Finch and Squirrel

I tried something new (for me) with "A Mysterious Christmas Visitor": Educational content about reindeer at the back of the book. What do you think? Now available at the early bird price of $9.99: https://tinyurl.com/3ktcfkze

Elves are sneaking gifts for kids into Little Free Libraries for 12 days of Christmas in July.

Working on my sister's posthumous memoir 18 years after her passing reminded me that it’s our stories that connect us while we're on this earth and what remains long after we're gone. And I came to a realization about why I do what I do as a writer, writing coach, and indie publisher: I'm in it for legacy. Maybe one day I'll focus more on sales and marketability, but at this stage in life, I just want to put beautiful, worthwhile books out into the world. I think she'd be as proud of this one as I am.

Caroline didn’t like me at first.
She tolerated me the way you tolerate a substitute teacher who doesn’t know the rules.
Then I discovered two of her favorite things: books and oranges.
I read. I brought snacks. I read while she ate snacks.
Eventually, I became one of her favorite things, too. And we lived happily ever after.
#

My granddaughter didn’t like to read. Eleanor is a curious, quick-minded kid who loves math, technology, and science, but she has ADHD and a form of dyslexia, so reading was a slog. Books just didn’t grab her the way the way playing Minecraft with her friends did. One book changed everything. https://www.finchandsquirrel.com/blog/the-book-that-changed-everything

We'll be celebrating Christmas in July when my newest picture book is released!

Since becoming a children’s book author, I’ve found myself in conversation with many people who have stories to tell but aren’t sure where to begin. My advice is always the same, and it mirrors the guidance I give to the graduate students I teach in Georgetown University’s Public Relations and Corporate Communications program...

The Starting Point for Any Kind of Writing Advice on how to get started writing a story for children

This week on the Inklings blog, we explore pacing in a picture book: what it is, the elements that go into it, and how to get it just right to create the mood and experience you want to give your readers.

Pacing in picture books Discover how pacing shapes a child’s reading experience in picture books and early readers—keeping young audiences engaged, curious, and emotionally connected.

This week on the Inklings blog:

Five Common Pitfalls in Kit Lit Writing The top 5 mistakes new children's book writers make and how to fix them.