From new podcasts, new books and new publishing ventures, our clients are busy. Here’s their latest news…
AWARDS
Congratulations to Don Tate and Liz Garton Scanlon who are both honor winners in the picture book category for the 2017 Writers’ League of Texas Book Award (for books published in 2017). Don was awarded for his book STRONG AS SANDOW, while Liz received the kudos for ANOTHER WAY TO CLIMB A TREE, which was illustrated by Hadley Hooper.
Rhode Island Center for the Book has selected PADDINGTON STORYBOOK COLLECTION, illustrated by R.W. Alley and authored by the late Michael Bond, as the Rhode Island submission for the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, Sept. 1.
PODCASTS AND INTERVIEWS
Author Kwame Alexander and educator Cornelius Minor have recorded a great podcast with back to school tips for educators! Listen here.
Author Cynthia Leitich Smith did a fun podcast for The YARN at School Library Journal with insights about the writing of her upcoming novel, HEARTS UNBROKEN.
And author Carmen Oliver did an interview with VAN on THE VAN SHOW directed by Devo Carpenter. The interview was recorded at the Austin Public Library during the Children’s Day Celebration of Dia de Los Ninos. Check out the video here.
EVENTS
On Sept 9-12, 2018, Don Tate and Carmen Oliver are teaching “The Journey: Everything you Need to Know to Write A Book for Children.” There are still a few workshop spots left to take your writing to the next level! The all-star faculty includes guests James Ransome, Lesa Cline-Ransome, Matthew Winner, and Kelly Light. The Booking Biz client and children’s author Uma Krishnaswami interviewed Don and Carmen at her blog “Writing with a Broken Tusk:” “The Golden Rule and Paying it Forward.” Read the full interview.
On Aug. 18 at noon, Don Tate and Bethany Hegedus are appearing at the Mississippi Book Festival “Picture This” Panel.
Bethany Hegedus will follow this on Sept. 5 when she speaks at the Texas A&M 1st annual Celebrating & Exploring Diversity in K-12 Literature & Literacies (CEDK12) Conference.
NEW BOOKS
The latest picture book illustrated by Don Tate, STALEBREAD CHARLIE AND THE RAZZY DAZZY SPASM BAND written by Michael Mahin, is coming out from Clarion in July. In the book, it’s 1895, and 10-year-old Stalebread Charlie and his friend Warm Gravy roam the streets of New Orleans, homeless and hungry. Stalebread has heard folks say that music feeds the soul—and he wonders if it could also fill their bellies. Soon he and his friends are playing instruments made out of junk—a fiddle from a cigar box, a kazoo from a comb—until their hats are filled with coins, their bellies are filled with beignets, and their souls are filled with music. Don began the illustrations in a hotel room in New Orleans two years ago.
Carmen Oliver has a new picture book in the works, illustrated by the amazing Katy Dockrill. A VOICE FOR THE SPIRIT BEARS: HOW ONE BOY INSPIRED MILLIONS TO SAVE A RARE ANIMAL is set for publication on May 7, 2019, with Kids Can Press. The book tells the true story of Canadian Simon Jackson, a “young person with no remarkable skills or intellect but simply with a passion,” who overcame challenge after challenge to save the endangered black and white spirit bears. As others join his cause, shy Simon discovers he’s as fearless as the bears himself.
NEW VENTURES
Kwame Alexander‘s new publishing imprint with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt has an official name and logo. Versify, will publish books curated by Kwame, full of innovative creators with fresh and varied voices and books that electrify, edify, and exemplify! This Houghton Mifflin Harcourt imprint reflects Kwame’s vision that accessible and powerful children’s literature—in picture books, novels, and nonfiction—can celebrate the lives and reflect the possibilities of all children. Seeking to nurture and develop new authors and artists, in particular women writers, as well as established writers and illustrators, Versify will publish books that explore the beauty, hurdles, and hopefulness of life … books that will engage, entertain, and empower young people to imagine and create a better world. The first books will be coming in spring 2019.
Congratulations to our clients on their continuing kudos and work. Read more past news.