I’ve been diving into middle grade fantasy recently, and one of my projects was to re-read one of Young Me’s favorites: Susan Cooper’s DARK IS RISING series. Which makes this a good time to do another post in our semi-regular series: Blast from the Past. The gist: We will occasionally read (or listen) to a book we had loved as children but have not re-visited … Continue reading Blast From the Past!
What made you want to become a writer? For many of us, the love of words and stories began in childhood. There are certain books that will never quite lose their shine — books that inspire the writers in us even today, simply because they helped us discover the magic of truly good stories. (Click to read more!) Continue reading Why Everyone Should Seriously Consider Writing a Children’s Book
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
Tips on launching and marketing your book from debut authors @Halli_Gomez, @anya_writes, and @jsamtaylor #the21ders #writingcommunity #writerlife Continue reading Launching and Marketing Your Book. Tips From Debut Authors.
It’s exciting to have one debut novel coming out in a year, but two? Today we are talking with Nicole Lesperance, middle grade and young adult author, who has two novels debuting in 2021! TWP Let’s start with introducing your two novels debuting this year. The Nightmare Thief and The Wide Starlight. Can you give us a brief summary of each? Nicole The Nightmare Thief … Continue reading Double Debut: Interview with Nicole Lesperance
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 and … Continue reading Blast from the Past: Judy Blume
Debut groups. What writers with their first publishing contracts are a part of. Ah, the dream! For years I’ve seen the hashtags of debut groups. We’ve all heard of the most recent Novel19s and Roaring20s, right? As soon as I had serious interest in my young adult novel, List of Ten, I realized I was clueless about the next steps. If my book sold, what would … Continue reading A Peek Inside the Author Debut Group
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
We’re back with another round of Quarantine Reads – this time we’re focusing on some of our favorite middle grade books. Continue reading Ten Great MG Reads During Self-Quarantine
Welcome to my fellow Winged Pen Critique Partner, Kristi Wientge! I’m going to dive right in with questions about your upcoming middle grade release on June 4th, 2019, entitled Honeybees and Frenemies from Simon and Schuster. When did the seed of this story germinate? How was it pollinated?Way back in 2014 I had this idea for NaNoWriMo that really excited me. I dropped my younger … Continue reading Interview – Author Kristi Wientge shares the BUZZ about HONEYBEES AND FRENEMIES
Today we are thanking our lucky stars to have landed an interview with the elusive Zeno Alexander, author of a new middle-grade fantasy adventure that will speak to the hearts of librarians and all who love books and information. THE LIBRARY OF EVER Eleven-year-old Lenora escapes from her inattentive nanny through a secret portal at an arch in her local library and lands in the … Continue reading THE LIBRARY OF EVER: Author Interview with Zeno Alexander
During this morning’s writing session I was reflecting on how long I’ve been at this writing gig. Not in a bad way. Strictly the facts. I’ve written five middle grade novels now. It’s impressive to me when others in the arts share their struggles WITHOUT some big news to share at the end. Just the challenging points in the middle with no “but-now-I’ve-made-it” caveat. So … Continue reading My Writing Life to Date: Stay-at-Home Dad & Words
