Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep by Nancy Castaldo

Today we continue the Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep series with an essay by author Nancy Castaldo. Thank you, Nancy. I often show a photo during my school visits of me as a little girl holding something very special, a little nonfiction book about planting seeds, called What Shall I Put In The Hole That I […]

Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep by Steve Swinburne

Today we continue the Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep series with an essay by author Steve Swinburne. Thank you, Steve.  I could not imagine writing a nonfiction piece that I did not have an emotional connection with. Life experiences, past jobs, memories from my travels, books I’ve read, people I’ve met…all inform my nonfiction writing. The […]

Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep by Heather Lang

Writing nonfiction is a highly personal experience for me—a journey. And the adventure always begins with a strong connection to my topic. While the connection could be rooted in passion, it might also stem from intense curiosity . . . or fear. And what better way to explore a topic than through the experiences of […]

Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep by Paula Yoo

My first nonfiction children’s book happened by accident. Or so I thought.   In 2002, I stumbled upon an article about Dr. Sammy Lee. I learned he was the first Asian American to win a gold medal in diving at the Olympics. I had never heard of Sammy Lee before. The article fascinated me. Distracted, […]

Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep by Patricia Newman

In my Sibert Honor acceptance speech for Sea Otter Heroes, I mentioned a teacher who once defined nonfiction as the facts and fiction as the heart. I’ll be honest; she hurt my feelings. Written like a mystery, Sea Otter Heroes explores the idea that we don’t know what we don’t know. Marine biologist Brent Hughes […]

Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep by Sandra Neil Wallace

I have a secret to share, and it’s the reason why I write nonfiction. I want to know what makes people afraid. More importantly, I want to know why, despite extreme fear that may include the possibility of death—they face that fear and go on to lead brave lives. I’ve come to realize that this […]

Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep by Mary Kay Carson

Why do I choose to write books about meteorologists, biologists, astronomers, and ecologists? Because it allows me—a failed scientist—to live vicariously. Growing up, animals were all I cared about. My family moved a lot, so pets were often my best friends. By the end of third grade, I’d lived in five states and attended four […]

Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep by Cynthia Levinson

“Cynthia Levinson did an insane amount of research!” That’s what a librarian said after reading Watch Out for Flying Kids: How Two Circuses, Two Countries, and Nine Kids Confront Conflict and Build Community (Peachtree Publishers).   She had a good point. Here’s a small sample of my insanity: —3 trips to Israel —2 trips to […]

Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep by Mara Rockliff

When my daughter was ten, I brought home an award-winning documentary about a high school jazz band competition. My daughter played trumpet, and I thought she’d be inspired seeing older students play. Instead, I watched her face fall as we both slowly realized that the filmmakers had totally excluded girls. Only boys were interviewed; when […]

Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep by Deborah Heiligman

Tom Wolfe, the journalist who died earlier this year, said that every writer has a word or a phrase that is that writer’s theme. Wolfe’s was, not surprisingly, “status.” About ten years ago, my husband heard him say this at a talk, and asked me, do you know your theme? I didn’t have to think […]