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.
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 Maloryhere.*
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.
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.
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.
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 subscribeto 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).
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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.
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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 subscribeto 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*
Signed paperback copy of Wander World, sticker, and magnet
Signed paperback copy of You Are, sticker, and magnet
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 subscribeto 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
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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:
February is here! And with it… another FEATURE INTERVIEW! Today, I’m especially excited to introduce you to our guest, Alycia Neighbours.
I have the pleasure of working with Alycia in the library. She is a fantastically talented artist with a very funny (and sometimes unfiltered) sense of humor- which cracks us all up. Of course, most of us gals in the library think we’re hilarious and spend a lot of our time laughing at what some might think is nonsense. But I’m losing focus. *My ADHD apologies.* Speaking of which… something that Alycia and I share is that both of us are on the neurodiverse spectrum. Which is pretty cool.
I have a feeling putting us together for this interview is going to lead to a lot of wandering around on different topics. We’ll see if we get through it. If nothing else… I can guarantee it will be interesting.
So, let’s do this.
*Rolling up sleeves.*
Are you ready, Alycia? And 100 points to Gryffindor if you say, “I was born ready.”
*Cracks knuckles, smirks, and her eyes have a puckish glint* “I was born ready, but I’m unsure if you are.”
Ready or not, here we go!
My bio about Alycia:
Alycia is a very cool librarian with many creative talents and passions. She works with wildlife rescue (we actually have a very funny story about a tortoise she almost stole thinking it was mine. Maybe we’ll tell you about it later…) She’s an artist and now working on illustrations for an upcoming picture book (YAY!) She is neurodiverse (I’ll let her expand on that if she’d like), big-hearted, big-humored, big-mouthed- (Am I allowed to say that, Alycia? I know you would. Just kidding. Kind of.) one-of-a-kind individual with her own unique brand of personality. She is also a mom and stepmom to a pretty gigantic brood of kids. I can’t remember how many there are… What was it, like 50? I know it was a Cheaper By The Dozen Situation at best. Tell me again, how many munchkins you have in total? And all jokes aside, she’s a pretty terrific and down-to-earth human being, who I’m deeply grateful to know.
Alycia’s bio about Alycia:
I am a 46-year-old wife and mother of 8 with 2 granddaughters. A lot of the time, it does feel like there are 50+ kids I am somehow responsible for. Most of the time, it IS extra kids that have come over to play with our menagerie of animals. If it can be a house pet, I guarantee I probably have two of them. If it’s not one of my pets, it’s probably wildlife that I am working on rehabbing; nobody blinks an eye around here about squirrels in a closet, a hawk on the screened porch, a possum in the bed, or watching me set a broken leg on a mouse on the kitchen counter. I am autistic and have a Conure as a service animal. Cricket, the conure, is a small parrot with a growing vocabulary. He has the ability (as all birds do) to sense small, subtle magnetic changes around him. This includes the beating of my heart speeding up. His job is to identify those moments before I do, and then he leans into my neck. His warm body pressing on me alerts me that I need to pay attention to what my body is telling me and use my tools to combat my instincts. When I am not filling dinner plates of food bowls, I am either working at the library, homeschooling 4 teenagers, or creating. Artwise I am a painter, crocheter, knitter, pyrographer, calligrapher, tattoo designer, logo designer, sculptor, and jewelry maker. My other interests are mounted archery, kayaking, working with mustangs or abused horses, hiking, and anything else that can get me into nature.
So, today’s interview (as you can probably already tell) is going to be formatted a little bit differently for a few reasons.
1.It’s Alycia and me- and together, we’re trouble.
2.This will be my first sit-down interview with an artist only! We did have one interview back in December that featured a father and son-author/illustrator team, but this time, we are going to be focusing on art and illustration. And Alycia’s illustration journey is going to be a little bit different because, as I understand it, Alycia is going through a traditional route and was hired by a publishing house. Is that right?
I believe the chain of events that occurred whilst I was peacefully sleeping is that an author actually stumbled into my art via a social media site while she was perusing artwork pertaining to her character. She introduced it to the Powers That Be of Publishing and then began courting me with promises of face-to-face meetings at her hobby farm. How could I possibly refuse a chance to sit down amongst roaming goats, turkeys, floofy dogs, and kitties in need of “scritches.”
