Author: Chelsea’s World of Books

ABA Therapy Registered Behavior Technician for children with ASD ~ ADHD Girl ~ Former Children’s Librarian, current Kidlit writer, literary blogger, and Feature Interview Host ~ Author of ADHD and Me.

NOVEMBER 6TH FEATURE INTERVIEW WITH CHILDREN’S BOOK WRITER HEATHER DAWN TORRES, HOSTED BY NEURODIVERGENT KIDLIT WRITER, BLOGGER & FORMER LIBRARIAN CHELSEA DICICCO

Posted on by Chelsea’s World of Books in Feature Interview Series

Today, I’m talking with children’s book author Heather Dawn Torres.

But before we jump into our interview, if this is your first time visiting the blog, here’s the scoop on Feature Interviews.

THE SCOOP: WHAT ARE FEATURE INTERVIEWS & WHO ARE THEY FOR?

Feature Interviews are a free resource for writers and illustrators at every stage of the publishing journey.

Every month, I collaborate with industry professionals—authors, illustrators, editors, and agents— many of whom were or currently are also educators and librarians, to discuss all things publishing.

What can these interviews offer YOU?

These interviews give readers an up-close and personal look at the world of publishing from an array of different perspectives on every side of the desk and offer insight into tips, resources, and advice on how to:

  • stay current with market trends
  • hook an agent or editor
  • find writing community & other resources
  • discover workshops, contests, and other events
  • figure out which path of publication is right for you
  • know if your agent is a good match

And more!

AND… if that’s not enough, every guest offers at least one giveaway prize—sometimes more. This means you have multiple opportunities to win prizes every month! *If you’re interested in entering the giveaway, scroll to the bottom of the interview for instructions.*

Not that we’ve shared a little about what’s in store… it’s time to jump into our interview!

INTRODUCTIONS AND BEGINNINGS

Make connections wherever you can. Attend conferences or retreats in your local or surrounding area. Join kidlit groups… Attend webinars. Join a critique group. Just get out there and connect with the kidlit community because they are awesome, and you will learn so much! 

Heather, it’s so great to have you with us on Chelsea’s World of Books today! For those of you who don’t know Heather, Heather is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators for the Nebraska Chapter and currently serves as the Co-Regional Advisor. She enjoys sharing all the current news with members across the state. She’s also a member of the Nebraska Writer’s Guild and 12X12 Challenge.

Heather, I’d love to start our interview today by asking you about your introduction to publishing. Tell us when/how you decided to pursue publishing as a career.

What were some of the first steps you took? 

The first thing I did was sign up for a local writing conference hosted by the Nebraska Writer’s Guild. At that conference, I met my current agent as well as two incredible critique partners who still read each and every one of my manuscripts. 


-How amazing! This sounds like a great experience!-

Were there any writing organizations/groups/contests, etc., in particular that helped you?

As I mentioned, the first organization that I connected with was The Nebraska Writer’s Guild. However, shortly after, I discovered The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). I regularly attend SCBWI webinars, online workshops, and conferences and am now serving as the Co-Regional Advisor for the SCBWI Nebraska chapter. SCBWI has been an invaluable resource for me as I learned the ins and outs of the industry. 

For writers who are just starting out and considering pursuing publishing in the kidlit realm, what advice or tips would you like to share for beginners?

Make connections wherever you can. Attend conferences or retreats in your local or surrounding area. Join kidlit groups like SCBWI or 12x12. Attend webinars. Join a critique group. Just get out there and connect with the kidlit community because they are awesome, and you will learn so much! 

What’s something you wish you had known about publishing earlier on?

I wish I had known how long it takes to publish a book. I had always heard that it was a long process, but I never dreamed that it would take over 6 years from the time that I wrote The Tractor Squad until the time it would be on bookshelves. But the wait was definitely worth it!

“I wish I had known how long it takes to publish a book. I had always heard that it was a long process, but I never dreamed that it would take over 6 years from the time that I wrote The Tractor Squad until the time it would be on bookshelves. But the wait was definitely worth it!” – Heather Torres

BEHIND THE SCENES OF TRADITIONAL VS. INDIE PUBLISHING, SMALL PRESSES, LITERARY REPRESENTATION + MORE

Now, you went the traditional publishing route versus publishing independently or with a vanity press. Can you tell us more about your decision to pursue traditional publishing versus independent? What are some of the reasons you chose to go traditional?

I chose the traditional publishing route as it was just a better fit for my professional goals. I wanted to be on public and school library shelves and in bookstores. Having worked in a library for many years, I knew that the majority of books acquired by librarians were traditionally published. So, it just made sense for me to go that route. 

What would you say are some pros and cons to traditional vs. independent OR vice versa? 

I have never self-published, so I cannot speak to that. However, for me, the benefit of traditional publishing was being able to work with a team to help make my book(s) better than I could ever imagine doing on my own. 

You mentioned that you met your agent at a conference. That’s incredible! Can you tell us a little bit more about how/when/where this happened and what that experience was like?

This is a great question! As I mentioned above, I met my agent very early on in my career at the 2018 Nebraska Writer’s Guild Conference. I had just decided to become a stay-at-home mom and wanted to explore how to get a book published. So, I signed up for the conference and a few pitch sessions. It was the first time I had ever met with agents or even attended a writing conference. My pitch was far from perfect, but I didn’t let that stop me!

- I love your fearless attitude! Go, Heather!-

What was your initial interaction with Stephanie like? And what made you decide she was the right agent fit for you and your work? 

I remember being so nervous when I met Stephanie at the writing conference! But the minute I sat down, she put me at ease. Even though I was very new to kidlit, she was supportive and really encouraging. I was overjoyed when she contacted me a few months later with an offer of representation. 

-This sounds like a dream come true. And how great that she made you feel so at ease!-

Were there any other agents/agencies who you considered prior to signing with Metamorphosis Literary? 

Not really. I did meet with other agents at that same conference, but they weren’t looking for fiction picture books, so I knew right away that they weren’t the right fit for me. 

Had you queried other agents prior to meeting Stephanie? If so, what was the response? 

Stephanie was the very first agent I met with.  I probably shouldn’t admit this out loud, but because I met Stephanie so early on in my career, I have actually never sent out a formal query to an agent. Shhhhh…!

- That's incredible!-

For writers who are querying agents now, what would you say are some “green flags” to look for in an agent? 

Oh goodness. This is a tough question. It really depends on what the author or illustrator is looking for and where s/he is in their career. But I guess I would say someone with strong communication skills, perseverance, transparency, and honesty. Overall, an agent who is knowledgeable in the industry and who has the best interests of their clients at heart would be something to look for. 

-This is FANTASTIC advice, Heather. You hit the nail on the head! Such great answers!-

What are things that you personally value in your agent/author relationship? Explain.

One of the things that I value most in my agent/author relationship is teamwork. Stephanie works closely with both the team at Metamorphosis and me to make each manuscript the best it can be before it goes on submission. I also value her organizational skills, responsiveness, and positivity. Whenever I have questions or need something, she is just a phone call or email away. 

What questions would you recommend a writer ask on the agent call before making the final decision to sign with that agent or not?

Luckily, I haven’t been in the query trenches lately. But there are so many good resources out there for querying writers that are more up-to-date than what I could share. Chat with other writers, watch a webinar, listen to a podcast, but ultimately, ask the questions that you most want to know the answers to!  

What project did you get your agent with, and is that project currently out in the world now or did you end up selling a different manuscript first? Explain.

My agent signed me with a different manuscript, which is not currently on shelves. The first story in the Tractor Squad series, The Tractor Jig, was the second manuscript that I wrote, and Ten Busy Tractors was the third. I initially wrote the series as four separate stories, but loved the vision that Marble Press had of doing a picture book with two stories in one book. I think that The Tractor Squad found the perfect home! 

-I love hearing things like this! It makes me so happy to hear author's express finding the perfect home for their project. Such a great feeling!-

I know you have some exciting news about a picture book series to share this year! How and when did the series deal come about? We’d love to hear about it!

Yes! I am so excited about The Tractor Squad series. I actually received the official offer from Marble Press on my birthday in 2023! It was the best birthday present EVER! Contracts were signed about a month later, and the work began.

For writers querying agents what would you say are some “green flags” to look for? “…someone with strong communication skills, perseverance, transparency + honesty. Overall, an agent who is knowledgeable in the industry & who has the best interests of their clients at heart…”

“I chose the traditional publishing route as it was just a better fit for my professional goals. I wanted to be on public and school library shelves and in bookstores. Having worked in a library for many years, I knew that the majority of books acquired by librarians were traditionally published.” – Heather Torres

THE BIG WHY, OVERCOMING STRUGGLES + WORDS OF ADVICE

“The reason I write and keep on writing is to help make reading fun and to encourage kids to become lifelong readers. As a mom, one of my favorite parts of the day is reading a story to my kids at bedtime. They laugh out loud when I do silly voices or make up wacky songs that go with the book. It’s absolutely magic! I hope that my books help bring a little storytime magic into the lives of other families as well.” – Heather Dawn Torres

As writers, we all have a reason for being here. It’s important to know what that reason is in order to stay on the path because the path is full of challenges. Without that motivational reason, it would be nearly impossible to keep at it when the journey gets tough. What’s your BIG WHY?

I LOVE this question! The reason I write and keep on writing is to help make reading fun and to encourage kids to become lifelong readers. As a mom, one of my favorite parts of the day is reading a story to my kids at bedtime. They laugh out loud when I do silly voices or make up wacky songs that go with the book. It’s absolutely magic! I hope that my books help bring a little storytime magic into the lives of other families as well. 

-This is such a beautiful- and heartfelt- answer!-

What are some of the struggles you’ve had to face throughout your publishing career, and how have you been able to come out the other end?

I think that the biggest struggle I face is balancing mom-life and all of our family activities with my writing career. There is always so much to do, and it can often be overwhelming. But I try to do at least one “writerly” thing every day to help myself stay focused and move forward. Sometimes, it is listening to a podcast or reading a blog, while other times, it’s writing just one line while I’m in the school pick-up lane. And some days, the schedule clears and I get two uninterrupted hours to write (those are my favorite, especially if it’s a rainy day). 

What have been some of your all-time favorite publishing moments? 

My all-time favorite moment was when my two boys read my published book for the first time. They even asked me to sign copies to take to their teachers and the school librarian.

Another favorite moment happened recently when I did a read-aloud and book signing at a local bookstore. One of the kids in the audience was so engrossed in the tractor story that she came up to my chair and sat next to me with her face right in the pages of the book! I am so thankful for all of the family and friends who have supported me on my writing journey–I wouldn’t be here without them! 

What words of advice would you like to share with writers as to how they can stay on the path toward publication?
Keep writing, keep learning, and don’t give up. You’ve got this!

What words of advice would you like to share with writers as to how they can stay on the path toward publication? “Keep writing, keep learning, and don’t give up. You’ve got this!” – Heather Dawn Torres, November 2024 Feature Interview on Chelsea’s World of Books Blog

BOOKS, INSPIRATION, AND READABILITY

Okay, so we’ve heard about the beginning, the initial steps, the agent call, the publishing deal, the challenges, etc. Now it’s time for the BOOKS! We touched briefly on your books (your first picture book as well as your recent book series), but now we’d love to hear more!

Could you share a summary of what your books are about and what your inspiration was for writing them?

Absolutely! The Tractor Squad series is a read-aloud series where tractors explore the work that each season brings to the farm. And find that with a little teamwork, the tractors and their farmyard friends have the most fun of all. 

What do you hope each book will give your reader?

When creating the tractor stories, I knew that I wanted to write something whimsical and fun to read out loud, but as a former farm girl, I also wanted the stories to accurately depict life on a farm. So, I do hope that each book will bring joy to readers but that it will also give them a glimpse of farm life throughout the different seasons of the year. 

What have been some of the responses you’ve gotten from readers? 

So far, the response to the book has been wonderful!  Parents and grandparents have mentioned that their little ones love the colorful illustrations, the repetitive phrases, and the fun language. Many have even told me it is their kids’ new favorite bedtime read! 

Have you been able to attend/participate/or host any book events locally or online? 

I sure have! I have done a few book signings and was also a guest author for storytime at a local library. Meeting readers is one of my favorite things about being an author. 

What was your experience like with the illustrations? Did you have any say in the images or the illustrator who was chosen?

This is one of the questions that I get asked most frequently. And the answer is no. I actually didn’t see the illustrations until I received the digital proof of the entire book. But I couldn’t be happier with how they turned out. I adore Gary’s bright, colorful artwork, which I think really captures all the fun that the tractors have on the farm. The facial expressions on the tractors make me laugh every time! 

Do you have any favorite images from the books? If so, which ones and why?

While I love all of the artwork, my favorite spread is probably the one with the “great big flood” where water is spraying everywhere--it somehow reminds me of my own sons and their ability to find water, dirt, or a puddle of mud wherever we go. I also really love the illustration where the tractor has kicked off its tires and is curled up in a chair, reading a book. So cute!  
You mentioned in your bio that you worked in a library during high school, and your favorite part was reading to the kids. That’s so great! I love that. You also mentioned that as an author and mother, you try to focus on the readability of your writing and challenge yourself to create stories and characters that are not only engaging for children but also fun for librarians, teachers, caregivers, and parents. That way, they can enjoy reading them over and over and over again. Which is fantastic and something that all writers should be thinking about. Can you tell us a little bit about the method you use for this? How do you test this?

Well…I’m not sure I have a concrete method for doing this. But I do read my manuscripts out loud many, many times to myself, my husband, my dog, and my critique partners. Most importantly, I read them out loud to my kids throughout the process, testing lines to see how they react. Did they laugh? Did they seem bored? Were they confused? I think that by the time I finish a manuscript, my two boys have it memorized! I also try to keep in mind how a teacher or librarian would use the book in a classroom or during storytime. In case anyone is interested, Marble Press has some fabulous FREE learning kits and teacher/parent resource guides for the book. Check them out on Marble Press or on Teacher Corner.

What’s one final piece of advice that you’d like to leave readers with today?

Read. It’s as simple as that. Take time to read every day and share stories with the children in your life as much as you can and as often as you can. 

Thanks so much for sharing your journey with us, Heather! We wish you all the continued success on your publishing journey.

Thank you, Chelsea! It was so fun to chat with you today. Thank you for having me. 

But our interview’s not over yet. We still have one last item left on our agenda… and it’s a big one. It’s time for a GIVEAWAY!

For the month of November, Heather Dawn Torres is offering the following giveaway prize to one winner:

A signed copy of The Tractor Squad (U.S. Addresses only)

HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

  • Leave a comment at the bottom of this post!
  • And if you haven’t already, like and subscribe to the blog and/or newsletter!

That’s it!

DEADLINE TO ENTER: 11:59 PM CST NOVEMBER 30TH 2024

Want extra entries? Share this blog post on IG/X and tag IG @chelseasworldofbooks or X @chellysbooks so I can add your entry.

FAQ:

What if I was already subscribed to the blog? Does that mean I won’t qualify for the Prize Giveaway? Not at all! If you subscribed before this month, all you’ll need to do is LIKE this Feature Interview and leave your COMMENT below this post within the deadline (the current month/year entry was posted).

Did you enjoy this interview?

Thank the guest and/or host by leaving a review, purchasing a copy of one of their books, or requesting it be purchased at your local library! Please note: Using the sponsored links below also helps support this blog!

PURCHASE THE TRACTOR SQUAD HERE

PURCHASE ADHD AND ME HERE

I am a former Iowa farm girl turned children’s author, currently living in Nebraska. I am a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), the Nebraska Writers Guild (NWG), and the 12×12 PB Challenge. I currently serve as the Co-Regional Advisor for SCBWI-Nebraska and love connecting with members across the state and from other regions. I am represented by the fabulous Stephanie Hansen of Metamorphosis Literary Agency.

My first picture book, THE TRACTOR SQUAD, was released with Marble Press in September 2024. The second book in the series, THE TRACTOR SQUAD SAVES THE DAY, is set to release in early April 2025.  In the series, tractors explore the work that each season brings to the farm and find that with a little teamwork, the tractors and their farm friends have the most fun of all! Both books are illustrated by the very talented Gary Laib. Connect with Heather: Author Website, X, Instagram

Looking for a specific topic? Browse the list below to find a link to information on one of these topics:

Looking for custom writer/library/book-lover-themed swag/accessories? Visit my Zazzle store! Want to see a curated list of my personal favorite books and recommendations? Visit my bookshop page! Want to browse favorite writing accessories, books by genre, and cozy reading must-haves? Visit my Amazon Storefront!

    ADHD AND ME AUTHOR EVENT WITH LOCAL AUTHOR, CHELSEA DICICCO, OCTOBER 12TH, AT BARNES & NOBLE, BOWLING GREEN, KY & GALLATIN PUBLIC LIBRARY, TN

    Posted on by Chelsea’s World of Books in My Writing Journey, View all blog posts

    With a whole list of neurodiverse holidays, like World Mental Health Day, National Disability Employment Awareness, Down Syndrome Awareness, Dyslexia Awareness, and, of course, ADHD Awareness- October was an exciting month for libraries, bookstores, and neurodivergent families everywhere!

    I was so excited to be a part of two local events hosted this October. One, hosted by Barnes and Noble, located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and the other, hosted by Gallatin Public Library, located in Gallatin, Tennessee.

    BARNES AND NOBLE: STORYTIME, CRAFTS & BOOK SIGNINGS

    On Saturday, October 12th, I headed out with a car full of family- my husband (aka) forever hype man, my parents, who made the drive up from North Carolina, and my 77-year-old grandma, who flew in from Florida. Having my crew of loved ones and supporters here to share in the fun made these book events an unforgettable experience.

    Local kidlit author Chelsea DiCicco visits Barnes and Noble in Bowling Green, KY and Gallatin Public Library of TN with book, ADHD AND ME, during October for ADHD Awareness Month

    A little about my family and how they connect to the story of ADHD AND ME:

    From the beginning of my unofficial writing journey (as soon as I started making books at the fresh age of five years old, with scraps of paper bound together with my dad’s stapler, complete with full text and terrifying-yet-somehow-adorable illustrations by yours truly of cross-eyed, rainbow-colored stick-figures with gigantic heads, unibrows, and wonky arms, and don’t forget the  “about the author” bio on the back cover) my mom, dad, and grandma were my biggest fans and greatest cheerleaders. They continually encouraged me to “keep writing!” And oh, how helpful those words would later be for the journey that lay ahead. True to the task, I followed their advice and kept on writing. And writing. And writing. All the way into my adult years. Never waning for my first love of literature and stories.

    Then, one day, I wrote a story about something very personal to me. My childhood experiences with ADHD. I remember how moved my parents were when they read this story, in particular. “All of your stories are good, Chel,” my dad told me, “But this one is really special.”

    They then encouraged me to seriously consider pursuing publication. But I wasn’t a “real” writer. I didn’t have a four-year writing degree from a prestigious writing institute or know where to begin with querying or submitting. But I knew that the story was important. And if it had the ability to touch someone’s heart and mind… make someone feel seen or understood, or help someone to better understand or see… if it could give someone hope or make someone feel good about themselves… then I knew that I had to find a way to share it with others.

    My parents echoed the same feelings. So much so that they told me they wanted to help fund the project. The funds they provided would go toward helping me enlist the illustrator who would bring Malory to life.

    Now, if you’ve ever done it, you know that attempting to write and publish picture books independently is no easy task, and it’s especially tricky when you aren’t an illustrator.

    Because it means that now you have to find someone whose art matches the style that you’re looking for and an artist who sees the vision of your work in the way that you want it to be portrayed, all without the help of an editor, agent, or art designer.

    Finding the perfect person took time. But eventually… Malory’s artist was discovered. *Read more about the journey of discovering Malory’s artist in The Making of Malory here.*

    Fast forward to today… I now have this precious book to hold in my hands and place into new ones.

    Sharing my journey with others has been a life-changing experience. As an introverted person who enjoys quiet time alone with my thoughts and one-or-two close friends/family members, talking with people who I don’t know (especially about myself) is not a skill set I was born with.

    Typically, I’m quiet in large groups, especially. I keep to myself and am very selective/careful with who I choose to share my innermost heart and feelings with. But when you’re a writer, there’s a side of you that needs to be shared with others. It’s that side of you- the vulnerable person who you truly are behind the page- that connects you with your readers. And that connection is nothing short of magic. Connecting with my readers has been, hands down, the most incredible, rewarding, and wonderful part of my writing journey.

    The moments that make it all worthwhile for me:

    Talking with a mother or grandmother about their child or grandchild and their diagnosis with ADHD or ASD, and the things they’ve experienced at school with teachers and peers, or challenges they’ve had to overcome or are facing now. Listening to people share their stories and then, in turn, seeing the emotional connection they make with my story and with my book. It has been a whole new world of eye-opening. I’ve had so many parents come up to me and thank me for writing and sharing this book with them and for making it available for families like theirs who desperately need it. I’ve had kids come up to me amazed and tell me that the feelings of the character in the story are the same feelings they have. And seeing the smile on their face when they recognize the emotions? Or overhearing them tell their parent, “That’s how I feel.”  It’s an indescribable jumble of emotions. It makes me want to cry and dance and everything in between.

    During the October event at Barnes and Noble, I talked with a mother of two; she had a boy and a girl between the ages of 6-10 (both of whom I got to meet that day) who both had ADHD. Hearing her express their experiences in the safety of that quiet little corner toward the back of the bookstore gave us both a sense of mutual calm and understanding. She spoke softly and pressed her hand to her heart as she described in detail the personal challenges that her family was currently going through and, in turn, asked thoughtful questions regarding my own experiences with ADHD.

    Another woman eagerly approached my table with her five-year-old son and mother-in-law. She opened up about her son’s journey with Autism Spectrum Disorder and the different ways in which those experiences affected their everyday life, both inside and outside of their home. She shared how it affected his relationships and connection with others, whether it be at school or among friends and family. I shared details in the story and the connection of ASD and finding outlets to express ourselves, with the example of art, and Ms. Julie (a character in the book, ADHD AND ME.) I also shared with her details about my day job working in ABA Therapy as a Behavior Technician and the work I do with children with ASD. After some wonderful conversations, I then did something that I never do at author events with this book. I did a read-aloud storytime.

    Why don’t I normally do a public read-aloud of ADHD AND ME?

    Some books are great for reading aloud in a group. They’re fun. They’re engaging. They’re silly. But this story is gentle- best described as a quiet book to be read by a parent or close adult friend/relative to a child in a one-on-one setting. Why? Because this allows for emotional intimacy for little readers to open up about big emotions, talk with parents about how they’re feeling, or parents to ask questions and/or invite conversation after/during the story.  As I read the book aloud, I caught glimpses of tears on both mothers’ faces. Thankfully, I was able to power through the reading and not start crying myself! (I am a bit of a sap.)

    The result? After storytime, we (kids + family + me) worked together on DIY crafts. Then, I signed everyone’s personal copy, ADHD AND ME, and we snapped some photos. Our families all went home with free goody bags filled with custom book swag, including crayons, coloring books, bookmarks, and stickers, with artwork from the story and their very own one-of-a-kind streamer wands.

    GALLATIN PUBLIC LIBRARY MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS DAY

    Meanwhile, across town, over in Gallatin, Tennessee… our public librarians were celebrating neurodiversity of all kinds! This year, their theme was CREATIVE MINDS: EXPLORING MENTAL HEALTH THROUGH THE ARTS & LITERATURE. Though I couldn’t be there in person for this event, as I was at an author event out of state at the Barnes and Noble in Bowling Green, Kentucky, my good friends at the library sent me some fantastic photos! Two library visitors went home that day with their very own pre-signed copy of ADHD AND ME.

    In closing, I’d just like to say thank you. Thank you to all my readers. Big and small. Your stories make a difference. Your voice is important. You MATTER. I appreciate each and every one of you- and there’s a list filled with names of other people who appreciate you, too! It’s great having people appreciate and love you. But it’s important to remember to appreciate and love yourself too. So, this is my personal reminder for you. APPRECIATE AND LOVE YOURSELF- YOU’RE WORTH IT!

    If you’re curious about the book and would like to have a copy of your very own, here’s a link to where you can purchase it. If you have other questions or comments, I’d love to hear them! You can post them below this blog article, and I’ll respond as soon as I can.

