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 »
UPDATE: PLEASE NOTE THAT I AM NOT INVOLVED WITH THE MOVIE, AND I DO NOT RECEIVE UPDATES ABOUT ITs PRODUCTION. THE MOVIE IS BASED ON THE BOOK, BEAUTIFUL JIM KEY: THE LOST HISTORY OF THE WORLD’S SMARTEST HORSE, BY MIM EICHLER RIVAS. I’m as eager as you are, but I cannot answer move-related questions. That… Read more »
Next week brings the 2017 Texas Library Association conference in San Antonio, Texas. I look forward to the event every year. If you’ll be there, please find me and say hello. Below is my schedule. Stay tuned for more information about my latest co-venture with authors Cynthia Levinson and Susan Kralovansky, NARRATIVE ARChaeology: Teaching Kids… Read more »
I had an interesting conversation recently about how I thought Beautiful Jim Key was “educated” or trained to exhibit his remarkable skills. I was asked if I believe that Jim learned the way a child would learn, or if I thought there might have been some undetected cues from Doc. Since Step Right Up: How… Read more »
When I first learned that Daniel Minter had signed on to illustrate Step Right Up, I was over the moon excited. I was already a fan of his work. As is typical, we did not have contact during the years-long process of evolving the manuscript into a book. Except that I did introduce myself to… Read more »
Step Right Up: How Doc and Jim Key Taught the World About Kindness has received such lovely attention since its October release. A list of some of those accolades and reviews can be found on the book’s dedicated page on this site. Thank you to all who have supported and embraced Doc and Jim’s story…. Read more »
I wish I had been at the 2016 NCTE conference this past weekend. Alas, I was home revising my creative thesis for my final VCFA packet. (Did I mention that I graduate in January with an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults?) In a wacky, wonderful coincidence, I was revising the Orbis Pictus section… Read more »
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