Writers and Illustrators and Dinosaurs: Elizabeth Law

All right, this one features neither a writer nor a dinosaur, but a children's literature professional and a prehistoric mammal.  But the photo (below) was too good to pass up.

So, henceforth, I am expanding the feature to include all children's literature professionals, including teachers, librarians, editors, agents, book designers, etc., as well as authors and illustrators.  But I'm still going to call it "Writers and Illustrators and Dinosaurs," because "Children's Literature Professionals and Prehistoric Beasts" is too unwieldy.  Be warned :-).

So if you're in the business, drop me a pic at greg AT gregleitichsmith DOT com.

And, now, the featured guest:

Elizabeth Law began her career in children's publishing as an assistant at Viking Children's Books, leaving eighteen years later as associate publisher of both Viking and Frederick Warne imprints.

After nearly four years as vice president and associate publisher of Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, Elizabeth joined Egmont USA four years ago as its publisher.

Above, Elizabeth Law poses with Broadway star Anthony Rapp in front of a proboscidean at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

Gender in the World of Children's Books

Uma Krishnaswami, author of THE GRAND PLAN TO FIX EVERYTHING (Atheneum 2011), has an essay on gender in the world of children's books -- including some of my own views -- over at the Women Doing Literary Things blog.

Also, take a look at the interview Cyn posted yesterday of Elizabeth Law and Allen Zadoff.  Of particular note are extensive discussions of revising a manuscript and selecting a cover with boy appeal.

Also, Elizabeth Law is giving away a 30 page manuscript critique.  Go check it out!