Big Kids Writing For Little Kids

#RisingStarsinKidLit: Sarah Skolfield

11/15/2022

Rising Stars in KidLit began as a way to highlight my fellow KidLit creators who are working their tails off to birth their beautiful book babies into the world. These interviews cast a light on the wonderful work of pre-published or pre-agented authors and author-illustrators who are destined to be stars! For the next several features, we’re collaborating with the hardworking creators of the PB Rising Stars Mentorship Program, Kailei Pew and Ebony Lynn Mudd, to highlight the wonderful and talented creators who were selected for the 2022 Mentorship Program. Learn more about the PB Rising Stars Mentorship program HERE.

Meet Rising Star

Author Sarah Skolfield

Sarah Skolfield grew up in Maine and still lives there, which makes her one of the luckiest people on Earth. She is also lucky to have a husband, three teenagers, one un-athletic dog and one food-driven cat sharing her world. She spends days, evenings, weekends, and holidays working as a Physician Assistant in the emergency department of a community hospital. As a writer, she wants to bring joy to kids and parents by making them laugh. She’s willing to drive long distances for the chance to play field hockey. If you are a field hockey player or fan, you are already her best friend.

Sarah is currently seeking agent representation.

AD: Hi Sarah and welcome to the blog! Thank you so much for being here! I can't wait to learn more about you and your work. Let’s start with your experience in the PB Rising Stars Mentorship Program. Can you tell us who your mentor was, what inspired you to apply, and how the program went for you ?

SS: Thanks for having me on your blog, Amanda! My mentor was Andrew Hacket. His debut PB Ollie, the Acorn, and the Mighty Idea, illustrated by Kaz Windness, will be published in 2024 with Page Street Kids. Andrew was extremely generous with his time and the mentorship exceeded my expectations. We jumped right in with ambitious goals and kept to our schedule. Post-mentorship, I’m more confident in my writing and revising.

I’m always on the look-out for opportunities to improve my writing and I’ve applied to a few mentorships in the past. So, when Kailei announced this mentorship, of course I checked it out. Andrew’s bio stood out to me and even though applicants could apply to two mentors, I only applied to Andrew. I felt like he would be the best fit for me. And he picked me! I was at work (where there is almost no down time) so I didn’t get the news until I was scoffing down a protein bar for “lunch”. Then I had to finish my day before I could really soak in the news.

It’s been an amazing experience. Kailei and Ebony put together a top-notch program right out of the gate. I keep forgetting this is a first for the mentors themselves.

AD: So cool! Andrew and I actually connected through the Rising Stars blog a while back and now through our local Massachusetts/NESCBWI connections and other kidlit/teacher communities. He's awesome, and I'm sure had a wealth of knowledge to share. What a great partnership! Sounds like an amazing experience with a variety of opportunities to grow, learn, and make connections. Alright time for a speed round…

Top three favorite children’s books of all time? Unfair question! How am I supposed to pick only three?? And you didn’t specify picture books. Just children’s books. But I’m going to stick with the PBs. So, if I must pick only three. On this day, I will have to go with: Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale (because of the line “She went boneless.”), Old Rock (is not boring) by Deb Pilutti (Rock is solid in understanding who he is, which is not boring, and I love the slow transition his friends make to better understand and admire him) and Horrible Bear by Ame Dyckman, illustrated by Zachariah O’Hora (wonderfully subtle but powerful kindness/forgiveness message)
Coffee, tea (or neither)? Coffee in the morning. Green tea for cool evenings. Always decaf. Even that AM coffee. It’s my warm, comforting beverage.
Where is your safe place? In a bookstore. Or my backyard. Or camp. All of these just bring me peace. The bookstore can be dangerous to my wallet, though. Have to use caution there.

One of Sarah's safe spaces. © Photo Credit 2022 Sarah Skolfield

Dogs, cats, (or neither)? Both. Dogs are for taking walks and playing fetch (mine is defective in that area, but what can you do?). Cats are for cuddling and amusing you when they try to play it cool after doing something stupid.
Early bird or night owl? Early bird for sure. But I can be a night owl when it is required. My superpower is functioning without sleep.
Three words to describe what it takes to make it in the kidlit world…perseverance, optimism, wonder.

Sarah enjoys writing outside on her deck with her dog, Hannah, who often wants attention. Photo Credit 2022 Sarah Skolfield

AD: Okay, now down to the serious stuff….please dish us the dirt on who you are and your journey into the fabulous world of children’s books.

SS: I’ve always loved reading and used to fall asleep reading under the covers with a flashlight. Writing seemed like a fun thing, too, but I never did anything about it. Until the day I was in a bookstore, wrangling my two toddlers and their baby sister. A book about writing while raising kids jumped off the shelf. The idea that I could be a writer occurred to me. It was literally that moment that set me on this path. Writing for kids was the natural choice. The wonder kids have for their world is inspiring. I want to be a part of that forever.

AD: I love that visual of reading under the covers with a flashlight. I think there's a story in there somewhere :) I also love that your inspiration to write came from a book (and bookstore)! How serendipitous! It sounds like your 'aha' author moment came later in life but did you always know you wanted to be an author? Have you explored other paths or had/have other jobs?

SS: I have a lot of interests. Writing was in the back of my mind but I didn’t consider it a career option when I was younger. I majored in Russian Studies in college to satisfy my interest in foreign language and culture. But I also took science classes and then went to graduate school to become a Physician Assistant. I’ve been working in emergency medicine and urgent care at the same hospital since graduating from PA school in 2000.

AD: Oh wow! Thank you for all you do in your role as a PA. What an interesting contrast to your work as a children's book author. Considering the different interests you have, I'm wondering what topics or themes do you tend to focus on in your writing?

SS: I focus on humor with heart. I like stories that highlight friendship or perseverance. I want my stories to encourage kids to read, read, read and to be good people.

AD: Breaking into the publishing industry is not easy! What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve faced thus far? What have you done to persevere?

SS: My biggest challenge is self-sabotage, listening too much to the inner critic and putting pause on projects I should probably be trying harder to develop. To persevere? I just keep going. I might pause for a while, but I know it’s never permanent.

AD: Yes! As creators (and humans), we tend to focus on the flaws of our creations or areas for improvement. This helps us grow and develop, but we need not forget the many things we are doing well. With this in mind, what has been your biggest accomplishment or something you are most proud of thus far on your journey?

SS: Hmm…from the big picture perspective, I’m proud that I haven’t given up. It might be easier to give up. And think of all the other things I could be doing. Like laundry and vacuuming! From a more fine-tuned perspective, being chosen for the PBRising Stars mentorship was a big accomplishment for me.

AD: This reminds me of a quote I heard that said, the only way we won't succeed at something is if we give up. I truly believe that. Good for you for pushing through. That's definitely something to be proud of. In a similar vein, what do you feel are your strengths as an author? What makes your work unique to you?

SS: I think I have a good sense of how to “leave room for the illustrator”. And I can’t wait to prove it!

AD: That's so important-and hard to do! We can't wait to see! You mentioned you have a lot of interests, what about inspirations...what inspires your work?

SS: Almost anything. Two traffic cones on the side of the road. A mispronounced word. My cat doing something stupid. I write down random ideas and sometimes don’t remember where they came from. It could be a phrase or a concept. Sometimes it’s just a character name. Sometimes a whole story pops into my head (unfortunately, this is rare).

AD: Love this! Inspiration is all around. We just have to be on the lookout and remain curious. Alright, tell us about your creative process and what you do to keep ideas flowing or what you do when feeling stuck?

SS: If I’m stuck because I’m too busy or I’m too tired, I give myself a break. But if I’m well rested and I have time but ideas aren’t flowing, I get up and pace the loop through my living room and kitchen. I leave my notebook on the kitchen counter. Walk in circles for a few minutes. Jot something down. Repeat. It sounds weird but it usually works. I am also developing a pre-writing ritual. Something that tells my brain “you are about to write.” So far I have a favorite pair of sweatpants (who doesn’t write in sweatpants??? aren’t they required???) and a scented candle. I think I need some quiet background music, too. Suggestions welcome!

AD: Ooo I love this idea of a pre-writing ritual. It seems like from the psychological perspective, that would work. Classical conditioning so our brains associate that ritual with writing. Like the Pavlov's dog experiment! You'll have to keep us posted on how it's going. I really love listening to this indie/pop station on Youtube called, AlexRainBird Music. You can listen to the Autumn/Fall playlist HERE. Love your list of things to do when stuck, can you also share some of the things that have been most integral in your growth as an author?

SS: Hands down my critique partners have been most integral! I have attended conferences and webinars, read craft books and received critiques from agents and editors. All of that is important, but having CPs to help distill that information is priceless.

AD: Shoutout to the CP's!! Any final advice you have for fellow kidlit creatives?

SS: Keep looking for a critique group until you find one that really fits. And, of course, do all the usual stuff: read a lot of picture books, read craft books, put your butt in your chair (or pace your living room) and WRITE a lot. Some of it will be garbage. Some of it won’t. I guarantee you have to allow yourself to write garbage. I’m still struggling with that one.

AD: And lastly, where can readers find out more about you and your work?

SS: Right now I am only on Twitter: @sarahskolfield but hope to have a website soon.

Sarah, thank you so much for sharing more about you and your work with us and more about the PB Rising Stars mentorship! We can't wait to read your humor and heart-filled stories! Wishing you all the best in your search for an agent. Feel free to drop a comment below to support Sarah and her work. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss out on the next Rising Stars in Kidlit feature and follow along on Twitter at #RisingStarsinKidlit!

Photo Credit © Angela Wood Photography

Hi! I'm Amanda!

Amanda Davis is a teacher, artist, writer, and innovator who uses her words and pictures to light up the world with kindness. When she’s not busy creating, you can find her sipping tea, petting dogs, and exploring the natural wonders of The Bay State with her family and her rescue pup, Cora.

Amanda is represented by Jennifer Unter of The Unter Agency.

Amanda's award-winning picture book, 30,000 STITCHES is out now with WorthyKids/Hachette Book Group! Her next picture book, Moonlight Memories, illustrated by Michelle Jing Chan, releases June, 2023. Click here to learn more.

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Rising Stars in KidLit: Ayah Yasser

11/8/2022

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Meet Rising Star

Author Ayah Yasser

Photo Credit © Aya Khamis

Ayah Yasser is a Muslim PB/YA writer and Engineer. She has always been a reader, and became one of those who ended up writing. She writes about human emotions, and ‘real’ characters. Flawed people (like everyone), struggling with their moral compass, desiring to do the right thing - always learning to do better. Fun fact (slightly nerdy): She creates software products in the day, and writes at night. She finds those two things very similar; both tell stories.

Ayah is currently seeking agent representation.

AD: Hi Ayah and welcome to the blog! Thank you so much for being here! I can't wait to learn more about you and your work. Let’s start with your experience in the PB Rising Stars Mentorship Program. Can you tell us who your mentor was, what inspired you to apply, and how the program went for you ?

AY: Thank you for interviewing me, Amanda! The PB Rising Stars Mentorship was an amazing opportunity I came across without planning! Someone from the Twitter writing community encouraged me to apply, and told me that I would be a match for mentor Aya Khalil (Twitter, Website, Instagram). It seemed that one of my draft PBs, and my type in general fits her list, and I felt that we had things in common; in addition to the name of course :) So I did apply, and I was incredibly fortunate to be one of the mentees, and Aya’s. PB Rising Stars Mentorship taught me a LOT about the art of PB writing; from my mentor Aya, founders Kailei and Ebony in workshops, and other amazing people who led sessions. They all made it work perfectly!

AD: Sounds like an amazing experience with a variety of opportunities to grow, learn, and make connections. Alright let’s do a speed round…

Top three favorite children’s books of all time? Matilda by Roald Dahl (author) and Quentin Blake (illustrator), The Arabic Quilt: An Immigrant Story by Aya Khalil (author), Anait Semirdzhyan (illustrator) & Soul Food Sunday by Winsome Bingham (author) and C. G. Esperanza (illustrator)
Coffee, tea (or neither)? Coffee! I try to limit my caffeine to 1-2 max per day (I already have trouble sleeping being a grand over thinker).
Where is your safe place? With people I love; I just forget about everything which worries me and live in the moment.
Dogs, cats, (or neither)? I’m not an animal person, but I love patting people’s cats and I appreciate the loyalty of dogs.
Early bird or night owl? Night owl!
Three words to describe what it takes to make it in the kidlit world…Empathy, perseverance, confidence.

AD: Okay, now down to the serious stuff….please dish us the dirt on who you are and your journey into the fabulous world of children’s books.

