Tell us about your most recent book and how you came to write/illustrate it.All-American Muslim Girl is a YA novel born of my own experiences as a white-passing mixed-race Muslim in Georgia. I’m the daughter of a Jordanian-Circassian father and a blond Catholic cheerleader from Florida who converted to Islam when she and my dad... Continue Reading →
What was the seed that sparked Chicks Rule?There were a number of experiences that “hatched” the idea for Chicks Rule (if you’ll pardon the pun!). Some of them are specific to me and my life although most of them are experiences that most girls have unfortunately endured. I don’t think I know a single woman... Continue Reading →
Please tell us about the most recent diverse book you published.I’m still at the very early stages of building my list, but I was fortunate enough to edit two books with diverse characters recently:The Fantastic Body is a nonfiction, illustrated guide to the human body for kids. Because the book would be so heavily illustrated,... Continue Reading →
Interview with Saraciea Fennell, organizer of the first ever Bronx Book Festival (May 18-19, 2018).How do you self identify?My family is a wonderful mix of many things. I identify as Afro-Latina/indigenous (Garifuna) from Honduras/Jamaica, and black and Native American.Tell us about the Bronx Book Festival?I’m bringing the first book festival featuring traditionally published bestselling and... Continue Reading →
By Julie BlivenThe first diversity question today is how do you self identify?I am a black American woman. How did your background influence your early reading and writing habits, if at all?I grew up in a family where education was of utmost importance. Reading, writing, and all things academic were as normal and mandatory as... Continue Reading →
Candlewick Press Publicist Jamie Tan, with questions provided by summer marketing and publicity intern Melissa Lee:As someone who’s spent a couple years trying to figure out the right career path, it didn’t dawn on me to consider publishing until I began blogging and reviewing. What about publishing appealed to you?My mother says I have been... Continue Reading →
Candlewick Press Assistant editor Melanie Cordova, with questions provided by summer editorial intern Isabella Corletto.Interning at Candlewick has been my first experience in publishing. What made you want to get into publishing? How did your career begin, and how long have you been working in the industry? Did you always know you wanted to pursue... Continue Reading →
When and where did you start working in publishing, and what was your entry-level position and title?My very first start was as an intern at Levine Greenberg (Rostan) Literary Agency back in Fall 2010, but my first full-time position was as an Agency Assistant at Scott Waxman Literary (now called Waxman Leavell Literary Agency). I... Continue Reading →
Alvina Ling is the Vice President, Editor-in-Chief at Hachette Book Group/Little Brown Books for Young Readers.When and where did you start working in publishing, and what was your entry-level position and title?I started here at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (when we were based in Boston) in August 1999 as an Editorial Assistant. I’ve... Continue Reading →
Tell us about your most recent book and how you came to write/illustrate it.My debut novel, The Truth of Right Now, was just published last week by Simon Pulse and I’m seriously excited that it’s finally out in the world! It’s a story I had wanted to write for several years before I actually did... Continue Reading →
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