Category: Uncategorized

Middle Grade Ninja: Book of the Week: A PLACE FOR DELTA by Melissa Walker

This week’s book gives me an opportunity to discuss self publishing, a topic I’ve long wanted to address. It’s a tough old world for writers, Esteemed Reader. As I know many of you who read this blog are writers or publishing professionals, I’ll assume I’m preaching to the choir. I don’t write “sour grapes” posts and […]

Middle Grade Ninja: Book of the Week: THIS IS NOT A TEST by Courtney Summers

This week’s book is actually edgy YA and is filled with adult language and adult content. It is absolutely not appropriate for younger readers and adults should view it as the equivalent of an ‘R’ rated movie. Hope you’re having a great summer, Esteemed Reader. I myself am counting down the minutes until The Dark Knight […]

Middle Grade Ninja: Book of the Week: A WRINKLE IN TIME by Madeleine L’Engle

Here is a wonderful book for you, Esteemed Reader. If you haven’t read it, you should. I guarantee you’re going to have a laugh or two and what’s more, you’re going to be thoroughly engaged in a work of science fiction unlike any other you’ve ever read. A teacher read this book to my class […]

Middle Grade Ninja: GUEST POST: “7 More Questions For Author Anna Olswanger About The Greenhorn Movie”

Anna Olswanger is a literary agent with Liza Dawson Associates in New York where she represents fiction and nonfiction, for young readers and adults. She is the author of Shlemiel Crooks, a Sydney Taylor Honor Book, Koret International Jewish Book Award Finalist, and PJ Library Book, and  Greenhorn.  Click here to read my review of Greenhorn. Anna is […]

Middle Grade Ninja: GUEST POST: “How My Day Job Makes Me A Better Kidlit Writer” by Katie Sparks

After you publish your first book, it’s not uncommon to hear friends and family say: “Bet you can’t wait until you can quit your day job, become famous, and let the riches roll in…cha ching!” Yeah, right. As you might have guessed, writing for children is NOT my full-time job. By day: editor for parenting […]

Middle Grade Ninja: GUEST POST: “Objects with Secrets, Settings that Excite, Cultures that Expand” by Donald Willerton

I was in an antique store and found an old camel-backed trunk. It was a well-made trunk and in good condition, but it was locked. I could not get it open. I asked the owner of the store if he had a key and he said no. I asked if he had ever opened the […]

Middle Grade Ninja: GUEST POST: “Showing Children Our World (Good and Bad) Through Books” by Donna Galanti

As a mother, nothing comes close to my primitive urge to protect my child. So, I thought it ironic to visit a playground in North Carolina with a warning sign of alligators nearby. This sign hit me with the realization that while we can provide our children with the resources to defend themselves and make […]

Middle Grade Ninja: GUEST POST: “The Writing Process” by Matthew Jobin

5:54 am – Walk to café, staring up at the stars while contemplating the vagaries and vicissitudes of life. Avoid looking at the blaring Impact-font headlines screaming, as they always scream, about What Is Happening Now, because it is only when I cannot hear What Is Happening Now that I can access Why Things Happen At […]

Middle Grade Ninja: Batman

Esteemed Reader, if you haven’t read the Banneker Bones books yet, that’s cool. This is mostly going to be a post about writing that anyone could read as I’ll avoid any major spoilers. But seriously, when you get time, read those books:) I’ll give you the first one free. This afterword will probably mean more […]