Posts

Hey, Coach! (and the Value of Trying Again)

0 Comments
/
One of the more challenging aspects of writing picture books…

Meeting Illustrators

One of the things I love most about writing picture books is…

Timing is Everything

I have two new picture books out this month, published a week…

One Family = Counting + Unity

One of the things I love about picture books is that they can…

Meet Kim Smith--and OVER THE RIVER & THROUGH THE WOOD Giveaway!

I really admire artistic talent (since I have so little myself),…

Celebrating the Right to Vote

1 Comment
/
When I think of non-fiction books with a distinctive voice, I…

Dog Adopts Man (and Other Role Reversals)

Manuscript feeling a bit stale? Need a fresh take on the ordinary?…

SCBWI Carolinas Conference September 2015

The SCBWI Carolinas chapter has another fabulous conference coming…

Learning from Llamas

0 Comments
/
Not sure how I missed Anna Dewdney's bestselling Llama Llama…

Zachariah OHora Interview and Book Giveaway

0 Comments
/
I've been a fan of Zach OHora's books ever since spotting one…

Queen of the Rollicking Read-Alouds

0 Comments
/
Karen Beaumont, one of my favorite picture book authors, has…

Twenty Year Anniversary and Book Giveaway

0 Comments
/
Twenty years ago this month I quit my job at UCLA to write children's…

Few Words, Plenty of Action

Author Margie Palatini is known for her lively, clever, and pun-filled…

Poetry for Picture Book Writers

Reading poetry—in particular, reading poetry aloud—can be…

You Byun and Little Baby Buttercup

To celebrate the publication of Little Baby Buttercup (Nancy…

On WHEN THE STORM COMES, Rabbit Holes and Very Rough Drafts

0 Comments
/
My office window looks out on a moss lawn bordered by azaleas,…

MY DADDY AND ME (and another reminder to save old manuscripts!)

0 Comments
/
Twenty years ago, when my son was a toddler, I wrote a tender…

Upcoming Writing Workshop & Whirlikids Book Festival

0 Comments
/
McIntyre’s Books in Fearrington Village, NC is one of my favorite…

On Saving Old Drafts -- and TAKE YOUR PET TO SCHOOL DAY

2 Comments
/
Many years ago, I had what I thought was a great idea for a picture…

On Collaboration, Harmonious & Otherwise

0 Comments
/
Years ago when I lived in Los Angeles, I had an old watch that…

Stacy McAnulty & Planetary Humor (Plus Giveaway!)

0 Comments
/
Kids are natural scientists, yet somewhere along the way the…

Chatting with Disney-Hyperion Editor Steph Lurie about William's Winter Nap, Writing Advice & More (Plus Giveaway!)

0 Comments
/
I sold my first manuscript 20 years ago this month. That sale…

Navigating Step by Step through Your Picture Book

0 Comments
/
I recently taught a picture book writing webinar called "Strong…

Meet Agent Jennifer Mattson (plus a Giveaway!)

0 Comments
/
Over at PictureBookBuilders, I interview my excellent agent,…

Where Can I Get Your Books?

0 Comments
/
I get asked this question a lot, and it's not always easy to…