Deborah Halverson

Author & Editor

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Get Ready to Read Across America!

February 20, 2019

On March 1, 2019, schools, libraries, and communities across America will celebrate literacy with the National Education Association’s Read Across America Day. Of course, reading isn’t a one-day thing. Read every day, everywhere–with books in cozy nooks, with phone apps while standing in lines, with audiobooks while driving, exercising, or doing chores. Parents, read to […]

Filed Under: Adventures in Writing

Now I Want to Host a Silent Reading Party

February 6, 2019

So clever.  Strangers gather in a comfy place to read in silence among fellow lovers of reading. But is it weird? The people who started this practice worried that it might be. But they threw the party anyway … and people came. And loved it! “Now we hear from people that they can’t fit reading time […]

Filed Under: Adventures in Writing

More Than an Award List

January 29, 2019

So many fabulous books are published each year, but only a few can make the lists. So use the list as your key to fab book discovery. Type the award-winning book you love into online retailer sites, then look at the Other Customers Also Bought recs that come with it to find more great reads! […]

Filed Under: Adventures in Writing

Editing Afield Means Happy Surprises

November 27, 2018

Sometimes I edit at home, but often I pack up my stuff and to go a nearby B&N cafe to work at a table there, surrounded by books. Some days I’ll pick a table by a window to catch a glimpse of the garden outside, but just as often I sit at a table alongside […]

Filed Under: Adventures in Writing

Deborah’s Tip for Character Development on Fab “Cynsations” Blog 

October 18, 2018

I’m honored to be a Guest Blogger on the amazing Cynsations blog today, with my post “Deborah Halverson on Viewing Narrative Beats as ‘Revelatory’ Beats in MG/YA Fiction.” There so much power and potential in those moments between lines of dialogue — the beats. I explore that in the guest post. Here’s a snippet: “Perhaps we […]

Filed Under: Adventures in Writing, News

New Look for DearEditor.com

October 14, 2018

  My website designer and I have been hard at work all summer on a little something fun: a fresh new look for DearEditor.com, my writers’ advice website. I unveiled the redesign today. Huzzah! It’s been a labor of love. This designer, Theresa, was the first person I told of my plans to create the […]

Filed Under: Adventures in Writing, News

The Power of Books Teams Up with the Power of Love

September 11, 2018

No “blog post” today. I think this is more a “share post” because I’m going to let it speak for itself: The title of the Dec 2015 article I am quoting is “J.K. Rowling found out her books helped save this baby’s life. Her response was magic.” Below is an excerpt, but read the whole […]

Filed Under: Adventures in Writing

Hanging with the Gang at SCBWI’s San Diego Chapter

September 8, 2018

Now that’s how you spend a Saturday afternoon! Today I was honored to hang out with 120 writers and illustrators of books for young readers. We talked all about the publishing business, from Big Picture happenings to the specifics of what we’re writing as individuals. And the best part: The supportiveness of this group’s members […]

Filed Under: Adventures in Writing

My Mom Writes Books? Meh.

September 7, 2018

Recently, while my sons got their hair cut, I was flipping through my writing craft books, finalizing a presentation. My son picked up Writing Young Adult Fiction For Dummies. “You wrote this?” He asked. I nodded, a little puzzled. “Yeah?” he said. ” The whole thing? All by yourself?” Me nodding. “Wow.” He picked up […]

Filed Under: Adventures in Writing

Hot Dogs, Fireworks, and BIG MOUTH

July 9, 2018

A human being just age 74 hot dogs—and buns—in ten minutes. Why? Because he could. That’s the challenge of competitive eating, to see how much of a food you can chow down, as fast as possible, mostly to beat the eaters lined up next to you but also because you thrive on the self-competition. This […]

Filed Under: Adventures in Writing, Especially for Teen Readers, Me and My Big Mouth

Richard Peck, Ya Did Good

May 24, 2018

My very first speaking gig as a young editor, in front of 300 people in Texas, happened last minute as I filled in for a New York editor whose family understandably didn’t want her flying, being just weeks after the 9/11 horrors. I was nervous–this was the 1st speech I’d ever put together about editing […]

Filed Under: Adventures in Writing

Free Sampler Featuring New Fiction

May 22, 2018

Did you know Publishers Lunch offers a free downloadable sampler with pre-publication excerpts from major authors and debut voices each publishing season? Anyone can download it and enjoy the samples.    There’s a Buzz Books for commercial fiction, and another for Young Adult each season.  The 2018 Fall/Winter edition just came out, but you can download […]

Filed Under: Adventures in Writing

Writing Pals & Creative Karma

May 4, 2018

I’ve tried writing groups/meet-ups before, but for reasons that were never bad, those never worked out. This time: GOLD. I’ve been meeting the amazing Barrie Summy once a week for about a year now, writing across the table from her, and it’s THE BEST. We talk a bit, write a lot, and joke about each […]

Filed Under: Adventures in Writing

Meet Me at the Annual SCBWI Summer Conference in L.A. Aug 3-6

April 3, 2018

I’m pleased to be presenting two sessions at the Society of Children’s Books Writers & Illustrators‘ Annual Summer Conference in L.A. August 3-6, 2018: “Up-to-the-Minute Market Report: Industry Updates, Submissions, and New Imprints” “Subplots & Subtext: How to Deepen and Energize Your MG/YA Fiction” I’ll also critique manuscripts one-on-one, which is something I particularly enjoy doing. Conference registration opens April 17th @10am PT. […]

Filed Under: Adventures in Writing, Events, News

Deborah at WIK ’18 — Fun Times, Great Craft Talk

March 20, 2018

I’ve had a lot of plates spinning in the last few months, but they’ve been fun plates to spin. A big one was prepping for and attending SCBWI-Southern Breeze’s 2018 writing-and-illustrating for kids (WIK) conference at the beginning of March. I presented sessions on non-rhyming picture books, revising young-adult and middle-grade novels for submission, and the state of the […]

Filed Under: Adventures in Writing, Events, News

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WELCOME TO DEBORAH’S BLOG

See what Deborah is up to, or sit a spell and enjoy her tales about the thrills, chills, and spills of being an on-the-go editor and writer.

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  • Especially for Teen Readers
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  • Me and My Big Mouth
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  • Triplets: The Preschooler Years
  • Where in the World…?
  • Writing New Adult Fiction
  • Writing Youg Adult Fiction For Dummies

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  • How Do I Fix Clunky Dialogue? September 5, 2023
  • Must I Mention Character “Diversity” When Submitting a Manuscript? August 18, 2023
  • Why Are Children’s Book Sales Declining? July 25, 2023

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