“A lot of this is letting go of what I want it to be so it can be what it needs to be.” — Karen Laz, picture book writer “Michelle’s guidance was invaluable to me and to taking my manuscript to the next level. I had been floundering and then procrastinating. I was stuck. Once […]
Why do writers celebrate? When do we celebrate? And how? I had a lot of fun writing this post for The Mixed-Up Files of Middle-Grade Authors. You can read it by clicking here. And when you’re done, think of something that happened today that is worth celebrating. And then… CELEBRATE! Keep reading, keep writing, and […]
… and ten thousand more to go-oh-oh. (If you’re of a certain age, you can thank me for putting James Taylor into your brain for the rest of the day. If you aren’t, or if lyrics just aren’t your forte, that’s a line from Sweet Baby James.) It’s tax time, and I’m doing what authors […]
Each year, I choose a word of the year. A word that I hope will help me grow or change or cope or stretch. Two years ago, when I was juggling two demanding careers and a growing family, I chose the word Balance. Here’s how I visualized Balance: Last year, feeling a little more on […]
Michelle Houts is blogging this week from The Mazza Museum’s Summer Conference. The Mazza Museum is located in Findlay, Ohio and houses one of the largest collections of original art from children’s literature. The museum also hosts authors and illustrators throughout the year. Stick around to see who shows up this week. You won’t be […]
John Bemelmans Marciano never met his famous grandfather, but thanks to a treasure trove of family memorabilia, he knows a great deal about the man who gave the world Madeline. With no visual aids, John captivated his Mazza audience with stories for 45 minutes, proving that he is not only an incredibly talented illustrator, but […]
