I’m excited to introduce all of you to Darshana. She is the mastermind behind the blog Floweringminds.com where she features authors and promotes diversity in kidlit. My kind of gal. Hi, Darshana! I’m excited to get to know you better because we share a love of Richard Scarry and Blondie. That pretty much sums up my childhood! I’d like to focus on diversity since that’s … Continue reading Interview with Darshana Khiani
We’re psyched for the launch of Winged Pen member, Kristi Wientge’s, middle grade debut. Karma Khullar’s Mustache will hit bookstore shelves on August 15th! We invited Kristi and her agent, Patricia Nelson of the Marsal Lyon Agency, to talk about Karma and how this story became a book. Patricia, what first drew you to Karma Khullar’s Mustache? Patricia: I knew when I first started reading … Continue reading Interview with Kristi Wientge, Author of KARMA KHULLAR’S MUSTACHE, and her agent Patricia Nelson
Today we welcome to The Winged Pen the author of one of my all-time favorite picture books, THE MAGIC NESTING DOLLS. Jacqueline Ogburn is the author of ten picture books and, in just a few short days, the world will be able to read her beautiful debut middle-grade novel, THE UNICORN IN THE BARN. … the presence of the unicorn and other magical creatures adding … Continue reading The Unicorn in the Barn: Review/Author Interview with Jacqueline Ogburn
If you’re an eleven-year-old girl in the middle ages, becoming an artist is almost impossible! Even when you have a special talent. Author Jackie Randall brings the earthy but beautiful world of the middle ages to life in this story of art, theft, persistence, and friendship. “The year is 1398. Eleven-year-old Emelin Lambert is quick-witted, mouthy, and an orphan. She also has an incredible gift … Continue reading Becoming an artist: Jackie Randall’s historical middle grade EMELIN
Adrienne Kress is so cool. She’s an actor, playwright, filmmaker, and director. She teaches drama to kids, and she has her own production company. Most importantly for our purposes here, she is an author, of fantastical middle grade adventure stories with daring girls and careful boys, absurd predicaments and narrow escapes. I first came to love Adrienne’s work when I read her book, ALEX AND … Continue reading Interview with Adrienne Kress
Do you like books with monsters and magic? Heroes and epic journeys? On June 6th, 2017 at a bookstore near you, one of the most imaginative books I’ve read in a long while will be released into the world. LORD of MONSTERS is the 2nd book in the OUT of ABATON series, and this Pinocchio retelling is sure to please. Goodreads | Amazon … Continue reading LORD of MONSTERS by John Bemis
Willow Born, by Shanna Miles, is a young adult story filled with magic, witches, angels, and demons. Add in a girl who comes back from the dead, attempts to navigate contemporary society, and a murder mystery, and you have the recipe for a great adventure. Years ago, witch hunters came to Carolina and devoured the Willows. Sixteen-year-old Collette, a powerful empath, was one of them. … Continue reading Book Recommendation: Willow Born
I requested an advanced reader copy of Song of the Current in exchange for an unbiased review. An immersive fantasy debut set along the waterways of a magical world. Caroline Oresteia is destined for the river. Her father is a wherryman, as was her grandmother. All Caro needs is for the river god to whisper her name, and her fate is sealed. But at seventeen, Caro may be too … Continue reading Recommended: SONG OF THE CURRENT by Sarah Tolcser
Today we’re joined by M.E. Castle, author of Fakespeare: Something Stinks in Hamlet. Q: M.E., welcome to The Winged Pen! I can’t wait to share the details of the book giveaway (and fun bonus content) with our readers, but first, tell us more about your story. A: In this silly middle school series, three kids get lost inside Shakespeare’s book and must help Hamlet finish … Continue reading Book Birthday and Giveaway: Fakespeare by M.E. Castle
This March, I had the pleasure of meeting author Leah Henderson at a writing workshop. When she described her debut middle-grade book set in contemporary Senegal, ONE SHADOW ON THE WALL, I couldn’t wait to read it. Eleven-year-old orphan, Mor, struggles to keep the promise he made to his dying father to keep his young sisters safe and to keep their family together. His aunt … Continue reading Leah Henderson’s ONE SHADOW ON THE WALL
My 13yo daughter and I arrived at a movie theatre Tuesday night as excited as two people could possibly be about getting a sneak preview of the EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING movie based on Nicola Yoon’s book by the same name. But excitement wasn’t the only thing coursing through my veins as I stood in line to take my seat… Anyone who knows me well, knows that EVERYTHING, … Continue reading EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING Movie vs. Book (no spoilers!)
I requested a free advanced reader copy of Follow Me Back in exchange for an unbiased review. Told through tweets, direct messages, and police transcripts Follow Me Back is the first book of a new duology. Written for the online generation this thriller will keep you guessing right up to the shocking end. Tessa Hart’s world feels very small. Confined to her bedroom with agoraphobia, her one escape … Continue reading Book Recommendation: FOLLOW ME BACK by A.V. Geiger
