Happy Punctuation Day!

Advice For Young Writers, Green-Eyed Monsters and Celebrating The Moment: Bev Katz Rosenbaum Answers Three Questions

Photo of Bev Rosenbaum: Helen Tansey.

Bev Katz Rosenbaum is the author of several works of fiction for young people, her most recent being Who is Tanksy?, published by Orca Books. Bev has worked in-house as an editor for book publishers and magazines and has taught writing at the college level. Currently she juggles writing children's books with freelance editing. Bev lives in Toronto. When she isn't writing, she's catching up on all her friends' books, guzzling coffee, dancing, and hiking ("Not the extreme kind. The mildly challenging and occasionally inspiration kind.") You can find Bev and her work at BevKatzRosenbaum.com as well as on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @bevrosenbaum.

I interviewed Bev for a Toronto blog called blogTO years before we actually met in person and became friends. She is so positive and encouraging, and I'm delighted to have her visit my Inkygirl blog.

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Don't be afraid to ask questions. One question can make all the difference. - Nancy Tupper Ling

(Image above also posted on my Instagram feed. Also doing a giveaway of this art on Twitter today.)

Don't be afraid to ask questions. One question can make all the difference! - Nancy Tupper Ling. Read other great advice from Nancy as well as Andrea Offermann in their joint interview for Inkygirl.com.

I created this doodle this morning with a J. Herbin glass pen from Wonderpens.ca and Robert Oster Astorquiza Olive ink from Baeurinks.ca. I like this new Robert Oster ink because it's dark enough for line drawings but the color adds visual interest. Also, it has enough water resistance that I can add some shading via water (I used a #6 Winsor & Newton Cotman watercolor brush) without TOO much smearing. Paper: HP Everyday Papers HP Premium Choice Laser, 32-pound, which I find is an affordable choice for my many fountain pen doodles. :-)

Journey To Publication and Advice For Writers: Interview with Debut Picture Book Author, Teresa Robeson (QUEEN OF PHYSICS)

Teresa Robeson draws upon her Chinese heritage, Canadian-American sensibilities, as well as her background in science and love of nature when she writes. She has been published in children and adult magazines. Queen of Physics, a picture book biography written by Teresa and illustrated by Rebecca Huang, is her DEBUT PICTURE BOOK (!). Congrats to Teresa! You can find out more about Teresa at TeresaRobeson.com, Twitter at @TeresaRobeson, Instagram at @tmrobeson and on Facebook.

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Have a professional work ethic. It can make the difference between getting published and getting discouraged. - Pat Cummings

Advice for hopeful authors & illustrators: Do your research & have a professional work ethic. The professionalism you show can make the difference between getting published & getting discouraged. More great advice from author/illustrator Pat Cummings in her Inkygirl interview.

A comic for punctuation nerds

Writers: Be aware of when research and prep turns into procrastination

Writers: Be aware when research/prep turns into procrastination.

Ask yourself: "What are you afraid of?" JUST JUMP IN. You can revise later.

(And YES, I speak from experience....)