In today’s Feature Interview, I’m chatting with reading specialist, literacy coach, and kidlit author, Christina Shawn! We’ll be discussing ways to create confident readers and how to write stories that resonate with kids while capturing the magical moments in everyday life.
Christina, it’s so wonderful to have you with us today. Can you share with our readers where you’re joining us from?
Hi Chelsea. I am thrilled to be here. I am joining in from my home in Richmond, Virginia.
I was thrilled to see your application come in last year for the 2025 Feature Interview lineup, and have been warmly anticipating our conversation. Could you share how you found out about the Feature Interview segment and what made you want to apply?
I first became familiar with you through your social media presence on (I think) Twitter / X. I could relate to so much of what you shared, and I found you to be so supportive of the writing community. Plus, you had me at “World of Books!” From there, I began reading your thoughtful and thorough interviews.
I loved reading about your connection to the world of literacy, not only as a writer, but also as a reading specialist and literacy coach. Can you tell us more about this? What ages do you primarily work with? Is it independent, or do you work with a school and/or another organization?
I love to teach reading. I began teaching middle school reading and then became a literacy coach in public preschool classrooms through a grant system that supported teachers and students with materials, classes, and coaching. I learned so much and felt like we were all making a big difference. Then, when I was staying home, raising my children, I began writing children’s books. I love that now, the books allow me to go back into the classroom and work with teachers, students, and parents to once again build literacy skills. Oftentimes, parents don’t realize how much they are already doing to help grow readers, and I love sharing easy-to-apply tips and tricks with them. I love working with children in the classroom in small groups and with full auditoriums. I feel like the timing is just right to bring all of these elements together to once again try to make a difference through early literacy.
How did you wind up in the world of kidlit publishing?
When my children were little, I was implementing much of what I knew about literacy into our everyday lives, and part of that was reading a ton of books and making up songs and stories for them. Eventually, I think my brain just began thinking that way, and one idea turned into my first (self-published) book, LUCAS PLAYS. After working on that project, I realized how much I love unpuzzling words and creating meaningful and entertaining stories. I wanted more. So I began taking classes, and I joined writing communities like SCBWI and 12×12.
What kind of work were you doing prior to writing, and/or are you still doing now?
Writing has always been at least a small part of my work. I was a middle school English Teacher / Reading Specialist, Literacy Coach, and, before that, I was the Community Relations Manager for Barnes & Noble.
We’d love to hear more about your publishing journey! When did your writing begin?
I wrote my first picture book, LUCAS PLAYS, in 2016 and self-published it for my family. During that process, I did a lot of research about self-publishing vs. traditional publishing. Ultimately, I didn’t want to wait to see this book, and I only had the one manuscript, so I self-published. But once it was out in the world, and I was able to go back into classrooms to share it, I was hooked. I wanted to do more, so I signed up for a local writing class, joined 12×12, and dove headfirst into the kidlit world.
What genres and age groups do you write for? And how do they differ from each other?
Picture books are my sweet spot. All of my published and pre-published books are for a target age of 3-6. I also have an early reader series for 5-8 year olds that is on sub (and this really appeals to my reading specialist heart), so I hope it gets published one day.
I am also working on two mid-grade novels that are far more time-consuming and adventurous for me. But I love them both dearly.
Like me, your publishing journey started on the indie side of things, prior to traditional publishing, with the publication of your first book, PB, Lucas Plays. Since you have experience on both sides of this publishing terrain, could you share a little with our readers about what the differences between the two have been? Traditional VS. Indie, representation vs. no representation, and the pros and cons of both?
Absolutely! I love that I have experience with both Traditional and Indie publishing. Indie publishing is definitely faster, and the author has more creative control. Traditional publishing takes TIME and patience, and often agents, publishers, artists, editorial teams, and marketing teams that are also working on lots of other projects. The reach of traditional publishing has been wider for me, though. When AND THEN CAME YOU was published (traditionally), it stirred a renewed interest in LUCAS PLAYS as well, so that was a really nice bonus.
After publishing independently, what made you decide to pursue traditional publishing? Explain.
Once I decided to write more books, I wrote a LOT of manuscripts. So I wanted an agent who could represent a full body of work and become a career partner. I wanted the experience of publishing with multiple publishing houses and building relationships with editors and artists. I really like being part of a team.
Now, you’re represented by Liz Nealon at Great Dog Literary. And you have a new book that just hit the shelves this year, and another on its way in the fall of 2026. What an exciting time! But before we get into that, could you share how you found your agent match?