I know that in publishing, there is some red tape on things, and it’s important to stay hush-hush until a certain date. So, with that in mind, instead of me asking you direct questions, maybe instead, you could tell us what you’re able to about the publishing experience and project so far.
I can tell you that the publishing house that is working with us is a fantastical beast of making sure everything is absolutely perfect, from making sure the prose is formatted the best for our demographic, the margins are clearer than a guppie’s mind, the artwork being chosen is to not only reflect the passion of the words but to engage all levels of readers. It’s a slower process than Chelsea’s pretend tortoise imitating an arthritic sloth. The author I am working with has a background in teaching and preparing kids not just academically for the world but emotionally. She is in the middle of two books, one I am illustrating in my style because of the subject matter and the other about a whimsical butterfly done by a brilliant watercolorist. It was important to her to choose artists that not only could tackle bringing her words to life but who were passionate about their subjects.
Her deciding factor in choosing me was her book focuses around a crow that has grown up believing his identity was defined by those around him, which was a loving, but aloof family of chickens. He has to embrace who he truly is if he is going to be able to make a difference. When the author found me on social media, not only was she interested in my artwork, but I was also working with an orphaned crow affectionately named Chikyn. I was documenting his life of learning how to be a crow by introducing him as he was maturing to wild crows that nest in the woods behind my home. She knew then that I was the perfect candidate for illustrating this book.
So, now that we’ve talked about your traditional experience let’s talk about your inspiration for art. Have you always identified as an artist? How old were you?
I have always been creative, and at 46 years old, I sometimes feel as though I am just beginning. I work in all sorts of mediums and am usually taking online courses and working with other artists to further my different crafts. As mentioned, I am on the spectrum and am Autistic. One of my superpowers is the ability to hyperfocus on small details that make up the whole. I can get lost for hours creating each blade on a feather, the wrinkle on a flower petal, or the texture of the skin on an elephant. Most of my art focuses on these details, and by working in black and white, I encourage the viewer to ignore the colors that fascinate us at first glance and look closer at the beauty of the structure.
What does being an artist mean to you? And what is your connection to your art?
Being an artist means slowing down to appreciate the complex within the simplicity at first glance. It is taking a millisecond of time and preserving it in a way that invites the viewer to stop for a while and take notice of the chaotic perfection of form and structure.
My connection to art is that is my way of being. I think, hear and process the world around me in pictures. To be able to pull those images from my mind and put them onto canvas is a way of communication for me. It is my window to my soul.
What made you want to pursue illustration?
Pursuing this particular avenue of art allows me to use my connections to my work to help the author give “flesh” to their message. Children especially learn images long before they learn language. When reading an illustrated book on their own or if an adult is reading to them, they take what they have already learned through images and assign language. I feel this gives kids a sense of security to learn language and emotion/intention with a base of knowledge that feels familiar and comfortable.
Outside of this newest publishing venture, have you previously done any sort of commissioned artwork? If so, can you tell us a little bit about that process and maybe about the projects you worked on?
I’ve been doing commissions for the better part of the past decade. I tend to gravitate toward projects that have deep emotional meaning to the recipient. Whether a portrait of their beloved family member, a wood-burned recipe on a cutting board that has been passed down from the grandparents, a sculpture of their favorite pet, a watercolor of their home, a crocheted blanket for their newborn child, or a rendering of their favorite animal; if they are passionate then so am I.
I know what a talented artist you are. I’ve seen your work up close! And I’ve had the privilege of watching you teach a painting class for beginner artists as well, inside the library. Do you have any samples of your work that you’d be willing to share with us today?
Note: so, Alycia gave me free reign to choose images from her Instagram, and of course, my favorite animals are foxes and bats, so I have included them both!
