20 Wednesday Nov 2024
Posted in Great News!
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Ann Suk Wang, Ben St. James, Benson Shum, Eori Tokunaga, Helena Ku Rhee, J. Dianne Dotson, jendia gammon, Joan Bransfield Graham, Josh Oaktree, Kimberly Tso, Laura Segal Stegman, SCBWI community, SCBWI members, Sherry Shahan, Sue Ganz-Schmitt, Wayne L. Wilson
SCBWI loves celebrating our members’ successes and noteworthy news, and there are many! Read on to find out who’s got something to shout about. Digital high-fives welcome in the comments!
Continue reading27 Wednesday Dec 2023
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authors, Benson Shum, Brady Smith, Cara J. Stevens, Christine Van Zandt, Courtney Stevenson, craft, illustrators, Imelda Hinojosa, inspiration, Jackie Huang, Karol Ruth Silverstein, Kitty Felde, Laura Hunt, Laura Taylor Namey, Lucy Hamilburg, Molly Ruttan, Philana Marie Boles, publishing, publishing tips, quotes, Savannah Brooks, SCBWI community, Vincent X. Kirsch, writing tips
Editing Kite Tales has its perks. One is being among the first to see, hear, and be able to use the many uplifting ideas expressed by the blog’s kidlit guests during the year. Another is being one of the first to look back at year’s end and take inspiration anew. Here are some of my favorite 2023 moments gathered up in KT’s traditional list of 10 inspiring quotes. (Plus some extra inspo via the images.) Scroll through. Click through. Catch a thermal current and be uplifted. Thank you to everyone who brought words, pictures, and stories to the blog this year. Thank you to our readers! May you continue to soar in 2024.
Continue reading11 Wednesday Jan 2023
Posted in Author's Perspective, Illustrator's Perspective
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Anzu the Great Listener, authors, Benson Shum, illustrator tips, illustrators, picture books, writing tips
Benson Shum is a Southern California author-illustrator of more than five children’s books. His latest, Anzu the Great Listener, came out January 10. It is the sequel to Anzu the Great Kaiju (2021) and a Kids’ Indie Next pick for January/February 2023.
Kite Tales: Welcome to Kite Tales, congratulations on Anzu the Great Listener! What was the original inspiration for Anzu?
Benson Shum: Thank you so much! I always loved the world of Kaijus, the idea that these monsters tower over cities and are larger than life. But I wanted to know more. What was going through their heads? Did they all want to be destructive? What if they’d rather talk to their city rather than destroy it?
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Kite Tales 