Showing posts with label illustrators. Show all posts
Showing posts with label illustrators. Show all posts

Sunday, January 19, 2020

Children's Author Spotlight: Chance to Dance by Keisha Bussey




Chance to Dance by Keisha Bussey Illustrated by Tyrus Goshay

Author Bio

Keisha Bussey is the author of Chance to Dance. She is also a dance educator. Keisha has a passion for dance and life with her students and colleagues.  She has been a dance educator for 19 years.  She believes in implementing dance books into dance curriculum.  As a little girl, she always had a love for books.  Her mother taught her to enhance her imagination while reading.  Keisha credits her early reading with her mother for an increase in her reading fluency as she became a more effective reader throughout school.  She also credits her third-grade teacher, Ms. Curry with inspiring her love for reading and books.  

Author Interview

DF: Tell us about your journey as a writer.  When did you start?  
KB: My journey as a writer was a long process because I started with a chapter book then decided I to change it to a children’s book. I started writing years ago, brainstorming on ideas I could write  in my journal to creating my manuscript. There were a few life changing things that came up so the process was longer than I expected.  I’m happy for the  learning experience in becoming an author. I’m a visual person so I wanted lots of illustrations for my children’s book. 

DF: Who are some of your favorite writers? 
KB: Maya Angelou and Alice Walker 

DF: Tell us about your current children's book. 
KB: Chance to Dance tells the story of Keisha, a fierce, sassy, dancer who full of energy and excited to learn how to dance. This book allows children to “Dream Big,” follow their hearts desires, believe in themselves, have a vision, and pursue it!

DF: What inspired you to write this book? 
KB: I have always wanted to write a children’s book because I have a passion for dance. My inspiration came from  my third grade  reading teacher.

DF: What has been the reaction to your book?
KB: The best reaction from my book has been my adult friends have said, “I love this book, it  makes me inspired to do what I want in life. You have giving me hope to “DREAM BIG” too. 

DF: In what ways do you keep a connection to your readers and audience?
KB: I’m getting ready to do a Chance to Dance book tour . I have social media to keep us connected, and I also have a book club I will start to do. 

DF: What advice do you have for aspiring children's authors?  
KB: My advice is to do what you love to do. Learn lots of things  while you are young. Continue to read books and  challenge yourself to new adventures. 

DF: What’s next for you (projects, events, etc.)? 
KB: Book Signing and book launch coming up soon. Chance to Dance book tour, and book club coming up next. 

DF: How can we connect with you on social media? 
KB: Facebook Dancing Keisha and Chance to Dance 
Instagram @dancingkeishachancetodance
www.fierce6elitedance.com 



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Friday, July 8, 2011

ALA 2011: Coretta Scott King-John Steptoe New Talent Winner!





ALA 2011: Victoria Bond and T.R. Simon, authors of Zora and Me with Editor Mary Lee Donovan


Zora and Me, the young adult book written by Victoria Bond and T.R. Simon received the 2011 Coretta Scott King-John Steptoe New Talent award.  Congratulations to the authors!  Check out my earlier blog post on this wonderful book

Zora and Me by Victoria Bond & T.R. Simon

I'm a huge fan of Zora Neale Hurston and I applaud the authors on their research and re-imagining Hurston's life as a young girl.  The authors attended the 2011 ALA Conference where they received the King-Steptoe honor.  The late John Steptoe was a brilliant and award winning illustrator of children's books.  His son, Javaka Steptoe continues his legacy as an illustrator.


ALA 2011: Editor Andrea Davis Pinkney and Drawing from Memory author Allen Say


ALA is one of the esteemed literary events where authors, educators, librarians, editors and other publishing professionals come together to celebrate books.  I imagine that this event for a first time author would be both exciting and overwhelming.  The networking and participating in the award ceremonies are probably really nice highlights.  All photos courtesy of Publishers Weekly













Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Children's book memories: Richard Scarry books




Popular children's book author and illustrator Richard Scarry would've been 92 this past June 5th. I have fond memories of my mom reading Richard Scarry books to me when I was very little. We had several of his beloved books in our library along with many other children's books. My parents were educators so literacy was very important.

My favorites were Richard Scarry's Cars and Trucks from A to Z , Richard Scarry's Best Story Book Ever!, Richard Scarry's A Day at the Airport, Richard Scarry's Bedtime Stories, The Gingerbread Man and my MOST FAVORITE Richard Scarry book of all - Good Night, Little Bear! What a soothing book that was at bedtime.




I loved A Day at the Airport because my parents started putting me on planes by myself to see my grandmother in the Midwest when I was four!!! Imagine that. A four-year old traveling alone. I always had a stewardess minder so it was okay. I love The Gingerbread Man because I thought it was cool that he was so little and could outrun the big, burly bear. Plus he looked so edible. What can I say, I was a kid.




I'm sure there are plenty people in my generation who remember the Scarry books quite well.

Monday, June 6, 2011

NEW CHILDRENS BOOK Summer Jackson: Grown Up



Charming, funny and conceptually strong, this debut picturebook (illustrated by A.G.Ford) establishes Summer Jackson an irresistible new character
Summer Jackson is six years old, and she’s tired of being treated like a little kid. Now it’s time to be all grown up, just like Mom and Dad. With cell phone in hand, a long to-do list, and lots of urgent meetings to hold, Summer sets out to be a businesswoman – especially at recess.

CLICK to see Summer Jackson featured in Sunday Book Review at NY Times.


Sunday, October 10, 2010

NEW CHILDREN'S BOOK: Indigo Blume and the Garden City


Indigo Blume and The Garden City by Kwame Alexander, Writer and JahSun, Illustrator

SPECIAL PRE-PUBLICATION OFFER!


Order your copy of “Indigo Blume and The Garden City” - 32 page, hardcover children’s book, ages 4-8, includes four track CD with music by SPEECH of Arrested Development and “Read-A-Long” Bonus Track - TODAY for the Special Pre-Publication price of:

$15.00 (price includes shipping & handling within the U.S.A. only)

Retails for $17.95 + shipping and handling. You SAVE over $6.00!

All Pre-Publication orders will be autographed by Kwame Alexander, Writer and JahSun, Illustrator. (Be sure to include personalization notes in the special instructions field when placing order)

ONLY 300 Limited Edition Copies Available!!

* Books to be shipped: Week of November 8th - 12th, 2010

You can also pick up your Pre-Publication Copies in person at:

The “Capital Bookfest Charleston”

Saturday, November 6th, 2010
68 Calhoun St, Charleston, SC, 29401
Event hours: 10am - 5pm

We appreciate your business!

Author Spotlight: Nathaniel Terrell

  Poet Nathaniel Terrell  Is There Not a Cause? by Nathaniel Terrell  Available at Atmosphere Press , Amazon , and Barnes and Noble . About ...