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  • How to Make a Picture Book, part 3e

    By Beth | November 9, 2014

    Today, Lori Hanson, illustrator of Bubblegum Princess, continues her posts about character development through illustration. Thanks, Lori! ♦ ♦ ♦ After attending a winter SCBWI conference in New York City in 2011, I was flying over the continent, sketchbook in hand, to return home to California. Now, I will admit that flying in a 747…

  • In the Spotlight: Meg Miller and ReviMo (Interview)

    By Beth | November 6, 2014

    Meg Miller, who is in the spotlight today, is a picture book writer, artist, stay at home mom, wife, dog owner, chicken farmer and so much more! She loves writing — it has always been a passion. She enjoys creating art and acrylic paint is her favorite medium. She’s also an outdoor enthusiast. She loves mountain biking, snowboarding,…

  • It’s Still Halloween — or at least, Halloweensie!

    By Beth | November 2, 2014

    You may have thought that Halloween was over. Well, the part about dressing up and getting treats is finished for this year (unless you’re lucky and have leftovers), BUT Halloween isn’t over until HALLOWEENSIE is over! Halloweensie? That is Susanna Leonard Hill’s fantabulous and astoundingly popular Halloween story contest. It’s Halloweensie because the stories are…

  • In the Spotlight: James McMullan, Artist/Illustrator/Writer Extraordinaire (Interview)

    By Beth | October 23, 2014

    I have several examples of James McMullan’s art in my home, although none of it hangs on my walls. In my CD collection, you’ll find the New Broadway Cast Recording of the 1987 revival of Anything Goes — with Jim’s wonderful Lincoln Center poster as the cover art. On my bookshelves, you’ll find I’m Mighty,…

  • A Word with Beth about “Than” and “Then”

    By Beth | October 19, 2014

    The Grammar Owl is back and so is my monthly feature that looks at some question about English language usage and grammar. Today, the Grammar Owl and I want to talk about the words “than” and “then” and when to use one and when the other. (You may have gathered that from the title of…

  • Leaving China by James McMullan — a book to savor

    By Beth | October 16, 2014

    Title: Leaving China: an artist paints his World War II childhood Author/Illustrator: James McMullan Publisher: Chapel Hill, NC: Algonquin, 2014 Genre: Autobiography; illustrated book for older kids Audience Age: 8 and up (including adults) Themes/Topics: Author/Artist’s early life; China during World War II; Art and growing up Opening Sentences: “My earliest memory is of throwing…

  • How to Make a Picture Book, part 3d

    By Beth | October 12, 2014

    Character Development/ A Collaborative Process Developing the Characters for the Bubblegum Princess    by illustrator Lori Hanson Today, I’m delighted to welcome Lori Hanson, illustrator of Bubblegum Princess — the other half of the collaboration team with author Julie Gribble. Lori will explain how the illustrations contribute to the development of the characters. Thanks, Lori,…

  • Collaborating with another writer… Would you? Could you?

    By Beth | October 9, 2014

    On Tuesday of this week, I heard a fascinating interview on Minnesota Public Radio. In fact, it was so interesting that I have preempted my planned post for today in order to share it with you. In her regular Talking Volumes live interview, Kerry Miller talked with Cassandra Clare, author of the Mortal Instruments series,…

  • A “Just Write” Interview with Author, Educator, Editor Emma Walton Hamilton

    By Beth | October 5, 2014

    We’re welcoming a return visitor to By Word of Beth today, Emma Walton Hamilton. I got to know Emma in 2010 when I took her Just Write for Kids online/home study course in writing picture books. We’ve since become friends and colleagues, working together in the Children’s Book Hub Facebook Group and on the Hub…

  • Re-read Any Good Books Lately?

    By Beth | October 2, 2014

    I love to re-read books. Some books, such as Karen and With Love from Karen by Marie Killilea, I have read so many times that my copies have worn out, and I’ve had to replace them. You’ll note that the links I’ve given for these two books are to Amazon. I rarely link to Amazon…

  • Moving Forward — with Emma Walton Hamilton’s “Just Write for Middle Grade”

    By Beth | September 28, 2014

    As I mentioned when I signed off for the summer, I spent May, June and July taking Emma Walton Hamilton’s online/home study course Just Write for Middle Grade. Back in 2010 I took Emma’s Just Write for Kids, which is a course in writing picture books. I’ve been eager for a similar course dealing with…

  • How To Make a Picture Book, part 3c

    By Beth | September 21, 2014

    I’m delighted that Julie Gribble is back with her monthly guest post on the making of her picture book Bubblegum Princess. Welcome back, Julie! The Making of Bubblegum Princess Story and Character Development – Part 3c: A Collaboration Children’s book writers are there with our readers when they’re very young, learning how to negotiate the terrain, from…