As a writer, there are some books that when I start reading them, I think, I wish I would have written this. Not because it’s on the bestseller list, although that would be nice!, but because it’s an original idea and well executed, and you know that people are going to love it. This is [...]

This originally appeared on a great blog by Anne E. Johnson, JESTER HARLEY’S MANUSCRIPT PAGE, where she reveals her own writing as well as highlights several fiction authors in all genres! Check it out here: http://anneejohnson.blogspot.com/ When I do school visits, I often talk to students about “potato ideas.” These are ideas that are not [...]

Many children love historical fiction, and teachers and parents like it because it helps teach a period in history that’s in the curriculum. I chose to write a historical fiction novel because of my background as a teacher and of how much I loved to read novels like Little House on the Prairie and Sarah, [...]

During the Siege of Vicksburg, the citizens of Vicksburg had to use a lot of substitutes for everyday foods and products because the Yankees were stopping their supplies from reaching them AND the general store had to charge more money for each product, too. In my middle grade historical fiction novel Finding My Place: One [...]

Reviewed by Margo Dill, www.margodill.com, margodll@aol.com Middle grade novel, historical fiction 13-year old girl as main character Rating: Not only is Listening for Lions interesting because part of it takes place in early 20th century Africa, but Gloria Whelan has you falling in love with the main character and rooting for her during her plight. [...]