Yes! It is a really exciting time! Connecting with Liz Nealon was one of those perfect timing moments. I had been in the query trenches for a while but had never queried her before (I think she had been closed to queries) but my friend, who she represented, thought we’d be a good fit and connected us, so when I received the publication offer for NO LOVE POTION through a Twitter / X pitch I took a chance and reached out to Liz. We hit it off immediately, and the rest is history. Liz is an amazing agent. She is thorough, professional, kind, experienced, and so smart.
For readers who are not yet at this step in their journey but are actively pursuing representation, could you walk us through your agent call?
Liz set up a call after reading my submitted manuscript. Then she requested more, and we set up a second call. On our calls, we talked about my specific manuscripts as well as my big picture goals for my writing career. We discussed my background in children’s literacy and also her background at Sesame Street. (How cool is that?) I was surprised and delighted by the parts of my writing that Liz felt drawn to, and I knew that not only were we on the same page, but this partnership could be a really special one.
What made Liz stand out to you as someone who was the right fit for you/your project?
Honestly, she loved my least commercial manuscript the most. The one that had the most personal risk in it. I knew she saw me. And if she loved that story along with my “safer” manuscripts, then she understood me and my writing goals. I trusted her immediately and continue to feel safe and confident with her representing my work.
For our readers who may be anxious about the call, what advice do you have?
Be your whole, honest self. It is often our quirks that help us know if we are a good fit or not. Respect yourself and your work enough to choose only the best person for you, and trust your gut.
Are there any specific questions you suggest asking an agent on the call? These could be questions you asked, or questions you wish you had asked!
How do you prefer to communicate? Some agents call, email, or text. Some don’t communicate much at all. Some keep shared Google Sheets of all your subs, some email updates, and some only update once a month or with “good” news. I think it’s important to see if your communication styles are compatible and ask for what you need in order to feel good about your partnership.
Now let’s talk about debuts! As you know, debuting authors have a LOT going on. Could you share a little bit about your exciting year and the time leading up to it? What kind of things did you do to prepare for your big book debuts? Have you been able to participate in any in-person/virtual author events for local vendors, libraries, schools, bookstores, and other organizations?
During the 4.5 years between the publication offer and the publication, I thought about this release a LOT. I added interviews (like this one), podcasts, and announcements to my calendar. I was even on the local news! (You can find links for them on my website and Linktree.) I booked school events, in-person bookstore events, and even a presentation with the Virginia Association for the Education of Young Children. On the day my book released, I hosted a launch party for my friends and family and relished in the celebration with my loved ones. The launch of AND THEN CAME YOU feels huge to me. It is the first traditionally published book of mine, and there are more to come. It feels like the start of something really special.
What have been some of the biggest publishing surprises?
Probably the best surprise was when Chronicle Books asked me to do a signing at ALA 2025 with Rebecca Stead!!!
What’s something you know now that you didn’t know before, and wish you had known sooner?
The way your book is coded in the system dictates whether bookstores will stock it. There is little we can do to control these codes.
What are some writing tips/resources that have helped you? This could be organizations/events/contests/etc.
My critique partners and writing friends are so important to me. I grow as a writer when we critique each other’s work and when we brainstorm together. They are also the absolute best support on this publishing rollercoaster.
I also LOVE contests. They are a fun and low-pressure way to push my creativity with almost immediate opportunities to share my work and read my friends’ and colleagues’ entries.
Fun fact: My next picture book, NO LOVE POTION (The Little Press, Fall 2026), began as a contest entry.
Let’s talk about the writing! You mentioned in your application that you enjoy writing stories that capture the magical moments of everyday life. Can you tell us more about this?
I write to process what I feel and to create new worlds and characters because it is so much fun. I don’t usually have a plan. Once I step into that creative space, the story guides me. I find that what is most magical to me is leaning into the everyday. How each blade of grass is a different green, or how the scent of the air is different before it rains. How a person can feel two (or more) feelings at once (and how that’s okay). And how love looks and feels different from every angle.
I really love the way you described writing stories that make kids feel seen, heard, and understood. Can you share some of the ways that you’re able to do this?
I was a really BIG feeling kid, and I could not make sense out of all that I seemed to know without being told it was true. In fact, I was often told that what I observed or felt was not true, and this confused me as a child. It confuses me a bit as an adult too, but much less. I liked books with complicated emotions and messy characters. I like to write those books now. I want to honor the kids who are trying to figure out the world around them and let them know they are not alone.
