Writing in the ER
I’m sitting in the ER writing this blog post. My special needs adult daughter, Anna, needed to get checked to see if she had a resistant UTI. I grabbed a notebook on the way out knowing we would be there for a while. It’s an ER, after all! And since I’m leaving to teach at […]
On Our Bookshelf: God Bless America, 250 Years Strong by Mark Weaver
I host Storytime at our local public library once a month. I always look for books for holidays and seasons. Since America will be celebrating its 250th on July 4th this year, I did a search for books for younger children on this topic. I only found one at the time. God Bless America, 250 […]
Nature Walks
This weekend is Memorial Day Weekend, which, even though it’s still spring, marks the beginning of summer fun! Summertime, and the livin’ is easy, right? But writers need to keep writing! What can we do to keep our creative ideas going when we long to go down the shore, sit by the pool, have a […]
Recap: JJ Johnson’s Master Class: Laughing on the Light Side: Writing Clean, Clever Humor for Kids and Teens
This past Saturday, April 18, 2026, we had our spring Master Class. As you see from the title, it was all about adding humor to a story. Our teacher, award-winning, middle grade author, JJ Johnson, broke down three different kinds of humor and told us how we can add humor to any manuscript, no matter […]
Spring 2026 Master Class
This spring, our Master Class will be focused on adding humor to our stories. We’re super excited as this is the first time we’ve focused on humor. Here’s what you can expect! Laughing on the Light Side: Writing Clean, Clever Humor for Kids and Teens Our teacher is JJ Johnson (see my blog post where […]
Author Interview with JJ Johnson
Hey Write2Igniters! I’m pleased to introduce you all to JJ Johnson, our teacher for April’s Master Class this year. In my March blog I’ll focus on what he’s covering in his class, “Laughing on the Light Side: Writing Clean, Clever Humor for Kids and Teens.” I’ve known JJ for several years because of Realm Makers. Just […]
Why in the World Should I Join Write2Ignite?
As authors, whether you write for children or not, there are so many writers conferences, online workshops, clubs/groups, magazines, and more that you can subscribe to. Or become a member of. WHY should you become a member of Write2Ignite? Do You Write for Children? Who is your reading audience? Picture books, chapter books, middle grade, or young adult? All these age groups are included […]
On Our Bookshelf: Knights in Manhattan by Kay DiBianca
Knights in Manhattan: A Reen and Joanie Detective Agency Novel (The Reen & Joanie Detective Agency Series) by Kay DiBianca Back Cover Copy A gang of tricky thieves is on the loose in Manhattan, but no need to worry. The Reen & Joanie Detective Agency is on the case. The two pint-sized detectives track the […]
On Our Bookshelf: Soledad and the Curse of the Phoenix by Mindy Baker
Summary This lower middle grade fantasy set in an ancient Mesoamerican world builds hope and courage rising from destruction. Soledad is a victim of the Phoenix’s evil plagues, just like the rest of her former village. But she’s also different. She’s hiding with her mother’s flute, which the Phoenix is determined to find. After a […]
Tips for Writing More Engaging Picture Books – Part Four: Don’t Dumb It Down
I have this on the author page of my website: “Children are a tough audience. You can fool an adult with persiflage or purple prose, but a kid can tell if you’re faking immediately.”Theodore Geisel (Dr. Seuss) As a children’s author, I work to write stories that inspire and entertain because I believe a good […]