    All my love,

    Chelsea DiCicco

    Top Go-To List Of Writing Resources

    Posted on by Chelsea’s World of Books in Resources for Writers & Illustrators, View all blog posts

    **Description: This blog article includes MY personal curated list of all-time top favorite writing resources for writers at all stages of publishing, from just beginning to highly seasoned. This list includes things like free and paid for writing organizations, annual, bi-annual, and one-time writing contests and competitions, helpful YouTube channels and writing podcasts, and other linked articles from publishing professionals- including everything from “routes to publishing,” how to independently or traditionally publish your books, how to find an agent, how to find an editor, how to improve writing craft, how to polish your query letter, where to submit direct to publishers or find agents who represent what you’re writing, how to know if an agent or editor is a good fit for your work, where/how to find your writing community/support system, how to market your books pre/post publication and build an online presence to connect with your audience, including how to get started with social media, your very own website, and/or a blog or email list/newsletter.

    If you’re looking for even more fantastic writing resources from other writers and illustrators, check out my monthly Feature Interview segment by selecting “Feature Interviews” from the category list, OR CLICK HERE. Every month, I host interviews with industry guests, and we share all the ins and outs of the writing journey, offer support for new (and seasoned) writers and illustrators, and share all kinds of information and resources.

    To find out more about what writing community is and how it can help YOU, check out my guest blog article that I did for Maya on Writing With a Twist blog, HERE.

    (Note: CHELSEA’S TOP SEVEN PICKS -listed below- can also be found in my guest blog article HERE!)

    #1 Julie Hedlund’s 12 X 12 Picture Book Challenge

    Type: kidlit writers (specifically picture book writers)/paid membership/purchase window annual at the beginning of each year- membership available to be used all year, duration 1 year.

    If you write kidlit, (ideally picture books, but it can be any genre of kidlit), you’re in luck. Julie Hedlund has created a fantastic writing community through her 12×12 challenge website. This is a HUGE resource for writers. There you’ll find writers who WANT to support and help you. You can find and create critique groups in the forum. You can discover new beta readers. You can join affinity groups. You can find people who are willing to swap manuscripts and offer critiques. You can learn about new writing contests happening near you or virtually. Any information you can think of, Julie’s group has it! And… if that’s not already awesome enough, you can post questions to the forum page or onto the 12×12 Facebook group page. (Note: you must be a member to access the 12×12 forum or 12×12 Facebook group).

    #2 SCBWI

    Type: paid membership/for children’s book writers and illustrators

    Here’s another fantastic resource for writers and illustrators. SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) shares all the newest events both virtually and in person for writers to join and visit. These events are pivotal for making writing connections within the world of publishing. There you can meet and listen to editors, agents, and fellow writers or illustrators. Yes- these connections can last you a lifetime and help build your career and standing in the literary world.

    #3 WRITING BARN

    Type: Various groups/retreats/events/memberships/classes/paid for/ designed for writers of all genres

    This is a new one that I’ve just recently discovered, (Dec 2023/Jan 2024) thanks to a very kind literary agent who referred me in their direction. And I’m so grateful she did! Joining the Writing Barn this year has been truly amazing.

    What they offer:

    They offer retreats, workshops, classes, and an incredible Courage to Create writing group membership.

    **UPDATE as of 10/20/2024: I attended a six-month writing class called Write Submit Support, focusing on writing chapter and picture books, hosted by Kidlit author and writing instructor, Lisa Katzenberger, from March-September, 2024. (Writing class hosted through The Writing Barn).

    The class included a regularly scheduled live monthly Zoom class, with other students (on camera) and your instructor. Each class had keynote discussions on various topics (our instructor often asked us what we wanted to discuss and then build her keynote around those topics), audience participation *optional* and exercises, Q&A, and occasional *light homework assigments. Homework optional- for personal growth, and was not required/checked.

    The class also included monthly turn-ins (with deadlines). The monthly turn-ins were, 2 manuscripts (chapter or picture book), a monthly goal sheet, and a letter to your instructor on where you were at on your writing journey AND/OR anything else you wanted to discuss.

    Your instructor would then reply to all of the above with personalized feedback. For manuscripts, our instructor would give us in depth deep read feedback and offer a stuctural critique separeately as well.

    During this time, students also had free access to the Courage to Create Community- this community is usually a paid for membership. Note: I loved the Courage to Create Community so much that after my 6-month class ended, before my free access could lapse, I purchased a membership to continue with the group. Learn more About the Courage to Create Community further down in this article (see #11).

    #4 READY CHAPTER 1

    Type: writing organization/paid membership/all genres

    Ready Chapter 1 is a newer resource for writers. It’s not specific to any genre- anyone can join. It offers helpful critique forums, community, monthly webinars, and contests with editors and agents. Pretty cool, right?

    What they offer

    Feedback forums, master classes, contests, community, and accountability.

    **UPDATE as of 10/20/2024: This writing resource is great for writers who are working on manuscripts that are longer than your typical picture book- MG/YA/ADULT, in particular. It’s great for getting feedback on chapters and first pages.

    Full disclosure: as my main focus is currently on writing picture books I did not get as much use out of this organization as I would have hoped to, for being a paid membership. That being said, if you’re writing longer books with chapters that need beta readers and feedback/structural critique, this would be a great option for you!

    Learn more about ReadyChapter1 HERE.

    #5 FALL WRITING FRENZY

    Type: writing contest/ FREE/ annual- EVERY October

    Let’s see. The first time I joined Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez’s Fall Writing Frenzy Contest was back in 2022. And I can personally attest to the fact that this contest is a great way to meet and connect with fellow writers.

    How does it work?

    There are a series of pictures provided. You choose one and write a story inspired by it. You have a cap of 200 words (not including title). There’s a submission window. Once the window opens, you post the picture you chose to write about onto your blog and upload your story. Then, you go back to the official website and enter your information into the Google doc provided (with a link to your blog entry). Don’t have a blog? No worries! You can enter your info into the google doc and specify that you don’t have a blog.

    If you DO have a blog… this is extra cool because everyone in the Google doc can see your title and blog address, and if your title sounds good, they might just visit your website.

    You can also scroll through and find new writers this way. Leaving comments on other people’s blogs is a GREAT way to grow your reader audience, gain new followers, and make connections!

    Fun fact: I found one of my critique partners through Fall Writing Frenzy. I visited her blog because she chose the same prompt as I did, and then I discovered her entry was a neurodivergent story, just like my entry! We struck up a wonderful conversation and quickly became writing friends. Fast-forward to a year later, she ended up joining my critique group. And it was all because of the connection we made during Fall Writing Frenzy! Putting yourself out there and participating in these community events is a GREAT way to find YOUR writing community.

    P.S. Did I mention there are a ton of prize donors who offer FREE GIVE AWAY PRIZES to participants?

    Learn more about Writing Frenzy HERE.

    #6 50 PRECIOUS WORDS

    Type: free international writing contest/annual

    Here’s another incredible annual contest. 50 precious words! Very similar to Fall Writing Frenzy, this contest, hosted by Children’s book author Vivian Kirkfield.

    What is it?

    This contests challenges writers to write a story in only 50 words, using a visual prompt.

    Why do it?

    It’s fun! You build community. And you sharpen your writing skills. I can’t tell you how enjoyable it is to share/discover these stories and images. This exercise puts a spark into writing and you meet great people along the way.

    Take a peek at my entries:

    View my 2023 entry (about cupcakes) HERE.

    View my 2024 entry (a sinister, punny comedy about a turkey) HERE.

    FUN FACTS: My 2024 entry won me an honorable mention, and the artwork I used was illustrated by my mom, who is an artist.

    NOTE TO PARENTS/LIBRARIANS/EDUCATORS:

    If you’re looking for a contest like this but for kids, look no further! Vivian Kirkfield also hosts a “5o precious words for kids” event.

    FRIENDLY LIBRARIAN REMINDER: As a former librarian, I’m a huge advocate for connecting with your local library! Contact your library to see if there are any writing contests/groups offered near you *or online! Libraries often host different contests and writing groups at different times throughout the year (sometimes all year-round!) And chances are, if your library isn’t already doing this, they’re open to starting/creating these contests or programs if they know it’s a need or interest in their community. You can almost always find *or create* new opportunities at your local library! **If you do know of any online/in-person contests like this, offered by your library, or somewhere else, feel free to drop it in the comments to share with other readers!**

    #7 PBPARTY

    Type: free writing contest/annual- every February

    What is it?

    PBParty is an annual contest, hosted every February, by author Mindy Alyse Weiss. This contest is is for unagented writers and author/illustrators with finished and polished picture book manuscripts.

    How does it work?

    You submit an entry (query and first 60 – 70 words) and the judges pick a wide variety of genres for the agents/editors to read and hopefully request. 

    Other things they offer:

    Critique trains! Facebook group.

    Why do it?

    Not only is it a huge opportunity to find an agent or even get yourself a book deal with an editor, but it’s also a great way to make lasting connections in the writing community.

    Between the Facebook Group, the Critique Trains, and the PBRanking Party, this is a HUGE community connector. Not to mention, if your story is chosen as one of the 50 in the showcase, you’ll be entered into a private Facebook Group, and you’ll have unlimited access- no end date!

    Note to readers: two of my critique partners landed their agents thanks to the help of PBParty! And they’ve made lasting friendships with many of the group members they met through this incredible event.

    Okay, those are the first 7 top writing resources that I originally posted about back in my guest blog article that was written in January 2024 and published in February 2024. But those aren’t all the resources I have for you…

    Here are some more great resources that you should DEFINITELY know about and reasons why.

    #8 StoryStorm

    Type: free writing contest/annual- every January

    This free writing contest is hosted annually, every January, by the queen of comedy, kidlit author, and writing speaker, Tara Lazar. This is a fun, low-stakes high reward, community event where writers from everywhere band together in a month-long brainstorming of new creative story ideas.

    The goal?

    The Storystorm challenge is to create 30 story ideas in 31 days. You don’t have to write a manuscript (but you can if the mood strikes). You don’t need potential best-seller ideas.

    Find out more about Tara Lazar’s Storystorm event HERE, on her website.

    # 9 Manuscript Academy!!!

    Type: multiple- free podcast/published weekly, available all year round, free first pages/random dates, paid for memberships/all-year round

    Oh my goodness. If you’ve made it to this point in the article, and don’t know who or what the Manuscript Academy is… congratulations, you’ve just struck gold. The Manuscript Academy is an INCREDIBLE resource for writers. I can’t stress how invaluable this resource has been for me personally. I listen to the podcast while commuting to and from work and just for fun and the insight and encouragement found in these episodes is truly phenomenal.

    What is it?

    The Manuscript Academy is brought to you by a literary agent Jessica Sinsheimer of Context Literary Agency, (also co-creator of #MSWL and ManuscriptWishList.com) a writer, Julie Kingsley, (also a conference organizer and media professional) and Manuscript Wish List®. Read more about their incredible story HERE.

    Things the Manuscript Academy offers:

    Consultations, live meetings, written critiques, copyediting, classes, events, workshops- some free, some paid for. They also offer memberships. Currently, they offer two membership options: BASIC MEMBERSHIP and GOLD MEMBERSHIP.

    **UPDATE: AS OF 10/20/2024:

    BASIC MEMBERSHIP includes:

    All the Classes + All The Events + Early Booking

    • Early booking in the meetings & critiques system
    • Members-only meeting and critique formats
    • Access to 100% of our filmed, edited classes (60+ hours) taught by top agents, editors and authors
    • Tickets to ALL of our weekly live events
    • A monthly Q&A help desk with rotating guest faculty
    • Personal recommendations for faculty pairings
    • Cancel at any time–if you cancel within 30 days, you’ll pay just $49

    GOLD MEMBERSHIP includes:

    Monthly Agent Consultation + All the Classes + All The Events + Early Booking

    • $49 Instant Member Credit (use toward consultations, critiques & small group workshops) with sign-up + every 30-day renewal
    • Early booking in the meetings & critiques system
    • Members-only meeting and critique formats
    • Access to 100% of our filmed, edited classes (60+ hours) taught by top agents, editors and authors
    • Tickets to ALL of our weekly live events
    • A monthly Q&A help desk with rotating guest faculty
    • Personal recommendations for faculty pairings
    • Cancel at any time–if you cancel within 30 days, you’ll pay just $69

    Learn more about what each membership offers on their website HERE.

    Now let’s circle back to the podcast. If you enjoy podcasts *and even if you don’t* this podcast is A-MA-ZING.

    The Manuscript Academy Podcast is published weekly and free for everyone. It features interviews with top agents, editors and authors on the craft, business, and community of publishing.

    You can find it in the iTunes Store,on Soundcloud, and on Spotify. Subscribe for free and never miss an episode!

    Looking for transcripts?  Find individual show pages with this formula: ManuscriptAcademy.com/podcast-guest_first_name-guest_last_name.

    Example: Podcast with Monica Rodriguez is: https://manuscriptacademy.com/podcast-monica-rodriguez

    #10 The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

    Type: free/podcast/all-year

    What is it?

    The Shit No One Tells You About Writing is a podcast for emerging writers, who are looking to improve their work with an aim to having it published, or for anyone who would like a behind-the-scenes look at the publishing industry.

    Bianca Marais, bestselling author and award-winning creative writing instructor, interviews authors, agents, editors and just about anyone and everyone who’s involved in bringing a book to market.

    She’s joined by her cohosts, literary agents Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra from P.S. Literary Agency, who read and critique listeners’ query letters ​and opening pages, and who also answer your burning questions in their Q&A segment.

    Guest interviewers join the show occasionally and independent booksellers and Bookstagrammers also chime in to help you find the perfect comp titles. Expect good advice, honest insights, and a few laughs along the way.

    Other things they offer:

    Deep dive series, books with hooks, newsletter, beta reader match ups, contests and giveaways, courses, events, and more! Learn all about

    #11 Courage to Create Community

    Type: writing organization/paid membership/all-year

    Here’s why I love the Courage to Create Community: I love the Courage to Create Community for it’s positive beliefs, encouraging atmosphere, constant writer-to-writer support, and access to incredible submission and query opportunities to editors and agents that otherwise wouldn’t be accessible. Not to mention the monthly zoom chats with industry professionals that offer so much insight- and can be joined LIVE or rewatched later, to best fit your preference and busy schedule!

    What is it?

    The Courage to Create Community, led by Writing Barn founder and creative director Bethany Hegedus, is made for writers seeking support in navigating the triumphs and challenges of living a literary life.

    What does it offer?

    • Monthly Literary Life Group Coaching Sessions.  Each monthly webinar/session will be built around a literary life challenge or an aspect of craft/creation or publication/promotion. There will be time for reflection and connection as well as questions submitted in advance that relate directly to your circumstances. These sessions will be led by Bethany, a CTC Champion, or a special guest.
    • Bethany will coach the group and have spotlight conversations with two to three writers per webinar. The sessions will be 90 minutes and added to the password-protected Mighty Networks Courage to Create Hub for unlimited replays for the continuation of your paid membership. 
    • Access to the private password-protected Courage to Create Mighty Networks Hub, where we will goal set, share resources, ask for support, and celebrate our milestones.
    • 3 Ask an Agent sessions with top agents who will open to Courage to Create Community members for a brief submissions window.
    • 3 Editor Insight sessions with top editors who will open to Courage to Create Community members for a brief submissions window.
    • 2 Behind the Book conversations with authors celebrating new releases to discuss the journey from initial idea to final publication, with insights into the creative and business journey.
    • CTC Champion for Speaking and School Visits: 3 webinars on a variety of topics relating to school visits and speaking gigs, led by Carmen Oliver of the Booking Biz.
    • Resource Alert! For those in the query trenches: Resources/spreadsheets with OPEN agents in children’s: PB-YA, memoir, adult literary, and commercial fiction.
    • For those published: Resources/spreadsheets on when and where to pitch yourself for conferences, writing organizations, festivals, and more.
    • Monthly Craft & Community opportunities: Join member-led craft presentations, craft book discussions, or join a like-minded CTC critique group, being matched by a small group of CTC visionaries using our questionnaire to make the matches happen. OR search for writers in your local area and create CTC meetups with nearby writers. Your level of participation is up to you!
    • Select discounts on Writing Barn programming; including half-day and 6-week classes, and potentially in-person retreats when they are safe to resume.
    • Investment: Literary Life Community Coaching PLUS Intimate Industry Engagement + submissions opportunities

    Learn more on the Writing Barn Website HERE.

    #12 PB Rising Stars

    Type: 3-month one-on-on Mentorship Program/FREE *must apply within application window & BE SELECTED*

    This mentorship program is an especially great opportunity for anyone part of an underrepresented/marginalized group in publishing.

    What is the PB Rising Stars Mentorship Program?

    The #PBRisingStars Mentorship program started with a tweet, a huge response, and two authors with book deals looking for ways to give back to the KidLit community that gave so much to them.

    They pair agented picture book creators that are knowledgeable about querying, author-agent relationships, being on submission, book deals, and contract language, with the next generation of children’s book creators for an immersive, three-month, one-on-one mentorship experience that is more than just a critique.

    Their mission is to give experienced picture book creators the platform to pull up-and-coming picture book creators up the turbulent publishing ladder. They center Black creators, creators of color, and ALL underrepresented communities because they believe in equity. Above all, they believe that their mentors and mentees should reflect what publishing SHOULD look like.

    Learn more about PB RISING STARS HERE.

    #13 Daily Dozen SUMMER Writing Challenge

    Type: Writing Contest/ FREE/ Annual- I hope?!

    The Daily Dozen Summer Writing Challenge first launched in the summer of 2023 with former Feature Interview Guest and kidlit author and educator Andrew Hacket. This fun initiative is very simple.

    What is it?

    The Daily Dozen is a challenge to focus a tiny bit of time on our creative endeavors over the summer. The goal is to spend 12 minutes a day creating NEW MATERIAL. That’s it!

    Who can participate?

    Absolutely anyone! This is an all-ages, all-genres, all-creators event! Unagented, agented, published, pre published… if you want to commit to your craft this summer then this challenge is for you.

    And while it’s called the “Writing Challenge,” all creators are invited to take on this daily challenge to see what they can create in just 12 minutes. We’re looking at you illustrators!

    I had a blast participating in this event in 2024 and wound up as one of the PRIZE winners. I ended up winning a critique with Kate Narita.

    Learn more about Andrew Hacket and his incredible publishing journey in his Feature Interview article LINKED HERE. To discover more about the Daily Dozen Summer Writing Contest, visit his website LINKED HERE.

    #14 PBPitch

    Type: community event/ pitch contest/ FREE/ annual- exclusively for picture books

    What is it?

    This 24-hour pitch event happens on Twitter/X annually and is exclusively for picture books. The purpose of this event is for editors and agents to see your pitches!

    How does it work?

    *Pitch your PBs on X/Twitter using #PBPitch.

    *Pitch manuscripts only ONCE in the morning and ONCE in the Evening. (Once before 2pm and once after.)

    *If you are an author/illustrator, you can attach an image to your PB manuscript pitch.

    *Include Subgenre # if it applies.

    #NF = Nonfiction

    #C= Concept

    #L= Lyrical

    #I= Interactive

    #SEL= Social Emotional Learning

    Other optional and common hashtags:

    #BVM (Black Voices Matter to be used by black creators)

    #POC (Person of Color)

    #OWN (Own Voices)

    #DIS (Disability subject matter)

    *You can pitch multiple picture books, but only pitch each one twice. -Meaning, you can’t submit 12 pitches for the same manuscript. You can only submit *at most* TWO pitches for EACH manuscript.

    *Only agents and editors should HEART a pitch.

    *If they do, check their submission guidelines (and do your research) before submitting to them. 

    When does it happen?

    **As of 10/20/2024

    The last PBPitch event was held on in June, 20th 2024. For future dates, keep your eye out on their website HERE.

    #15 Spring Fling Writing Contest

    Type: writing contest/ FREE/ Annual

    Your Challenge:

    Find a gif and write a spring-inspired story. Blossoming flowers? Sure! Easter eggs? You bet! Mothers day? Of course! Anything related to Spring is yours for the telling.

    This annual spring writing contest is for stories geared for kids 12 and under, and hosted by literary agent, Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez, and author, Ciara Oneal.

    How it works

    Choose a gif to inspire your story. (All gifs should be child appropriate and in no way be derogatory towards any faith, race, etc.) You have 150 words. That’s it! No more – but less is always welcome.

    Important: Your title is not included in the word count. No illustration notes pretty please. Your gif should be the only visual with your story. The Spring Fling contest officially begins on April 1st. From April 1st to April 3rd, post your gif and story on your blog. (If you have one.) Then, add the link to your blog to the form on the Entries page of Ciara’s blog* Deadline for posting your story or the link to your story is April 3rd, at 11:59pm CST. Only one entry per contestant is permitted. 

    ***If you do not have a blog, post your entire story in the section provided on the form.***

    Learn more about the Spring Fling Writing Contest on Kaitlyn Leann’s Website HERE or Ciara’s website HERE.

    #16 BookEnds Literary YouTube Channel

    Type: Literary Vlog/FREE/weekly posts- available all-year-round

    What is it?

    This YouTube Channel is a ONE-STOP-SHOP for all questions querying/writing/publishing as a whole. Hosted by Jessica Faust and James McGowan, both agents at BookEnds Literary, give you an up-close and personal look at the behind-the-scenes of publishing.

    ABOUT THE HOSTS

    Jessica Faust’s love for books is what first brought her to open BookEnds Literary Agency. It is her desire to be an advocate for all authors that pushed her to create her blog, the BookEnds YouTube channel and to maintain a vibrant presence on Twitter. Jessica is proud to have grown BookEnds into an agency that represents authors of all genres for children and adults, allowing her to reach more readers and help more authors and illustrators achieve their dreams.

    James McGowan is a Literary Agent at BookEnds and writer for children. He began working with the agency as an intern in the summer of 2015, and basically never left. He represents a talented group of authors and illustrators working in everything from board books to middle grade graphic novels. He also works in adult nonfiction, and adult mystery and suspense projects. James is the author of GOOD NIGHT OPPY, which is available now.

    Connect with BookEnds! Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/bookendslit Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/bookends_literary TikTok: http://www.tiktok.com/@bookends_literary Website: http://www.bookendsliterary.com Connect with Jessica: twitter.com/bookendsjessica Connect with James: twitter.com/jmcgowanbks

    Learn more about their channel HERE.

    #17 Kidlit Zombie Week

    Type: Community Writing Event/Contest/FREE/Annual- every June

    What is it?

    Join the “6 Ladies and a MANuscript” Critique Group in bringing your “dead” manuscripts back to life. Enjoy a week filled with inspiration, discussions, and great prizes!

    ** As of 10/20/2024 Last event: June 17-21, 2024

    To learn more about #KidlitZombieWeek, visit their Twitter page HERE.

    #18 Kidlit411

    Type: blog/ free/ resources for kidlit writers!

    What is it?

    KidLit 411 is a blog page dedicated to keeping you in the loop in all areas of children’s publishing. It includes topics like magazine and educational market, indie publishing, social media, school visits, international information, freelance editors and critiques, query letters, poetry and rhyme, non-fiction, revisions, conferences and workshops, legal resources for creatives, mentor programs, diversity in kidlit, contests and awards, submissions: agents and editors, marketing and creating a platform, graphic novels, critique groups, writing courses, blogs to follow, and SO. MUCH. MORE.

    Interested in learning more? Visit their website HERE.

    #19 Writer’s Rumpus

    Type: Blog/FREE/Picture Book Support & Writing Resources

    What is it?

    This blog page is dedicated to offering writers and illustrators resources and support by sharing online kidlit communities, challenges, courses, contests, and events. Year-round resources are listed first, followed by opportunities available each month. Click the name of a month to go directly to that month’s listings. Watch for more-detailed posts each month.

    January      February      March      April      May      June     July

    August      September     October     November     December

    Want to learn more about all the cool things Writer’s Rumpus offers? Visit their website HERE.

    #20 Highlights Foundation

    Type: writing organization/courses/camps/blogs/podcasts+/paid & free

    The Highlights Foundation offers everything imaginable in different variations and formats- online courses and programs to custom/in-person writing retreats, helpful blog posts and more. They also offer scholarship opportunities for those interested in applying.

    > Working Retreats

    > In-Community Retreats & Programs

    > Online Courses

    > On-Demand (Self-Paced Online)

    > The Whole Novel Workshop

    > Summer Camp

    > Free #HFGather Webinars

    More Ways to Learn & Connect

    > Explore by Genre & Format

    > Just starting? Learn About Children’s Publishing

    Visit On Your Own

    > Personal Retreats

    > Custom Retreats

    Explore Our Kidlit Resources

    Craft Resources

    (by Genre & Topic)

    Watch and Listen

    News

    Our Community

    Learn More About Us

    Learn more about Highlights Foundation on their website HERE.

