Authors Scott Dikkers and Kristen Terrette Speak About Writing And Getting Published

 

I wanted to highlight some entertaining and informative talks about the craft and business of writing given at last month's (June 2024) Atlanta Writers Club.

https://drive.google.com/.../1o4T97CGM-eQLqxHY72.../view

 

Humorist and author Scott Dikkers spoke on Traditional and Self-Published Triumphs and Tragedies, and Author/Agent Kristen Terrette gave a presentation on How to Write and Revise a Submission-Ready Novel. 

 

Scott's talk begins at 2:03 in the video and Kristen's at 1:14:09. Enjoy!

Middle Grade Amazon Best Sellers of 2023

Middle Grade books took 8 spots in Amazon's 2023 Top 100 Best Sellers List. 

Amazon accounts for some 60%-70% of all US book sales, so appearing on the list is the strongest indicator of nationwide popularity and sales.

Interestingly, but not surprisingly, younger age-range books held even more top spots with 20 in the top 100. Popular read-a-long baby books made up a significant portion of those best sellers.  

Perennial middle grade favorites published in previous years continued their strong sales, even a decade after their first printing. In the case of Jenny Han's "The Summer I Turned Pretty" series, these books' popularity was renewed, in part, because of a recent series adaptation.

The top middle grade best sellers for 2023:

 

#23 No Brainer (Diary of a Wimpy Kid Book 18)

Jeff Kinney
Ages: 8 - 12
Released: October 24, 2023 

#25 Dog Man: Twenty Thousand Fleas Under the Sea:
A Graphic Novel (Dog Man #11)

 

Dav Pilkey
Ages: 8 - 11
Released: March 28, 2023

#53 The Legend of Zelda™: Tears of the Kingdom – The Complete Official Guide: Collector's Edition

Ages: 9+
Released: July 7, 2023

#74 The Complete Cookbook for Young Chefs: 100+ Recipes that You'll Love to Cook and Eat

 

 

America’s Test Kitchen Kids
Ages: 8+
Released: October 16, 2018

#75 The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse

Charlie Mackesy
Ages: 6+
Released: October 22, 2019

#77 The Complete Summer I Turned Pretty Trilogy (Boxed Set): The Summer I Turned Pretty; It's Not Summer Without You; We'll Always Have Summer
















Jenny Han
Ages: 12+
Released: January 1, 2013


#81 Harry Potter Paperback Box Set (Books 1-7)

 

 

J. K. Rowling
Ages: 9+
Released: July 1, 2009

#93 The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (A Hunger Games Novel)

 

 

Suzanne Collins
Ages: 12+
Released: August 1, 2023



Reference link.