One of the best things about our business is getting to know quite a few of the most successful [TAG-tec]children’s authors[/TAG-tec] and illustrators. As a group, these are some of the loveliest people with whom you could ever become acquainted.

While most are very generous about sharing advice with aspiring writers, they do tend to get overwhelmed with e-mail asking the same questions, so it’s not always easy to strike up a personal connection with them.

So here’s a neat way to say “hello” to a writer who inspires you: wish them a happy birthday! The excellent Children’s Literature site — http://www.childrenslit.com/childrenslit/home.html– has a monthly list of children’s author’s birthdays, each linked to the author’s official website. Find an author whose work you admire and send off some personal birthday greetings. You might just find yourself with a new e-mail buddy!?

(Note: please use courtesy and common sense when doing this — keep your e-mail brief and don’t send a bunch of followup e-mails unless the author responds. The goal is to establish a professional connection, not to pour your heart out to someone you don’t know!)

PS: If you’d like to get direct advice from some top authors without having to wait for an e-mail reply, check out our book In Their Own Words (http://write4kids.com/itow.html). Culled from fifteen years worth of Children’s Book Insider interviews, it’s a collection of the best tips and guidance from such authors as Judy Blume, R.L. Stine, Chris Crutcher and many, many others. It’s an astonishing resource for inspiration and hands-on advice.