Alycia, your attention to detail blows my mind. I know you usually work with black and white, but I chose one image to share as well with a pop of color. It really is stunning! But, I could talk all day about how much I love your work, and as much fun as that would be… I might lose some readers. So, back to what we were previously talking about: the library…
Recently, you hosted your first program in the library! Back in December of 2022, you hosted a winter painting party. How did it feel to host your first program? Were you super siked to lead an art-based event? Or were you nervous? Or were you a little of both? (Although, I can’t really picture you being nervous. And you handled the class so smoothly, it seemed like second nature.)
I was very excited to bring painting to the library. The main reason I began working in the library is my intense desire to serve people. Not just to serve them but for each person, I come in contact with to feel seen, feel important, and feel connected. Painting and learning painting is not something easily or cheaply done, so many people don’t ever take a chance on themselves becoming artists. The library offering this service for free allowed people of all backgrounds to be risky. I know how hard it is to take a risk and create something that feels so personal, so by teaching the class, I was able to walk right alongside them each step of the way, instructing, encouraging, and celebrating each unique canvas.
I was a little nervous, but that was due to my being in a new situation and a transition from my normal routine at the library; spectrum by-product. However, teaching painting classes is not new for me. I’ve taught personal lessons one-on-one, small groups during parties, and large groups of 100s of children at one time. I’ve learned the reward of seeing all the risk-takers with their paintbrushes is far more powerful than my moments of discomfort.
So, if someone wanted an Alycia original, is that something they could get? Can people approach you with projects they’d like you to create for them? And if so, how?
Absolutely! I am always available for new projects and ventures. Sometimes there are busy seasons, so there may be a wait for your finished project, but I always connect through each stage of the work progress to show the recipient where I am with things an.d if we need to tweak along the way. They can always approach me in person or through email alycia.neighbours@gmail.com, social media sites, or by phone (six one five- four two zero- zero two four four.)
Okay, now for some fun GET-TO-KNOW-YOU-BETTER questions:
Alycia, if you could be any mythical creature, what would you be?
I would want to be a fairy the size of Tinkerbell (which, by the way, is one of my favorite characters) By being so small, I could sit in a flower all day to appreciate each splendid petal or perhaps ride on the wings of bird and see the world through their eyes, or maybe I’ll curl up under a toadstool, pull up my blanket of moss, listen to the cricket orchestra play a Sonata while I nap under a sunbeam.
If you could have any superpower (other than the many you already possess), what would you choose?
Flying. Definitely flying. I am a bird fanatic (autism focus - I can talk about birds for hours and hours) and also have a degree in bird biology.
If you could travel to any point in history, what and where would it be?
I’m going to have to go with the Jurassic Era here. Yes, I am probably going to get smashed at some point, but this girl is going to ride a Triceratops if that is the last thing I do.
If you turned into an animal tomorrow, based on your personality, what do you think it would be and why?
As much as I want to say a bird, I would one hundred percent probably be a cicada. I stay under wraps and avoid all contact until I am forced to come out. Then I begin to scream.
Now for some riddles… no cheating!
Where do sick boats go?
Well, if they had taken their Vitamin Sea, they wouldn’t have to go to the dock.
Tou·ché. However, the answer we were looking for is “the dock-tor.”
Name an expensive fish.
The one that clogs up your toilet and creates hefty plumbing bills.
*Chelsea laughing* Goldfish.
How do you spell COW in thirteen letters?
*Sips coffee, tries to look wise* SEE O DOUBLE YOU.
Alright. Here’s our last one.
If 2 is company and 3 is a crowd, what are 4 and 5?
*Continues sipping coffee*9.
Thank you, Alycia, for letting me pick your brain! It’s been a treat. *Chelsea as a zombie “brains! Delicious.”* And now… does anybody know what time it is?
I’ll give you a hint. It starts with the letter G…
As great as all those things are… it is none of the above. It’s…
Alycia is generously offering a custom artwork giveaway. Think of your favorite animal *fiction or nonfiction* and leave it in the comments below. One lucky winner will be chosen at random to receive a custom piece of art featuring the animal you chose. The commenting window for the prize will last one week from the post date of this FEATURE INTERVIEW. The deadline will be Wednesday, February 8th, 2023, so make sure to get your answers in as soon as possible! Please also make sure to include your NAME and EMAIL ADDRESS in your comment so that we can easily contact our prize winner.
