Interview and Giveaway with Author Sara Bennett-Wealer

We’re here today with Sara Bennett-Wealer, whose new book NOW & WHEN is out today! Let’s dive right in! Skyler Finch hates Truman Alexander with every fiber of her being. So when her phone starts sending her notifications from the future, and it looks like she’s with Truman—as in romantically with him—she goes on a quest to fix it. But changing the future means messing … Continue reading Interview and Giveaway with Author Sara Bennett-Wealer

Book Announcement: LIST OF TEN by Halli Gomez

We’re thrilled to announce that LIST OF TEN, an #ownvoices young adult contemporary novel by Halli Gomez, will be published spring, 2021 by Sterling Children’s Books!

Since Halli is one of our own, we wanted to get the inside scoop on her path to publication. Continue reading Book Announcement: LIST OF TEN by Halli Gomez

Rebel in the Library of Ever – Publishing During Self-Quarantine

The follow-up to Zeno Alexander’s acclaimed middle-grade fantasy THE LIBRARY OF EVER features a dangerous takeover of the magical Library as our heroine fights to make knowledge free for everyone. We are thrilled to have Zeno Alexander at The Winged Pen talking about the newest adventures of Lenora and the Library of Ever, as well as his thoughts on publishing in this alternate reality. Lenora returns to … Continue reading Rebel in the Library of Ever – Publishing During Self-Quarantine

Interview and Giveaway with Author Clare Hodgson Meeker

I’m thrilled to introduce my friend and nonfiction author Clare Hodgson Meeker! The Winged Pen is delighted to help her celebrate the release of GROWING UP GORILLA. Gorillas are one of my favorite animals and this story took place right at our local zoo. It’s a gorgeous picture book full of facts and pictures and one that elementary school children will ask for again and … Continue reading Interview and Giveaway with Author Clare Hodgson Meeker

Interview – Middle grade author Sara Nickerson

Welcome, Sara Nickerson! I’m happy to host you here on The Winged Pen about your new middle grade book, Last Meeting of the Gorilla Club. Let’s dive right in. What a beautiful cover! Where did the inspiration for Last Meeting of the Gorilla Club come from? Yes, the fabulous cover! It was designed by Maria Fazio at Penguin Random House and illustrated by Maeve Norton.  As for the … Continue reading Interview – Middle grade author Sara Nickerson

Interview – Author Kristi Wientge shares the BUZZ about HONEYBEES AND FRENEMIES

Welcome to my fellow Winged Pen Critique Partner, Kristi Wientge! I’m going to dive right in with questions about your upcoming middle grade release on June 4th, 2019, entitled Honeybees and Frenemies from Simon and Schuster. When did the seed of this story germinate? How was it pollinated?Way back in 2014 I had this idea for NaNoWriMo that really excited me. I dropped my younger … Continue reading Interview – Author Kristi Wientge shares the BUZZ about HONEYBEES AND FRENEMIES

A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the 2019 New England SCBWI Conference with Loretta Jo Kapinos

The New England SCBWI conference is fast approaching, and Loretta Jo Kapinos, one of the conference co-directors took a few minutes out of her busy prep-work to give us the behind-the-scenes scoop on the conference. Welcome, Loretta! Continue reading A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the 2019 New England SCBWI Conference with Loretta Jo Kapinos

THE LIBRARY OF EVER: Author Interview with Zeno Alexander

Today we are thanking our lucky stars to have landed an interview with the elusive Zeno Alexander, author of a new middle-grade fantasy adventure that will speak to the hearts of librarians and all who love books and information. THE LIBRARY OF EVER Eleven-year-old Lenora escapes from her inattentive nanny through a secret portal at an arch in her local library and lands in the … Continue reading THE LIBRARY OF EVER: Author Interview with Zeno Alexander

Interview with Bea Birdsong, author of I WILL BE FIERCE!

I recently had the pleasure of hanging out with author Bea Birdsong at the Whirlikids Festival at McIntyre’s Books and was thrilled to get a sneak peek of her debut picture book, I WILL BE FIERCE!, releasing on 4/23/19.  Here’s the publisher’s description:  It’s a brand-new day, and a young girl decides to take on the world like a brave explorer heading off on an epic fairytale quest. … Continue reading Interview with Bea Birdsong, author of I WILL BE FIERCE!

Interview with Gillian McDunn, author of Caterpillar Summer

We’re reviewing an upcoming middle-grade release today,  CATERPILLAR SUMMER by debut author Gillian McDunn, perfect for fans of THE THING ABOUT JELLYFISH and FISH IN A TREE.  With an overworked widowed mom and a rambunctious special-needs brother, twelve-year-old Cat barely has any time to be a kid. Ever since their dad died of cancer, Cat has been dedicated to helping her brother, Chicken, navigate perils and find … Continue reading Interview with Gillian McDunn, author of Caterpillar Summer

Book Birthday and Author Interview: The Unicorn Quest, Secret in the Stone by Kamilla Benko

Kamilla Benko’s second book in THE UNICORN QUEST series, SECRET IN THE STONE, releases today! To celebrate, Kamilla has dropped by to chat. Before we begin, let’s take a look at the publisher’s description of her new story: Claire Martinson and her sister Sophie have decided to stay in Arden–the magical land they discovered by climbing up a chimney in their great-aunt’s manor. If what … Continue reading Book Birthday and Author Interview: The Unicorn Quest, Secret in the Stone by Kamilla Benko

Enchantee, Gita Trelease, young adult, fantasy, historical

On Creating Magic Rules & Researching the Streets of Paris in 1789: An Interview with Gita Trelease, Author of Enchantée

Enchantée reaches from a humble 6th-floor apartment in the Paris slums to the
glimmering Palace of Versailles. It’s clear from the story that you love both of these settings. What was the most fun aspect of writing about Paris? Versailles?

The thing that drew
me into both the settings was the element of danger. In Paris, there was the danger of starvation, the possibility that Camille (Enchantée’s main character) would be forced to become a
prostitute, and that every dark corner hid physical danger. The danger at Versailles was really different—gambling, the chance that Camille could lose all the money she’d gathered to keep a roof over her and her younger sister’s heads, and the danger of her disguise being seen through by multiple people. That was fun to write.

The contrast between the two settings was really interesting to play with. The darkness of Paris and the glittering brightness of Versailles. Continue reading On Creating Magic Rules & Researching the Streets of Paris in 1789: An Interview with Gita Trelease, Author of Enchantée