10 Things I’ve Learned from Kid Lit Conferences

10 Things I’ve Learned from Kid Lit Conferences

Hello fellow kid lit writers! By the time you read this, I will be home from my latest writer’s conference! I’m a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), and my regional chapter had their annual conference recently. It was a blast! Not only did I get to attend some wonderful… Read more »

Title Image: Be a conference guru

Be A Conference Guru

Conference season is in full swing, and whether you are attending in person or virtually, conferences can be taxing on mind and body. But they don’t have to be. Here are things I’ve learned from attending conferences large and small that can help you become a conference guru too. Before You Go: Make A Wish-List… Read more »

#5onFri: Five Reasons ThrillerFest ROCKS!

I spent the first week in July at ThrillerFest, the major conference run by ITW (International Thriller Writers). As someone who spends a big chunk of each year at various conferences, I’m not supposed to play favorites, but come on we all have favorites, and it’s not like I’m choosing from among my children. So… Read more »

Episode 43: Book Expo America Survival Guide 2015

Hey there, word nerds! Thanks for joining me for this episode of DIY MFA Radio. Today I want to share with you some survival tips for Book Expo America (BEA), the publishing industry’s premier trade show in the United States. BEA is the Big Kahuna of trade shows in the US. If you’re in the book… Read more »

Episode 42: Interview with Thriller Author Steve Berry

Hello and welcome to another episode of DIY MFA Radio! Today I’m so excited to interview best-selling author Steve Berry. Steve Berry is a New York Times and internationally bestselling thriller author and creator of the Cotton Malone series. His books have been translated into 40 languages, with more than 19 million printed copies in 51 countries. A… Read more »

Episode 32: Writing Conference Survival Guide

Hello and thank you for joining me today! This episode, the DIY MFA Writing Conference Survival Guide, is all about writing conferences! I absolutely love conferences and all the benefits you can gain from attending them. In fact, if I were to point to one thing that has helped boost my career as a writer, it… Read more »

NYC Teen Author Festival 2014

If you’ve been a bookstore recently, there’s one thing you’re sure to have noticed. Young adult literature is on the rise. The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green, made waves when it topped the New York Times Bestseller list for 40 weeks, and it’s not alone. The Divergent series by Veronica Roth occupied spots… Read more »