Just Write For Kids

I have terrific news! But first – let me ask you a question: *Have you ever dreamed of writing a children’s book? *Do you have an idea for a story but don’t know where to start? *Have you written a book, but don’t know what the next step should be? *Would you like to join the multi-million dollar children’s book industry, but have no idea how? Perhaps you know me as the author of many best-selling children’s books written in partnership with my mother, Julie Andrews. I’m also a writing teacher, Director of the Southampton Children’s Literature Conference, and a freelance editor - as well as being ...

Poetry Can Change the World – Or At Least, How We View the World

Julie Andrews Collection of Poems, Songs & Lullabies My mother and I have always believed that poems, songs, and lullabies have the power to transform into family treasures. Poetry, in particular, is the perfect shared family experience - as a "read-aloud" it can be one of the best ways to introduce young people to the joys of reading. Great poems make children want to read - they give us a vision of beauty and joy in the world, and an awareness of the richness and power of language. We are therefore very excited about our most recent collaboration, a ...

FREE Jumpstart Guide

This guide was written by Emma Walton Hamilton, bestselling author of numerous books including "Raising Bookworms: Get Your Kids Reading for Pleasure and Empowerment". Emma is passionate about helping parents raise children who love to read and her strategies have been proven to work over and over again. Here's what you'll discover inside the FREE Jumpstart Reading Guide... 1. WHY is it so important that we raise our kids to be readers? 2. Emma’s 25 Reasons To Read Checklist 3. 5 Key Strategies to Get Your Kids Reading 4. Tips and Resources for Reading with Babies, Toddlers, & Elementary Aged Kids 5. Tips and ...

Raising Bookworms

“How can I get my child to turn off the Gameboy (TV, computer etc.) and pick up a book?!” This is the question that Emma Walton Hamilton, the best-selling children’s book author, educator, and Editorial Director of the Julie Andrews Collection publishing imprint, hears the most often. Whether on a book tour with her mother and co-author, the legendary actress Julie Andrews, at speaking engagements in schools, libraries and other public arenas, or in casual conversation, this question surfaces again and again, with increasing urgency, from parents, grandparents, educators, librarians and caregivers across the country. In fact, eighty-two percent of parents wish ...

Blog

Why You MUST Write That Children’s Book

I was recently interviewed for the esteemed blog “Cynsations,” run by the very talented YA author Cynthia Leitich Smith. It was a real honor – Cynthia’s site is among the most respected, and followed,...

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Conferences, Festivals, Bookfairs and Other Opportunities for Writers to Eat

Our MFA in Writing and Literature team spent the week in Denver at the annual AWP (Association of Writers and Writing Programs) conference. This got me thinking about the value of conferences to writers, and – a blog post...

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The Why’s and How’s of Choosing an Editor

Writing for young people is deceptively difficult. But getting published these days can be a harder task than the writing process. The marketplace has changed dramatically over the past ten years, and the pressure on publishing...

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Marketing Mondays #10 – Social Networking 101 for Children’s Book Authors

This topic is WAAAYYY too big for one little blog post (which is why it’s a 101 as opposed to a 500). That said, for those of you who are wondering if social networking applies to children’s book authors, the answer...

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The 6 Common Mistakes Made by Aspiring Children’s Book Authors

In my freelance editing practice, I read as many as 100 children’s book manuscripts a year – sometimes more. Over and over again, I see aspiring authors making the same basic mistakes. This was one of the main reasons...

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