In 2015, I thought it would be interesting to turn Two Writing Teachers over to children’s authors, illustrators, and professional teaching book authors for week. I wanted to learn from people I admired about their writing process, craft, and experiences with you. Except for 2019 (when I was balancing work and a move to a new city), we’ve had a takeover of Two Writing Teachers every spring. It’s a week I look forward to all year since I learn from authors I admire and share their brilliance with you.
As listeners of the Two Writing Teachers Podcast and participants in the Slice of Life Story Challenge know, I’ve been recovering from breast cancer surgery. Unfortunately, I received news I needed to undergo chemotherapy treatments, which I started last month. I booked the authors for the series in the winter, but by March, I knew I couldn’t lay out all the posts without help. I am grateful to Jess Carey, Betsy Hubbard, Lainie Levin, and Leah Thomas, who helped to make this year’s series possible.
BOOKS AND VIRTUAL AUTHOR VISITS
Would you like to win a copy of one of this week’s featured books and/or have one of these authors do a virtual author visit? Well, be sure to comment on any post that interests you. Details about the giveaways appear below and will appear at the bottom of each author’s post. (You may comment on any of this week’s posts.)
PREVIEW THE SERIES
Without further ado, here’s a look at who will participate in our 10th Annual Author Spotlight Series this week!
Tomorrow: Maham Khwaja reflects on her childhood experience of immigrating to America with her siblings, highlighting the emotional and cultural adjustments they faced. Through vivid memories, such as picking crab apples and playing imaginative games, Maham explores themes of resilience, adaptation, and the bond shared with her siblings during this transformative period. Writing served as a coping mechanism for her, capturing the complexities of her feelings and growth in a new environment.
Tuesday: Rebecca Gardyn Levington reflects on her journey as a children’s book author, overcoming Imposter Syndrome by embracing her identity as a writer. Despite being unpublished for years, she continued to write and learn the craft, eventually selling her first book after a pivotal moment when her son proudly declared her an author. This experience transformed her attitude, leading her to present herself confidently as a children’s book author and poet, which has ultimately contributed to her success in publishing multiple books.
Wednesday: Tyler Gordon shares his journey of overcoming challenges as a partially deaf individual, discovering his voice through art. His debut book, We Can: Portraits of Power, features over 30 inspiring icons who overcame obstacles, showcasing their stories alongside his bold paintings to encourage readers to pursue their dreams. Tyler’s second book, The Boy Who Found His Voice, is about finding self-expression through art, offering an empowering mantra to help readers face doubts and challenges with confidence.
Thursday: Padma Venkatarman’s novel Safe Harbor tells the story of Geetha, an immigrant girl from India, and Miguel, a Mexican American boy, who form a friendship while rescuing a seal pup entangled in plastic trash on a Rhode Island beach. As they work together to save the seal, they begin taking small steps towards environmental stewardship and dream of more extensive actions like lobbying for environmental laws. Through Geetha’s journey, the novel explores themes of environmental responsibility, cultural adjustment, and personal growth, emphasizing the importance of collective action to protect the planet.
Friday: This year’s series will close with a post from Patty McGee and Tim Donohue, who discuss their successful collaboration on “Not Your Granny’s Grammar,” highlighting key elements that made their co-authoring experience effective. They share principles like emphasizing the importance of complementary strengths, establishing trust, and defining expectations. Their post shows how they transformed a casual conversation into a published book that innovates grammar instruction, demonstrating that co-authoring success is methodical and achievable with the right approach.
GIVEAWAY INFORMATION
To enter any of the giveaways, comment on an author’s post by Thursday, May 22 at 6:00 p.m. EDT. Leah Thomas will randomly select the winner and announce it at the bottom of each post by Monday, May 26. You need a U.S. mailing address. Please provide a valid e-mail address when you post your comment so Leah can contact you — for your mailing address and/or to connect you with the author — if you win. Leah will choose a new winner if you do not respond with your mailing address within five days.
Comments on this post are closed.
Discover more from TWO WRITING TEACHERS
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
