Mary Dyer & the Celebration of International Religious Freedom Day
Today is International Religious Freedom Day — and the reason it’s today is because on this date in 1659, three Quakers were scheduled to hang. Their crime? Being a Quaker … Continue reading
The Cover of Judy Garland: Little Woman, Big Talent
Here is the final cover for Judy Garland: Little Woman, Big Talent, a middle-grade biography about the legendary actress and singer. This is a colorized version of a black-and-white publicity … Continue reading
Banned Books and Other Ways to Eliminate Free Speech
As Banned Book Week draws to a close, I’ve reflecting on all the other ways we attempt to limit free speech. We’ve seen banned movies, banned art, blacklists, cancellations, and … Continue reading
What to Do with That One-Star Review
I’ve seen one-star reviews on Amazon and elsewhere that make no sense. One reviewer complained that she didn’t know it was a children’s book when she bought it, even though … Continue reading
Why So Many of the Books We Love Are Children’s Books
A few weeks ago, another Facebook list made the rounds: List 10 Books that Stayed with You. I participated when I saw it on a friend’s post, and so did … Continue reading
Why I Wrote Mary Dyer, Friend of Freedom
“My life not availeth me in comparison to the liberty of the truth.” “Why did you write about Mary Dyer?” is a question I often get. It usually comes right … Continue reading
What Five Years as a Children’s Writer Means
I realized upon logging in to my Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators account the other day that I have been with SCBWI for five years. That raises the … Continue reading
75th Anniversary of The Wizard of OZ
Today is the 75th anniversary of the release of the most famous version of The Wizard of Oz — the one starring Judy Garland. Two months from now will see … Continue reading
The Personal Rejection: The Backhanded Compliment of Publishing
Sometimes editors love your book but still can’t publish it. There are two types of rejection letters – the dreaded form letter and the personal rejection letter. The former is … Continue reading
Are You Invested in Your Book?
When you finish writing your book, few people will doubt you’re committed to your writing. You’ve spent months or years putting it on paper, and hopefully poured your heart into … Continue reading
John Briggs Books 