October is a great month to tempt young readers with books full of thrills and chills! Fortunately, my website lists my titles by category (among other things). Spooky tales are a fan favorite. Just click books/categories/ghost stories on the menu to serve up some scary stories. www.avi-writer.com

I believe that when illustrations and text meld into a uniform book, you get the richest reading pleasure possible. Let's take a look at some examples, along with news of my newest illustrated book. #illustrations #NCWyeth #ErnestHShepard #JohnTenniel #WWDenslow bit.ly/4yrTczo

When I do school visits I discuss my challenges with dysgraphia. Students with similar challenges learn I’ve found success as both a writer and a reader despite that fact! Here are resources you might find helpful for your students. My Visits: bit.ly/3HVI9p9 Dyslexia Awareness: bit.ly/46zDmGx

People often ask me (as I assume they ask other writers) “What is the process by which you create one of your novels?” Read more: bit.ly/3TF5N2V

Can you name the subject of what has been referred to as “the most important piece of writing in the history of capitalism”? Check out the Story Behind the Story for my novel City of Magic to learn more! Story Behind the Story: bit.ly/3DvquDw City of Magic: bit.ly/3HP7wdO

The notion of writers inventing words is intriguing. I’m quite sure I have never done so. (Bad spelling doesn’t count.) Here's an invitation to invent a word. Inventing Words: bit.ly/3UQvded

If you’re working with a reluctant reader, audiobooks can be a great way to grab their interest! Just as one example, here’s the engaging audiobook preview for my novel City of Orphans. Audiobook preview: www.youtube.com/watch?v=imyi... City of Orphans: bit.ly/3FWLkw3

I am having one of those great crises that all book lovers reach at some point: I am moving, downsizing, and must get rid of some of my books. #downsizing #bookcollection #reading bit.ly/4iS3N1i

If you are published professionally, you are going to be critiqued professionally. Grateful to readers who post reviews. Karen Reeder, about The Road from Nowhere: “From a master of storytelling comes a new family adventure of growth and friendship in a unique historical setting." bit.ly/3Mbfv9d

This summer I asked 13 writers what advice they would give to those young (and older) folks who would like to become a writer. With apologies to all the writers for leaving out so much of their thoughtful essays, I’ve compiled a quick highlight of their always meaningful suggestions. bit.ly/4gCJbri

One of the most common questions I get from young readers is how I think of my ideas. I regularly feature the “Story Behind the Story” on my website! As an example, here’s one to share with your students about the two titles that make up my Beyond the Western Sea duology. bit.ly/4gh1Vh3

From author Tricia Springstubb: "My best stories, my truest stories, the ones I stick with all the way to The End — they grow out of my head for sure. But they also grow out of my heart." Read Tricia's essay: bit.ly/3S8F4v1

So you don't miss any of my posts, I invite you to follow me on Substack! My pieces feature writing advice (from other writers as well as myself), classroom resources for my books, and behind-the-scenes details about how I come up with my stories. Subscribe: there's no fee. substack.com/@aviwriter

Author Debra J. Stone shares: "I am still passionate about reading, and it’s an important practice in becoming an excellent writer. And as I developed as a writer, I found myself listening to elders telling their stories." #writingadvice #reading #writing bit.ly/45yzIfE

My novel Catch You Later, Traitor is set 75 years ago, during a volatile political time in the US: McCarthyism and the “Red Scare.” The book presents classroom discussion topics relevant to current times but may be less heated because the focus is on a different era in history. bit.ly/42TwgsN

This week, Sharon G. Flake shares, "Yes, writing can be hard work. Yes, sometimes I want to pull my hair out as I wrestle with a scene or trickly character arc. But I wouldn’t choose any other career." Read Sharon's advice for writers: bit.ly/4q5Z91i

My short story collection Strange Happenings was re-released on 7/21, with a new story and a new cover! I hope the new story meets with the same warm reception as the original. Booklist ⭐ review: “Great choices for sharing aloud in class or as inspiration in creative-writing units.” bit.ly/4vEV8C4

Linda Williams Jackson shares, "I had been refusing to work on a manuscript that, not one, but two, agents had been imploring me to draft." Read her essay: bit.ly/4g9Kmzf

Here's an older essay called “Visiting classrooms.” My first classroom visit as an author was in 1970—a fact that’s hard to grasp, as both the students and I still get so much out of these chances to interact directly. Learn more about my author visits: bit.ly/4gReCjo

From Brian Floca, "writing is a way of thinking, a way of figuring things out, and in the genuine work of writing and rewriting (and rewriting) you will begin to understand your true priorities and hopes for your writing." Brian Floca's article: bit.ly/4x1ghaL

My recounting of the evolution of the short story collection Strange Happenings, newly in its third rendition, now with a new short story and illustrations by Devin Forst, published by Clarion Books. bit.ly/4vJozD4 @harperkids.bsky.social #shortstories #scarystories

Today is publication day for the newly updated Strange Happenings: Spine-Tingling Tales (by Avi). The publisher is offers a sale price in celebration. bit.ly/4wkXuaA Devin Forst illustrated this new version. Avi wrote a never-before-published story, contributed an author's note. bit.ly/4vEV8C4

From author Mike Jung, "The act of writing has a whole lot of layers, you know? It’s a creative art, and creating art can be really fun and absorbing. Creating art is also work, though, and working on a project can be tiring and frustrating. However ..." Don't miss this essay! bit.ly/4fckO4h

By way of definition, a short story could simply be a story that is, well, short. Ah, but how short? Or how long? Read more: bit.ly/4vwuCuQ

In this week's essay, Joyce Sidman begins: "The first thing I would say is: if you wish to become a writer, sit down and write. Whenever you can. Fit it in around your friends and sports and classes." bit.ly/4aQtGtI

I’ve been highlighting my Revolutionary War novels — but there are many other fascinating periods of American history! Some of my books feature well-known events, such as the Civil War, but others explore history that will likely be new to young readers. avi-writer.com/book-categor...

Sara Pennypacker writes: "This year, my best advice is: Be honest and be kind, but above all, be brave." Read her essay sharing advice to those who wish to be writers. #writingadvice @sarapennypacker.bsky.social Sara Pennypacker's essay: bit.ly/4wA1eF3

Loyalty is the most recently published of my novels featuring America’s War of Independence — a title that School Library Journal’s starred review called: “A fascinating, complex and rarely seen view of the American Revolutionary War.” bit.ly/4v6rKVk

From Barbara Carroll Roberts, "We have to pay attention to the world around us, because it’s through specific, intentional details that our writing comes alive." Read the rest of Barbara's advice ... bit.ly/4v9gaZs

The Fighting Ground, set during the Revolutionary War. Kate on Kids Books: “American kids will experience what it is like when a war is fought in your own community and maybe be more sympathetic to current world events.” Kate on Kids: bit.ly/4eovuMP The Fighting Ground: bit.ly/3U6jFPj