AY: I have been a reader since I was a child; I started with shop signs and billboards, then newspapers, parents’ magazines, and everything I could find. So far it was all in my native language, Arabic. Then I learned English at school and couldn’t stop reading textbooks, then stories! Discovering fiction definitely altered my taste :) Soon I was reading novels and went as big as the Harry Potter series and from there I was mostly interested in the Young Adult genre, and I starting writing a YA novel. For years, I’ve been doing editing and querying rounds (still am, and I’m plotting series), until I was encouraged to pair with someone from the writing community on a Picture Book / the Middle Grade genre in general. I started reading and writing that genre, and it has been a great journey! PBs and YA novels are different; I feel that moving between them is like switching languages.

AD: I love how since you were young, you've looked to your surroundings for inspiration and have always been a reader but did you always know you wanted to be an author a well? Have you explored other paths or had/have other jobs?

AY: It all started with the YA novel; it was before college. I didn’t take it seriously until I started college, but then I knew. So I studied Engineering, graduated, and I’m now a software Product Manager by day and I work on my writing whenever I can (with the hope of doing it professionally and having more time for it at least part-time).

AD: What topics or themes do you tend to focus on in your writing? Favorite genres you like to write in or favorite techniques?

AY: I love contemporary, and things I deal with / am surrounded with usually creep into my writing; e.g. self-image and self-acceptance. I also focus on representing people I know and those who aren’t represented much in fiction; i.e. those from / who live in the Middle East and Muslims. I think the best thing about fiction is reading and learning about everyone, and also finding a couple of books to read about a character you relate to; someone who could be you!

AD: Yes! Seeing ourselves in the characters and stories we read is so important and powerful but getting our stories into the hands of agents and publishers so children can relate and connect is not easy! What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve faced thus far? What have you done to persevere?

AY: Believing in myself is an ongoing challenge; I keep reminding myself about my strengths, and try to focus on compliments and any sort of motivation from others. Publishing rejections make it even tougher, but we have to keep trying :)

AD: Yes! Never give up!!

AD: You mentioned the challenge of self-doubt and often as creators (and humans), we tend to focus on the flaws of our creations or areas for improvement. This helps us grow and develop, but we need not forget the many things we are doing well. With this in mind, what has been your biggest accomplishment or something you are most proud of thus far on your journey?

AY: For PBs, it’s being chosen to be a PB Rising Star mentee; I know that everything happens for a reason, and I intend to keep going until I make it. For YA, I wrote a novel, did rounds of edits, got some good feedback, and planned a number of sequels. I try to tell myself that this itself is winning, and that I will catch a break in the publishing industry at some point.

AD: In a similar vein, what do you feel are your strengths as an author? What makes your writing unique to you?

AY: I think that I understand emotions in a certain way, and I write about them in a relatable manner, which makes people say “Yes, that’s it!”. I weave it into the story to make the reader feel what the character is feeling, and I mix it up with humor in other scenes. I apply this to stories which aren’t currently widely in the market (stories set in the Middle East + Muslim stories in general). I simply write what I wish I could have read.

AD: What inspires your work?

AY: I take little things from my life and take those ideas to a complete fiction form.

AD: Tell us about your creative process and what you do to keep ideas flowing or what you do when feeling stuck?

AY: When I’m hit by an idea, I write down notes on my phone or record a voice memo. The deeper I go into it, the more I get other ideas, and I keep that process. It’s one of the fun parts! When I’m not very inspired, two things bring the ideas back: spending time with people and fiction is usually helpful; books, series and movies take me to another world, and help me see something new.

AD: Notes and voice memos on the phones are the best! What sorts of things have been most integral in your growth as an author?

AY: Iterating over and over on my work, and trying the group approach (mentorship, courses, and I’m working on the critique partner part after I have been heavily advised on that one)

AD: Oh yes!! I'm jumping on the critique partner/group recommendation train as well. Couldn't do without. Having your community to help you improve and support you during the crazy ups and downs of the journey is vital! I'm sure you'll find the same when you find the right match, too!

AD: What advice do you have for fellow kidlit creatives?

AY: Keep going! Draft and write, and get to know the writing community; it helps in shifting gears and trying new things. Also, doing things differently helps, and this mentorship made me realize that writing doesn’t have to be solo. I still find it tough to share my writing, because I worry about conflicting feedback, but there’s a stage for everything, and we don’t always have to take all feedback.

AD: Conflicting feedback can be tough but often the rule of threes comes in handy. If you hear the same thing three times or more, you may want to reexamine that portion of your story. Alright Ayah, sadly we're coming to the end of the interview so please tell us where we can find out more about you and your work...

AY: Writer me is mostly active on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AyaxYasser

Thank you so much for sharing more about you and your work with us and more about the PB Rising Stars mentorship, and your creative journey! We can't wait to read your stories! Wishing you all the best in your search for an agent. Feel free to drop a comment below to support Ayah and her work. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss out on the next Rising Stars in Kidlit feature and follow along on Twitter at #RisingStarsinKidlit! Lastly, since today is election day, this is your friendly reminder to go out there and CAST YOUR VOTE!!

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Rising Stars in KidLit: Margarett McBride

11/1/2022

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Meet Rising Star

Author-Illustrator

Margarett McBride

Margarett McBride, M.A. is a children’s book author and illustrator who resides in North Carolina but is proudly from Saginaw, Michigan. She uses her work to uplift the experiences of marginalized people and showcases what a safer, healthier, and more hopeful community looks like for youth of color. In addition to being a creative writer and artist, Margarett is also a Ph.D. Candidate in Developmental Psychology. She studies how neighborhood experiences influence Black youth and family well-being and development. Margarett also loves creating art through her business, Made By Margarett, LLC, volunteering at community festivals, and working with organizations to help increase community members' sense of belonging. You can learn about her research, writing, and art at margarettmcbride.com, or you can follow her on social media @RenaissanceMars to stay up to date on her work and presentations. Margarett is currently seeking agent representation.

AD: Hi Margarett and welcome to the blog! Thank you so much for being here! I can't wait to share more about your work and beautiful art with readers. Let’s start with your experience in the PB Rising Stars Mentorship Program. Can you tell us who your mentor is, what inspired you to apply, and how the program is going/went for you ?

MM: I have enjoyed my time as a PB Rising Stars Mentee. I’ve always been an “apply to everything, figure it out later” person. When I saw the application call, I knew I would apply, but it came at the perfect time. I had a book contract with a publisher but felt like I had no guidance, and I was in a place where I started to look into finding an agent. After seeing the fantastic mentors for the program, I was sold. Since I apply to many things, I am used to rejection and often expect it. To my surprise, my Twitter notifications were blowing up one day because I learned I was selected.

I was blessed to be paired with Tonya Abari as a mentor and Trenise Ferreira as a mentee twin. I genuinely believe these relationships will extend beyond the program and that they were the perfect people to be paired with for my writing journey. We have similar values and desires for the kidlit community and our readers.

Beyond my mentorship experience, the PB Rising Stars organizers did an outstanding job facilitating community amongst the mentees and providing training opportunities. Getting a glimpse into everything that people in the program are working towards (books, courses, etc.) was beautiful, and I am excited to see the fruits of all the seeds being planted by everyone.

AD: Relationships and community are huge! I'm glad you feel you built both through your time in the mentorship and your application story is a good lesson on never giving up! You never know when that win will come! Alright let’s do a speed round…

Top three favorite children’s books of all time? “Of all time” is too stressful for me because I love so many books! When I was a kid I was obsessed with The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. My latest favorite book is Soul Food Sunday by Winsome Bingham. My favorite book from my first publisher, Free Spirit Books, is Jayden’s Impossible Garden.
Coffee, tea (or neither)? Neither, I prefer hot cider or hot chocolate.
Where is your safe place? My safe place is wherever I feel like I can be my complete self.
Dogs, cats, (or neither)? I have a Goldendoodle named Appa so by default dog, but I like cats too!

Early bird or night owl? Early bird!
Three words to describe what it takes to make it in the kidlit world… Genuine, Community, Determination

AD: Okay, now down to the serious stuff….please dish us the dirt on who you are and your journey into the fabulous world of children’s books.

MM: Besides my love of books as a child, my journey into children's book writing began around seven or eight years ago. I went to the University of Michigan for my undergraduate degree, and my first year writing course was about children's books, taught by Elizabeth Goodenough. In that course, we learned about the history of children's books, their components, the art, and everything in between. Our final assignment involved writing a children's book story.

At the time, my stepfather was incarcerated. This experience and seeing how the family responded to his incarceration inspired my first book, then titled, Nelson's Significant Letter, now titled Dear Dad, Love Nelson. The story initially consisted of one letter that Nelson wrote to his father. After graduating, I decided I wanted to see this project expanded. I looked into SCBWI and how to submit the manuscript to publishers. I also took another children's book course with Susie Wilde through my local art center. I used that opportunity to rewrite my story into several letters, and I completely revamped the story thanks to Susie's guidance and the feedback from our critique group in the class. After a few years of submitting to publishers, I found a breakthrough in 2021 from a Twitter Pitch Competition (#PBPitch). Meg Bratsch, the then acquiring editor for Free Spirit Publishing, liked my pitch and made my goal a reality. This story will come out in 2023 with Free Spirit Publishing. Since then, I've written another book that will be published with Free Spirit as well (details to come) and was lucky enough to be in community with the PB Rising Stars community. This is just the beginning of my journey, but I am excited to develop and grow within the kidlit community.

AD: That's amazing, Margarett! Congratulations on both of your forthcoming titles. Dear Dad, Love Nelson sounds like both a beautiful yet difficult/important book to write. I look forward to checking it out and learning more about your next one. You mentioned you took a class in your undergraduate studies that sparked your path into kidlit but did you always know you wanted to be an author/illustrator? Have you explored other paths or had/have other jobs?

MM: When I was growing up, I thought I would maybe be an artist (not an illustrator), and I never intended to be an author at all. While I did love to read, I never thought of myself as a writer; honestly, English was always my least favorite class. Funny enough, many of the jobs I had consisted of being a writer to some degree. My first job was at a local newspaper (shout out to the Michigan Banner in Saginaw, MI). My two current jobs outside of being an author are also big writing jobs. One is a Ph.D. Candidate in Developmental Psychology at UNC. Being a student involved a lot of writing in general, but being a doctoral candidate and researcher involved so much writing that I am surprised I even found time and desire to do creative writing. My other job involved being a Senior Associate of Storytelling at Cities United. This job requires writing as well. This job also made me realize that even though I never wanted to be a writer or author, I’ve always been a storyteller who liked to fluctuate the medium where I told stories, whether with writing, art, or organizing.

AD: Always a storyteller at heart :) What topics or themes do you tend to focus on in your writing/art? Favorite genres you like to write in or favorite art materials/techniques?

MM: My creative, academic, and professional writing all centers around Black youth, families, and neighborhoods. In my work, I try to build safe, healthy, and hopeful communities; in my writing, I like to tell stories about what that looks like in real life. I want to write creatively about fictional scenarios based on my own family, research, or things that could happen. Even if the context is challenging, I like to make sure the story shows hope, healing, and love. I want to highlight the positive aspects of community and the humanity of Black families. It is always a bonus if I can also throw in some humor.

AD: Breaking into the publishing industry is not easy! What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve faced thus far? What have you done to persevere?

MM: So far, the biggest challenge was believing in myself and my story to keep going. We speak about being consistent or determined, but there is less talk about confidence and how sure you need to be in order to be consistent or determined. Thankfully I have a wonderful community that finds a way to boost my confidence when I doubt myself. The best way to persevere is to find your community and utilize them. Speak up when needed and talk about how you feel and what you experience. Finding the community is one step, but using them is the only way you can see the benefit of being in community.

AD: Yes! This is such an important reminder. Self-doubt can easily creep in and reaching out for help is crucial! In addition, as creators (and humans), we tend to focus on the flaws of our creations or areas for improvement. This helps us grow and develop, but we need not forget the many things we are doing well. With this in mind, what has been your biggest accomplishment or something you are most proud of thus far on your writing/illustration journey?

MM: For my second picture book, I designed a character and put out the option for me to be the author/illustrator of the story. While we decided to go in another direction for the illustrator, I was super proud of myself for making the design and asking about the opportunity. So while that didn’t end up being successful, I felt great because I developed a lot as an artist by creating the images. I even feel like I grew personally since I typically don’t advocate for myself or my future goals in that way. I am most proud of myself for putting myself out there as an artist and author. Maybe one day I’ll get to wear the illustrator hat as well, but for now, I am one step closer.

AD: Good for you for taking that leap and stating your needs and wants. I'm in the same boat with the author-illustrator goal. It will come when the time is right :) I adore your character below and hope to see more of them in the future.

