I'm happy to feature author Nadine Poper on the blog today! Nadine has not one but two lovely picture books releasing with Blue Whale Press! I enjoyed learning more about how Nadine switched from being a theater major to pursuing elementary education in college, and I'm always thrilled to chat with librarians! Read on for Nadine's thoughts about stories . . . creativity . . . and connection! STORIES -- Discuss the inspiration for your ideas and stories, and share the process

I'm happy to showcase my #SeenIn19 writing pal, Michelle Schaub, on the blog today. I absolutely love her new picture book poetry collection, FINDING TREASURE: A COLLECTION OF COLLECTIONS. Michelle shares her thoughts about stories . . . creativity . . . and connection -- including her amazing creative word art project. Thanks for joining us, Michelle! Stories - Discuss the inspiration for your ideas and stories, and share the process about your latest projects. I’m a poetry

I'm so happy to feature my #SeenIn19 writing pal, Ann Marie Stephens, on the blog today. Her new picture book, ARITHMECHICKS ADD UP: A MATH STORY (illustrated by Jia Liu, Boyds Mills Press) is absolutely adorable. And I can't wait for her next picture book, ARITHMECHICKS TAKE AWAY (such clever titles!). Here are Ann Marie's thoughts about stories . . . creativity . . . and connection. STORIES – Discuss the inspiration for your ideas and stories, and share the process about yo

I'm really looking forward to tomorrow's US debut of Evelyn's picture book, CAPTAIN GREEN AND THE PLASTIC SCENE (illustrated by Danny Deeptown). I love spending time at the beach, and Evelyn's book about oceans, the creatures who live there, and plastic pollution, resonated immediately. Here are Evelyn's thoughts about stories . . . creativity . . . and connection. STORIES – Discuss what inspires your ideas and stories, and share the process about your latest projects. First,

I'm happy that Shanna Silva and I are both "Book Meshuggenahs" - a group of Jewish women writing Jewish-themed children's books. I finally met Shanna in person at the Jewish Book Council Children's Book Writing Seminar this year. Shanna's wonderful new book, HANNAH'S HANUKKAH HICCUPS, illustrated by Bob McMahon (Apples & Honey Press, 2018), arrived just in time for Hanukkah! I'm delighted to feature this children's author and theater producer on the blog today, sharing about

Lisa Amstutz is one of those authors who is so prolific you wonder how she does it! And then her latest beautiful book releases (FINDING A DOVE FOR GRAMPS, pictures by Maria Luisa Di Gravio, Albert Whitman & Company), and you marvel that she's done it again. I'm delighted to feature Lisa on the blog today, sharing her ideas about stories . . . creativity . . . and connection. Welcome, Lisa! STORIES – Discuss what inspires your ideas and stories, and share the process about yo

Sandie Sonke created magic with her illustrations for our picture book, SCARLET'S MAGIC PAINTBRUSH. Her talent and vision stood out from the beginning, and I was delighted to share this project with her. I'm so happy to feature Sandie on my blog today. STORIES – Discuss what inspires your ideas and stories, and share the process about your latest projects. Thank you for inviting me here, Melissa! Inspiration is all around me, but I would say I’m inspired by my two children Co

I can't wait to get my copy of author Viviane Elbee's adorable debut picture book, TEACH YOUR GIRAFFE TO SKI (illustrated by Danni Gowdy). I met Viviane through #EPIC18, the group of debut picture book authors and illustrators, and I'm thrilled to feature her on the blog today. Here are her thoughts about stories . . . creativity . . . and connection. STORIES – Discuss what inspires your ideas and stories, and share the process about your latest projects. Anything can spark a

I'm happy to be featuring Beth Anderson, another #Epic18 debut picture book author pal. Her picture book, AN INCONVENIENT ALPHABET, illustrated by Elizabeth Baddeley, is a must for anyone interested in a fascinating look at language and spelling, as well as the friendship between Ben Franklin and Noah Webster. I look forward to adding this to my picture book collection. Here are Beth's thoughts on stories . . . creativity . . . and connection. STORIES – Discuss what inspires

EPIC 18 is a wonderful group of debut trade picture book authors and illustrators with picture books releasing in 2018. I'm delighted to be part of this supportive group! And I'm thrilled to be interviewing fellow EPIC 18 author Brenda Maier and adding THE LITTLE RED FORT to my picture book collection! STORIES – Discuss what inspires your ideas and stories, and share the process about your latest projects. Like many writers, I find inspiration everywhere. I’ve gotten ideas fr

