Julia Stilchen

6th Annual PiBoIdMo November 2014 I am very excited to be participating in this year's, Tara Lazar 's, PiBoIdMo ! Each year, I had caught it just too late. This time, I made sure to set the date on my Calendar.  PiBoIdMo, Picture Book Idea Month, is pretty much what it says. A month where writers get together for a 30-day challenge to create 30 picture book concepts in 30 days! Along the way, we get to enjoy daily blog posts by picture book professionals and enter for prizes. To learn more about the challenge, visit here . If you are a writer or illustrator or both, and love to write and learn about writing picture books, this is a great online opportunity to challenge yourself. Registration is open from Oct. 25th - Nov. 7th.  Just visit Tara's website to register.

I have taken several writing courses through the Children’s Book Academy and have absolutely loved and enjoyed the materials, meeting other writers and illustrators, and learning a great deal on improving my writing as well as my understanding of the craft and the publishing industry. Dr. Mira Reisberg , the founder of CBA and literary agent, is running a new course, “The Pleasures and Craft of Poetic Techniques. She is giving special discounts up till May 5th. If you have a love for writing and especially desire to refine, improve and learn more about Poetic Techniques, this is the course to take. In fact, probably the only online course out there regarding this specific area. I urge you to at least stop by this link and read all what is offered and if it fits your goals of a writer, sign up! And while you are there, check out any of her other courses! Children's Book Academy

I submitted the first page of my novel, Crimson, for a critique through Children's Book Hub earlier in the week. Will hear back by next week. Curious about the feedback. I really enjoy writing stories and feel passionate about it. Look forward to each step of this process and growing as a writer!

What are ebooks and app books? It can be confusing. Distinguishing between the two can seem frustrating at first. I'd like to explain from my own experience how I define between the two. What Do They Have In Common? Firstly, they do have a few things in common: both contain stories and images, they are available digitally on hand held devices and computers, etc. What Is The Difference? A short and simple explanation: I would say it is in the level of experience. The level of interactivity (multi-touch vs. reading and static images only). eBooks An ebook is a digital version of a printed book. You have the text and/or images. You can highlight, bookmark and turn the page. Some ebooks are designed so that it can read to you or you can record your own voice. But that is pretty much the extent of the experience. Book Apps   Book apps, on the other hand, do all the above as an ebook but also allow the reader to experience interactivity that is beyond just reading or bei...

I am excited to announce that Karen Robertson's book, "What is a Book App and Could YOU Create One?: How 27 Writers Did!" is now available on amazon! If you are curious about developing a digital book app, this is a great start to read how 27 writers did. I am also among the writers interviewed in the book. Check it out! What is a Book App   Also, to find even more incredible information about digital app book publishing and marketing, please visit  Karen Robertson's wonderful website! The publishing industry is changing. There are more opportunities for authors and illustrators to publish their work. If you are a writer and want to see your books published digitally, or if you are an illustrator or both, this is the time to start planning and developing your story! I have and it is an exciting opportunity to see your work come alive that is beyond the page of a printed book. Come join the revolution of interactive digital app books, where possi...

Hi there! I'm Julia but I also go by Jules. I am starting this blog as a place in cyberspace to share and express my passions for writing and illustrating children's books, character design, book covers designing, creating and developing interactive digital app books and surface pattern designs.  I will be cataloging my progress and journey of obtaining each of my goals as I work on different projects. I am also interested in networking with like-minded individuals who are involved in the publishing industry for children's books. If you are interested to network with me, please do contact me. I'm always looking to share the latest news and updates of those in the industry. Thank you for visiting my blog and hope you enjoy all the upcoming posts!