To connect with Alycia or to see some of her amazing artwork, visit her social media, shown below.
Instagram alicyia.neighbours
Before you go…
If you enjoyed this interview, be sure to like this post and subscribe to Chelsea’s World of Books BLOG for more fabulous #kidlit happenings. You can also follow me on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook. Thanks for reading!
Sneak peek…
Join us next month for our FEATURE INTERVIEW with Kidlit Author Janet Sumner Johnson.
Hello everyone!
If this is your first time visiting my blog, welcome. My name is Chelsea DiCicco and today, I'm sharing an exciting event that's happening now on SCBWI. The Fall 2022 SCBWI BookStop event is here- and we're excited about it! This event went live on October 18th, 2022 and will last through December 5th 2022.
So, what is this event all about?
SCBWI BookStop is a fantastic collaboration of where authors both independently and traditionally published come together to showcase and share their new work with readers like you! This Fall BookStop event features books that were released between 2020-2022.
This is a great and fun way to find out about amazing new reads and discover new authors! And guess who joined this year? That's right- yours truly! You can visit my BookStop page by clicking HERE. *Note: this link will only be active for the dates listed above.
If you haven't already visited, what are you waiting for? Check it out!
Here's a little sneak preview of what my BookStop page looks like for anyone who's curious...
It’s been a little while since I’ve made a post. Here’s what I’ve been up to…
For the past few months I’ve been gathering information, doing research, attending webinars, and working vigorously toward starting a non-profit Homeschool Group for families in need in my community. And I’m happy to announce, it has been a great success!
I’m so excited to share this news with you, so let’s dive right in!
What is Homeschool Group?
Homeschool Group is a place where families can come together and socialize, and kids can engage in self-paced, hands-on learning in a relaxed and creative environment. Right now, my group is open to ages 7-10, but I may look at expanding those age brackets as time goes on and I get a better feel for the specific needs of my community.
Where and when is Homeschool Group hosted? How can I attend?
Great question! Homeschool Group is being hosted in the Hendersonville Public Library in Tennessee. This group is held on the first Monday of each month at 2 PM. Sign-up sheets can be found in the Children’s area. For other cool events we have going on, check out our Facebook page or Instagram feed for updates and calendar info!
My personal goal with Homeschool Group is to inspire creativity and encourage social emotional learning while exposing children to the five elements of STEAM education; science, technology, engineering, arts, and math.
Around the room I have activity tables set up for kids to visit, imagine, and explore the wonders of reading, science, building, writing, creating, socializing, inventing, and playing!
Each of our tables is inspired by STEAM concepts, and is designed to encourage creative thinking and problem solving, enhance motor skills and social-emotional learning, and inspire children to find connections and explore the realm of imagination in a safe and fun environment.
DISCOVERING THE SCIENCE BEHIND A RAINCLOUD
Throughout the building process of this project, I was able to get some fabulous inspiration and ideas from several webinars, a few that I will mention here.
The two that stood out among the rest were STEAM in the Public Library: Programs & Services for Children and Creative Spaces and Family Engagement in Libraries, both available on Webjunction. Now, for those of you who may not know this, in addition to being a children’s book writer, I am also a Children’s Librarian. And, being homeschooled for the majority of my childhood, I have extensive knowledge of what it’s like to be in that position. How hard it can be to make connections within the community. Finding the right resources. Finding places to go. And forget about costs! You can’t find a “cheap” homeschooling program or event to participate in, and free? Free is unheard of. Everything costs something, and most often, it’s a higher price than the average family is looking to spend. Especially when you have more than one child. And that’s not a slight at pricing. It’s very possible that the price is justified and appropriate for whatever services are being offered, but nonetheless, many families simply can’t afford it.
Prepping our activities!
So naturally, coming from a place of understanding, I wanted to offer a service to these families that wouldn’t dip into their pockets. And after some well thought out planning and a trial run, we were finally up and running!
Back to the wonderful Webinars I was able to enjoy. Here are a few of the notes I took from Creative Spaces and Family Engagement in Libraries, that really made me think about why art is such an important role in a child’s life.
