Sue Bradford Edwards's Blog, page 238
August 25, 2016
Hidden Human Computers
It is always a great feeling when readers connect with your work. But it is an even more heady experience when it happens before the book is officially out. Early reviews of Hidden Human Computers, scheduled for release in early 2017, have this to say. “How often do you see the diagram of a Jim Crow […]
August 24, 2016
The Writing Life: How Many Projects Do You Work on at a Time?
What kind of a writer are you? Are you the type of writer who works on 1 novel manuscript at a time? That’s the way my friend Kris works. She starts working on a novel, contemplating the plot, getting to know her characters, studying her setting. Then she starts writing ahd that the only thing […]
August 23, 2016
Early Literacy: 1000 Books Before Kindergarten
The St. Louis County Library system has an exciting new program — 1000 Books Before Kindergarten. Studies show that children who have been read to since birth have an edge when it comes time to learn to read. Why? Because they have stronger language skills and vocabularies than children who have missed out on this […]
August 22, 2016
Writing and Publishing: It is a Business
If you are a writer who wants to sell your work, you are going to have to keep something in mind. Publishing is a business. When you get feedback from an agent or editor, don’t take it personally. They are critiquing your work, not you. As a writer, that can be hard to remember. We […]
August 21, 2016
Women in Science and Women in Sports
What a great way to start my week. My two most recent books are out from Abdo Publishing. Women in Science and Women in Sports are part of the eight title series, Women’s Lives in History. The most difficult part of these two books wasn’t deciding what to include and what to leave out. That said, that was […]
August 17, 2016
Publicity: TeachingBooks
When I opened the e-mail, I wasn’t sure how to react. I’d used the Audio Name Pronounciations on TeachingBooks.net to help students learn the names of their favorite authors. Once you hear some of them, you never forget how to say them. Scieszka rhymes with Fresca. But why would they contact me? Sue Bradford Edwards. […]
Biography: How to write about someone who isn’t well known
My audiobook of the moment is Terrible Typhoid Mary: A True Story of the Deadliest Cook in America by Susan Campbell Bartoletti. The title may be all Typhoid Mary all the time, but after listening to the first 1/3 of the book, I’d have to say that the focus of the book is on George Soper. […]
August 16, 2016
What Makes a Publisher Your Favorite?
Recently, a writing buddy and I were discussing “favorite” publishers. She has a few things to say about one of my favorites which got me thinking — what makes a publisher a favorite? Book topics. I have to love the types of books they publish. Whether fiction or nonfiction, the books themselves are what I […]
August 15, 2016
Comparing Word Counts
“How long should my chapter book be?” “I want to write a picture book biography like the ones Holiday House publishes. How long should it be?” When my students came to me with questions like this, I used to refer them to Renaissance Learning’s AR Quiz store. Unfortunately, when Renaissance stopped selling quizes individually, I […]
August 14, 2016
Holiday House Sold
Last week the publishing world found out that the independent children’s publisher Holiday House had been sold. John Briggs, Holiday House president, made the decision to do this so that he could retire. The publisher was purchased by “a new company formed by growth equity investment firm Trustbridge Partners.” Although I’m sure this company has […]
