The Latest on Indiana Authors and Illustrators

by Sara Laughlin, editor of the Directory of Indiana Children’s Authors and Illustrators

Keeping up with Indiana authors and illustrators is like trying to nail Jell-O to a wall.  Just when we think we know everything, we find out that lots more is going on.  Here’s what we know at this moment in time.

Finding Authors and Illustrators

Just as students grow and change, so does the list of Indiana authors and illustrators.  Since the spring of 2000, 14 new ones have been added to the Directory of Indiana Children’s Authors and Illustrators.  We thought you’d like to know who they are.  You can find out more about them—including their contact information; a biographical sketch; a list of their published books (complete with publisher and date); and sometimes Web site, e-mail address, and photograph—on the Friends of Indiana Libraries’ Web site:

     <http://www.statelib.lib.in.us/www/ldo/childrens/>

Skip Berry       Daniel Scavone
Raymond Bial      James Solheim
Leslie Cefali  Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen              
Gail Giles           Vivian A. Velasco
Lisa Jarrett             Peter J. Welling
Gwendolyn Battle Lavert  Carrie E. Wild
Hank Nuwer               Esperanza Zendejas

In addition, we’ve updated the entries of the following authors who have published new books, developed Web sites, or changed contact information        

Marilyn Anderson        Hank Nuwer
Marc Harshman  Lee Philipp Sauer
Rebecca Jones        Lola Schaefer
Bette Killion Betty Jo Schuler
Roger Neal     Gerald Weales

Author Visits via Distance Learning

If you have dreamed of connecting your students with an author or illustrator but haven’t had the budget, your problems are solved.  Between now and January 2002, 41 Vision Athena distance learning sessions will feature authors and illustrators—most of them from Indiana.  Appearing on screen will be authors Barbara Shoup, Elaine Marie Alphin, Elsa Marston, Hank Nuwer, Ken Beardslee, Marilyn Anderson, Roger Neal, Skip Berry, and Valerie Marsh, and illustrators Patrick Girouard and Robin McBride Scott.  There’s something for everyone here—elementary, middle, and high school—with topics ranging from developing better plots, writing nonfiction, or storytelling to hazing, baseball, or ancient Egypt.

Visit the Vision Athena Web site for registration information and details about content, dates, and times of each session: <http://www.cilc.org> Select the Vision Athena Content Catalog, and enter “author” or “illustrator” in the keyword search box.

    Our goal is to connect children with Indiana authors and illustrators and their books.  We’re continually trying to find out what they are doing so that we can update the online Directory; so if you know of a new author or illustrator, a new book, or a new Web site or e-mail address, we’d love to have that information.  E-mail your “finds” to <laughlin@bluemarble.net>, and we’ll add them to the Directory right away.  

Hoosier author spine labels are available at no cost from the Middle Grades Reading Network. Send your request for the number of labels you need to: <jh25@evansville.edu>
 

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