    Have a resource or recommendation you’d like to share? Drop it in the comments below and if it sounds like a good fit, I will add it to the next updated version of this list. 

    OCTOBER 16TH, 2024, FEATURE INTERVIEW WITH CHINESE AMERICAN DEBUT KIDLIT AUTHOR-ILLUSTRATOR KIM-HOA UNG, CONDUCTED BY KIDLIT WRITER, BLOGGER & FORMER LIBRARIAN CHELSEA DICICCO

    Posted on by Chelsea’s World of Books in Feature Interview Series, View all blog posts

    Today, I’m talking with debut kidlit author-illustrator Kim-Hoa Ung. We’ll be chatting about paths to publication, sharing motivation and resources, and discussing the importance of having inclusive books for kids by creators of marginalized backgrounds.

    But before we jump into our interview, if this is your first time visiting the blog, here’s the scoop on Feature Interviews.

    THE SCOOP: WHAT ARE FEATURE INTERVIEWS & WHO ARE THEY FOR?

    Feature Interviews are a free resource for writers and illustrators at every stage of the publishing journey.

    Every month, I collaborate with industry professionals—authors, illustrators, editors, and agents— many of whom were or currently are also educators and librarians, to discuss all things publishing.

    What can these interviews offer YOU?

    These interviews give readers an up-close and personal look at the world of publishing from an array of different perspectives on every side of the desk and offer insight into tips, resources, and advice on how to:

    ●       stay current with market trends

    ●       hook an agent or editor

    ●       find writing community & other resources

    ●       discover workshops, contests, and other events

    ●       figure out which path of publication is right for you

    ●       know if your agent is a good match

    And more!

    AND… if that’s not enough, every guest offers at least one giveaway prize—sometimes more. This means you have multiple opportunities to win prizes every month! *If you’re interested in entering the giveaway, scroll to the bottom of the interview for instructions.*

    Now that we’ve shared a little about what’s in store… it’s time to jump into our interview!

    INTRODUCTIONS & BEGINNINGS

    When did you first enter the kidlit publishing arena?

    Hi, everyone! Thank you for having me on your wonderful blog, Chelsea! I discovered the kidlit publishing arena in the Fall of 2020. While reading a book with my daughter one night, she asked why I couldn’t write a book and dedicate it to her one day. So I was inspired to try for her.

    What was your inspiration for wanting to be a publishing kidlit author-illustrator?

    I heard that you’d have a better chance of getting published if you were both author and illustrator. So I tried to do both. I never thought of becoming either of those because writing was always hard for me. I am an amigurumi artist, so designing characters isn’t so hard for me. But to create a full-colored spread out of a blank sheet was nerve-racking for me. But I just had to try for my daughter’s dedication someday.

    You recently had your debut picture book come out in December of 2023. Congratulations! Can you tell us a bit about your journey to publication?

    Thank you so much, Chelsea! There was a writing competition happening, and I decided to join. It was the Fall Writing Frenzy hosted by Kaitlyn Sanchez and Lydia Lukidis. I won, and my prize was a critique from an editor. During our meeting, I was surprised when she said she would like to work with me. That’s how my book found an editor. At the same time, I found an agent through a pitch event on Twitter/X. After several revisions, my book was acquired.

    Staying positive in query trenches: What were the query trenches like and what were some things that helped you to keep going?

    The query trenches were tough for me. I remember receiving my first rejection during the Christmas holidays. I cried. After months of rejections from agents, I felt very down. One didn’t like my storytelling style. Another didn’t like my art. I was wondering what I was capable of. What kept me going was encouragement from my family and kidlit friends. The writing community has been so supportive. There are those few who always comment, like, or share my posts. It means a lot to know I’m not alone out there struggling.
     
    Your book was published with a traditional house, Macmillan Feiwel and Friends. While publishing with a traditional publishing house doesn’t always require literary representation, oftentimes, it helps. And in your case, you did have literary representation. Who are you currently agented by, and what agency?

    My agent is Miranda Paul of Erin Murphy Literary Agency.

    Did you know from the beginning that you wanted to pursue traditional publishing with the help of a literary agent, or did that decision take place later? Explain.

    At first, I thought about self-publishing, but there was so much to learn. I also didn’t have the income to invest in printing books or hiring editors/designers. After enrolling in Storyteller Academy and learning more about publishing, I thought traditional publishing might be possible for me.

    How did you end up with your agent & agency? Was it a cold query? A special query opportunity at a conference or other writing event/contest? Etc.

    I found my agent through PBPitch on Twitter. I decided to pitch my story and art in October of 2021. I was excited to receive three hearts that day, one of those being from Miranda Paul. I queried her and was offered representation, which I accepted. Thankful for Debra Shumaker and PJ McIlvaine for hosting such a great event for the kidlit community.
    For writers and illustrators who are querying now, can you share a little bit about what to expect for that agent call?

    I was very nervous because this was my big chance. I made sure to have my list of questions. Justin Colon and Kelly Rice Schmitt were kind enough to put together a list of questions for agent calls and share it with the community. 

    -CHECK OUT THE LIST AT THE LINK HERE!

    The list was very helpful.

    -Thanks so much for sharing this awesome resource with readers, Kim-Hoa.

    What made you decide to sign with the agent/agency you’re with? And why is signing with the “right” agent better than not having an agent all? Explain.

    I decided to sign with Miranda because she was nice and enthusiastic about my work. Everything is so subjective in the publishing world. You just hope for someone supportive and passionate about your work. It is better to have an agent so that she can help guide you in the submission process and fight for your work.

    What advice do you have to am querying author-illustrators who are looking to go into traditional publishing?

    Keep writing and illustrating. Display and submit work that you truly love and are most proud of. Keep learning and being the best version of yourself. Find yourself kidlit friends who will give you helpful feedback and are supportive of you through all the ups and downs.

    For author-illustrators who might be on the fence about whether or not to query for literary representation vs. submitting directly to publishing houses, what are some pros and cons of both routes?

    I know that most publishing houses accept submissions from agented creators only. But I know a few creators who have successfully landed deals on their own. I, too, found my editor before my agent. So it is possible. 

    There are many agents looking for author-illustrators, so you have a good chance with a good portfolio and writing samples. You do what you feel most comfortable with. Even though I had interest from my editor on my dummy, I still wanted an agent so that she could help me negotiate the contract and to help me with future work.

    ROAD BUMPS AND CELEBRATIONS

    What have been some of your favorite parts of the publishing journey? 

    One of my favorite parts of the publishing journey was receiving my proofs. All of my works have been on screen or printed on regular copy paper, so seeing it big on nice glossy paper was an exciting moment for me.
    Another favorite moment was seeing my children hold and read my book for the first time together. I’m grateful to be able to dedicate the book to them. Seeing all the friends and family who came to support me at my book events was heart-warming too. Grateful for all who have supported my book and journey!

    -Those all sound like very exciting moments! Thanks for sharing those with us. And for sharing the picture. :)

    What are some of the challenges you faced in your publishing journey? Explain.

    Learning how to illustrate digitally was a challenge for me. Coloring is still difficult for me because I have a hard time seeing what colors work well together. I need to study and practice more. Writing has also been challenging. Finding ways to make your story or art unique is always tough. Just have to keep trying.

    What has helped you the most to stay motivated and continue on the path?

    Having wonderful family, kidlit friends, and critique partners help make the journey less frightening. Seeing other people’s work on social media has also been inspiring.

    -Yes! They make the journey so much better.

    In your words, could you share the importance of having diverse books with creators of marginalized backgrounds and voices for our young readers?

    It is so important. I wish I had those diverse books growing up. The only one I knew was Yeh-Shen: A Cinderella Story from China by Ai-Ling Louie. I loved the book so much and was so touched when my college roommate got it for me as a gift. Diverse books are important so that other kids and adults have the opportunity to learn about other cultures. They are the windows, doors, and mirrors for the world.

    “Diverse books are important so that other kids and adults have the opportunity to learn about other cultures. They are the windows, doors, and mirrors for the world.” – Kim-Hoa Ung @AutumnLeaflet


    Yeh-Shen: A Cinderella Story from China

    For creators who are from marginalized backgrounds, do you have any favorite writing resources or communities that you’d recommend checking out?

    Debbie Ridpath Ohi’s website has been very helpful, especially for new creators. 

    Check out Debbie's website at THIS LINK HERE. She also conducts interviews with creators so that you can learn more about the publishing industry and other people’s creative journeys. 

    Mia Wenjen also has a wonderful website that features many diverse books. For holidays and other occasions, she posts about collections of related titles. 

    Check out Mia's website at THIS LINK HERE. 

    Kaitlyn Sanchez has always been so supportive of writers and illustrators. I suggest you follow her on social media because she hosts/co-hosts writing competitions like Fall Writing Frenzy and Spring Fling Kidlit, and the community is so supportive of each other.

    -Follow Kaitlyn on her X account at THIS LINK HERE, or visit her website at THIS LINK HERE to discover her Fall Writing Frenzy Contest, Spring Fling Kidlit Contest, and other resources. You can also learn more about The Fall Writing Frenzy on Lydia Lukidis website at THE LINK HERE.

    BOOKS + EVENTS + PUBLISHING DEBUT

    Your book has been out in the world for a little less than a year. How does it feel?!

    I am very grateful for all the love and support I have received for A GIFT FOR NAI NAI. It is such a special feeling to see my book on shelves in bookstores, libraries, and readers’ homes. Thank you to everyone who has read, purchased, gifted, and reviewed my book.

    What kind of response have you received from readers?

    Readers have told me that A GIFT FOR NAI NAI reminds them of their loved ones, especially their grandmothers, giving them handmade gifts. They have said that my illustrations are so cute and that they love the Chinese writing characters dispersed throughout the book. A few readers have made Nai Nai’s hat too. So touching to see!

    -How sweet!
    Have you been able to host any local/or otherwise events? 

    I was able to have storytime and book signings at Barnes and Noble at the Americana, Once Upon A Time Bookstore, Vroman’s Pasadena, and Bel Canto Books. I am grateful for everyone who came and was there in spirit!
    Speaking of book events… this is your DEBUT book! How exciting. Could you tell us about your story and the inspiration behind it?

    A GIFT FOR NAI NAI is about a girl who wants to make a special gift for her grandma’s birthday. I had not seen any picture books with crochet at the time, so that inspired me to create one. I used to crochet hats for my grandma, too, so this book is special to me.

    -How special! I love that. And this picture is too cute.
    Do you have a favorite illustration spread? If so, which one and why?

    My favorite spread is when Nai Nai finds out the hat is for her all along, and she and Lyn Lyn hug each other. I love the sweet words Lyn Lyn has for Nai Nai. It is a blessing to have a grandma. 

    -So beautiful!
    Any final words of wisdom that you’d like to share with our readers today?

    Keep writing. Keep illustrating. Agents either didn’t like my writing or my illustrations. It was tough because it made me doubt myself. I wasn’t sure what I was capable of anymore. But the kidlit community and my family were encouraging. So, I kept writing and illustrating. It is important to find yourself supportive friends and critique partners who will help you do better. Good luck with everything, kidlit friends! I am rooting for you all!

    “It is important to find yourself supportive friends and critique partners who will help you do better.”

    Thank you so much for joining us today, Kim-Hoa.
    And now…
    It’s time for a GIVEAWAY!


    GIVEAWAY

    For the month of October, Kim-Hoa Ung is offering the following giveaway prize(s) to (x amount of) winner(s):

    One winner will receive a copy of A GIFT FOR NAI NAI picture book or a giant crocheted pencil plushie!

    HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

    ●     Leave a comment on this post!

    ●     And if you haven’t already, like this post and subscribe to the blog and/or newsletter!

    That’s it!

    DEADLINE TO ENTER: 10/31/2024 11:59 PM CST

    FAQ:

    What if I was already subscribed to the blog? Does that mean I won’t qualify for the Prize Giveaway? Not at all! If you subscribed before this month, all you’ll need to do is LIKE this Feature Interview and leave your COMMENT below this post within the deadline (the current month/year entry was posted).

    Did you enjoy this interview?

    Thank the author & host by purchasing a copy of one of their books or by requesting it be purchased at your local library! Using the sponsored links below supports this blog.

    BOOK LINKS

    Purchase a copy of A GIFT FOR NAI NAI.

    Purchase a copy of ADHD AND ME.

    Kim-Hoa Ung is a Chinese American author-illustrator and amigurumi artist who enjoys creating stories that explore family relationships, friendship, empathy, culture and heritage, and immigrant life. When she’s not creating stories, you can find her crocheting pieces for art shows, sending snail mail, and making arts and crafts with her kids. She lives with her family in Southern California. A Gift for Nai Nai is her debut picture book, and it was published on December 5, 2023, with Macmillan’s Feiwel and Friends.

    @AutumnLeaflet on Twitter/X: @AutumnLeaflet on Instagram @AutumnLeaflet on TikTok @AutumnLeaflet on Facebook @AutumnLeaflet.bsky.social on Bluesky

    Website: http://www.kimhoaung.com

    Looking for custom writer/library/book-lover-themed swag/accessories? Visit my Zazzle store! Want to see a curated list of my personal favorite books and recommendations? Visit my bookshop page! Want to browse favorite writing accessories, books by genre, and cozy reading must-haves? Visit my Amazon Storefront!

    Looking for custom writer, librarian, or book-lover-themed swag and/or accessories? Visit my Zazzle store! Want to see a curated list of my personal favorite books and recommendations? Visit my bookshop page! Want to browse favorite writing accessories, books by genre, and cozy reading must-haves? Visit my Amazon Storefront!

    Looking for a specific topic? Browse the list below to find a link to information on one of these topics:

    Pros and cons of small publishers, hybrid (or indie) publishing, and being agented VS. unagented.

    OCTOBER 2, 2024, FEATURE INTERVIEW WITH DYSLEXIC, NEURODIVERGENT, DEBUT CHILDREN’S BOOK AUTHOR-ILLUSTRATOR, AND PUPPET AND FILMMAKER KRISTA WELTNER, CONDUCTED BY CHILDREN’S BOOK WRITER, BLOGGER, AND FORMER LIBRARIAN CHELSEA DICICCO

    Posted on by Chelsea’s World of Books in Feature Interview Series, View all blog posts

    Today, I’m talking with dyslexic, neurodiverse, debut children’s book author-illustrator, and puppet and filmmaker Krista Weltner. We’ll be chatting about learning differences and disabilities and their important role in literature- especially kidlit, multi-deal publishing a book series, debut to kid-lit secrets, routes to publishing- and of course- BOOKS AND GIVEAWAY PRIZES! Don’t miss your chance to enter the October Feature Interview giveaway prize pool by COMMENTING on this blog post before the deadline: October 31st, 2024, 11:59 PM CST.

    But before we do… here are a few things to know about feature interviews.

    THE SCOOP: WHAT ARE FEATURE INTERVIEWS & WHO ARE THEY FOR?

    Feature Interviews are a free resource for writers and illustrators at every stage of the publishing journey.

    Every month, I collaborate with industry professionals—authors, illustrators, editors, and agents— many of whom were or currently are also educators and librarians, to discuss all things publishing.

    What can these interviews offer YOU?

    These interviews give readers an up-close and personal look at the world of publishing from an array of different perspectives on every side of the desk and offer insight into tips, resources, and advice on how to:

    • stay current with market trends
    • hook an agent or editor
    • find writing community & other resources
    • discover workshops, contests, and other events
    • figure out which path of publication is right for you
    • know if your agent is a good match

    And more!

    AND… if that’s not enough, every guest offers at least one giveaway prize—sometimes more. This means you have multiple opportunities to win prizes every month! *If you’re interested in entering the giveaway, scroll to the bottom of the interview for instructions.*

    Not that we’ve shared a little about what’s in store… it’s time to jump into our interview!

    INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

    Krista- welcome to Chelsea’s World of Books literary blog! It’s so great to have you with us today. This month is a big month for neurodiverse celebrations, as October is not only DYSLEXIA AWARENESS MONTH, it’s also ADHD AWARENESS MONTH! As a neurodiverse girl, I’m thrilled to be celebrating with a fellow neurodiverse creator!

    In honor of that, I’d love to start by asking: what words of wisdom would you like to share with other neurodiverse creators today?

    Thank you for having me! My advice is to set your goals high. There is no reason you can’t achieve anything you want to.

    Chelsea’s Words of Wisdom: I think Lupe Fiasco’s- Superstar says it best. 🙂 Also, you deserve something nice. Here’s a link to a cozy blanket.

    Okay, so let’s go back to the very beginning. When did you first fall in love with writing and illustrating? Have you been drawing and writing stories since you were little, and did you always know that you wanted to pursue this as a career, or did that happen later in life? Explain.

    I've had a few careers. I have worked in stop-motion animation, theater, the theme park industry, and publishing. I’ve been creating since I was a kid, but I never thought I would be an author!  As a kid, I made my dollhouse furniture and dioramas and painted and sewed costumes for my stuffed animals…my play was making things. I went to college for theater design and technology and then to graduate school for puppet arts. My love of inventing and creating my own stories really emerged from that time in my life. We learned how to build puppets, wrote scripts and performed them. While I was in grad school, a newly formed stop-motion class was offered in a completely different department from mine. A lot of the students in that building were pursing degrees in illustration, which is something I had never considered. The exposure to what they were doing sparked my interest and curiosity about publishing. It was something I immediately began to pursue after school. 

    When did you first begin actively pursuing publication? And about how long from that time did it take for you to finally achieve that big publishing moment of holding your first book in your hands?

    I started forming an illustration portfolio in 2017. I held my first books earlier this year, January 2024. 

    I know we talk a lot about the *final product* AKA the book being published, but there are so many wonderful milestones to celebrate throughout the publishing journey. What are some little/big milestones that you were able to celebrate even BEFORE publication?

    One of my favorite memories was during the acquisitions phase with Free Spirit Publishing. I had been messaging back and forth with the acquiring editor for months. There was some interest in the manuscript I submitted, which made me feel like I was on top of a mountain.  I received an email asking what I thought about expanding the idea to a series and if I had more ideas for my main characters. I was working on a film with Laika Studios at the time (my partner also worked there.) I remember running down to his department to tell him about the email. I was shaking, I was so excited. 

    What are some challenges you’ve faced on the publishing journey, and how have you overcome them?

    I’m dyslexic, so there are some obvious challenges associated with that. But my biggest hurdle is time. I cannot do publishing work full-time, so I always have a 40 or 40+ hour a week job. I always make my deadlines, but I often wish I had more time to make my work that much better.

    BEGINNING STEPS TO PUBLISHING: FIRST DRAFTS & QUERYING

    I know we talked a little bit about the beginning of your publishing journey, as in “when” it started- now, I’d love to dive deeper into the steps that were involved in those beginning stages for some of our readers who may be anticipating diving in themselves but aren’t sure where to start.

    Let’s start with the first drafts. What was that stage like for you? And who was your support system during those early stages?

    In 2018, I focused on creating an illustration portfolio. My friend and critique partner challenged me to draw my dyslexia as a character. I credit him with planting the seed that would eventually develop into my book series. In the years that followed, I drafted many ideas for this character. I was also learning digital illustration. I submitted to slush piles, got feedback at conferences etc. It took years, but I also worked on other projects at the same time. 

    When (and how) did you find your first critique group partners and/or other writing community?

    I have a fantastic critique group! We all met at the Mid-South SCBWI Conference and other events about six years ago. There are 6 of us who are all authors and Illustrators. We meet via Zoom when we can. Sometimes it’s about work, and sometimes it’s about catching up and supporting each other. I’m amazed when one of us has a book come out. It’s so fun to cheer each other on. I feel like we are on a team, and when someone has a book come out, it feels like we all won. 

    Were there any writing organizations, special events, or other communities that especially helped you in the early stages of publishing to stay on the path and keep moving forward? Explain.

    Yes, The SCBWI was my education in publishing. I’ve been in three different chapters at this point. I think the value to be gained can depend on where you are and how active your chapter is. 

    Okay, so you have your writing community and your first, second, twenty-fifth, and fiftieth drafts… now you’re finally ready to enter the query trenches. Queue daunting music.

    Tell us about your introduction to querying. What methods did you use to find your literary agents? Did you Google different agencies? Was there a specific literary blog you followed? Did you use QueryTracker, etc.? 

    Since I wanted to pursue traditional publishing, I queried publishers that took unsolicited submissions, and I researched agents on Manuscript Wish Lists. However, I still don't have an agent. I would love to find someone to work with, but it hasn’t happened yet. I’m querying agents right now with a picture book dummy and a graphic novel pitch. I’m also working on a comic series. I caught Free Spirit's attention during a #PBPitch event on X, then Twitter. 

    What kind of query responses did you receive from agents, if any?

    Often, it’s crickets, which is okay. They are busy people. When I do get a rejection email, I have a personal policy of looking at my list of agents or publishers and sending out another query. I don’t want to sit with the disappointment for too long. 

    If you had to give a rough estimate, how many agents/queries would you guess you sent? And what was the timeframe?

    It’s so hard to say! Maybe 50? With various projects. I don’t really know. When I was offered my three-book contract with Free Spirit, I queried five or so agents with “OFFER RECEIVED.” When I didn’t get any interest from that round, I negotiated the contract myself. I think the experience taught me a lot. I also had some contacts with other authors and illustrators who are further in their careers, and they were able to give me some invaluable advice about what to look for in the contract. 

    In addition to querying literary agents, you also submitted directly to editors at publishing houses. Eventually, you got an offer from an acquiring editor prior to getting literary representation. Can you tell us more about this? What was the submission process like versus the querying process? 

    It can be similar. Most publishers want a dummy with one or two finished illustrations plus a query letter. For publishers, it’s more about whether this book aligns with their catalog. For an agent, do I fit with what this agent is looking for?  And do they fit what I’m looking for? I am looking for someone who represents authors and illustrators and supports picture books and graphic novels. I also want to know that they have authors working with publishers who do not take unsolicited submissions. 

    Outside of Free Spirit Publishing, did you receive any responses or offers from other publishers/editors?

    I don’t think so, not for my Molly and Lexi series. The book is about supporting the social-emotional side of growing up with Dyslexia. That is incredibly specific, and Free Spirit was the perfect home for these books. 

    Can you tell us about the multi-book deal for your series and how that came about?

    In the acquisitions phase, the acquiring editor asked if I could expand the idea to a series. We went back and forth, and I pitched a lot of ideas. 

    We ended up with three books centered around Molly, who is dyslexic, and Lexi, an imaginary friend or personification of dyslexia. The books focus on advocacy, self-esteem, and celebrating dyslexic strengths, but they offer a balanced perspective of dyslexia.

    So, once your editor had made an offer, you queried agents, letting them know you had received a series deal but weren’t able to find an agent, so you went at it alone. Being in the position of representing yourself and going through traditional publishing without the aid of an agent, can you share your thoughts on some pros and cons of this?

    The pro was that I learned a lot. I intend to keep going in this industry, and even if I do have an agent working with me next time, I will be better prepared because I went through it alone the first time. I have a family member who is a contract lawyer working in another sector, and he was able to help me understand a lot of the legal language. But he wasn’t versed in what is typical in the publishing industry. I got advice from friends who were already published, which helped. But I made some mistakes, and I think I will be more prepared if it happens again. 

    What are some valuable lessons you learned from this experience that you’d like to share with others?

    I learned some valuable lessons about specific legal language. Also, ask for what you want. The worst they can say is no. And a piece of advice I heard from someone, “You are never guaranteed book sales, so get the largest advance you can.” I think this is really good advice. I can also recommend the book Law and Authors. I read this book recently, and I thought the information was good and would have helped me had I read it back then. 

    Moving forward, would you want to continue publishing directly to editors without literary representation, or would you still like to find your agent match? Why or why not?

    If the publisher accepts unsolicited submissions, I think I would be comfortable negotiating for myself now that I have gone through it. If it’s a larger-scale publisher that typically doesn’t take unsolicited submissions, I think I would prefer to work with an agent.

    AUTHOR-ILLUSTRATORS: MAKING SMART DUMMIES

    Being in the seat of both author and illustrator, can you share a little bit about your creative process for writing vs. art and what stages you typically work with first? For example, do you find that your stories come to you in the form of mental pictures first or in words? Explain.

    Often, my ideas start with an image, a character, or a concept. My ideas seem to come out of nowhere and hit me fast. I typically build the story around key illustrations. For picture books, I tend to start by sketching the entire book in thumbnails and think about the text as I go. I will have an idea of the story I want to convey, but the words come to me slowly. While developing my picture book series with Free Spirit Publishing, I worked with an editor on the three manuscripts before fleshing out the illustrations. We passed the manuscripts back and forth. They didn't need to see illustrations at this point, but I was sketching anyway while I was writing because I couldn't separate the two. I try not to get too married to illustrations during the writing stage and I tend to place greater importance on the illustrations over the text. 