AD: In a similar vein, what do you feel are your strengths as an author/illustrator? What makes your art/writing unique to you?

MM: Others believe and have told me that I have a gift of knowledge and voice. As a Ph.D. Candidate studying Developmental Psychology and how neighborhood experiences impact families, I have a keen understanding of not only my personal experiences but what life experiences look like for larger groups of people, especially Black Americans (youth and families). This knowledge of my own life and what happens to others has been crucial in my writing process and crafting relatable stories that hit on topics necessary to talk about on a larger scale. I have also been told I can get into my character's voice. I think deeply about my family members and try to instill a little portion of them in my characters and stories, which helps my characters come to life and make them relatable to others. My readers can see their family members and themselves in my characters because of how I use voice in my stories. Those two factors are some of my greatest strengths and make me unique.

AD: Voice is something we so often hear about in this industry and something that is often hard to establish in our writing. It sounds like through a lot of personal and professional research and navigation, it led you to there. Yay! It's also great that your work allows you to have a pulse on what's going on in the lives of youth and be able to communicate these experiences in a meaningful way.

AD: What inspires your work?

MM: My friends, my family, and my research have been big inspirations for my work. As I said before, I try to instill a little of the people I love into my characters and stories. I research human development, so thinking about how the environment will impact my characters and their development is also a place of inspiration for me.

AD: Tell us about your creative process and what you do to keep ideas flowing or what you do when feeling stuck?

MM: What I do as a creative process varies depending on what is going on in my life. This season, I have been trying to let go of the feeling of being “stuck” and pivot to what feels natural to work instead. I do many different things (art, research, creative writing, work, etc.), which has allowed me not to get caught up in being stuck but to shift my focus until I get inspired to write again. Considering my inspirations, it usually works out. I think of new ideas when spending time with family or in the weeds of another project.

AD: What sorts of things have been most integral in your growth as an author/illustrator?

MM: Forcing myself into accountability groups has helped a lot. As I said before, I have taken different courses about children’s book writing and even art. These courses force me to work on my craft and share the development of my project with a group. This helps me keep going and allows me to get ideas from other people. Sometimes a new perspective is needed to push you forward and to get you out of the strict mindset we often place on ourselves. It is also a good way to make new friends!

AD: Yes, this is great advice! What other advice do you have for fellow kidlit creatives?

MM: I will sound like a broken record, but my advice to anyone trying to do anything is to find their community. Find community. Create community. Utilize community. There are things you can do yourself, but doing it with others or sharing your story makes it easier to keep going, grow, and get inspired. Find a class, create a support group, make a friend with similar goals, or even volunteer at the library. No matter what you do, you must be willing to take the first step.

AD: Where can readers find out more about you and your work?

Website General: https://margarettmcbride.com/
Website Art Business: https://www.madebymargarett.com/
Twitter: @RenaissanceMars
Instagram: @RenaissanceMars
Art Business Twitter: @MadebyMargarett
Art Business Instagram: @MadebyMargarett
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margarettmcbride-989/

Margarett, thank you so much for sharing your art/writing with us and more about the PB Rising Stars mentorship, and your creative journey! Congrats again on your books. I can't wait to read them. Wishing you all the best in your search for an agent. Feel free to drop a comment below to support Margarett and her work. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss out on the next Rising Stars in Kidlit feature and follow along on Twitter at #RisingStarsinKidlit!

Photo Credit © Angela Wood Photography

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#RisingStarsinKidLit: Trenise Ferreira

10/25/2022

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Meet Rising Star

Author Trenise Ferreira

Photo Credit: © UCLA Photography

Trenise Ferreira uses her Black Girl Magic to tell all kinds of stories. She's told them to second graders as a teacher, sports fans as a football writer, and Disney fans as a publicist at Walt Disney World Resort. When not telling stories about the black excellence (and animals, history or general silliness), she works in diversity, equity & inclusion corporate communications.

AD: Hi Trenise and welcome to the blog! Thank you so much for being here! Can you start us off by telling us a bit more about your experience in the PB Rising Stars Mentorship Program.

TF: I cannot rave about PB Rising Stars enough, and I'm so grateful for Kailei and Ebony for getting this program up and running! Being a part of the inaugural class is very special to me, and the other mentees I’m learning with are so incredibly talented.

My mentor is Tonya Abari and she is the perfect mentor for me! Our journeys to picture book writing have a lot of similarities, and there is just something so…empowering about having a mentor who looks like me. Her journey to publishing gives me hope that I, too, will get that exciting call about a book deal one day.

As an agented but pre-published writer, I have been interested in mentorship for a long time, but the programs are all for unagented writers. I tweeted about this predicament, and how, as a pre-published writer, I have a lot of questions and could use guidance myself on navigating things like managing the agent relationship, how to revise with more intentionality, what to do with your manuscripts aren’t getting any pickup, etc. Being agented but pre-published is kind of like No Mans’ Lands – my fellow writers and critique partners who are unagented are on one side of me, and then writers I admire who have sold multiple books are on the other. It can feel like there’s no place for you to go for guidance when you’re midway up the hill. So I was VERY excited to learn that there would be a mentor in PB Rising Stars taking on agented mentees! I knew having a mentor would make me a better writer, and that working with someone published would help me tighten up my manuscripts and approach them with new perspectives. So far, PB Rising Stars has been everything I could have hoped for and more.

In addition to having a super fun Slack channel to chat with my fellow mentees, I meet with my mentor bimonthly to talk manuscripts, receive feedback and ask questions/get answers about the publishing industry. If that wasn’t valuable enough, we’ve so far been through two webinars led by Ebony, that have been PHENOMENAL. The first helped us think more critically about how successful picture books are structured and why they work, and the second – honestly one of my favorite craft courses I have ever taken – was about taking inspiration from hip-hop music, using literary devices to revise with intentionality. That course was incredibly beneficial to me – it made me want to toss all my old drafts out the window and revise my heart out, haha! And in seriousness, taking the lessons I learned from that course did guide a revision of a current project that, I think, is my best work yet. When Ebony’s courses go live on Thursday (08/18), I HIGHLY recommend that aspiring picture book writers sign up!

PB Rising Stars has brought me a crew of incredible women who will one day take the PB world by storm, as well as got me connected with published writers that I can learn from. At this juncture in my PB journey, this is exactly what I needed.

AD: This is AMAZING!! You're spot on about the 'No Mans' Land' of agented but pre-published. I'm so glad you and Tonya were matched and that you've taken away many valuable insights from the process. These connections and communities that we immerse ourself in on our journey's can do so much for our growth, confidence, and motivation. I look forward to checking out Ebony's classes! Sounds awesome!

Alright let’s do a speed round…

Top three favorite children’s books of all time?

The Rainbow Fish: I can’t remember what it was about now, but it had that beautiful shiny cover! I have always loved shiny things, hahaha!
The Junie B. Jones series: I loved this series as a young girl, and I remember getting excited each and every time I got to buy new ones at what was then Crown bookstores.
Captain Underpants: There was no joy in life greater than when the Book Fair would come to school, and my parents had given me money for the latest Captain Underpants books! I loved these so much, that I went and saw the movie when it came in 2017 (at the ripe old age of 27), and I had a BLAST reliving childhood.

Coffee, tea (or neither) Definitely tea for me! As the child of a Jamaican immigrant, I am inclined to agree that the Brits are right on this one. Tea is everything!
Where is your safe place? I feel the most at ease and at peace when I am at the beach, which is why I love living on the west side of LA. I’m about 15 minutes from the beach, and just being able to take a walk on the beach every day is so soothing and centering for me.
Dogs, cats, (or neither)? Dogs, all day every day! I don’t have one yet, but my fiancé and I plan to get a French Bulldog one day named Napoleon, nickname “Poe.” Whenever we see Frenchies around town, we call them Poes!
Early bird or night owl? In general, when it comes to my life away from writing, I am an early bird. But if I get on good writing or reading roll, you will absolutely catch me up after midnight, just finishing “one more” page or writing “one more” sentence.
Three words to describe what it takes to make it in the kidlit world…Confidence, Wonder, Tenacity

Trenise and her fiancé after they climbed Koko head in Hawaii. An experience that she says will be a picture book one day! Photo Credit: © Trenise Ferreira

AD: Okay, now down to the serious stuff….please dish us the dirt on who you are and your journey into the fabulous world of children’s books.

TF: When I was in third grade, my teacher told my mom that I could write children's books one day. I wish I could tell you what I wrote that made her think this, but since I started my kidlit journey in 2020 I think about it all the time! It only took 22 years, but my teacher was onto something.

Like it did for basically everyone on Earth right now, the COVID-19 pandemic had a drastic impact on my life, more specifically my day job. The shift to work from home really freed me up to pursue personal hobbies, and instead of learning how to make sourdough bread, I started writing books! I actually started writing chapter books first – I had read an article in the Hollywood Reporter about the creator of Magic School Bus (at the time, the remake of the show was coming soon on Netflix), and she mentioned that she was inspired to create a series about science for kids simply because one didn’t exist. And that got me thinking about how there are not really any book series that center women of color in history. When I was a kid, there was the American Girl book series which was FANTASTIC but beyond that… crickets. So I decided to write one!

That project has evolved from a chapter book to a middle-grade project, but it was the first story that popped so clearly into my head and I had to sit down and write it. I started it in May 2020 and finished it in early August of that year. It’s my passion project, and I just know that one day it will see the light of day.

But even if it doesn’t that project holds a special place in my heart for two reasons. One, my dad was the first person I told when I finished writing it, and a few weeks later he died. I think about him every day, and though he will never see me publish a book, he got to know that I finished one and that I was starting my journey as a writer. And two, because in December 2020, my fiancé gifted me a writing course through UCLA Extension so that I could revise and strengthen the manuscript, and that course would change the course of my writing journey.

It was an Intro to Writing for Children course, and the first assignment was to write a picture book. I wrote a pretty strong one, and my professor encouraged me to query it. I did, and I secured my agent with it! And now here we are two years and a handful of writing courses later, and I am firmly cemented in the kidlit community, waiting for my turn to post “vague publishing tweets” about good news!

AD: As a former educator, I love that your first author seed was planted by a teacher :) and good for you for seeing a gap in the picture book market and working to fill it! I can't wait to read your stories about women of color in history! So now we know being a children's book author was a path that was mentioned to you when you were young but did you always know you wanted to be an author? Have you explored other paths or had/have other jobs?

TF: In high school, I self-published a YA novel, loosely based on my high school experience. What a time that was, haha! But beyond that, I did not seriously consider being an author as a career until two years ago. After high school, I pursued Broadcast & Digital Journalism at USC and then got my masters in Multimedia Journalism from UC Berkeley. I was a sports journalist for the first three years of my career, and it was the absolute best! College football is my first love, and covering sports was my first stint at being a professional writer, if you will. I currently work in corporate communications, and before that as a publicist at Walt Disney World. So even though I am new to authoring, I have been a storyteller for as long as I can remember.

AD: Oh my goodness, I love this and can relate. As an English Communications major and Art minor in my undergraduate, Journalism was a big focus of mine. I love that when we write for children, we still get to interview sources and conduct research in our writing. It's one of my favorite parts. I love connecting with primary sources for my nonfiction kids books and getting to hear their stories and backgrounds. We are certainly lucky ducks to get to do this work!!

Trenise pictured on University of Southern California Game Day. She LOVES her alma mater and is a very proud Trojan! Photo Credit: © Trenise Ferreira

AD: What topics or themes do you tend to focus on in your writing? Favorite genres you like to write in?

TF: I love writing about black American joy and culture, and especially black heroes, whether contemporary or from the past, that are not often taught in schools. I feel like a lot of the Black history narrative is: here are three people from the slavery era, here’s Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, and here’s the Obamas. The end! And while all of those leaders and world-changers are incredibly important, there are even more figures from science, from culinary arts, from sports and from literature whose names we don’t say enough. I intend to say them, and with resounding joy and triumph while I do it. When not writing about the culture, I am a HUGE animal science nerd, so you will absolutely see lots of facts in my fiction.

AD: Love me some informational fiction!! :)

Trenise at the Colosseum in Rome. Trenise's curiosity about the world around her and history specifically inform a lot of her narrative non-fiction or informational fiction work. Photo Credit: © Trenise Ferreira

AD: Breaking into the publishing industry is not easy! What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve faced thus far? What have you done to persevere?

TF: The biggest challenge so far has been getting a book deal, haha! Kidlit Twitter is always talking about the waiting when you’re querying, but the waiting while on submission is so much worse! It can be months of just…silence. Just waiting and waiting and waiting, ultimately to get a no. I’ve gone to acquisitions twice now, but no dice so far. The most recent rejection really hurt, and it took me the better part of a weekend to get over it. But, as a former journalist, rejection is something I’m used to. I don’t know if it gets easier to stomach rejection, as much as you get stronger and more confident in your writing to brush them off. On my hardest days, I remember that all my faves in publishing have faced rejection, and yet here they are, with multiple published books and in some cases, TV and movie adaptations.

