Beth Anderson's Blog, page 2

Behind the Scenes: “Finding ‘Something Extra'” by Eileen Rajala Meyer

Writers are always in search of a special way to tell a story or a unique format that serves the topic. In this post, Eileen Rajala Meyer shares the process that led to the final version of BUILD A SANDCASTLE.

GIVEAWAY! Leave a comment after the post to be entered in the drawing for a copy of BUILD A SANDCASTLE!

Congrats to Jilanne Hoffmann, winner of FANTASTIC FLORA from Ann McCallum Staats!

Finding “Something Extra” by Eileen Rajala Meyer

First of all, thank you, Beth, for the oppo...

Behind the Scenes: “Crafting an Enticing Opening in Nonfiction” by Ann McCallum Staats

Ah, the HOOK! How can you grab the readers’ attention? Snag their interest? And pull them in to read your work? Hooks are key, but sometimes hard to come up with. Take a read through Ann McCallum’s post to learn four specific ways to create hooks. And then leave a comment to be in the drawing for a…

GIVEAWAY! A comment below gets you a chance to win a copy of FANTASTIC FLORA: THE WORLD’S BIGGEST, BADDEST, AND SMELLIEST PLANTS!

Beyond Once Upon a Time: Crafting an Enticing Opening in Nonfi...

Behind the Scenes: “Finding a Way into the Story” by Jeanne Walker Harvey

“Finding a way in” is one of the challenges for an author. But it was also the challenge for the subject of author Jeanne Walker Harvey’s biography of architect I.M. Pei which focuses on his process of creating a way into the Louvre in Paris. You’ll be fascinated by this story behind the story of the iconic glass pyramid.

AND DON’T MISS THE FANTASTIC GIVEAWAY BELOW! A class set of THE GLASS PYRAMID, every educator’s dream!

Finding a Way into the Story by Jeanne Walker Harvey

When I...

Mining for Heart: “Finding the Heart of a Locomotive in BIG BOY 4014” by Marsha Diane Arnold

When author Marsha Diane Arnold discovered a tale of a steam engine that seemed to have a ready-made story arc, she still had to find a way to embed “heart” to emotionally connect readers to the story. How do you do that with a huge steel machine? Check out Marsha Diane Arnold’s post and…

Be sure to get in on the GIVEAWAY for a signed copy of BIG BOY 4014 by leaving a comment below!

Congratulations to Christine Van Zandt, winner of SALAMANDER SONG from Ginny Neil! 

Finding the Heart of a Locom...

Behind the Scenes: “Finding the Magic in Structure” by Ginny Neil

One of the challenges in writing for children is finding a creative way to frame meaning, along with everything else you want to do. In this post, author Ginny Neil shares how she found a structure that would bring home the meaningful hook she wanted to convey.

GIVEAWAY! Ginny is giving away a copy of SALAMANDER SONG to one lucky person who leaves a comment below!

Congratulations to Jennifer Sniadecki, winner of CLEAR AND BRIGHT from Teresa Robeson!

Finding the Magic in Structure by G...

Behind the Scenes: “Celebrating Connections” by Teresa Robeson

Here’s a post from kid lit friend Teresa Robeson who I was fortunate to meet long ago and far away—before the pandemic, when we were just getting started on this journey. In her latest release about a favorite Chinese holiday, CHING MING, Teresa had to find a way to make a cultural story meaningful to kids from any background. This beautiful book is about celebration. And connection. Educators and parents, don’t miss the activities to do with your kids!

Teresa is offering a GIVEAWAY of a copy...

Behind the Scenes: “Write What You Know” by Nancy Castaldo

People often ask authors where book ideas come from. The answers can be wide ranging. While some ideas require tons of research, others are right in front of us. How do you dig into the familiar and see it in new ways, with new eyes? Here, Nancy Castaldo shares how two new books came from her own “familiar” environment. 

GIVEAWAY! Nancy’s offering a copy of WHALES IN THE CITY! Just leave a comment below to enter the giveaway.

Congrats to Cathy Ballou Mealey, winner JOAN MITCHELL PAINTS A ...

Especially for Educators: “’Riding a Bike with No Hands:’ Using Sensory Imagery to Infuse Writing With Emotion” by Lisa Rogers

Here’s a great writing activity for the classroom from author Lisa Rogers! Bringing emotion to the page can be a challenge for any writer, but it’s that emotion that connects a reader. Springboarding from her latest book, JOAN MITCHELL PAINTS A SYMPHONY: LA GRANDE VALLÉE SUITE, young writers use sensory imagery to bring emotion to the page. 

GIVEAWAY!  Leave a comment below to be entered to win a copy of JOAN MITCHELL PAINTS A SYMPHONY. 

Congratulations to…

Kathryne LeRoy, winner of WHERE A...

Behind the Scenes: “Going Off Script” by Janice Hechter

Ideas for books are everywhere, and sometimes arise from a question. In this post, author/illustrator Janice Hechter shares her process of gathering information, which ended up stretching her beyond what she’d anticipated. 

GIVEAWAY! Leave a comment below to get in the drawing for a copy of WHERE ARE THE WOMEN by Janice Hechter. 

You’ve got one more week to get in on the DOUBLE GIVEAWAY for a copy of ONE GIRL’S VOICE and HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT with last week’s post. We’re extending it past the us...

Especially for Educators: “Trading Places: Connecting Story Elements Across Texts and Time” from Beth Anderson and Vivian Kirkfield

Don’t you wonder sometimes if historical figures in the same time period knew each other? or knew about each other? I thought about that a lot when I was working on stories of Prudence Wright and Deborah Sampson. They lived in the same colony, at the same time, both animated by the revolutionary spirit. With our upcoming new releases, author Vivian Kirkfield and I couldn’t help but wonder if suffragist and abolitionist Lucy Stone and Pinkerton detective Kate Warne ever crossed paths or knew abou...