Speaking as a writer and literacy coach, what are some tips for creating confident readers? How can we offer kids aid and build up that confidence?
I could talk all day about this! I’m actually presenting a workshop for parents this fall on exactly this. I like to help parents and teachers notice the ways they are already supporting literacy (often without even realizing it) and help them to be intentional about it. There are so many ways to incorporate early reading skills into everyday life. Just a few examples are sorting socks (yes, socks) or utensils. Sorting letters. Helping children know the letters in their names and then finding them in book titles. Pointing to letters. Pointing to words. Explicitly noticing rhyme as words that “sound the same at the end.”
Let’s talk writing craft, specifically, rhyme! I’d love to hear more about predictive rhyme in picture books and how that fosters early reading skills.
The human ear naturally LIKES rhyme. It processes and retains rhyming words more easily and even believes them to be more TRUE! Isn’t that wild? When we read rhyme aloud, our listeners’ brains become attentive. They absorb skills and information like a sponge. Telling children what rhymes are words that “sound the same at the end” and helping them to identify and create them is a fantastic early reading skill. When predictive rhymes are altered (like with the surprise page turns in AND THEN CAME YOU), it becomes a fun, engaging learning game.
For some of our very new writers, who may be passionate about writing books for kids but are still uncertain of how to do it, could you shed a little light on page turns? For this question, I’m primarily thinking in terms of picture books!
I love a good page turn! Page turns can create surprise, humor, anticipation, and suspense that drive the story forward and encourage the reader to turn the page. I love a big reveal or something unexpected in a page turn. AND THEN CAME YOU was so much fun to write because children expect a predictive rhyme, but are surprised to find an unexpected word instead.
I love the themes of your writing, Christina. For our readers who may not be familiar with your books, would you share a brief description of what your stories are about and what the takeaway or “theme” of them is?
My husband jokes that I love to write about LOVE. He’s not wrong. Some common themes in my books are LOVE, CHANGE, ACCEPTANCE, CHOICE, and GROWTH.
AND THEN CAME YOU (Chronicle Books, Spring 2025): When families grow, love grows too…even when change is scary.
NO LOVE POTION (The Little Press, Fall 2026): Making room in your heart for love (even if it seems icky) feels pretty magical.
NO HATS ALLOWED (Sleeping Bear Press, Fall 2027): Fair doesn’t always mean equal; that’s why it’s important to have a choice. Plus, cats look really cute in hats.
(NEW BOOK COMING in Spring 2027) All about patience, growth, and love.
What is your reason for writing? And what do you hope to leave each reader with?
I like readers to laugh and cry. I want them to feel and connect. And to think that at least one part of the book is kind of weird. I want my readers to feel seen, heard, and understood. I want them to want to read these books again and again.
Any last words of advice for fellow writers out there, looking to share their stories with the world?
Sometimes it’s hard to believe that this fun, magical, creative job is also important and necessary, but I promise you, it is. What we create feeds our souls and spreads light out into the world through humor, connection, inspiration, and creativity. We must keep making our art and know it matters.
Thank you so much for joining us, Christina. It’s been wonderful to connect with you!
Pssst! Note to readers: Christina has just recently developed a presentation for VAAEYC on how rhyming picture books can be used to build early literacy skills during read-alouds. Some of these materials, as well as coinciding lesson plans for her book, And Then Came You, will be available for free download on Teacher Corner. Christina also offers critique services through her website https://www.christinashawn.com.
And now it’s time for a GIVEAWAY!
GIVEAWAY
Christina is offering a choice of ONE of two prizes to one winner. Prize options: a fiction picture book manuscript critique or a 30-minute AMA.
HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY
LIKE and SHARE this post. That’s it! (And don’t forget to tag me so I don’t miss it! X @chellysbooks IG @chelseasworldofbooks). **If there are multiple prize options, please specify which one you’d like in the comments.**
DEADLINE TO ENTER: September 30th, 2025, 11:59 PM CST
CHRISTINA SHAWN BIO & CONNECT
Christina Shawn is a reading specialist, literacy coach, and author who writes about magical moments in our everyday lives. She lives in Richmond, Virginia, with her husband, three kiddos, and two fluffy bunnies, who provide a constant supply of support, humor, and inspiration. Christina loves yoga, beach bike rides, mountain hikes, and adventuring to new places. Mostly, she loves the spark of learning something new and passing it along.
Instagram: @christinashawnbooks Facebook @christinashawnbooks X: @christinashawn2 Threads: @chrsitinashawnbooks https://www.christinashawn.com/
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