Exclusive Content — Under the Green Willow

Welcome to the Exclusive section of Under the Green Willow — the place where Greenwillow Books shares author conversations, first looks at new covers, and deeper dives into the stories behind the stories.

Here you'll find content created especially for readers who want to go beyond the page: Q&As with the writers and illustrators who bring Greenwillow titles to life, early glimpses of forthcoming books, and reflections on the craft of writing for children and young adults.

From the worldbuilding notebooks of Kent Davis to the poetry workshops of Christine Heppermann, from Erin Entrada Kelly's cover reveals to Alexandra Duncan's research into biomimetics — this is where the creative process takes center stage.

For readers who long to step behind the curtain of the publishing process, this section offers a quiet doorway into the workshops and notebooks where stories first take shape. Here, the messy, beautiful work of worldbuilding unfolds—a map sketched in margins, a character's voice discovered in a stray line of dialogue, a setting borrowed from a childhood memory of a Vermont sugarhouse in March. These are the conversations that rarely make it onto the jacket copy: the small, deliberate choices an author makes about a character's name, the sound of a jellyfish drifting through an underwater city, or the precise shade of red on a poison apple. It is an invitation to witness the craft from the inside.

Beyond the finished book lies a deeper story—the one about how a manuscript finds its way from a writer's desk into a reader's hands. The authors featured here speak openly about revision, about the seasons of a writing life, and about the readers they keep in mind as they shape sentences for children and young adults. Whether the conversation turns to the chemistry of a plot twist, the rhythm of a poem, or the long February quiet of a writer waiting for an idea to thaw, these exchanges remind us that every book is the product of time, patience, and a community of people who believe in the power of stories. It is a space for those who love not just reading, but understanding how stories are made.

A dark, low-key photograph of an open notebook on a wooden desk, illuminated by warm lamplight, with handwritten notes and a pen resting beside it, deep shadows pooling at the edges.

Two sisters in a modest room, one comforting the other, with warm amber light filtering through a window and deep shadows in the corners.

Cover Reveal: The Land of Forgotten Girls

Erin Entrada Kelly unveiled the cover for her novel The Land of Forgotten Girls right here on the blog, sharing the story behind the image and the themes of sisterhood and resilience that drive the book.

A young person sitting alone on a bench at dusk, holding a notebook, with streetlights casting pools of amber light and deep blue-black shadows stretching across the pavement.

Ask Me How I Got Here: A Conversation

Christine Heppermann discussed her transition from poetry collections to the novel-in-verse form, and how verse can open up difficult topics for teen readers with honesty and grace.

A moody, low-key photograph of a floating city skyline at twilight, with dark water below and scattered lights glowing against a deep indigo sky.

Worldbuilding with Kent Davis

Kent Davis took readers inside the alternate-history American colonies of A Riddle in Ruby, exploring how magic systems and historical research combine to build a believable fantasy world.

Clear liquid dripping from a metal spile into a glass jar, with dark forest shadows behind and a single shaft of pale light catching the surface of the liquid.

Jessie Haas on Sugaring

Jessie Haas shared personal anecdotes about the sugaring life that inspired her book SUGARING, published twenty years before her March 2016 blog post — a timeless look at nature and tradition.

Exclusive posts also feature voices from the Greenwillow editorial team. Staff members including Tu Ahn Dinh, Katie Heit, and Virginia Duncan have contributed behind-the-scenes perspectives on the publishing process and the books they champion.

Check back for new exclusive content, or browse the Archives to explore past interviews and announcements.