My dad always used to say, “Whatever is for you is for you,” and it’s 100 percent true. When it’s for you, nothing can stop it from happening, and you look back and all the rejections were worth it to get to that perfect (for you) yes.

AD: Yes! I love your positive outlook and the mantra from your father. Sometimes it's hard to stay positive in this industry and as creators (and humans), we tend to focus on the flaws of our creations or areas for improvement. This helps us grow and develop, but we need not forget the many things we are doing well. With this in mind, what has been your biggest accomplishment or something you are most proud of thus far on your writing journey?

TF: Getting my agent and being chosen as a PB Rising Stars mentee. I think I’m a very strong writer, and getting this far just validates what I believe about myself!

AD: Yay! Congrats to both! In a similar vein, what do you feel are your strengths as an author? What makes your writing unique to you?

TF: I think I’m a great ideator and because I write for a living in my day job, I write pretty good “crappy” first drafts. I have goals of being a prolific writer, and my knack for turning anything into a story helps me make progress towards that goal.

AD: What inspires your work?

TF: Sports and my heritage (my dad immigrated from Jamaica and my mom is Black American) inform my writing style. I try to write the way I/Black Americans talk, which adds a rich texture to my storytelling. Beyond that, literally, everything inspires me – whether it’s scrolling Twitter, seeing something interesting on a walk or hearing a conversation in passing – I use everything around me as fodder for new story ideas.

Trenise at Ernest Hemingway's House in Havana, Cuba, and as you'll see, she's reading A Farewell to Arms. You will always find her with a book in her hand -- or on her phone as an audiobook for when she's driving or traveling -- and that includes taking books on vacation! Photo Credit © Trenise Ferreira

AD: Tell us about your creative process and what you do to keep ideas flowing or what you do when feeling stuck?

TF: Since January, I’ve committed to writing 12 minutes a day. It’s a super casual number, way less intimidating than 15 or 30 minutes, or even hour. But you know what? more often than not, I write for more than 12 minutes anyway. Sometimes, those 12 minutes are used on sketching out a plot, actually writing a draft, or revising. But other times it’s brainstorming character names for a new project, or even writing about how I have nothing to write about! By any means necessary, I get those 12 minutes done. Making it a habit has helped me become a stronger writer.

As far as keeping ideas flowing, I go on a lot of walks. Also, scrolling Twitter, haha! I am not kidding when I say that three projects I am working on write now were inspired by funny tweets. I also commit to writing down five ideas a week in my Hot Ideas File, so I always have a folder of little story seeds that, when the time is right, I will pull out and water and watch them grow.

Also, I read a TON. I read 10 picture books a week (or try to anyway lol) and I have a 55-book (MG-adult) reading goal for the year. I am currently on my 48th read, and with each book I read, I glean new insights into how to write interesting characters, how to use voice, how to add tension, the importance of good pacing, etc. If you’re not reading while writing, start!

AD: This is so helpful! I love choosing a random number of minutes to write (12 has always been a favorite number of mine) and I need to retitle my boring 'Idea' folder to 'Hot Ideas', ha!! That sounds much more appealing. I'm a big walker-thinker, too!

Trenise at Rose Hall, one of the most famous Great Houses in all of Jamaica. Trenise's Jamaican heritage is very important to her and also informs a lot of her writing. Photo Credit: © Trenise Ferreira

AD: What sorts of things have been most integral in your growth as an author?

TF: Courses. I cannot recommend enough that new writers invest in themselves by taking classes to really learn the tangible and intangible skills necessary to succeed as a writer. I’ve taken courses through the writing program at UCLA Extension and Children’s Book Academy and absolutely recommend both. But there are so many out there that are worth the cost. Not only because you’ll learn from published writers and editors about how to improve your craft, but these classes are always great places to meet critique partners! I met some of mine through the CBA, and working with them is the best.

AD: What advice do you have for fellow kidlit creatives?

TF: I have three pieces of advice:

Don’t measure your life by agent likes, requests and rejections. Doing so takes the joy out of writing, and really it doesn’t matter how many rejections you get; all you need is one “yes” to change your life.
Know when to log off/take a break. If you’re like me, you spend A LOT of time on kidlit Twitter. While the community can be amazing and supportive, it can be hard to watch people succeed and announce book deals when you’re still just trying to get agented. When you feel your eyes creeping off your own paper and onto someone else’s, log off. Take a break and refocus on what YOU do best and tell the stories only YOU can tell.
Find the joy. Life can feel really heavy and honestly, awful these days. But you know who doesn’t should these burdens of adults? Children. They find joy and wonder in everything. Channel that when writing and you’ll be amazed at what you can create.

AD: Such wise nuggets of wisdom , Trenise. Thank you! And lastly, where can readers find out more about you and your work?

TF: If you couldn’t tell, I love Twitter! I’m most active there, @TreniseFerreira.

Thank you so much for sharing your insights, more about the PB Rising Stars mentorship, and your creative journey, Trenise! Congrats again on finding an agent and wishing you all the best on this next chapter of your journey. We can't wait to see your books in the hands of young readers! Feel free to drop a comment below to support Trenise and her work. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss out on the next Rising Stars in Kidlit feature and follow along on Twitter at #RisingStarsinKidlit!

Photo Credit © Angela Wood Photography

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#RisingStarsinKidLit: Kathryn Rammell

10/18/2022

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Kathryn Rammell never wanted to grow up. She loved letting her imagination run wild and playing make-believe. Luckily, she found that with writing and illustrating picture books she can still let her imagination run wild, just like she did when she was little. Plus, now she can eat cookies before dinner. When she’s not writing or illustrating, Kathryn can be found at the beach or on a road trip to a national monument. She enjoys all things KidLit, baking cookies, and being outdoors with her family.

Kathryn is currently seeking agent representation.

AD: Hi Kathryn and welcome to the blog! Thank you so much for being here! I can't wait to learn more about your art and writing. Can you start us off by telling us a bit more about your experience in the PB Rising Stars Mentorship Program.

KR: Hello, Amanda, and thank you so much for having me! My name is Kathryn Rammell, and I’m the writer/illustrator of the PB Rising Stars Mentorship. I was paired with not just one, but TWO amazing mentors: Kim-Hoa Ung and Marietta Apollonio. Kim-Hoa is the author-illustrator behind A Gift for Nai Nai and Marietta is the author-illustrator behind Jack the Library Cat. Both of their books will be coming out Spring 2023 and I cannot wait for their amazing books to hit the shelves!

I first learned about the mentorship program after seeing a tweet and thought WOW wouldn’t that be cool! But during the application period I was having some serious self-doubt and kept debating whether or not to apply. I finally asked myself, when the time comes for them to announce mentees, would you rather be disappointed that they didn’t pick you or disappointed that you didn’t even apply? I took a deep breath and dove in, submitting my application just one day before it closed.

I’m still in shock and filled with so much gratitude that I was chosen. The last three months with Marietta and Kim-Hoa have been packed with so much creativity, growth, and learning. Their encouragement and guidance has helped me SO much.

Wow! Those certainly are two amazing mentors. Sounds like you soaked in all you could during those three months and walked away with many helpful insights and a clear direction forward. I love the outlook you had on submitting to the mentorship. I think many of us relate to the regret or disappointment of not trying versus not getting chosen. I'm glad self-doubt didn't stop you. I'm sure Marietta and Kim-Hoa are, too! :)

Alright let’s do a speed round…

Top three favorite children’s books of all time? Flora and the Flamingo by Molly Idle, Stuck by Oliver Jeffers, and In a Jar by Deborah Marcero
Coffee, tea (or neither)? Just water for me, please!
Where is your safe place? I feel most myself at the beach. Exploring tide pools, jumping into waves, building sand castles… It doesn’t get much better.
Dogs, cats, (or neither)? Both are super cute but I would rather have a pet chicken, which is fitting since the picture book project I worked on during the mentorship is about a chicken :)
Early bird or night owl? Totally an early bird, but not the productive kind haha. I like to wake up before any alarms and enjoy a snuggly bed before the kids come running in and start climbing all over me.
Three words to describe what it takes to make it in the kidlit world…Creativity. Joy. Perseverance.

AD: Okay, now down to the serious stuff….Please dish us the dirt on who you are and your journey into the fabulous world of children’s books.

KR: My kidlit journey started before I even realized it. There were small moments like making books with my sister when we were growing up, passing notes in high school that were full of funny made-up stories, working at my university library, and taking a college class “just for fun” on children’s books. It was after I had my daughter that I realized I wanted to not just be a reader of children’s books, but a creator. The last seven years I have been working on my art skills and writing, it’s amazing to look back on my early illustrations and stories to see how much I’ve grown. I still have a lot to learn, but am loving every minute of it.

AD: You mentioned those small moments that hinted at your love for storytelling when you were young but did you always know you wanted to be an author-illustrator? Have you explored other paths or had/have other jobs?

KR: I always thought it would be fun to be an author/illustrator, but it seemed out of reach. It wasn’t until my husband said, “Other people are doing it, why not you?” that I felt ready to jump in. My degree is in Art History and Curatorial Studies, which was more about studying art than creating it, but still in the same mindset of examining how art evokes emotions or tells a story. It took some awkward growing pains to pick up a paintbrush and learn about dummy making and story pacing, but it’s been a lot of fun, too.

AD: What topics or themes do you tend to focus on in your writing/art? Favorite genres you like to write in or favorite art materials/techniques?

KR: I love all things silly and sweet. My goal with my work is to bring out positive emotions, whether that means making someone cry happy tears or laugh out loud. I especially love fantasy and nature themes in my work.

AD: Breaking into the publishing industry is not easy! What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve faced thus far? What have you done to persevere?

KR: Art is subjective and it’s impossible to please everyone. It’s such a rollercoaster when one illustration will touch one person but then get torn apart by another. Or to receive high praises from your critique group only to be rejected by agents. But at the end of the day I love writing and illustrating, so I let the hurtful comments and rejections slide past me and I keep on creating.

AD: This is so important to remember, thank you. We can't take those passes personally. Similarly, as creators (and humans), we tend to focus on the flaws of our creations or areas for improvement. This helps us grow and develop, but we need not forget the many things we are doing well. With this in mind, what has been your biggest accomplishment or something you are most proud of thus far on your writing/illustration journey?

KR: Being chosen for the PB Rising Stars Mentorship was definitely a big moment for me. I also won an honorable mention in this year’s KidLit411 Banner Design Contest and will be featured on their website in December. That was a meaningful win for me because KidLit411 has been such a huge help in my creative journey.

AD: In a similar vein, what do you feel are your strengths as an author/illustrator? What makes your art/writing unique to you?

KR: I feel more confident in my illustrating than I do in my writing, so I think my strength lies in my ability to evoke emotion, movement, and whimsy with my art.

AD: I can definitely feel a sense of calm, wonder, and joy in your art and characters. The emotion and mood shine through to the viewer, for sure! This makes me curious, what inspires your work?

KR: I was a very imaginative child so a lot of my work is inspired by my childhood as well as the current adventures I go on with my kids.

AD: Tell us about your creative process and what you do to keep ideas flowing or what you do when feeling stuck?

KR: It all starts with an idea. But I never know when an idea will hit me, so I keep an ever-growing list in my Notes app where I can quickly jot an idea down whenever it arrives.
When an idea really sticks out it becomes a mad dash of writing, sketching, plotting, dummy drafting and so on. I love this part of the process where new ideas come crashing in, and I find that I have to work fast and focused, otherwise I lose the spark and will end up with a serious case of creative block.
Revising is the hardest part for me because I hate slowing down, but it’s so necessary to really hone in the words and pictures. This is also where critique partners are vital.

The last part of my process is adding the final art. I love this part because everything is coming together, and seeing those vibrant spreads make me think, wow, this really looks like it could be a book.

AD: Yes! Looking at what you've accomplished with the final art can be so satisfying. Sometimes I remind myself that there was literally nothing but a blank page there before but now it's filled with my creations-whether art or writing. The true definition of making something from nothing and learning in the process!

AD: What sorts of things have been most integral in your growth as an author/illustrator?

KR: The PB Rising Stars Mentorship has hands down been the biggest growth period in my creative path. To have so much encouragement and feedback has helped me see what areas I need to work on, both with specific projects and future ones.
I also really appreciate writing groups like KidLit411, Sub It Club, and SCBWI.

AD: What advice do you have for fellow kidlit creatives?

KR: Let your passion lead your path.

