Great Middle Grade Books for Summer 2021

You asked for our favorite middle grade reads of 2021 so here they are! Now that summer is here, Rebecca, Richelle, and I are thrilled to recommend these middle grade books for your vacation. They are perfect for the beach, car, airplane, even when waiting in line at your favorite amusement park. The Truths We Hold (Young Readers Edition) by Kamala Harris Before she was … Continue reading Great Middle Grade Books for Summer 2021

Book Review: Enduring Freedom

Enduring Freedom is a young adult novel written in dual points of view by Jawad Arash and Trent Reedy. This novel releases at a perfect time as the US military prepares to leave Afghanistan and the twentieth anniversary of 9/11 comes later this year. Synopsis: On September 11, 2001, the lives of two boys on opposite sides of the world are changed in an instant. … Continue reading Book Review: Enduring Freedom

Blast From the Past!

Welcome to another edition of our new semi-regular series: Blast from the Past. A refresher: We will occasionally read (or listen) to a book we had loved as children but have not re-visited as adult writers. And then we’ll tell you about it. How did the story hold up? Is the magic still there? What differences do we notice, both cultural and in storytelling techniques … Continue reading Blast From the Past!

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

The Book with Answers to All Your Publishing Questions – BEFORE AND AFTER THE BOOK DEAL

“For the dreamers who sat down to tell a story that no one asked them to write.”  – Before and After the Book Deal I am a dreamer and because you are here, you must be too. That also means you have questions and lots of them. I do not have all of the answers, but I can direct you to a book that does. … Continue reading The Book with Answers to All Your Publishing Questions – BEFORE AND AFTER THE BOOK DEAL

The 2019 Cybils Awards Young Adult Finalists

I had the great pleasure of being of Cybils Awards round 2 judge for the third year. I got to read amazing books that I may not have had a chance to read and vote on the best with other judges. When I say that we, round 2 judges, had a hard time choosing the winner, I’m not lying. It was tough ya’ll!  The seven … Continue reading The 2019 Cybils Awards Young Adult Finalists

Book Release! Emotion Thesaurus Second Edition

Hello! Today I’m helping authors Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi launch their new book, The Emotion Thesaurus (Second Edition)! You might know about The Emotion Thesaurus and even have it on your shelf. But chances are, you may not have known a second edition was in the works. Becca and Angela decided to keep it a surprise and only recently announced the book was releasing! So not only … Continue reading Book Release! Emotion Thesaurus Second Edition

Recommended: SALT by Hannah Moscowitz

Publisher’s Description of Salt Roaming the Mediterranean Sea on sailboats and hunting down monsters is the only life seventeen-year-old Indi and his siblings have ever known. He never loved it, but now that his parents are gone—vanished during a hunt three months ago—it’s harder and harder to fight his desire to escape. He’s constantly battling his ferocious love for his siblings and the temptation of … Continue reading Recommended: SALT by Hannah Moscowitz

Book Cover for Trouble With Parsnips by Laurel Decher

Laurel Decher Talks TROUBLE WITH PARSNIPS and Self-Publishing

Laurel Decher is an author and writer for The Winged Pen. We are very excited to share her story, TROUBLE WITH PARSNIPS, learn about her writing process, and decision to self-publish. When you’re 15th in line to the throne, it’s hard to make a name for yourself. The youngest princess of Cochem still needs a christening and she’s ten. She can’t get a word in … Continue reading Laurel Decher Talks TROUBLE WITH PARSNIPS and Self-Publishing

Book Recommendation: The Spy with the Red Balloon

THE SPY WITH THE RED BALLOON is the second book in the Balloonmakers series by author Katherine Locke. I loved the first book THE GIRL WITH THE RED BALLOON so much, I couldn’t wait to read the second. (read about book one here) THE SPY WITH THE RED BALLOON is the second book, but it occurs earlier than the first, a nice twist. This time we are … Continue reading Book Recommendation: The Spy with the Red Balloon

Interview with R.L. Toalson, Author of The Colors of the Rain

There’s nothing better than a book that touches you, opens your eyes to different perspectives, and makes you want to tell all your friends. THE COLORS OF THE RAIN is one of those books for me. I was thrilled to review it and just had to talk with the author. R.L. Toalson, welcome to The Winged Pen! Before we jump into questions, let’s give readers a quick … Continue reading Interview with R.L. Toalson, Author of The Colors of the Rain