Author Spotlight Series · nonfiction · picture book · spelling

Can You Spell U-p-l-i-f-t? The Power of Spelling to Level the Playing Field

In 1936, eighth grader MacNolia Cox became the first African American to win the Akron, Ohio spelling bee and to advance to the finals in the national bee. How Do You Spell Unfair is the story of her groundbreaking achievement against a backdrop of racial discrimination.

Author Spotlight Series · teacher-as-writer · writer's notebook

Doing More to Inspire

The things that motivate author Dana Kramaroff, to push through writing heavy content, are also what motivates so many of her students. She values the habits that energize her process, the tricks she uses to keep going, and the ways in which she helps herself when writing is difficult.

Author Spotlight Series

A Sneek Peek at the 8th Annual #TWTBlog Author Spotlight Series

Starting this Sunday, picture book authors, illustrators, and middle-grade authors will share their insights on writing, their processes, and the path to publishing on #TWTBlog's. We want to hear your thoughts throughout the week, so there's a book giveaway for those who share comments on each author's post!

Author Spotlight Series · middle grade novel

Rejection, Love, and Writing

Middle grade author Elly Swartz shares how true authenticity and emotional resonance are the secret sauce in her writing, and how important it is for children to dream big and understand that rejection doesn’t define them.

Author Spotlight Series

Writing Ten Blocks to the Big Wok

Author-illustrator Ying-Hwa Hu is reminiscing the sunny walk in San Francisco’s Chinatown that brought about the creation of her author-illustrator solo debut Ten Blocks to the Big Wok. The sights, sound and tight-knit community she witnessed come together in a picture of happiness she tells in her story.

Author Spotlight Series · graphic novel · middle grade novel

Graphic Novels Combine Words and Images to Create a Unique Art Form

Cartoonist Gavin Aung Than shares the process of creating his middle-grade graphic novel series, Super Sidekicks.