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#GrowYourWriting Creator Interview: Author, Susan Johnston Taylor
Welcome back to the ‘#GrowYourWriting Creator Interviews’ blog series in 2024. I’m thrilled to feature talented kidlit creators this year and shine a spotlight on their beautiful work and inspiring journeys. Today I’d like to welcome Author, Susan Johnston Taylor. Her nonfiction picture book ANIMALS IN SURPRISING SHADES was published by Gnome Road Publishing in 2023 and is a delightful mix of STEAM and poetry. I’m so excited to chat with Susan about her book and writing journey! You can connect with Susan on X/Twitter, Instagram, and her website. Stay tuned all the way to the end of the interview for your chance to win a signed hardcover of Susan’s…
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GrowYourWriting Creator Interview: KidLit Author, Rachell Abalos
Hello and welcome to my ‘#GrowYourWriting Creator Interviews’ blog series. My goal is to shine a spotlight on kidlit creators and their fabulous projects and allow them to share their tips and tricks to grow your writing. Today I’d like to welcome KidLit Author, Rachell Abalos. Her debut picture book OUR NIPA HUT will be published by Barefoot Books and releases in 2024! I am so excited to share her cover reveal in this interview. What better time to celebrate this beautiful forthcoming book release than during Filipino American History Month! Thank you for joining me today, Rachell! You can connect with Rachell on X/Twitter – https://twitter.com/RachellAbalos and Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/rachellabalos/ Stay…
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GrowYourWriting Creator Interview: Author, Brittany Pomales
Hello and welcome to my ‘#GrowYourWriting Creator Interviews’ blog series. My goal is to shine a spotlight on kidlit creators and their fabulous projects and allow them to share their tips and tricks to grow your writing. Today I’d like to welcome Author, Brittany Pomales. Her debut picture book IT STARTED WITH A P will be published by Flamingo Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House, and releases in Spring 2025! We are so excited for you, Brittany! Brittany is a talented author and Etsy shop owner. You can connect with Brittany on X/Twitter – https://twitter.com/BrittanyPomales and at her Etsy Shop – https://www.etsy.com/shop/WordsYouCanWear Stay tuned all the way to the end of…
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GrowYourWriting Creator Interview: Author, Amy Houts
Hello and welcome to my ‘#GrowYourWriting Creator Interviews’ blog series. My goal is to shine a spotlight on kidlit creators and their fabulous projects and allow them to share their tips and tricks to grow your writing. Today I’d like to welcome Author, Amy Houts. Amy is a multi-published author who loves to connect with authors, illustrators, editors, librarians, educators, and more! You can connect with Amy on Threads, X (Formerly Twitter) & Instagram: @AmyHouts, on Facebook at: “Author Amy Houts” and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyhouts/ Stay tuned all the way to the end of the interview for your chance to win a copy of her stunning new picture book featuring the timely and…
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GrowYourWriting Creator Interview: Carrie Karnes-Fannin, KidLit Creative
Hello and welcome to my ‘#GrowYourWriting Creator Interviews’ blog series. My goal is to shine a spotlight on kidlit creators and their fabulous projects and allow them to share their tips and tricks to grow your writing. Today I’d like to welcome Carrie Karnes-Fannin. She is is a full-time writer and occasional artist. When not writing or drawing, she enjoys photography, hiking, and re-reading the works of comedic genius Douglas Adams. She firmly believes “42” answers “the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything,” but unfortunately has mislaid her towel. She lives in the Appalachian foothills of north Georgia with her husband, plus two fur kids: a groovy dog named Bodhi,…
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GrowYourWriting Creator Interview: Sara Kruger, Children’s Picture Book and Middle Grade Writer
Hello and welcome to my new blog series, ‘#GrowYourWriting Creator Interviews’. My goal with this series is to shine a spotlight on kidlit creators and their fabulous projects and allow them to share their tips and tricks to grow your writing. Today I’d like to welcome picture book and middle grade writer, Sara Kruger. She’s been writing picture books on and off for nearly a dozen years, and actively querying for the last four years. One of her stories, Waiting for Faith, was featured in the winter 2023 edition of Little Thoughts Press and her MG micro fiction story, The Glitch, won third place in the 2023 Kids’ Choice Kidlit Writing…
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GrowYourWriting Creator Interview: Tara Trudel, Children’s Book Author and Songwriter
Hello and welcome to my new blog series, ‘#GrowYourWriting Creator Interviews’. My goal with this series is to shine a spotlight on kidlit creators and their fabulous projects and allow them to share their tips and tricks to grow your writing. Today I’d like to welcome our first participant, Children’s Author and Songwriter, Tara Trudel. Tara, can you please tell us how the idea for FRACTURED came about and a little more about your process as songwriter for kid’s books? FRACTURED combines my background in children’s songwriting, comedy, and musicfor kidlit. I wanted to write a family music album that was structured like a sketchcomedy show with elements like comedic characters, callbacks, and an…
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My first picture book ever written
Yesterday I visited my Mom in Pinon Hills, CA. We ate delicious organic plums from her local co-op and celebrated her soon-to-be born baby bull terrier puppies. We also rummaged around in old boxes and shared old memories. That’s when we found the picture book that started it all “Kimberly’s Time Machine”, written by 10 year old yours truly. This book single-handedly stirred up the creative-writing bug in me for years to come! I did all the writing and illustrations. I even went through revisions with my editor (teacher). The story was about a young girl who built a time machine to visit the future, and all the mishaps…
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Library Days: Mission Viejo Library
The return of summer means the return of library days for me. I always find them to be bustling with excitement. On my way inside I observed this beautiful mosaic butterfly. The tiles reminded me of tiny replicas of the delicious books that awaited me inside. Of course, I always make a beeline for the children’s section, specifically the picture book wall. I like to start by looking at the return cart. This way I can see what books fancy young readers. Today I picked five books from this cart to study. Ah … I just love devouring new picture books. It helps me improve my craft and reminds me…
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So Long Summer…Hello September!
So long Summer! This will go down in my books as the first summer I spent seriously devoted to writing! If I were an apple farmer I would say I had an abundant harvest this summer. Here is just a partial list of things I accomplished. ❦ I attended my first SCBWI Summer Conference. ❦ I joined a Peer Critique Group! ❦ I connected with another Children’s Writer in my neighborhood! ❦ I read 30+ picture books. ❦ I took 2 online writing courses. ❦ I wrote 4 new short stories and made progress on my Middle Grade WIP. ❦ I learned how to use a “twitter hashtag.” ❦ I…