    For new aspiring author-illustrators, could you share some formatting tips and secrets on how to make smart dummies? (If you have any picture examples that you’d like to share, feel free to share them! Just email them to me.)

    I work in Photoshop and illustrate digitally. However, I like to print the pages out periodically and tape them to my wall, which helps me get a bird’s s-eye view. 

    When you were submitting dummies to agents/editors, what (and how much) was included? Full book dummies? Partial book dummies? Pencil outline? Full color? Etc.

    I do a full sketch dummy in a PDF. I choose two illustrations to finish fully. It depends on the publisher, though. Some want one finished, some want two, and some want to see a summary without the manuscript or dummy first. I’m always scratching my head at this one. When the picture book is only 200 words, but the summary is 500. 

    What advice would you like to offer to aspiring author-illustrators who are at the beginning of their publishing journey?

    Keep going! Chip away at it every day and learn about the industry. Just move forward. 

    What’s one (or more) writing resource(s) that was absolutely invaluable to you, and what would you recommend to other author-illustrators?

    Scott McCloud’s Understanding Comics.

    Comic inspired by a recent school visit

    BOOKS + INSPIRATION

    Okay, we’ve made it to one of my all-time favorite parts of the interview… the part where we talk about the BOOKS. Please share with us your incredibly inspiring dyslexia-centered books. We want to hear all about Molly. Who is Molly, and what does she mean to you personally?

    Molly is a young dyslexic girl learning to navigate the challenges of dyslexia with creativity and determination. Her dyslexia (Lexi) appears as an imaginary friend or personification of her dyslexia. Molly can interact with and confide in Lexi. The books cover what dyslexia is all about but also dive into the emotional challenges children with learning differences face. 

    I am dyslexic, and prior to this series, I did and continue to do a lot of advocacy work with dyslexia students. It means the world to me that I was able to give back to dyslexic children in this way. 

    How many books are in the series? And can we hear a little blurb about each one?

    There are three books. In the first book, Molly’s Great Discovery, Molly gets diagnosed with dyslexia and learns how to self-advocate. In Molly Tells the World, Molly's class gets a new student who is also dyslexic. Molly grapples with the idea of whether or not to tell her classmates about her dyslexia. Ultimately, she does. This book is about helping children with the words to discuss their differences, and Molly grows in her self-esteem and appreciation for Lexi. The third book is called Molly Finds A Way. In this final book, Molly and her friend Leeann (who is also dyslexic) are having a playdate at Molly’s house. They use their dyslexic strengths to solve the problems they see.
    In this feature interview, dyslexic author-illustrator Krista Weltner shares her experience as a kidlit publishing debut with a three-book-deal without an agent, and the steps involved in creating and submitting picture book dummies direct to publishers. Don't forget to COMMENT on the post to be entered into the giveaway pool! Deadline: October 31st 2024.
    What is your inspiration for Molly and her adventures? Are her stories something that you wished you had had for yourself as a kid? Explain.

    I was diagnosed with dyslexia when I was seven years old. My relationship with my dyslexia has changed dramatically over the years. It was something I hated about myself for a long time. That relationship inspires my series. What if we could tell our differences how we feel about them? What if we could tell our learning disability to go away? 

    I was interested in providing a book to children to examine their relationship with this part of themselves in a fun, creative way. In school, dyslexic children focus greatly on reading, writing, and spelling. However, there are specific emotional challenges that children with invisible differences face, and those challenges are often overlooked. I hope my series can help parents and educators with those tough conversations. 

    Were there any books that helped you as a kid with seeing yourself in stories? And other than your wonderful stories, what other stories could you recommend that also have a positive message about dyslexia and other learning differences?

    I think the second book in the Pony Pals series was about one of the characters being dyslexic. I loved it!  but I can’t recall any other fiction books on the topic from my childhood. I like The Dyslexic Advantage for adults hoping to learn about dyslexia. 

    Books about dyslexia are tricky because some of the most popular books, especially in the picture book category, are outdated and have content that contributes to misconceptions about dyslexia. I recommend looking at books published in the last ten years by reputable publishers. A few titles that I find good representations in include Fish in a Tree for older kids, Aaron Slater Illustrator, and the Hank Zipzer books. 

    What message do you hope to share with readers with your stories?

    That dyslexic children are smart and capable. 

    Do you have a favorite illustrative spread? If so, which one and why? Pics or it didn’t happen! 

    I have two. 

    The first is in Molly’s Great Discovery, where Molly is being tutored in a classroom filled with children with various learning disabilities. In the illustration, each child’s learning disability or difference is represented with an imaginary character like Lexi. Each character looks different and is reflective of the child he or she belongs to. 

    My second favorite is Molly Tells the World. Molly and Lexi have been fighting, and Lexi has gotten so angry that she expands to the size of the room. 
    Both of these images were in the earliest drafts; I think that’s why I love them. 

    If you could relay one message to kids with learning differences, what would it be?

    You are brilliant! Set your goals high. Your path might look different from others but enjoy and embrace it.
     
    Thank you so much for joining us today, Krista.
    And now… 
    It’s time for a GIVEAWAY!

    For the month of October, Krista is offering the following giveaway prize to one winner:

    A free copy of Molly’s Great Discovery (the first book in the series.) 

    HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

    • Leave a comment on this post!
    • And if you haven’t already, like this post and subscribe to the blog and/or newsletter!

    That’s it!

    DEADLINE TO ENTER: October 31st, 2024, 11:59 PM CST

    FAQ:

    What if I was already subscribed to the blog? Does that mean I won’t qualify for the Prize Giveaway? Not at all! If you subscribed before this month, all you’ll need to do is LIKE this Feature Interview and leave your COMMENT below this post within the deadline (the current month/year entry was posted).

    Did you enjoy this interview?

    Thank the author & host by purchasing a copy of one of their books or by requesting it be purchased at your local library! Using the sponsored links below supports this blog.

    Krista Weltner is a neurodiverse (dyslexic) author-llustrator. She debuted in January 2024 with her picture book series, Everyday Adventures With Molly and Dyslexia, published by Free Spirit Publishing. The series was inspired by her own experience growing up with dyslexia.

    In addition to her literary pursuits, she works in stop-motion animation. Her work can be seen in the Netflix animation Wendell and Wild and Laika Studios’ upcoming Wildwood. Before her film work, she helped bring animatronic and puppet characters to life for the theme park industry. In 2016, Krista obtained a Master in Fine Arts from the University of Connecticut, where she presented her master’s project and short film, Partially Compensated (also inspired by her experience with dyslexia). Her short film has been seen in film festivals worldwide and has afforded her numerous opportunities to engage and advocate with others for a more inclusive world.

    Twitter/X @kwelts1 Instagram @kristaweltner www.kristaweltner.com 

    Looking for a custom writer, librarian, or book-lover-themed swag and/or accessories? Visit my Zazzle store! Want to see a curated list of my personal favorite books and recommendations? Visit my bookshop page! Want to browse favorite writing accessories, books by genre, and cozy reading must-haves? Visit my Amazon Storefront!

    PURCHASE Molly’s Great Discovery

    PURCHASE Molly Finds a Way

    PURCHASE Molly Tells the World

    PURCHASE The Raven Remix

    PURCHASE ADHD and Me

    Looking for a specific topic? Browse the list below to find a link to information on one of these topics:

    SEPTEMBER 18TH, 2024, FEATURE INTERVIEW WITH AWARD-WINNING NONFICTION MG & PB CHILDREN’S BOOK AUTHOR MEGAN CLENDENAN, CONDUCTED BY KIDLIT WRITE, BLOGGER & FORMER LIBRARIAN CHELSEA DICICCO

    Posted on by Chelsea’s World of Books in Feature Interview Series, View all blog posts

    Today, I’m talking with children’s book writer and environmentalist Megan Clendenan. We’ll be chatting about non-fiction in middle grade and how to get kids inspired to think about the world around them. We’ll also be sharing writing tips, free educator resources, and of course- giveaway prizes! So be sure to stick around to the end (or scroll to the bottom of the interview and drop a comment to enter the giveaway pool- extra entries for shares/retweets & tags!)

    But before we jump into our interview, if this is your first time visiting the blog, here’s the scoop on Feature Interviews.

    THE SCOOP: WHAT ARE FEATURE INTERVIEWS & WHO ARE THEY FOR?

    Feature Interviews are a free resource for writers and illustrators at every stage of the publishing journey.

    Every month, I collaborate with industry professionals—authors, illustrators, editors, and agents— many of whom were or currently are also educators and librarians, to discuss all things publishing.

    What can these interviews offer YOU?

    These interviews give readers an up-close and personal look at the world of publishing from an array of different perspectives on every side of the desk and offer insight into tips, resources, and advice on how to:

    • stay current with market trends
    • hook an agent or editor
    • find writing community & other resources
    • discover workshops, contests, and other events
    • figure out which path of publication is right for you
    • know if your agent is a good match

    And more!

    AND… if that’s not enough, every guest offers at least one giveaway prize—sometimes more. This means you have multiple opportunities to win prizes every month! *If you’re interested in entering the giveaway, scroll to the bottom of the interview for instructions.*

    Not that we’ve shared a little about what’s in store… it’s time to jump into our interview!

    INTERVIEW QUESTIONS & TOPICS OF DISCUSSION:

    • BEGINNINGS & INSPIRATIONS: WHY, HOW, WHEN?
    • ROUTES TO PUBLISHING: TO QUERY OR NOT TO QUERY?
    • TIPS & RESOURCES
    • TIMEFRAMES & EXPECTATIONS
    • MOTIVATIONS AND HEART
    • EMPATHY, AWARENESS, DIVERSITY
    • BOOKS
    • GIVEAWAY
    • AUTHOR BIO & CONNECT

    BEGINNINGS: HOW, WHEN, WHY?

    “My kidlit journey began when my son was a newborn (he is now 14!) I wrote during his nap times, scribbling away on paper as fast as I could. Years later – those scribblings turned into my first published book, OFFBEAT…” @MeganClendenan

    Megan, it’s wonderful to have you on the blog with us today. And it’s wild to think we’re already this far into the year. Where does the time go? I’ve had a chance to peruse your website (which is adorable, by the way- I love your header and color palette). While I was perusing, I saw that your book, Cities: How Humans Live Together, was chosen as a Librarian Favorite for 2024. Very cool! Congratulations. But before I head down the road of your accolades, I’d love to hear how you wound up in the kidlit publishing arena. How’d you get here? And where/when did that journey start?

    Thank you so much for having me on your blog! I enjoy reading your feature interviews, and I always learn something new. 

    -Aw, that makes me so glad to hear!

    My kidlit journey began when my son was a newborn (he is now 14!). I’d always written short stories and poems, but as a new mom at home, I decided I would try writing a novel, something I’d always wanted to do. I wrote during his nap times, scribbling away on paper as fast as I could. Years later – about eight, I believe – those scribblings turned into my first published book, OFFBEAT, a middle-grade novel for reluctant readers. While that was fiction, most of my kidlit writing is non-fiction (more on that below!).

    Prior to your author days, what line of work were you in (or are you currently in, outside of writing)?

    For many years, I worked full-time as a communications and fund development writer for non-profit groups that focused on social and environmental issues. My job was to create written materials that would raise awareness and inspire people to donate money. For example, I worked for an environmental law organization that took governments and companies to task for pollution, and I worked for a social service organization that helped to advocate for women’s rights, access to healthy food in urban areas, and affordable housing. Later, I moved from full-time to part-time and then contract as I became more and more involved in writing for kidlit.  

    -How fascinating! I love hearing about your history with nonprofits.

    Now for the why. I love asking this question separately because I feel like it’s the most important part of it all, and so it deserves a space of its own. What is your big WHY? Why do you write the stories you write; what do they mean to YOU? And why do you want to share them with others; what do you hope they will mean to THEM? 

    This is such a great question! I think my ‘big why’ can be summarized into one word – curiosity! Writing non-fiction means that I get to constantly learn about new topics. I choose subjects that I’m curious and intrigued by and that I think middle-grade readers will also find interesting but that they may not have been exposed to. Although I’ve written about topics that can feel large and challenging to consider, such as climate change, food security, or human rights, I always try to leave readers with the hopeful message that small actions can go a long way and that change is possible. I hope my books spark questions, discussion, and curiosity about the world and how we can work together to find sustainable and equitable solutions for the future. I enjoy writing for middle-grade readers because I love how full of wonder and curiosity they are, with great questions and an openness to learning about the world.

    -I love this!

    “…My big why can be summarized into one word – curiosity! Writing NF means I get to constantly learn about new topics. I choose subjects I’m curious & intrigued by & that I think middle-grade readers will also find interesting but may not have been exposed to.” @MeganClendenan

    “I hope my books spark questions, discussion, and curiosity about the world and how we can work together to find sustainable and equitable solutions for the future. I enjoy writing for middle-grade readers because I love how full of wonder and curiosity they are, with great questions and an openness to learning about the world.”

    ROUTES TO PUBLISHING: FREELANCE WRITING, ROUTES TO PUBLISHING & WRITING NON-FICTION IN MIDDLE-GRADE & PICTURE BOOKS

    I saw in your bio that you’re a freelance writer. Could you share a little about what freelance writing in publishing entails? And how might someone go about pursuing this as a career? How does freelance writing differ from traditional publishing? Explain. (Payments/contracts/timeframes, etc.)

I’ve pursued a few different avenues of freelance writing, some in publishing, some not. When I first started taking writing contracts, which is essentially what freelance writing means, I had just left my part-time role as a communications writer for a non-profit. The administration at the non-profit was very supportive, and they not only offered me some of my first contracts but they also recommended me to their contacts – and that’s how I got my first set of clients. 

-Wow, that's so interesting!

I did ghostwriting for executives, mostly women, as well as wrote grant applications, website copy, and other business materials, to name a few things. Topics ranged from children’s psychology to engineering technology! Other clients came from word of mouth. In terms of pay, I charge an hourly fee, and I invoice my clients upon completion of the work.
 
But I still wanted to pursue my dream of working in kidlit. I was working on my novel, but I also put together a work-for-hire ‘package’, which was essentially my resume, my interests/area of knowledge, and a few writing samples that I created specifically for the K-12 market. After sending out A LOT of packages (I can’t remember how many, but lots!) and waiting more than six months, I was offered my first work-for-hire contract! Since then, I’ve worked for a few different publishers on a range of assignments, for example, reading comprehension passages, biographical stories, a non-fiction book for reluctant readers.
 
Work-for-hire in the publishing world is not a high-paid endeavor, especially compared to the contracts I do for non-profits and businesses. In my experience, I was hired to write a specific idea determined by the publisher on a flat-rate basis, half when I signed the contract and the remainder upon completion of the work. And they often have very tight timelines. But I love writing kidlit, and if you work efficiently and find opportunities that you think are fair, it can be a great way to earn some money.

    “Work-for-hire in the publishing world is not a high-paid endeavor… In my experience, I was hired to write a specific idea determined by the publisher on a flat-rate basis, half when I signed the contract and the remainder upon completion of the work… And they often have very tight timelines.”

    Do you have any suggestions, tips, or resources you’d like to offer writers who may be interested in looking into freelance writing?

    My advice to someone who would like to pursue freelance writing would be to consider their own networks and experience. Is there a niche area where they could offer expertise as a freelance writer? If so, is there a contact they could approach? What I found was that once I had some contracts completed, people began to refer me to others, especially when I let them know I was looking for additional work.
     
    In terms of breaking into the kidlit work-for-hire space, I recommend putting the effort in to create a quality package of writing samples. They request ‘unedited’ samples, so it can’t be work that you’ve already had published, so it does take time to research and write the samples, even though they aren’t long (I did 2-3 pages for middle-grade and about 500 words aimed at a younger audience). Specific resources that I found useful include:
     
    Evelyn Christensen has created an amazing list of potential work-for-hire markets on her website as well as a great list of tips:
    http://www.evelynchristensen.com/markets.html
    http://evelynchristensen.com/markettips.html
     
    I also highly recommend Laura Purdie Salas’ book Writing for the Educational Market for guidance in creating a packet to send to work-for-hire publishers.
    Do you write freelance writing across genres- if so, which genres do you write in? And what are some of the topics you write about?
    I have written in a wide variety of genres! Some of the topics I’ve written about are sustainability/environmentalism, biography, and outdoor adventure.

    “My advice to someone who would like to pursue freelance writing would be to consider their own networks and experience. Is there a niche area where they could offer expertise as a freelance writer? If so, is there a contact they could approach? I found that once I had some contracts completed, people began to refer me to others, especially when I let them know I was looking for additional work.”

    In terms of breaking into the kidlit work-for-hire space, I recommend putting the effort in to create a quality package of writing samples. They request ‘unedited’ samples, so it can’t be work that you’ve already had published, so it does take time to research and write the samples, even though they aren’t long (I did 2-3 pages for middle-grade and about 500 words aimed at a younger audience). Specific resources that I found useful include:
     
    Evelyn Christensen has created an amazing list of potential work-for-hire markets on her website as well as a great list of tips:

    http://www.evelynchristensen.com/markets.html 
    http://evelynchristensen.com/markettips.html 
     
    I also highly recommend Laura Purdie Salas’ book Writing for the Educational Market for guidance in creating a packet to send to work-for-hire publishers.

    - Thanks so much for sharing this information with us, Megan! These are terrific resources.

    Do you write freelance writing across genres- if so, which genres do you write in? And what are some of the topics you write about?

    I have written in a wide variety of genres! Some of the topics I’ve written about are sustainability/environmentalism, biography, and outdoor adventure.
     
    So, you write non-fiction, which is so exciting because I love learning new things. Can you tell us a little bit about what it’s like writing non-fiction middle-grade novels as well as picture books and how that might differ from writing or pitching fiction?

    I also love learning new things! When pitching fiction for the trade market, either with your agent or direct to publishers you need to have the full manuscript ready to go. Middle-grade non-fiction is different as it is usually sold on proposal rather than on the full manuscript. My process is to start with research and see if I can come up with a hook, structure, and a basic table of contents. If I decide I’d like to go ahead with the idea, I do more research, potentially interview an expert, and fully develop my outline. Then, I usually write at least one sample chapter. All those components will be part of the proposal that will go on submission to editors, alongside market information, curriculum tie-ins, etc. If an editor acquires the book, that’s when I would research and write the full manuscript. For picture book non-fiction, I write the full manuscript (and usually back matter as well), and that’s what goes on submission.   
     
    Now, you’ve worked on freelance projects, but you’ve also published multiple middle-grade non-fiction novels and just recently had the announcement of your debut picture book (congratulations!) that’s scheduled to come out in 2025. I’m curious: for your published middle-grade and picture book, did you have literary representation? If so, who were you represented by, and how did you end up with your agent?

    Great question! For my first two middle-grade non-fiction books, I did not have an agent. Instead, I pitched my ideas directly to editors myself. In 2021, I signed with an agent. Since then, all my books have been sold through my agent.

    I’m represented by Stacey Kondla at The Rights Factory. In 2021, I queried a number of agents, and right from the start, Stacey was excited about my work, and I ended up signing with her that summer. 

    -OH MY GOODNESS- CONGRATULATIONS!! This is HUGE news and definitely cause for celebration!

    For those deciding which publishing route to take- agent, or no agent- traditional, or independent- could you talk a little bit about the differences between both and reasons why someone might choose one option over the other and vice versa?

    Working with an agent is helpful for a number of reasons. They are familiar with the market, they build relationships with editors, and they can help you bring your work to the next level – important in such a competitive marketplace, and there are limited publishers that accept submissions directly from authors, so agents definitely open doors for authors in terms of access. That being said, there are publishers that accept submissions directly from authors, so some writers might want to go that route. I think it's a personal choice!

    For some of our readers who may be new to the publishing scene, could you share a little bit about the steps involved with your publishing journey? (Querying & submission process, timeframes, rejections, champagne rejections, the close calls, the big call, and the final YES)

    For sure! It’s definitely a long journey and can feel even longer because there is a lot of waiting involved. When I queried agents, I sent out about 15-20 queries in my first round. My agent was in that first round, and so for me, the querying process was relatively quick. After she got in touch and said she liked my work, we had ‘the call,’ and she offered representation. Yay! Then we got to work putting together a project for submission to editors. Querying editors also takes time and waiting for responses can take weeks to months to even longer! For my upcoming non-fiction picture book, I believe it took around six - seven months from the day we went on submission to an offer, and from what I’ve heard, that’s actually quite a fast timeline! However, not all manuscripts that go on submission sell, and that’s true for all the writers I know. Last year I had a project that I loved, and it did a number of rounds of submission to editors. While I received some nice feedback about the writing, ultimately, it did not sell to anyone, and I’ve had to put that one in the back of the drawer – at least for now!

    “[Publishing] is definitely a long journey and can feel even longer because there’s a lot of waiting involved… Querying editors also takes time and waiting for responses can take weeks to months to even longer!” @MeganClendenan

    “Working with an agent is helpful for a number of reasons. They are familiar with the market, they build relationships with editors, and they can help you bring your work to the next level, which is important in such a competitive marketplace…”

    CHALLENGES, SETBACKS, AND MOTIVATIONS

    “So much of what happens in publishing can’t be controlled. You can’t control what editors want or what the market is doing, supply chains, book bans, or what types of books are selling. You can’t control how long it takes a book to be published or variables like printing costs, etc. I try to keep myself focused on what I can control– which is creating quality work!”

    What are some of the hurdles that may present themselves on the road to publishing?

    So much of what happens in publishing cannot be controlled. You can’t control what editors want or what the market is doing, supply chains, book bans, or what types of books are selling. You can’t control how long it takes a book to be published or variables like printing costs, etc. I try to keep myself focused on what I can control, which is creating quality work!
     
    What are some challenges you’ve faced, and how’ve you been able to overcome them?
    Balancing writing with the rest of life can be tricky. Work-for-hire contracts are often on tight deadlines, and so other projects, especially those without contracts and deadlines, often get pushed to the background. And life can throw curve balls! Earlier this year, I was in a serious car accident and could only minimally work for three months. I managed to fulfill my current contracts (with some extended deadlines from editors!), but I couldn’t move forward with any new work, so I’ll have to catch up. It was frustrating, but to get myself back on track, I try to find one hour a day – or at least 30 minutes – to work on a writing project that pushes me creatively. I find this helps me stay inspired and move forward more productively with all the tasks I need to accomplish.
    When dealing with publishing setbacks/discouragements/etc. what has helped/inspired you the most to stay on the course and continue?
    Rejection and setbacks are part of being a children’s author – that being said, it can still sting. Every author I know puts so much effort and heart into their writing, myself included. I rely on my writing friends to help me weather rejections. We support each other through setbacks and meanwhile, I continue to develop new ideas, which keeps me focused on the present. I’m also inspired to write by reading. I read a wide variety of fiction and non-fiction, and many of my ideas have been sparked by reading. It’s pretty awesome that reading is a part of my job description!  
    For those who may be dealing with discouragements or difficulties, what words of advice or wisdom would you like to share?
    Find a community of other kidlit writers! Being connected to other people who understand the industry and can offer support has been invaluable to me.

    TIPS, TRICKS & RESOURCES

    Here on the blog, we love sharing writing resources. I know you’ve participated in a number of groups. I’d love to hear more about some of the writing organizations you’ve worked with. (Inked Voices, 12x12, SCBWI) Could you share with our readers a little about what each organization has to offer and how it’s personally benefited you?

    Absolutely! I am so grateful to all the writers' organizations I belong to; they each offer a little something different, and they have enhanced my writing and connected me to other writers. I’ve been a member of Inked Voices for many years, and it is a fabulous resource for finding critique partners and there are many other resources, such as monthly craft webinars and genre-specific community networking groups. I’ve found many wonderful critique partners on Inked Voices! I have joined 12x12 for the last two years, and it’s also an incredible resource for picture book writers. They have amazing monthly webinars and book chats, and I always take the time to watch those. For time reasons, I haven’t spent as much time using the resources available on 12x12, but there’s so much to benefit writers, and everyone in the community is very welcoming. I’m also a member of SCBWI and I have benefited from the many online resources and webinars they offer.

    Speaking of AMAZING resources, you also offer resources on your website (which I’d love to link here for readers to find on my Teacher Corner tab also). Could you tell us about the resources you offer? Who are they for, and how can they be utilized?

