Welcome to the #GrowYourWriting 2025 Creator Interviews blog series. I’m thrilled to feature talented kidlit creators this year and spotlight their beautiful work and inspiring journeys.  I’m so excited to introduce our May featured creator, Alison McGauley. Alison is is truly an inspiration. I’m so grateful ro have her as a friend and critique partner as we navigate this giant KidLit jigsaw puzzle together. Alison is a special education teacher and the author of Kenzie’s Little Tree (Orca Book Publishers), illustrated by Emilie Leduc. As a chronic illness warrior, Alison is passionate about writing stories that speak to children and caregivers who are impacted by illness or disability. She also…

Welcome to the #GrowYourWriting 2025 Creator Interviews blog series. I’m thrilled to feature talented kidlit creators this year and spotlight their beautiful work and inspiring journeys.  Our April featured creator is Suzanne Elson. Suzanne’s debut Middle Grade Haunted Pond (Oh MG! Press) debuted in March 2025. Suzanne’s debut picture book, Calm Down Counting (DCCED) also launched in March 2025, in both English and French. Suzanne’s twenty-plus year career as an ESL teacher has allowed for an easy transition to classroom visits.   Happily married for over thirty years, with three adult sons and two beautiful grandbabies, (and one more on the way!), Suzanne’s passion for camping remains undiminished. Born in Scotland,…

Welcome to the #GrowYourWriting 2025 Creator Interviews blog series. I’m thrilled to feature talented kidlit creators this year and spotlight their beautiful work and inspiring journeys.  Our March featured creator is, Leslie Eva Tayloe. She is the author of Save the Trees (Brandylane Publishers, 2024, Illustrator Lintang Pandu Pratiwi) which is a Moonbeam Bronze Medal Winner. She has also authored two other books, The Attic Door (Doodle and Peck Publishing, 2024, Illustrator David Barrow), and I’m Fishing with Pop-Pop Today (Austin Macauley Publishers, 2022). You are in for a treat as Leslie has offered not one but two giveaways for our readers! Stay tuned all the way to the end…

Welcome to the #GrowYourWriting 2025 Creator Interviews blog series. I’m thrilled to feature talented kidlit creators this year and spotlight their beautiful work and inspiring journeys.  Our February featured creator is, Cynthia Mackey, a Children’s Author and Early Years Educator. Cynthia Mackey is the author of Katie Shaeffer Pancake Maker and The Lullaby Monsters and her poetry appears in The Toy, The Dirigible Balloon and Little Thoughts Press, Hit the Road magazine. Her debut picture book, If a Bumblebee Lands on Your Toe is set for publication with Yeehoo Press in April 2025. She was mentored by highly acclaimed Canadian author, Jean E. Pendziwol. With a Bachelor of Education degree,…

Welcome to the #GrowYourWriting 2025 Creator Interviews blog series. I’m thrilled to feature talented kidlit creators this year and spotlight their beautiful work and inspiring journeys.  Kicking off the new year, I welcome Author, Paola Santos and her gorgeous book How to Eat a Mango / Cómo se come un mango illustrated by Juliana Predomo and published by Neal Porter Books / Holiday House. You can connect with Paola on X/Twitter, Instagram, and her website. Stay tuned to the end of the interview for your chance to win a 30 Minute Zoom “Ask Me Anything” with Paola. 1 – What inspired you to pursue a career in children’s literature, and when did you…

Welcome to the #GrowYourWriting Creator Interviews blog series in 2024. I’m thrilled to feature talented kidlit creators this year and spotlight their beautiful work and inspiring journeys.  Today, I welcome Author, Andrew Hacket who welcomes not one but three picture books into the world in 2024! You can connect with Andrew on X/Twitter, Instagram, and his website. Stay tuned to the end of the interview for your chance to win a 30 Minute Zoom “Ask Me Anything” or brainstorming session with Andrew. 1 – What inspired you to pursue a career in children’s literature, and when did you start creating? Connecting with children has always been a strength of mine. It is something…

Welcome to the #GrowYourWriting Creator Interviews blog series in 2024. I’m thrilled to feature talented kidlit creators this year and spotlight their beautiful work and inspiring journeys.  Today, I’d like to welcome Author Jenny Lynn Pease. Her picture book I LOVE HARRIET KIPPLEY debuts with Free Spirit Books on April 2, 2024, in just a few short weeks! I LOVE HARRIET KIPPLY is filled with fun, vibrant illustrations and serves as a great conversation starter for kids to build self-confidence. You can connect with Jenny on X/Twitter, Instagram, and Threads. Stay tuned to the end of the interview for your chance to win a fiction or non-rhyming, nonfiction, or fiction picture book critique…

Welcome to the #GrowYourWriting Creator Interviews blog series in 2024. I’m thrilled to feature talented kidlit creators this year and spotlight their beautiful work and inspiring journeys.  Today, I welcome Author and Former Elementary Librarian Lisa Rogers. She welcomed two new books into the world in 2023: BEAUTIFUL NOISE: THE MUSIC OF JOHN CAGE (Random House Kids/Anne Schwartz Books), beautifully illustrated by Il Sung Na, and a Little Golden Book Biography of Ronald Reagan, and has several more forthcoming titles in 2024 and beyond! You can connect with Lisa on X/Twitter, Instagram, and her website. Stay tuned to the end of the interview for your chance to win a Non-rhyming picture book critique…