Julia Stilchen

Ahoy! thar! Do you know what today is? Besides that it be September 19th? It be International Talk Like A Pirate Day!   And do I have some fun news t' share. There be a collection o' short stories was released recently as an anthology:   Teapot Whales! No. That don't sound starboard. Teapot Scales? Oh me no. Wait I have it...silly me. It is Teapot Tales! And it be all about pirates, mermaids and sea monsters from t' wide blue. Have you heard o' it? You should because it has magic, wonder and adventure. Everyone enjoys some bit o' adventure don’t you think? We could always use some magic too.   Come celebrate with us as we talk like pirates on International Talk Like A Pirate Day and read Teapot Tales!     As a token o' our appreciation, we’ve decided not t' make anyone walk t' plank. Instead, we be givin' away some pirate treaaye. Aye! Loot! So you can plund...

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...

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...

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!