Category: Non-fiction

Interview with Non-fiction Author Kerrie Logan Hollihan

1/3/2019

Kerrie Logan Hollihan is a veteran non-fiction writer from my local Cincinnati SCBWI group who has multiple honors under her belt for her previous books. Her latest book Mummies Exposed! "The Scoop on Sleeping Beauties, Masked Men & Tattooed Tourists, Traders, and Tribesmen" is set to come out May 2019.
It's the first book in the new "CREEPY and TRUE" series published by Abrams Books for Young Readers.

Everyone has certainly heard of the mummy of the boy King, Tut. This book includes him, of course, but also discusses the discovery of many more mummies that are not as well known. Full color photographs of the subjects are included as are interesting "factlets" throughout. I am happy Kerrie has agreed to answer some questions about her upcoming book and about her writing life.

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Interview with Non-Fiction Author Brandon Marie Miller

6/7/2016

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I am lucky to get another interview with a non-fiction writer, Brandon Marie Miller, from the Southwest Ohio Chapter of SCBWI I attend, who has a newly released book for those interested in American history. When I first joined the group, Brandy was especially helpful to me by critiquing a few chapters of a YA historical fiction book I am revising. I think she felt pity on me when she learned I was getting through only three pages a month with a critique group I attended. Recently, she has been providing advice on writing book proposals and query letters as I struggle through that process.

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Interview with Non-Fiction Author Mary Kay Carson

5/17/2016

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I met Mary Kay Carson in the Southwest Ohio chapter of SCBWI where we are members. The group meets monthly to discuss writing topics, host guest speakers, critique each other's work, and help each other out in general by providing support and answering questions. Mary Kay is a great resource within the group as a non-fiction science writer, especially to me, who is trying to get my own science non-fiction books published. I read her latest book, Inside Biosphere 2: Earth Science Under Glass, last year while serving on the Sibert committee.

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Concentrated Course in Nonfiction - a Highlights Foundation Workshop with Peter Jacobi

3/16/2016

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Peter Jacobi - center - with attendees

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2015 Trends in Children's Non-Fiction - the first half of the year

6/18/2015

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As a member of the 2016 Robert F. Sibert Award committee, I am honored to receive many non-fiction books for children from publishers all year. It's always exciting when another package arrives on my doorstep full of the newest and best books being published. Now, at the halfway point through the year, as I am preparing to attend the American Library Association conference, I wanted to reflect on the trends I have noticed so far. Sorry to disappoint any readers hoping to read a review or two, since that is normally what I do. This blog is dedicated only to my observances about trends. You'll get to read plenty of reviews later! So, in no particular order:

Picture Books - without a doubt, the majority of the books I have received this year have been picture books. I am guessing it has to do with the Common Core Curriculum and a focus on books for younger children.
Biographies - biographies for younger readers seems to be huge this year. While there are a few of the staples like Sacajawea and Sojourner Truth, there are also those on singer Elvis, author Judy Blume, guitarist Doc Watson, artist Benny Andrews, inventor of the ear muff, Chester Greenwood, and even the soldier and his bear that inspired Winnie-the-Pooh, among others.
Diversity - well, the campaign to "produce and promote literature that reflects and honors the lives of all young people (weneeddiversebooks.org) has made an impact! There are biographies, as mentioned above, about people with diverse backgrounds, such as Mahalia Jackson, Sonia Sotomayer, Jackie Robinson, trombonist Troy Andrews, Jelly Roll Morton, and Red Sox pitcher Pedro Martinez. As well, there are topics that could be included here such as interracial marriage, differing cultures, different types of families, and even natural Native American remedies.

Science - oh, how I love to see the beautiful photographs included in these! From the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) and Common Core educational requirements comes this influx of beautiful books for younger readers about science. Topics cover a wide range from wind, to plants, to dinosaurs (that should be very popular with Jurassic Park out now,) to leaves, to birds, to the science behind amusement parks, to bees, to octopuses (hey! that should be my book!)
History - the picture book makes those boring dates and facts much more accessible. There are many on civil rights and cultural history, such as the Harlem Renaissance and Jazz. There are those on the Founding Fathers, Dolly Madison, and Jane Addams. And then there are the unique that show the passage of time through history with the use of clothing and food.

As I head to San Francisco next week to discuss non-fiction books with my committee, I will be anxious to hear their opinions on our selection of non-fiction books and listen for other trends I may have missed. I will have an update on this topic at the end of my term, I'm sure, and will be able, at that time, to write reviews about them.

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Interview with Non-fiction Author Kerrie Logan Hollihan

Interview with Non-Fiction Author Brandon Marie Miller

Interview with Non-Fiction Author Mary Kay Carson

Concentrated Course in Nonfiction - a Highlights Foundation Workshop with Peter Jacobi

2015 Trends in Children's Non-Fiction - the first half of the year

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