    I have free downloadable resources on my website for each of my books. They are educator guides meant to be used alongside the books to help inspire critical thinking about the topic. They could be used by teachers or parents, or older readers could use them independently if they choose. I try to create a range of discussion questions, writing exercises, and some interactive activities that might be useful in a number of subjects, for example, Language Arts, Social Studies, or Science. I’d love for you to link them here for readers. Thank you! The guide for What Do We Eat? is currently in the works and will be posted soon!

    -Wonderful!
     
    In writing, there are really no shortcuts- it requires a lot of effort, time, and commitment. But if you had a trick up your sleeve to share- what would it be?

    I wish I had a trick up my sleeve, but in all honesty, I think the trick is to stay persistent and keep writing and revising.

    Any final tips?
    I’m going to repeat myself and say 1) don’t give up, and 2) find some writer friends to share the journey with.

    -Thanks so much, Megan.

    “…The trick is to stay persistent and keep writing and revising.”

    “I am so grateful to all the writers’ organizations I belong to; they each offer a little something different, and they have enhanced my writing and connected me to other writers.” @MeganClendenan

    BOOKS + EVENTS

    We’ve finally made it to the land of books. I would love to hear all about your wonderful work! What was the inspiration behind it? How did the story begin (the story behind the story?) How long did it take to get from concept to manuscript to where you are now? Everything. Go! 

    What Do We Eat? How Humans Find, Share and Grow Food
    Releasing September 17th, 2024, from Orca Books
     
    Summary; Imagine carrying meals with you as you parachute into a war zone. Or trying to stay well-fed while building the pyramids. People have always found ways to work together to put a meal on the table. What Do We Eat? is a delicious celebration of human creativity and cooperation, wrapped up in bite-sized slices of history, with a look at what scientists and inventors are cooking for the future. We are gobbling up Earth’s resources, and food is not shared equally. But today, there's a magic tree transforming the dry African plains, food “ambulances” on the move and cities that have declared access to food a human right. Hungry to find out more? Let’s roll up our sleeves and find out what’s for dinner.
     
    Inspiration behind What Do We Eat?
     
    During the Covid-19 pandemic, there were times when I went to my local grocery store and found empty shelves. I began to wonder: how difficult would it be to survive without going to the grocery store? That led me to more questions. How did people in difficult situations in history eat? What about people exploring the world? Escaping from injustices? Stranded far from home? How do people facing climate change adapt? This book is the result of all these wonderings (and a LOT of research!). From concept to publication was more than four years!
     
    Cities: How Humans Live Together (Orca Books, 2023)
     
    Summary: If you could design a city that would be both a great place to live and good for the planet, what would it look like? Today, about four billion people—more than half the world’s population—live in cities. This number could rise to seven billion by 2050. Cities: How Humans Live Together travels through time to explore questions like When and why did cities form? How did people access food and water? Where did they go to the bathroom? Peek into the past to see how cities have changed through time and explore what could make cities more sustainable and welcoming for today and tomorrow.
     
    Inspiration behind Cities: How Humans Live Together
     
    At university, I studied environmental urban planning, but I ended up on a different professional path. But, I remained curious and interested in cities and urban planning, and I wanted to write a book about cities around the world, past, present, and future. I loved researching cities for this book! This book was also about four years from concept to publication.   
     
    Fresh Air, Clean Water: Defending Our Right to a Healthy Environment (Orca Books, 2022) explores the connections between our environment and our health and why the right to live in a healthy environment should be protected as a human right. The book features profiles of kids around the world who are taking action and important environmental rights court cases. Hear the powerful stories of those fighting for change.
     
    Inspiration behind Fresh Air, Clean Water
     
    I was inspired to write this book after working as a grant writer at an environmental legal non-profit, where I worked to obtain funding for many cases, including about the right to a healthy environment. The idea that the right to fresh air and clean water could be fought for as a human right, just like the right to free speech, was such an exciting idea to me. Years later, I was inspired by youth-led climate lawsuits, and I was able to interview many youth activists, which was my favorite aspect of writing this book!

    What do you hope your readers will take away from each story?

    With all my books, I want to leave readers with a sense of hope and the possibility that change is possible, even when considering topics like climate change. That the power of human innovation, resourcefulness, and cooperation goes a long way. I hope my books spark questions, discussion, and curiosity.

    Have you been able to host any fun author events? And what has the response been to your stories? 

    I love visiting schools, libraries, and festivals (it’s always exciting to be able to be there in person!) to share my books. One favorite author event was a two-part writing workshop I did with a group of high school students around the theme of Earth Day. Even though my books are aimed at a younger audience, it was wonderful to connect with high school students and get their perspective. I learned a lot by speaking with them! 

    As well, I’ve been fortunate that readers of Fresh Air, Clean Water have shared their thoughts as well as ‘climate march’ signs in response to the book (creating a climate march sign is one of the activities on my free Educator Guide for the book – found on my website). With these students’ permission, I put together a video to showcase their art and thoughts. You can find this on my website under Resources & Fun Stuff. 

    I also love connecting with schools virtually because it allows me to reach so many more locations! This fall, I’ve got some events planned around the release of What Do We Eat? and I’m so excited to finally share this book with readers.

    -Very cool, Megan!

    “I want to leave readers with a sense of hope and the possibility that change is possible… I hope my books spark questions, discussion, and curiosity.”

    GIVEAWAY

    For the month of September, Megan is offering the following giveaway prize to one winner.

    Prize #1: A signed copy of WHAT DO WE EAT? How Humans Find, Grow and Share Food (middle-grade non-fiction)

    HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

    • Leave a comment on this post!
    • And if you haven’t already, like this post and subscribe to the blog and/or newsletter!

    That’s it!

    DEADLINE TO ENTER: September 30th, 11:59 PM CST

    Want extra entries? Share this link and tag the host IG @chelseasworldofbooks X @chellysbooks to have another entry added to the prize pool.

    FAQ:

    What if I was already subscribed to the blog? Does that mean I won’t qualify for the Prize Giveaway? Not at all! If you subscribed before this month, all you’ll need to do is LIKE this Feature Interview and leave your COMMENT below this post within the deadline (the current month/year entry was posted).

    Did you enjoy this interview?

    Thank the author & host by purchasing a copy of one of their books or by requesting it be purchased at your local library! Using the sponsored links below supports this blog.

    Book Links

    Purchase Design Like Nature Biomimicry for a Healthy Planet

    Purchase Fresh Air Clean Water

    Purchase Cities How Humans Live Together

    Megan Clendenan shares her experience with writing and publishing across non-fiction PB & MG and shares a look at the different options and routes to publication, including work-for-hire projects and writing for nonprofit groups, as well as landing literary representation and traditional publishing.

    Purchase What Do We Eat?

    Megan Clendenan is a freelance writer and award-winning children’s book author. She loves writing books that explore history, society, and the environment, and she hopes to inspire young readers to think critically about the world around them. Her books include DESIGN LIKE NATURE: BIOMIMICRY FOR A HEALTHY PLANET, which earned a starred review from School Library Journal (2021, Orca Books, co-authored with Kim Ryall Woolcock), FRESH AIR, CLEAN WATER: OUR RIGHT TO A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT, which won the 2023 Green Earth Book Award (2022, Orca Books), CITIES: HOW HUMANS LIVE TOGETHER (2023, Orca Books), WHAT DO WE EAT: HOW HUMANS FIND, GROW AND SHARE FOOD (Orca Books, Sep 2024) and JUST IN CASE,[1]  a non-fiction picture book that will publish in September 2025 with Charlesbridge. To learn more and find free educator resources visit her at www.meganclendenan.com. Megan lives near Vancouver, British Columbia, with her family & two fuzzy orange cats.

    Twitter: @MeganClendenan Instagram: @MeganClendenan

    Looking for custom writer/library/book-lover-themed swag/accessories? Visit my Zazzle store! Want to see a curated list of my personal favorite books and recommendations? Visit my bookshop page! Want to browse favorite writing accessories, books by genre, and cozy reading must-haves? Visit my Amazon Storefront!

    SEPTEMBER 4TH, 2024, FEATURE INTERVIEW WITH FORMER NASA MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGIST AND CHILDREN’S BOOK AUTHOR, HEATHER MORRIS, CONDUCTED BY CHILDREN’S BOOK WRITER, BLOGGER, AND FORMER LIBRARIAN, CHELSEA DICICCO

    Posted on by Chelsea’s World of Books in Feature Interview Series, View all blog posts

    Today, I’m chatting with former NASA Molecular Microbiologist, and Children’s Book Author, Heather Morris. We’ll be discussing science in kidlit, querying trenches, close calls with agents and editors, as well as sharing some of our favorite resources and tips and tricks on starting your career with work-for-hire and direct submissions.

    But before we do… here are a few things to know about feature interviews.

    THE SCOOP: WHAT ARE FEATURE INTERVIEWS & WHO ARE THEY FOR?

    Feature Interviews are a free resource for writers and illustrators at every stage of the publishing journey.

    Every month, I collaborate with industry professionals—authors, illustrators, editors, and agents— many of whom were or currently are also educators and librarians, to discuss all things publishing.

    What can these interviews offer YOU?

    These interviews give readers an up-close and personal look at the world of publishing from an array of different perspectives on every side of the desk and offer insight into tips, resources, and advice on how to:

    • stay current with market trends
    • hook an agent or editor
    • find writing community & other resources
    • discover workshops, contests, and other events
    • figure out which path of publication is right for you
    • know if your agent is a good match

    AND… if that’s not enough, every guest offers at least one giveaway prize—sometimes more. This means you have multiple opportunities to win prizes every month! *If you’re interested in entering the giveaway, scroll to the bottom of the interview for instructions.*

    Not that we’ve shared a little about what’s in store… it’s time to jump into our interview!

    Welcome to the blog, Heather! It’s so nice to have you with us. And it feels wild to think we’re already in SEPTEMBER. Where has this year gone?

    INTRODUCTIONS & BEGINNINGS

    Today, I’d love to start by asking you the #1 question: What led you to the beautiful yet rugged terrain of publishing?

    First of all, thank you so much for inviting me to be on your blog, Chelsea! I love the way you phrased this first question - publishing is beautiful, but rugged. Full of so much joy and difficulty, all rolled into one journey. A part of me has always wanted to write - poetry, novels, essays, short stories, science articles, you name it. I think that’s what it truly means to be a “writer” - one who must write, who can’t help but write. When I was about seven years old, I found a typewriter in my grandfather’s office. I would spend hours typing poorly spelled stories. And then I never stopped. Even when I was pursuing my career in science (which I think we will get to below), I never stopped writing. So, the natural outgrowth of that is…eventually, you want to publish some of the stuff you’ve written. There’s a longing to share your work with others, and this is true for any art.

    In your interview bio, you shared a little bit about your fascinating line of work as a molecular microbiologist and history working with NASA. So, I’m itching to know… how did publishing enter the mix? 

    Yes, in high school I found microbiology. And I decided I wanted to be an epidemiologist (a scientist who studies pandemics and the spread of disease), so I entered college as a Biology major. Because I still loved literature and stories, I ended up taking as many upper-level English classes as I could manage and still major in Biology. But eventually, I had to make a choice - what will I pursue? At that age, I couldn’t handle the subjectivity of writing. I also wasn’t able to handle the rejection that comes in this industry. I needed my answers to either be correct or not. Math, science, and chemistry filled that need. 

    After graduating from college, I knew I wanted to work in a laboratory, which meant graduate work. While in graduate school, I learned how crucial writing and publishing is in that world also. There’s a saying in the sciences - “publish or perish” - meaning you need to continue to experiment, continue to write up your results, continue to tell elegant “stories” in order to advance. And I LOVED it! I loved the research, I loved the writing, I loved the experimental design.

    But all through this, I still wrote other things. Short stories, poetry, and more. Like I said before, I just have to write. 

    Then I had kids. And read to them. A LOT. And I thought to myself, “I could do this. I could write a picture book.” Ha! That sparked many years of beginning to learn how complex picture books are, and how much I DIDN’T know about how to write them.

    Are you still working as a molecular microbiologist? If so, how do you manage both literary deadlines and work schedules?

    I worked as a scientist for a NASA contractor until last year. At that point, I made the decision to write full-time. It was becoming impossible to balance work for NASA, the schedules of three kids, and my publishing commitments while also trying to write and revise new work. But I did juggle all of those for at least five years before taking the “plunge” into full-time writing. 

    Any tips for readers who may be balancing a day job in addition to pursuing publication?

    It’s hard. It really is. Up until recently, I wrote after the kids went to bed most evenings. And on the weekends, and at their sporting events, and in their school pick-up lines, and I’d listen to craft books while grocery shopping. I actually still do most of these things. But now, I am usually able to enjoy being with my family in the evenings instead of disappearing to write, which is wonderful because my oldest is not far away from college! I don’t want to miss a moment with any of them! My family inspires, challenges, and delights me! They, along with my close friends, are what push me to be a better writer.

    Has writing been something you’ve always enjoyed, or did this happen later in life?

    Yes! I’ve always been a writer. I was the kid who talked her friends into writing fan fiction at sleepovers or while we were playing at each other’s houses! I actually have a notebook with a complete book-length novel that my friend and I co-wrote at age 11!

    -I love this! And can definitely relate myself. :)

    Did you ever think you’d have a career in publishing? Or was it a total surprise?

    This is a dream come true! As a kid, I dreamed of writing and publishing books. As a teenager, I dreamed of writing and publishing books. As an adult, I dreamed of writing and publishing books. But I never gave myself space to pursue that dream. It wasn’t “practical.” It wasn’t a “dependable job.” I will forever be grateful to my husband who not only gives me the space to create and market and promote my writing, but who also initially pushed me to learn more. “You’ve always talked about this,” he said. “Why not give it a shot?”

    Speaking of a career in publishing… I’m curious to learn more about yours. You mentioned in your bio that you were in the query trenches and have had many close calls with agents and editors. Could you elaborate on this?

    As you said in your first question, the publishing industry is beautiful and rugged - filled with incredible delights and crushing disappointments. I began querying my picture book manuscripts in the fall of 2021, after I’d been writing, learning, revising, and polishing for almost two years. A few of my critique partners already had agents, and one of their agents opened for paid critiques. I sent him one of my picture book manuscripts and left glowing comments and requested more of my work! My first full request…and NOT through traditional querying. 

    Ultimately, he ended up passing, but I was still very encouraged that an agent at a well-known, highly respected agency had been so intrigued by my writing.

    -Fascinating! I love hearing stories like this. It's so interesting to see different ways people make connections and grow in the writing community.

    Behind the scenes, while I was writing picture books, I was also working on a middle-grade manuscript. My second, actually. I had already written one middle-grade book just to prove to myself that I could finish something coherent and lengthy. And the first chapter of this second book was getting lots of interest from agents at conferences I attended. I finally finished that manuscript and began querying. I sent it to forty agents (over the course of six months)…and received eight full requests! I was blown away. Two asked for revise and resubmits once they read my manuscript. And…

    …all of them ended up passing. 

    I heard on a podcast - I think it was Manuscript Academy’s podcast - that if you’re getting a lot of full requests and then passes, your submission package is working, but there’s probably something about the full manuscript that needs tweaking. So, I took a step back, worked with a developmental editor, and learned a ton about how to really write a novel. 

    -Oh my gosh. I LOVE the Manuscript Academy podcast. It's full of so much great info for new (and seasoned) writers!

    In the meantime, I wrote another middle-grade novel and more picture books. I queried my picture books a little. Most were passes, but I got a few requests for more work! And then…more passes. At an SCBWI conference this spring, I pitched my work to an agent who was someone I really wanted to work with. Through a long series of events (and this answer’s already long enough!), she ended up offering me representation, I signed with her in early July, and we’re on submission with a few of my picture books!

    -AHH! Congratulations, Heather. What terrific news- I'm so excited for you!!

    DEBUTS, PUBLISHERS, AND LITERARY AGENTS

    “So often, I feel like this industry makes things out to be very black and white. For example, you either query for representation OR you submit to publishers. I did both simultaneously…” -Heather Morris @morrwriting #featureinterview #chelseasworldofbooks

    I know this year you had your debut book published with Gnome Road Publishing—congratulations! That’s incredibly exciting and such a huge accomplishment, especially since you went at this without the aid of a literary agent. Could you tell us about how you ended up getting a book deal with the publisher?

    Thanks so much, Chelsea! Trunk Goes Thunk! releases on October 8, and I couldn’t be more thrilled with this book and the whole publishing experience. 

    Gnome Road Publishing published its first round of books in the Spring of 2023. Since then, they have released four titles twice a year. Sandra Sutter, the publisher and lead editor at Gnome Road, conducted a series of interviews on blogs in 2021 and 2022. As I read about what she was looking to publish with her new press, I resonated with her focus on “re-readability.” She offered special submission opportunities on these blog interviews, one of which I was fortunate enough to win. I sent in a picture book manuscript (not Trunk), which Sandra took to her acquisitions team. Ultimately, they decided to pass, but I learned a little more about what she was looking for.

    -This is great insight for readers, Heather. Thanks for sharing. There are really SO many ways for authors to go about finding a spot in publishing. You just really have to be open to putting yourself out there and making the connections.

    When I wrote Trunk Goes Thunk! almost a year later, I sent it exclusively to Sandra. I wanted her to have first dibs on this story. I felt confident she would love it based on her wishlist and what I had learned from emailing with her about my other manuscript. Waiting for her response felt endless, but eventually, she wrote to say she wanted to buy it!

    -Yay! I love happy endings. :)

    Could you share your experience of how managing a book deal worked directly with the publisher without having representation?

    It was very straightforward. Sandra and I met on Zoom to discuss her offer and any questions I might have, then she sent over her standard contract. She told me to take my time, read it through, and ask questions if I had them. 

    -Love this form of communication. It sound like she'd be great to work with.

    Fortunately, I had made some connections in the publishing world, and a few of my author friends had already signed contracts with Gnome Road. I reached out to them to ask about their experiences, and every one of them had nothing but praise. Also, I have critique partners who, at that point, had already signed contracts with Big Five publishers. I asked them to take a look at the Gnome Road contract, and they gave it a green light also. 

    -So cool that you had friends with firsthand experience, who were able to help guide you and give feedback when you turned to them. Love this!

    Were there any complications you ran into during this process- and if so, what was the outcome?

    None whatsoever. Working with Sandra and Gnome Road has been smooth and absolutely delightful. 

    -We love to hear things like this!

    Do you have any tips for readers who may be looking to submit directly to publishers versus querying for literary representation? 

    So often, I feel like this industry makes things out to be very black and white. For example, you either query for representation OR you submit to publishers. I did both simultaneously. I kept an extensive spreadsheet and tracked all my submissions, and (this is crucial) I only sent a manuscript to an agent or a publisher if I thought it would fit their list. And I tailored my query letters very specifically. Both to agents and publishers. Which is why I’ve only sent out about 60-70 agent queries total.

    It takes a lot of research. Which takes a lot of time. But I sent a Southern-themed manuscript to Pelican Publishing and Peachtree Publishing, and got very nice passes from both (as in “this wasn’t a fit, but send us more of your work if you think it would fit our list”). I sent a different manuscript to other publishers. And a third to another set of publishers. All while querying those same manuscripts to agents. Ultimately, I wanted to secure representation for my long-term career, but I never thought these manuscripts were going to be the only ones I wrote, so if I happened to sell them along the way, GREAT!

    Let’s talk publishing houses. What made you choose Gnome Road Publishing for your work? And did you submit to any other publishing houses or have any other competing offers?

    As I mentioned in my story above, I only sent Trunk to Gnome Road. I started with Sandra because I really wanted to work with her and I thought this book would fit her list. Also, since I had not yet secured representation, I could only submit to publishers that accept unagented submissions. There are quite a few publishing houses that are well known that have open submissions (Charlesbridge, Chronicle, Holiday House), and I may have continued down my list if Gnome Road had passed…but thankfully, they didn’t!

    However, because I hadn’t sent this manuscript to any agents, I couldn’t use Sandra’s offer as something to nudge agents with. Which meant I finalized the sale myself.

    What kind of book deal were you offered? Was it a single sale, as in they bought one manuscript, or was it a multiple-book deal?

    Gnome Road only offers single sale contracts…but there is more exciting news to come on that front that I hope to be able to share soon!

    DOORS TO PUBLISHING: WORK-FOR-HIRE & EDUCATIONAL MARKET

    Do you have any fun WIP brewing? If so, what genre?

    I’m currently working on revisions to a new picture book idea based on a little story I wrote for a contest. It’s morphing into something quite fun and magical.

    I’m also revising my fourth complete middle-grade novel. I hope to have those edits done before the end of the year in case my agent and I decide to send it out on submission.

    Finally, I have another middle-grade novel idea knocking around in my brain. It’s unlike anything I’ve written before - adventure, mystery, and a hefty dose of friendship. Well, the friendship part is a theme in all my work, but the other stuff is new. 🙂

    You mentioned querying agents, so what ultimately made you decide not to go the representation route for your first book deal?

    As I mentioned a little earlier, I sent Trunk to Sandra exclusively. Perhaps that may not have been the most “popular” or “acceptable” decision - some may argue that I should have simultaneously submitted it to agents - but I went with my gut. Again, if Sandra and Gnome Road had passed, I am sure I would have queried this manuscript broadly, but everything worked out in the end.

    Do you plan to continue publishing without literary representation in the future or do you think you’re leaning toward acquiring representation down the line? Why or why not?

    Definitely not! I’ve always been interested in securing literary representation for my career. I knew I wanted help with marketing, strategizing about the best manuscripts to send on submission, help identifying interested editors, and someone to help with the business side of the publishing industry (contract negotiation, royalties, foreign rights, etc.). 

    Which is why I’m so overjoyed that I’ve partnered with Kristen Terrette at Martin Literary Management! And we’re already out on submission with a few of my picture book manuscripts.

    Let's talk a little about your experience with the educational market and work-for-hire. Could you shed more light on these interesting avenues of publishing and how one might approach entering one of these doors?

    I first heard of the write-for-hire market from a fellow writer that I met through Twitter/X. She told me about an upcoming webinar in her SCBWI region that was all about breaking into the write-for-hire market. “You’re a scientist. You’d be great for this,” she said. And after I heard the presentation, I was definitely intrigued. The presenters did a fabulous job of breaking down the steps you need to take into manageable chunks - doing research on the publishers out there, preparing a submission package (VERY different from querying agents), etc. 

    So I wrote a few samples, worked on my resume (not at all the resume you’re thinking of, I can assure you, this one is SUPER fun!), and wrote a cover letter. I did my research on publishers and talked to some other writers I knew who had done some write-for-hire work. Then I sent out my package to four or five educational market publishers (Roarke, Abdo, and others)...and waited.

    About one year later, I heard from RedLine Editorial, one of the places I’d sent my submission package. They asked if I wanted to write one book in a series of climate books they were putting together for North Star Editions. Since then, I’ve written four books for them! 

    -That's incredible! How very cool.

    So, what has the work-for-hire experience been like for you? And what would you like to share about this with other readers who may be interested in dipping their toes into this side of publishing?

    I really love the research involved in write-for-hire (everything I’ve written has been nonfiction), along with the specifications and structure from the publisher. It’s almost like putting together a puzzle - how to fit specific pieces into their places to make a beautiful picture.

    CONFERENCES AND WRITING GROUPS

    “My suggestion would be to have patience, persistence, and hold onto your sense of wonder. I think many people – myself included – make the mistake of thinking that breaking into publishing will be relatively easy… But like any industry, craft, and profession, it takes time to learn, to practice, to build networks and community.” -Heather Morris @morrwriting

    What have been some of the most influential writing groups/conferences you’ve attended or been part of- and what specifically stood out to you about them?

    I highly recommend two conferences - the ABLA Big Sur conference and the Rutgers Council on Children’s Literature One-to-One Plus conference. The first used to be held in both Big Sur, CA and on Cape Cod, MA. Now, I think they’ve condensed to one conference in February in Big Sur. 

    This conference gives you the opportunity to meet in small groups with ABLA agents, editors, and big name writers (Neil Shusterman, Rajani La Rocca, and more). I made some close writing friends at this conference, had a wonderful time swapping stories with full-time authors, and got real-time feedback from agents. It was great, but it is pricey.

    -Wow, this is a TERRIFIC resource, Heather. Thanks so much for sharing this with our readers!

