no marker on the property to explain the park’s name or its historic significance. For that, you have to cross the river to the Alton, IL shore and find the two… Read more »
We’re working to re-establish the blog archives and categories that got tangled up in the recent website import. For now, if you’re looking for past posts about nonfiction picture books or picture book biography (or ies), simply type those terms into the blog search box. You can also find the most-viewed posts below. *DISCLAIMER: These posts were… Read more »
originally posted, February 2016. In The Writer’s Journey, Christopher Vogler offers the twelve common stages of plot that comprise the Hero’s Journey. I’m not the first to contend that every person, at every moment, is living his or her own hero’s journey. But, since we here on EMU’s Debuts are all about celebrating the up-and-coming… Read more »
Originally published on EMU’s Debuts(www.emusdebuts.com) Yes, guilt. Many of us were conditioned for guilt at a very young age, but the grown-up writer version is what concerns me. Maybe it’s because I’m basically a people-pleaser. Perhaps you’re like me or know somebody like me. If anybody has a problem, I want to fix it for… Read more »
Children’s nonfiction is increasingly popular these days, especially in the picture book form. Yet, it’s difficult to find relevant instruction in writing books, workshops, or classes. With ever-changing styles and creative approaches, it is important to seek out up-to-date expertise on the subject. I’m thrilled to be teaching a six-week class about nonfiction picture books… Read more »
Call me a nerd, but I love critiquing others’ works. I think my inner bibliophile was meant to be an editor. Short of that, and after many years of actively critiquing and editing projects for colleagues, I am thrilled to finally expand my services more broadly. You can learn more about my critique services here. I… Read more »
My fellow NARRATIVE ARChaeology authors and I put together a series of articles about school visits. Below are direct links. Click here for Why Invite a Non-Fiction Author to Speak at Your School Click here for Getting the Most Out of Your School Visit Click here for The Truth About What Authors Earn Click here for How to Pay… Read more »
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