Matthew Winner | Writer Side UP!

OK, it’s my guess you didn’t know that the Emerald City is actually made up of Big White Tents and the yellow brick road happens to be flagstone. Well, take it from me — it is! On my FAVorite “KidLit” day of the year, I “fly over the rainbow” to the Princeton Children’s Book Festival to take in everything this “Oz” has to offer 😀

Each September as the date approaches, I await the beautiful poster art (this year by Brian Biggs), and I wish upon a star in anticipation of the list of authors and illustrators I’ll see when I peer through that “crystal ball” on the site. I am always elated because, without fail, the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion are there, along with other treasured friends and many new ones I hope to meet AND—their books! Continue reading →

(*Please note: this has not been updated since first posted, but most links should still work; there is a plethora of new and archived interviews to enjoy!)

The first time I became aware of the term “podcast” was over 10 years ago. When I was immersed in the online “Harry Potter” fandom, I heard of the “Mugglecast” podcast. At that time, for whatever reason, I couldn’t or simply didn’t know how to access it. It was launched through Mugglenet, whose team was attending and hosting all kinds of events pre-Deathly Hallows, and broadcasting Live. I didn’t get to hear any of it, and not until JUST NOW, when I googled it for this post, did I know they’re still doing it! 😎

Anyway, it was not until I became active on Twitter a few years ago, and wove my way into its wonderful online community of KidLit, did “podcast” come up again. That’s when “Let’s Get Busy” with host Matthew Winner became one of my favorite pastimes. It was the first one I began listening to Continue reading →