AD: I love that. Simple but so true! We must never lose our passion!
Where can readers find out more about you and your work?

KR: You can find me on Twitter, Instagram, or my website/portfolio. I love connecting with other creatives so please drop by and say hello!
Twitter: @KathrynRammell
Instagram: @kathrynsdoodles
Website/Portfolio: https://kathrynrammell.wordpress.com

Thank you so much for sharing your art, writing, and creative insights, Kathryn! Can't wait to see your books in the hands of young readers! Feel free to drop a comment below to support Kathryn and her work. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss out on the next Rising Stars in Kidlit feature and follow along on Twitter at #RisingStarsinKidlit!

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#RisingStarsinKidLit: Layla Fallah

10/11/2022

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Photo Credit © Layla Fallah

Layla Fallah is a Kurdish-Canadian writer and recent graduate of Simon Fraser University, where she studied psychology and specialized in learning and developmental disabilities. Her written work is largely inspired by her experience as a daughter of immigrants and explores themes of found family, mental illness, and belonging. Layla hopes her stories will feel like a hug to anyone who has ever felt like they were “too much” or “not enough”. Apart from being published, her dream is to be in a position where she can uplift and amplify voices from traditionally marginalized backgrounds. Wherever she ends up, Layla hopes to combine her passion for mental health awareness, accessibility, and inclusivity, into the publishing industry.

Layla is currently seeking agent representation.

AD: Hi Layla and welcome to the blog! Thank you so much for being here! Can you start us off by telling us a bit more about your experience in the PB Rising Stars Mentorship Program.

LF: Let’s start with the outlandish. I just finished listening to a tarot reading claim that a shiny new opportunity would present itself to me (in the next three days, to be exact) when I came across a tweet from Kailei Pew about the PB Rising Stars Mentorship. Fate? Probably not. But I really love the word happenstance and I think it is quite fitting in this case.

So, I applied. And I waited. I was filled with butterflies up until the very last mentee name was announced on July 1st. It was my name. The lovely Ebony Lynn Mudd picked me! I thought, surely, this is a sign that I am meant to switch gears and focus on my picture book projects after years of writing middle grade and young adult novels.

Like Ebony, I am wholeheartedly determined to establish a career in children’s literature and am fueled by the desire to amplify voices from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds. But I had a lot to learn about picture books. As you might have noticed, I am a person of many, many words... and we all know that every word counts when it comes to picture books. As my mentor, Ebony definitely had her work cut out for her. Literally. We had to cut a lot of words.

Moreover, as someone who has never queried, I was thrilled with Ebony’s expertise and willingness to help me prepare and polish my query package—from pitches to revisions to query letters. So far, we have already conquered the battlefield that is #DVPit, and I am thrilled to say that all three of my pitched projects received interest from agents and editors. I have yet to query anyone, but I know that when the time comes, I will feel more than ready to face possible rejection. I am so lucky to have Ebony by my side throughout this entire process!

AD: Wow! What an amazing experience. I love tarot as well and totally agree that this may have been 'written in the cards' for you :). It sounds like the mentorship has given you the knowledge and preparation you need to move forward in your journey and congrats on the agent and editor love during #DVpit. It truly helps to have someone in our corner who can guide us through this crazy process! Fingers crossed that'll you'll have good news to share soon!

Alright let’s do a speed round…

Top three favorite children’s books of all time? Nura and the Immortal Palace by M.T. Khan, The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill, Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga
Coffee, tea (or neither)? I am a huge fan of both coffee and matcha (iced or blended, always).
Where is your safe place? My safe place, much like my happy place, is wherever my bookshelves are. Right now, that is split between my childhood bedroom in Vancouver, British Columbia, and my current home in Buffalo, New York.

Pictured: Some of Layla’s bookshelves in Vancouver, Canada. Photo Credit: © Layla Fallah

Dogs, cats, (or neither)? Both! I always considered myself a dog person until my soulmate showed up in the form of a stray cat and became my best friend for fifteen years. She sadly passed in early 2020, but she lived an incredibly long (and loved) life. Now I am “mom” to a little monster named Howl, who is incredibly skilled at barking for no apparent reason.

Layla and her beloved cat/reading buddy. Photo Credit: © Layla Fallah

Early bird or night owl? I am definitely a night owl. But if I’m always up until the sun rises… perhaps I am inadvertently an early bird.
Three words to describe what it takes to make it in the KidLit world… Passion, perseverance, prose.

AD: Okay, now down to the serious stuff….Please dish us the dirt on who you are and your journey into the fabulous world of children’s books.

LF: I have been “making” books ever since I was given access to the steady supply of construction paper and glue sticks left unattended in my kindergarten classroom. Did they always have words in them? No, but they were book-shaped, and that is all that mattered to my tiny, feverish fingers.

I started writing more seriously when I was twelve years old, and had completed my first novel at age fifteen. There were a LOT of abandoned manuscripts along the way. Basically, I have been reading and writing for as long as I can remember. When I started my book blog in late 2015, that further fueled my desire to see more representation in children’s literature. I remember thinking: How is it that I have reviewed over 500 books, but have yet to see a single character who is Kurdish like me?

Since then, I have finally completed my academic studies (much to the approval of my immigrant parents), gained experience in several customer service and administrative roles (as is expected of someone my age, I suppose) and was still left yearning for more.

In late 2021, I took a chance and applied for the 2022 Publishing Fellowship at BookEnds Literary Agency. In my heart, I decided that applying for this fellowship would be my way of asking the universe if I was meant to follow my publishing dreams. And reader, it happened. When I found out I was selected, it gave me a little peak behind the mysterious curtain of publishing. It is now my goal to learn as much about the industry as I can, while contributing (behind the scenes or frontline) to a more diverse catalogue for young readers.

AD: It's always so interesting to me that the things we loved as a child are often the things we still love as adults but sometimes we wander astray and life gets in the way of following our dreams. I'm glad you've stuck with your childhood passions for reading and writing and for bringing inclusive stories into the world for other Kurdish kids to see and love. You mentioned you've been creating since you were young but did you always know you wanted to be an author? Have you explored other paths or had/have other jobs?

LF: Yes. As a teen I worked at McDonald’s and Starbucks, then spent a very fun two years at Vancouver International Airport before I transitioned into administrative work at a non-profit organization. But I have always dreamed about seeing my books on the shelves at my local public library. I did not have the privilege or opportunity to study creative writing or pursue it as a full-time job, but I am dedicated to seeing my stories through to the end (from a word document to a concrete thing I can hold in my hands).

AD: Yay! You're doing it!! One word, one story, at a time! :)
What topics or themes do you tend to focus on in your writing? Favorite genres you like to write in or favorite art materials/techniques?

LF: I write for children (and adults) who are yearning to be seen or to learn about somewhere new. For the dreamers, outsiders, and those who long for home. My books include whimsical contemporary tales, cozy fantasy novels, and cultural notes across all genres. Themes of belonging, self-acceptance, and generational trauma are also prevalent in most of my work.

AD: Breaking into the publishing industry is not easy! What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve faced thus far? What have you done to persevere?

LF: The biggest challenge has been being able to financially support myself while trying to accomplish all of the publishing and publishing-adjacent dreams. Student loans, my supportive partner, and life savings have helped sustain my livelihood (just barely) while I prepare to query my manuscripts and look for internships in the agenting/editorial sphere. Aside from that, the toughest part is just having to deal with rejection. Constantly. It will be inevitable at every stage of the publishing process, but will only make that one “yes” sweeter when it finally happens.

AD: Yes to all of this! I think this is so relatable to many creators. My first book took me almost ten years to get traditionally published as I worked full-time as a high school art educator. I'd sneak in time on the weekends and of course during summer break. Now, with an infant at home, those windows are even more narrow. But never giving up is the key. Even if it's a slow road we continue to learn along the way! Speaking of learning, as creators (and humans), we tend to focus on the flaws of our creations or areas for improvement. This helps us grow and develop, but we need not forget the many things we are doing well. With this in mind, what has been your biggest accomplishment or something you are most proud of thus far on your writing journey?

LF: I rarely leave my comfort zone, so I would say my biggest accomplishment thus far is just putting myself out there: applying for fellowships/mentorships, finding a community of writers, pitching in a Twitter event, and so on.

AD: In a similar vein, what do you feel are your strengths as an author? What makes your writing unique to you?

LF: All of my writing is informed by my experience as a queer Kurdish-Canadian with invisible disabilities, so I suppose my perspective as an individual could be seen as a strength. In the grand scheme of things, I just feel passionate about contributing my voice to the current representation out there, as well as one day (hopefully) finding myself in a situation where I can uplift others.

AD: I love that sentiment-your perspective is your super power :) I can't wait to read your stories one day soon so I can learn more about your unique voice and experiences. What inspires your work?

LF: Family, friends, and lived experience. Feelings. All of them. Finding someone, real or fictional, who makes you feel seen. The moment when you open a book and feel at home. Learning about people from various backgrounds with entirely different experiences from myself. Finding a whimsical escape from the mundane. Looking for the magic in everything, everywhere. Life.

AD: Tell us about your creative process and what you do to keep ideas flowing or what you do when feeling stuck?

LF: My creative process involves a lot of thinking before I do anything. And then, out of the blue, I will sit and write for hours upon hours. So, I guess you could say I do not have a process at all. I do however love to sit at my desk and surround myself with things like artwork, music, and other books that make me feel excited about writing.

Layla’s writing workspace. © Photo Credit Layla Fallah

AD: What sorts of things have been most integral in your growth as an author?

LF: Always reading. Everything. I find that it not only improves my craft, but it refills my “creative well” when I am burnt out from my manuscript revisions. Oh, and to accept that first drafts will always be changed! Just write! It does not have to be perfect the first time around.

AD: What advice do you have for fellow kidlit creatives?

LF: If you can, find a group of writers at your local library, or perhaps on online (Twitter, Discord, etc.), where you can read and provide feedback, as well as support and uplift each other. This journey is already so difficult—it helps no one to go it alone.

AD: Where can readers find out more about you and your work?

LF: You can find me on the internet wherever bookworms tend to gather! My site: www.laylafallah.com

Thank you so much for sharing your insights and creative journey, Layla! I'm sensing some more good news in the cards for you in the near future. Sending our positive vibes your way. Can't wait to see your books in the hands of young readers! Feel free to drop a comment below to support Layla and her work. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss out on the next Rising Stars in Kidlit feature and follow along on Twitter at #RisingStarsinKidlit!

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#RisingStarsinKidLit: Aimee Satterlee

10/4/2022

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Rising Stars in KidLit began as a way to highlight my fellow kidlit creators who are working their tails off to birth their beautiful book babies into the world. These interviews cast a light on the wonderful work of pre-published or pre-agented authors and author-illustrators who are destined to be stars! For the next several features, we’re collaborating with the hardworking creators of the PB Rising Stars Mentorship Program, Kailei Pew and Ebony Lynn Mudd, to highlight the wonderful and talented creators who were selected for the 2022 Mentorship Program. Learn more about the PB Rising Stars Mentorship program HERE.

Meet Rising Star

Author Aimee Satterlee!

Photo Credit: © Adam Satterlee

Aimee Satterlee has always had a deep love of picture books. From the time she was 3-years-old and named her cat Harold after Harold and the Purple Crayon, Aimee knew picture books contain the best answers to life’s questions. After a career reading picture books to kids as an elementary teacher, she is dedicated to a career writing picture books for kids as a full-time author. Aimee is a 2022 PB Rising Star and a member of SCBWI and 12x12 PB Challenge. She enjoys spending time with her hilarious husband, three charming children and one precious pup on the same road where she grew up.

Aimee is currently seeking agent representation.

AD: Welcome to the blog, Aimee! Let’s start with your experience in the PB Rising Stars Mentorship Program. Can you tell us who your mentor is, what inspired you to apply, and how the program is going/went for you?

AS: My mentor, and new publishing bestie, is Kailei Pew! We are alike in so many eerie ways--even our birthdays are just days apart.

I knew immediately when Kailei posted about starting a mentorship program that I HAD to apply to her. For one, a dear and longtime critique partner (Nicole Sharkey) sent me that original post and said Kailei would be a good match for me. Nicole gets props for predicting this pairing from the start! Plus, I had been a longtime follower and fan of Kailei and knew she wrote in a variety of genres like me, so it seemed perfect…and it is!

I could not ask for a better mentor than Kailei. She “gets me” and my work. We set some pretty lofty goals to revise 6 manuscripts as well as get the entire package ready (pitches, query letters, submission lists, etc.) for agent querying after the mentorship. Not to mention getting my author website off and running…But, Kailei has been behind me and believes in me 100%.

