Lesa Cline-Ransome
Lesa Cline-Ransome is the author of numerous non-fiction and historical fiction titles for picture book, chapter book, middle grade and young adult readers and her work has been named to ALA Notable Books and Bank Street Best Children’s Book lists.
Her verse picture book biography of Harriet Tubman, Before She Was Harriet was nominated for an NAACP image award and received a Jane Addams Honor, Christopher Award and Coretta Scott King Honor for Illustration. Finding Langston, the first in the Finding Langston trilogy, was the winner of the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction and received the Coretta Scott King Award Author Honor. For Lamb is her debut YA historical fiction novel set in Jim Crow Mississippi.
She is the host of KidLitTV's Past Present: Giving Past Stories New Life.
Lesa is the mother of four and frequently collaborates with her husband, illustrator James Ransome. She lives and works in the Hudson Valley region of New York where she consumes large quantities of books and chocolate and each day, she takes long walks and short naps. In between she writes. Find out more at: www.lesaclineransome.com
“She taught me, from her own experience as an exceptional writer for children, to hold on to the enthusiasm that initiated the project in the first place...”
— Bettina Volz
“Lesa’s careful and thoughtful analysis of my work pushed me to refine my skills and challenged me to think about my writing in ways that I had never been challenged before... ”
— Monique Duncan
Lesa’s Critique Philosophy
Throughout my 30 years as a writer of picture books, middle grade and young adult literature, I have served as a mentor, speaker, instructor and presenter, and I am a current Advisory Council member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).
I conduct both in person and virtual writing workshops for writers of all ages, from beginner through experienced, most recently with the Big Sur Children’s Writers Workshop, The Writer’s Barn and the Southampton Writers Institute.
There is no one way to be a writer. Each of our journeys are as unique as the stories we craft, often drawing on our personal narratives. As a mentor, I believe my strength lies in helping you to find, research, edit, and write the stories that authentically reflect your intention, your passion, and your own writing voice.
As a writer, my process is an organic one, allowing characters to lead the way. Yet my background as an educator (and mother of four), means that I also value a straightforward, organized, honest approach with an emphasis on accountability. Our time is an opportunity for you to create work that is the best reflection of you, your characters, and your writing. However, I am not a “fixer.” And the critique process is not a passive one where I talk and you listen, but a conversation around writing, editing, and revision choices.
I welcome picture books, chapter books, and middle grade novels submissions. Time constraints currently prohibit me from reading longer works.
Lesa’s Books
Lesa’s Critique Process
For All Project Types:
The first step is an email you send to me outlining your goals, questions, and concerns for the manuscript you are sharing. We will schedule a phone call or Zoom meeting, and then we’ll begin our work together.
After reviewing your manuscript, I will send an editorial letter with my comments. In our second call or Zoom session, I may ask you to focus on one particular area (i.e. dialogue, setting, or backstory) that needs reinforcement or attention. I may make suggestions for mentor texts and exercises to assist in helping you reach the goals you have outlined. Our time together is a conversation, an exchange of ideas where we will review structure, voice, character, and plot elements in your manuscript and build upon your strengths as a writer. Finally, we will create an action plan for the next stages of your revision.
Additional consultations are optional.
Lesa Is a Great Fit For:
Writers working on pictures book biographies, picture books, chapter books, middle grade, and nonfiction manuscripts
Those who value honest yet thoughtful written and oral feedback
Writers who write through the lens of a person of color
Those who need help generating story ideas
Pre-published writers
Lesa Is Not a Great Fit For:
Writers seeking advice on marketing, promotion, querying and agents
Those who write exclusively young adult
Writers of short stories and adult fiction
Lesa’s Testimonials
Bettina Volz, attendee Southampton Writer’s Institute:
“I had the good fortune of having Lesa Cline-Ransome as my writing instructor, helping me develop my first picture book manuscript. In her thoughtful feedback, she helped me identify basic issues of plot and character development. She did this with great respect and sensitivity and allowed me to understand the importance of continuous rewrites. She taught me, from her own experience as an exceptional writer for children, to hold on to the enthusiasm that initiated the project in the first place. I am very grateful to have had her as my teacher and am certain that she empowered me to persist with my story.”
Monique Duncan, author of When Mama Braids My Hair:
“I am profoundly grateful for Lesa’s guidance, encouragement, and inspiration during a Highlights nonfiction writing workshop. Through her own personal stories, she skillfully modeled how to peel back the layers to uncover one’s identity and purpose as a writer. Lesa’s careful and thoughtful analysis of my work pushed me to refine my skills and challenged me to think about my writing in ways that I had never been challenged before. Her questions, ideas, suggestions, and feedback have been invaluable. Her attention to detail—from suggesting resources to help develop my background knowledge, to explicit feedback to help deepen my understanding of craft elements—helped me to thoroughly reflect on my writing process. Even after my experience with Lesa at Highlights, she has continued to be instrumental in helping me grow as a writer and has supported me with achieving my writing goals.”
Avi Magid, attendee Highlights Foundation workshop:
True story.
Picture this.
You’re a writer with an idea, struggling over every word, sentence, and paragraph. It’s your story, your voice. Then you meet Lesa. She reads your story and in a flash (okay maybe not a flash) it’s still your story but now your words, sentences, and paragraphs sparkle and your voice is LOUD!
You’re a writer - now very improved.
Picture that.
Ten Books to Get to Know Lesa
