April is National Poetry month which gives all writers and lovers of words a chance to play in this special sandbox. Even writers, like me, who are not necessarily poets. Pop over the www.poetry.org for more information. To enjoy interviews with poets and mini-lessons in poetry writing, jump over to http://teacher.scholastic.com/poetry/index.htm In the meantime, here’s… Read more »
I’ve been remiss in posting the books I’ve read, so I’ll begin to break them down by genre. Today I bring you some picture book biographies I recommend. Sandy’s Circus by Tanya Lee Stone (Viking, 2008) “There once was an artist named Alexander Calder. Only he didn’t call himself Alexander. And he didn’t call the… Read more »
Yesterday was blissful. I look forward to April Fool’s Day all year long. I don’t know when the prankster bug bit me, but bite me it did. Let me just say, however, that my pranks are harmless, silly, and almost always aimed at my kids. Adult friends are often intrigued by my enthusiasm for this… Read more »
Austin’s Book People was honored to welcome multi-award winning author, Laurie Halse Anderson March 28th. Many of us remember Laurie’s inspiring presentation at a local SCBWI conference many years ago. Laurie has been on a whirlwind book tour celebrating the release of her recent novel, WINTERGIRLS. Wrapped ever so lightly in the celebration is the… Read more »
Sorry for the length, but this is definitely worth reading if you are a writer who has wrestled with the inner critic… THE WATCHER AT THE GATEby Gail GodwinJanuary 9, 1977, New York Times I first realized I was not the only writer who had a restraining critic who lived inside me and sapped the… Read more »
I have a confession. I am an over-researcher and an relentless self-critic. My friends call me a perfectionist (but only when it comes to my manuscripts.) That is not a positive trait. When the inner voice begins to nag, the creative juices ooze to the paper with the speed of molasses. The voice whispers in… Read more »
Ya know the old saying that “Everything is bigger in Texas?” Over the unique history of this state, Texans have nurtured a huge sense of humor. There are 254 Texas counties spread across approximately 1,000 cities and towns. The settlers who named these locales are long lost to history. Either they had little imagination or… Read more »
Pop over to the Publisher’s Weekly site and peruse the 3/23/09 article by Diana Roback titled the “Bestselling Children’s Books 2009: Meyer’s Deep Run.” Truly, this is a look back on 2008. Anyway, following the article is a list of the top children’s books of the year broken down by front list, back list, hardcover,… Read more »
Get out there and dance a little Irish jig. And don’t forget the green.
There’s a reason why Austin SCBWI has such a following around the country. This is a community overflowing with talent. Not only do children’s authors flourish here in central Texas, they are also generous with their knowledge and support. Once a month, SCBWI members gather to hear one of our own share wisdom, experience, and… Read more »
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