Birthday Shopping for My ‘Tween Bookworm
I love buying books as gifts. What else can provide so much joy for so little money? Okay, the best things in life are free, as they say. But for things that have a price tag, books are really high on the entertainment value/dollar meter. I’m reminded of this every Christmas and every August when my soon-to-be-twelve-year-old bookworm makes a wish list. Her wish list … Continue reading Birthday Shopping for My ‘Tween Bookworm
Feeding Your Inner Artist
Some of my earliest memories are of going to the art museum with my father. Later, when I started playing violin, my parents took us to the symphony. We read widely, went to plays and art festivals and were generally immersed in the arts. Before I started my family, I spent years attending live music, traveling to some of the world’s best museums, and grabbing … Continue reading Feeding Your Inner Artist
The Dreaded CPs Search & events!
In my quest for critique partners (CPs), I often felt so excited to connect with other fabulous writers, I never actually took the time to sift through my needs. Until recently. CP Connect is happening right now. Also, check on Twitter #CPConnect. Post Pitch-Wars Critique Partner Match Up! will receive your submissions from August 18 through 21. The event will take place August 25 on … Continue reading The Dreaded CPs Search & events!
Author Interview — Jeff Zentner
Gabby: Today, I’m thrilled to be chatting with Jeff Zentner. He’s the author of the YA novel, THE SERPENT KING, out now, and GOODBYE DAYS, coming out in March of 2017. If you’ve read Jeff’s work, you already know you better have your tissues handy. Jeff lives in Nashville, TN where he like to rock out, show kids how to rock out, and write books … Continue reading Author Interview — Jeff Zentner
Jen Malone Book Review Twofer – THE SLEEPOVER and MAP TO THE STARS
I picked up a copy of Jen Malone’s At Your Service at the 2015 New England SCBWI Conference after attending her great talk on middle grade voice. (Find the book review here.) I enjoyed the story and my 11-year-old daughter became a fan. She now knows to ask for Jen Malone books when I’m heading to the conference, so this year she got The Sleepover and Map to … Continue reading Jen Malone Book Review Twofer – THE SLEEPOVER and MAP TO THE STARS
Interview with Kelly Barnhill: Author of THE GIRL WHO DRANK THE MOON and THE WITCH’s BOY
I had the COMPLETE PLEASURE of chatting with Kelly Barnhill, author of THE WITCH’S BOY, THE GIRL WHO DRANK THE MOON (which I reviewed here last Friday), and many other beloved middle-grade fiction and nonfiction books. THE GIRL WHO DRANK THE MOON is my ✨Favorite Middle-Grade 2016 Read ✨ so far, and I couldn’t think of any better way to celebrate #NationalBookLoversDay AND THE GIRL WHO DRANK THE MOON’s book birthday than to share our … Continue reading Interview with Kelly Barnhill: Author of THE GIRL WHO DRANK THE MOON and THE WITCH’s BOY
8 on Eight: August Contest Feedback
Thank you to all the brave souls who entered this month’s 8 on Eight contest! Sharing your writing takes courage, and we appreciate your enthusiasm for our contest. If your name wasn’t drawn from the Triwizard cup this time around, keep an eye out for when our next contest window opens at 8 PM on August 31st. Below, we’ve posted the first 8 lines from … Continue reading 8 on Eight: August Contest Feedback
Book Review: The Girl Who Drank The Moon by Kelly Barnhill
Prepare to be enmagicked! It happened to me before I even read Kelly Barnhill’s THE GIRL WHO DRANK THE MOON. When I saw the enchanting cover art so many months ago, I knew the book would have to be mine. It called me. And then I won an ARC from Goodreads, like it was my destiny. It arrived the day I got back from vacation. I opened the … Continue reading Book Review: The Girl Who Drank The Moon by Kelly Barnhill
10 Tips to Control Writing Book Fever
My parents gave me a subscription to THE WRITER magazine when I was a kid. Years later, as an adult, I shyly checked out writing books from the library. You’d think I was checking out something indecent, but laying the books on the check-out counter felt like hubris. It was hard to meet the librarian’s eyes. I mean, if anyone knows what a writer looks … Continue reading 10 Tips to Control Writing Book Fever
The 8 on Eight Contest Window is Open!
Fellow writers! The 8 on Eight contest window is OPEN! Q: I must have missed the announcement. What is 8 on Eight? A monthly contest that provides one lucky kidlit writer with feedback on their opening eight lines! As part of our ongoing mission to support writers, we’ll give a PB, MG, or YA writer feedback on their work from at least 8 of The Winged Pen’s contributors. … Continue reading The 8 on Eight Contest Window is Open!
FOWP Spotlight Interview! Featuring Kristi Wientge!!!
Kristi Wientge is one of my supercool CPs here at The Winged Pen, and her debut middle-grade novel KARMA KHULLAR’s MUSTACHE releases next summer. It reads like a contemporary Judy Blume novel, and I CANNOT wait to get my hands on it. Because I’m TOTALLY obsessed with Kristi and want to know MUCH MORE about her, I jumped on the chance to put her in the FELLOWSHIP … Continue reading FOWP Spotlight Interview! Featuring Kristi Wientge!!!
Literary Auctions: The Inside Scoop with Pitch Wars Winner Eric Bell
With all the Pitch Wars excitement in the air, I thought it would be fun to invite the MG winner of PitchWars 2015 to stop by for a chat. Eric Bell, thanks for joining us! Your 2015 PitchWars entry generated tremendous enthusiasm during the agent round. I’d love to hear about that, but first … let’s talk about your publishing deal. Your middle grade novel sold … Continue reading Literary Auctions: The Inside Scoop with Pitch Wars Winner Eric Bell