A year ago at the end of 2017, I started this blog -- This Writing Life: Stories, Creativity, and Connection. My second blog post was a gratitude cloud based on learning from Julie Hedlund's 12 Days for Christmas for Writers series. And here we are --- a year later! I have lots to be grateful for from 2017: Family Friends The KidLit Writing Community My Clear Fork Publishing Family The Children's Book Academy 12 x 12 StoryStorm SCBWI Conferences This Blog!!! My debut chapter

I'm so glad to have author Tania Guarino on my blog today. I love her adorable debut picture book, MEET THE QUACKERS. Let's get quacking with this interview! STORIES – Discuss what inspires your ideas and stories, and share the process about your latest projects. I have a love for farms, farm animals, woodland animals, and nature as well. Fortunately, I grew up and still live in New York’s Hudson Valley where an abundance of all of the above have proven to be the most inspira

I haven't met Sarah in person yet, but I have enjoyed getting to know her as we are both working with Clear Fork Publishing, and assisting with Mira Reisberg's Children's Book Academy Illustration class. Here are her thoughts about Stories . . . Creativity . . . and Connection. Melissa, thank you so much for interviewing me for your blog! It’s so inspiring to connect with writers like you and discover all the different paths and experiences on this kidlit journey. STORIES – D

Happy double book birthday to Joanna Rowland! I really enjoy the insights that Joanna provides in my 3 question interview. Read on for her thoughts about stories, creativity and connection: STORIES -- Discuss what inspires your ideas and stories, and share the process about your latest projects. Thank you for having me on your blog, Melissa! For The Monstructor I was teaching 1st grade at the time and it was one of those windy days where even the students that always listen d

Christine Sromek Laforet has a new chapter book that just debuted from Clear Fork Publishing, with illustrations by Lisa Rush. I'm happy to feature my Spork Sister on the blog today and I look forward to reading more books in the Being Bree Series: INSPIRATION -- Discuss what inspires your ideas and stories, and share the process about your latest projects. My story ideas tend to come from my children, and the Being Bree Series actually originated from my youngest child’s Gui

I just love the picture book, EGG! It's written by my friend and Spork Sister, Laura Clement, and illustrated beautifully by Sunny Choi. As the title character says, WHOMPBOOM! Read on to learn about Laura's stories, creativity, and connections. STORIES -- Discuss what inspires your ideas and stories, and share the process about your latest projects. Life inspires my ideas. I love walking around and seeing life, breathing it in and feeling it. I have a photographer’s eye, I

Ellen Leventhal is on my blog today! I had connected with Ellen on the KidLit forums and we became friends when we became Spork Sisters! I love her book Don't Eat the Bluebonnets and I really look forward to reading Lola Can't Leap, releasing in 2018 (also from Clear Fork Publishing). I'm delighted that she's here to answer my questions about stories, creativity, and connection. And I'm so excited to finally meet Ellen in person in September at the North Texas SCBWI Conferenc

I'm so happy to be hosting Julie Pepper's first blog interview! I really look forward to the release of Julie's debut picture book, IT'S TIME, coming from Clear Fork Publishing tomorrow, August 8, 2017! Anne Steele's illustrations look beautiful! I enjoyed getting to know my Spork Sister through our conversation about stories, creativity, and connection. STORIES – Discuss what inspires your ideas and stories, and share the process about your latest projects. My children have

You're in for a treat today! I have the lovely Jenna Grodzicki on my blog! Jenna is my Spork sister and one of my fabulous critique partners. I connected with Jenna as a writing pal through the 12 x 12 Picture Book Challenge (hi to all my amazing Cps!) and then through our publisher, Clear Fork Publishing/Spork. I spend most of my summer at the beach, so I can't wait to read Jenna's upcoming picture book about a friendly shark named Finn. Read on to learn more about Jenna and

As I move into 2017, I am inspired to express gratitude to the people, groups, classes and challenges that have helped me along this writing journey: To the special people in my life: My family for their never-ending support and for listening to all my stories - thanks to my husband Larry and daughters Zoe, Jessie and Maddie My mother, Connie, for editing countless drafts of everything I have ever written My friends for cheering me on My critique groups for pushing me to revi