I often wondered why it took so long to get published. Those of us who are fully fledged authors have been asked this time honored question since we were published. I never mind the question, since I was the one asking the same about twelve years ago. When I look back at those years now, I realize how uneducated I really was in the vagaries of this game we call writing. I was a university professor [...]
The Best Friend Bracelet is a warm and funny friendship story with a little magic mixed in. Seventh grader Zariah Brown wants a best friend. She used to have one, but Naomi found another bestie last year. Zariah feels awful about it, especially since she makes personalized friendship bracelets for her classmates. It's a great side business, and her bracelets are in high demand. But, it only reminds Zariah that she doesn't have a best [...]
Congratulations to Fleur Bradley on the release of her latest middle grade novel, Daybreak on Raven Island, a wonderfully spooky book that is accessible to younger readers. Three seventh-grade students, Tori, Marvin, and Noah, are on a school field trip to a long abandoned prison island (inspired by Alcatraz). They're the first class to be allowed to tour the facility so you'd think they would be excited, but they have other things on their minds. Tori would [...]
Who can resist a fun retelling of a classic fairytale? Having some knowledge of the backstory allows the reader to get invested in the story quickly. Today's guest post is a fairytale specialist—Leah Cypess is the author of the SISTERS EVER AFTER series and shares some of her favorite retellings of Cinderella. Leah Cypess: While writing GLASS SLIPPERS, I avoided reading other retellings of Cinderella. But now that GLASS SLIPPERS is out in the world, [...]
Are you pre-published authors keeping an eye on Twitter for the latest middle-grade #MSWL tweets? No worries; we've got you covered! Here are a few from the last few weeks. To learn more about Kelly and her wish list, click here. Sound like a fit for you? Learn more here. Got something weird and lovable? Click here! As usual, do your research, send the agent exactly what they are looking for in terms of pages, [...]
A book trailer is an engaging marketing tool that brings your book to life in a unique visual experience. It's basically a 30-90 second video that explains the narrative arc of your story. Why have one? First, video is a popular way of marketing. People like quick entertainment and information. Video provides both. Second, they are easy to share. They can be shared from YouTube across multiple social platforms including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. When [...]
Congratulations on the launch of the middle grade graphic novel, Wingbearer. The author, Marjorie Liu, is a best-selling novelist and comic book writer known for her work at Marvel, including Black Widow, Han Solo, Astonishing X-Men, and more. The story stars a female protagonist of color who finds strength in fighting for her friends and doing what's right. The artwork brings the story to life with amazing depth and color worthy of framing. Zuli is a [...]
Happy Book Birthday to The Mermaid Queen, the fourth book in the Witches of Orkney series by Alane Adams. With the backdrop of Norse Mythology, returning characters, Abigail and Hugo, encounter more trouble at the Tarkana Witch Academy. Abigail has just helped restore peace in Orkney when she learns that Capricorn, the mermaid queen, has released the Midgard Serpent named Jormungand (love that name) from its underwater prison and is using its powers to threaten Odin to [...]
Enjoy our July mojo picks—middle-grade books that celebrate America. Capture the Flag by Kate Messner: Capture the Flag celebrates the American flag and is a fun mixture of fact and fiction. Anna, José, and Henry have never met, but they have more in common than they realize. Snowed in together at a chaotic Washington, DC, airport, they encounter a mysterious tattooed man, a flamboyant politician, and a rambunctious poodle named for an ancient king. Even [...]
Our March Mojo Picks are biographies. Here they are: Never Caught by Erica Armstrong Dunbar. This is an eye-opening narrative of Ona Judge, George and Martha Washington's runaway slave, who risked everything for freedom. -SE Buy Undefeated by Steve Sheinkin. There are three stories in this book. There's the biography of one of America's greatest athletes, Jim Thorpe. There's the story of the Carlisle Indian School; another [...]