    The RUCCL One-to-One Plus conference is held every October on the campus of Rutgers University in New Jersey, when the leaves are changing color. It’s gorgeous! Every mentee is guaranteed an HOUR of one on one feedback with an agent, editor, or author (mentors)! And you have another hour of roundtable discussion with six mentors and six mentees, meaning you get to meet six editors, agents, and authors! There’s plenty of time to talk and mingle at lunch, and the presentations are great. It is one full day. You have to send in an application to be considered. Applications for the fall are due the summer before. 

    -That sounds amazing!

    I heard you got to give a presentation at your regional SCBWI conference- (very cool btw!) Which region are you a member of, and what was your presentation about?

    Thank you! Yes, it was an honor to be able to present at the Spring 2023 conference for Southern Breeze. Our regional advisors asked for proposals for conference topics and I had just finished my first two write-for-hire books. I reached out to another author in my region, Heather Montgomery, who has written LOTS of children’s books - both for the trade and educational markets - and asked if she wanted to do a presentation on the write-for-hire market together. She agreed! It was the “Two Heathers” presentation, and we had a blast!

    In fact, if you’d like more information on the write-for-hire market - what it is and how to break into it, the slides from that presentation are on my website HERE.

    -THIS IS AMAZING! I feel like I'm in resource heaven!

    Later on, in November 2023, I ended up stepping in to present at a smaller Middle Grade intensive that we had for our Southern Breeze region. I talked about working with editors, and that presentation is also on my website HERE.

    For people who are just starting out in this line of work… what suggestions/tips/tricks do you have on navigating the ever-changing and competitive waters of kidlit publishing? And what recommendations do you have on places where they can go to find information on the industry, improve craft, or find community?

    For those starting out…welcome! And congratulations! You’re embarking on a difficult journey. It’s a long road, filled with detours, stop lights that don’t change for a LOOOONG time, potholes, and potentially dangerous paths (if you don’t stop to read the signs). But it has magnificent views! And the unbelievable joy, honor, and gift of writing for the best audience - KIDS!

    My suggestion would be to have patience, persistence, and hold onto your sense of wonder. I think many people - myself included - make the mistake of thinking that breaking into publishing will be relatively easy. “I like writing. I made pretty good grades in English in college and high school.” But like any industry, craft, and profession, it takes time to learn, to practice, to build networks and community. It has helped me to think of this publishing process as not only a journey, but a career switch. I had to “go back to college” (take LOTS of courses through Highlights and the 12x12 picture book challenge and more, watch LOTS of webinars, attend LOTS of conferences, and write a LOT) for about four years before I could really enter the industry and find a “job” (i.e. sign a contract).

    My suggestion would be to have patience, persistence, and hold onto your sense of wonder. I think many people – myself included – make the mistake of thinking that breaking into publishing will be relatively easy… But like any industry, craft, and profession, it takes time to learn, to practice, to build networks and community.

    CHALLENGES, HIGHLIGHTS, AND THE CONTINUED JOURNEY

    “It’s amazing for me to consider that kids that I’ve never met, adults I’ve never met, will read my words. I can’t express how much it means to me. The whole idea that we can make marks on a page that another person will pick up and understand and then layer their personal experience on top of…it’s magic. Sheer magic.”

    What have been your favorite parts of kidlit publishing so far?

    Talking with kids from schools all over the country! Interacting with readers is my FAVORITE! But…Seeing my book covers and holding my words in print were close seconds. 🙂 

    What are some challenges you’ve faced on this journey, and how were you able to overcome them?

    About two years into this process of shifting careers, I became really disheartened. I had been writing and revising. I’d joined a critique group or two. I’d attended conferences and studied and read the books, and I felt like I wasn’t getting anywhere. Then I’d get on social media and try to engage, but I’d just see happy posts about book deals and agent signings and author visits. Don’t get me wrong, I was genuinely happy for these authors - they are my online community! But it was still hard. 

    One of the best things for me was setting boundaries on social media. And then taking the time that I had been spending scrolling and posting and taking the perfect picture or making the best Canva post…and using it to write. I wrote and wrote and wrote. All kinds of things in all kinds of genres. I played with words and did writing exercises and had FUN! I rediscovered my love of writing, for the joy of writing. 

    I also leaned into my family and friends, spending lots of time with them, NOT talking about the publishing industry. 🙂

    Writing is a deeply personal pursuit that is highly focused on creativity. What is your main reason for writing? And what does it mean to YOU to write and share books with others?

    It is amazing for me to consider that kids that I’ve never met, adults I’ve never met, will read my words. I can’t express how much it means to me. The whole idea that we can make marks on a page that another person will pick up and understand and then layer their personal experience on top of…it’s magic. Sheer magic.

    Speaking of writing… it’s time for my favorite part of the interview. THE BOOKS!

    BOOKS + GIVEAWAYS

    “I like to say my books/stories are filled with science, wonder, and imagination. Nature also features strongly in all my writing. I love being out in the natural world.” Heather Morris @morrwriting


    We’d love to hear about the book(s) you’ve published. Tell us all about it(them)! 

    Trunk Goes Thunk! Is my debut picture book! But I had two educational market books come out last August -

    Climate Crisis in the Southeast (Focus Readers/North Star Editions) and Top Brands: Disney (Apex/North Star Editions). It was so much fun to write about Disney for that second book! And I had a blast with all the research for Climate Crisis.

    I also have two more books releasing from Apex/North Star Editions this month, both in their Dog Breeds series. I got to write about Dachshunds and Staffordshire Bull Terriers and learned a ton about both of these unique and interesting breeds!

    On July 8 of this year, The Haunted States of America released from Godwin Books/Macmillan. This anthology is a collection of 52 short stories by 52 different SCBWI authors representing every state, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia! Each spooky story has a gorgeous illustration by the remarkable illustrator, Solomon Hughes. It’s an honor to have my ghost story - “White Thing” - represent Alabama in this cool collection!

    What was your inspiration for writing it(them), and what do you hope your story/stories will give your readers?

    I like to say my books/stories are filled with science, wonder, and imagination. Nature also features strongly in all my writing. I love being out in the natural world. My corner of creation is lovely - rolling hills, deep rivers, temperate forests, high biodiversity, more caves than most of the rest of the world. It’s a pretty great place for inspiration. My family also inspires me. My kids challenge me, give me great ideas, and, of course, give me honest feedback. And my grandfather gave me the idea for my “White Thing” story!

    Do you have any favorite book spreads? If so, which one(s) and why? Also, if you have any pictures to share, we’d love to see them!

    YES!! My illustrators for Trunk Goes Thunk!, Chantelle and Burgen Thorne, are OUTSTANDING! They are incredibly talented. I was blown away by the care and beauty that they infused into every spread of this lovely book. But I confess, I do have a favorite. I absolutely love otters, and there’s one spread in the book that shows the log in summer and in winter…and - without knowing how much I adore otters! - they drew the cutest little guys sunning on the log!! Here it is:

    “I like to say my books/stories are filled with science, wonder, and imagination. Nature also features strongly in all my writing. I love being out in the natural world.” 

    Have you had a chance to do any book events since its launch? If so, we’d love to hear about it and see some photos if you have any and would like to share!

    I have done a few book events! I did multiple Zoom and one in-person author visit last spring, where I spoke about my upcoming books and the science and inspiration that went into writing them. I’ve also participated in two different book festivals where I took pre-orders for my books and sold copies of my educational market books and some other anthologies that I’ve contributed to (adult market books). 

    The festivals are fun, though sometimes it feels like you’re running a lemonade stand. :) You sit and wait until someone “drives by,” and then you say “hello,” stand up, and try to engage. I enjoy meeting new people and hearing their stories so that part is fun! I’ve learned that you may not sell many books, but you’ll make connections, and I always have a sign-up sheet for my quarterly newsletter.

    -I love that analogy.
    If applicable- What has been your favorite part of author events?

    I love author visits ‘cause you get to interact with KIDS! If you can’t tell, I really enjoy being around kids. They ask great questions, they won’t sugar-coat their feedback, and they’re so passionate about what they like. I can’t wait to keep booking more and more of these events!

    If applicable- What kind of events have you been able to host, and how were the events arranged? Did you reach out directly? If so, how? (Email? Phone call? etc.) And what places have you been able to visit? (Farmer’s Markets/Libraries/Schools/Bookstores, ETC.)?

    I’ve participated in book festivals, done one in-person author visit, multiple Zoom author visits, and been a panelist for a few different events. For two of these, I was contacted by someone I had met at another event. They told me about the book festival or author visit they wanted me to do and asked if I was interested. For all the others, I had to reach out via phone or email (I’ve done both), explain who I am and about my book, and ask if they are interested. I think calling bookstores works better because you can learn the person’s name and explain more about yourself. Then, you can follow up with an email.

    Coming up in the next few months, I’ll be participating in the Mississippi Book Festival in Jackson in September, and I have multiple book signings/story times booked in October! 

    Do you have any final words of wisdom you’d like to share with readers today that you wish you had known when you first started pursuing publication?

    I’m so grateful to be writing books for kids and so thankful to be talking to you, Chelsea! I wish I had known to slow down and not be in a rush to be published. I wish I had allowed myself to “play,” to experiment, earlier. I eventually got to that point, but it took a little while. 

    -Lovely advice to end on, Heather. Thanks again for being with us today. It's been an absolute treasure getting to hear more about your wonderful "story behind the story" of publishing. And you've given us so many great tips, resources, and pieces of advice. I'll be keeping my eye out for your forthcoming books!

    And now it's time for some GIVEAWAYS!

    This month, Heather is offering TWO giveaway prizes- one prize per winner– TWO WINNERS TOTAL!

    • One picture book manuscript (fiction or nonfiction, 800 words or less) OR 1 query letter critique
    • One 30 minute, ask me anything session

    HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

    • Leave a comment on this post!
    • And if you haven’t already, like this post and subscribe to the blog and/or newsletter!

    That’s it!

    DEADLINE TO ENTER: September 30th, 11:59 PM CST

    Want extra entries? Retweet on X or share on Instagram (story or post) with a link to this article and mention my handle (Instagram @chelseasworldofbooks X @chellysbooks).

    FAQ:

    What if I was already subscribed to the blog? Does that mean I won’t qualify for the Prize Giveaway? Not at all! If you subscribed before this month, all you’ll need to do is LIKE this Feature Interview and leave your COMMENT below this post within the deadline (the current month/year entry was posted).

    Did you enjoy this interview?

    Thank the author & host by purchasing a copy of one of their books or by requesting it be purchased at your local library! Using the sponsored links below supports this blog.

    BOOK LINKS

    Purchase THE CLIMATE CRISIS IN THE SOUTHEAST

    Purchase THE HAUNTED STATES OF AMERICA

    Purchase DISNEY TOP BRANDS

    Purchase TRUNK GOES THUNK A WOODLAND TALE OF OPPOSITES

    In this Feature Interview, I talk with former NASA Molecular Microbiologist and Children's Book Author, Heather Morris. Heather shares her insight on publishing across the educational market, work-for-hire, direct to publisher, and with literary representation, and offers a treasure trove of resources for aspiring and current authors on how to grow community and make connections in the kidlit world. This month, Heather is offering 2 giveaways- 1 prize each to each winner- 2 winners total! Be sure to comment on the post for a chance to win. Retweet & share for extra entries.

    Purchase ADHD AND ME

    Heather C. Morris is the grateful author of multiple books for kids – fiction, nonfiction, picture books, and middle grade – including Trunk Goes Thunk! (Gnome Road Publishing, 2024), and a ghost story in the Haunted States of America Anthology (Godwin Books/Macmillan, 2024). She is an active member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), the Middle Grade Hub, and the 12×12 picture book challenge.  When she’s not reading or writing, you’ll find her hiking the surrounding Appalachian Mountains with her husband, their three kids, and their rescued border collie. Heather is represented by Kristen Terrette at Martin Literary Management.

    Connect with Heather: Website: www.heathercmorris.com Instagram: morr_writing Twitter/X: morrwriting

    Looking for custom writer/library/book-lover-themed swag/accessories? Visit my Zazzle store! Want to see a curated list of my personal favorite books and recommendations? Visit my bookshop page! Want to browse favorite writing accessories, books by genre, and cozy reading must-haves? Visit my Amazon Storefront!

    AUGUST 21ST, 2024, FEATURE INTERVIEW WITH INTERNATIONALLY PUBLISHED GRAPHIC NOVELIST AND CHILDREN’S BOOK ILLUSTRATOR DEBASMITA DASGUPTA, CONDUCTED BY CHILDREN’S BOOK WRITER, BLOGGER, AND FORMER LIBRARIAN CHELSEA DICICCO

    Posted on by Chelsea’s World of Books in Feature Interview Series, View all blog posts

    Today, I’m talking with AWARD-WINNING south-Asian graphic novelist and artist Debasmita Dasgupta. We’ll be diving under the cover of books and art and the powerful relationship between stories and voices and the messages they carry to today’s youth.

    But before we do… here are a few things to know about feature interviews.

    THE SCOOP: WHAT ARE FEATURE INTERVIEWS & WHO ARE THEY FOR?

    Feature Interviews are a free resource for writers and illustrators at every stage of the publishing journey.

    Every month, I collaborate with industry professionals—authors, illustrators, editors, and agents— many of whom were or currently are also educators and librarians, to discuss all things publishing.

    What can these interviews offer YOU?

    These interviews give readers an up-close and personal look at the world of publishing from an array of different perspectives on every side of the desk and offer insight into tips, resources, and advice on how to:

    • stay current with market trends
    • hook an agent or editor
    • find writing community & other resources
    • discover workshops, contests, and other events
    • figure out which path of publication is right for you
    • know if your agent is a good match

    And more!

    AND… if that’s not enough, every guest offers at least one giveaway prize—sometimes more. This means you have multiple opportunities to win prizes every month! *If you’re interested in entering the giveaway, scroll to the bottom of the interview for instructions.*

    Not that we’ve shared a little about what’s in store… it’s time to jump into our interview!

    BEGINNINGS & INSPIRATIONS: WHY, HOW, WHEN?

    Debasmita, it really is a pleasure to welcome you to the blog. Every month I feel so appreciative of the conversations I’m able to have with different members of the publishing community. Welcome! It’s great to have you with us - all the way from the UK. Today, I’d love to ease into the publishing waters with some pre-publication chit-chat. 
    First question. What kind of role has literature played in your life, both as a young child and present day?

    Literature has always been my go-to source for inspiration and imagination, both in my childhood and now as an adult. Every time I read, whether it's words or pictures, a new world of possibilities unfolds before me. I absolutely love that experience!

    Have writing and illustrating always been something you’ve been passionate about, or was this a later-in-life discovery?

    Art, and particularly Art-for-Change, has always been my passion. However, that passion became my profession over the years as I had to hone the craft of storytelling.

    Now let’s talk about the “when, why, and how.” When, why, and how did your publishing journey begin? Was it something you always knew you wanted to do, or was it something you realized later in life? And when/how did that journey first take root?

    It was on a Sunday afternoon when I heard a TED talk by Shabana Basij from Afghanistan. It was a moving experience. I felt something had permanently changed inside me. Over the next few days, I watched that talk over and over. Her honesty, simplicity, and power of narration moved me. Shabana grew up in Afghanistan during the Taliban regime. Despite all odds, her father never lost the courage to fight for her education. He used to say, “People can take away everything from you except your knowledge”. Shabana’s story gave me a strong impulse to do something, but I didn’t know ‘what’ and ‘how.’ That’s when my red sketchbook and pencil caught my eye. Before I’d even realized it, I had taken my first step. I illustrated Shabana’s story and posted it on a Facebook page, “My Father Illustrations”. It was an impulsive reaction. I found Shabana’s contact and shared the illustration with her. Shabana was so touched that she forwarded it to her students, and then I started getting emails from a lot of other Afghan men! The emails were a note of thanks as they felt someone was trying to showcase Afghan men in a positive light. I realized that if there are so many positive father-daughter stories in Afghanistan, just imagine the positive stories across the world! My journey had started. I started looking for moving father-daughter stories from across the globe. Some I found, some found me. With every discovery, my desire to create art for change kept growing. I shared over 350 stories from 56 countries.

    That was the beginning of my artistic career. That Facebook page went viral. Many international media including the Huffington in the USA, wrote about it. And I was recognized as an artist on the global stage. From there I started to receive publishing offers to illustrate children’s books. A new universe welcomed me with open arms.

    ROUTES TO PUBLISHING: TO QUERY OR NOT TO QUERY?

    I know you’re represented by Alice Williams Literary Agency, based in London. Could you tell us about your agenting journey? How/when did you find your agent match? Was it through cold querying, did you meet at a writing event, or was it something else? And what kind of project did you pitch/query/submit- was it art only, or did you have text too?
     
    I was fortunate when Alice stumbled upon my work on Instagram through a SCBWI event, and she approached me. Eventually, we met in London and loved speaking with each other. Since then, we have been working together. 

    Alice represents me only for my picture book/graphic novels with big press in the UK and the USA. Sometimes, I write and create pitch materials that she submits to publishers. In addition, she also gets me only illustration projects for stories written by other writers. In the second scenario, she is mostly approached by art directors/editors who are familiar with my artwork.

    For some of our newer-to-publishing readers who might be trying to navigate the waters of the literary world and aren’t sure which way to go, could you explain a little bit about what a literary agent’s role is in an author and/or illustrator’s career, and some of the benefits of having one?

    A literary agent first of all advocates for your work. Artists or creatives are mostly not the best to market themselves. Agents help with that. They study and evaluate your body of work and pitch it to potential clients. When you get a job, your agent manages all the paperwork including fee and other terms negotiation in the publishing contract.

    When you first set out on your publishing journey, did you know that you wanted to seek traditional publishing, or did you also consider other routes? And what was the determining factor that led you to traditional publishing as the right route for you?

    I was always interested in traditional publishing because I felt that was the most sustainable way forward for my career. I left a decade-long full-time career in international relations before moving into the publishing world. I had managed projects with the United Nations and the European Commission before I found my calling in illustrated literature. It was a big decision for me, so I was determined to get into traditional publishing where there were advance payments plus royalties from publishers. These help me pay my bills.

    -MORE ABOUT PUBLISHING- Some authors choose to query an agent for representation so that they can pursue traditional publishing houses for their work. Others choose to submit directly to smaller, select houses or imprints (editors) without literary representation (agents). Alternatively, some authors choose to go it alone and self-publish - which has endless options. And still, others choose to do a little bit of both- which is called “hybrid” - where you might do some independent work, publish articles for magazines, do work-for-hire, AND also have a literary agent representing select projects and genres of your work, to submit to larger publishing houses, that you wouldn’t have the opportunity to submit to directly on your own. *Many large publishers do not accept “unsolicited,” aka “work from authors/illustrators that do not have literary representation.”

    IMPORTANT NOTE: Publishing is not a “one-size-fits-all,” and one route to publication may be perfect for one person and not another, so if you’re trying to figure out what route to take, make sure you’re basing that decision on what works best for you, and weigh the variables accordingly, to YOUR situation.

    TIPS & RESOURCES

    Prior to publication- and even since- have there been any resources you’ve found valuable in the writing/illustrating community that you’d like to share?

    I love technology. I think we, the artists/creatives, should use technology to our advantage. Illustration tools such as the Adobe Creative Suite and Procreate are super helpful for my illustration process. There are also free alternatives to these tools that one could use if they are unable to afford licensed tools. 

    In general, I am always on the lookout for new free resources (such as newsletter creation & distribution tools, form submission tools, data gathering tools, editing tools, business management tools, etc.) that can enhance my freelance career.

    What are some struggles you’ve faced on the road to publishing, and how were you able to overcome them?

    The biggest challenge is that you have to do everything on your own. So, the more informed you are, the better time and cost-effective it is. Knowledge and practice are the only ways to keep you going.

    If you could share the most precious pieces of advice that you know NOW and that you wish you had known sooner with other authors/illustrators, what would it be?

    Happiness is a Habit. Don’t create your stories to compete with another storyteller. Create your stories because that’s your happy place, and you belong there. There is nothing more precious than your happiness, but to be happy, you have to create art every single day.

    -I absolutely love this piece oof advice!

    “Happiness is a Habit. Don’t create your stories to compete with another storyteller. Create your stories because that’s your happy place, and you belong there.”

    TIMEFRAMES & EXPECTATIONS

    Could you share the timeframe of your publishing journey from the beginning to the first book publication for our readers?

    My first picture book was published in 2010 (illustrated by me), and my first graphic novel, “Nadya,” was published in 2019 (words & pictures by me).

    Here's the full timeline for my first graphic novel Nadya:

    In September 2018, I attended an art residency in Spain. During that residency, I developed the story of "Nadya" along with some character sketches and sample frames. After coming back from Spain, I was super pumped up so I posted a sketch on my Instagram sharing my state of mind and the fact that I have completed drafting a manuscript for my first GN. Next day, I got a message in my inbox from an editor at Scholastic India. She was following my work for a while and was wondering if I would want to share the MS with her team. I was thrilled! Without any further delay, I prepared a pitch deck with my MS, sample sketches, colour palette, and query letter. They liked my proposal and within 2 months, I signed my publishing contract with them. Editing, polishing, proof-reading, and fine-tuning of the script happened over next two months, after which I immediately started working on the illustrations. "Nadya" was finally launched in September 2019.

    What are some publishing expectations vs. realities that you’ve experienced? And what common publishing misconception have you noticed?

    Myth: Publishing illustrated stories is a complete immersive artistic process and you don’t need to know your audience / market / industry. 
    Reality: Publishing an illustrated book is 50% art and 50% business. As a creative, you don’t have to understand the whole business implementation part. However, to stay in the business, you can’t ignore it completely. 

    Myth: If only I have 50k followers on Instagram, I will get many publishing contracts. 
    Reality: Aim for some quality Instagram followers, such as editors/publishers, who will offer you paid work.

    Myth: Picture books are easy to write and draw.
    Reality: Every picture book is a labor of love, and it takes months (if not years) to create one quality book.

    MOTIVATIONS & HEART

    Earlier, I asked you about the “why, when, how.” But I always love to dig deeper into the why, BECAUSE… the why is where our HEART and MOTIVATION lives. That magical place holds all of the reasons WHY we’re writers and illustrators, to begin with. So, I’d love to ask… what do your stories mean to you on a personal level? 

    My stories are my raison d'etre, my identity. 

    And what do you want your readers to feel/experience/learn when reading them?

    I want my stories to help readers start a dialogue, if not with anyone else, at least with themselves. A dialogue may not give you all the answers, but every dialogue will open a plethora of possibilities.

    EMPATHY, AWARENESS, DIVERSITY

    As we progress into a newer era of understanding, empathy, and awareness of differences around us, ranging from everything from cultural identity to different abilities and more, we’ve been able to see that shift in publishing where there’s been a push for amplifying and raising up previously underrepresented voices. Which just makes my heart GLOW with excitement for all of the children who are now seeing themselves reflected on the page, as well as for all the educational awareness and early-developed empathy that this is creating in our culture of young readers, who may not otherwise have had the access or influence to learn about these things, and now, thanks to these powerful voices and stories, they now have that opportunity. It’s just… so beautiful. Could you share in your own words what effect you think this change is having on young readers and why having inclusive and diverse voices in books- especially children’s literature, is so important?

    When children read and see characters who resemble them, share similar backgrounds, or face similar challenges, it affirms their importance and validates their experiences. Having diverse voices in children's literature also challenges stereotypes and combats prejudice. It helps children appreciate diversity and learn to discover more bridges that connect people and less walls that divide them.

    BOOKS!

    That brings us to the book portion of the interview. We’d love to hear all about your books! Inspiration? Publication? In the works? Share it all. 


    My inspiration for my most recent YA graphic novel, Terminal 3, written and illustrated by me and published with Penguin Random House India:

    The seed idea for Terminal 3 germinated in 2013 when I created a passion project, a Facebook page called ‘My Father Illustrations’, to feature stories of fathers defending the rights of their daughters from across the globe. Some stories I found, some stories found me. With every discovery, my desire to create art kept growing — I’ve shared nearly 350 illustrated stories of fathers and daughters from 54 countries. During that time, one day, I came across the story of Tajamul Islam, a kickboxer from Kashmir’s Bandipora district, and how her father had supported her. That was the beginning of Khwab’s story, which finally took the shape of Terminal 3.

    My first upcoming graphic novel this year is:“ZardoZi - stitched with love” with HarperCollins India.

    Why I want to tell this story: 

    Most of the time, people we know tell us who we are supposed to be. They create borders around us defining our gender, sexuality, characteristics, identity --- and this list is endless. Both men and women fall prey in the hands of patriarchy. Under such circumstances, what happens when a boy finds his passion, which is considered to be feminine? He is bullied, shamed and forced to run away from his dreams. “ZardoZi-stitched with love” is a story that questions such archaic values with humor and hope through a stylish timeless tale.