AD: Wow! That sounds serendipitous! It's so nice to have guidance in this industry and it seems you've had a pretty productive mentorship thus far. Yay for collaboration and teamwork!
Alright let’s do a speed round…

Top three favorite children’s books of all time? WATERCRESS by Andrea Wang and Jason Chin, THE NIGHT GARDENER by The Fan Brothers, and SAM AND DAVE DIG A HOLE by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen. Ok, now I need to go hug my other all-time favorites.
Coffee, tea (or neither)? Neither. I know that’s not typical for a writer (or a former teacher) but plain water is my go-to drink.
Where is your safe place? Home. I am truly blessed to live on the same road as I did as a child. I can look out my window and see the house where I grew up. There’s something magical and peaceful being connected to my past and future on this little one lane road named after my grandfather.
Dogs, cats, (or neither)? Neither. I am not a cat or dog person. I’m a Pearl person. She’s my one-year old furry writing partner. She’s part human-dog-cat-frog-pig. I love her so much!

Aimee's writing buddy, Pearl. © Photo credit Aimee Satterlee

Early bird or night owl? Neither. (I’m seeing a trend here. Ha!)
Three words to describe what it takes to make it in the kidlit world… persistence, patience, joy!!!

AD: Okay, now down to the serious stuff….please dish us the dirt on who you are and your journey into the fabulous world of children’s books.

AS: I started writing when my son was born. It was just a fun way to stay awake during late night feedings--jotting stories on my iPhone. My husband, who is a teacher, said he wanted to show one of my stories to his 5th grade class. Little did I know, he stealthily took my story and had it illustrated by a RISD alum as a present. When I opened it, I cried. Actually, I sobbed. To see that little story I wrote on my iPhone as a potential picture book lit a fire from within. I have been learning and growing ever since. When I started, I didn’t even know there were 32 pages in a picture book. Needless to say, that first story was a mess. I can look back at it now and laugh. But, it was the beginning of my official writing journey and for that I’m forever grateful.

AD: Sweetest and most thoughtful gift ever! And as a new mom myself, how inspiring that your spark to write was a result of late nights with your baby boy. Inspiration is everywhere! Although your writing journey started after having your son, did you always know you wanted to be an author? Have you explored other paths or had/have other jobs?

AS: I’ve always loved picture books. My parents tried bribing me as a child to stop reading picture books and start reading chapter books. Looking back, there was a definite reason that the picture book form spoke to the core of who I am. But, I don’t think I *knew* I could actually *be* an author. I grew up in a family of teachers going back many generations. So, naturally I became a teacher. I adored my students and enjoyed reading books to them. Being a teacher and a mom awakened that deep love of picture books. I truly believe everything in my life has led me here. And, I’m really proud of being able to share this journey with my children and hopefully be an example of determination. They have seen how I handle this difficult journey and all the rejections, but always picking myself up and continuing because when you feel a deep passion and purpose, nothing will stop you.

AD: What topics or themes do you tend to focus on in your writing? Favorite genres you like to write in?

AS: I’m not afraid to go deeply emotional and personal or on the flip side, as one CP said, I can be “fearlessly silly.” I write in many picture book genres (nonfiction, informational fiction, lyrical, humor, STEM, SEL). No matter what genre, I hope my readers feel seen, loved and happy! If what I create means something to a child, there is no greater good or purpose. I love writing and I always want to focus on that deep joy because I hope it will be felt by readers.

AD: Breaking into the publishing industry is not easy! What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve faced thus far? What have you done to persevere?

AS: One of my biggest challenges was actually turning down an offer of representation last fall. The Call was on my actual birthday! (Complete with zombie unicorn ice cream cake…) It felt like a real birthday wish manifested. So, for me to say “no” was difficult. I’m grateful now because I would not have actually written the lyrical piece of my heart that touched Kailei, my mentor, and had this incredible opportunity of a mentorship. Everything is meant to be including all the times I applied and was not chosen for other mentorships. I keep showing up for opportunities, learning and growing. Perseverance is my superpower! I also find that eating a lot of Crumbl cookies along the way is essential.

AD: What an interesting situation. Thank you for sharing that. I think so often we are so excited to get that initial offer that we can overlook our gut feelings when making the decision to move forward in a partnership or not. Thanks for that reminder that it's okay to pass on opportunities that may not align at our core, knowing that in the end, the decision will lead us to where we are meant to be. And I need to try some of those Crumbl cookies! Yum!

Crumbl Treats Photo Credit: © Aimee Satterlee

AD: As creators (and humans), we tend to focus on the flaws of our creations or areas for improvement. This helps us grow and develop, but we need not forget the many things we are doing well. With this in mind, what has been your biggest accomplishment or something you are most proud of thus far on your writing journey?

AS: I think there were over 400 applications for the PB Rising Stars Mentorship. So, being chosen was a really big deal. I feel fortunate for the opportunity to learn and grow with such an amazing mentor. I have had writing contest wins that have been meaningful. 2022 and 2019 I was a winner for Vivian Kirkfield’s 50 Precious Words, and in 2020 I was Honorable Mention. I don’t have the time to enter in all the amazing writing contests out there, but I always make 50 Precious Words a priority because it challenges me to really focus on word choice and tell a complete story in so few words. I also won Honorable Mention for Kids’ Choice Kidlit Writing Contest 2022. This contest is judged by real kids! So, for kid readers (who are not my own children) to actually like my story enough to vote on it meant so much.

AD: Woohoo! So many wins and reasons to celebrate. More Crumble cookies perhaps?!?
Speaking of accomplishments, what do you feel are your strengths as an author? What makes your writing unique to you?

AS: One of my strengths is the creativity of my ideas. Tara Lazar says that “concept is king.” Ideas come easily to me. My list has almost 500 ideas on it right now. Granted only some of those will rise to the top of the list to become manuscripts, but I seem to have a knack for coming up with unique ideas with multiple hooks and kid appeal. I have a specific voice that my mentor and CPs says comes through no matter what genre I write in. I think it’s “miscellaimeeous”--sometimes quirky, sweet, funny, deep. I write with the intention of bringing extra hope, comfort and joy to readers.

AD: Love that “miscellaimeeous” word play ;)
What inspires your work?

AS: I’m inspired by kids! My own kids, former students, my inner kid, kids just being kids!, kids with big feelings, and kids who need a reminder that they are loved. I care so much about my future readers. I know there are children out there who need my books. I won’t give up on them.

AD: Tell us about your creative process and what you do to keep ideas flowing or what you do when feeling stuck?

AS: Tara Lazar’s Storystorm is a treasure. I always participate in the month of January and generate so many idea “jewels” for the whole year. As far as being stuck, my best advice is take a break. Don’t force it. Switch to something else you are working on. I usually have multiple projects I’m working on at once. So, if I am stuck with one I move to a different one. That time away is usually enough to provide clarity and get me moving again in the right direction.

AD: I love Tara's Storystorm! So many jewels can come from it!

Aimee's Workspace Photo Credit: © Aimee Satterlee

AD: What sorts of things have been most integral in your growth as an author?

AS: Some of the organizations and groups that have been the most beneficial to my growth as an author are: SCBWI, 12x12, Kidlit Twitter and #PBChat. I’ve been a part of many writing conferences, and numerous webinars with outstanding authors and industry professionals.

Critique groups!!! I’m currently a part of 4 CGs. No one can do this journey alone. I’m lucky to be part of critique groups with such talented writers!

Reading! Reading! Reading! I’ve calculated that I’ve read more than 7,800 picture books since starting my writing journey. I always check out a huge stack of books each week from the library. I even have a whole file dedicated to analyzing picture book texts.

AD: What advice do you have for fellow kidlit creatives?

AS: Keep going! Good things are already on the way to you!

AD: Where can readers find out more about you and your work?

Twitter @AimeeSatterlee
Website: www.AimeeSatterlee.com

Thank you so much for sharing your insights and creative journey, Aimee! We can't wait to see your heartfelt books in the hands of young readers! Feel free to drop a comment below to support Aimee and her work. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss out on the next Rising Stars in Kidlit feature and follow along on Twitter at #RisingStarsinKidlit!

Photo Credit: Angela Wood Photography

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Rising Stars in KidLit: Jasmine Fang

9/27/2022

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Meet Rising Star

Author Jasmine Fang

Jasmine Fang is a Asian American civil servant and writer. She was born overseas, grew up in Texas and Southern California, and has worked in Washington D.C. and San Francisco in government and higher education. She led a campus-wide movement “liveKIND”, which became her life mantra. Having worked, studied, and traveled in over 30 countries, she cares about building communities, equity and inclusion, and helping others feel a deep sense of belonging. She is the SCBWI SF South New Member Coordinator. In 2022, Jasmine was selected as a PBRS mentee, SCBWI BIPOC scholarship, and Courage to Create scholarship. She currently lives in San Francisco with her wonderful husband, toddler, and maple tree.

Fun facts: she won her first writing contest in 4th grade, wrote poetry since high school (and performed spoken word), and speak 2.5 languages. Not so fun fact: she holds an MBA.

Jasmine is currently seeking agent representation.

AD: Hi Jasmine! I'm so excited to have you here to kick off this fun KidLit Rising Stars collaboration. Let’s start with your experience in the PB Rising Stars Mentorship Program. Can you tell us who your mentor is, what inspired you to apply, and how the program is going/went for you ?

JF: First off, thanks so much Amanda for interviewing me! I’m grateful to have been selected for the PBRS mentorship. My mentor is the wonderfully talented Sylvia Chen (Website, Twitter, Goodreads) and her picture book TRICKY CHOPSTICKS is slated to come out 2024. She’s helped me immensely by looking at my stories from different angles and also giving a great bird’s eye view of what’s working or not.

Of course, kudos to our PBRS creators extraordinaires, Ebony Mudd and Kailei Pew for all their work towards the program and hosting workshops alongside Jerrold Connors, Justin Colon, and Winsome Bingham. I applied to PBRS to learn more about the industry and connect with other creators. As the mentorship draws to a close, I feel more confident in my pieces and have a deeper understanding of the publishing process.

AD: So glad to hear you're walking away more confident in both your work and with navigating the industry. Not surprising considering the all-star line up of mentors :)
Alright let’s do a speed round…

Top three favorite children’s books of all time? I love books that give me ALL THE FEELS. Right now, I’m enjoying Watercress by Andrea Wang, Eyes that Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho, and Patchwork by Matt de la Pena.
Coffee, tea (or neither)? Currently Ritual coffee in the AM, though I’m always down for a good rooibos, pu-er, or genmai tea.
Where is your safe place? If I share publicly, it will no longer be safe :)
Dogs, cats, (or neither)? Dogs! I had shelter dogs. And ducks, though that’s not an option.
Early bird or night owl? Early bird (along with my toddler, but not my husband)
Three words to describe what it takes to make it in the kidlit world… passion, persistence, patience.

AD: Okay, now down to the serious stuff….please dish us the dirt on who you are and your journey into the fabulous world of children’s books.

JF: I grew up reading picture books in Mandarin and getting lost in magical worlds. I’ve always loved reading (memoirs, biographies, poetry, rom coms, picture books) and I started writing poetry in high school for fun. Pre-pandemic, I hosted ‘article clubs’ with a close group of girlfriends and we’d discuss meaningful articles over wine. I also hosted book discussions with my agency’s AAPI affinity group. While those topics are more grown-up, I’ve always had ideas for picture books and was first inspired when a friend of mine self-published a picture book. During the pandemic and my pregnancy, I paused extracurriculars to study and write kidlit.

Aside from taking online writing classes to hone my kidlit writing craft, I joined SCBWI and Inked Voices where I met wonderful critique partners. Then there’s Twitter’s supportive kidlit community, where writing contests, mentorships, critique giveaways, and other goodies are shared. And here we are today.

AD: Did you always know you wanted to be an author? Have you explored other paths or had/have other jobs?

JF: I’ve always had ideas for children's books, though these dreams weren’t pursued until recently. I’ve dedicated most of my career to civil service and higher education (international affairs, leadership development, advising), which has been rewarding and allowed me to see different parts of the world. You can read about my Day in the Life of a Civil Servant (in Quarantine) here. One day, I plan to write a women’s fiction novel and a poetry book. Just putting it out there!

AD: Wow! Amazing where our paths can take us. Sounds like no matter where you were or what you were doing, telling stories was always of interest to you. Thank you for sharing the Day in the Life of a Civil Servant post. It was fascinating to read about your daily routine and even gave me a sneak peek into your narrative voice. Also, your home cooked meals looks delicious!

Speaking of sneak peeks, can you share what topics or themes do you tend to focus on in your writing? Favorite genres you like to write in?

