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.

There’s a free webinar that will be starting at 6pm Pacific time. I urge all children’s book writers and illustrators who want to learn how to utilize twitter to build your platform as well as keep current with the industry, head on over to this link: Register Here! And register for your spot while there is still time! See you there! ;)

Camp NaNoWriMo 2014   I am participating in NaNoWriMo for the first time for April, 2014. I think this is a great experience to be part of a group of other writers who participate from all around the world. There is a section which is our camp where we can update our progress and encourage each other along the way. I'm really loving this. I wish I had done this sooner!

Excerpt from Crimson : Fablelands series by Julia Lela Stilchen Rumors about the shifters roaming at night, deep in the dark forest of Grimwood, were spreading like wildfire. When they gather in groups, their eyes ignite like blazing red spheres lurking out from the shadows. No one knows what the shifters do in their gatherings but many believe they are in search for a new victim. Children, like Hansel and Gretel, have mysteriously turned up missing. Something strange was happening in Northhaven and everyone was becoming paranoid. Red’s parents, in particular, began to barricade all the windows and doors. Her father purchased special candles, made from dragon whale wax, lighting them all around the cottage. He believed it would help mask their scent to prevent the shifters from tracking them. Recently, their daughter, Red had begun to sleepwalk. At first, they hoped it was a temporary phase and that everything would just go back to normal. Then, the...

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...

Being an advocate for autism is something I take quite seriously as I am a parent of a child who is on the autism spectrum and I understand the struggles that they face regularly on a day to day basis. The storybook app, The Mighty League, is wonderfully illustrated in a comic book style and the story is nicely written, flowing from one scene to the next. My son and I enjoyed this app as it gives insight from the perspective of a child with autism. The sounds that they encounter that are disturbing if not distracting, their tendency to specialize in a specified interest with large amounts of information on the subject they tend to study the most. These are some of the aspects that children on the autism spectrum face. I believe in raising awareness about autism and I am happy to share news of the storybook app serie, which was recently released. It is based on Jonathan Murphy's perspective, who grew up with Aspergers. I feel this is a great story that children with autism can...

I'm very excited to share that one of my chapter book stories, Crimson, is published in an anthology called, Teapot Tales: A Collection of Unique Fairy Tales. It was recently released on Amazon.com as an ebook along with a wonderful group of writers from the Chapter Book Challenge . My story is a different take on Red Ridding Hood. Retold as a chapter book.  A very special thanks to Becky Fyfe ! I'm very excited to have participated and have the opportunity to submit my story.

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...