The arts are not just expressive and effective. They are deeply cognitive. The arts develop essential thinking tools:
Pattern recognition and development.
Mental representations of the observed/imagined.
Symbolic and metaphorical representations.
Abstraction from complexity.
Cross wiring of brain areas.
Engagement with an art trains the brain to FOCUS, improving learning
* Interest in an art form leads to sustained attention when practicing that art form.
* Engaging in art involves resolving conflicts among competing possible responses.
* The ability to resolve conflict among competing responses is also a crucial aspect of attention training.
Arts integration improves learning
Studies consistently show:
* Greater emotional investment in classes.
* Work more diligently and learn from each other.
* Parents become more involved.
* Teachers collaborate more.
* Increased cross-curricular learning.
* Curriculum becomes more authentic, hands-on and project-based.
Whew! That was a lot to type up. But, well worth it. In fact, I loved it so much, I printed it all out and laminated copies for personal inspiration and reminders as I plan each group.
A few other points I took from this seminar that I really appreciated; I want to share with you below.
Art is a form of self-expression.
Art experiences should not invite sameness. Art should not require an instruction sheet. Art should not have a deadline. Art should encourage creativity, not conformity.
Think of setting up an art experience in the same way you would think of setting up a science experiment.
Encourage tinkering. Invite inventiveness.
Art is not a team sport.
Most often, artistic creation is solitary. Group art WILL leave some kids feeling rushed and compared.
Yes, yes, YES, to all of the above! If you don’t believe this to be true, I suggest taking a look at my book, ADHD and Me. Yep, shameless self-promo. But I wouldn’t try to sell you if I didn’t think it’s true. And I happen to know it is because it was inspired by a real young lady, who went through the same everyday challenges as Malory. Who was that young lady? Me.
About the book: ADHD and Me is an SEL (social-emotional learning) book about a young girl named Malory who has ADHD. Throughout her neurodiverse journey, she is encouraged to express herself using art, by her art teacher Ms. Julie, who was diagnosed as a young girl with Autism. With the help of her fabulous support system, including friends and family, Malory is able to find the joys in life and embrace her differences.
Now for my notes on STEAM in the Public Library: Programs & Services for Children with guest speaker Amy Koester and blogger, “THE SHOW ME LIBRARIAN.”
A little bit about Amy. Amy is a Learning Experiences Manager of a Public Library. She serves as a vice president of ASLC, and she’s a big supporter of her library and community. To see more about her click here.
Amy is a kindred spirit and fellow supporter of all things STEAM. And, her blog is simply AMAZING. Here is a link to visit her blog, THE SHOW ME LIBRARIAN.
So, a few things that I took away from this webinar are listed below.
American children are lagging behind other countries when it comes to creative thinking.
School and life success isn’t just about reading.
Creativity is a top work skill. Today, big companies are looking for outside-of-the box thinkers and problem solvers. It is a highly valued and sought after trait in today’s workforce. And understandably so. Children who are adept learners and creative problem solvers statistically fair better in all avenues of life.
Now, a few of the suggestions that Amy gives are:
Set up activity stations (check!)
Observation station (check-check!)
Sensory lights (FUN!)
Sand (PERFECT!)
Rocks (LOVE!)
Glow in the dark (Who doesn’t love glow in the dark stuff?)
Grow plants (Check!)
Root gardens (Fantastic idea)
Incorporate living things (100%)
Butterflies/ant farms- and tie in books that fit your experiment! (yes!) While we are on that topic, see if you can sprinkle in non-fiction books too!
Snails/worms (yes)
Use recyclables (ALWAYS!)
A few other helpful tips to make your programming fun and engaging for your young participants:
Ask Questions!
Encourage them to make something.
Get your hands dirty!
Include things that will involve motor skills.
Make STEAM displays fun: one suggestion Amy gave was a globe! A globe is great because kids can both look at it AND play with it. It spins!
And last but not least, give children the tools to succeed!
Today is a very exciting day. That is because today is the scheduled release of a special edition of ADHD and Me titled ADHD and Me: Classroom Edition. ADHD and Me: Classroom Edition is designed to be used by educators grades K-3rd.
