Interview with KA Reynolds, author of The Land of Yesterday
There’s nothing I love more than announcing a gorgeous new voice in middle grade fantasy. So it’s with great pleasure that I introduce you to K. A. Reynolds, debut author of the magical, glorious The Land of Yesterday. Welcome to The Winged Pen, K. A.! JA: More and more often, we’re seeing middle grade authors tackle tough subjects like grief, mental illness, and trauma for … Continue reading Interview with KA Reynolds, author of The Land of Yesterday
THE DRESS AND THE GIRL by Camille Andros and Julie Morstad
Sometimes you CAN judge a book by its cover. Yes, THE DRESS AND THE GIRL is gorgeously detailed from the lovely cover art to the lyrical text to extraordinary illustrations. It’s a beautiful tale of immigration, the value of simple joys, and the power of memory, written by Camille Andros and illustrated by Julie Morstad. In the story, we follow a girl and her favorite dress … Continue reading THE DRESS AND THE GIRL by Camille Andros and Julie Morstad
Let’s Meet the Pitch Wars Mentors!
Pitch Wars is here! The excitement is spreading through social media as hopeful mentees ignore their laundry, home-cooked meals, and the clock as they get their manuscripts ready. Mentors are also getting ready by putting on their reading glasses, grabbing their red pens, and stocking up on coffee and tea. The lucky mentor-mentee pairs will work together to get the full manuscript ready for the … Continue reading Let’s Meet the Pitch Wars Mentors!
Windows & Mirrors: CHILDREN OF BLOOD & BONE
Welcome to Windows & Mirrors, where we feature books that provide us windows to lives outside our own and mirrors to our shared common human experiences. Today we are featuring Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi! The book has been described as Black Panther plus magic or an African Last Airbender. It’s received enormous press due to its reported seven-figure advance and movie deal … Continue reading Windows & Mirrors: CHILDREN OF BLOOD & BONE
I AM STILL ALIVE by Kate Alice Marshall
Jess’ plan: build shelter, find water, make fire, seek revenge. It all sounds so simple…unless you’re stuck in the middle-of-nowhere Canada, your dad (that you just became reacquainted with a few days ago) was murdered while you watched unbeknownst to his murderers, his remote only-reachable-by-plane cabin was burned to the ground with all your possible life provisions, AND you have few survival skills. Oh, I … Continue reading I AM STILL ALIVE by Kate Alice Marshall
July Four on 400 Feedback
Thank you to all the brave souls who entered this month’s Four on 400 contest! Sharing your writing takes courage, and we appreciate your enthusiasm for our contest.Below, we’ve posted the first 400 words from this month’s winner, along with feedback from at least four of our members. We also encourage our readers to share their (constructive) suggestions and encouragement in the comments section below. A Conspiracy … Continue reading July Four on 400 Feedback
Windows & Mirrors: THE NIGHT DIARY
Welcome to Windows & Mirrors, where we feature books that provide us windows to lives outside our own and mirrors to our shared common human experiences. Today we are featuring The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani. Nisha receives a blank journal from her family’s cook on her twelfth birthday. It’s a place where she can record her thoughts, the things she thinks about but seems to … Continue reading Windows & Mirrors: THE NIGHT DIARY
Linda Vigen Phillips talks about BEHIND THESE HANDS
In Behind These Hands, a teenage piano prodigy’s life is upended when her two younger brothers are diagnosed with Batten, a rare neurodegenerative disease. In its *starred* review, Kirkus says, “Free verse evokes the myriad emotions brought up by the story’s numerous well-balanced themes. The result is a richly woven, unforgettable symphony of feelings and words.” Kirkus perfectly sums up the effect this book has had on me. Weeks … Continue reading Linda Vigen Phillips talks about BEHIND THESE HANDS
Recommended: TAKEDOWN by Laura Shovan
Publisher’s Description “You’re only as good as your partner.” Mikayla is a wrestler; when you grow up in a house full of brothers who are die-hard mat heads, it’s in your DNA. She even has a wrestling name: Mickey. Some people don’t want a girl on the team. But that won’t stop her. She’s determined to work hard, and win. Lev is determined too–he’s going … Continue reading Recommended: TAKEDOWN by Laura Shovan
Help! There are Teens in My House!
As a writer and parent, I’ve faced down a few challenges. Furiously typing words during nap time, relying on the Wild Kratts to keep kids occupied while I write, and running off to the coffee shop while someone else feeds them lunch have all been tools in my toolbox. But I’ve recently come up against a new parenting wall: teenagers! Even though I write and … Continue reading Help! There are Teens in My House!
July Four on 400 Contest
Q: What is Four on 400? A monthly contest that provides ONE LUCKY MG or YA WRITER with feedback on their opening 400 WORDS! As part of our ongoing mission to support writers, we’ll give a MG or YA writer feedback on their work from four of The Winged Pen’s contributors. Q: Sounds exciting! How do I enter? To enter, simply comment at the bottom of this post! At 4pm (EST) … Continue reading July Four on 400 Contest
10 Young Adult Fantasy, Sci-Fi & Thriller Books You Want in Your Beach Bag
July is here and my mind is on vacation. And if you know me, then you know that thoughts of vacation naturally lead to books. I’ve been reading a lot of young adult books in the fantasy, sci-fi and thriller genres, so I thought I’d put together a list of ones I loved. I added some recommendations from the Pennies too. This list focuses on … Continue reading 10 Young Adult Fantasy, Sci-Fi & Thriller Books You Want in Your Beach Bag