JF: My strongest pieces are about cultural experiences, family, courage, and kindness. Most of my stories have heart with some humor. Some are #own pieces. I hope to bring forth my identities and create timeless books that kids can relate to. Recently, a friend asked me to write PB stories about my top secret clearance (expired) and all the cool bits. So maybe more of that to come.

AD: Breaking into the publishing industry is not easy! What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve faced thus far? What have you done to persevere?

JF: I haven’t broken into the publishing industry yet! As we were asked not to query during the mentorship program, I plan to start querying later in 2022. My biggest challenge right now is actually taking the plunge into querying.

AD: I would beg to differ on that :) Taking the plunge to get your work out there for opportunities such as the PBRS mentorship program takes vulnerability and connecting with people in the industry to build supports and seek guidance is huge! These are all steps towards breaking into the industry and building the foundation that will give you solid ground to stand on once you officially start querying. You are doing it!! On a similar note, as creators (and humans), we tend to focus on the flaws of our creations or areas for improvement. This helps us grow and develop, but we need not forget the many things we are doing well. With this in mind, what has been your biggest accomplishment or something you are most proud of thus far on your creative journey?

JF: I’m proud of being selected for this PBRS mentorship program, SCBWI BIPOC scholarship, and Courage to Create scholarship, all which required me to submit pieces of my work. I’m also proud that my family members resonate with my stories. My dad loved two pieces. My husband (professionally published in his industry and often brings me down to earth re writing) gave a few compliments – I’ll take it.

AD: Congratulations on all these wonderful accomplishments, Jasmine. It's clear others are recognizing the strengths and specialness of your work but what do you feel are your strengths as an author? What makes your writing unique to you?

JF: I’ve been told I have creative story ideas. For many of my stories, I take personal experiences and mold them into a digestible way so others can better understand.

AD: What inspires your work?

JF: My toddler, nature, and lived experiences.

AD: Tell us about your creative process and what you do to keep ideas flowing or what you do when feeling stuck?

JF: I read, listen to audiobooks, or go for a jog. Thankfully, we live near plenty of greenery and hiking trails. Inspiration can strike anytime– when I’m reading, on the tennis courts, or on the playground with my son.

AD: What sorts of things have been most integral in your growth?

JF: Critique partners, support from my mentor and PBRisingStars, the kidlit community, and librarians I’ve befriended.

AD: What advice do you have for fellow kidlit creatives?

JF: Plug into the writing community and make sure you have a strong support system! Self-care and prioritizing health is so, so important. I’m working full-time, raising my toddler, managing a side project, and writing. I also find setting incremental goals and living in day-tight compartments helpful. Lastly, give back if you’re able to :)

AD: Where can readers find out more about you and your work?

Twitter: @jasmineifang
Website: https://jasminefang.wordpress.com/
Linkedin: @jasmineifang
Instagram: @jasminefangwrites

AD: Thank you so much for stopping by the blog, Jasmine! I appreciate you sharing a bit about yourself, the PB Rising Stars Mentorship and contributing to the Rising Stars in Kidlit blog series We can't wait to read your stories and see where your journey leads you! Feel free to drop a comment below to support Jasmine and her work, and be sure to subscribe so you don't miss out and follow along on Twitter at #RisingStarsinKidlit!

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#RisingStarsinKidLit Spotlight Series: John Bray

9/7/2022

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Rising Stars in KidLit began as a way to highlight my fellow kidlit creators who are working their tails off to birth their beautiful book babies into the world. These interviews cast a light on the wonderful work of pre-published or pre-agented authors and author-illustrators who are destined to be stars! Today we’re hosting another Spotlight series with author, John Bray, so we can learn all about his path to publication! John has also offered to giveaway a signed copy of THE END plus a bonus activity book to one lucky winner! Make sure to read all the way to THE END (haha!) of the interview for details on how to enter the giveaway. Thanks for your generosity, John!

Meet Rising Star

Author John Bray!

John Bray is an author of books for children and an assortment of other things. He also won a bookmark design contest in second grade. He lives in St. Charles, IL with his son and a rambunctious dog who’s the size of a modest cat. His debut picture book, THE END, illustrated by Josh Cleland releases later this month with Starry Forest Books. John is currently seeking agent representation.

Welcome, John and congrats on your upcoming release, THE END! I'm thrilled to have you here to celebrate your debut and chat about your journey! Thank you so much for your generous giveaway, too! Make sure to enter for your chance to win a signed copy of THE END plus a bonus activity book! Details on how to enter at the bottom of the interview.

AD: First off, congrats on your debut picture book, THE END, which releases this month with Starry Forest Books. Can you share a bit more about this delightful story?

JB: THE END is a slightly meta story about endings, beginnings, and the space between the two. It’s also sort of a mashup between Semisonic’s “Closing Time” (a late 90s classic) and "Little Gidding" by T.S. Eliot (modernist poet and author of everyone's favorite "Prufrock"). More than anything, it's a different, humorous perspective on endings, and I think that's something we could all use from time to time.

AD: Yes! What a perfect description! I love how it got me thinking about endings in a whole new light and reminded me that endings are just the beginning of something else with lots of exciting stuff happening in between! Artist, Josh Cleland, perfectly capture the fun and humor in the story, too!

John's debut children's book THE END, illustrated by Josh Cleland, recently released with Starry Forest Books.

Let’s start with a speed round…

Top three favorite children’s books of all time? Need a House? Call Ms. Mouse! (George Mendoza, Illustrated by Doris Susan Smith), Monkey with a Toolbelt, the whole series (Chris Monroe), and Shadow (Suzy Lee).
Coffee, tea (or neither)? Coffee. Always coffee. I have very strong feelings about tea.
Where is your safe place? Running. So anywhere and everywhere, I guess.
Dogs, cats, (or neither)? Dogs. More specifically: My office mate, Lilly.
Early bird or night owl? Early bird.
Three words to describe what it takes to make it in the kidlit world… Patience, Creativity, incredibly-thick-skin (that’s one word because hyphens are magic)

Okay, now down to the serious stuff….

AD: Please dish us the dirt on who you are and your journey into the fabulous world of children’s books.

JB: So much dirt to dish. I’ll give the truncated version. I found my way to children’s books by way of the Young Author’s program in third grade (my book: The ABCs of Origami). That sparked my love for writing, and I’ve been writing ever since. However, between then and now, there was college, a job in marketing that I did not enjoy at all, working as a freelance writer (which I still do and enjoy), raising a son (also still in process), and a slew of other things. But children’s books were always there, either taking shape on the page or in my head.

AD: Did you always know you wanted to be an author? Have you explored other paths or had/have other jobs?

JB: Yes. But no. I originally went to college with a law focus (English, Pre-law). A series of big life events (so many of them) led me away from that path. In hindsight, it was the best thing that could have happened. I’d make a terrible lawyer. But my filing would be impeccable.

AD: Funny how we find our way back to our true passions. :)

AD: What topics or themes do you tend to focus on in your writing? Favorite genres you like to write in?

JB: This is such a difficult question. I think I gravitate toward making the intangible more tangible, but that’s not necessarily a focus. More than anything, I like the idea of telling a story kids want to get lost in in only 32 pages. Something fun.

AD: Breaking into the publishing industry is not easy! What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve faced thus far? What have you done to persevere?

JB: The hardest thing was just putting myself out there. Spending time and energy to create a story I believe in only to have it rejected over and over again.

AD: Yes! Being vulnerable as a creator is one of the hardest parts and as creators (and humans), we tend to focus on the flaws of our creations or areas for improvement. This helps us grow and develop, but we need not forget the many things we are doing well. With this in mind, what has been your biggest accomplishment or something you are most proud of thus far on your writing journey?

JB: Editing! I’m a notorious over-writer. Always wordy (which probably comes through in some of these answers). But I’m slowly becoming much better at cutting. Ruthlessly cutting. It’s a lot easier to say “kill your darlings” than it is to actually kill them.

AD: I completely relate!

AD: In a similar vein, what do you feel are your strengths as an author? What makes your writing unique to you?

JB: I spend a lot of time focusing not just on the story or the words I use to tell it, but on how those words feel when you say them. How they clump together and flow, either out loud or in your own head. That doesn’t mean unnecessarily big words or onomatopoeias. It’s mostly about how the words fit together. Their relationship and rhythm. I think the experience of reading (or hearing) a book should be as exciting and engaging as the story itself.

AD: Yes, the feeling of the words is so important as is reading the story out loud so you can get a sense of this. Thanks for the reminder!

AD: What inspires your work?

JB: Anything and everything. Usually it’s something fairly random (odd sayings, quirky word combinations, or, as with THE END, song lyrics). And then the other part of that inspiration is time. Letting that little piece of something sit and grow before I try to write my way into a story. It doesn’t always work, but I always learn something along the way.

AD: Tell us about your creative process and what you do to keep ideas flowing or what you do when feeling stuck?

JB: Running is a big help. When I have nothing to think about but putting one foot in front of the other, it clears my head and makes room for new ideas. I also run in the early morning when it’s quiet, and I think that adds to the experience. But sometimes, you just get stuck and you have to redirect that creative energy. For me, that means baking or drawing or helping my son (who is very mechanically minded and not at all interested in writing so much as a single sentence) solve a problem with one of his many projects.

AD: Having a clear mind is so important for creativity and inspiration. Glad you have your outlet with running. Double win that it's a healthy way to clear the mind as well!

AD: What sorts of things have been most integral in your growth as an author?

JB: Three things: 1) An almost daily practice for 15-20 years. 2) My friend Sue (a 10-year friendship and one of the best things to come out of Twitter), who always helps me get out of my own head so I can move forward with my writing. 3) Parents who supported creativity and the arts as much as they supported math and science. There was no “that doesn’t sound like a financially safe career path” in my house growing up. But, in all honesty, I’ve been surrounded by supportive people from just about every angle, and I’m beyond grateful for their encouragement and belief in me and my work over the years.

AD: A support system is huge! It can be a roller coaster so having people who are there for the ride can keep us moving forward and motivated.

AD: What advice do you have for fellow kidlit creatives?

JB: Just. Stick. With it. If you have a story to tell — in pictures, words, or both — keep at it. Children want stories. They need them. It’s not an easy or fast road for most people (me included!) but if it’s something you’re passionate about, keep at it and remember that rejections aren’t personal.

AD: Right on! I remember a quote (I forget who said it) but it was something along the lines of-the only way you won't succeed is if you give up. I wholeheartedly believe that. Anything is possible if you just stick with it! Alright and finally, where can readers find out more about you and your work?

Website: johnbraybooks.com
Twitter: @jhnrbry
Instagram: @jhnrbry

John, thank you so much for joining us for this special Spotlight feature on Rising Stars in KidLit! Congrats again on your debut, THE END.

Join John's newsletter HERE to keep up with book news, events, and snag a free book and feel free to drop a comment below to support John and his work. Be sure to also subscribe to the Rising Stars series so you don't miss out on the next Rising Stars in Kidlit feature and follow along on Twitter at #RisingStarsinKidlit!

Speaking of snagging a free book.....

Win a signed copy of THE END plus a bonus activity book!!

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:

✅ Follow John & Amanda on Twitter
✅ Retweet this post on Twitter
✅ Tag 3 friends in the comments on Twitter

A random winner will be selected to receive a signed copy of THE END plus a bonus activity book!

The deadline for this contest is Tuesday, September 13th at 9AM EST. The winner will be contacted on Tuesday, September 13th and announced on Twitter.

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#RisingStarsinKidLit Spotlight Series: Rebekah Lowell

6/2/2022

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Rising Stars in KidLit began as a way to highlight my fellow kidlit creators who are working their tails off to birth their beautiful book babies into the world. These interviews cast a light on the wonderful work of pre-published or pre-agented authors and author-illustrators who are destined to be stars! Today we’re hosting a special Spotlight series with author-illustrator, Rebekah Lowell so we can learn all about her path to publication! Rebekah has also offered to giveaway a signed copy of THE ROAD TO AFTER and some book swag to one lucky winner! Make sure to read all the way to the end of the interview for details on how to enter the giveaway. Thanks, Rebekah, yay!

Meet Rising Star

Author-Illustrator Rebekah Lowell!

Rebekah Lowell is an author/illustrator, and surface pattern designer with a passion for the natural world. As a survivor of domestic abuse, she’s found the natural world to be a peaceful healing ground. Her debut novel in verse, THE ROAD TO AFTER, published with Nancy Paulsen Books/Penguin Random House on May 10, 2022, and her debut picture book CATCHING FLIGHT, publishes with Doubleday Books for Young Readers in spring 2023. When not in her studio, you can find her outside—birding, gardening, nature journaling, rescuing birds for Avian Haven, and raising butterflies – often with her daughters, who she homeschools. Rebekah has a BFA in Illustration from the Rhode Island School of Design and an MFA in Children’s Literature and Illustration from Hollins University. Her artwork has been featured on the Maine Duck Stamp five times and she is also an art educator. She lives with her family in her hometown of Biddeford, Maine.

