Kidlit Social #75: 2nd Anniversary Edition – Laura Answers Your Writing Questions!
On this episode, we celebrate the 2nd Anniversary of the Kidlit Social with an “Ask Laura Anything” special! Laura…
Kidlit Social #72: How Lesléa Newman Changed the World – And What Comes Next
On this episode of The Kidlit Social, meet a legend: Lesléa Newman, author of dozens of children’s books that have made a major impact on…
CBI Interview: Picture Book Author Johnny Ray Moore
This interview originally appeared in the January 2022 edition of Children’s Book Insider, the Children’s Writing…
Kidlit Social #71: Alda P. Dobbs on Mining Your Family History to Create Compelling Fiction
On this episode of The Kidlit Social we welcome Alda P. Dobbs, author of the acclaimed middle grade novel The Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna.…
Kidlit Social #69: ‘Radical Solutions’ to Beat Fear, Doubt & Criticism and Thrive Creatively
On this episode of The Kidlit Social, meet award-winning Middle Grade/YA author and creative writing professor Todd…
Kidlit Social #68: Writing Graphic Novels for Beginning Readers
On this episode of The Kidlit Social, meet authors Lola M. Schaefer and Jill Esbaum.
Lola and Jill are both…
The CBI Interview: Caribbean Author Shakirah Bourne on Her Journey to Publication
Reprinted from the November, 2021 edition of Children’s Book Insider, the Children’s Writing Monthly
Interview by PJ…
Kidlit Social #67: Henry Herz on Writing Stories That Surprise Readers – and Editors
On this episode of The Kidlit Social, meet author and editor Henry Herz.
Henry’s ten…
Kidlit Social #65: Melissa Stewart on Creating Nonfiction for the Classroom
On this episode of The Kidlit Social, meet Melissa Stewart, author of “5 Kinds of Nonfiction: Enriching Reading and Writing…
Kidlit Social #64: Picture Book Author Nadia Salomon on Getting Published & Promoting Your Work
On this episode of The Kidlit Social, meet Nadia Salomon, author of the wonderful, recently released Goodnight…
Kidlit Social #63: Writing Books w/ STEM Tie-Ins & Crafting Realistic Animals
On this episode of The Kidlit Social, meet illustrator, explorer and children’s book author Katy Tanis. Katy’s work bursts with color,…
Writing Nonfiction for Children – Where the Opportunities Are Right Now
Here’s a meaty excerpt from The Children’s Nonfiction Market: How To Break In & How to Succeed, a Writing Blueprints workshop…
Kidlit Social #62: Our First Live Editing Session!
On this episode of The Kidlit Social, we have a special treat for you: our first ever live editing session! We chose seven works in progress…
Kidlit Social #61 Replay: Tracy Sue Walker on Folklore, Myths & the Stories We Tell
On this episode of The Kidlit Social, meet writer and storyteller Tracy Sue Walker. Tracy Sue is the author of the Kids for Truth about…
Kidlit Social #60 Replay: Nathan Bransford on Finding Your Story’s Hook
On this episode of The Kidlit Social, meet Nathan Bransford, author of the Jacob Wonderbar middle grade series, the writing guides How to…
Kidlit Social #59 Replay: Beth Anderson on the Changing Face of Picture Book Biographies
Picture book biographer Beth Anderson (“Smelly” Kelly and His Super Senses, Lizzie Demands a Seat, Tad Lincoln’s Restless Wriggle) describes…
Kidlit Distancing Social #58 Replay: An Evening with Chapter Book Legend Debbie Dadey
What do you call someone who has authored or co-authored over 180 books that have sold more than 40 million copies?
Legend seems…
Kidlit Distancing Social #53 Replay: Violet Lemay on Helping Young Children Find Joy in an Unpredictable World
In this episode, meet author/illustrator Violet Lemay. Working primarily in the board book category (for ages 0-4), Violet has…
Kidlit Distancing Social #52 Replay: Sneed B. Collard III on Nonfiction & Writing Mysteries for Middle Graders
In this episode, meet Sneed B. Collard III, award-winning author of more than 80 books. He’s best known for his science-based…
Kidlit Distancing Social #51 Replay: Author/Illustrator Julie Rowan-Zoch on the Dance Between Words & Images in Picture Books
In this episode, we welcome Julie Rowan-Zoch (author/illustrator of I’m a Hare, So There! and illustrator of Louis, written by Tom…
Kidlit Distancing Social #50 Replay: Michelle Schaub on Concept Books, Picture Books & Poetry
In this episode, we chatted with award-winning children’s author & veteran teacher Michelle Schaub about two fascinating topics:…
Kidlit Distancing Social #48 Replay: Crafting Speculative Fiction & Graphic Novels w/Jennifer Brody (a.k.a. Vera Strange)
In this episode, we welcome Jennifer Brody (a.k.a. Vera Strange) the award-winning author of ten books, including The 13th Continuum…
Kidlit Distancing Social #44 Replay: Picture Book Author Tameka Fryer Brown on Rhythm, Rhyme & Celebrating Community
In this episode, meet picture book writer Tameka Fryer Brown, author of Brown Baby Lullaby (Farrar, Straus & Giroux), named by…
Kidlit Distancing Social #40 Replay: Jennifer Swanson, Melissa Stewart & Cynthia Levinson on Why Kids Love Nonfiction a *Lot* More Than You Probably Think
This week’s Kidlit Distancing Social is, as they say on TV, “ripped from the headlines!” 🙂
In January, when we saw…
Kidlit Distancing Social #39 – Overcoming Self-Doubt & Finding the Courage to Put Your Work Out Into the World
This week on the Social, meet Jennifer Vassel, an inspiring self-publishing success story. Jennifer is the author and founder of “I…
Kidlit Distancing Social #38 Replay – Chris Tebbetts on Middle Grade That Gets Kids Reading… and Laughing
This week on the Social, meet Chris Tebbetts, a successful middle grade/YA author who has mastered a compelling, humorous approach…
Kidlit Distancing Social #34 Replay – How Two Unagented First Time Authors Got Published
In this episode of the Social, meet two debut authors who got their publishing contracts without an agent. If you think you can’t…
Kidlit Distancing Social #33 Replay – Newbery Honoree Steve Sheinkin on Making History Exciting
In this episode of the Social, we welcome Steve Sheinkin, author of Newbery Honoree and National Book Award finalist Bomb: The Race…
Kidlit Distancing Social #32 Replay – An Evening with Author/Illustrator Lea Lyon
In this episode of the Social, we welcome author/illustrator Lea Lyon.
