The National Writing for Children Center was created to help striving children’s writers develop their careers in the world of children’s publishing. It is also the online home of the Children’s Writers Coaching Club.

Both the National Writing for Children Center and the Children’s Writers Coaching Club help educate and connect aspiring and successful children’s writers, elementary school teachers and/or librarians to provide books, stories, and opportunities for literacy development for children everywhere.

Our Staff

Founder, Director, and Coaching Coordinator - Suzanne Lieurance

Suzanne Lieurance (www.workingwriterscoach.com) is a children’s writer with (at last count) 15 published books for children. She has also been an instructor with the Institute of Children’s Literature (located in West Redding, Connecticut) for 6 years. As The Working Writer’s Coach, Lieurance helps people who love to write become “working” freelance writers and make a living doing what they love to do best.

Site Coordinator - Adrian Lieurance

Students, teachers, and school staff members at schools where Suzanne Lieurance has visited lately will recognize Suzanne’s husband, Adrian, who often accompanies her on school visits. While Adrian does not write for children himself, he coordinates site activities so Suzanne has time to write books for children as well as make school visits and coach clients.

Graphics Designer - Lisa Harkrader

Lisa Harkrader is a talented graphics designer, illustrator, and an award winning children’s writer. She is the author of twelve books for children; the most recent is a middle-grade novel, Airball: My Life in Briefs, a Junior Library Guild Selection and winner of the 2006 Juvenile Literary Award from the Friends of American Writers. She has published over two hundred stories, articles, and poems in magazines such as Cricket, Spider, Ladybug, and Guideposts for Kids and in several anthologies, including Meadowbrook’s Newfangled Fairy Tales. She has received SCBWI’s Magazine Merit Award four times, for fiction and poetry.

Harkrader holds a BFA in art and has worked as a graphic designer for nearly twenty years. Her design clients include The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and Rockhurst University.

Virtual Assistant - Erin Blaskie

Erin Blaskie is a young, energetic, talented and bright virtual assistant. After graduating from Business Administration and having a concentration in Advertising, Marketing & Public Relations, she entered the business world with a huge goal in mind: to own her own successful business. After launching Business Services, ETC in August of 2004, she worked diligently on building a clientele list and strived toward being fully self-employed. Within six months, that dream was brought to life.

Erin assists other solo professionals, coaches, professional speakers and small business owners with their day-to-day operations. Above all else, she absolutely loves what she does and her infectious energy affects all those she works with. Please feel free to e-mail Erin at erin.blaskie@bsetc.ca and be sure to check out her blog at http://www.bsetc.ca.

Children’s Software Review Team – Jan and Rachel Fields

Jan Fields has been a freelance writer for over twenty years and is the editor for both Kid Magazine Writers eMagazine http://www.kidmagwriters.com and the Institute of Children’s Literature. She also have a fantasy middle grade novel coming out with DRG Publishing this summer.

Rachel Fields loves both writing and computers – making her an invaluable assistant with any software reviews.

Middle Grade Novel Reviewer - Donna McDine

Donna McDine is a 2007 graduate of the Institute of Children’s Literature, Writing for Children and Teenagers program. She is also a member of the SCBWI, The Children’s Writers Coaching Club at The National Writing for Children Center, and Musing Our Children Group. Donna has been published in Stories for Children Magazine, Kid Magazine Writers, and Long Story Short.

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Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club Faculty

Instructor for the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club - Margot Finke

Margot Finke is an Aussie who writes mid grade adventure fiction, ghost mysteries, and rhyming picture books. For many years she has lived in Oregon with her husband and family. She began serious writing the day her youngest left for college. This late start drives her writing, and pushes her to work at it every day. Margot says, “I really envy those who began young, and managed to slip into writing mode between diaper changes, household disasters, and outside jobs. You are my heroes!” Gardening, travel, and reading fill in the cracks between her writing. Her husband, Alan, is supportive, and their three children are now grown and doing well out on their own.

Margot’s “Musings,” column can be read monthly in The Purple Crayon, and her Critique Service helps writers iron out plot and character problems. “Nothing gives me a greater thrill than to find out an editor bought a book I helped polish.” Her workshops at writer’s conferences are enhanced by the use of a PowerPoint presentation, as are her frequent school visits.

Margot’s series of 6 rhyming picture books, available as downloads or on CD, are fun and educational. They bring kids closer to cool critters from the US and Australia. See Excerpts, illustrations, and great reviews on her BOOKS page, along with how to BUY . All autographed copies of her books on CD come with a Qlippit link that lets you hear Margot reading that book.

Visit her website, and discover a World of Writing For Children.

Instructor for the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club - Simon Rose

Simon Rose was born in Derbyshire, England. He graduated from university with a degree in history and has lived in Canada since 1990. He is also a graduate of the Institute of Children’s Literature of West Redding, CT.

Simon Rose’s books are published in Canada, the USA, UK, Australia and New Zealand and are available around the world. His novels can be purchased in the USA through Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and many other online locations and also through local bookstores. Autographed copies may also be purchased at www.simon-rose.com

Instructor for the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club - Lila Guzman

Lila Guzman writes children’s fiction and nonfiction, young adult novels, and adult-level short stories from her home north of Austin, Texas.

Lorenzo and the Pirate (Young Adult Novel)
George Lopez: King of Latino Comedy (Middle Grade Non-fiction)
Mohammed (Picture Book)
Moses (Picture Book)
Jesus (Picture Book)

Instructor for the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club - Rita Milios

Rita Milios, author and workshop presenter, is also a practicing psychotherapist, freelance editor and a former instructor for a national writing school. Rita has published more than thirty books, both fiction and non-fiction, for children, adults, teachers and counselors for publishers including Pearson, Harcourt, Rosen, Glencoe, McGraw-Hill and others. She also writes articles and educational supplements and test assessment materials for educational publishers focusing on science, social issues, language arts, health and character development.

Rita’s books for children include Anorexia and Bulimia, Discovering Positive Thinking, Sleeping and Dreaming. Many of Rita’s books appear on teacher recommendation lists.