Tag: alicia meyers

Today, I’m talking with my dear friend and critique partner, Alicia Meyers! Alicia is a neurodivergent Children’s Book Author and elementary school teacher with over 16+ years of experience in education. She’s the author of The A-to-Z Teaching Toolkit for Early Childhood and Elementary Educators. During our conversation, we’ll be discussing neurodivergent voices in kidlit and her newest debut, TIC-ERRIFIC ME, a picture book celebrating the ins and outs of Tourette’s syndrome, which just released this month!

Alicia! I’m elated to welcome you to the blog for your very own Feature Interview. I can hardly believe June is already here and we’re finally able to celebrate the debut launch of your picture book, TIC-ERRIFIC ME! To get us started, I thought it would be fun to give our readers a brief background on how we met.

OUR STORY: Once upon a time, in the fall of 2023, Alicia and I were both participating in the Fall Writing Frenzy contest put on by kidlit writer and literary agent, Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez. Alicia and I both entered our own-voice POV neurodivergent stories, and immediately connected with each other’s writing! So, when an opening appeared in our critique group starting in January 2024, Alicia was on my radar to invite as a new recruit! I’m so glad she said yes! We have loved having her in our group, and I’m so grateful that we found each other in the kidlit community. The takeaway here is: put yourself out there, join some contests, and maybe you’ll connect with some fabulous people! 

Alicia, I’ve loved your voice and writing style from the very beginning, as was evident by how we became connected! For our readers who may be newly learning about you and the wonderful and deeply meaningful stories that you write, could you tell us about your voice and writing style?

What drew you to pursue writing, and what does story mean to you? Explain.

As a classroom teacher, my shelves are flooded with picture books. Reading aloud is a daily routine, which highlights where there are gaps in the market. When I first started writing, I simply wanted to fill in curriculum gaps in my classroom and create books for topics I couldn’t find much on. But what started as simple storytelling has transformed my purpose for writing and creating stories. 

A story to me means a reflection and understanding of ourselves, each other, and our world. Stories bridge gaps, help us feel seen and connected to the world around us, and also can give us an escape from reality into worlds we never could have imagined.

Speaking of stories and what they can do for their readers, could you tell us more about your picture book debut, Tic-errific Me?! We are dying to hear about it.

In Tic-errific Me, a young girl explains what it’s like to live with Tourette syndrome. She shares her personal journey, joys, and struggles, while always remembering that her tics only add to what makes her a terrific kid. 

Tic-errific Me is part of the new Disability Books for Kids Series, which explores visible and invisible disability in the first person, as seen through the eyes of children and written from firsthand experience. This series builds allyship, challenges ableism, and celebrates difference, empowering and educating all readers. Check out other incredible books from the series here!

What was your inspiration for writing this book, and what impact do you hope it will have?

This book was inspired by a fiction piece I wrote about Tourette syndrome back in 2022, about a young girl’s rhythmic day-in-the-life with tics. When offered the opportunity to write a nonfiction expository on TS about my lived experience, I pulled a lot from that original manuscript. I hope that readers will feel affirmed and encouraged to celebrate themselves for who they are. I also hope TIC-ERRIFIC ME opens opportunities for continued conversation on Tourette syndrome and raises awareness about what it’s like to live with the condition and how to support those living with TS.

Do you have a favorite illustration spread from the book that you’d like to share? Why do you love this spread in particular?

My favorite spread in the book shows a colorful culmination of tics that many of us with TS experience. I love this spread because it shows the wide range of motor and vocal tics within Tourette syndrome and celebrates how tics are a part of who we are.

Do you have any favorite lines/moments from the story that you’d like to share?

“I am a showstopper. A go-getter. A bubbly, blanket-loving bookworm.

I am all these things and more, along with any tic that joins me.”

This line means so much to me, because it took me years to realize that my tics make me who I am. We all are unique people, with a range of hopes, dreams, talents, and skills!

Yay, Alicia! We are celebrating with you! This is an incredible book, and I’m so happy to be featuring it today.

Moving toward the industry side of things, can you tell us about how you landed your first publishing deal and agent? What was that experience like?

In March of 2023, I was a finalist in Mindy Alyse Weiss’ PB Party with my rhythmic, fiction picture book I mentioned earlier about a young girl’s day-in-the-life with Tourette syndrome. Free Spirit Publishing liked my entry, but told me about a vision they had for a series of nonfiction, expository picture books with disability representation written in the first person. I drafted this story, queried for that series, and they acquired it!

Once I received the offer, I queried agents, letting them know I had a quick turnaround to sign my offer. I found my first agent 24 hours before the deadline, and she helped finalize my contract.

As far as things to look for in an agent, what would you say are important things to know before signing?

I think it’s important to know their communication style, if they are an editorial agent, if they are flexible and willing to answer questions, how often they will send stories out, how many stories at a time, and, for me, it’s important to know that they are interested in you as a whole person, client, and career writer.

As we well know, the writing journey is a constant uphill, downhill journey, full of surprise thunderstorms, flashfloods, falling rocks, quicksand, you name it! Can you share a little bit about some of the challenges you’ve faced in your publishing journey?

For me, it was parting ways with my first agent and being back in the querying trenches before my book was even released to the world. I had to ask hard questions, make a tough decision, believe in my work, and stay confident knowing the right agent will come one day at the right time.

How have you been able to keep going in an industry with a terrain that’s constantly changing and seemingly unpredictable?

Someone gave me advice once– “For every rejection, send three things out into the world.” This mindshift helped me to be active and do something with the rejection.

As hard as rejections are, I try my best these days to receive them, feel them, learn something from them, and then do three things that put my work out there. Maybe that’s a query to an agent or editor, an email to partner/collaborate with someone, a social media post, a contest, a magazine, or a guest blog submission. It allows me to move forward and continue pressing on, while not lingering on one person not connecting with my work.

What is some advice you have for other writers or illustrators who may be facing similar challenges?

Make a note on your phone or in a journal of 10 things you can do for self-care when you receive a rejection. Could you go for a walk, cook a yummy meal, write something new, or phone a friend? 

Surround yourself with critique partners you love and trust (like Chelsea!!). Having people who know you, care for you, and cheer for you in this business is priceless!

Now for exciting things (depending on what you can share), can you tell us about any exciting wins, recent or not-as-recent? We’ll take whatever positivity you throw at us!

This month has been full of exciting things!!! TIC-ERRIFIC ME released on June 2nd, I had my dream book launch at my dream bookstore in Washington, DC, and I have two opportunities for 2027 and 2028 that I will hopefully be able to share soon!!!

What kind of cool opportunities have you had in the publishing journey? Any speaking engagements/panels/mentorships/etc?

I feel like my journey in this area is just getting started, but I’m excited to be a part of the “I Can Do It” panel for SLJ’s Picture Book Palooza this July, and partner with a few organizations that raise awareness for Tourette syndrome!

Being a neurodivergent writer, which is a commonly underrepresented space in publishing, why do you feel it’s important for kids to have neurodivergent books available to them?

I think we need as many neurodivergent-affirming books as possible so kids can 1) See themselves reflected, 2) Have an empathetic understanding of people and the world around them, and 3) Celebrate the uniqueness of bodies, brains, and experiences.

Can you talk about some of the aspects of neurodivergence in writing? What are some of the things that stand out to you?

To me, neurodivergence in writing flips the way we look at the world, bringing forward themes of celebration, affirmation, and acceptance. It is vulnerable, honest, inclusive, sensory-rich, and representative of many children.

What have been some of your greatest publishing moments?

My recent launch of TIC-ERRIFIC ME was so deeply personal, and seeing all of the kind words thus far about the book has meant so much to me. I’d always dreamed about my first picture book launch in my favorite DC bookstore. Having my friends, family, students, and their families in one place was one of the most incredible feelings!

What words of encouragement would you like to share with readers today?

You don’t have to shrink yourself to fit in, and our differences aren’t flaws that need to be fixed! Write about your experiences, share with others what you’ve overcome, and inspire others to do the same!

Any final thoughts?

It’s such an honor to be here, Chelsea! Thank you for letting me be a part of your fabulous feature interviews!!

Thank you so much for joining me today, Alicia! And now, it’s time for our monthly giveaway.

Alicia is offering a query letter critique or PB critique, category: fiction, word count: under 700 words.

HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

LIKE AND SHARE this article to X and/or Instagram and mention/tag my handle X @chellysbooks / Instagram @chelseasworldofbooks so I can add your entry! Don’t have X or Instagram? Enter the giveaway by LIKING and leaving a COMMENT at the bottom of the interview.

ENTRY WINDOW: Once the Feature Interview is posted, you will have one month (roughly 30 days) to enter. The entry window for this feature interview giveaway will close once next month’s feature interview is posted. At that time, the next month’s feature interview giveaway window will open. Meaning, there will always be a giveaway opportunity. 

NOTE: Feature Interviews come out on the third Wednesday of every month. 

Example: January Feature Interview is posted: January giveaway window opens/begins. February Feature Interview is posted: January giveaway window closes/ends, and February giveaway window opens/begins.

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Did you enjoy this interview?

Thank the author & host by purchasing or reviewing a copy of one of their books or by requesting it be purchased by your local school or library! Using the sponsored links below to purchase also helps support this blog.

Purchase ADHD and Me HERE.

Purchase The A-to-Z Teaching Toolkit for Early Childhood and Elementary Educators HERE.

Purchase TIC-ERRIFIC ME! HERE.