K.A.S.T. Kalamazoo Area Shop Talk

Name: K.A.S.T. Kalamazoo Area Shop Talk
Location: this is a bookstore & Bookbug, 3019 Oakland Dr, Kalamazoo, MI 49008

Apr 14, 2026

this is a bookstore & Bookbug, 3019 Oakland Dr, Kalamazoo, MI 49008

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Writing Inside the Box

How WORDS MATTER evolved from a picture book to a fully illustrated, novel in verse.

Anita will share early drafts, concepts and mentor texts that influenced the final manuscript. She’ll also bring research information. ⭐ April 14, 6:30 pm ⭐ Location: this is a bookstore, 3019 Oakland Dr, Kalamazoo, MI 49008

Anita is the author of The Topsy Turvy Bus, an environmental picture book and WORDS MATTER: The Story of Hans and Sophie Scholl and The White Rose Resistance, a middle-grade novel in verse. She earned an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts (VCFA) and is a former Co-Regional Advisor for SCBWI-MI. She’s created picture-book workshops for kids of all ages, ranging from second graders to high school students. She’s presented lectures for SCBWI, The Vermont College of Fine Arts, and The Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP). She's passionate about helping other writers achieve their goals.