Opportunity Knocks for Children's Book Authors & Illustrators During Showcase

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Feb. 6, 2014 - PRLog -- The National Writing for Children Center is a showcase of children’s book authors and illustrators.  This month, the NWFCC has FIVE authors in its showcase.

The Author: Penelope Anne Cole taught at every grade level before writing children’s books. In addition to writing, she tutors middle and elementary students, and reviews children’s books. A special joy for Ms. Cole is reading to children to encourage them to read on their own and love literature.  She lives in Santa Clara, California with her family and their rescued dogs and cats.  The Book: Magical Matthew’s little sister Mea is a trickster. Mea got her magic when Matthew lost his. Matt tries to guide Mea to use her magic for good. But the more Matt tries to mentor Mea, the more she wants to “do it her way.” Matt worries Mea might get into trouble.

The Author: Alyson Flippo grew up in Hackensack, New Jersey, and graduated from New Jersey’s Ramapo State College with a degree in business administration. She currently lives in South Florida with her husband and children, pursuing her passions which include eating ice cream daily, playing hide-and-seek, and spreading the love along with Addie B. Strong.  The Book: The story of Addie B. Strong is helping our girls focus on their strength and self-worth, instead of more superficial characteristics. To help inspire our girls to see that they are amazing, not because of how they look but because of what they can do; that the only person they need to impress is themselves; that the sky is not the limit and there is nothing they cannot do.”

The Author: Susanna (Leonard) Hill is an award-winning author of nearly a dozen books for children. Her books have been translated into French, Dutch, German, and Japanese, and one coming soon in Korean.  Susanna lives in New York with her husband, children, and two rescue dogs.  The Book: Punxsutawney Phyllis, A Book List Children’s Pick and Amelia Bloomer Project choice is a 32 page book for ages 5 and up. This year on February 2, Phyllis is excited because she can feel that an early spring is in the air.  But, how will she ever get old Uncle Phil out of bed to make his official Punxsutawney Phil Groundhog Day prediction?

The Author: Michael Selden began writing short stories when he was twelve years old.  In July 2013, Michael moved from Baltimore, Maryland to Woodland Park, Colorado, returning to the region where he went to high school, to write and publish books. He also likes to travel, hike, cook, ride motorcycles and meet with friends. The Book: The Boy Who Ran is a Middle Grade novel about a Native American orphan finally attempting to find his place in the world. He could run amazingly fast and in absolute silence through the densest forest without slowing.  Nothing in the world was better than to run; and there was no place as special to run as the forest.

The Author: Sally O. Lee earned her BA in Studio Art and Art History and then went on to study graphic design and painting.  In recent years, Ms. Lee has begun to write and illustrate children’s books. Some of them deal with the struggles of living with some form of handicap…or, as the author prefers to call it, imperfection. Sally lives in Massachusetts with her rescue cat, Dominic. The Book: Pop Pop Bam Bam is a story of an angry man who goes in to a school with a gun and hurts people. It is also a story about those who survived and how they coped.  School shootings are a topic no one wants to talk about, especially with young children.

The National Writing for Children Center is a showcase for children’s books and their authors and illustrators.  Each month, they showcase children’s book authors and/or illustrators to let children, parents, grandparents, teachers, librarians, and others interested in the world of children’s literature know about these artists’ wonderful new children’s books.

Authors and illustrators who are interested in being showcased should visit the Showcase Application page of the website for a complete list of all the promotional activities included in the monthly showcases.