Christine Taylor-Butler
Friends and Favorites
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About Me
Published Books
Book Signings and School Visits
Information for Aspiring Writers
Freelance Editors

Welcome to my favorites page. I'll add more as I have time. Below you'll find links to my critique partners, friends whose work I admire and to writing organizations who have been indispensable sources of information and mentoring as I started this career.  When you're done here, go to my "Information for Aspiring Writers" page for more information and more resources.

My Writing Friends
All passionate about their work.

Want to discover other new children's book authors whose work will keep you turning the page? Click on the links below to discover some of childrens literature's best established authors and rising stars!

Susan Vaught's website

Melanie Chrismer's website

Jane Yolen's website

Cynthia Leitich Smith

Christy Lenzi

Want to meet a group of fabulous writer/illustrators from the Write4kids yellowboards? Click here:

Yellapalooza

Guilty Pleasures

The key to being a good writer is to also be a good reader. When I'm not holed up in my office you'll often find me immersed in a book. I'm a big fan of Jerry Spinelli, Phillip Pullman, Tess Gerritsen, Dan Brown and others.

A few year a friend introduced me to the VAMPIRE HUNTRESS series by L.A. Banks. A fantasy series that's impossible to put down. And "A SINGLE SHARD" by Linda Sue Park.  It's a quiet book that lingers with you in a profound way long after you've finished it.  

Here's the links to some of my favorite authors. A word of warning: Their books are addictive!

The Vampire Huntress Series by L.A. Banks

Jerry Spinelli's website:

Phillip Pullman's website

Tess Gerritsen's website

Linda Sue Park's website:

Organizations devoted to helping
Children's Writers

Writing is often a lonely business but is made much easier with the help of friends. Here are some of my favorite resources for Children's Writers. There's a huge community out there devoted to helping others learn the tips and tricks of the trade.

First and foremost are my local organizations: Juvenile Writers of Kansas City - wonderful friends and awesome mentors. And Missouri Writer's Guild for allowing us to form a professional children's writing chapter.

Special kudos goes to the Kent Brown and the Highlights Foundation for providing me with wonderful mentoring and without a doubt the world's best conferences for children's writers. 

To a Houston chapter of kidlit authors for mentoring me when I was very new at this and treating this out-of-town guest like family. 

And to Institute of Childrens Literature, Verla Kay and Jon Bard at  CBI Clubhouse for providing a forum for experienced and new writers to talk to one another and share the joys, triumphs and disappointments in the field - support them by subscribing to their newsletter or -  in Verla's case buying her books.

Juvenile Writers of Kansas City

Missouri Writer's Guild

www.highlightsfoundation.org

Verla Kay's site (one of Writer's Digests top 100)

www.write4kids.com

Houston SCBWI chapter

Northern Ohio SCBWI chapter

Missouri Writes For Kids(Missouri Children's Authors)

The Literary World

Writing for children is a joyful endeavor.
It takes heart, passion, and one endearing story that yearns to be told. As with all things, commit to putting your own ideas on paper. A story left untold will never blossom or touch the heart of a reader.

Now start writing. Thinking about it is not the same as doing it!

copyright 2004 by Christine Taylor-Butler