    My next graphic novel releasing soon is: Faiza is a Fighter, with Soaring Kite Books (SKB) USA 

    My inspiration behind the story of Faiza: 

    The word "Faiza" means victorious / winner in Urdu. Sometimes you're broken. You're left orphaned at a dead end with a crushed confidence. However, that end could be a new beginning if you discover your inner strength. You can knock out the murmur of terror with a silent roar of courage. Then even if you lose, you will still emerge victorious from the depths of fear.

    Thanks so much for sharing your inspiration behind these stories, Debasmita!
    Below, you can browse a list of Debasmita's books along with pictures and blurbs:

    Written by Lakshmi Thamizhmani

    Illustrated by Debasmita Dasgupta

    During her town’s Ganesha Chaturthi festival, young Prema comes up with an innovative plan to save the river from pollution. Persevering through multiple obstacles, she convinces her friends to help her create natural clay Ganesha statues to replace the plaster ones that harm the river when they dissolve. Created by an author and artist from different parts of India and set in modern-day India, this inclusive tale of activism, ingenuity and sustainability is sure to inspire young readers. Endnotes include information about Ganesha Chaturthi, a recipe for homemade sculpting dough and instructions for making an earth-friendly statue.

    Support the author & this blog by purchasing through this sponsored link.

    It’s August 2019 and Khwab Nazir is waiting to board the plane at Terminal 3 of New Delhi International Airport. Set to represent India at an international jiu-jitsu tournament, Khwab nervously looks towards her unknown future. She also reflects on her complicated past-of growing up against the insurmountable difficulties
    of life in Kashmir.

    Between happiness and emptiness, desire and grief, penance and peace-Khwab has endured. She has a dream that life will be a paradise, one day. Breathing against the backdrop of conflict, Terminal 3, is the story of the everyday people striving to live their dreams in the Valley.

    Support the author & this blog by purchasing through this sponsored link.

    Ten-year-old Zi loves embroidery. He is growing up in a world filled with expectations. Everyone around him – family, friends, neighbours – seems to have a say in who Zi should be.

    Surrounded by all the noise, Zi’s own voice yearns to break free. Will Zi find the strength to be who he wants to be?

    ZardoZi is a heartwarming story that touches on history, identity and the power of breaking free. Finding oneself is a remarkable adventure, filled with surprises, challenges and the joy of embracing our authentic selves. ZardoZi is all about that.

    Support the author & this blog by purchasing through this sponsored link.

    Faiza wants to win the biggest boxing tournament in town. When the odds are stacked against her, will she be able to achieve her dream without the presence of her biggest supporter?

    Life in hilly northern India is not easy. Every day, Faiza has to scale the mountains to reach her school or to fetch water from the stream. Faiza doesn’t have many friends or relatives who believe in her, but her dream of being a world champion boxer and the support of her only parent, her dad, and her grandma keeps her going.

    When her dad’s travel is delayed due to a landslide, she has to enter the boxing tournament without her coach and support system. Will she give up or forge out on her own? Sometimes your biggest cheerleader is the voice inside of you. Fight, Faiza, fight!

    Support the author & this blog by purchasing through this sponsored link.

    Do you have any favorite illustrations? If so, we'd love to steal a peek at a few!
    Check out some of Debasmita's illustrations below.

    Captions:
    Top left illustration: "character illustration"
    Top middle illustration: "Cooler colour palette-going out of my comfort zone"
    Top right illustration: "Incorporating cultural details"
    Bottom left illustration: "One of my favourite colour palettes"
    Bottom middle illustration: "Showing collective action by children"
    Bottom right illustration: "Use of fabric motifs"
    Have you been able to host any fun book events at local bookstores/libraries/schools/somewhere else?
    Regular online workshops with updates on my Instagram.

    Any final words of wisdom that you’d like to share with readers today?
    I would like to share a few words from my graphic novel, “Terminal 3” –
    “Failure is never the last answer. It only means, you have to try one more time.”

    Thank you so much, Debasmita. 
    And now… 
    It’s time for a GIVEAWAY!

    GIVEAWAY

    For the month of August, Debasmita is offering one giveaway prize to TWO winners!

    PRIZE 1: Picture Book giveaway- 1 copy of Ganesha Goes Green

    PRIZE 2: Portfolio Review for an emerging illustrator via Zoom (preferably a POC)

    HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

    • Leave a comment on this post!
    • And if you haven’t already, like this post and subscribe to the blog and/or newsletter!

    That’s it!

    DEADLINE TO ENTER: August 31st, 2024, 11:59 PM CST

    PLEASE NOTE: IF THE HOST IS OFFERING MORE THAN ONE GIVEAWAY PRIZE, SPECIFY WHICH PRIZE YOU WOULD LIKE IN THE COMMENTS BELOW. THIS DOES NOT GUARANTEE THAT YOU WILL WIN THAT PRIZE.

    FAQ:

    What if I was already subscribed to the blog? Does that mean I won’t qualify for the Prize Giveaway? Not at all! If you subscribed before this month, all you’ll need to do is LIKE this Feature Interview and leave your COMMENT below this post within the deadline (the current month/year entry was posted).

    Did you enjoy this interview?

    Thank the author & host by purchasing a copy of one of their books or by requesting it be purchased at your local library! Using the sponsored links below supports this blog.

    Debasmita Dasgupta is a UK-based, award-winning south-Asian graphic novelist and artist. An advocate for BIPOC (person of color) rights in media and arts, Debasmita’s visual stories have been published by Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, and Barefoot Books, to name a few. Her illustrated animation work has been showcased by the StoryCentre NYC and the Raindance Film Fest in the UK and Canada. In a career spanning over 15 years, she has also written and produced international films to narrate stories of Under-represented communities. Her art has been exhibited worldwide, and over forty international media outlets have featured it.

    Debasmita mentors aspiring and emerging visual storytellers from diverse backgrounds. BIPOC creators can contact Debasmita Doodles at debasmitadoodles@gmail.com or stay in the know through her two Instagram accounts, @debasmitadasgupta or @debasmitadoodles.

    To learn more about Debasmita, connect with her using the links below.

    LinkTree

    Twitter

    Instagram

    Looking for a specific topic? Browse the list below to find a link to information on one of these topics:

    Pros and cons of small publishers, hybrid (or indie) publishing, and being agented VS. unagented.

    Where to find FREE and PAID for writing memberships, craft workshops, contests, and other resources.

    How to query agents and editors and what they’re looking for.

    Where to find kidlit community and support from other writers or illustrators.

    Diversity, empathy, and kindness in kidlit and why it matters.

    Writing across genres.

    Purchase a copy of Chelsea’s Book, ADHD AND ME HERE.

    For eight-year-old Malory, who has ADHD, school isn’t always an easy place to be. But Malory isn’t the only one who has difficult days. Sometimes it’s her classmates, teachers, or parents. Malory tries her best to focus, but oftentimes, her mind wanders, leading to trips to the Principal’s office and phone calls home.

    Malory’s art teacher Ms. Julie understands how it feels to think a little differently from others. Born with Autism, Ms. Julie found comfort and calm through art. Now she uses it to help others to find their safe, creative haven too. In this inspiring neurodiverse story, Malory will discover that with a little bit of love and support from friends, you can do anything and, along the way, learn the power of believing in yourself and embracing your differences.

    AUGUST 7TH, 2024, FEATURE INTERVIEW WITH CHILDREN’S BOOK AUTHOR, EDUCATOR, AND FOUNDER OF HAPPY DAYS IN FIRST GRADE TEACHING BLOG, HA DINH, HOSTED BY KIDLIT WRITER, BLOGGER & FORMER LIBRARIAN, CHELSEA DICICCO

    Posted on by Chelsea’s World of Books in Feature Interview Series, View all blog posts

    Today, I’m talking with the educator, children’s book author, and founder of Happy Days in First Grade Teaching Blog, Ha Dinh.

    But before we jump into our interview, if this is your first time visiting the blog, here’s the scoop on Feature Interviews.

    THE SCOOP: WHAT ARE FEATURE INTERVIEWS & WHO ARE THEY FOR?

    Feature Interviews are a free resource for writers and illustrators at every stage of the publishing journey.

    Every month, I collaborate with industry professionals—authors, illustrators, editors, and agents— many of whom were or currently are also educators and librarians, to discuss all things publishing.

    What can these interviews offer YOU?

    These interviews give readers an up-close and personal look at the world of publishing from an array of different perspectives on every side of the desk and offer insight into tips, resources, and advice on how to:

    • stay current with market trends
    • hook an agent or editor
    • find writing community & other resources
    • discover workshops, contests, and other writing events
    • figure out which path of publication is right for you
    • know if your agent is a good match

    And more!

    AND… if that’s not enough, every guest offers at least one giveaway prize—sometimes more. This means you have multiple opportunities to win prizes every month! *If you’re interested in entering the giveaway, scroll to the bottom of the interview for instructions.* Not that we’ve shared a little about what’s in store… it’s time to jump into our interview!

    THE BEGINNING: ROAD TO PUBLISHING

    Welcome, Ha Dinh! It’s so nice to have you with us today.  I love having educators on the blog because I feel like they have a special connection to the world of kids. Which is especially great when writing kidlit. Speaking of which…

    The first question I love asking my guests is how they landed here in the world of publishing for children. How and when did your publishing journey begin?

    First and foremost, thank you so much, Chelsea, for having me and allowing me to share my stories with you and your audience!  I have always wanted to be a Children’s book author since I was a kid but never seriously pursued it until 2020 when my beloved mom passed away. I realized then that if I didn’t write the stories that were inspired by my childhood and my culture, they would be lost for my children and all the children who may also need them.  

    Once I wrote the draft of my debut picture book, WHERE WILDFLOWERS GROW, I worked on revising and editing it for a year before entering the #PBPitch Contest on Twitter, where I luckily found my agent and editor for the book. 

    Have you always enjoyed writing and/or reading?

    Growing up, I loved journaling and writing.  But since I came to America when I was 5 years old and didn’t know English,  learning the language was a daily challenge for me.  Reading allowed me to learn English and reading picture books encouraged me to write my own stories. 

    -I love this! What a special connection you had with books at that young age.-

    Do you think your role as an educator influenced/influences your inspiration for writing and publishing?

    I know in my heart that being an educator propelled me to my dream as an author.  While I always loved writing, I also saw the lack of Vietnamese-American representation and stories in the children’s book space.  As an educator, I knew that that was a need that I could meet for our children. 

    Can you walk us through some of the stages of how you got your footing in kidlit?

    Starting a new journey can be daunting with so much uncertainty.  I was so nervous since I didn’t know anyone personally who had been traditionally published.  However, through various online contests including #PBChat, #PBPitch, and #50PreciousWords Contest and SCBWI, I have been blessed to have met many encouraging fellow creators and industry professionals, who allowed me to share my work, hone my craft, and supported me in my journey.

    ROUTES TO PUBLISHING & CHALLENGES

    I know you’re represented by Belcastro Literary Agency, which tells me that you were interested in going the traditional route to publication rather than independent. For some of our readers who are considering which route to take (and what the differences are), could you share a little bit about how these paths differ and why you chose to go the traditional route?

    With teaching full-time, raising young children, and running my teaching resource online business, my time for writing and publishing was very limited when I started my journey.  Therefore, I knew that the traditional route was best for me as it has allowed me to stay creative, and my wonderful agent has been amazing at handling more of the business side for me.

    Any words of wisdom or advice you’d like to share with writers and/or illustrators who are trying to decide what course to take?

    I think the best advice is to follow your heart and take the route that you feel is best for you.  

    What have been some of the challenges you’ve faced on your publishing journey, and how have you been able to endure/overcome them?

    Rejection is such a big part of publishing, and while it’s something that we all can expect as creators, it still stings.  However, I have learned that rejection is redirection and when our work lands in the right hands, all the heartache was all worth it even if it took some time to find the right match.

    -Beautifully put. “…Rejection is redirection.”-

    Do you have any favorite writing resources, tips, or organizations that have helped you to stay on the path?

    My favorite tip is to continue to be open to inspiration.  Sometimes a small conversation or a mention of a memory from childhood can spur into an entire story for me. When that happens, I feel like the story writes itself in my head and I’m just capturing it with my words.

    Rejection is such a big part of publishing, and while it’s something that we all can expect as creators, it still stings. However, I have learned that rejection is redirection and when our work lands in the right hands, all the heartache was all worth it…

    eDUCATIONAL RESOURCES: KIDS AND FAMILY

    We touched briefly on your educational background. Could you tell us more about that? How long have you been teaching, and what specifically (age range/subjects) do you teach?

    After receiving my bachelor's degree in English and Humanities from the University of Louisville, I received a Master of Art in Teaching degree in Early Elementary Education. In addition to wanting to be an author, I always wanted to be the kind of teacher that I was so blessed to have had growing up. I taught for three years in second grade and 13 years in first grade. After 16 years of teaching, I felt it was the right time for me to dedicate myself to writing and creating educational resources full-time.  

    Speaking of education… let’s talk about your teaching blog, Happy Days in First Grade. When did you first launch your teaching blog, and where did you find the inspiration for it?

    When I started teaching in 2007, I found myself scouring the internet for hours at home looking for teaching resources for my classroom.  After years of searching, I decided to create what I needed for my classroom instead and began sharing what I made with other teachers online. What started as a hobby quickly turned into a business that has allowed me to support myself, my family, and my community of elementary educators who love finding new, innovative, and engaging ways to reach and teach their students.  

    Could you tell us a little bit about the resources you offer there and who they are for?

    I create teaching resources mostly for the primary grades (kindergarten, first grade, and second grade).  From core subjects to classroom decorations to organizational tools for teachers to STEM to Makerspace teaching materials and more, my resources are created to help students have fun while learning and growing. 

    I love sharing educational resources with readers and would be thrilled to add your Happy Days in First Grade Teaching Blog to my list of resources on Teacher Corner on my website. *If you have any extra resources you’d specifically like to share, please send me an email with any/all, and I’d be happy to add them too. If you’d like to see examples, check out the “teacher corner” tab and see what other authors have there.* 

    Thank you so much! 

    ** Grab your free WHERE THE WILDFLOWERS GROW activity packet & educators guide on TEACHER'S CORNER of this blog by CLICKING HERE.**

    What kind of feedback have you received from your audience?

    I have been so lucky to receive many wonderful and glowing reviews from my audience. In the 10 years since opening my store, I have received 8,200+ reviews with a 4.9/5 rating. 

    What do you hope your readers will gain from visiting your blog?

    Besides classroom activities, there are lots of book lists with recommendations for various holidays and seasonal themes, information on my picture books and upcoming projects, Author Visits, my TpT Shop, travel ideas, and insights into my Author Life.

    BOOKS AND REPRESENTATION

    We’ve arrived at the book portion of the interview. Hooray! Tell us about your books. 

    My debut picture, WHERE WILDFLOWERS GROW, was inspired by my memories of living and leaving a refugee camp in the Philippines in 1989 for America after my family and I had moved from Vietnam. While it is an immigration story, it is also a story of friendship, joy, and finding hope in new beginnings no matter where we are.  WHERE WILDFLOWERS GROW was published in 2023 by Waterbrook & Multnomah, an imprint of Penguin Random House and edited by Bunmi Ishola. 

    My second book, THE JADE BRACELET, is based on a jade bracelet that my late mom gifted me when I was seven years old. Similar to my feelings toward the bracelet at the time, the main character loves her mom but would rather blend in at school and wear the same colorful and sparkling bracelet that her friends wear at school instead.  When Picture Day with the bracelet turned into a big ordeal, the main character has to decide if she wants to keep the bracelet or buy a new one. It is a book on understanding and appreciating one’s own family traditions while still holding onto one’s identity. The book is slated to be released April 2025 by Random House Studio and was edited by the Maria Modugno.

    My third book, THE MOON LANTERN, follows Huy, a Vietnamese-American boy who wants to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with his own lantern.  As other children make traditional star lanterns for the holiday, Huy makes one to honor the moon instead.  This story introduces readers to this wonderful festival that is celebrated by numerous Asian countries while also sharing the mythical tale of a poor Vietnamese woodcutter and his magical banyan tree that is at the heart of the festival. 

    Writing is such a personal thing. And it can be vulnerable, too. Which is, I think, a big part of what makes books so beautiful and important. At its core… writing is an expression of oneself. Can you tell us… what does each story mean to you personally? And what do you hope it will offer readers?

    Each story means so much to me and was written with so much reflection and inspiration from my childhood memories. WHERE WILDFLOWERS GROW reminds me of finding hope in new beginnings, THE JADE BRACELET reminds me to hold onto family traditions as treasured gifts, and THE MOON LANTERN reminds me of finding beauty in traditions while also making them uniquely our own. 

    In recent times, we’ve seen a huge effort in today’s society to help boost previously underrepresented voices and stories and give them the space they deserve. In your interview application, you talked about Vietnamese American culture and how your stories offer representation that allows young readers to connect to characters who are experiencing similar emotions and events while also learning more about experiences that they may not be familiar with. Can you talk in more detail about this?

    While there is more Vietnamese American representation in Children’s literature in the last 5 years, there are still so many more Vietnamese American stories to tell, characters to write, and perspectives to share. I hope that with the addition of my books and those of other Vietnamese American authors, libraries across the country will be filled with more representation for our community and children everywhere.

    -I love this thought!-

    In your words… why is representation in literature so important?

    Representation in literature helps all of our readers feel seen, heard, valued, and connected to the world around them.

    If you could leave your readers with any last thoughts, what would they be?

    Follow your heart and make all your own dreams come true!

    Thank you so much for joining us today.
    And now… 
    It’s time for a GIVEAWAY

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    For the month of August, Ha Dinh is offering the following giveaway prize to ONE winner.

    -Picture Book MS Critique

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    DEADLINE TO ENTER: August 31st, 2024, 11:59 PM CST

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    Author, mom, and founder of the Happy Days in First Grade Teaching Blog. Elementary school educator with 16+ years teaching experience. Debut picture book, WHERE WILDFLOWERS GROW was published in June of 2023 by Waterbrook and Multnomah, an imprint of Penguin Random House. Second book, THE JADE BRACELET will be released in the Spring of 2025 by Random House Studio. Connect IG & Twitter: @hellomrsdinhFacebook:@happydaysinfirstgradeWebsite/blog http://www.happydaysinfirstgrade.com

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    JULY 17TH, 2024, FEATURE INTERVIEW WITH NEURODIVERSE, INDIE CHILDREN’S BOOK AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR AND EDUCATOR, KATIE GIGLIOTTI, CONDUCTED BY KIDLIT WRITER, BLOGGER & FEATURE INTERVIEW HOST, CHELSEA DICICCO

    Posted on by Chelsea’s World of Books in Feature Interview Series, View all blog posts

    Today, I’m talking with children’s book author, illustrator, and educator Katie Gigliotti. We’ll be discussing the route of indie publishing as an author/illustrator, neurodiversity, overcoming challenges, and celebrating successes!

    But before we jump into our interview, if this is your first time visiting the blog, here’s the scoop on Feature Interviews.

    THE SCOOP: WHAT ARE FEATURE INTERVIEWS & WHO ARE THEY FOR?

    Feature Interviews are a free resource for writers and illustrators at every stage of the publishing journey.

    Every month, I collaborate with industry professionals—authors, illustrators, editors, and agents— many of whom were or currently are also educators and librarians, to discuss all things publishing.

    What can these interviews offer YOU?

    These interviews give readers an up-close and personal look at the world of publishing from an array of different perspectives on every side of the desk and offer insight into tips, resources, and advice on how to:

    • stay current with market trends
    • hook an agent or editor
    • find writing community & other resources
    • discover workshops, contests, and other events
    • figure out which path of publication is right for you
    • know if an agent is a good match for you

    And more!

    AND… if that’s not enough, every guest offers at least one giveaway prize—sometimes more. This means you have multiple opportunities to win prizes every month!

    Interested in entering the GIVEAWAY? Scroll to the bottom and drop a comment! And if you haven’t already, like this post and subscribe to the blog and/or newsletter!

    Not that we’ve shared a little about what’s in store… it’s time to jump into our interview!

    INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

    WELCOME, KATIE GIGLIOTTI!

    It’s so great having you with us today, Katie! I’d love to start our interview today by asking what led you here to the wondrous world of kidlit publishing? Have you always been inclined to writing and illustrating or did that come later in life?

    First of all, let me take a moment to say thank you, Chelsea, for this opportunity!  I feel honored to be chosen for this interview.  
    Oddly enough, despite my grandfather’s constant encouragement as both a child and young adult and my notebooks full of stories, I never thought about actually writing and illustrating as a profession.  It seemed out of reach, like something someone way more talented and creative than me would do.  I actually always thought I’d write a novel before I would ever consider the world of kidlit. However, during the great slowdown of 2020, I discovered a free class on Facebook, and once I started, I was hooked! 


    What made you realize you wanted to go the self-publishing route, and when did that journey start?

    I knew little to nothing about publishing when I first started this process in 2020. After listening to some other authors, both traditionally and self-published, I honestly thought I’d go the traditional route first. It seemed like a safer path, and I’m not one for taking risks. But after a year of developing manuscripts and illustrating a story for someone else (more on that later), I realized I could do it on my own. Once I realized I would have total control over what I was doing and I didn’t have to wait for someone to like it or buy into it, I took a gamble and introduced my first book into the world in 2022. 

    You mentioned in your application that you’re neurodiverse—me too! That’s part of why you ended up taking the route to publishing, which you’re currently doing, branching out with independent publishing rather than traditional publishing. If publishing has taught me anything, it’s the value of patience. As an ADHD girl myself, I know it can REALLY be a struggle to have at times. Can you share some of your personal experiences and struggles related to the long timeline of publishing and how A.D.D. affects your everyday working life?

    Although I’ve never struggled to start something, I’ve ALWAYS struggled with the follow-through. When I first started writing and illustrating, my husband was wary of believing I’d stick with it. Over the years, I have been a painter of signs, baker of fancy cakes, maker of sewn stuffies, felter of cute critters, and sculptor of tiny characters; I even tried photography for a bit. I honestly didn’t even know if I’d stick with it. I got easily bored once something kept repeating itself over and over. (I’d be a terrible factory worker!) However, I find that each book is different and provides just enough intrigue to keep me going. 

    Before I was medicated, I was a constant scatterbrain. If I didn’t write it down or keep repeating it in my head over and over, I’d forget. I would be incredibly distracted by technology of any kind. I also suffer from time blindness. I would *think* that an illustration would only take an hour when in reality, it was taking 2-5 hours to complete.

    What helped me the most, besides getting the medication I needed, was learning to be very intentional about my time. Since I have a full-time job and two kids, I knew I’d have to use pockets of time to my advantage. I’ve had to actually time myself to see just how long it takes to get a certain task done so I don’t over or under-plan. It’s been years of lists, timers, notes, reminders, and setting goals.  It hasn’t been easy, but it’s been worth it!

    -Wow, Katie. Yes, I totally relate to all of the above. And I love your tips on learning how to be very intentional with your time.-


    On my blog, I try my best to include as diverse a group as I can, and that includes routes to publication. Many readers are striving for traditional kidlit publishing, which involves querying agents and going on sub with traditional publishing houses, but there are tons of people out there who manage to make it- and thrive- with independent publishing. And then, of course, there are hybrid authors *like me* who want to do both- traditional and indie. So, it’s wonderful being able to talk with you today because you have insider experience in the self-publishing world. And- you have that experience not only as a writer but also as an illustrator. 

    You said it best in your application when you said, “Self-publishing is a whole different ball game and is NOT for the faint of heart.” Having independently published my first picture book, ADHD and Me, I can wholeheartedly say I understand and agree with that statement. So, let’s talk more about that…

    Tips from neurodiverse creators: “What helped me the most, besides getting the medication I needed, was learning to be very intentional about my time.“

    TACKLING THE BEAST OF SELF-PUBLISHING AS AN AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR

    Can you share with us some of what the behind-the-scenes of self-publishing looks like as an author/illustrator? And how does this route differ from traditional publishing?

    To self-publish a book, you have to be extremely motivated. You are the author, illustrator, editor, formatter, marketer, buyer, and seller - among other things.  Not to mention the business end, with taxes and bookkeeping. It’s also, at the beginning, a very lonely thing to do. 
    Traditional publishers help with all of these things. They have people who will edit, typeset, format, and market. There are people working with you all the way from rough dummy to final draft. Plus, not only are they able to get your book into bookstores and libraries, but they also pay YOU in advance for the work. However, they also take the majority of your earnings, and because they are heavily investing in your work, they have creative control over the project.

