Reading the responses to last week’s first-ever “First Stories” interview was wonderful! Norene Paulson’s stories and insight taught me so much – thanks, Norene! And thank you for all of the comments and encouraging feedback! This week, I’m thrilled to be talking to Brian Gehrlein, whose debut picture book, THE BOOK OF RULES (illustrated by… Read more »
And here it is! The very first blog post in this First Stories series! I am so excited to officially begin hearing from both published and unpublished #kidlit writers about their First Stories – the ones that pushed them headlong into writing for kids!! And my very first guest on this blog series is author… Read more »
Every writer knows the ONE. The story that took you by the scruff of the neck and shook you until you sat down in a chair and wrote it down and then wouldn’t shut up until you started tracking down agents and dove headlong into the wild world of publishing. I know my own story…. Read more »
Ever wonder about what happened to writers’ “first stories”? So did I.
As I am approaching the two year mark of my deliberate journey into writing books for kids, I delight in the “difficult task” of reading picture book upon picture book as mentor texts in order to stay abreast of the market. Ha! I have always loved to read, and now I have an excuse to… Read more »
Spring has arrived here in the South. Blustery breezes, terrific tornadoes, and bursting blossoms. And with the change in season comes another #kidlit opportunity – the Spring Fling KidLit Contest – sponsored by the indefatigable Kaitlyn Sanchez and Ciara O’Neal! Thank you both so much for all you do to inspire, challenge, and encourage the… Read more »
Vivian Kirkfield is an amazing champion of the kidlit community! Not only are her children’s books thoughtfully and beautifully written, but she also takes time to encourage aspiring children’s writers…like myself. Thank you, Vivian! Every year, she sponsors a contest called “50 precious words.” The rules for entry can be found here. In summary, she… Read more »
Our house is in shambles. Walls have been knocked down, studs revealed, old wiring uncovered. The mysterious pipe in the pantry, well, turns out that is a gas line. “We wondered about that,” I laugh with my contractors as we pivot to deal with the house’s secrets now laid bare. We are renovating and adding… Read more »
Connie is better. Caleb is better. The whole world is inhaling more easily. A new year has begun. But…everything is still difficult; nothing is as it once was. Perhaps it never will be again. My history teacher keeps drawing parallels between our times and the World Wars. Each worldwide collision with our mortality left society… Read more »
This is the continuation of the story that I began in a post over a year ago (click here for the first installment), but these stories date from my childhood. I hope you enjoy the ending! The day passed so quickly with Papa helping Jay, Kyle, and me build a snowman and lots of snowball… Read more »
