Happy 1st Birthday, Kidlit 411!

© Sylvia Liu

Most of you who read this blog know that my friend Elaine Kiely Kearns and I run a resource website for children's writers and illustrators, Kidlit411.



We have been open one year, and it's been so much fun watching it grow. The concept is brilliantly simple (Elaine's brainchild): gather all the kidlit links of good articles, resources, and advice that is available all over the internet and organize it in an accessible and appealing way.

Over the year, the site has grown to include:

• A vibrant Facebook community of writers and authors who share information and support each other (Kidlit Facebook Group)

• A companion group where people can find others to swap manuscripts for critiques with (Kidlit MS Swap Facebook Group)

• Weekly Author and Illustrator Spotlights featuring kidlit authors and illustrators, both well known and up and coming ones. We have featured Jane Yolen, Paul O. Zelinsky, Drew Daywalt, David Diaz, Mercer Mayer, Nick Bruel, and many more.

• Weekly updates of all the new links added each week (The Weekly 411)

This week, to celebrate, we have been running a series of giveaways. Please stop on by and win some of these fabulous prizes (giveaways end Jan. 15):

Day 1 - All About Picture Books   (Jan. 5-Jan.15)

• Signed picture books by Nick Bruel, Drew Daywalt, Tomie dePaola, Debbie Ridpath Ohi and Jane Yolen
• Seven critiques of 1 picture book manuscript given by my critique group

Day 2 - All About Craft  (Jan. 6-Jan. 15)

• Two 20 minute critiques of a PB/MG manuscript by PB author Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen and 10% off her PB writing course  (Picture Books A to Zs: Character Building in Picture Books)

• A PB writing course (Making Picture Book Magic) from Susanna Hill (my review)

• 10% discount on Emma Walton Hamilton's Just Write for Middle Grade course (my review)

• A 30 minute critique of a PB/MG/YA manuscript with editor Elizabeth Law

• Will Terry & Jake Parker's Illustrating Children's Books class

Day 3: Agent Spotlight (Jan. 7-Jan. 15)

• We will feature an agent and offer a chance to bypass the slush pile and query her.

I'm looking forward to another great year!

P.S. My friend Julie Rowan Zoch sent us this amazing birthday banner:

If you enjoyed this post, you may also like:

• Introducing Kidlit411
• Introducing Create One a Day