Sue Bradford Edwards's Blog

E-books vs Print

I’m trying to remember who it was who recently made the claim to me, “Absolutely no one buys print books any more.” Honestly, you have to be a special kind of clueless to make this claim in my house. Other than bathrooms, the only room without a book in it is the kitchen. All of … Continue reading E-books vs Print →

Review: The Gardener of Alcatraz

Writers looking for an example of a compelling picture book biography should pick up The Gardener of Alcatraz by Emma Bland Smith. It is getting harder and harder to sell a picture book biography and this one can help you see what is necessary to make that sale. When Elliott Michener is sent to Alcatraz, … Continue reading Review: The Gardener of Alcatraz →

Fixing My Episodic Plot

Recently I was looking at a piece of fiction I had been working on. I just didn’t like it. It didn’t seem to build because the plot was altogether to episodic. For those of you who aren’t familiar with that term, it means that my plot was a series of loosely connected events. And I … Continue reading Fixing My Episodic Plot →

Self-Censorship Is Nothing New

Is your writing shaped by a fear of censorship? Mine hasn’t been, but I can see why other authors would make different decisions based on what they write. Way back in 2000, one of my writing friends, Elaine Marie Alphin, had a book come out. Counterfeit Son is about the son of a serial killer.  She was … Continue reading Self-Censorship Is Nothing New →

Dyslexics Need Book Love Too: The Value of Graphic Novels

Did you know October is Dyslexia Awareness month? I didn’t know I was dyslexic until I was well into adulthood. My aunt, a school teacher, was learning to administer the test for dyslexia to her students. They taught the teachers how to administer the test by having them take the test themselves. Along with learning … Continue reading Dyslexics Need Book Love Too: The Value of Graphic Novels →

How to Fight Book Bans

What can you do about book banning? It is so easy to feel powerless. After all, the voices pushing for bans seem so loud. They are shouting people down in meetings and online. But there are things you can do. Now, I’m going to tell you that some of the commonly held advice makes me … Continue reading How to Fight Book Bans →

Do Authors Benefit from Book Bans?

I can’t claim that no authors benefit financially from book bans. Sales of some books do skyrocket after the book is banned. This happened with Art Spiegelman’s graphic novel Maus and Maia Kobabe’s Gender Queer. I’ve also heard that Angela Thomas’s book The Hate You Give experienced a boost in sales in a few localized … Continue reading Do Authors Benefit from Book Bans? →

Making Videos: Remember You Are Not Hollywood

For years, I put off making any videos to post. I don’t like the way I sound. I’m not polished or posh. And I don’t have high end equipment like that camera above. Sure, I could go buy a bunch of gear. There are so many people who will tell you that I should have … Continue reading Making Videos: Remember You Are Not Hollywood →

No, They Can’t Just Buy the Book

So often when a book is banned from a classroom or school library, people say “they can just go buy the book.” This video explains why that is not a realistic expectation. –SueBE @BannedBooksWeek #BannedBooksWeek

What Is a Book Ban?

Do you know what a book ban is? It is restricting access to a book. That’s pretty broad, isn’t it. Let’s get more specific. Having a book removed from a class syllabus is a ban. Having a book removed from a school library is a book ban. Having a book removed from a public library … Continue reading What Is a Book Ban? →