Lea is the co-author of Ready To Fly: How Sylvia…
Kidlit Distancing Social #31 Replay – Ask Laura & Jon Anything!
In this episode of the Social, Jon and Laura from Children’s Book Insider answer a slew of viewer questions about writing, publishing…
Kidlit Distancing Social #28 – Nicole C. Kear on Writing Across Age Groups & Genres
This week, you’ll meet a writer who is making her mark across multiple genres and categories – and learn how you can do…
Kidlit Distancing Social #27 – Teresa Funke on the Steps You Can Take Now to Become a Successful Author
This week, we welcome back the inspiring Teresa Funke (Dancing in Combat Boots, V for Victory, 10 Things All Successful…
Kidlit Distancing Social #26 Replay – Lyn Miller-Lachmann on Writing Historical Fiction & Creating Inclusive Characters
This week, we have a really fascinating guest – author, translator and sensitivity reader Lyn Miller-Lachmann (Gringolandia, Surviving…
Kidlit Distancing Social #25 Replay – Brian Weisfeld on Writing Books that Promote a Passion & Deliver a Message
This week, we welcome Brian Weisfeld, author of The Startup Squad series (Macmillan), is devoted to empowering girls with an entrepreneurial…
Kidlit Distancing Social #24 Replay – Brooke McIntyre on Finding, Joining & Getting the Most of a Critique Group
This week, we welcome Brooke McIntyre, the founder of InkedVoices, a platform for writing groups and an online space for writers. In our virtual…
Kidlit Distancing Social #23 Replay – Tracey West on Chapter Books, Movie Novelizations & Books w/Licensed Characters
This week, we welcome Tracey West. Tracey is the author of more than 300 books for children and young adults, including the Pokémon chapter books,…
Kidlit Distancing Social #22 Replay – Candice Ransom, Author of 150+ Children’s Books
This week, we welcome the amazing Candice Ransom. Candice has written more than 150 books, including 18 books for The Boxcar…
Kidlit Distancing Social #21 Replay – An Evening with Legendary Children’s Poet David Harrison
This week, we welcome a children’s book legend – poet David Harrison, who is about to see his 100th book in print. He is Drury…
Kidlit Distancing Social #20 Replay – Tod Olson on Writing Creative, Exciting Nonfiction
This week, we welcome Tod Olson, a writer with a knack for making nonfiction topics come alive with excitement and vibrancy. Tod is…
How to Tell if Your Story Idea is Good Enough
Most writers find it very difficult to judge the merits of their own story ideas. In this excerpt from a workshop taught by the prolific and…
Kidlit Distancing Social #19 Replay – Laura Backes on Crafting Great Opening Lines & Scenes
This week, it’s time for a writing craft geek-out session! Join Laura Backes, founder & publisher of Children’s Book Insider, the…
Kidlit Distancing Social #18 Replay – Bad Kitty Author Nick Bruel on Creating Subversive – and Hilarious – Characters
This week, we welcome Nick Bruel, author and illustrator of New York Times bestseller Boing! and the Bad Kitty books.
Nick has created…
Kidlit Distancing Social #14 – Eileen Robinson on Middle Grade Fiction for Boys
On this week’s Kidlit Distancing Social, we welcome Eileen Robinson, publisher at Move Books, a small press that focuses on middle grade…
Kidlit Distancing Social #13 – Josh Funk on Creating Successful Kidlit Series
On this week’s Kidlit Distancing Social, author Josh Funk – who has created one successful children’s book series after another – shares…
Kidlit Distancing Social #12 – Laura Backes on What Picture Book Writers Need to Know About Illustrations
On this week’s Kidlit Distancing Social, CBI Publisher Laura Backes discusses the interplay between words and illustrations in picture books,…
Understanding Children’s Book Genres
Published children’s books fall into distinct book genres, each with its own format and targeted age range. These formats evolved for several…
How to Deal with Critical Feedback on Your Work
by Suzanna Henshon
Have you ever received criticism? Yikes, it usually feels quite painful, particularly when it pertains to a story or…
Mining Your Life for Story Ideas
by Jane Choate
Occasionally, the well for new story ideas runs dry and we must mine for fresh ones. We all know…
How Middle Grade Author Ellie Sipila Turned a School Assignment into a Series
To say that Elizabeth “Ellie” Sipila is just a “writer” would be like labeling Emeril Lagasse as merely a “cook”. Like a master chef,…
Crafting Scenes with Emotional Intensity
by Suzanna Henshon, Ph.D
Have you ever fallen deeply into a story and emerged changed forever? There are probably moments in the…
