shadrieka

Journal of Children’s Literature Fall 2010

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I was honored to be interviewed last year by Mary Napoli for an article she proposed for the Children’s Literature Assembly’s (CLA),  Journal of Children’s Literature. Her article is titled, “Children’s Illustration as a Healing Process: Exploring the Work of Shadra Strickland” (I know, impressive right ;-)). The article was accepted and is available in … Read more

Praise for Eliza

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ELIZA’S FREEDOM ROAD will debut in January~ Here is a bit of pre-release buzz to whet your appetites: “A story of hope, determination, and the triumph of the human spirit.” — Alma Powell, wife of former Secretary of State Colin Powell “Like the young slave girl who watches a cook ‘stirring tears into…stew,” Nolen stirs … Read more

Art For Sale!

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Howdy everyone! I added two new prints in my Etsy Store and am reintroducing my boxed cards from “Lift Every Voice and Sing”. Please swing by and check them out. They make great holiday stocking stuffers! I am back from a fantastic three day trip to NYC. Bank Street Books was gracious enough to host … Read more

Southern Festival of Books Wrap-Up

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Two weeks ago I drove up to Nashville, TN to speak with Jewell Parker Rhodes at the Southern Festival of Books. Not only did I get to meet a wonderful author, but I was able to spend some quality time with my younger brother and take him to his very first book festival. On the … Read more

Road Trip!

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I am driving up to TN this weekend to speak at the Southern Festival of Books. I looooovvvvvveeeee road trips. With the changing leaves it should be a gorgeous drive up. Hope to see you there. I will be presenting on a panel “Katrina’s Children: Moving Beyond the Storm Together” with Jewell Parker Rhodes (yippie!) … Read more

Evolution of a Cover

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My cover art for ELIZA’S FREEDOM ROAD, AN UNDERGROUND RAILROAD DIARY, by Jerdine Nolen has been unveiled. Here is the final jacket: Krista V., our designer, did a fantastic job with the diary concept. My original idea shows the heroine’s quilt turning into a landscape. Once you read the book, you’ll get it 😉 I’m … Read more

Teach the Babies

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Last week Renée Watson visited Atlanta to appear and sign at the Decatur Book Festival. While she was here we teamed up to conduct a two day writing and art workshop with students at Frederick Douglass High School (my alma mater). The students wrote poems modeled after Renée’s poem, “Where I’m From”, using an “Anaphora” … Read more