The Children's Author: How to Write Picture Books, Short Stories, Chapter Books and YA

If you want to write for children, The Children’s Author, by Judy Lawn, will help you reach your goal. Judy has been writing for over thirty years and is an experienced writing tutor. Her published works include adult short stories and novels, non-fiction books and articles, as well as her children’s books.Before you begin writing for children, Judy suggests asking yourself these questions:1.Is my character interesting? 2.What is my character’s problem and do they solve it in a satisfying manner?3.Are the illustrations appealing? 4.Is the story humorous and entertaining?5.Is the moral of the story clear? 6.Will children/parents/grandparents/teachers enjoy my book? In The Children’s Author, Judy uses examples from her children’s picture books, short stories, and YA fiction to show you how to find ideas and build them into stories that sing when you:1.Choose the right central character.2.Stay true to your protagonist’s quest.3.Nail the opening.4.Master the middle.5.Understand climax and resolution.The Children’s Author also covers: how to get into the minds of your characters, cope with backstory, avoid information dump, build settings and lead naturally from one scene to another. Judy offers practical advice on publishing, marketing and selling children’s books. Whether you want to write children’s picture books, short stories or YA fiction, The Children’s Author, by Judy Lawn, is the book you need.

Judy Lawn has been writing for over thirty years. Her ideas for her short stories, picture books and novels come from her love of animals and nature, and a childhood spent exploring the countryside and beaches of New Zealand's North Island.
A keen fisher, Judy's first published short story was a fishing yarn, Sam's Kingie.
Other short stories have been published in various magazines, including New Zealand Woman's Weekly, Australian/New Zealand Woman's Day and Takahe Magazine. Two children's stories were produced on National Radio.
Her adult novels are: Daisies Never Die and Watch Over Me, the first two stories in the Rose Rountree Mystery Series. Progressions won the 2005 EPIC Award for Best Single Title/Mainstream. 
Her first children's picture book was The Shrimp Who Wanted to be Pink, Reed Publishing(NZ) Ltd 2003. Sebastian's Tail,Penguin Group (NZ) was published in 2008. Two other non-fiction books on creative writing have also been published: Creative Writing and Take Heart & Write.
Judy lives on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula north of Auckland City where the many beautiful beaches and parks provide inspiration for her stories.
Along-held dream of starting her own publishing company came to fruition in 2011, with the launch of Jupiter Publishing NZ Ltd. The company ran until July 2015. Five books were published, including two children's picture books, Jossie's New Home and Jamie's Monsters.
To learn more about Judy, and to read excerpts from her novels, and the short story, Sam's Kingie, visit her website: judylawn.com  
blog: goodbounceback.com