Kidlit Distancing Social #38 Replay – Chris Tebbetts on Middle Grade That Gets Kids Reading… and Laughing

Meet Chris Tebbetts, a successful middle grade/YA author who has mastered a compelling, humorous approach that gets even the most reluctant readers glued to the page.

Chris partners with superstar author James Patterson to create the bestselling Middle School series, and with Survivor host Jeff Probst for the Stranded series. His solo titles include the Viking series and the novel Me, Myself, and Him.

Join us to learn about creating middle grade books with humor and plot that appeal to readers across the board – especially reluctant readers – and the ins and outs of building a successful series.

Kidlit Distancing Social #22 Replay – Candice Ransom, Author of 150+ Children’s Books

Candice has written more than 150 books, including 18 books for The Boxcar Children series, The Time Spies series and the Sunfire series. She wrote the Dungeons & Dragons novel, Key to the Griffon’s Lair. Her work includes picture books, easy readers, middle grade fiction, biographies, and nonfiction. Laura and Candice discuss her fascinating career, and then open the floor for a freewheeling “Ask Us Anything” session!

Kidlit Distancing Social #14 – Eileen Robinson on Middle Grade Fiction for Boys

In this episode, we welcome Eileen Robinson, publisher at Move Books, a small press that focuses on middle grade novels for boys. MG for boys is a hot and growing market, so this is a very timely topic.

Eileen’s had an accomplished and varied publishing career including work in acquisitions and development, pub planning, leveled reading, audio books and more.

Understanding the “New Adult Fiction” Category

by Jane Choate     What is new adult fiction?   New adult fiction bridges the gap between young adult and adult books. It typically features protagonists between the ages of 18 and 26. The label was first used in 2009 when St. Martin’s Press hosted a contest looking for stories that could be marketed […]

Writing for Children & Teens: Simple Steps to Understand Your Readers

No matter the age of your reader, knowing your audience is key.  Knowing their tastes, their needs, their wants, their expectations is vital in penning the kind of stories that will touch their hearts and minds. Jane Choate is here to give you some easy steps to truly understand your readers.

Book Categories for Children from Picture Books to YA

Children’s book categories encompass children from birth through their teen years. Here’s how the age groups break down, and how each category is written.

Watch Your Tone!

Tone is one of the trickiest issues for many writers. In this piece, veteran author Jane McBride explains it all, simply and elegantly.

Writing Is Easier When You Stop Trying So Hard

Struggling to make progress with your writing? Maybe you need to step back and take a breath. Here’s how…

Teens Review What Works, What Doesn’t in New Books

In this article from School Library Journal, five reviewers, ranging in age from 12 to 15, give their thoughts on the latest books from popular authors. A must-read for anyone writing middle grade and young adult fiction.

Writing the Modern Fairy Tale: Use a Twist

Give classic stories a new twist to create modern fairy tales for children and teens.