Beth Anderson's Blog

Just as perspective led to Karen Nyberg’s global quilt project from space, author Ann McCallum Staats found the heart of A QUILT OF STARS: ASTRONAUT KAREN NYBERG STITCHES A DREAM by exploring perspective. In this fascinating story, a bit of tradition and old-fashioned skills find their place in space!

GIVEAWAY! Leave a comment below for a chance to win a copy of “A QUILT OF STARS” from Ann!

Congratulations to Lisa Connors, the winner of WINTER SOLSTICE HILL from Cathy Ogren!!

How a Pat...

When an author can embed the emotional core of their connection to a story, it’s easy for readers to connect and bring something special from it to their own lives. Author Cathy Ogren is really good at mining her memories, and in this post she shares how that played a role in writing WINTER SOLSTICE HILL.

GIVEAWAY! Be sure to leave a comment after the post to get in on the GIVEAWAY for a copy of WINTER SOLSTICE HILL from Cathy!

Congratulations to Christine Van Zandt, the winner of NO BRA...

NO BRAIN THE SAME is the third book in a terrific series that I would have loved to have had when I was teaching. You can find posts on the previous two on this blog here: NO WORLD TOO BIG and NO VOICE TOO SMALL. In this article, author Keila Dawson shares a

GIVEAWAY! To be entered to win a copy of NO BRAIN THE SAME from Keila, just leave a comment below!

Congratulations to Evelyn Hendrix, the winner of WHEN GEORGE WASHINGTON BOWED TO THE NEW NATION from Barbara Carroll Roberts!

Cele...

In this post, author Barbara Carroll Roberts shares a very special moment in our history. To ensure the significance of this moment wasn’t overlooked, the congress used a powerful metaphor. And today you can not only ready about it in WHEN GEORGE WASHINGTON BOWED TO THE NEW NATION, you can also see it preserved in Maryland’s statehouse.

GIVEAWAY! Leave a comment below for a chance to win a copy of WHEN GEORGE WASHINGTON BOWED TO THE NEW NATION from Barbara.

Congratulations to Teresa Robes...

What a treat to share the work of another one of my critique partners, author/illustrator Julie Rowan-Zoch! I am endlessly fascinated by the illustration process and always enjoy learning how it plays out. Julie is SO skilled at characterization, and the extra nods to other illustrators and books adds a secret layer for observant children’s book aficionados!

GIVEAWAY! Be sure to leave a comment below for a chance to win a copy of this truly creative book!

Congrats to Patricia Nozell, th...

As one of author Lynn Becker’s critique partners, I have to tell you that her tuneful stories can keep you humming and tapping long after the meeting! But it’s not all fun and songs, she tweaks and fine-tunes until every word is just right and the story sings! Congratulations on this fabulous book, Lynn! And thanks for sharing a bit of your process with us!

GIVEAWAY!! If you’d like a chance to win a copy of GHOST TOWN IN THE MOUNTAINS from Lynn, just leave a comment below.

Tune + Topic = t...

This post from author Darcy Pattison is a perfect sequel to Colleen Paeff’s post last week. Both authors experienced the power of place as they approached a story. A trip to Poland helped Darcy visualize the life of Copernicus so very long ago to create NIGHT: HOW COPERNICUS MADE THE SUN STAND STILL AND THE EARTH MOVE.

Congrats to Julie Rowan-Zoch, the winner of PUFFLINGS FLY FREE from Colleen Paeff!

The Power of Place to Find Story

By Darcy Pattison

The car was dead! We stood ...

Visiting a place is magical, but authors can’t always do that to research a story. Here’s a fantastic post from author Colleen Paeff on how she landed on the heart of her puffling rescue story in Iceland, along with some tips for how to get a sense of place, people, and the heart of a story when that’s not possible.

GIVEAWAY!! Leave a comment below to get in on the giveaway for a copy of PUFFLINGS FLY FREE! A RESCUE TALE FROM ICELAND!

Congrats to Laura Roettiger, the winner of SILENCE SO...

Finding your own deep connection to a person, topic, or event can create the path to finding the heart of the story. In this post, author Gary Golio shares his experience with his latest release, SILENCE SOUNDS SIMPLE: A DAY IN THE LIFE OF JOHN CAGE.

GIVEAWAY! We’ve got a copy of SILENCE SOUNDS SIMPLE for one lucky person who comments below!

Congratulations to Barbara Ann Mojica, winner of Her Name Was Mary Katharine from Dow Phumiruk!

“Kindred Spirits” by Gary Golio

I was a ch...

It’s truly a treat to share illustrator Dow Phumiruk’s process for HER NAME WAS MARY KATHARINE: THE ONLY WOMAN WHOSE NAME IS ON THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE! If you haven’t shared this book with kids in your life yet this year, it’s a must read! I love seeing it alongside REVOLUTIONARY PRUDENCE WRIGHT and CLOAKED IN COURAGE in book recommendations for children to celebrate the 250th anniversary. Three mighty women we should all know about! HUZZAH!

GIVEAWAY!! Leave a comment below for a ch...