    Since I knew I wanted creative control as well as the ability to earn as much as I could, I decided to try self-publishing.  Getting into this I knew I had a small budget, so I had to learn how to do everything by myself. I watched a million YouTube videos, read so many books, and became members of many groups to figure everything out on my own. It took about a year of research to finally feel comfortable with the idea. 

    Don’t get me wrong, I’ve made A LOT of mistakes along the way.  Ones that probably could have been avoided if I had a publishing company and all of their resources backing my book. As a trade-off, I’ve saved a ton of time. The year it took me to research and learn would probably have been spent creating manuscripts and dummies to query.  Not to mention the year - or longer- it would have taken to get an agent and, from there, months to years to get a book deal. That doesn't even include the time it would take to finish the book! 

    I’ll be honest, there were times I wondered, and still wonder, if I made the right decision!  However, now that I put in the work of learning how to do all the things, I’m pretty proud of myself. I know I’ve come a long way and since I’m no expert at everything, I can continue to grow as I lean into the very scary and daunting world of marketing!


    For people who may be considering this route, what were the first steps you looked into? And where would you recommend other creators start?

    DO YOUR RESEARCH FIRST! 

    1.	Learn how to write and/or illustrate a good story.
    Anyone can write a book, but you have to learn HOW to write a good book first. Take a class, watch YouTube videos, or talk to someone who has been there before to find out all the important information.

    2.	Learn how to market.  
    Unless you’re trying to publish for yourself, publishing is a business, and you’ll quickly find out you’re a little fish in a big, big sea. I made a journal and published it to Amazon before I ever tried a book just to see if it would sell. I told no one of its existence, and after a year, I had sold 0 copies!  It was a great experiment that made me realize the importance of marketing so it’s a good idea to learn a bit about marketing before you begin!

    3.	Make sure your book looks polished.
    There are certain unspoken rules in the picture book world, including word count, page number, ISBNs, LCCN’s, etc. that you’ll need to learn about to make your book look professional. 

    4.	People DO judge a book by its cover.
    	Make sure yours looks good!

    5.	Build up a presence online
    Whether it’s a website, social media account, YouTube, or something else, make sure someone can find you online. You would need this if you are self or traditionally publishing. It’s hard to sell things if people can’t find you or don’t know what you’re selling.

    6.	Make connections!
    The easiest way to find your market, critique groups, bookstores, libraries, etc., is to start making connections now. Also, don’t be afraid to tell people about your book. Most people want to publish a book but only a few are brave enough to go through with it. Be proud of yourself!

    7.	You’re going to hear a lot of different advice from different people. 
    Some will tell you one thing works, while others will tell you the complete opposite. Unfortunately, there is no magic formula to make it work. You have to find out what’s right for you. 

    -I love all these tips and suggestions, Katie. Yes!!-

    Publishing tips from an indie author: “Build up a presence online
    Whether it’s a website, social media account, YouTube, or something else, make sure someone can find you online… It’s hard to sell things if people can’t find you or don’t know what you’re selling.”

    Publishing tips from an indie author: “Make connections! The easiest way to find your market, critique groups, bookstores, libraries, etc., is to start making connections now. Also, don’t be afraid to tell people about your book.“

    How did you handle the editorial portion of your writing? Did you hire a professional editor? Did you use beta readers or critique partners? 

    I’m lucky enough to have a sister-in-law - thanks, Naomi!- who can edit for me, so I can’t really speak to hiring anyone professionally. However, before I send it off for editing, I heavily rely on critique partners to weigh in on the formatting, word choice, and story flow, as well as illustration critique groups to help with that part. I also have the advantage of being a teacher so I can always use the story as part of a lesson and see how the students react. Sometimes, that’s the best way to tell if a story flows well or can keep a kid's attention!  

    Can you walk us through the illustrative side of things? How did you learn how to create picture book dummies, and what were those early stages like? How did you revise your artwork?

    Believe it or not, despite being an illustrator, when I first started out I didn’t think I could illustrate my own work! It took another friend of mine asking me to illustrate her own story to make me believe in myself. 

    I had somewhat of an advantage as an art teacher because I had already had college classes that focused on the basics. However, illustrating a picture book is vastly different from creating a standalone art piece. My biggest hurdles were character creation, keeping the characters consistent throughout the book, and color palette. There is also the idea of pacing the story, page count, and page turns, which were things I needed to and still do- work on. 

    I learned most of my dummy making through Storyteller Academy. The classes they offered helped me to work on my pacing, page turns, and think through the story. I am truly sad that they are disbanding! Thankfully, through SCBWI, I found a great group of illustrators in my region who have helped me by critiquing my work and finding parts that need tweaking. 

    Early on, I worked in traditional mediums since I had little experience with working digitally.  I had to teach myself how to scan images in, how to save them properly, and how to format a book digitally. While I was growing as an illustrator, I was also learning how to create artwork digitally, which is the medium I prefer now.

    -So fascinating hearing the details behind-the-scenes! Thank you for sharing.-

    WORKING AS AN EDUCATOR

    I know you have a degree in education and have been teaching art for quite a number of years now. How long have you been an art teacher?

    I just finished up my 18th year as an elementary art teacher in May.  Only 12 more years to go!

    Can you tell us about how your educational background as a teacher contributes to or intersects with your publishing?

    Being a teacher, especially an elementary teacher, keeps me immersed in the kidlit world. I have a front-row seat to the likes and interests of kids, as well as the needs of teachers and schools. This is incredibly helpful in deciding on the stories I want to work on. Although my first three books were very personal to me, the next stories I’m working on focus more on solving a need for kids, parents, and teachers, which helps make marketing much easier!

    Do you ever have students ask you about your books and how they can create books of their own?

    Yes! I don’t do a lot of promoting of my books at my own school -it’s slightly frowned upon by admin- but some of my colleagues, including our school librarian, are great at getting the word out there and even reading my books in class. (Thanks, guys!)  

    The reactions I get are sometimes shock, “Oh my goodness, you WROTE a BOOK?!”, awe, “If I buy your book, will you sign it for me?” and the occasional eye roll, depending on the student or age. 

    As for making books of their own, I don’t get a lot of requests since they are pretty young. However, this year, one student approached me, and I am currently working on helping him digitize his graphic novel so he and his family can look into self-publishing it.

    -That's SO cool!-

    Would you say that being a teacher has benefited your publishing journey by connecting you with your community- local bookstores, libraries, schools, and more? 

    Yes and no. On one side, I have gotten quite a few school visits from my connections, and also support from local libraries, which have been wonderful! My colleagues and some parents are also super supportive of my journey. I haven’t been very successful getting into local bookstores since we don’t have many in our small area.

    However, since I tend to keep to myself a lot, I don’t think I reap the full advantage that my position offers me. It’s something I’m working on.

    - Thanks for sharing such an honest perspective with us! From one introvert to another, I'm rooting for you!-

    Speaking of bookstores, libraries, and schools… have you been able to host any local storytime/book events? If so, we’d love to hear about them!

    I have done several school visits and vendor fairs, which are so much fun!  The best part was being able to return to my hometown, in Pennsylvania, to participate in a local book event where I was able to meet some awesome authors and illustrators.  I truly look forward to growing in my author career and setting up more of these events in the future!

    I haven’t had any book signing events, but that’s mainly because I’m too afraid to ask! I’m not great at self-advocating, and I honestly don’t know where to start. However, as my list of available titles grows, I look forward to setting these up!

    -It can be daunting to self-advocate and promote your work for sure. But it sounds like you have a very supportive local community members- schools and libraries - maybe they'll have some suggestions/connections to share when the time is right. :) -

    VICTORIES AND STRUGGLES

    On the blog, we love celebrating victories and sharing stories, resources, and encouragement. And sometimes… encouragement can come from sharing the hard stuff, too. Can you tell us a little bit about some of the challenges you’ve had to face during your publishing journey and how you’ve been able to overcome them?

    *chuckling as I type this*

    My biggest challenge is myself. I am not great at self-promotion, which is a skill that you need as a self-published author/illustrator. Like most introverted people, I’d much prefer to sit back and create and not worry about the marketing side of things.  I’m also pretty terrible at scheduling things, so I tend to limit myself in that way. Oh, and of course that dreaded imposter syndrome. Since I don’t have a traditionally published book, I feel like people look at me as if I’m not good enough to get a traditional deal, even when it’s my choice to take this route.

    As far as overcoming them, I will say that as time goes on, I push myself to try new things and put myself out there more (like this interview!). By making connections outside of my own circle, celebrating the small gains, and creating professional books, I am slowly growing my audience and squashing my self-limiting beliefs. I realize I don’t know it all and continue to learn new things as I walk this journey!

    - *Me, cracking up.* Hey, identifying the problem is half the solution. So really, depending on your perspective, it's already a glass half full.-

    Now let’s celebrate some wins- what have been some of your favorite kidlit moments? You can list as many as you’d like! And if you have pictures you’d like to share, that would be great, too!

    My top 4 favorite kidlit moments:

    1.Releasing my first book, Wander World

    This was HUGE for me. I did everything – minus the editing and some critiquing – on my own.

    -This is huge! I’m cheering.-

    2.Participating in a book festival in my hometown.

    It was so much fun to return home, make friends with the other local authors in attendance, and even meet some famous authors and illustrators!

    -I bet!-

    3.Getting my books into an actual store.

    After my first book was released, I walked into a local store to ask if they would carry my book – and they said yes!  This has carried on with my second and hopefully my newest book!  You never know if you don’t ask.

    4.Meeting all the wonderful authors and illustrators out there.

    The kidlit community is one of the most fantastic groups of people I’ve ever met; it almost seems surreal at times. They are always ready to cheer you on, lend a helping hand, or provide comfort if you are feeling down. The best was one of our promotion videos where we all posed in a box.

    -I love all of these, Katie. And the pictures are fantastic!-

    TIPS AND RESOURCES

    If you could give an aspiring kidlit illustrator or author a piece of advice (or pieces of advice), what would it (or they) be?

    Just do it.  If it’s something you’ve always dreamed of and you are passionate about it, get out there and create, write, draw, learn, and make it happen!  There is no better feeling than accomplishing something you set out to do. 

    No matter what path you take, this is a long process! Learning how to write and illustrate a good book takes time. Doing it takes time. Formatting and getting it out there takes time. Don’t get discouraged when things aren’t done on time or something goes wrong. However, make sure you set some reasonable goals for yourself. If you don’t have a clear vision of where you’re going, you most likely won’t get there.

    Also, echoing my statements above, make sure you are putting out professional-looking, well-crafted stories and that you have done some research and learned a bit about marketing before you start!

    I know you mentioned that you are a member of SCBWI, Storyteller Academy, and numerous critique groups. Could you share with our readers a few of the benefits of each of these and how they can help you grow in your journey? 

    The kidlit community is AMAZING! I cannot even begin to explain how helpful, kind, and supportive they are. 

    SCBWI (The Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) is the gift that keeps giving. From classes to critiques, forming groups and relationships, conferences, and growing your community, they have it all! I haven’t even taken advantage of all its many resources, and I can’t begin to explain how much they have helped me.  It is where I met my critique groups, which are equally amazing. They have provided support, advice, and even opportunities to write and illustrate for local publications. 

    Storyteller Academy has been paramount in my journey so far. The classes they provide help with everything from character design, dummy creation, rhyming, story structure, and even the business end of things. Although I believe their approach to be highly focused on traditional publishing, I know before they decided to disband, that they were moving towards and adding more classes in self-publishing. I am so sad to see this incredible resource go.

    I know there are many other resources out there that I’m not currently a part of, which can be equally beneficial. 

    Are there any other groups/organizations or otherwise that have greatly benefited you on your writing and illustrating journey that you’d like to share?

    Although there is no formal “group” or “membership,” the self-publishing community has been paramount in my ability to grow in this! Once you make a few connections, they are incredibly supportive of other author-illustrators by giving advice, sharing wins and losses, and spreading the word about your books!

    Advice for aspiring kidlit authors and/or illustrators: “Just do it. If it’s something you’ve always dreamed of and you are passionate about it, get out there and create, write, draw, learn, and make it happen! There is no better feeling than accomplishing something you set out to do.”

    THE BOOKS!

    We’ve finally made it to the book portion of the interview. We want to hear all about your stories! I know you’ve done author/illustrator books of your own, and you’ve also done illustrations for local authors (so cool!). Let’s start with the projects that you’ve done solely yourself- as an author/illustrator.

    Can you tell us a little about your stories and where the inspiration for them came from?

    The first three books I’ve published as the author/illustrator have been very personal to me. 

    Wander World, my first book, is not only an imaginative adventure across the seven continents but also a tribute to my grandfather. Illustrated in traditional watercolor, it tells the story of an actual game we used to play. Since his encouragement propelled me into this journey, I could think of no better way of honoring him than by dedicating my first book to him.

    - What a beautiful tribute.-

    Below are two of my favorite illustrations from the story. In the first one, my grandpa and I are visiting Australia and snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef, which is something I’ve always wanted to do.  

    The second one is us in Venice, beside the Rialto bridge. I was supposed to travel to Italy in college, but the events of 9-11 threw a wrench in that plan, and I’ve yet to see it in person!  This is one of my favorites because I’ve added some Easter eggs. The adult couple walking are my husband and I and on the opposite page –not pictured– is my son, fishing.
    You are: finding God in the little things is a quiet story which takes the reader from day to night and throughout the seasons and encourages the reader to look for the little things in life and appreciate all the beauty that God has created for us. Since I like to keep to myself, and I don’t feel that pushing my faith on others is fun for anyone, I created this as my own personal ministry.  It’s my way of reaching out to kids and adults who may question their faith and inspire those who have faith not to lose it.

    The illustration below is certainly one of my favorites. It’s one of the summertime illustrations, which is my favorite season, and it really speaks to my love of both rainbows - or colors in general - and art! The illustrations for this book -  done with painted paper cutouts and edited digitally - took me forever!  Each of those stripes on her dress, the rainbow pieces, the sun rays, and bits of chalk are individually cut and glued on!
    All My Love, my newest book - which only came out two days ago!-  is a tribute to a mother’s love for her child. 

    -Whoa! Congratulations on your new book! That must be so exciting. :) –

    Since my daughter just recently had a milestone birthday and graduated from high school, I wanted her to know I’d always be there for her. I wasn’t even planning on putting this out into the world, but once it was finished, I loved it so much I felt it could be appreciated by others as well. The fun part was being able to incorporate a ton of easter eggs specifically tailored to my daughter's favorite toys throughout the years.

    This illustration from the story is one of my favorites because of the irony. It’s also a nod to her starting off on her own as an adult as if the meteor is the end of a season in our lives. I think any parent can relate to the way young children - or, in this case, dinosaurs - can cling to you and notice all the beautiful things in the world. 
    I'm currently working on a series about color, focusing on one color at a time, that will help pre-k, kindergarten, and art teachers introduce their students to colors in a fun way! I have been tinkering with these since 2020, when I was trying to teach color and noticed that a series of books like this didn’t exist.

    With the dawn of AI and the threat of illustrators and writers losing their relevance, I created this for social media to remind others that human intelligence far surpasses artificial intelligence. It showcases all the different colors, each of which will have their own book.
    Traditional publishing is a very long route. However, independent publishing can often move at a quicker pace. Of course, the timeline will vary from person to person. How long did it take you to get from story concept to publication?

    For my first book, it took quite a long time, around a year and a half from start to finish. Mainly because I was not only writing and illustrating it, but simultaneously working a full-time job, learning how to add digital edits, format, edit, and upload to the different platforms.

    Now, depending on the type of illustrations I do and how quickly I can perfect the story, it can take anywhere from 1 year to 6 months. 
    What publishing platform(s) did you use to list your book (KDP, Lulu, IngramSpark, etc.)? And what formats do you offer—audiobook, hardcover, softcover, etc.?

    I have my books available in hardcover, paperback, and eBook format. The paperback and eBook versions are available through KDP or Kindle Direct Publishing. I am enrolled in Kindle Select, so if you have a subscription, check them out! For the hardcover option, I have been using IngramSpark, which is helpful since they are a wholesale company and are able to get those books into different retail options like Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Target, Books-A-Million, and others! 

    I will say that the quality of print-on-demand books isn’t always the greatest. My next step is to run a Kickstarter campaign, which would allow me to purchase better-quality hardcover books in bulk.

    Do you have any formatting tips for folks who are looking to publish independently?

    I sure do! 

    First, if you know nothing about formatting and can afford it, find someone to do the typesetting and formatting for you. It’s much easier than learning by yourself.

    I would also recommend finding someone to design your cover for you. Unfortunately, most people still judge a book by its cover, so having an eye-catching, well laid out cover is super important!

    However, if you’re determined to do it on your own, make sure you find a great tutorial for your program of choice. The first book I did I used Canva, because it was free. Pro tip: Canva pro is free for educators! However, I wouldn’t recommend it. It turned out slightly blurry. Canva is great, however, for making any type of marketing material, including social media posts, videos, flyers, school visit order forms, etc. 

    For all the rest of my books, I’ve used Adobe Indesign, which is much more precise and has its own set of learning curves. Adobe is a paid program, so I would suggest asking someone who already owns the program to try it out before you sign up.

    Please make sure, if you are illustrating your own, or if you are having someone else illustrate, you know the size of your book before you begin. Some platforms don’t support certain sizes, so be certain to check before you decide! 

    Also, you need to understand bleed and dimensions, which can be explained on each platform's website. Oh, and don’t forget to leave, or have your illustrator leave, space for the text on each page!

    You also need to know your page count. 32 pages is standard for children’s picture books, but you can go up to 40 if need be. It always has to be in multiples of 4. Keep in mind that your first few pages should be set aside for copyright and title pages, but the best way to figure this out is going to your local library and checking out some picture books. Take note of where the important information goes, the size and type of font, and how many pages there are.

    I could go on and on about this for hours. Honestly, if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me!

    -This is all great info, Katie! I hope it inspires/helps some of our readers today to get out there and start pursuing their dreams!-

    What kind of promotional activities did you do to spread the word about your book launch? And do you have any recommendations for newbies?

    As an indie author, launching strong can make or break your book. I’ve learned this the hard way! If you are publishing on Amazon, the goal is to get some attention and hopefully reviews in the first few days of publication. If you can get that, KDP will automatically show your book to people. If not, it sort of gets lost in the other millions of books out there in the world. If you are running a Kickstarter, the idea is to get pledges so you can meet your goal. If you plan on selling on your own website, building your email list is very important!

    I’m still working out the kinks with book launches. Launching a book is a process, and I haven’t been very good at getting the word out early enough. So far, I’ve tried several different tactics to see how they would work, and all I can suggest is to start early! 

    -Yes to all of the above. Starting early, getting pledges, lining up reviewers for your launch- all of that is SO important, ESPECIALLY for indie authors.-

    I’ve done a Facebook live event, which seemed to garner some attention. I also hosted a giveaway for free physical copies for people who signed up for my email list. Of course, I utilized social media to get the word out by posting at least a month or more before the actual launch. I’ve also offered free lesson plans and coloring/activity pages for people who promised to promote the launch. For my newest release, I ran a free eBook promo to garner some reviews and asked for friends and family to join my launch team in exchange for a chance to win a copy of the book. 

    In short, giveaways, games, parties, live events, inviting people to be a part of the story in some way, and lots and lots of promotion, months ahead of time lead to a successful launch!

    -Yes! Make it as fun as possible for your audience. Giveaways and games are always a hit!-

    Let’s talk a little about your illustrative work locally. How did you end up doing illustrations for local authors? Were they friends of yours prior? Did you advertise commissioned artwork somewhere? Explain.

    Story time:

    All I can say is this was meant to be. As I was learning about the writing and publishing process, I didn’t feel confident enough to create my own illustrations. I was so upset that I would never get my story out into the world when a former colleague, now an elementary principal, contacted me one day out of the blue and asked if I’d be willing to illustrate a book for her. After much soul searching, I decided I’d give it a try, but I warned her that I’d never had any experience illustrating and I wasn’t sure how it would turn out. 

    She took a gamble on me, and in turn, we created our first book, The Giraffe Who Loved School. Her belief in me then inspired me to create my own work! Because she was so wonderful to work with - she basically let me have creative control over the whole project- I’ve also illustrated a second book for her, Be Nice To Your Teacher. From that, I’ve had several people ask me to illustrate some books which I am working on currently. 

    So, to answer your question, most of my work has been from word of mouth, friends, and family. 

    -Wow! I really love this.-

    What has that journey been like and how does it differ from doing author/illustrator?

    In some aspects, it cuts down on the time it takes me to work since the story is already planned out. My only focus is on creating characters, deciding on a color palette, and making it come to life. Not that it’s easier -illustrating takes time!- but I don’t have to work through the writing. 

    If you’re working with the right person, it’s a pleasant experience. You can communicate with them and they aren’t hovering over you, constantly unsatisfied with your illustrations and trying to get you to make changes. So far, I haven’t had any unpleasant experiences but I’ve heard some horror stories from other illustrators. This makes me wary to do any books with individuals who are very picky.

    The one downside is not having full creative control over the entire book. Even if you, as the illustrator, want to make changes to the text layout or reword something, it’s technically NOT your book to change! I guess what I’m saying is that you can’t overstep your boundaries.

    Do you have any recommendations for artists who may be looking to start doing commissioned illustrations?

    Beware who you work with, and make sure you have a contract! Although my experience was wonderful, I’ve heard so many horror stories of both authors and illustrators getting cheated in some way, shape, or form. 
    Know your worth. If you are just starting out, you might not be charging as much since you are still learning and growing. However, don’t undersell your work. If you look at how long it takes you to create a 32-page book, make sure you are getting a fair wage for all the work you are putting into it. Check with other illustrators to see their rates.

    Make sure you have a portfolio of work that someone can access. On a website or social media, it’s important that people know what they are getting when they start working with you. 

    Know what you enjoy illustrating! Don’t promise to do a style or medium you can’t do; everyone will just end up frustrated. Also, don’t work on a story that doesn't resonate with you. Make sure you feel comfortable with the author's story and vision. 

    -Really great advice.-

    Any final words of wisdom you’d like to leave our readers with today?

    One last thing. I know how hard I can be on myself as an artist or writer, constantly trying to live up to this invisible perfection. Imposter syndrome is REAL, people! 

    What I’ve had to realize is that the majority of people aren’t judging your work as hard as you are. Not saying you won’t have any critics, but most people are simply impressed that you are able to do the thing! 

    If you have any questions about self-publishing or just want another author/illustrator to chat with, feel free to reach out at any of the places listed below!

    Thank you so much for joining us today, Katie.

    Thank you for having me, Chelsea! Again, I really appreciate this opportunity!

    And now…
    It’s time for a GIVEAWAY!

    This month, Katie is offering the following giveaway prize(s) to THREE people. *ONE PRIZE PER PERSON*

    1. Signed paperback copy of Wander World, sticker, and magnet
    2. Signed paperback copy of You Are, sticker, and magnet
    3. Signed paperback copy of All My Love (as long as the giveaway is at the end of the month!)

    HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

    • Leave a comment on this post!
    • And if you haven’t already, like this post and subscribe to the blog and/or newsletter!

    That’s it!

    Want to get EXTRA entries? Share this blog post on social media (Pinterest, X, Instagram) and tag me X @chellysbooks or Instagram @chelseasworldofbooks so I can keep track!

    DEADLINE TO ENTER: July 31st, 2024, 11:59 PM CST

    FAQ:

    What if I was already subscribed to the blog? Does that mean I won’t qualify for the Prize Giveaway? Not at all! If you subscribed before this month, all you’ll need to do is LIKE this Feature Interview and leave your COMMENT below this post within the deadline (the current month/year entry was posted).

    Did you enjoy this interview?

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    PICTURE BOOKS ARE MY JAM: A child at heart, I wish my stories and pictures inspire young minds to: dream, hope, wish, love, and wonder. Because picture books are for everyone.

    I truly hope that in their lifetime, everyone experiences: the beauty of this world, the kindness of strangers, the thrill of following their dreams, and God’s all powerful and unfailing love.

    You can find me gazing at a beautiful sunrise, enjoying the quiet of snow falling, soaking in sweet summer sun rays, at an amusement park, eating ice cream and junk food in general, taking pictures of weird stuff, laughing until my face hurts, or lost in my imagination.

    I live in a small Virginia town spending most of my time with my husband and two teenage children, who are too embarrassed to be mentioned here.

    Looking for a specific topic? Browse the list below to find a link to information on one of these topics: