Tag: PUBLISHING

BALANCING CULTURE WITH A WIDE READING AUDIENCE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY: FEATURE INTERVIEW WITH SOPE MARTINS, CONDUCTED BY KIDLIT AUTHOR AND LITERARY BLOGGER, CHELSEA DICICCO

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

Today I’m joined by the ever-so-talented, children’s book author, broadcaster, founder of The Kidlit Foundation, and my dear friend and critique partner, Sope Martins! During our conversation, we’ll discuss the agenting journey, finding your writing community, and balancing culture with a wide reading audience.

Sope, I am so excited to finally be welcoming you to the blog as a Feature Interview guest. Can you tell our readers where you’re joining us from today?


Hi Chelsea, I’ve been counting down to the day, so I’m very glad it’s finally here! I’m coming to you from Lagos, Nigeria.

How did you hear about the Feature Interview series, and what made you want to apply?


From your newsletter and Instagram posts. It’s been fun reading the conversations and discovering amazing authors and their books through the series.

What do you write, and when did your writing journey begin?


I write picture books, middle grade, and young adult novels. My writing journey began about ten years ago with my first picture book, The Greatest Animal in the Jungle, which was published in Nigeria.

As you know, breaking into the publishing industry requires a great deal of patience and persistence. How were you able to stay the course?


This is such a good question because it is one thing to understand that publishing is slow, and another thing to live through it. What helped me through it all, and continues to help me, is doing other things.

When I send a manuscript to my agent, I set a reminder on my calendar to check in later, then I move on to something else. Sometimes that’s another manuscript. Sometimes it’s teaching a workshop or working on programmes through The Kid Lit Foundation. Now, instead of waiting anxiously, I get these lovely bursts of excitement whenever I see an email from my agent.

What are some of the obstacles you’ve faced on this journey, and how have you successfully been able to overcome them?

One of the biggest challenges has been navigating the distance between the African children’s literature ecosystem and the global publishing industry. Many African writers are telling powerful stories, but access to publishing networks, mentorship, and industry knowledge can still be uneven depending on where you live.

That’s one of the reasons I care so much about building community and creating opportunities through The Kid Lit Foundation.

Let’s talk a bit about community. A writing community is an invaluable resource for writers to have. Can you share some of the ways that your writing community has helped you?

Oh, my days, where would we be without our community!  

First mention has to go to our writing group, the Picture Book Society! We share manuscripts, news, opportunities, worries, and concerns, and encourage each other. We also meet regularly, which makes the writing life feel much less solitary. 

I’ve also found wonderful community at conferences and festivals, and through my MFA programme. Writing might happen alone, but writing careers definitely need community.

Are there any writing contests/organizations/groups in particular that helped get you to where you are today? Explain.

Yes, several.

We Need Diverse Books has played a huge role in expanding the possibilities for writers from underrepresented communities. As a 2021 mentee, I got the opportunity to be mentored by the gracious and generous Erin Entrada Kelly. The editor-writer mentorship program from The Word: A Storytelling Sanctuary connected me with Caitlyn Dloughy, editor extraordinaire and the editor of Hairstory.

Mindy Alyse Weiss’s PB Party contest was another important one. It is such a well-run event and creates wonderful opportunities for writers to connect with agents and editors. Being in the showcase got me into conversation with a number of agents. 12×12 gave me the gift of our writing group, and SCBWI has done too much in my writing life for me to even begin. They’ve got grants, conferences, community, and The Book, which has all the resources a budding writer could need.

-Such fantastic groups- thanks for sharing! (I have included quick links if anyone is curious about checking these out!)

What are some contests/groups/organizations you might recommend to other writers, and why?

All of the above, definitely. They are so well run and so supportive of writers. And for writers based in Africa, I would also recommend Suyi Davies Okungbowa’s Literary Laddership for Emerging African Authors. It is one of the most thoughtful mentorship initiatives I have seen for African writers. I tell all my African writing friends and acquaintances about this.

Speaking of writing organizations… tell us more about The Kid Lit Foundation. What is it, when did you found it, and who is it for?

The Kid Lit Foundation is a space for young readers and creatives across Africa. I founded it in 2024 after years of visiting schools and meeting children who loved stories but had limited access to books or storytelling opportunities.

Through the foundation, we connect children with authors, illustrators, editors, and other creatives through workshops, mentorship programmes, storytelling events, and literacy initiatives.

One of our biggest events is KidLit Fest, our annual literature and storytelling festival. We also run book drives and our Box Library initiative, which provides mini libraries in spaces where children might not otherwise have access to books.

What kind of response has your organization received from its community?

It’s been really good. We’ve had great feedback from children, teens, and their caregivers. A couple of our mentees have gone on to complete their manuscripts – one even got published! 

We’ve also had a great response from schools. This year, we’re working to expand the scope of our mentorship programme so we can go from tens of participants to hundreds. 

Can you tell us about your mentorship programs that you’ve participated in and some of the other writing-related festivities that you’ve been able to partake in?

I can confidently say that mentorship programs have gotten me to where I am today. 

The WNDB mentorship programme paired me with Erin Entrada Kelly, who introduced me to my agent, Sara Crowe. The Word Editor-Writer mentorship paired me with Caitlyn Dloughy, who acquired Hairstory.

PB Party helped get my work in front of agents, and SCBWI conferences are always fun, informative, and a great way to meet people in the industry.

I also attend Nigeria-based workshops and festivals. They’re wonderful spaces for gathering with the writing community.

Let’s explore query letters. What did the querying process look like for you, and how long were you in this stage before finding your match?

My goodness, querying is an education in persistence.

For me, the process involved researching agents carefully, sending queries in batches, and constantly revising both the query letter and the manuscript based on feedback. I was one of the luckier ones – I spent about nine months querying before getting into the PB Party final showcase and getting my agent. And yes, querying is very much about luck and timing and opportunity as opposed to just talent. Because I have seen gloriously gifted writers spend years in the querying trenches. 

It can feel daunting because you are asking someone to believe in a story that only exists in your imagination. But the right agent is out there looking for the exact story you are writing.

“…querying is an education in persistence…”

Sope Martins

“The right agent is out there looking for the exact story you are writing.”

Sope Martins

Do you have any tips on how a writer and/or illustrator can write a strong query letter?

Research. Know what the agent you’re querying is looking for, see how your work fits that, how it is distinct from other stories like it, and write a letter around that. You don’t need bells and whistles. You just need to keep it clear and focused.

And most importantly, make sure your manuscript is as strong as possible. The query letter will open the door for you. Your manuscript is what gets you in.

-YES, to all of the above!

You’re currently agented, and not long ago, your debut picture book, Hairstory, was released with Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books in January 2026. (YAY!) But before we talk about that, I’d love to dig a little into how you got to this point in your publishing career. How and when did you connect with your agent? 

I signed with my agent, Sara Crowe, shortly after the PB Party Finalist showcase. During my WNDB mentorship, Erin Entrada Kelly had very kindly introduced me to Sara, who is also her agent. At the time, Sara gave me really thoughtful notes on a middle grade manuscript and invited me to revise and resubmit.

What’s funny is that I hadn’t queried her with my picture books at all. She was looking for MG and YA, and I had only sent her that middle grade project.

Then PBParty happened. My picture book manuscript got some lovely responses from agents, and I had this stray thought: why not send it to Sara, too? Even though she wasn’t actively looking for picture books.

Lo and behold, she loved it and offered representation.

Was the manuscript that initially got you your agent the same one that got you your first book deal?

Interestingly enough, no, it wasn’t. The PB manuscript that got me representation was called Masquerade Dance. I didn’t have that much hope for Hairstory because the word on the street was that there were rather a lot of hair books out there, and publishing land didn’t need any more. But I guess you can’t believe everything you hear because Hairstory got snapped up by Caitlyn!

How did you know your agent was the right fit for you? Tell us some of the green flags.

I liked Sara’s energy straight away. That was the biggest green flag. I really liked that, though she didn’t sign me at first, she took time out to give me really detailed and constructive notes on my manuscript. When we had our conversation, I had a list of questions I had prepared, and she answered every one of them thoughtfully. She was prepared and had thought of how she would present me to editors. And she’s always open to communication. I can tell her what I need from her without worries.

What are some things that you’d say make a successful agent/author relationship?

Trust and communication for sure. You need to trust that you and your agent share the same vision for your work. And you need to know what you want and clearly communicate that. 

For those who may be at the pre-agent stage and curious about post-representation, can you tell us about the next steps? What has your submission process been like since acquiring representation?

Once you sign with an agent, the next stage is often revision.

You and your agent may refine the manuscript before sending it out to editors. After that comes the submission process, which can involve multiple rounds of editors reading, discussing, and considering the book.

It requires patience, but it is also an exciting stage because your story is finally entering the publishing world.

What projects are you working on now, and what sparks your creative interest?

I’m working on my Moby Dick right now! It’s a YA novel, and it was the first idea for a book I ever had, but I knew I wasn’t ready to tackle it. Now I’m ready. It’s slow going, but it’s fun. I’m also working on a middle-grade novel in verse.

Many of your stories embrace parts of your heritage and culture. Hairstory is a great example of this. Can you tell us about how you were able to balance culture while writing for a wider reading audience? Explain.

Honestly, I don’t really think about balancing culture for a wider audience when I’m writing. I start with the characters and the world they live in, and I try to be truthful to that.

When I’m writing nonfiction, I usually begin with something that catches my attention. Then I start digging into why it fascinates me.

With Hairstory, for example, I kept thinking about how expressive Yoruba culture is and how much we love telling stories. If you’ve ever been to a Black salon, you know that hair time is sharing time. I found myself wondering where did that come from? So, that was my angle into writing about black hair. 

What I’ve found is that when you write those things honestly, readers connect to the emotions inside the story. Even if the setting or traditions are unfamiliar, the feelings are not. The more specific you are, the richer the story becomes.

For other writers who may be passionate about sharing their personal roots and culture in their writing, do you have any tips on how they can do this while also connecting with a wider audience?

I think you have to write the specifics. Sometimes, you might want to make your writing more general because that feels like it will be more accessible to a wider audience. But, counterintuitively, it’s digging into the specifics. The more grounded your story is in real experiences, traditions, and emotional truth, the more readers will connect with it. 

While we’re on this topic, now is a fantastic time to delve into more about Hairstory. Tell us about your book! What is it about?

Hairstory is really a celebration of Black hair and everything that comes with it. The creativity, the history, the pride, and the cultures behind it.

What was your inspiration for writing this story, and what message do you hope it will impart to readers? 

Hair rituals were always a big part of growing up for me. I spent a lot of time at the hairdresser’s. We had different styles of hair for school and at home. Different cultures spawned different hairstyles, but they had the same motivations. I wanted to highlight that connectivity.

What kind of feedback have you received from readers?

It’s been great. I’ve been in conversation with authors, teachers, and parents. The feedback has been amazing, and one thing I’m so happy about is that Hairstory got to be out in time for Black History Month. 

What have been some of your happiest publishing highlights?

Definitely Hairstory coming out! And it getting starred reviews!

What keeps you motivated to continue writing?

Curiosity. And the look in a child’s eyes when they’ve read my story and loved it.

Have there been any books/writers that/who have influenced or inspired your writing career?

So many. Enid Blyton, because that’s who I grew up reading, Mariama Ba, Chinua Achebe, Nina Bawden, Carole Boston Weatherford…the list goes on. 

What words of wisdom would you like to offer readers today?

If you’re writing for children, you’re doing a wonderful thing. You’re doing a creative thing. You’re doing an inventive thing. You’re doing a hard thing. You’re doing a worthwhile thing. You’re doing a rewarding thing. You’re doing a frustrating thing. You’re doing a lot of things for the thing you love. 

Beautiful way to end. And very true! And now, it’s time for a giveaway.

GIVEAWAY

This month, Sope is offering a picture book critique to one winner! Parameters: No rhyme. Fiction: under 800 words. Nonfiction: under 1,300 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.

Questions? Visit the FAQ page or drop a comment below.

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 Hairstory HERE

Sope Martins is a Lagos-based children’s author, broadcaster, and founder of The Kid Lit Foundation. She writes books, runs a storytelling festival, and connects children with established authors, illustrators, and storytellers through mentorship programmes—despite the Lagos traffic trying to write her out of the plot! 

Her happy place is helping African children find themselves on the page, right in the middle of epic adventures.

Sope’s the author of several picture books, including The Greatest Animal in the Jungle and The Adventures of Nosa the Superhero (Farafina Books), and has worked on international literacy campaigns from Lagos to Johannesburg. Her upcoming picture book, Hairstory (Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, 2026), is an ode to Black hair in all its beauty, strength, and sculptural glory—because hair, like story, is never just one thing.

https://www.sopemartins.com

GROWTH MINDSET AND THE VALUE OF READING ALOUD; ONE AUTHOR’S JOURNEY: FEATURE INTERVIEW WITH CINDY WILLIAMS SCHRAUBEN, CONDUCTED BY KIDLIT AUTHOR AND LITERARY BLOGGER, CHELSEA DICICCO

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

In today’s Feature Interview, I’m chatting with Cindy Williams Schrauben about growth mindset and the value of reading aloud. We’ll also discuss ways to put yourself out there as an author and share personal experiences of the author journey.


Cindy, it’s my pleasure to welcome you to the Feature Interview guest series. Could you tell us where you’re joining us from today?

Hi Chelsea. Thanks for having me. West Michigan.

How did you hear about the Feature Interview series, and what made you want to apply?

I follow you online and admire your content. 

Could you tell us what kind of books you write? (Age group and genre).

I have written books for children, including picture books and a middle-grade novel, which is in the works. I will also be venturing into the adult novelty book market soon. 

When did you first begin your writing journey, and what did those beginning stages look like for you?

I jumped into the journey with both feet when my daughters left for college. It was time to challenge myself. It took nearly 8 years of studying, attending conferences and classes, and penning several manuscripts before I was able to realize my life-long dream of publishing a picture book.

What are some of the challenges you’ve faced on your author journey, and how were you able to stay the course?

The challenges were many, but I think the hardest part was believing in myself enough to ‘stay the course’ as you say. The key for me was getting involved in the kidlit community – joining critique groups, reading about other authors’ journeys, entering contests and challenges, etc. These connections gave me courage and helped me to manage my expectations. 

What have been some of your greatest joys and highlights in publishing?

There are so many – receiving a book deal, seeing the illustrations for the first time, getting a starred review from Kirkus, etc. I am also looking forward to an upcoming visit to a children’s hospital to read to some brave kids. I also love encouraging aspiring authors, but the best part continues to be sharing my love for books with kids. 

When would you say it’s “too late” to pursue publishing?

Never! My first book was published just after my 63rd birthday, and I don’t plan to stop anytime soon. 

Why would you say it’s beneficial as an author to put yourself out there? And what are some different ways/examples of doing this?

It can be exhausting, but publishing a book isn’t enough if no one sees it. Interviews such as this, blog tours, giveaways, social media posts, in-person events, etc all help with visibility. It is hard, though, because there needs to be a balance between self-promotion and providing valuable content. I try to follow the 80/20 Rule – 80% content for authors or parents/teachers (such as the social media post below) and 20% book promotion. For content, I have chosen to concentrate on the topics of Growth Mindset and Social-Emotional Learning. 

What kind of author events have you been a part of locally or otherwise, and how did you go about setting up these events? Did your publisher/marketing team reach out? Did you reach out? Was contact made via phone/email,/in-person?

I attend and/or organize events on a regular basis, ranging from book festivals, bookstore signings, school visits, launch parties, local media appearances, podcasts, etc. I was responsible for setting up most of these on my own (usually via email). I have three tips. First – go where the kids are instead of hoping they will come to you. I held the launch event for my first book, THIS COULD BE YOU, at a children’s museum on a busy Saturday. Over a hundred kids were already visiting the museum that day, so my audience was ready-made. That leads to tip number two – just ask! The museum was a dream location, and I never expected it to come to fruition, but the staff was excited to bring a unique opportunity to their visitors. The third tip is this– don’t be discouraged when you plan an event, and no one shows. It has happened to all of us. Evaluate the situation and improve your processes for next time. I also encourage other authors to think beyond your book in order to offer great programs for your community. I recently partnered with a local elementary school to break a Kid’s World Record entitled “The Most Children Sharing Handmade Hearts.” Though this event matched the theme of my second book, HANK’S CHANGE OF HEART, the day was about celebrating kindness rather than the book specifically. It was great fun and happened just because I asked (Tip #2, again.)

We’d love to hear about some of your author events and experiences and see some photos if you would like to share a few! 

When reading over your bio, I loved how you described your books as being books to “inspire kids to live their best lives.” Could you elaborate on what this means to you?

Sure! Encouraging kids to love books and reading is, of course, a big part of my journey, but it goes further. Both of my books have a social-emotional learning foundation. I am a firm believer that books can provide learning opportunities without being preachy. HANK’S CHANGE OF HEART applauds kindness and sharing, while THIS COULD BE YOU empowers children with a growth mindset by persuading them to believe in themselves. 

Let’s talk a little bit about growth mindset for home and in the classroom. In your application, you expressed your passion for empowering parents and children with a growth mindset and inspiring them to learn from each other as they go. Can you talk a little bit more about how you do this?

Growth Mindset is a term coined by Dr. Carol Dweck from Stanford University. Her research shows us that we can develop our abilities through dedication and hard work and that failure helps us to learn and improve. I love to talk with kids about famous people who have achieved great things after facing years of defeat. By understanding the power of a growth mindset, adults can make a huge difference in the lives of children. It is often as simple as changing our vocabulary. For example, “I can’t do it” vs. “It didn’t work, yet, but I’m still trying.”

LINK TO GM EXAMPLES: https://cindyschrauben.com/growth-mindset/

I know you also have a collection of growth mindset activities and educator guides. I’d love to add a link to those for readers to have access to on Teacher Corner as well!

LINK TO READER GUIDES.

HANK: https://cindyschrauben.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Hank-Reader-Guide.pdf

THIS COULD BE YOU:

Click to access TCBY-Readers-Guide.pdf

While we’re on the classroom side of things, could you talk a little bit about reading aloud and its value?

There is a great deal of research out there to support the value of reading to kids. The advantages range from improving a child’s own reading abilities and listening skills, expanding their vocabularies and language skills, to fostering bonds. A statistic that always amazes me is this one from the Child Mind Institute: “… young children whose parents read to them daily have been exposed to at least 290,000 more words by the time they enter kindergarten than kids who aren’t read to regularly. And depending on how much daily reading time kids get, that number can go up to over a million words.”

Now, for our writers out there, could you tell us a little bit about mentor texts? What are they? How do you use them? How can they be helpful?

Mentor texts are valuable for writers in a number of ways, ranging from learning about the industry and what is being published to honing our own craft and revising. There is nothing more helpful, in my mind, than reading the work of other children’s book authors and asking, what works? What doesn’t? Why? And how can I apply that to my own work?

Is there any particular book/author that inspires/inspired you to write?

I have always been enamored by rhymers like Dr. Seuss and Shel Silverstein. I love to write in rhyme – it’s like a puzzle. 

What advice would you like to offer writers who are just beginning their publishing journey?

Don’t give up. The journey can be long and hard, but it is worth every moment. I have a YouTube Podcast to encourage authors. You can take a look here: https://www.youtube.com/@Cindy-Williams-Schrauben 

Thank you so much for joining us today, Cindy! And now it’s time for our FIRST giveaway pool of the year.

GIVEAWAY
This month, Cindy is offering an AMA Zoom. (two winners)

HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY
LIKE AND SHARE this article to X and/or Instagram and mention my handle X @chellysbooks / Instagram @chelseasworldofbooks. If you don’t have X or Instagram, you can enter the giveaway by LIKING and COMMENTING 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.

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.

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

Questions? Visit the FAQ page or drop a comment below.

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.

ADHD and Me Purchase Link

This Could Be You Purchase Link

Hank’s Change of Heart Purchase Link

AUTHOR BIO + HEADSHOT + WEBSITE

Cindy Williams Schrauben lives in West Michigan, where she writes books for children that range from the truly serious to the seriously silly. When not writing or sharing her books, this award-winning author might be found dissecting her grandsons’ shenanigans for story ideas, reading on the beach, or eating ice cream… ideally all at once. Her books, THIS COULD BE YOU (starred review from Kirkus) and HANK’S CHANGE OF HEART, inspire kids to live their best lives. You can connect with Cindy at http://www.cindyschrauben.com.

HIGHLIGHTING DISABLED VOICES IN BOOKS AND WHY REPRESENTATION MATTERS: FEATURE INTERVIEW WITH KATIE MAZEIKA, CONDUCTED BY KIDLIT AUTHOR AND LITERARY BLOGGER, CHELSEA DICICCO

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

In today’s Feature Interview, I’m talking with traditionally published, award-winning author/illustrator Katie Mazeika. We’ll be discussing the importance of highlighting disabled voices in books and why representation matters.

FEATURE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Katie, welcome to Chelsea’s World of Books Literary Blog. It’s great to have you with us! Where are you joining us from today?

I’m in Ohio, just east of Cleveland, in a little city on the lake called Mentor.

How were you first introduced to the blog and the Feature Interview series?

You’ve interviewed several authors I know from promo groups or events. I’m sure it was through one of those shared interviews that I first became aware of your blog.

One of the things we love to discuss here on the blog is how. Could you tell us more about the events that led up to you joining the world of kidlit publishing?

Absolutely! I studied illustration at the Columbus College of Art and Design with the intention of pursuing editorial illustration after graduation. But at some point in my Junior or Senior year, I was introduced to picture book illustration and fell in love. After school, my focus was on illustrating for the children’s market.

Since you are both an author and illustrator, could you tell us which came first? Did your career start out with you querying projects as both author and illustrator, or one or the other? Explain.  

In high school, I was torn between going to college for writing or for art. My compromise was a degree in illustration with a minor in creative writing. So initially, I pursued both. But my first agent, and my first jobs, were as an illustrator only.

While we’re in the territory of querying… could you tell us more about your querying journey and how you came to find your agent?

I started with an illustration agent at a large agency that wasn’t a great fit. After about fifteen months with them, I was dropped. Fortunately, I was picked up by a much smaller illustration agency fairly quickly. I really liked the people at the second agency, but the owner became ill, and less than six months later, it closed. I knew I couldn’t query the same illustration agents again, so I was at a loss. That was when an author/illustrator friend suggested writing my own texts and querying as an author/illustrator. So, I wrote my first manuscript, which eventually became Annette Feels Free, and sent out my first queries. At the same time, I participated in #DIVPIT (Diversity Pitch) on Twitter and got a few responses. One of those was my agent, Sorche Fairbank. (FYI-#DIVPIT still exists, it’s just moved to Discord.)

What are some key things an author or illustrator should look for when deciding on an agent relationship? What are some green flags? And what are some red flags?

With my first agent, looking back, there were a lot of red flags. I was never allowed to communicate directly with Art Directors; everything talked about went through the agent. Getting paid was a battle. When I was in NYC, I asked to come by their office for a meeting, but it was very unclear where the office actually was. They asked me to meet in a coffee shop instead. I think the biggest red flag was emails that were never acknowledged. Artwork I sent in again and again that was never added to the website. There was often a general tone that I was bothering them and they had better things to do. But this was my first agent. I assumed this was normal and tiptoed around them. After comparing notes with other agented illustrators, I realized that relationship wasn’t typical. When they dropped me, I was surprised-I’d been booked pretty steadily and done four or five jobs through them, but in the end it worked out for the better.

Looking for an agent a second time, I was much pickier. I went through their social media, going back three to five years. I took note of who was announced as recently signed. Then I looked to see how many of those illustrators were still with that agency. If more than a handful of artists were gone after three years, then I didn’t query that agency. That crossed a number of agencies off my list, but it helped me find my second agent. I imagine I would still be there today if the agency hadn’t closed.

When I signed with Fairbank Literary, I had another offer from an illustration agency, but after a phone call with Sorche, I was eager to work with a literary agent and to write as well as illustrate. I know some creators who almost seem to be afraid of their agents. I was one of them with my first agent. But I’ve learned that fear isn’t conducive to creativity. It should be a partnership, with respect and boundaries that go both ways.

For someone who may be on the fence about whether or not to pursue representation, what are some reasons why you chose to find an agent?

Unfortunately, a lot of publishers only accept agented submissions. And I really value having someone go line by line through my contracts explaining what each clause means for me and my book, before I sign.

What would you say makes a great author/illustrator and agent relationship, from both sides?

Like I said before, it should be a partnership, with respect and boundaries that go both directions. I often bounce ideas off Sorche very early on, and I trust her to be very straight with me about whether I should keep going. I know she has an uncanny business sense and a great feel for the market. She’s always straight with me about whether an idea is worth pursuing. I also know that I can be direct with her; there’s no tiptoeing or playing games.

What’s something that you didn’t know when you started out that you do know now (and maybe wish you had known sooner)?

I think everyone assumes the work is done when you have the first book published. And what I realized is that it’s just the beginning. From there come the promotions and events. At the same time, you are working on your next project.  It’s a lot of plates in the air. The risk of burnout is very real, even more so for author/illustrators. So, I have to remind myself to slow down and breathe.

I was so excited to see that all of your books (the ones you’ve written) include curriculum guides. As a former children’s librarian and current word nerd, I’m a big fan of educational resources with books, and love promoting these added free resources on my Teacher Corner for educators, parents, and librarians. I’d love to hear more about some of the resources/extras that you have to offer.

With Annette Feels Free and Beulah Has a Hunch, the curriculum guides offer the opportunity to go deeper into the subject matter and learn even more about these fantastically interesting women. 

For my recent book, Maybe Just Ask Me, the curriculum guides focus more on building empathy and understanding about disability and differences. 

As a disabled person and a writer, I understand that highlighting disabled voices in books is something near to your heart. Could you share more on this and why representation in books matters?

The reason is twofold: every child should see themselves represented in a book. Being a part of the story is incredibly validating and confirms that they are not alone. At the same time, non-disabled readers need to see disabled characters in the books they read. We need to normalize differences and be comfortable with talking about them. Disability is not a bad word, but when we teach kids to pretend it doesn’t exist, we are teaching them there is something bad or scary about disability and disabled people. 

–I love this answer and couldn’t agree more!

Speaking of books, let’s talk about them! Could you tell us briefly about some of your stories and what they highlight?

Annette Feels Free is a biography of Annette Kellerman, who started as a dancer when she was a child but developed polio and was unable to continue dancing. She discovered swimming and became a world champion swimmer, a performer and movie star, and designed what later became the modern swimsuit. She even went to court to fight for women’s right to wear that suit.

Beulah Has a Hunch! is about Beulah Louise Henry, the most prolific female mechanical inventor in the US. What’s so unique about her is that she had no traditional education, only finishing school. She was so intelligent and passionate that she figured out the mechanics of how things worked|. She used the success of her first invention to pave her own path and created a name for herself in a time when few women had careers, let alone owned multiple businesses. I also focused on her neurodivergence, specifically Synthesia and hyperphantasia. 

Maybe Just Ask Me! is based on my own childhood, specifically returning to school after losing my eye to cancer. It was difficult to feel gawked at and to have students talk about me, but not to me. Unlike the main character in the book, I was not brave enough to speak up for myself and to advocate for my story to be heard. Mazie is who I wished I could have been back then, someone who is open about her disability. I hope that she can be an inspiration for children with disabilities and encourage children without disabilities to pursue curiosity with kindness.

“Unlike the main character in the book, I was not brave enough to speak up for myself and to advocate for my story to be heard. Mazie is who I wished I could have been back then, someone who is open about her disability. I hope that she can be an inspiration for children with disabilities and encourage children without disabilities to pursue curiosity with kindness“ – Katie Mazeika

I understand you’ve been able to participate in several community events as well as industry speaking/social engagements with your books. I’d love to hear more about these!

I have been very fortunate; I’ve participated in national panels on disability representation in books at NCTE, ALA, and SCBWI, as well as in local panels at several book festivals. I’ve also presented individually on disability representation in children’s books at several state library conferences. This is a topic very close to my heart, and I’m always thrilled to see how many attendees are also passionate about disability representation in children’s books.

I also do school and library visits, and love interacting with the kids, answering their questions, and creating with them. I have a character writing and illustrating workshop that I do. The kids always come up with the most fantastic characters. They’re so imaginative. It’s one of my favorite programs to hold.

Have you had any notable/special experiences or moments with readers/fans/fellow writers/illustrators during these events? We love to hear the positives, so if you have more than one, feel free to share multiple!

The very first school visit I did for Maybe Just Ask Me, there was a boy in the audience wearing an eyepatch like Mazie. He was hugging a copy of the book throughout the whole presentation. Seeing him holding the book and grinning because he felt seen made me tear up. Afterward, I signed his book and spoke to him. His teacher was at a book festival I was part of a few days later. She told me that was all he talked about all week. More tears. That was the whole reason for writing the book: to make children feel represented and seen. 

The feedback from librarians and teachers that Maybe Just Ask Me! connects with their students, and that the book opens doors for conversations, reminds me why I create books. This book, in particular, opened old wounds for me and was really hard to write; those responses make it feel worth it. 

What is your big WHY for writing? What does it bring you?

I never felt seen in stories. There were really no disabled characters or scenes in hospitals. The one book where I saw myself was Madeline. I cherished that story and wished there were more like it. I see writing as an opportunity to create characters and share stories so readers with disabilities do not feel alone or forgotten. Like I said, it’s hard to do this sometimes. There are parts of growing up with a disability that I did not fully work through until writing these books. But when I see children able to own their disability and get excited about seeing themselves on the page, it reminds me that I am doing it for them and to honor my younger self. 

“I never felt seen in stories. There were really no disabled characters or scenes in hospitals… I see writing as an opportunity to create characters and share stories so readers with disabilities do not feel alone or forgotten.” – Katie Mazeika

What’s one piece of wisdom that you’d like to offer to fellow kidlit writers/illustrators?

It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Keep moving forward, even when it’s hard; you only fail when you give up. And learn to celebrate all the wins (big AND small!). 

Thank you so much, Katie, for joining us on the blog today. It’s been a pleasure chatting with you and getting to know you a little better. Thank you for all that you do to provide disability representation in children’s books, as well as the resources you offer to families, educators, and librarians.

Now it’s time for a GIVEAWAY!

GIVEAWAY PRIZES:

For the month of October, Katie is offering two prizes to two winners (1 prize per winner). Prize 1: a signed copy of one of her books. Prize 2: A 20-minute ask me anything call.

HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

Share a link to the Feature Interview on X (during the corresponding month/year) and tag me @chellysbooks. Want extra entries? Repost my Feature Interview post on X. Don’t have X? Drop a comment at the bottom of the interview.

DEADLINE TO ENTER: LAST DAY OF THE MONTH AT 11:59 PM CST.

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 a copy of ADHD and Me HERE

Purchase Maybe Just Ask Me HERE

Find more of Katie’s books on her website!

AUTHOR BIO + HEADSHOT + WEBSITE

Katie Mazeika is an award-winning author and illustrator who can’t imagine a better job than making books. She loves creating stories based on real people and events. Katie is passionate about highlighting disabled voices in her work. Katie strongly believes all children should see themselves in books.

Connect: Instagram:kdmazart X:kdmaz

FB:Katie Mazeika

Website: http://www.katiemazeika.com

SEPTEMBER 17TH, 2025 FEATURE INTERVIEW WITH READING SPECIALIST, LITERACY COACH, AND KIDLIT AUTHOR, CHRISTINA SHAWN, CONDUCTED BY KIDLIT WRITER, BLOGGER & FORMER LIBRARIAN, CHELSEA DICICCO: HOW TO WRITE STORIES THAT MAKE YOUNG READERS FEEL SEEN, HEARD, AND UNDERSTOOD

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

In today’s Feature Interview, I’m chatting with reading specialist, literacy coach, and kidlit author, Christina Shawn! We’ll be discussing ways to create confident readers and how to write stories that resonate with kids while capturing the magical moments in everyday life.

Christina, it’s so wonderful to have you with us today. Can you share with our readers where you’re joining us from?

Hi Chelsea. I am thrilled to be here. I am joining in from my home in Richmond, Virginia.

I was thrilled to see your application come in last year for the 2025 Feature Interview lineup, and have been warmly anticipating our conversation. Could you share how you found out about the Feature Interview segment and what made you want to apply?

I first became familiar with you through your social media presence on (I think) Twitter / X. I could relate to so much of what you shared, and I found you to be so supportive of the writing community. Plus, you had me at “World of Books!” From there, I began reading your thoughtful and thorough interviews.

I loved reading about your connection to the world of literacy, not only as a writer, but also as a reading specialist and literacy coach. Can you tell us more about this? What ages do you primarily work with? Is it independent, or do you work with a school and/or another organization? 

I love to teach reading. I began teaching middle school reading and then became a literacy coach in public preschool classrooms through a grant system that supported teachers and students with materials, classes, and coaching. I learned so much and felt like we were all making a big difference. Then, when I was staying home, raising my children, I began writing children’s books. I love that now, the books allow me to go back into the classroom and work with teachers, students, and parents to once again build literacy skills. Oftentimes, parents don’t realize how much they are already doing to help grow readers, and I love sharing easy-to-apply tips and tricks with them. I love working with children in the classroom in small groups and with full auditoriums. I feel like the timing is just right to bring all of these elements together to once again try to make a difference through early literacy. 

How did you wind up in the world of kidlit publishing? 

When my children were little, I was implementing much of what I knew about literacy into our everyday lives, and part of that was reading a ton of books and making up songs and stories for them. Eventually, I think my brain just began thinking that way, and one idea turned into my first (self-published) book, LUCAS PLAYS. After working on that project, I realized how much I love unpuzzling words and creating meaningful and entertaining stories. I wanted more. So I began taking classes, and I joined writing communities like SCBWI and 12×12.

What kind of work were you doing prior to writing, and/or are you still doing now?

Writing has always been at least a small part of my work. I was a middle school English Teacher / Reading Specialist, Literacy Coach, and, before that, I was the Community Relations Manager for Barnes & Noble. 

We’d love to hear more about your publishing journey! When did your writing begin? 

I wrote my first picture book, LUCAS PLAYS, in 2016 and self-published it for my family. During that process, I did a lot of research about self-publishing vs. traditional publishing. Ultimately, I didn’t want to wait to see this book, and I only had the one manuscript, so I self-published. But once it was out in the world, and I was able to go back into classrooms to share it, I was hooked. I wanted to do more, so I signed up for a local writing class, joined 12×12, and dove headfirst into the kidlit world.

What genres and age groups do you write for? And how do they differ from each other?

Picture books are my sweet spot. All of my published and pre-published books are for a target age of 3-6. I also have an early reader series for 5-8 year olds that is on sub (and this really appeals to my reading specialist heart), so I hope it gets published one day. 

I am also working on two mid-grade novels that are far more time-consuming and adventurous for me. But I love them both dearly. 

Like me, your publishing journey started on the indie side of things, prior to traditional publishing, with the publication of your first book, PB, Lucas Plays. Since you have experience on both sides of this publishing terrain, could you share a little with our readers about what the differences between the two have been? Traditional VS. Indie, representation vs. no representation, and the pros and cons of both?

Absolutely! I love that I have experience with both Traditional and Indie publishing. Indie publishing is definitely faster, and the author has more creative control. Traditional publishing takes TIME and patience, and often agents, publishers, artists, editorial teams, and marketing teams that are also working on lots of other projects. The reach of traditional publishing has been wider for me, though. When AND THEN CAME YOU was published (traditionally), it stirred a renewed interest in LUCAS PLAYS as well, so that was a really nice bonus.

After publishing independently, what made you decide to pursue traditional publishing? Explain.

Once I decided to write more books, I wrote a LOT of manuscripts. So I wanted an agent who could represent a full body of work and become a career partner. I wanted the experience of publishing with multiple publishing houses and building relationships with editors and artists. I really like being part of a team.

Now, you’re represented by Liz Nealon at Great Dog Literary. And you have a new book that just hit the shelves this year, and another on its way in the fall of 2026. What an exciting time! But before we get into that, could you share how you found your agent match?

Yes! It is a really exciting time! Connecting with Liz Nealon was one of those perfect timing moments. I had been in the query trenches for a while but had never queried her before (I think she had been closed to queries) but my friend, who she represented, thought we’d be a good fit and connected us, so when I received the publication offer for NO LOVE POTION through a Twitter / X pitch I took a chance and reached out to Liz. We hit it off immediately, and the rest is history. Liz is an amazing agent. She is thorough, professional, kind, experienced, and so smart. 

For readers who are not yet at this step in their journey but are actively pursuing representation, could you walk us through your agent call? 

Liz set up a call after reading my submitted manuscript. Then she requested more, and we set up a second call. On our calls, we talked about my specific manuscripts as well as my big picture goals for my writing career. We discussed my background in children’s literacy and also her background at Sesame Street. (How cool is that?) I was surprised and delighted by the parts of my writing that Liz felt drawn to, and I knew that not only were we on the same page, but this partnership could be a really special one. 

What made Liz stand out to you as someone who was the right fit for you/your project?

Honestly, she loved my least commercial manuscript the most. The one that had the most personal risk in it. I knew she saw me. And if she loved that story along with my “safer” manuscripts, then she understood me and my writing goals. I trusted her immediately and continue to feel safe and confident with her representing my work. 

For our readers who may be anxious about the call, what advice do you have?

Be your whole, honest self. It is often our quirks that help us know if we are a good fit or not. Respect yourself and your work enough to choose only the best person for you, and trust your gut.

Are there any specific questions you suggest asking an agent on the call? These could be questions you asked, or questions you wish you had asked!

How do you prefer to communicate? Some agents call, email, or text. Some don’t communicate much at all. Some keep shared Google Sheets of all your subs, some email updates, and some only update once a month or with “good” news. I think it’s important to see if your communication styles are compatible and ask for what you need in order to feel good about your partnership.

Now let’s talk about debuts! As you know, debuting authors have a LOT going on. Could you share a little bit about your exciting year and the time leading up to it? What kind of things did you do to prepare for your big book debuts? Have you been able to participate in any in-person/virtual author events for local vendors, libraries, schools, bookstores, and other organizations?

During the 4.5 years between the publication offer and the publication, I thought about this release a LOT. I added interviews (like this one), podcasts, and announcements to my calendar. I was even on the local news! (You can find links for them on my website and Linktree.) I booked school events, in-person bookstore events, and even a presentation with the Virginia Association for the Education of Young Children. On the day my book released, I hosted a launch party for my friends and family and relished in the celebration with my loved ones. The launch of AND THEN CAME YOU feels huge to me. It is the first traditionally published book of mine, and there are more to come. It feels like the start of something really special.

What have been some of the biggest publishing surprises? 

Probably the best surprise was when Chronicle Books asked me to do a signing at ALA 2025 with Rebecca Stead!!! 

What’s something you know now that you didn’t know before, and wish you had known sooner?

The way your book is coded in the system dictates whether bookstores will stock it. There is little we can do to control these codes.

What are some writing tips/resources that have helped you? This could be organizations/events/contests/etc. 

My critique partners and writing friends are so important to me. I grow as a writer when we critique each other’s work and when we brainstorm together. They are also the absolute best support on this publishing rollercoaster. 

I also LOVE contests. They are a fun and low-pressure way to push my creativity with almost immediate opportunities to share my work and read my friends’ and colleagues’ entries.

Fun fact: My next picture book, NO LOVE POTION (The Little Press, Fall 2026), began as a contest entry.

Let’s talk about the writing! You mentioned in your application that you enjoy writing stories that capture the magical moments of everyday life. Can you tell us more about this? 

I write to process what I feel and to create new worlds and characters because it is so much fun. I don’t usually have a plan. Once I step into that creative space, the story guides me. I find that what is most magical to me is leaning into the everyday. How each blade of grass is a different green, or how the scent of the air is different before it rains. How a person can feel two (or more) feelings at once (and how that’s okay). And how love looks and feels different from every angle. 

I really love the way you described writing stories that make kids feel seen, heard, and understood. Can you share some of the ways that you’re able to do this?

I was a really BIG feeling kid, and I could not make sense out of all that I seemed to know without being told it was true. In fact, I was often told that what I observed or felt was not true, and this confused me as a child. It confuses me a bit as an adult too, but much less. I liked books with complicated emotions and messy characters. I like to write those books now. I want to honor the kids who are trying to figure out the world around them and let them know they are not alone. 

Speaking as a writer and literacy coach, what are some tips for creating confident readers? How can we offer kids aid and build up that confidence?

I could talk all day about this! I’m actually presenting a workshop for parents this fall on exactly this. I like to help parents and teachers notice the ways they are already supporting literacy (often without even realizing it) and help them to be intentional about it. There are so many ways to incorporate early reading skills into everyday life. Just a few examples are sorting socks (yes, socks) or utensils. Sorting letters. Helping children know the letters in their names and then finding them in book titles. Pointing to letters. Pointing to words. Explicitly noticing rhyme as words that “sound the same at the end.”

Let’s talk writing craft, specifically, rhyme! I’d love to hear more about predictive rhyme in picture books and how that fosters early reading skills.

The human ear naturally LIKES rhyme. It processes and retains rhyming words more easily and even believes them to be more TRUE! Isn’t that wild? When we read rhyme aloud, our listeners’ brains become attentive. They absorb skills and information like a sponge. Telling children what rhymes are words that “sound the same at the end” and helping them to identify and create them is a fantastic early reading skill. When predictive rhymes are altered (like with the surprise page turns in AND THEN CAME YOU), it becomes a fun, engaging learning game. 

For some of our very new writers, who may be passionate about writing books for kids but are still uncertain of how to do it, could you shed a little light on page turns? For this question, I’m primarily thinking in terms of picture books!

I love a good page turn!  Page turns can create surprise, humor, anticipation, and suspense that drive the story forward and encourage the reader to turn the page. I love a big reveal or something unexpected in a page turn. AND THEN CAME YOU was so much fun to write because children expect a predictive rhyme, but are surprised to find an unexpected word instead.

I love the themes of your writing, Christina. For our readers who may not be familiar with your books, would you share a brief description of what your stories are about and what the takeaway or “theme” of them is?

My husband jokes that I love to write about LOVE. He’s not wrong. Some common themes in my books are LOVE, CHANGE, ACCEPTANCE, CHOICE, and GROWTH. 

AND THEN CAME YOU (Chronicle Books, Spring 2025): When families grow, love grows too…even when change is scary.

NO LOVE POTION (The Little Press, Fall 2026): Making room in your heart for love (even if it seems icky) feels pretty magical.

NO HATS ALLOWED (Sleeping Bear Press, Fall 2027): Fair doesn’t always mean equal; that’s why it’s important to have a choice. Plus, cats look really cute in hats. 

(NEW BOOK COMING in Spring 2027) All about patience, growth, and love.

What is your reason for writing? And what do you hope to leave each reader with?

I like readers to laugh and cry. I want them to feel and connect. And to think that at least one part of the book is kind of weird. I want my readers to feel seen, heard, and understood. I want them to want to read these books again and again. 

Any last words of advice for fellow writers out there, looking to share their stories with the world?

Sometimes it’s hard to believe that this fun, magical, creative job is also important and necessary, but I promise you,  it is. What we create feeds our souls and spreads light out into the world through humor, connection, inspiration, and creativity. We must keep making our art and know it matters.

Thank you so much for joining us, Christina. It’s been wonderful to connect with you!

Pssst! Note to readers: Christina has just recently developed a presentation for VAAEYC on how rhyming picture books can be used to build early literacy skills during read-alouds. Some of these materials, as well as coinciding lesson plans for her book, And Then Came You, will be available for free download on Teacher Corner. Christina also offers critique services through her website https://www.christinashawn.com. 

And now it’s time for a GIVEAWAY!

GIVEAWAY

Christina is offering a choice of ONE of two prizes to one winner. Prize options: a fiction picture book manuscript critique or a 30-minute AMA.

HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

LIKE and SHARE this post. That’s it! (And don’t forget to tag me so I don’t miss it! X @chellysbooks IG @chelseasworldofbooks). **If there are multiple prize options, please specify which one you’d like in the comments.**

DEADLINE TO ENTER: September 30th, 2025, 11:59 PM CST

CHRISTINA SHAWN BIO & CONNECT

Christina Shawn is a reading specialist, literacy coach, and author who writes about magical moments in our everyday lives. She lives in Richmond, Virginia, with her husband, three kiddos, and two fluffy bunnies, who provide a constant supply of support, humor, and inspiration. Christina loves yoga, beach bike rides, mountain hikes, and adventuring to new places. Mostly, she loves the spark of learning something new and passing it along.

Instagram: @christinashawnbooks Facebook @christinashawnbooks X: @christinashawn2 Threads: @chrsitinashawnbooks https://www.christinashawn.com/

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 your copy HERE.

Purchase your copy HERE.

FEBRUARY 2025 FEATURE INTERVIEW WITH LIBRARIAN AND CHILDREN’S BOOK AUTHOR MAKENZIE HICE, CONDUCTED BY CHILDREN’S BOOK WRITER, LITERARY BLOGGER, AND FORMER LIBRARIAN CHELSEA DICICCO

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

Today, I’m talking with storyteller + filmmaker + Children’s Books Author AND Librarian Makenzie Hice. We’ll be diving into finding inspiration from books, discovering ideas for stories, challenges of the writing process, and the importance of being kind to yourself while creating.

Before we get started with our interview, if this is your first time visiting, here’s a sliver of what you’ll find here on the blog. THE BLOG houses pretty much an endless array of resources and helpful tips for writers and illustrators- and the list is always growing, but one of the most popular and truly incredible things that the blog has to offer is the FEATURE INTERVIEW segment, founded in 2022 and hosted by yours truly, Chelsea DiCicco.

You might be wondering…

WHAT ARE THEY?

WHO ARE THEY FOR?

HOW CAN THEY HELP ME?

Let me shed some light…

Feature Interviews are a monthly collaboration of industry professionals, including authors, illustrators, editors, and agents, having real conversations about the ins and outs of publishing. Many featured guests were at one time, or currently are, also educators, librarians, or booksellers. Their input and perspectives on publishing bring an invaluable amount of knowledge both for newly aspiring authors and/or illustrators, as well as those who are well-established.

These conversations help provide writers and illustrators with tools and insight by giving them an up-close look at publishing across a diverse collection of viewpoints from different sides of the desk. Every month, we dig deep into the behind-the-scenes of publishing, share tips and resources, and provide answers to common (and not-so-common) questions. We also offer PRIZE giveaway opportunities to all readers who take the time to either leave a comment on the blog post or share it on social media. Prizes include free merchandise, one-on-one Zoom mentor calls or Ask-Me-Anythings, manuscript critiques, and more.

Now that we know what’s in store, let’s get this ball rolling!

Makenzie, it’s so great to have you on the blog with us this month! It’s no secret I love libraries and always have a soft spot for talking to fellow librarians. And even though I technically no longer work in a library anymore, I feel like it’s a “once a librarian, always a librarian” type of thing.

Even when I am no longer working for the library, it will always be a significant place for me. The Dewey Decimal System will forever be ingrained in my brain. 

Okay, so to get us started, could you tell our readers where you’re located?

I currently live in Portland, Oregon. We are known for our rain here.

Wonderful! So, Makenzie, when reading through your bio in your application for the 2025 Feature Interview lineup, it was very apparent that you have a real love for storytelling. And I thought it was interesting that you mentioned your interest in storytelling was first developed through filmmaking. Could you tell us more about this?

I fell in love with filmmaking when I was fourteen. I started making my own short films with my friends as a creative outlet. I always loved movies and was enchanted by the endless possibilities of visual storytelling. I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do in film, so I tried a little bit of everything. My favorite director as a teen was Stanley Kubrick, which is funny to look back on. My goals as a storyteller are the complete opposite now.

I’d love to hear the process of how one form of creative arts led you to find another! Can you tell us how you got from point A. filmmaking to point B. writing?

When I went to Portland State to study film, I wasn’t sure what I specifically wanted to pursue. Once I took my first screenwriting class, my heart was set. I loved being able to make something out of nothing. When it comes to writing, I found relief in knowing not too much could go awry. If I write myself into a corner, I can write myself out of it. I had a favorite screenwriting professor and I took every class of his. He taught me so much about enjoying the process and not beating myself up. Seeing someone who was successful with such a light-hearted attitude when it came to writing really inspired me to stick with it. Writing is hard work, but it doesn’t mean you have to be hard on yourself. 

When and how did the pursuit of your publishing career begin?

I was graduating from college in the Summer of 2020. We were all living in an uncertain time, and I felt very lost. I asked my screenwriting professor for advice on where to look for opportunities. He encouraged me to not limit myself. “You are a writer, not just a screenwriter,” he said. Writing children’s books was something I had considered, but I had no idea where to start. Since I was unemployed and had all the time in the world, I started researching how to construct a manuscript and went from there. I took my screenwriting knowledge on structuring stories and developing characters and morphed it to fit the picture book format. I was surprised by how well my past knowledge lent itself to my new phase of writing.

From the time you first began your publishing journey, how long did it take you before you found your “yes” and could you tell us how that happened? (Was it through a contest, a cold query, an in-person event, or something else? Was it an editor/publisher who you submitted directly to?)

I looked up publishers who were accepting unsolicited manuscripts and found several useful lists. I am grateful for how much helpful information there is on the internet. I then took the leap of sending out a manuscript. It was scary, but I figured I couldn’t expect anything from the universe if I wasn’t willing to put myself out there. When you submit to publishers, you may get a polite rejection or hear nothing at all. The first manuscript I sent out received a few rejections, but mainly it was crickets. I then wrote Angel and the Paper Trail and sent it to about five publishers. Within a month, I received an email from Clavis Publishing telling me they wanted to publish my story. My first “yes” came about 5 months after beginning my children’s book-writing journey. I understand my situation was very lucky. I sent the right manuscript to the right person at the right time. I don’t say this to discredit the work I put into it, but I am aware of how long extremely talented people have had to wait to get their first “yes.” I was given a rare opportunity before I had a strong grasp of what I was doing.

I saw on your application that you aren’t represented by a literary agent. Have you been at any point, and/or is that something that you are interested in pursuing in the future?

I have never been represented by a literary agent, but it is my dream to have one. Right now, I am in the rejection portion of my career. I am consistently submitting to agents, adding to my growing list of rejections. Getting rejected isn’t fun, but it is a huge part of the journey. I don’t take it personally. I just let myself feel what I need to feel, dust off my shoulders, and keep trying. I will gladly pay my dues in order to earn the growth I need.

If you weren’t represented by a literary agent for your previous book deals, could you tell our readers about what your experience was like when going through the process of handling and negotiating publishing contracts independently?

My negotiating process wasn’t very extensive. They emailed me the contract. I read it over with my mom and signed it. I am by no means saying this is the best approach when signing a contract, but it is what felt best for me at the time. It was my first book, so I had no prior experience. I’m still learning about the business side of this industry. If I have the fortune of signing another contract in the future, I think there will be a more in-depth conversation going on.

For writers and/or illustrators who are considering submitting directly to publishers without solicitation, do you have any helpful tips you might like to share?

Keep looking and be patient. Publishers’ and agents’ submission windows often change, so it’s good to consistently do research. You may not have a manuscript that is a great fit for a specific publisher right now, but something you create down the line could be. You can’t predict exactly what people are looking for, so don’t be afraid to try different things. 

Let’s talk about finding inspiration from books. Have there been any specific books that you can recall that really inspired your creative career today? Explain.

Ever since I was young, I’ve been drawn to sweet-gentle stories. I loved the work of Arnold Lobel (The Frog and Toad series) and Else Holmelund Minarik (The Little Bear series). They have helped shape my view of the world, teaching me to look for the little moments of joy in life. Those are the things that keep my heart warm. When I get caught up in stress, I revisit these stories to remember why I started doing this in the first place. 

What are some ways you strive to keep your creative juices flowing, in turn helping you continue discovering new ideas for stories?

Working in a library, I get to be surrounded by books every day. This allows me to see what’s coming out and what classics have withstood the test of time. Pulling inspiration from both old and new gives me a good sense of what kind of stories children are drawn to. Reading children’s books helps keep my childlike view alive. They bring up old memories from when I was a child. Revisiting perspectives I had when I was young helps me tap into a whimsical imagination I once neglected.

Have there been any challenges you’ve had to face during the writing process/publishing journey, and if so, what are some ways you were able to overcome them?

I have trouble trusting my instincts. If I get too close to something, I can’t see it from another point of view. I may have a general idea of what I want to convey, but I can’t find the right words. I overthink and let it stop me in my tracks. Over time, I have learned it is easier to edit a page of clunky words than a page of nothing. I have had to become okay with creating a mess and cleaning it up little by little. The more experience I can get working through my mistakes, the stronger my writing muscles will become. 

I love the idea of being kind to yourself while creating. It’s so, so, so important. We often look at and talk about the “fun” side of creativity and the “beauty,” which there is a lot of fun and beauty in it, BUT being creative can also take a LOT out of you. Especially if you’re harnessing it to be used in your everyday career. And if you don’t take time to properly recharge that creativity, you can find yourself on the flipside completely energy-drained. Can you speak to what it means to be kind to yourself while creating? And what are some ways you’ve been able to do this? (If you’d like to mention other ways of being kind to yourself while creating, like not holding yourself to standards of perfection, not comparing yourself to other people’s successes, etc., Feel free to add that as well!)

In order to get better at something, you have to be bad at it for a while. It can feel really uncomfortable. I used to beat myself up if something wasn’t coming easy to me. It takes time to create. The more you try to force it, the more frustrating it will become. It is important to take a break when you hit a wall. When I am burnt out, I give myself a week to catch my breath and clear my head. Pursuing a creative path can be emotionally draining. I think there may always be a little voice in the back of my head whispering, “You’re not good enough.” I can’t silence that voice, but I can acknowledge it for what it is. It is a feeling, not a fact. As soon as I stopped bottling up my negative emotions, the more at peace I had as a writer. Balance looks different for each person. Celebrate the little accomplishments. Even If you were only able to write for fifteen minutes, be proud of yourself. Every little bit counts. You can’t give it your all every single day. You have to find a routine that works for your life.

Okay, I’m itching to know more about your work in the library. How long have you been a librarian? And which library do you currently work in (if you feel comfortable mentioning)?

I have been working for a Multnomah County Library for about three years. It is a three-story building, which lends itself to housing many books. I am actually not a librarian, but just a library worker. I shelve books, make library cards, and do many things to help patrons get what they’re looking for. I share a lot of the work with the librarians, but they are much more qualified and educated than me. Before working in a library, I thought everyone who worked there had a Master’s Degree in Library Science. I was pleasantly surprised to learn this wasn’t the case. There are workers with varying levels of education. This made it possible for me to work in such a cool place.

Have you been able to host any author events at your local library? 

I haven’t. To be honest, I feel sort of sheepish when it comes to talking about my book at work. This past year, I have been trying to come out of my shell more and be better at sharing my accomplishments with the people around me. 

My book on display at our library!

Speaking of local author events, I’d love to hear about any events you’ve been able to participate in: local/virtual school visits, bookstore visits, library storytimes, etc.

I have done two events at local bookstores. My first event was at Herringbone Books in Redmond, Oregon. I also did a reading at Green Bean Books as part of their back-to-school storytime. I feel very grateful for how kind everyone at these stores was. Last year, I got to visit my brother’s second grade class. It was my first time seeing him in teaching mode. His students were thrilled to meet their teacher’s sister. They were such an engaged audience. I brought little papers so they could make their own notes. I loved seeing how excited they were as they picked their papers and brainstormed what they wanted to write.

My first event at Herringbone Books in Redmond, Oregon!

What has the response to your books and/or events been? Have you had any particularly positive/kind responses while visiting with patrons/classrooms/families? (This could be anything! A kind card. A hand-drawn picture. A thoughtful comment. Etc. Again, if you have pictures you’d like to share, please email them to me as attachments to chelseasworldofbooks@gmail.com)

For the few events I have done, I went into them feeling super nervous. I became a writer because I liked the isolation of it, so being the center of attention is something I struggle with. Despite my nerves, everyone has been so wonderful to me at these events. Someone who had reached out to me through social media months earlier was able to attend one of my events. It felt so amazing to have someone support me in that way. Her kind message had meant so much to me, making me cry happy tears. Getting to meet her in person was so special.

What have been some of your greatest highlights/memories/milestones on the publishing journey? (Again, if you have pictures you’d like to share, please email them 

Seeing my book on a library shelf was definitely a pinch me moment. As I was going about my regular day at work, I looked up to discover it sitting there. It was in the company of so many wonderful stories. It was surreal. Another big moment for me was when I found out my book made it onto the Children’s Books Council’s (CBC) 2024 Children’s Favorite list and Teacher Favorite list. It was such an honor to be included. It helped me feel confident at a time when my imposter syndrome was at its height. 

Okay, we’ve arrived at the book portion of the interview. Please tell us about your books! 

My book, Angel and the Paper Trail is about a young boy who is new to his school and struggling to make friends. He finds a mysterious note inside a book at the school’s library and sets off to find out who wrote it. With the help of his classmate, he begins his search. With each clue they follow, their search team grows. 

This story was inspired by the time I spent at the library when I was younger. I hid many notes in library books and wondered if anybody ever found them. 

What do you hope your readers, big and small, will experience and/or gain from your stories?

I just hope to bring a little bit of joy and comfort to readers. If readers walk away with a smile, then my job has been done. 

Any last words of wisdom you’d like to share with our readers today?

A creative path is not an easy path, but it is so rewarding to do what you love. It may feel as if you are not moving forward, but you are making more progress than you think. Accept support and find ways to support others. This community is full of so much kindness. Root for others’ successes, and remember, your moment will come, too. 

Thank you so much, Makenzie, for joining us on Chelsea’s World of Books Blog.

Thank you so much for having me! Getting to be a part of this makes me feel like the real deal! And now… it’s time for a GIVEAWAY!

GIVEAWAY PRIZE: A FREE COPY OF ANGEL AND THE PAPER TRAIL

Makenzie is giving away 3 PRIZES (TOTAL) TO 3 WINNERS (TOTAL): 1 PRIZE PER WINNER.

HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

  • Leave a comment on this post!
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That’s it!

Want extra entries? Share and tag on X @chellysbooks or Instagram @chelseasworldofbooks, and I’ll add your additional entry to the giveaway pool.

DEADLINE TO ENTER: THE LAST DAY OF THE FEBRUARY 2025 BY 11:59 PM CST

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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

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Makenzie Hice grew up in Bend, Oregon, where she first fell in love with storytelling through filmmaking. She spent her summer days walking to her library and leaving notes in books. While attending Portland State University to study film, she uncovered her passion for screenwriting. After receiving the invaluable advice to try writing for other forms, she decided to take a chance at fulfilling her dream of writing a picture book. She currently works in a library where she is happy to be surrounded and inspired by thousands of stories. From time to time, she even gets the fortune of checking in and shelving a copy of Angel and the Paper Trail. Connect with Makenzie on Instagram @makenziehicewrites.

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

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CanvasRebel Magazine, Interview with Kidlit Author, blogger, Entrepreneur- Chelsea DiCicco

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

As a creative entrepreneur, it’s my belief that shared experiences are part of the cornerstone for continued growth and success. Having the mindset that you can learn from anyone or any experience opens the door to limitless opportunities and helps you stay a forever student. Which is why I’m so passionate about sharing people’s stories!

If you’re a regular on my blog, you’re probably familiar with the Feature Interview segment, which features guests from all around the world sharing their literary journeys. Hosting these guests on my blog every month brings me such joy because I know that somewhere out there, it’s helping someone else grow!

Normally, I spend my time happily on the side of the host, but at the beginning of January 2025, I was approached by Sarah Garcia, a member of the editorial team of CanvasRebel Magazine, and invited to the other side as one of their interview guests. If you’re unfamiliar with CanvasRebel, they’re a fabulous organization whose mission is “to create a space for artists, creatives, and entrepreneurs to be able to learn from their peers through the magic and power of storytelling.” Which, for me, as a writer and literary blogger, is right up my alley. So, I immediately, without hesitation, said YES!

Our interview went live on January 20th, 2025, in their ‘Stories and Insights.’ During the course of our interview together, we talked about what it takes to be successful, shared writing resources, and discussed resilience in the face of difficulty. READ MORE…

JANUARY 2025 FEATURE INTERVIEW WITH SPECIAL GUEST CHILDREN’S AUTHOR LISA KATZENBERGER, CONDUCTED BY CHILDREN’S BOOK WRITER, BLOGGER, AND FORMER LIBRARIAN CHELSEA DICICCO

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

This year, we’re jumping into our Feature Interview segment with a guest who is every bit as lovely inside as she is out. Please welcome- Lisa Katzenberger! Lisa is a Children’s Book author known best for her beautifully written SEL stories that feature themes like being true to yourself, overcoming fears, and what it means to be a friend. But beyond her wonderfully charming stories, Lisa also wears many other literary hats, including her hat as a Writing Barn faculty member and writing instructor for classes like Write Submit Support. Which (fun fact) is actually how we met!

Before we get started with our interview, if this is your first time visiting, here’s a sliver of what you’ll find here on the blog. THE BLOG houses pretty much an endless array of resources and helpful tips for writers and illustrators- and the list is always growing, but one of the most popular and truly incredible things that the blog has to offer is the FEATURE INTERVIEW segment, founded in 2022 and hosted by yours truly, Chelsea DiCicco.

You might be wondering…

WHAT ARE THEY?

WHO ARE THEY FOR?

HOW CAN THEY HELP ME?

Let me shed some light…

Feature Interviews are a monthly collaboration of industry professionals, including authors, illustrators, editors, and agents, having real conversations about the ins and outs of publishing. Many featured guests were at one time, or currently are, also educators, librarians, or booksellers. Their input and perspectives on publishing bring an invaluable amount of knowledge both for newly aspiring authors and/or illustrators, as well as those who are well-established.

These conversations help provide writers and illustrators with tools and insight by giving them an up-close look at publishing across a diverse collection of viewpoints from different sides of the desk. Every month, we dig deep into the behind-the-scenes of publishing, share tips and resources, and provide answers to common (and not-so-common) questions. We also offer PRIZE giveaway opportunities to all readers who take the time to either leave a comment on the blog post or share it on social media. Prizes include free merchandise, one-on-one Zoom mentor calls or Ask-Me-Anythings, manuscript critiques, and more.

Now that we know what’s in store, let’s get this ball rolling!

Lisa, it’s so truly fantastic to have you here with us today. What an exciting way to kick off the new year. How’s the beginning of the new year treating you so far?

Hi Chelsea! Thank you for having me. My new year is starting off great after a very busy 2024, which ended with me running out of steam and realizing I needed to take a nice long break. I did, and I’m back and ready to hit the ground running in 2025! 

Okay, first question. Where are you located? This is a new one, but I think it will be nice for readers to see where on the globe our friends are. Last year, I had people from all parts of the world join this segment. Maybe to celebrate the five-year mark, I’ll do a world map with pins on it to see how many locations we’ve reached. It would also be neat if some of our writers could form local connections this way. I befriended a few local authors last year thanks to the Manuscript Academy podcast. Shoutout to Molly McCaffrey, now M Hendrix. 😊 Turns out we’re in the same SCBWI chapter!

I’m located in the western suburbs of Chicago, in La Grange, Illinois. I’ve lived in the Chicago area my entire life.

Lisa, where and when did your love for writing manifest?

I remember it so clearly! I was in third grade, and we were writing stories in class. Mine was about a haunted house. But when the lesson was over, I just didn’t want to stop writing–I had more story to tell! I told my teacher and she let me keep writing as long as I liked. I was hooked!

Tell us about your journey into kidlit. How did you end where you are today? And when did that journey begin?

I started writing stories in grade school – for several years I took an advanced English class that I think was called TREK, but I never knew what it stood for! But we got to do a lot of creative writing – writing stories and poetry, and I learned about things like alliteration and personification. It was fascinating. I kept writing a bit in high school, then more so in college, where I learned about the short story form and also worked on my college newspaper (which was a blast!). After college, I got a job as a technical writer, and while I was good at it and grateful for a steady salary, I was bored out of my mind. I kept writing stories in notebooks and journals and eventually took my first online creative writing class through Writer’s Digest University. That’s when I began to consider writing for publication, working on short stories and then eventually novels for adults. I’ve had a handful of short stories published and have two and a half novels sitting in the proverbial drawer. But when I had my kids in 2010, and started taking them to library storytimes and reading board books and picture books, that’s when I switched to writing for kids! I joined SCBWI, 12×12, Storystorm, and every challenge you could find. I scoured the KidLit411 website (a FREE gem of information), read every blog post, attended conferences, took classes at The Writing Barn, and just sat down and wrote and wrote and wrote. At this point, I’m represented by Wendi Gu of HG Literary and I’ve had six kidlit books published!

What made you decide to take the route to traditional publishing vs. independent? Explain.

When I first started thinking about getting published, I honestly didn’t realize independent publishing was an option. I still don’t know much about that landscape, but I do appreciate there are lots of different options for creators to get their stories out in the world.

How were you able to find your agent match, and what made you know she was the right one for you? Explain.

I’ve been represented by Wendi Gu for about six years, and she is my second agent. When I was querying the second time around, I was much more focused, had my debut PB under contract, and was further along in my writing career, so it was a shorter process. I loved so many things about Wendi—her warm personality, her Chicago upbringing, her track record selling kidlit, amazing references from clients, and her insight into my stories. But what really won me over (I did have multiple representation offers) was that she told me which stories I shared with her that she thought she could sell and which were just not hitting things right. I knew she would be honest with me, but give her feedback professionally and kindly. Wendi has continued to both support and challenge me over the years, and I’ve grown under her guidance. I am very lucky to have a partnership with her.

Were there any challenges that you faced at the beginning of your publishing journey? If so, what were they, and how were you able to overcome them?

My relationship with my first agent only lasted a couple years, and it was so hard for me to admit that it just wasn’t the right fit. I asked around to a lot of friends who I had made in the kidlit world for advice, and they helped me come to the conclusion that it would be OK to move on and I wouldn’t lose steam in my writing career. It was a scary move to make but has worked out in the long run.

For writers and illustrators who may be facing similar challenges, what advice would you give them?

If you are struggling in your relationship with your agent, be very honest with yourself if this person is helping or hurting you. Are you waiting weeks or months for replies to emails? You shouldn’t have to! Are you afraid you are “bothering” your agent? You aren’t! You are their client, and they want to help you develop your craft and sell your books. If they aren’t doing this, don’t hold on with someone who is not respecting you, your time, and the work of your heart.

What have been some of the greatest highlights of your publishing career? Explain.

One of my favorite highlights was seeing my debut picture book, NATIONAL REGULAR AVERAGE ORDINARY DAY, illustrated by Barbara Bakos, on display at my local independent bookstore, Anderson’s Bookshop. I went with my sister Krista, who was there to pick up a big order she had placed to give copies of my book to her friends and fellow teachers. Krista has since passed away, but she was my biggest fan. I will never forget how excited she was for me.

Me and my daughter Sydney at Anderson’s Bookshop with NATIONAL REGULAR AVERAGE ORDINARY DAY – Krista took this picture.

What have been some of the most difficult things you’ve faced on your publishing journey?

Handling the rejections. For a while, I was getting a thick skin, but over time, the rejections have started to hurt again. The last three books I’ve had out on submission have not sold. I try to focus on my current work, but there’s still heartache when a story you’ve worked so hard on isn’t picked up.

What’s the worst piece of writing advice you’ve ever been told?

I honestly can’t think of any bad writing advice I’ve received! I try to take some sort of learning from everything.

What’s the best?

Slow down. When I’m drafting, I have a tendency to rush through the emotional moments in a story, the parts that hit your heart and make a reader root for the main character. When I go back to revise, I have to remember to slow down pivotal moments in a story to really let the reader know what the character is experiencing.

What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever been told?
“Slow down.” – Lisa Katzenberger

Do you have any favorite resources or communities that were especially influential to your writing journey that you’d recommend to other creators? If so, which ones and why/how were they able to help you?

The Writing Barn and the 12×12 Picture Book Challenge were both instrumental to my picture book career. I took classes through The Writing Barn and attended their retreats starting in 2017, and I had a mentorship with the wonderful Bethany Hegedus, who taught me so much and offered endless support and encouragement. With 12×12, in my first few years of writing picture books, I cranked out draft after draft. It was the practice I needed to learn how to craft a good story, and I met so many fellow writers who are now good friends!

Let’s talk a little about writing craft. Can you tell our readers what “craft” is all about and why it’s important to sharpen and hone those skills?

This is a great question, and it brings up a special memory. In the early 2000s, I was writing short stories and attempting to write my first novel. I was taking a class online through AOL messenger (yes, I’ve been at this for that long!,) and I remember the instructor using the word “craft” and I asked him what that word meant. I kind of felt silly afterward when I understood what he meant, but it reminds me that we all have to start somewhere, and there really are no bad questions.

Now, the tricky part is how in the world would I describe the craft of writing? I would say it’s the combination of the art and science of the creative writing process. Things like learning how to choose the best point of view, defining your protagonist’s voice, and identifying your story’s major plot points. 

What are some ways writers can learn to better their craft?

Read a lot! You will learn so much from reading stories – both in the genre you like to write and outside of it. Take classes, go to webinars, attend conferences. Meet other writers and talk about the writing process. Work with critique partners to get feedback on your stories. Try lots of different approaches in a story – experiment and have fun!

“Read a lot! You will learn so much from reading stories – both in the genre you like to write and outside of it. Take classes, go to webinars, attend conferences. Meet other writers and talk about the writing process. Work with critique partners to get feedback on your stories. Try lots of different approaches in a story – experiment and have fun!” -Lisa Katzenberger

While we’re on the topic of learning and improving, can you tell us a little bit about the other literary work you do outside of writing and publishing books for kids?

I teach writing courses online as well! I have taught classes or webinars through The Writing Barn, SCBWI, Inked Voices, and 12×12.

How did you end up working as a writing instructor? And do you feel this helps ground you in the literary world and also helps strengthen your own skills as a writer?

From 2017-2020, I attended three retreats at The Writing Barn, took two online classes, and began a mentorship with Bethany. Bethany and I got to be good friends, and as my work became published, she asked me to teach Perfecting the Picture Book I at The Writing Barn. From there, I taught other courses at the Writing Barn and did webinars for Inked Voices, SCBWI, and 12×12. Part of the joy of teaching is giving back to the writing community and sharing the knowledge I’ve gained over the years. It also helps me remember that we are all constantly learning – I still take classes and webinars all the time. I am inspired and encouraged by my students, and when they take chances with their work and push themselves, it inspires me to do the same.

The Writing Barn, Austin Texas

“Part of the joy of teaching is giving back to the writing community and sharing the knowledge I’ve gained over the years. It also helps me remember that we are all constantly learning…” -Lisa Katzenberger

Speaking of your writing, I’d love to talk some about writing SEL picture books. As you know, I love SEL picture books and quiet stories with lots of heart and sentiment. Your books are always favorites of mine. They always leave me feeling the warm fuzzies. You know when I get those because usually, I close the book and hold it to my chest and smile. Sometimes, I’ll even shut my eyes to savor the moment. For readers who may be wondering what SEL is, could you share a little more about what SEL books are?

SEL stands for Social Emotional Learning. In my research about SEL over the years, I found this definition from CASEL to be helpful: “SEL is the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions.”

CASEL SEL Framework

Now, SEL picture books can be a hard sell for a lot of reasons. For one thing, your craft has to be just right for the story to really sing. And just because you have a lovely message doesn’t necessarily mean that a kid will find it lovely. So, it’s a delicate balance of finding the “kid” voice, tempered with the right pacing and right heart levels, and making sure it’s enjoyable for the readers (big and small). It’s really quite the master balancing act! But you always manage to do it so well. Can you tell our readers what your secret to writing a perfect SEL story is?

I see SEL books as those that focus more on how a character feels rather than what they do. These books are not as heavy on plot and may focus on exploring a specific emotion like empathy. For a great list of examples, check out librarian Betsy Bird’s recent list.

Oh gosh, I don’t know that I possess any secrets! But what I do have is a ton of tenacity. My SEL books take much longer for me to write. I go through 40-50 revisions over the course of several years. When there is a theme that is important to me, and I really want to tell a specific story, I really dig my heels in and refuse to give up! 

“When there is a theme that is important to me, and I really want to tell a specific story, I really dig my heels in and refuse to give up!” -Lisa Katzenberger

What are some hints and/or tips you can share with a writer on how to tighten or improve their SEL story? Do you have a magic checklist for what makes a SEL story sing?

I don’t have a checklist, but I often teach about thinking of the emotional shift in an SEL book. If it’s a story where your character changes (and they don’t have to!) you can look at what the emotional arc of their story is. For IT WILL BE OK: A Story of Empathy, Kindness, and Friendship, Giraffe moves from anxious to empathetic. In I CAN DO IT EVEN IF I’M SCARED: Finding The Brave You, the characters move from scared to brave. 

A map of the Plot and Emotion ARCS in IT WILL BE OKAY

-I love this visual of your story arc. It’s so helpful! Thanks for sharing.

Okay, time to celebrate some happy things. What have been some of the positive responses you’ve received from readers? And how did their words/actions make you feel?

I have been doing school visits this past year, and I love meeting with young readers. As they are coming into the presentation, some of them will ask me, “Are you The Author?” like it’s an official title. I think letting kids see the creator behind books helps them realize that they, too, could grow up to be an author or whatever they dream of being!

Lisa at a school visit

What are three things that instantaneously make you smile when you think about your career as a Children’s Book Author?

I get to make things up all day, I’m my own boss, and I can make kids think or feel something new.

-All wonderful things!

If you could share some words of wisdom with other writers and illustrators, pertaining to publishing and/or life, what would they be?

My 88-year-old mom, bless her heart, always says, “getting old isn’t for sissies!” You have to be a tough cookie to survive this publishing business, too. It is all really, really hard. The rejection, the self-doubt, the waiting (so much waiting!), the odds being stacked against us. And when you get to one milestone (say, signing with an agent), you realize there are a bunch of other milestones after that (selling a manuscript to an editor, getting your books into stores, having a decent sales record, the opportunity to sell another manuscript). There are so many points in this process where it would be SO easy to just throw your hands up and walk away. But please don’t! The world needs your stories – and not just the kids – the parents, teachers, and librarians need them too! Story is how we expand our worldview, learn something new, have a good laugh, or see ourselves reflected. As creators, we are doing important work for this world – keep at it! 

-Oh my gosh, I love this!!

Let’s talk about books! Could you tell us about some of your books and your inspiration behind writing them?

Most of my books were inspired by real-life events! Here is some background:

-Ooh, I did not know that! FUN FACTS with Lisa! Tell us more…

CROC & GATOR: Swamp Ranger School was inspired by my family travels. We took a swamp tour in Louisiana and I was fascinated with the setting. When I created my characters, and needed to give them a job, I was inspired by the National Park Service Junior Ranger program that my kids have participated in.

IT BELONGS TO THE WORLD: Frederick Banting and the Discovery of Insulin was inspired by my son Ryan who was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes and requires a constant supply of insulin to survive.

I CAN DO IT EVEN IF I’M SCARED: Finding The Brave You was inspired by my experiences in therapy. I talk about it in this interview with Psychology Today, as well as the Author’s Note at the beginning of the book.

Do you have any fun/exciting stories about things that have happened with any of your books?

For A LOVE LETTER TO MY LIBRARY, illustrated by Rob Sayegh Jr, I commissioned a unique song from the amazing Emily Arrow. I use it at storytimes and school visits, and it’s been a lot of fun. Emily uses ASL and hand motions in the video. When I was doing school visits this fall, one librarian had shown her students the video prior to my arrival. I was worried they would be bored watching it again, but when I played the videos, they all started singing along and signing! I got goosebumps – it was so sweet! You can watch Emily’s video here.

-How amazing! I love that you did this. What a fantastic resource for ASL. And I can only imagine how fun it must have been to have this experience with the kids. Thanks for sharing, Lisa!

Students watch Emily Arrow sing the song she created to accompany A LOVE LETTER TO MY LIBRARY.

What do you hope readers will feel while and/or after reading one of your books?

I hope that they feel hopeful! Hopeful that they can be brave, talk about their feelings, be a good friend, or discover something new.

-I love this response! So beautiful!

Is there anything else you’d like our readers to know?

I feel like I am at this weird point in my career where I’ve achieved so many of my initial goals, and yet at the same time, I feel like I don’t know if I’ll be lucky enough to keep going. In the past few months, I’ve been working with a career coach to focus on what success means to me and what steps I need to take to achieve that. Thinking about being a full-time author as a career I want to maintain has been intimidating, but I am hoping that if I continue to work hard and a little luck still falls my way, I will be able to keep writing books for a long time.

Lisa, thank you so much for joining us today and for all that you do for the kidlit community and your readers (big and small!) You bring so much courage and care to your work, and it truly makes a difference. We appreciate you!!

Now it’s time for…

OUR GIVEAWAY!!!

HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

Leave a comment on this post and/or share it on social media and tag me X @chellysbooks or Instagram @chelseasworldofbooks ** Every time you share this post to a new platform and tag me, that counts as an extra giveaway entry.**

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DEADLINE TO ENTER: January 31st, 2025 by 11:59 PM CST

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

Purchase I CAN DO IT EVEN IF I’M SCARED: Finding the Brave You

Purchase A LOVE LETTER TO MY LIBRARY

Purchase IT BELONGS TO THE WORLD: Frederick Banting and the Discovery of Insulin

Purchase CROC & GATOR: Swamp Ranger School

Purchase IT WILL BE OK: A Story of Empathy, Kindness, and Friendship

Lisa Katzenberger: Author

Writes: Picture Books, Chapter Books

Traditionally published – meaning her work has been acquired by an editor at a publishing house, not a vanity/paid-for service or press.

Represented by literary agent Wendi Gu.

BIO Lisa Katzenberger has been writing stories since she was a kid. Books have been a part of her life since her mom took her to their local library each week, letting her roam around the children’s section, picking out whatever she wanted to read. She loved escaping into stories, and she still can’t believe she gets to write them for kids now! Lisa is the author of I CAN DO IT EVEN IF I’M SCARED: Finding the Brave You, A LOVE LETTER TO MY LIBRARY, IT BELONGS TO THE WORLD: Frederick Banting and the Discovery of Insulin, IT WILL BE OK: A Story of Empathy, Kindness, and Friendship, and CROC & GATOR: Swamp Ranger School. She is on the faculty of The Writing Barn, where she teaches picture book writing courses and serves on the Board of Trustees of her local library. Lisa lives near Chicago with her husband and two children.

CONNECT http://www.lisakatzenberger.com Instagram: @lisakatz17 Twitter: @FictionCity BlueSky: @lisakatzenberger.bsky.social

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

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

DECEMBER 18TH, 2024, FEATURE INTERVIEW WITH AWARD-WINNING ALASKAN CHILDREN’S BOOK AUTHOR BROOKE HARTMAN, CONDUCTED BY CHILDREN’S BOOK WRITER, BLOGGER, AND FORMER LIBRARIAN CHELSEA DICICCO

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

Today, I’m talking with Alaskan mom and award-winning author of fun books for kids, Brooke Hartman. In addition to writing books for kids, Brooke also serves as an Adjunct Instructor of Writing and Publishing for Alaska Pacific University and as a board member (Treasurer & Conference Committee) for the Alaska Writers Guild.

We’ll be discussing behind-the-scenes publishing and answering questions like how to know WHEN a story is ready to start querying/submitting to an agent/editor, how to handle rejection, and when to know it’s time to shelve a project.

And sharing tips on how to balance motherhood with writing.

But before we jump into our interview… 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!

INTRODUCTIONS + BEGINNING STAGES OF PUBLISHING

Brooke, it’s so nice to have you on the blog with us today for our last feature interview of 2024. I hope your year has been amazing. Before we get into the meat of our interview, tell us, where are you from, and what do you write?

Hello, Chelsea! I was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska, and despite multiple escape attempts, I still live here today. Don’t get me wrong, this state is BREATHTAKING, and a visit should definitely be on everyone’s bucket list. But after seven months of snow, even my die-hard Alaskan husband gets cabin fever.  

And are you currently agented? If so, by who, and what agency?

I’m agented by the talented and wonderful Sera Rivers of Speilberg Literacy. 

Wonderful! Thank you for sharing. When did you start seriously pursuing publication, and what was that early journey like?  

Like many authors, I started writing as a young kiddo, always scribbling poems or turning essay assignments into stories (often to my teacher’s chagrin). Then, in my early twenties, I came up with a story idea for a young adult fantasy novel and hit that laptop HARD. Over the next decade, I edited that manuscript probably half a dozen times and even had an agent for it at one point! But if there’s anything I’ve learned in the publishing industry, it’s that writing has to land at the exact right moment at the exact right time, and we never can tell when that time and place may be. When my first kiddo was born in 2012, my creative writing juices started forming into new picture book popsicle shapes, so I turned my pen (er, laptop) toward that format…  and loved it! My first picture book came out in 2019, and this last year, I released my seventh and eighth books. That YA fantasy might still be simmering on my laptop somewhere, but It still led me on quite the publishing journey nonetheless! 

Were there any writing organizations, groups, or something else that helped you in those early stages of your publishing? 

If you aren’t a member of SCBWI, stop reading this right now and go join (don’t worry, you can come back and read the rest of this later). Attending conferences, reading The Book from cover to cover multiple times, and being an active member of local SCBWI critique groups and events were essential to my path to publication. I also joined a local writing organization, the Alaska Writers Guild, which teams up with our local chapter of SCBWI for an annual conference. The editors, agents, and other publishing professionals I’ve had the chance to interact with and receive writing feedback from have been invaluable. 

You mentioned that you’re a mom. And as pretty much everyone knows, being a mom is basically already a FULL-TIME job. What has your experience been like writing for kids while raising them? And how have you been able to balance your publishing career with motherhood? 

I’m a mom of two semi-young kiddos and have a day job in behavioral health, so squeezing in writing time isn’t easy. But I’ve found that if I don’t find time to write, I become a very grouchy person! To help me focus on writing, I go to my nearby Starbucks, where I basically have my own table at this point. At the coffee shop, no dogs need to be walked, no laundry needs to be folded, and no closets need organizing. Leaving all the distractions of home behind really helps force me to open that laptop and write!

I’m sure there are some moms out there (hopefully reading this blog article today) with wonderful story ideas in their heads, and maybe even written down, who might be a bit hesitant to make the jump into publishing. For any of those moms reading this article, what advice would you like to share with them?

As moms, we can have ALL the ideas and NONE of the time! We’re already so stretched thin with kids’, kid activities, making dinner and all the lunches, and sometimes the requirements of a day job that finding time to even think about thinking about writing seems tough. I’ve found that looking over my weekly schedule and trying to pinpoint (and create) those little nuggets of time to write and then sticking to those times helps a lot. For instance, if I already have an appointment or work event on Tuesday, I try to cram my grocery shopping and anything else on that day, which leaves Monday and maybe Wednesday for more of an open time to write.

“…if there’s anything I’ve learned in the publishing industry, it’s that writing has to land at the exact right moment at the exact right time, and we never can tell when that time and place may be.” – Brooke Hartman

“At the coffee shop, no dogs need to be walked, no laundry needs to be folded, and no closets need organizing. Leaving all the distractions of home behind really helps force me to open that laptop and write!” – Brooke Hartman

BEHIND THE SCENES OF PUBLISHING: HOW TO KNOW WHEN A STORY IS READY + HANDLING REJECTION + SHELVING PROJECTS

“…projects might go to sleep for a while or even go into hibernation, but they’re never officially “dead”!” – Brooke Hartman

Okay, so we talked a little about the beginning stages of publishing. Now, let’s talk about some of those nitty-gritty details. One thing that many early writers struggle with is knowing “when” a story is really ready. How do you know when a story is truly ready to query/submit to an agent/editor?

The truth is… I have no clue when a story is ready! Sometimes, I think a story might need more work, and my critique group/agent/editor LOVE it. Other times, I wrestle with a project dozens of times, and still they find some issue with it. My only tactic that seems to work is to have my critique group go through any new project at least twice, once for the big issues and once again to make sure I fixed those big issues and for the little tweaks I’ might have missed. Then I send it to my agent and say, what do you think? If she gives it the thumbs up, then off it goes on its submission quest. What happens next is only a combination of luck, magic, held breaths, and wishing on 11:11s. 

Speaking of agents and editors, any writer in the traditional world of writing knows that rejection is a part of the process and it’s just a reality of publishing. Everybody faces rejection at one point or the other, and often, more often than not. But writers aren’t the only ones facing rejection. Agents are, too. And it stings every time. But, as you continue growing as a writer, each sting becomes a little less painful because you’ve adapted that thicker skin (which you really need to have) of endurance. That being said… for newer writers, those rejections can REALLY sting. How were you able to cope with rejection in your early stages of publishing?

This is my best advice for rejection (and if any readers take one thing away from this interview, I hope it’s this): always, always, always be working on more than one project at once. If you’re hedging all your bets on a single lonely picture book text to fulfill all your writerly hopes and dreams, I’m not saying you’ll automatically be rejected, but if you are, having at least two or three other projects in the works will help lessen that sting a LOT. I think of publishing as a game of darts; over time, writers get better at hitting the bullseye. But if you can throw multiple darts at once, that only ups the odds and makes it less painful if we miss the mark.

Such good advice! And so true.

For any new writers who may be reading this today, who may currently or recently have been facing rejection and fighting discouragement, what words of wisdom or comfort would you like to share with them?

In the immortal words of Jason Nesmith from Galaxy Quest, “Never give up, never surrender!” Just keep writing, getting feedback, and submitting. Write something new. Dust off something old. Get feedback anywhere and when you can. But also try to be savvy about how you’re submitting and when; if you keep getting the same feedback from peers or professionals, maybe it’s time to listen to them and give that angle a try. You can always save your first version and go back to it if that’s the one that speaks to your heart!

Oh my goodness. My dad would be cheering right now. Galaxy Quest is his favaorite movie, and he used to say this line all the time when I was a kid. Fun fact: he still says it now that I'm an adult too. Also, what terrific advice. Yes!

Now, let’s go in a different direction. Seasoned writers know that not all projects, realistically, will or can be published. Which means that sometimes, we have to shelve projects. And shelving a project doesn’t necessarily mean that it will never see the light of day. Sometimes, it means that it’s a project that isn’t right for today’s marketing climate… but it could be just right for tomorrow’s. And this is a tricky thing because so much of it is reliant on chance and unknown factors. What would you say is an indicator that it’s time to shelve a project? When do you know it’s time?

Man, I have too many shelved projects to count! To date, I have at least three or four projects that have gone on submission, and years later… crickets. But honestly, I don’t think a project is ever really shelved. You just never know when an agent or editor will say, Gosh I really wish I had a project about X. And they just named YOUR project! Case in point, the very first picture book I ever wrote back in 2012 is now on R&R with an editor. So, projects might go to sleep for a while or even go into hibernation, but they’re never officially “dead”!

I love that. What a great way of looking at it!

“This is my best advice for rejection (and if any readers take one thing away from this interview, I hope it’s this): always, always, always be working on more than one project at once.” – Brooke Hartman

“… I think of publishing as a game of darts; over time, writers get better at hitting the bullseye. But if you can throw multiple darts at once, that only ups the odds and makes it less painful if we miss the mark.” – Brooke Hartman

OVERCOMING ROAD BUMPS + EMBRACING THE JOURNEY + HIGHLIGHTS

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

This interview isn’t long enough to list all the challenges and speedbumps on my publishing journey. We’d need our own podcast just for that! But some of the biggest ones have been when two of my picture books that were contracted and almost complete (illustrated and everything!) suddenly found themselves without a publisher. One had to do with COVID (curse you, COVID!), and the other had to do with a sudden publisher buyout. 

*GASP* I can only imagine what you must have been feeling!

At both times, I felt gutted. I’d been so close to holding those books in my hands, only to have them swiped away at the last second. But guess what? Like the near-final Bluey episode, The Sign, you never know how bad luck can turn into good luck. As it turns out, both of those projects found new homes with absolutely wonderful publishers (one of which I’ll be releasing my third book with next year!) 

For those who may be facing similar challenges now, what words of wisdom would you like to offer?

While rejection can be devastating, you never know what it will lead to in the future. Keep an open mind and look forward!

Beatiful words of wisdom!

Okay, we've touched on the struggles. Now, let's talk about the wins. What have been some of your publishing highlights- this can be ANYTHING?!

Oh wow, I don’t know how I can narrow these down! Just seeing a book published is such a highlight. Only six or seven years ago, after writing with the intent to traditionally publish for over fifteen years, I was still wondering whether I’d ever be a published author. Now, I have eight books out and five more publishing in the next couple of years. But some of my real highlights have been seeing kiddos and parents at book events, and the mom or dad stops and exclaims, “Oh my gosh, this is YOUR book? It’s our son’s/daughter’s favorite; they read it every night!” There’s honestly no greater reward in publishing than that.

Speaking of highlights… let’s talk about visits!

“While rejection can be devastating, you never know what it will lead to in the future. Keep an open mind and look forward!” – Brooke Hartman

AUTHOR VISITS

We’d love to hear about some of your author visits. Where have you visited? When? And what kind of feedback did you receive? 

I do a lot of author visits here in Alaska, and they’re always full of new surprises. You never know what kids are going to ask, though I’m still trying new responses for the inevitable question of “How old are you?” Here’s what I’ve got so far:
-	I’m “Mom” years old
-	I was born before you were.
-	I was born before the internet was invented (this usually results in a few gasps from the audience)
-	I lost count! How old do you think I am?
I’m open to other suggestions if anyone has them!

For writers who are either newly published or soon to be, who may have questions about navigating author visits, could you tell us a little bit about how you handle your visits? Do you schedule them? If not you, is it the publisher? Do bookstores/libraries/schools reach out to you directly, or do you reach out to them, or is it a bit of both? Etc.

I schedule all my author visits. My schedule is so insane between kid activities, work events, and writing needs that I can’t even imagine anyone else trying to schedule these for me. But I do have a fun event coming up in February of 2025 with Bookelicious, a nationwide live virtual author visit (and you get five free books to boot)! It’s such a great opportunity for remote schools that don’t often get the opportunity to host a children’s book author in person or for schools that aren’t near where an author of interest may live. If you’re an educator, I highly suggest looking into Bookelicious’ upcoming author events; they’re spectacular!

That sounds amazing! Thanks for sharing that resource for our teachers out there (and maybe librarians too!)

Another GREAT thing for authors to know is that - your time is valuable. And while yes, you can definitely offer to do free events (especially for smaller, local community places, like perhaps your local library, or independent book store, which may not have as much funding), there’s also nothing wrong with getting paid for your time and services, especially when it involves some sort of commute. I saw that you have your Author Visit Rates listed on your website, which I think is such a fantastic thing for authors to do and be aware of doing. In reading this, it led me to a few other questions. For these visits, how does the pay side of things work? Are you paid upfront in full? Or is there a good-faith deposit made prior and the rest upon completion of the event? Are there extra fees/charges that need to be applied if you have to travel somewhere? Or do you only offer local and/or virtual visits? If you could share a little bit more about these details, that would be great.

I feel like having my author rates on my website helps avoid a lot of tough conversations, but in general, if a venue is reaching out to me to do an event, usually the idea is that they’ll be paying me based on my advertised rates. If I’m reaching out to them (say a bookstore or library to do a book launch event), then no fee is involved–the idea is that they’re helping spread the word about my new book while I help them with their Saturday storytime and craft hour, or something similar. If a fee is involved, I now always do a contract and/or invoice, depending on what sort of event it is. The total amount and when the fee is due is always listed on there somewhere. As for when it’s due, I usually have the payment due at or around the time of an event, keeping in mind that for school district-related events, they usually have to wait for the event to conclude before a check is cut. 

OKAY. Now it’s time for BOOKS.

BOOKS, BOOKS, BOOKS!

Your motto is that you write “fun books.” We’d love to hear more! Could you tell us about some of your stories and their inspirations?

I have a couple of rules I try to follow when writing all of my books:
1)	The story has to be fun and catchy, with perhaps a little nugget of learning or a heaping spoonful of nonfiction hidden in plain sight. For a lot of these, adding back matter really helps. It allows me to have fun with the story knowing all of the more nitty gritty nonfiction can be added at the end.
2)	The final book has to be something my husband would pull off the shelf to read to our kids. As far as picture books are concerned, he is the toughest critic I know and sets the bar high, but I strive to meet it every time! 

What do you hope your readers will come away with after reading one of your books?

First and foremost, I want them to have enjoyed the story, and maybe laugh a little. If they learned something in the process, even better!

Any last words of wisdom that you’d like to share with readers today?

Just this: so often, I’m approached by others who have written a story and want to know “how to get it published.” I give them much of the same advice I’ve given in this interview, but in the end, no two paths to publication are the same. Each individual has to find their own way for their own stories. It just takes dedication, research, time, and of course… writing!

Thank you so much for joining us today, Brooke.

But don’t go anywhere just yet because now it’s time for the PRIZE GIVEAWAY.

GIVEAWAY: For the month of December 2024, Brooke Hartman will be offering the following prize(s) to X winner(s).

Two winners will receive their choice of one of my books personalized and shipped to whoever they want!

HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

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

That’s it!

Want extra entries? Share and tag on X @chellysbooks or Instagram @chelseasworldofbooks, and I’ll add your additional entry to the giveaway pool.

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

FAQ:

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

Did you enjoy this interview?

Thank the author & host by purchasing 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 Littlest Airplane HERE

Purchase All Aboard the Alaska Train HERE

Purchase Klyde the Kraken Wants a Friend HERE

Purchase Pega Sisters Go To Camp HERE

Purchase Lotte’s Magical Paper Puppets HERE

Brooke Hartman is an Alaskan mom and award-winning author of fun books for kids. Her debut picture book, Dream Flights on Arctic Nights (West Margin Press, 2019) received a starred review from Kirkus and was a Children’s Bookshelf best book of the year; and her 2020 release, Lotte’s Magical Paper Puppets, the Woman Behind the First Animated Feature Film (2020, Page Street Kids) was a Poetry and Prose First Edition Book Selection. In spring 2022, she released The Littlest Airplane (April 2022, West Margin Press), which was selected for a 2023/2024 Alaska Battle Book, and Pega Sisters Go to Camp (May 2022, Page Street Kids). This last year, she released Klyde the Kraken Wants a Friend (April 2023, Hazy Dell Press) and Watch Out for the Lion (February 2023, Page Street Kids), which received a starred review from School Library Journal. Brooke has two more titles releasing in 2024: Little Narwhal Lost, a True Tale of Found Family (January 2023, Turner Publishing); and All Aboard the Alaska Train (March 2024, Red Comet Press). She will be releasing two additional titles with Sourcebooks eXplore in 2025 and 2026. Brooke also serves as an adjunct instructor of writing and publishing for Alaska Pacific University and is a member of the board of directors for the Alaska Writers Guild. When she isn’t writing, you can find her flying, fishing, and having fun with her family, enjoying all the magic life has to offer. Follow her adventures at www.BrookeAHartman.com or on social media @BrookesBooksAK.

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

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

DECEMBER 4TH, 2024 FEATURE INTERVIEW WITH CHILDREN’S BOOK AUTHOR EMMA PEARL, CONDUCTED BY CHILDREN’S BOOK WRITER, BLOGGER, AND FORMER LIBRARIAN CHELSEA DICICCO

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

In today’s feature interview, I’m talking with children’s author Emma Pearl about exciting ways of breaking into the kidlit market. Emma shares how she got her first book deal through a Twitter/X pitch event and shares tips for other creators on ways/places to go to participate and put themselves out there!

But before we jump in… 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!

INTRODUCTIONS AND EARLY BEGINNINGS

Emma, it’s such a treat to have you joining us today! I share your sentiment that all journeys to publication are unique and interesting, and yours is certainly an inspirational one. I can’t wait to dive into the story of your publication. I’d love to start our interview today back at the beginning.

What was your beginning inspiration for joining the world of kidlit? 

I’ve always loved reading and writing and have had a lifelong affinity with children’s literature. Stories can be so magical and transformative for young people – a place to escape, to explore yourself and your place in the world, to discover endless possibilities. I’m not sure there was a ‘beginning’; it’s just always been a passion of mine.

Have you always known that you wanted to be a writer, or is it something that you discovered later?

I’ve always known – as soon as I could hold a pencil, I was writing stories, stapling pieces of paper together to make books!

-Same!-

You had a pretty famous family member who also wrote for children. I’ll let you share who that mystery person is! What was that like growing up? And did their writing legacy influence you and your desire to write for kids?

Roald Dahl was my great-uncle, and I think it’s probably not a stretch to say that his legacy has had a profound influence on many people across the globe, including many children’s authors. He was a huge presence in my early childhood – a kind of magnetic, charismatic, mystical, and sometimes slightly intimidating locus of energy. Being at his house was always hugely exciting and a little scary – whether he was taking us on walks up to the woods and telling stories about the Witching Tree that grew there, showing us his giant greenhouse full of exotic and mysterious plants, letting us play in his Danny the Champion of the World caravan, or threatening to chuck all the children in the garbage! Plenty of inspiration for a young imagination.

I have to ask… do you have a favorite of one of your uncle’s books? If so, which and and why?

The Twits is dedicated to me, so that’s naturally a special book for me. But I think my favorite is Matilda – she’s just such an iconic female character. I also feel a personal connection to her, as I believe (although I can’t confirm it 100%) that Miss Trunchbull was at least partly based on one of my teachers!

-Oh my gosh... goosebumps! And yes, Matilda is absolutely brilliant. Also one of my favorites.-

(Learn more on Emma’s website!)

“Roald Dahl was my great-uncle… He was a huge presence in my early childhood – a kind of magnetic, charismatic, mystical, and sometimes slightly intimidating locus of energy.” – Emma Pearl @emmspearl

MRS Book Fair April 1979

Prior to publication, and maybe even still, what kind of work were/are you doing outside of writing, and did that somehow play a role in your journey to entering kidlit publishing?

I’ve worked in all kinds of jobs, from contemporary art to travel to professional regulation. I also worked in kidlit publishing in London for a couple of years in the late '90s, which I loved. I’m not sure these days whether work (i.e. earning a living) and writing kidlit are very closely aligned, sadly. 

Speaking of which… it’s time to jump into the when and how!
When and how did your publishing journey begin? 

Although I’d been writing stories all my life, my first ‘real’ step into the publishing world was in 2020 when I was selected as a mentee for the WriteMentor mentorship program. 

Let’s talk about those first steps as a new writer breaking into the industry. When you decided you wanted to pursue publication professionally, what were your first steps? Did you query agents and/or submit directly to editors?

I didn’t do either to start with – I was far too lacking in confidence! Before I applied for that mentorship, I had spent 4 years learning as much as I could from free resources online and practicing the craft. I also read as much as I possibly could.

Were there any writing groups or organizations that were especially instrumental in helping you in your beginning stages of writing? If so, what were they, and how did they help you?

WriteMentor was an amazing resource. I was a mentee in 2020 with a middle-grade novel, and in 2021 and 22, after I got my book deal, I was a picture book mentor for the same program. I learned as much from being a mentor as I did being a mentee, but the most valuable takeaways from all 3 years were the connections and feeling of community. I think WriteMentor’s tagline is ‘writing can be lonely, but it doesn’t need to be,’ which is so true and perfectly encapsulates what they do as an organization. If you haven’t discovered them yet, I recommend checking them out.

Can you tell us about some of the events and contests that you’ve participated in, which ones you would most recommend to other authors, and why?

There was a time when I would enter every free-to-enter contest and pitch event. It can be good for honing your craft, and obviously, it’s lovely if you get some recognition, but I think, in hindsight, it took a much bigger toll on my creativity and my mental well-being than I realized at the time. It can be very emotionally draining to be in that constant cycle of writing to a brief, submission, hope/excitement, and disappointment/rejection. Pitch events have a similar rollercoaster effect on the emotions. Although let’s face it – that’s what being a writer is all about, so it’s also very good practice! 

Pace yourself and don't feel pressured to participate in anything if you haven't the time or headspace to do it well or to handle disappointment.

One of my favorite contests is Vivian Kirkfield’s 50 Precious Words, which not only always has a ton of amazing entries and prizes but also includes a literacy initiative that gets books from an independent bookstore into schools. Everyone wins! 

As far as pitch events go, I’m honestly not sure which ones are still going, but one I used to love was Mood Pitch, where you had to post a mood board with your pitch - I’m an absolute sucker for those visual aesthetics!

Speaking of contests… let’s talk book deals and magical moments in publishing!

[Words of wisdom: Writing resource recommendations] “WriteMentor was an amazing resource. I think WriteMentor’s tagline is ‘writing can be lonely, but it doesn’t need to be,’ which is so true and perfectly encapsulates what they do as an organization.” -Emma Pearl

[Words of wisdom: Advice on writing contests + events] “Pace yourself and don’t feel pressured to participate in anything if you haven’t the time or headspace to do it well or to handle disappointment.” – Emma Pearl

[Writing contests + events] “Can be good for honing your craft, and obviously, it’s lovely if you get some recognition, but I think, in hindsight, it took a much bigger toll on my creativity and my mental well-being than I realized at the time. It can be very emotionally draining to be in that constant cycle of writing to a brief, submission, hope/excitement, and disappointment/rejection.” @emmspearl

“WriteMentor was an amazing resource. I was a mentee in 2020 with a middle-grade novel, and in 2021 and 22, after I got my book deal, I was a picture book mentor for the same program. I learned as much from being a mentor as I did being a mentee, but the most valuable takeaways from all 3 years were the connections and feeling of community.” @emmspearl

DREAM COME TRUE: MAGICAL MOMENTS IN PUBLISHING

In your application, you shared a unique experience about how you landed your first book deal. It’s one of those experiences that is a one-off and so exciting to hear about. Would you mind telling our readers about how you landed your first “big break?” I’m sure they’d love to hear about it!

Okay, I got my book deal on Twitter. There, I said it! I know it’s all gone a bit awry since the bird has flown from there, but back in the day, it was a wonderful place to connect with other writers and home to a thriving writing community. I entered every pitch event, and one of those was #PBPitch, for picture books only. I think it was held four times a year, and I did it maybe four or five times. I didn’t get any agent likes, but I received encouraging comments from other writers and enjoyed participating in the community interaction. I had zero expectations for anything else, so it was an incredible surprise when I received a like from the Page Street Kids editor on one of my pitches in October 2020. 

I love hearing experiences like this. It’s so hopeful for others. And I can only imagine how exciting this must have been for you! Could you walk us through some of the steps that took place after the Twitter event?

I sent the editor my manuscript straight away, and we went through a few rounds of revisions. By Christmas that year, I had a book deal! It was super exciting! A few minor tweaks were needed after the contract was signed, and then the publisher gave me a long list of potential illustrators and asked for my input. We ended up working with Sara Ugolotti, who did a stunning job of bringing the story to life.

You mentioned in your letter that you didn’t have an agent for your first two book deals. Was this intentional? Did you query agents after receiving your first two book deals?  Why or why not? 

I hadn’t actually started querying properly at this stage. I received some full requests from agents as a result of the WriteMentor showcase in September 2020, and I sent out a handful of queries around the same time (maybe three or four). Nothing materialized from the showcase in the end, but the pitch event happened, and I got busy (moving from the UK to New Zealand in the middle of the pandemic was a little crazy!), so querying was put on hold for a while.

So now, you do have an agent who represents your young adult work. How did that come about?

I finished writing another novel about a year later and began querying it in February 2022. This time, I was thorough and methodical (and lucky!), and I received an offer from Sera Rivers only 3 months later.

I’m curious about this. Was there a reason you sought representation for young adult but not children’s? Or did it just happen this way by chance?

To be honest, I’ve always been more focused on writing novels than picture books. It just happened that my picture book deal came out of the blue. In 2022, I queried my picture books and my novels but had far more agent interest in the novels despite already having picture books contracted. Every part of kidlit is so fiercely competitive, but I think picture books, possibly most of all.

Since you’ve had the unique experience of both having literary representation and also not having representation when handling book deals, could you share with our readers a little bit about what this process is like on both ends? 

I think the process depends very much on the publisher and on the agent – experiences can differ wildly whether you’re represented or not. I was very lucky to have a wonderful editorial experience with Kayla Tostevin at Page Street Kids, and I don’t think that being without an agent for that deal had any negative impact. My agent is also wonderful, and emotionally, it’s great to have her support during the submission process. We haven’t landed a book deal together yet, but she’s been very patient with me this year while I’ve had a bit of a hiatus for personal reasons, and she continues to believe in me and my stories. 

If someone was interested in submitting directly to an editor/publisher without having literary representation, what are some essential things they should know beforehand?

Do your research! There are plenty of publishers that accept un-agented submissions, but make sure you know who you’re submitting to (there are many resources online, but one I’ve found to be very useful is the list published by children’s author Bitsy Kemper), and that your story is a good fit with their list. Also, give yourself the best chance by not submitting until your manuscript is really ready, i.e., you have received as much feedback as you can handle, ideally from a supportive critique group, and taken it on board as far as it resonates. Polish that story until it shines!

Are there any recommendations or tips you have for writers who are on the fence about which way to go- to be agented or not to be agented? What are some of the pros/cons or help/freedoms of each?

It’s a very personal decision, so I hesitate to advise on this – what’s right for one person is definitely not right for all, and there is so much variability in publishing. I think most writers starting out would give anything to be published, with or without an agent. It’s wonderful to have an agent supporting and believing in you and also protecting your interests on the contractual side of things, but the traditional publishing route is not without its challenges, and there are certainly opportunities for un-agented writers, too. I would say, whichever path you find yourself on (it’s not always a choice!), give yourself grace and look after your mental health.

ADVICE FOR AUTHORS on traditional publishing without an agent: Do your research! There are plenty of publishers that accept unagented submissions, but make sure you know who you’re submitting to & give yourself the best chance by not submitting until your manuscript is ready!

[Words of wisdom: Choosing routes to publishing:] “What’s right for one person is definitely not right for all, and there is so much variability in publishing… traditional publishing is not without its challenges, and there are certainly opportunities for un-agented writers, too. …Whichever path you find yourself on… give yourself grace and look after your mental health.” -Emma Pearl

HURDLES & HIGHLIGHTS

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

Rejection is the biggest challenge, and I believe that’s the case for all writers, no matter where they are in their publishing journey. It’s constant, relentless, and brutal. I think having an agent helps with this because a) they act as a buffer so the rejections aren’t flying directly into your inbox (I know all agents work differently, but mine has a spreadsheet that I can look at when I choose to), and b) they are a great source of moral support and continue to believe in you no matter how many rejections you rack up!

For creators who may be facing similar struggles, what words of encouragement would you like to share?

Self-care is so important. Remind yourself often that signing with an agent or directly with an editor is a matter of good luck and serendipity as much as anything else, and try not to measure your progress or your self-worth by things that are outside of your control. Find cushions (e.g. collect all the uplifting comments you’ve received about your writing and keep them where you can see them; create a reward system for yourself for achieving your word count goals, submissions, and rejections) and barriers (e.g., create a separate inbox for querying and check it once a week or only when you feel strong) that work for you. Be kind to yourself!

-Such great advice!-

What have been some of the most rewarding, fulfilling, and happy moments of your publishing career so far?

Right now, I’m having an amazing experience – the British International School in Washington, DC, is about to put on a stage performance of Mending the Moon! It’s truly an author's dream come true for me and such a huge honor. Sadly, I won’t be able to see it in person, but I’m waiting with bated breath to see the recording of the performance. This happy event has also brought about another opportunity, as the student who’s playing the main character, Luna, is a budding young writer, and I’m delighted to be helping her hone her skills in a kind of unofficial mini-mentorship. These are honestly the kind of interactions that make being a children’s writer so incredible.

[Words of wisdom: Challenges in publishing + how to overcome them] “Rejection is the biggest challenge, and I believe that’s the case for all writers, no matter where they are in their publishing journey. It’s constant, relentless, and brutal. Self-care is so important. …Try not to measure your progress or your self-worth by things that are outside of your control. … Collect all the uplifting comments you’ve received about your writing and keep them where you can see them… Create a reward system for yourself for achieving your goals… Be kind to yourself!”

WORDS OF WISDOM

If you could share a piece of advice with readers today, publishing or otherwise, what would it be?

The world is a difficult place at the moment and it’s easy to feel powerless, insignificant, overwhelmed and despairing. Focus on the present – what can you do now? What is within your control? All any of us can do is our best, but we can do that in everything we do, even the boring, menial tasks. And be kind – to others, to the planet, and most importantly, to yourself!

BOOKS!

Okay, it’s time for the books. Tell us about your work! What are your books about? What was their inspiration? All the fun details!

What do you hope your readers will gain from your stories?
I hope that readers of all ages will feel a sense of joy and wonder at the magic of nature and maybe feel inspired to follow Luna’s example – not to feel helpless and overwhelmed at the scale of the problems that need fixing, but to just do whatever is within your power to do, however small it may be. On a more personal level, I think it’s a story that parents and grandparents will enjoy reading with their children, and it’s a joy to me to hear when people simply love the story – and the beautiful illustrations, of course.

Have you been able to host any author events either in-person or virtually? If so, where? And what kind of event? We’d love to hear all about it! Pictures are great, too, if you have them!

I’ve done a few library and bookshop events and some school visits. But living in New Zealand makes it all quite difficult. I’ve participated in a couple of virtual panels hosted by the amazing Books of Wonder in NY (Mending the Moon available here and Saving the Sun available here ), which were great fun. But I guess the funniest story was the bookshop event where no one turned up, and my post about putting on a brave face but feeling crushed went viral!
In this Feature Interview, Children's author Emma Pearl shares exciting ways to break into the kidlit market. Emma discusses how she got her first book deal through a Twitter/X pitch event + offers tips for other writers! Don't forget to COMMENT on the blog post to be entered into the GIVEAWAY POOL! Deadline to enter: 11:59 PM CST December 31st, 2024.
What kind of responses have you had from readers, big and small?

I’ve had some amazing responses. The stories resonate particularly with grandparents as they feature a grandparent relationship, but have also been popular with teachers, as they are full of great learning points. But my favorite responses are when kids themselves pluck up the courage to tell me in person how much they loved the books. That really means the world.
 
Thank you so much for joining us on Chelsea’s World of Books literary blog. We love getting to know our writing friends better!

And now… 
It’s time for a GIVEAWAY!

GIVEAWAY:

For the month of December, Emma Pearl will be offering 2 prizes to 2 winners. (ONE prize per winner.)

PRIZES: One copy of Mending the Moon and one copy of Saving the Sun

HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

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

That’s it!

Want extra entries? Share and tag on X @chellysbooks or Instagram @chelseasworldofbooks, and I’ll add your additional entry to the giveaway pool.

DEADLINE TO ENTER: December 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).

AUTHOR + HOST BOOK LINKS AND IMAGES

PURCHASE ADHD and Me 

PURCHASE Saving the Sun 

PURCHASE Mending the Moon

EMMA PEARL AUTHOR BIO + CONNECT:

My debut picture book, Mending the Moon, in 2022, followed by Saving the Sun in 2023 (both illustrated by Sara Ugolotti and published by Page Street Kids). Originally from the UK, I live in New Zealand and write fiction for young people of all ages, from picture books to young adults. I am represented by Sera Rivers at Speilburg Literary.

emmapearlauthor.com Twitter: @emmspearl Instagram: @emmspearl Bluesky: emmspearl.bsky.social www.emmapearlauthor.com

A peek at Emma’s adorable and informative ‘Tell me why you think you’d be a good fit to be featured?’ answer for the 2024 Feature Interview application: “All journeys to publication are unique and interesting – my book deal came from a Twitter pitch event (#PBPitch), and I think those kind of one-in-a-million stories are always inspiring. I was un-agented for both book contracts and signed with my agent later for a YA novel. Also, Roald Dahl was my great uncle and dedicated The Twits to me, so that’s always a good conversation starter, too!“

Did you enjoy this interview?

Thank the author & host by purchasing/reviewing a copy of one of their books or by requesting it be purchased at your local library! Using the sponsored links below supports this blog. Looking for custom writer, librarian, or book-lover-themed swag and/or accessories? Visit my Zazzle store! Want to see a curated list of my personal favorite books and recommendations? Visit my bookshop page! Want to browse favorite writing accessories, books by genre, and cozy reading must-haves? Visit my Amazon Storefront!

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NOVEMBER 20TH FEATURE INTERVIEW WITH CHILDREN’S BOOK AUTHOR STEPHANIE WILDMAN HOSTED BY KIDLIT AUTHOR AND CREATOR OF CHELSEA’S WORLD OF BOOKS LITERARY BLOG, CHELSEA DICICCO

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

In this Feature Interview, Stephanie Wildman talks about her inspirational journey to publishing that began at age 69- and how it’s never too late to pursue your dreams!

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

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

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

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

What can these interviews offer YOU?

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

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

And more!

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

*If you’re interested in entering the giveaway, POST A COMMENT AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS FEATURE INTERVIEW! Want extra entries? Share a link to this article on X or IG and tag X @chellys books or IG @chelseasworldofbooks so I can add your extra entries!

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

INTRODUCTIONS AND BEGINNINGS: WHEN, WHY, HOW?

Stephanie, welcome to Chelsea’s World of Books Literary Blog. We’re so excited to have you with us! For our guests who may not be familiar with Stephanie, she’s the writer of five picture books, including Treasure Hunt (the first book in the Flor, Roberto, & Luis series), Brave in the Water, and a newly released picture book - this month- (congratulations!) Miri’s Moving Day (co-authored with Adam Ryan Chang, illustrated by Dream Chen). Stephanie, we can’t wait to hear about your books. But first, I’d love to learn more about you and your path to publishing. I always love starting my interviews by asking about the why. What was the “why” behind your decision to pursue children’s publishing as a career? Has writing always been something you’ve been passionate about, or did you discover your love of literature as an adult?

I have always loved libraries, reading, and writing. My fondest childhood memories are of trips with my family to the local library – usually in the early evening because my mom didn’t drive, but my father took us all after work. I created a pen name for myself in the fourth grade. Your question asks why I chose writing for children as a career – and I think, in fairness, I have to say I didn’t – I couldn’t see how to make a living at it, so I went to law school and became a law professor. Some of my friends would say I’ve always been a writer anyway since I wrote five books and dozens of law review articles in that career. But that writing was different than the focus on fiction for children that I now have, even though I still retain that social justice sensibility that drove my legal work.  Writing for children is my happy place, reminding me how I loved reading Beverly Cleary books, Munro Leaf’s Story of Ferdinand, and countless other books that took me to faraway worlds with people having different experiences. 

-This is just fascinating. I love hearing how people ended up in kidlit. And I think having writing for children as your happy place is a great way to look at it. Also, it’s beyond cute that you created a pen name in fourth grade!-

Writing for children is my happy place, reminding me how I loved reading Beverly Cleary books, Munro Leaf’s Story of Ferdinand, and countless other books that took me to faraway worlds with people having different experiences. 

I know you mentioned that your journey to publishing started later in life - at age 69 - which is just incredible! Your journey is definitely a testament to the statement, “It’s never too late to start something new!” I’d love to hear a little bit about what kind of work you were in prior to your career in publishing- and what influence your earlier acts played - if any - in your decision to enter kidlit publishing?

I guess I answered some of this question in the above response – isn’t that just like a law professor to anticipate and elaborate on the question? I will add that even in my legal writing I did tell stories to illustrate points I was trying to make. When I published the first edition of Privilege Revealed: How Invisible Preference Undermines America (with contributions by Margalynne Armstrong, Adrienne Davis & Trina Grillo), I sent a copy to my college creative writing teacher (yes, I took creative writing classes back then). She wrote back that now she saw “what creative writing classes were for.” Narrative storytelling is a great way to reach audiences of any age. As at least one craft book has aptly pointed out, our brains are wired for stories.

-How cool!-

So, we have a little background on earlier years. Now, I’m curious: what events led to you entering the kidlit publishing world? And when did your journey begin? We’d love to hear about your beginning steps! Querying agents/submitting to publishing houses, rejections, revisions, finding critique groups- all of it!

My kidlit publishing journey began when I made one of my best decisions ever – to take a class from Maxine Rose Schur, a wonderful writer, teacher, and now friend. I really knew nothing. I had an idea for a book (that became Brave in the Water), and Maxine said, “It’s a picture book.” I’m not artistic, so I was doubtful. I didn’t understand that the publisher picks the illustrator – I didn’t have to be artistic at all. From this class, I also learned about SCBWI (where I found a critique group) and 12x12 Picture Book Challenge (with educational webinars to continue my learning about craft). I began to understand a whole world of kid lit resources full of kind people existed. I did begin querying agents after many rewrites of Brave in the Water, which started at over 900 words. I learned it had to be under 500, which seemed impossible. I didn’t even understand that one should have several polished manuscripts to share before starting to submit to agents; I had only the one. While I did get some champagne rejections, along with form rejections and radio silence, too, I didn’t land an agent. But I had stayed in touch with Maxine. When we connected some months after the class, she said, “Haven’t you sold that book yet?” She had always believed in it, helping me with multiple revisions. When I told her I had not sold it, she suggested I send the manuscript directly to Lawley Publishing, a small woman-owned company. They accepted it within a month – a month that happened to be during the pandemic lockdown.

-This is incredible, Stephanie. Wow! Also, having writing friends like this who believe in us can be a huge game-changer. Sometimes, we don’t see the same magic in ourselves (or our stories) that others do… That imposter syndrome is the silent dream killer. I’m so glad you had a supportive friend in your corner who pushed you to pursue publication and take chances.-

My kidlit publishing journey began when I made one of my best decisions ever – to take a class from Maxine Rose Schur, a wonderful writer, teacher, and now friend.

PUBLISHING ROUTES: TRADITIONAL? INDEPENDENT? AGENT? NO AGENT? CONTRACTS + BOOK DEALS + MORE

What made you choose traditional publishing over independent publishing?

I did consider independent publishing, but as I mentioned, I’m not artistic. I didn’t feel confident that I could shepherd the manuscript through the whole publication process with book design as well as choosing illustrations and distribution. A traditional publisher made more sense to me, so I wouldn’t have to invent the wheel.
For readers who may be on the fence about which route to take, what are some of the pros and cons of indie/traditional? Explain. 

*Note for my readers: it’s important to remember that these answers are SUBJECTIVE. What might be a pro for one person could very well be a con for another, or vice versa. Publishing is not a ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL. My advice? Do your due diligence. Figure out what YOU want out of publishing and lean into what works best for YOU.*

I want to second Chelsea’s note here about figuring out what YOU want from your writing experience – not just in choosing a route to publication but also in measuring what success means to you. To some people, book sales measure success. My primary goal is for my book to be in libraries! (remember – I love libraries. And there is a great website – worldcat.org – where you can track what libraries have your books.)

-Oh my gosh, Stephanie. How did I not know about this? Formerly a librarian myself, I’m glad you shared this resource! Thank you! As you were saying…-

My understanding is that acquisition librarians generally look to traditionally published books for their purchases. But independent publishing can be a way to get your creation out in the broader world, if that is your primary goal. But it’s also expensive. I wanted to use my resources to buy books for little free libraries rather than spend upfront to get the book created. And I liked the collaborative aspect of book creation with the publisher’s team.

Are you currently (and/or have you ever been) represented by a literary agent/agency? 

I do not have an agent. As one writing colleague noted, an agent still has to sell the book.

-Very true. An agent does not guarantee a book sale. And on the other side of that coin… having no agent does not mean you won’t have a book sale.-

Is finding an agent something you want to pursue in the future? Why or why not?

I am open to finding an agent, especially a more hands-on editorial agent. As a member of the Writers Grotto, I see the range of writers who have agents, who seek them, and who are going it alone. It all really does come down to what you want your writing experience to be for you. An agent can help a writer get access to bigger publishing houses with more resources. I’m happy, though, that my books are out in the world. My definition of success, as I said, is more about getting the books into libraries to reach the largest audience.

For our readers who haven’t yet reached the other side of publication (but are eager to), could you share a little bit about your experience with book deals and contracts, specifically, contract negotiations, advances, and royalties? How do these all work?

As someone trained as a lawyer, I’m not intimidated by reading a contract. But I urge people without that training to get legal advice. The Authors’ Guild will give contract advice to members, and while I haven’t used that service, I think it would be worth the price of membership.
 
-Another fantastic tidbit of helpful information for our readers- thanks for sharing this resource, Stephanie!-

I have never been the best negotiator for myself, so that may be another role an agent might play. I have asked, for each book with each publisher, to have a say in selecting the illustrator, even though that condition hasn’t been a clause in the contract. Having input into the book’s creation was more important to me than anything else. Having that interaction happen is more based on trust, even with a contract clause.

Can you walk us through your experience of working with publishing houses on a project: things like working with art directors to find an illustrator for your writing and how much say, if any, you as the writer have this process?

When I worked at fundraising for social justice, we used to say, if you’ve seen one foundation, you’ve seen ONE foundation – meaning they are all so different. I believe the same may be true of publishing houses, having worked with two different ones with different approaches. One thing I have loved about Lawley Publishing is that, because they are small, the publishers begin with a Zoom meeting giving me a chance to share my vision of the book. I loved that they wanted to know my ideas, and judging from other author’s reactions, it’s kind of unusual to be asked that question. We also consulted on illustrators, and once an illustrator came on board, we had another Zoom meeting about illustrations before any sketches got created.

As someone trained as a lawyer, I’m not intimidated by reading a contract. But I urge people without that training to get legal advice. The Authors’ Guild will give contract advice to members,

OVERCOMING CHALLENGES + HIGHLIGHTS + PIECES OF ADVICE

What are some of the challenges you’ve faced (and/or are still facing) on the publishing journey, and how have you been able to overcome them?

Having my first book debut during the pandemic was a challenge. My local bookstore suggested I pair with another writer so we could draw a larger audience to Zoom. I have found this pairing strategy a good one for future events, even post-pandemic. It’s fun to boost other authors and share that spotlight.

-I echo this! Doing group/partner book events is SO fun! When I worked for our library as the events coordinator, I used to arrange author events all the time (practically whenever I could!), and I always encouraged local authors to come in groups of 2-5, and sometimes, I’d even host larger panels over the weekends so that guests would be more drawn in by the size of the event. 

Plus, as an added bonus: if you’re uncomfortable about being in the spotlight, as many authors who are introverted by nature often are, sharing it with others is always nice. And it’s a great way to build new connections within your local writing community!-

Another challenge that we all face is rejection. Having published articles and books before my kidlit journey, I was further along in understanding rejection is just part of the process – it is more the norm than acceptance. I won’t say that rejections don’t sting a little – we all would like that “yes,” of course. But so many opportunities for rejection are ever present in this business, even once you have published a book! You ask someone to review it or host you on a blog or podcast, or let you read at their bookstore (or carry your book). I’ve gotten surprising “no’s” or ghost responses, as well as surprising “yeses.” I think I’ve gotten better at just asking.

-This is so true and important for writers. The worst that you can get is a “no,” but you’ll never get the “yeses” if you don’t ASK. So, ASK! And if it’s a no, that’s okay. ASK again!-

What’s one piece of advice that you would like to share with readers who may be dealing with similar challenges?

Like I said, just ask. Submit, take the risk. Try again. Don’t spend a lot of time being bummed out or derailed. Breathe. Take a walk. And get back to writing.

-100% AGREE!-

“…Just ask. Submit, take the risk. Try again. Don’t spend a lot of time being bummed out or derailed. Breathe. Take a walk. And get back to writing.” – Stephanie Wildman

What have been some of the greatest highlights of your author journey? 

So many highlights! The best are the photos of kids hugging the books, like the mom who mailed me a picture with the bookmark her daughter had made for Brave in the Water because it was her new favorite book that she was reading over and over. I also cherish the opportunities to read to children at bookstores, libraries, and schools. And, of course, the new friends I’ve made, like my wonderful, wonderful critique group and members of the Writers Grotto – the sense of community means so much. I even have online friends I’ve never met in real life.

-These are all wonderful highlights!-

In your application, you mentioned discussing steps authors might take to help librarians find their books. As a former librarian myself, I’m a huge fan of finding ways to connect with libraries, whether it’s by creating resources, hosting author events, or any other opportunity I can find. In all truth, collaborating with libraries as an author is always a mutually uplifting and beneficial experience for both parties. I’d love to hear about any experiences you may have had with connecting with your local libraries and sharing your books! What has your experience been?

Just last weekend, I read Ghost Writer (Escritor Fantasma in Spanish) at a bilingual event at my local library. The library purchased copies of the book, as part of their promoting literacy campaign, to give to patrons, and we followed the reading with crafts to build the library’s altar for Dia de los Muertos! The event occurred in the very room where I had brought my grandchildren for story times when they were preschool age. Just thrilling. I had read for this library previously in the pandemic, but they had a new children’s librarian. I just asked in an email if she would like to hear about my book. But I also introduce myself to librarians, whenever I visit a library. And I ask about storytimes. I don’t always get “yeses,” either.

-That sounds like a lot of fun! I’m so glad you got to do this.-

I participated in a fun event through the Writers Grotto about writing books for children as part of their Grotto Nights at the Library series. The recording is available on YouTube. Here's the link!

-Thanks for sharing!-

Do you offer any resources for librarians in connection with your books or otherwise? If so, I’d love to add them to my TEACHER CORNER resource page.

Educational Resources are available for each of my books both on my website and on the publisher’s.

-Note for readers: You can also find Stephanie's resources for Brave in the Water, Treasure Hunt, Breath by Breath, Ghost Writer, and Miri's Moving Day linked via Teacher Corner.-

And Lawley has a YouTube channel featuring videos where I read each of my books. *Channel Linked Here* Spanish versions are also available on this channel. Treasure Hunt, Breath by Breath, and Ghost Writer have each been made into TV Shows by Chris Castellarin, a first-grade teacher in Canada. Mr. Castellarin broadcasts Lessons from the Classroom on Vancouver Island’s Channel 4 - Roger’s Spotlight Community TV.

Links here: 
Treasure Hunt: Watch it here.
Breath by Breath: Watch it here.
Ghost Writer: Watch it here.


-Wow, how awesome! Thank you so much for sharing these.-

Have you had any author events? If so, we’d love to see some pictures! 

I list past author events on my webpage – here are some photos!

SHARING RESOURCES: CONTESTS + WRITING GROUPS

Were there any writing contests, groups, or organizations that were particularly helpful to you as a writer?

Mindy Alyse Weiss’s PB Party gave an early version of Miri an honorable mention, which was so encouraging. I didn’t place in other contests, but the discipline of writing something new and entering contests has been fun, especially for Vivian Kirkfield’s 50 Precious Words. I love reading the entries from other writers. And I felt honored when Karen Greenwald invited me to be a judge this year for Sun, Write, Fun – a nonfiction, info fic contest. I felt like I had ARRIVED!

-How awesome! I bet that was exciting!-

For writers who are looking to build connections and forge relationships within the writing community, what are some places/resources that you’d recommend looking into and why?

I would start with SCBWI (where I found my critique group and attended local chapter events) and 12 x 12 Picture Book challenge (for the Facebook community, educational webinars, book chats, and resources in their forum community, including library requests, review requests and more). I also joined the Writers Grotto – a writers’ workspace because I love interacting with writers from all genres. My writing accountability group came from members of this organization.

THE BOOKS!

Okay, we’ve landed on the books portion of the interview. Is anyone else excited? I know I am! Stephanie, tell us about your books! What makes them special to you? What inspired you to write them? What do you hope they will give to your readers?

☺ My books are inspired by my grandchildren and the questions they ask.
Brave in the Water evolved after I spent 8 swim lessons watching one grandson sit on the edge of the pool, refusing to get in the water. (He is now on a swim team, by the way, and loves it).

The Flor, Roberto, and Luis series didn’t start as a series; it started with Treasure Hunt, based on games and crafts I did with another grandson during the pandemic. (And each book has a craft activity in the back matter). 

Once that book was in the world, with the wonderful characters drawn by Estefania Razo, Flor, Roberto, and Luis returned in Breath by Breath, a bedtime (or anytime) adventure through the body. I thought the series might be complete as a trilogy with Ghost Writer (co-authored with Cecilia Populus-Eudave, who has been the Spanish translator for all these books) - a Halloween/Dia de los Muertos story inspired by a third grandson’s questions after the death of a beloved pet. But guess what!? A fourth book is coming in 2025 – Story Power! (co-authored with Simon Wildman Chung). 

This grandson had an idea for another Flor, Roberto, Luis story; he is a co-author because it was his idea! He was so cute sitting with his pencil, circling words, and suggesting edits. Readers will learn the elements of writing a story.

Finally, Miri’s Moving Day (co-author Adam Ryan Chang, illustrator Dream Chen) arrived this month, again inspired by a grandson’s questions about his identity.

So you can understand how each of these books is special, coming as they did from various grandson’s questions and involvement. I hope readers relate to the interests and concerns my grandsons expressed and that the books provide insight and fun.

-This is so sweet. I love the story behind your stories!-

Any last pieces of writerly wisdom that you’d like to share with us today?

Do you need inspiration? Tara Lazar’s January blog posts (Story Storm) are full of ways to generate ideas.
Start writing! I have found the morning pages (or any time of day) practice to be beneficial. Try writing two or three pages longhand, even if it’s a grocery list – just write what you are thinking. I find I write differently using a pen than I do at the computer. Eventually, I take some of these ideas to the computer. Some writers benefit from writing sprints – set a timer for 5 minutes and write.

-I personally find writing sprints to be super helpful. Sometimes, I feel intimidated by the idea of starting a new project because I have SO MANY other things I’m trying to get accomplished between revisions and other writing deadlines, but if I just set a timer for 5 or 7 minutes, it’s amazing how much easier that feels. And the funny thing is, I usually get so into writing that I end up setting another timer so I can have more time to finish up fresh ideas.-

Exactly! There is something freeing about setting that timer. 

My last piece of advice is “Have fun.” As I said, writing is my happy place – I hope it’s yours, too.

Beautiful words of wisdom to end on. Thank you so much for joining us today, Stephanie. We really enjoyed having you with us and wish you all the continued success on your author journey + the general story of life!

But that’s not all. We have one last item on the agenda. And it’s a big one! It’s time for our GIVEAWAY PRIZE(S)!

“My last piece of advice is- have fun. As I said, writing is my happy place – I hope it’s yours, too.” – Stephanie Wildman

GIVEAWAY

For the month of November, Stephanie Wildman is offering 2 prizes to 2 winners- (1 prize per winner):

  • One copy of Breath by Breath
  • One copy of Miri’s Moving Day

One copy of Breath by Breath and one copy of Miri’s Moving Day.

HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

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

That’s it!

DEADLINE TO ENTER: 11:59 PM CST 11/30/2024

Want extra entries? Share a link to this article on X or IG and tag X @chellys books or IG @chelseasworldofbooks so I can add your extra entries!

FAQ:

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

Did you enjoy this interview?

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AUTHOR + HOST BOOK LINKS AND IMAGES

PURCHASE Brave in the Water

PURCHASE Treasure Hunt

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PURCHASE Miri’s Moving Day

PURCHASE ADHD and Me 

AUTHOR BIO + CONNECT

Children’s book author Stephanie Wildman of Treasure Hunt (2022) and Brave in the Water (2021) both published by Lawley Publishing, became a Professor Emerita after serving as the John A. and Elizabeth H. Sutro Chair at Santa Clara Law. She directed the school’s Center for Social Justice and Public Service. Her other books include Privilege Revealed: How Invisible Preference Undermines America 2d (with contributions by Armstrong, Davis, & Grillo) (2021); Race and Races: Cases and Resources for a Diverse America 4th (with Delgado, Perea, Cuison-Villazor, James, & Stefancic) (2022); Social Justice: Professionals Communities and Law (with Mahoney & Calmore) (2013); and Women and the Law Stories (with Schneider) (2011). Lawley published her third picture book Breath by Breath in 2024. Kar-Ben Publishing will release her fourth children’s book, Miri’s Moving Day (co-authored with Adam Chang) in 2024. Member: 12×12 Picture Book Challenge, SCBWI, Writers Grotto. Stephanie is a grandmother, mother, spouse, friend, good listener, and she can sit “criss-cross apple sauce” thanks to her yoga practice. Learn more about her at www.stephaniewildman.com. Connect with Stephanie Wildman on Instagram and/or X.

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