The Write2Ignite Podcast: Ep. 14: Sue Irwin
Introducing… Back in the day, NHL player Jacques Plante wrote letters to a kid in Canada, giving him tips on the game. That kid grew up to be Sue Irwin’s husband. When she learned about this collection of letters, Sue decided to write a book about hockey safety. “Safety Stars” led to another sports book […]
On Our Bookshelf: Sand Cakes by Kallie George
“Sand cake, sun cake, sprinkle-topped-with-rocks cake. Will you eat what I baked?” —Sand Cakes by Kallie George A Summary of Sand Cakes Kallie George’s picture book Sand Cakes tells the story of a creative young baker who turns sand into tasty treats. She makes cakes and pies, tarts and buns–a whole shop full of delicious […]
On Our Bookshelf: Worms Are Our Friends by Toni D’Alia
“Down in the garden , just under the ground, a small wriggly worm is crawling around.”–Worms Are Our Friends by Toni D’Alia April slipped in yesterday, with spring trailing close behind. This time of year, flowers boldly bloom on the trees, grass tentatively peeks up from the ground, and pollen abounds. With everything sprouting up, […]
The Write2Ignite Podcast: Ep. 10: Donna Thornton
When her mother retired and started a raspberry farm, Donna Thornton found her hundred-acre wood. Starting with a baby donkey named Druplet, Donna wrote a picture book as a gift for her mother. This led to a publishing contract, another picture book, and another.
Book Review: Write! Write! Write!
Join us for a book review of Write! Write! Write! by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater, a clever and colorful collection of poems for kids.
The Write2Ignite Podcast: Ep. 8: Cindy Lynn Sawyer
Introducing… When Cindy Lynn Sawyer wrote The Wonder of Under, she stopped short of hiring an illustrator. After all, the cost of hiring someone to illustrate your picture book is the most expensive part of self-publishing a picture book. So you can imagine her surprise when she opened her birthday gift to find a fully […]
The Write2Ignite Podcast: Ep. 6: Brenda B. Covert
Introducing… When Brenda Covert took one of our Master Classes taught by Laura Sassi, she immediately had the idea for Meanwhile, Back at the Manger. A few years later, she finally has a picture book to call her own. A fun re-telling of the birth of Jesus, Meanwhile, Back at the Manger tells the story […]
Darcy Pattison’s Master Class on Self-Publishing: Picture Books and Middle Grade: A Recap by Our Intern, Aubrey Winstead
We are so excited to introduce our intern for the Fall 2025 semester, Aubrey Winstead. Aubrey is a senior at North Greenville University and is making her debut on Write2Ignite’s blog with a recap of Saturday’s Master Class. Welcome, Aubrey! We are so excited to have you on board. The Master Class Saturday’s opening devotional […]
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 […]
Author Interview with Carolyn Bennett Fraiser
A couple of years ago, at a Write2Ignite Master Class, Wiley Blevins, Associate Publisher at Reycraft Books, presented the beautiful nonfiction picture book, Moon Tree: The Story of One Extraordinary Tree by Carolyn Bennett Fraiser. But that wasn’t the first time I heard the author’s name. I felt like I already knew Carolyn – from […]