You’ve signed up for the conference. You’ve chosen your workshops. You may even have signed up for a critique. Now what? You tweak and revise your MS yet again. What else? I asked the Pennies to share their insider tips on how to get the most out of your conference. So without further ado, here are their wise, funny, practical and inspirational tips! Julie Artz: … Continue reading Insider Tips To Get the Most Out of Your Next Conference
I loved the ARC of Carrie Firestone’s debut YA novel, The Loose Ends List! The book will be released on June 7th by Little, Brown. Carrie is insanely busy – both with getting ready for the launch and with edits for her second novel, but she graciously let us steal a few minutes of her time to tell us about preparing for her debut novel’s pub date. … Continue reading Author Chat with Carrie Firestone, author of The LOOSE ENDS LIST
Writing Historical Fiction, or, Notes from a Time Traveler For years I was haunted by a dream of a young woman walking through long grass. I couldn’t see her face, but I could hear her breathing hard, because she wore a corset and the hem of her brocade dress was damp and heavy. She carried a letter in her hand as she made her way … Continue reading Writing Historical Fiction, or, Notes from a Time Traveler
Starring… Rex – a 16 year old Mexican-American coder Cai – a 16 year old Chinese blogger/activist Tunde – a 14 year old Nigerian engineer who up-cycles garbage into technology for his Nigerian village These teens are online friends who get the opportunity to meet IRL (in real life) for the first time when they’re invited to a competition hosted by the world’s top tech … Continue reading Book Review – GENIUS: THE GAME by Leopoldo Gout
I’m thrilled to help my friend and critique partner, Mark Holtzen, celebrate the release of his gorgeous new picture book, A Ticket to the Pennant. Featuring beautiful retro-style illustrations from John Skewes, the story recounts Huey’s adventures as he searches his diverse Seattle neighborhood for his missing ticket to see the Seattle Rainiers play in the big game in 1955. Tell us a little bit about … Continue reading Happy Book Birthday – A Ticket to the Pennant
Whenever I read those Proust questionnaire-type interviews, I always get lost in reverie, answering the questions myself. The New York Times Book Review has one each week, and one of the questions is, “Who is your favorite hero of literature?” I have spent a fair amount of time mulling that one. Cool, clear-eyed Holden Caulfield? Kind-hearted, optimistic Anne Shirley? Atticus Finch? Jo March? Then the … Continue reading My Favorite Hero of Literature
Today I’ve teamed up with my eldest daughter, Sylvia , because it’s her 11th birthday. And anyone who knows me knows if it’s your birthday (or any holiday) you’re getting a book from me. In her earlier days, Sylvia was an easy girl to buy books for. She loved whatever I picked out. Now…. Well, it’s much more difficult. I seriously think it’s easier to … Continue reading Book Buying Advice from the Kiddos
An Ember in the Ashes is a young adult fantasy written by Sabaa Tahir and published in April, 2015. The novel is one of the best novels of 2015: NSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTELLER AMAZON’S BEST YOUNG ADULT BOOK OF 2015 PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD WINNER – FAVORITE FANTASY BUSTLE’S BEST YOUNG ADULT BOOK OF 2015 This novel is a double narrative, but what really works … Continue reading Contrasting Parallel Plots: AN EMBER IN THE ASHES
Many of us at The Winged Pen are on Spring Break this week or heading there soon. And, of course, a vacation isn’t a vacation without a heap of books. We regularly swap book recs behind the scenes, so we thought you’d like to know what books we’ve recently devoured or are currently feasting our eyeballs on. Julie Artz SUNNYSIDE UP by Jennifer Holm, … Continue reading Time for a KidLit Book Feast!!!!
Gabby Byrne: Today I have the unparalleled delight of interviewing one of my agency-sisters, Karen Foxlee. She’s the bestselling author of OPHELIA AND THE MARVELOUS BOY, THE MIDNIGHT DRESS, and AN ANATOMY OF WINGS. She’s also just an all-around wonderful person. Her new book, A MOST MAGICAL GIRL is due out in August, 2016. Karen lives in the far-flung wilds of Northern Australia and is … Continue reading Interview with Author — Karen Foxlee
It’s been a long, rainy winter-turned-spring here in the Pacific Northwest. And I’m sick of it. Every day when I bundle up in my increasingly leaky raincoat to walk the dog, I try to remind myself that rain today means a glorious green summer. Three months from now. (Humph.) Yeah, I’m cranky. Which might be why I’ve been so delighted to stumble across two books … Continue reading Rooting for the Bad Guys
It happens to me all the time. I’m reading a book and find myself connecting with the best friend character, even more so than with the main character. Maybe it’s because the author has brought me so far inside the skin of the main character that I can’t separate myself from her, so I end up loving who she loves. Or maybe it’s because I’m … Continue reading The BFF effect: Why do I always love the sidekick best?