About the story:
ADHD and Me and was inspired by a true story and told from the perspective of an eight-year-old girl named Malory. Throughout the story, Malory shares observations of others around her in school and at home while also navigating her own feelings. At the end of the book, there is a message from “Malory” addressing parents, caregivers, and educators.
Why is this book so important for children and schools?
Statistics show that more than 60% of children who have been diagnosed with ADHD are also treated for other mental disorders. Many people also contend with addictive disorders, engage in self-harm or struggle with learning disabilities. There are many areas that ADHD can affect a person’s mental health.
Four common areas are:
Depression
Social anxiety
Insomnia
Low self-esteem
Depression can drain your energy. Social anxiety can make it difficult to make friends or interact in group settings. Insomnia can result in poor mental or physical performance. And low self-esteem can lead to loneliness.
A child should never have to face these things alone! Who is in the prime position to help children and students who may be struggling with these emotional needs? You guessed it- PARENTS AND EDUCATORS ARE IN THE PRIME POSTION TO HELP STUDENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH THESE EMOTIONAL NEEDS! So, how can we, as parents and teachers, do this? By providing our children and students with four key things:
A healthy support system
Encouragement to boost their self-esteem
Open communication
And creative outlets
This NEW RELEASE special edition of ADHD and Me: Classroom Edition is fully equipped with questions and discussion points to help children establish healthy boundaries, boost self-esteem, identify support systems, and discover creative outlets.
Teacher Perks
In addition to the launch of ADHD and Me Classroom Edition, also available on my website are FREE DOWNLOADABLE LESSON PLANS for grades K-3rd. These interactive lesson plans coincide with the story and include homework, games, questions, social projects, and much more! This curriculum was created to help educate and inspire positive emotional stimulations, social engagement, creative thinking, and group as well as individual problem-solving and is designed to be used in a classroom setting. So, what are you waiting for? Download your free lesson plans today!
Faces shined Saturday morning as we gathered into the Hendersonville Public Library of Sumner county for a special event: The Awareness and Support Expo “for families and friends caring for individuals with special concerns.”
Children and parents cozied up in the warmth of this charming library as the piano played in the background. Around the library, were community members there on a mission to spread awareness, education, and resources with families with special needs- covering all areas of disability.
Also hosted in the Hendersonville Public Library on May 8th was the Friends of the Library book sale. Usually the Friends book sale is held semi-annually, however, due to covid precautions and safety guidelines for the state and protection of patrons, the library had held off on hosting over the past year. Both these events were arranged by the Director of the Library, Diane Johnson, and Library staff members.
sPECIAL GUESTS VISITING THE HENDERSONVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY TODAY:
Borderless Arts Tennessee is a non-profit organization run by the state of Tennessee, committed to presenting programs for individuals with disabilities. Through the aids it provides, it adds to the enjoyment and empowerment of the community. For more information, visit their website here or find them on social media here.
Autism Tn aDVOCATE AND cHILDREN’S bOOK aUTHOR, Mary Elizabeth Jackson
Mary Elizabeth Jackson is an Advocate for Autism Tennessee and a independently published Children’s Book author local to the Hendersonville area. She’s also the co-host of an Amazon LIVE show called Bridgetti.Live, hosted by Bridgetti Lim Bana, located in South Africa. During the course of the day, the participants were featured on the show via live stream- Books: Meet the Author.
Rainbow Mosho is a twelve-year-old artist and author with Autism, working her way towards empowering other children and families with special needs through her inspirational work. Her goal is to “give hope to all the kids in the world” with her book and words. Discover her indie books and custom pieces of artwork on her Facebook page.
Neurodivergent Children’s Author & Blogger, Chelsea DiCicco
Chelsea DiCicco is a neurodiverse local kidlit author living outside of Nashville, TN. Her book, ADHD and Me, was inspired by events in her own childhood and deals with the day-to-day challenges and triumphs as seen through the eyes of an eight-year-old little girl named Malory, who had ADHD.
To find out more about this author or her books, you can visit the ABOUT THE AUTHOR tab of this website or MY BOOKS.
Check out these Neurodivergent author’s and their books for kids!
