It’s that time of year! The annual #50PreciousWords Contest is going on now. It’s an annual contest hosted by author Vivian Kirkfield to write a children’s book in just 50 words. You can read all the entries here: https://viviankirkfield.com/2023/03/03/official-50preciouswords-2023-international-writing-contest-is-open/ I submitted last year, but this year I wasn’t going to enter. I felt too busyContinue reading “#50PreciousWords 2023 Contest”
World Read Aloud Day 2023: Zoom with a Self-Published Author or Illustrator!
World Read Aloud Day 2023 is just around the corner! This year’s annual celebration will be on February 1 and is brought to us by LitWorld and Scholastic. On World Read Aloud Day, authors and illustrators celebrate the power of reading aloud by volunteering their time to read to children around the world via Zoom!Continue reading “World Read Aloud Day 2023: Zoom with a Self-Published Author or Illustrator!”
World Read Aloud Day 2023 – A Call for Self-Published Author & Illustrator Volunteers!
World Read Aloud Day 2023 is coming! On February 1, 2023, authors and illustrators from around the world will do virtual visits for schools and libraries. LitWorld, which created World Read Aloud Day, explains it this way: LitWorld founded World Read Aloud Day in 2010 to celebrate the power of reading aloud to create communityContinue reading “World Read Aloud Day 2023 – A Call for Self-Published Author & Illustrator Volunteers!”
My Statement the Freedom to Read
Recently in my community, there was an attempt to have The Every Body Book: The LGBTQ+ Inclusive Guide for Kids about Sex, Gender, Bodies, and Families by Rachel E. Simon removed from the children’s section of our local library. The person who challenged the book wanted it moved to the adult section, calling it inappropriate.Continue reading “My Statement the Freedom to Read”
My Words for 2022
I don’t really do New Year’s Resolutions. If I have a need or desire to make a change in my habits or focus, I tend to do it as needed. The Christmas holidays are usually too full for me to start thinking about those things on January 1 anyway. I am also a slow-processer. IContinue reading “My Words for 2022”
Writing Tips: Mentor Texts
I have learned so much about the craft of writing during this last year. I’m no expert, but I thought it would be fun to share some tips and tricks that have been the most helpful to me for improving my skills. Hopefully some of you will find this helpful. One of the first thingsContinue reading “Writing Tips: Mentor Texts”
The Birth of a New Book
I had a plan that I made at the beginning of the year. I would write 4 picture books by the end of 2021. The first would be the global food book, followed by a picture book biography, and then 2 more that were not yet clear to me. It was ambitious, but I feltContinue reading “The Birth of a New Book”
AJ’s Neighborhood: Release Postponed
Last week we made the decision to push back the release date on AJ’s Neighborhood. Here’s some of what happened: When Amanda and I originally began discussing the book, I imagined a much shorter amount of time for her to complete the illustrations. If I had my way, the book would have come on inContinue reading “AJ’s Neighborhood: Release Postponed”
AJ’s Neighborhood: The Backstory
AJ’s Neighborhood is inspired by my son and our neighborhood, obviously. We love our neighborhood, and we do take walks to the library all the time. And AJ does wear rainboots a lot despite us living in Southern California drought conditions. But there’s a lot more to the backstory of how I came to writeContinue reading “AJ’s Neighborhood: The Backstory”
I Am a Writer
I have been a writer my whole life, but only recently began calling myself one….
Judy Campbell-Smith 