Welcome, Rebekah and congrats on your new release, THE ROAD TO AFTER and your forthcoming title, CATCHING FLIGHT! Rebekah and I met several years back when we were both diving into the wonderful world of children's books so I'm thrilled to have her here to celebrate her successes and chat about her journey! Thank you so much, Rebekah, for your generous giveaway, too! Make sure to enter for your chance to win a signed copy of THE ROAD TO AFTER and book swag! Details on how to enter at the bottom of the interview.

AD: Let’s start with a speed round…

Top three favorite children’s books of all time? Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney, Ferdinand by Robert Lawson, illustrated by Munro Leaf, Miss Suzy by Miriam Young, illustrated by Arnold Lobel
Coffee, tea (or neither)? Both—hot or iced.
Where is your safe place? Outside in nature.
Dogs, cats, (or neither)? Both! I love all animals. Birds, squirrels, deer, chipmunks, the lot of them. If I was a fairy in the Tinkerbell series, I would be Fawn.
Early bird or night owl? As a young child I was an early bird. In high school I was both. Now I’m a night owl who wants to be an early bird, but I love what I do and work way too late at night. One of my goals for this year is to create a better schedule for myself because as an adult, I cannot be both night owl and early bird. I will need to choose.
Three words to describe what it takes to make it in the kidlit world… Resiliency, Determination, and Willingness to revise.

AD: Okay, now down to the serious stuff…Please dish us the dirt on who you are and your journey into the fabulous world of children’s books.

RL: When I was a senior at The Rhode Island School of Design, I took a class called “Picture and Word.” It was taught by Judy-Sue Goodwin-Sturges and Rebecca Bond. I fell in love with the art form that is the picture book; how words danced with images but didn’t repeat them. I fell in love with writing all over again. I used to write so much as a child, then as an adult, I journaled and took poetry classes while I was at RISD. My creative heart soaked it all in. I always knew I would be an artist, but during that class, I knew I wanted to write and illustrate for children.

Just before graduation however, my plans came to a halt as I found myself trapped in an abusive relationship. Professors saw it. Peers saw it, but I didn’t know how to get out of it. It was too much to understand, let alone break free of. I started doubting myself and the abuse took an even stronger hold on my life. Before I knew it, I lost myself completely. Ten years later, I finally escaped. After becoming settled in a safe place, I went back to school at Hollins University and pursued my dream of writing and illustrating for children by earning my dual MFA in Children’s Literature and Illustration. I read A LOT. I learned A LOT. I created A LOT.

Wrote and illustrated my novel in verse. (More on this HERE)

Wrote and illustrated picture books and pulled a portfolio of work together.

I brought my portfolio and projects to Big Sur Cape Cod in the fall of 2017 and workshopped them.

In 2018 I brought my illustration portfolio and a picture book dummy to NESCBWI and met with Wendi Gu of Janklow & Nesbit Associates. She offered rep, so I let other agents I had submitted to know, and I ended up receiving other offers that week as well, but ultimately accepted Wendi’s offer. (More on signing with Wendi HERE)

Wendi and I went out on submission with my middle grade novel in verse first and it sold less than a year after working together. (This book is now out with Nancy Paulsen Books as THE ROAD TO AFTER.) Shortly after sending that book on submission, my novel in verse (not yet sold) won the Susan P. Bloom Award. Within the week, I received multiple offers, one of which was from Nancy Paulsen! Signing the contract on my first book deal was a momentous event for me. So many emotions welled up and it felt like this career was going to work out after all.

At the end of 2020, my first agent and I parted ways, and by January of 2021 I signed with Paige Terlip of Andrea Brown Literary Agency. This was a full circle celebration for me because back in 2014 I met Andrea Brown herself at Hollins and had loved and admired ABLA ever since. I’m so grateful to be at this amazing agency.

Just before signing with Paige, I tweeted an illustration that caught the attention of editor Frances Gilbert of Doubleday Books for Young Readers and she asked if I had a picture book that went with it. I had, but it was nonfiction, and she had previously declined (because she doesn’t pub a lot of nonfiction), so I told her I would come up with something for her, and I did, and I sent her a picture of the poem I wrote in my notebook. She asked me to type it up and send it to her, so I did.

After signing with Paige, we sold that picture book, now called CATCHING FLIGHT, and it will publish with Doubleday Books for Young Readers in March of 2023. Text revisions are done, interior art is done, and at the time of this post, I’m working on the cover art!

What’s next: Other picture books and another novel on sub. Other picture books and a third novel in the works.

AD: Wow! You've had quite the journey, Rebekah. It seems like at the heart of it all was finding the strength to never give up and follow your dreams. I'm so glad you persevered and now others will have the opportunity to learn from your writing and art and be inspired to follow their own dreams. It also seems that art and writing have always been a passion of yours. Is that the case? Did you always know you wanted to be an author-illustrator? Have you explored other paths or had/have other jobs?

RL: I had considered psychology, art therapy, horticulture, and botany. As a very young child I thought I wanted to be an apothecary or a singer. But all of this was always in addition to being an artist. I always wanted to be an artist. I could draw before I could walk, which I know happens for others too, but I drew A LOT. I painted in oils when I was seven. I sold my first paintings before I was 10 and won my first show ribbon at 14. I’ve always painted and always will.

AD: That's impressive that you sold your first work so young!! :) What topics or themes do you tend to focus on in your writing/art? Favorite genres you like to write in or favorite art materials/techniques?

RL: Nature, always. Resiliency, determination, hope. Nature as healer. Middle grade novels in verse. Picture books, also in verse. I guess I’m a poet. I’m a painter and a poet.

For picture books, I love working in water-based traditional media like watercolor, gouache, acrylagouache, colored pencils, gel pens, and more. For middle grade, the interior work usually needs to be in grayscale, so there are limitations on materials, but I embrace this. I love using graphite dust and Blackwing pencils on vellum for a rich, layered feeling (a technique I learned from Brian Lies) but I also love painting with black ink.

AD: I took a workshop with Brian Lies at one of the NESCBWI conferences, and we practiced the graphite dust technique. It was so much fun. I LOVE how the interiors of THE ROAD TO AFTER turned out. That was a perfect style and material for the story. Themes of nature tend to show up in my work as well. It's always been a constant and there is so much we can learn from it. I love how nature is so evident in all the work you do, from illustrations, to fine art, to surface patterns, you can tell that it's a meaningful part of your life and work.

AD: Breaking into the publishing industry is not easy! What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve faced thus far? What have you done to persevere?

RL: A few things: Keeping hope alive when I was told (by an abusive person) that I would never be published. Over the course of receiving many rejections, I learned how to be thankful for them. Even though a “no” can be disappointing, and it can feel like the sky will never part when you’ve been submitting for years, you wouldn’t want to partner with an editor or agent who isn’t right for your work. Consider feedback, if any, provided with a decline, but only apply it if it resonates with you. I learned to appreciate rejection because I once heard somewhere that “Rejection points you in the right direction.” I fully believe it.

I have also celebrated the milestones, big and small. I have fun. I stash chocolate in my studio and will find any excuse to bring my daughters out for ice cream. (Not that I need one, but I do love celebrating all the things.)

AD: I love that saying. It's so true! Sometimes it's easy to get lost in all the rejections and as creators (and humans), we tend to focus on the flaws of our creations or areas for improvement. This helps us grow and develop, but we need not forget the many things we are doing well. With this in mind, what has been your biggest accomplishment or something you are most proud of thus far on your writing/illustration journey?

RL: Not giving up. Going after it even when I was at my lowest, just having left and still not sure of my footing. Having the belief that one day being published would happen, while I was at my darkest time not even permitted to leave the house. I just kept thinking toward the day, hoping, only the tiniest hope, that it would happen. I read the few books we had to my daughters, over and over, imagining that one day they would be able to hold one made by their mom. Now they can.

AD: YES! How special! I remember I heard someone once say, the only way you won't succeed is if you give up. You never gave up and remained hopeful. We have to look for the bright spots in order to keep us forging ahead. In a similar vein, what do you feel are your strengths as an author/illustrator? What makes your art/writing unique to you?

RL: I think I have a story to tell and it’s going to be told over a string of books. Each one, though different will relate to the other to tell a smaller part of a greater whole. The narrative will be all of my projects combined. One book will speak of nature as healer and how to start over (THE ROAD TO AFTER), another book will talk about freedom on the wings of birds (CATCHING FLIGHT), the next are to be determined, but I love the idea that each project will be a different facet of the same stone.

AD: What inspires your work?

RL: Nature and our human connection to nature; how we interact with the wild spaces around us and what we do to serve the natural world and how it serves us back.

AD: Tell us about your creative process and what you do to keep ideas flowing or what you do when feeling stuck?

RL: My creative process isn’t much of a literal process. This might be rather disappointing, but I don’t have the opportunity to plan out the perfect workday because I’m also a homeschooling mom, housekeeper, part-time children’s librarian, volunteer bird-rescuer, and because my life is different each day, I don’t have a set routine. I find pockets of time where I can work, and I often bring work to appointments, waiting rooms, and trips. This often leaves me feeling like I work all the time and I’m left wondering what it would be like to have business hours. I struggle with work/life balance. I don’t believe in “inspiration striking” but I am always thinking, and sometimes ideas do come at the oddest times, and I always have a notebook to jot down in. I also use shower notes, and can’t stand doing nothing, so I’m always prepared. For better or for worse, I’m always working on something. I do, however, enjoy winding down by gardening, raising butterflies, taking hot baths, and long walks. It’s my nature to keep busy, but I’m also trying to do better with down time for mental and physical health. It’s a goal, but a work-in-progress like anything. To keep ideas flowing: that is not an issue for me. The issue would be how to make them stop.

What do I do when I feel stuck? I go outside and look around, look up, look down. I find wonder.

AD: Thank you for your honesty. Work/life balance is such a challenge! It's refreshing to hear that sometimes you just have to fit things in where you can and find pockets of time that work for you. I think most of us can relate to that and feel better knowing we're not alone in that struggle. A work-in-progress, for sure! Speaking of works-in-progress, what sorts of things have been most integral in your growth as an author-illustrator?

RL:

my daughters
family
community
RISD
Mary Jane Begin (we worked together at both RISD and Hollins)
Hollins University and all my professors and peers there
SCBWI
Brian Lies during the NESCBWI 4x4 Mentorship Program
my prior agent Wendi Gu
my current agent Paige Terlip of ABLA
walks outside
critique groups
12x12
Immersion with Bonnie Christine
Flourish with Bonnie Christine
the Mastermind group I’m in (WONDER with Sarah Rafferty)
gardening
birding
raising monarchs
coffee
chocolate
small rewards
journaling
making lists in notebooks
my editor for THE ROAD TO AFTER, Nancy Paulsen, and my art director, Marikka Tamura
my editor for CATCHING FLIGHT, Frances Gilbert, and my art director, Nicole de las Heras

AD: What advice do you have for fellow kidlit creatives?

RL: Find a group of peers, or just a few, who you can share pages and artwork with, but also share joys and sorrows with. There is a way to be professional, but there is also a way to care about one another throughout this process because it’s not easy. When you have a community who can be there for each other, the journey is better.

AD: Where can readers find out more about you and your work?

My website: www.rebekahlowell.com
@RebekahLowell on all the socials

Rebekah, thank you so much for joining us for this special Spotlight feature on Rising Stars in KidLit! Congrats again on THE ROAD TO AFTER. We look forward to your debut picture book, CATCHING FLIGHT, too! It sure has been fun and inspirational watching you rise AND shine! Thank you for telling your story and for your honesty and vulnerability. So many wonderful nuggets of wisdom for all to learn from.

For all the art lovers out there, join Rebekah's newsletter to receive a free art supplies guide! Sign up HERE! And don't miss out on the opportunity to read the opening pages of her book HERE! Feel free to drop a comment below to support Rebekah and her work. Be sure to subscribe to the Rising Stars series so you don't miss out on the next Rising Stars in Kidlit feature and follow along on Twitter at #RisingStarsinKidlit!

Win a signed copy of THE ROAD TO AFTER plus book swag!!

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:

✅ Follow Rebekah & Amanda on Twitter
✅ Retweet this post on Twitter
✅ Tag 3 friends in the comments on Twitter

A random winner will be selected to receive a signed copy of THE ROAD TO AFTER plus some fun book swag!

The deadline for this contest is Wednesday, June 8th at 9AM EST. The winner will be contacted on Wednesday, June 8th and announced on Twitter.

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