Isn’t it funny how commercials will stick with you forever and ever? When I was a kid, the Maryland Lottery’s tagline was “ya gotta play to win,” and although they’ve had a million others since (and I even worked for the Ad company who managed their account some years ago) it’s that one that sticks [ Read the full article… ]

Don’t tell anyone, but…you  may have noticed that we here at BBS didn’t announce that the 28 Days Later submission window was open.  It’s because the campaign is “under construction.” It will be alive and well in 2012, but how we’re selecting authors this year is different. So stay tuned. We’ll get you all up [ Read the full article… ]

Now, now calm down. I needed to get your attention to remind you that this week is Banned Book Week – the national initiative to draw attention to literary censorship. Every now and then, the mother in me enters the room while the writer in me is working and I’ll notice a curse word in [ Read the full article… ]

Young adult has come a long way. But there will always be those who like to remind YA writers that we musn’t try and sit at the grown-ups table. After all we “only” write for kids. Why haven’t they figured out that this dismissive attitude only fuels our fire? I think the mere existence of [ Read the full article… ]

LEE & LOW BOOKS, award-winning publisher of children’s books, is pleased to announce the twelfth annual NEW VOICES AWARD. The Award will be given for a children’s picture book manuscript by a writer of color. The Award winner receives a cash grant of $1000 and our standard publication contract, including our basic advance and royalties for a first time [ Read the full article… ]

With two picture books and a chapter book series in the works, I’ve had an extremely busy workload. But I’m not complaining. In this scary economy, having any work at all is a good thing. It does make me sad, however, that I haven’t been able to dedicate much time here at the Brown Bookshelf. [ Read the full article… ]

Click to see the video here.

WALKING HOME TO ROSIE LEE written by A. LaFaye illustrated by Keith D. Shepherd published by Cinco Puntos Press    The Civil War was fought and slaves were free. And now young Gabe wants to find his mother, Rosie Lee, sold away long ago. But finding her won’t be easy. On the road, Gabe meets [ Read the full article… ]