Describes the development and publishing by an artist of a book on scientific illustration. (CMV)

English teachers, members of the cult of fanatical seriousness in higher education, need to discover the fundamental comedy of life, as several recent writers have. (DD)

Profiles Eloise Greenfield. Reveals that Greenfield's early love of music echoes in both the form and content of her poetry and prose. Notes that her poems are marked by strong rhythms, expressions of emotion, and a strong sense of children, their voices, and the waystations on their journey through life. (SR)

Argues that Joseph Conrad's political novels belie the sweeping and vague rhetoric sometimes used to describe them. States that Conrad, disillusioned with materialism in his political novels, imagines that "industrialism and commercialism" may foster wars between democracies. Contends Conrad's interest is at least divided between a…

This interview with Jack Gantos, an author who writes books for young adults, focuses on how he uses his own personal experiences in his books. Discusses memories of his father and his childhood, drug-smuggling activities and the resulting jail time, and student reactions to his books. (LRW)

States that "gathering material" is what writers do when they are not writing and that writers are their own first audience, even as they write. Advocates active reading and book collecting as rewarding for writers. (PA)

Presents an annotated bibliography of works by writers discussing their own writing processes. Includes numerous references to interviews with poets and novelists. (JAD)

Recounts the reasons historians become novelists, citing several examples as well as the author's personal experience. Fictionalized accounts allow the historian a freedom not permitted when historical accuracy and documentation are required. (LS)

Presents a profile of Patricia McKissack, giving insight into the forces that shape her work and beliefs behind it. (MG)

Presents portions of an interview with Paul Zindel. Includes his explanation of his writing processes. Reports Zindel's view that writing what the author knows best is the greatest secret to writing. (SG)

Analyzes Gertrude Stein's approach to detective fiction through her text, "Subject Cases: The Background of a Detective Story." Argues that Stein's lesbianism raises a fear of homosexuality repressed in detective fiction. Concludes that Stein's readers may prefer her word play and opaque plot lines to any premature resolution. (SG)

Focuses on D.H. Lawrence and his being taken seriously as an original thinker. Notes that Lawrence is thought of primarily as a novelist. Suggests that readers should acknowledge Lawrence as an original thinker in an evolving history of the dialogical principle and in a continuing attempt to understand the dialogical and its political and ethical…

Presents a conversation between editor Richard Jackson, author Virginia Walter, and illustrator Katrina Roeckelein that traces the creation of "Making Up Megaboy," a story that reconstructs a killing by a 12-year-old boy. Highlights include questions about possible readership, types of illustrations needed, and the artfulness of books.…

This article gives a brief biography of author Karen Cushman, best known for the attention to detail and thorough research that goes into her historical novels. Her first two novels, "Catherine, Called Birdy" and "The Midwife's Apprentice" were both Newbery Medal winners. A selected bibliography, as well as a list of related resources, is also…

This article gives a brief biography of William Steig, one of America's best-known cartoonists and, later in life, a beloved children's author and illustrator. A major motion picture based on Steig's picture book "Shrek!" won the first Oscar in the category of best animated feature film in 2002. Steig passed away at the age of 95 in October, 2003.…