September 25, 2018

How to Build Public Speaking Confidence with Proven Strategies

Public speaking consistently ranks among people's most common fears. Whether you're giving a presentation at work, leading a meeting, delivering a toast, or speaking to a large audience, nervousness is normal. The good news is that confident speakers are not born confident. Public speaking confidence is built through preparation, repeated exposure, and learning how to manage fear rather than eliminate it. These proven strategies can help you become a more effective and confident speaker.

September 21, 2018

Jessika von Innerebner on Creativity, Freelancing, and Developing Your Artistic Style

It's a special treat to have successfully published illustrator Jessika von Innerebner, who is represented by veteran agent Kelly Sonnack with Andrea Brown Literary Agency, stop by for an interview! She's known as Jess von I to her friends (which now includes you!) and is a full-time freelance children’s book illustrator who travels the world. Morning cups of coffee, long-boarding and laughing at corny puns are a few of her favorite things. Some newly released projects include, Grow Up Ant-Man with Marvel, Miranda & Maude the Princess and Absolutely-Not-A-Princess with ABRAMS and Rox’s Secret Code with POW! The rest, well, we'll soon find out!

September 19, 2018

Overcoming the Anxiety of Being Evaluated

It's performance evaluation time. I don't know about you, but this time of the year always makes me wonder what I'm going to say about myself. People typically fall on one side or the other. They are their worst critic or they are God's gift to humanity.

September 18, 2018

What We Can and Cannot Leave Our Children

Most people think inheritance is primarily about money. Scripture presents a more nuanced picture. Proverbs 19:14 tells us that houses and wealth may be passed from one generation to the next, but some of life's most valuable gifts come from God alone. Understanding the difference can reshape how we think about success, stewardship, parenting, and legacy.

August 22, 2018

Author Stephanie Campisi on Persistence, Creativity, and Writing for Children

Author Stephanie Campisi knows what it feels like to spend years pursuing publication, navigating agent changes, balancing a demanding career, and continuing to write anyway. An Australian-born author now living in Washington State, Stephanie writes picture books filled with humor, heart, and imagination. Her books include The Ugly Dumpling, Luis and Tabitha, and The Five Sisters. Along the way, she has built a successful publishing career while working full-time as a copywriter and continuing to develop projects for both children and adults. In this interview, Stephanie shares lessons on persistence, creativity, finding your voice, working with literary agents, balancing writing with everyday life, and why success in publishing is often a much longer journey than most people realize.

August 3, 2018

Author Lisa Wheeler on Persistence, Picture Books, and 225 Rejections

Few aspiring authors realize how much persistence often lies behind a successful writing career. Author Lisa Wheeler spent years honing her craft, collecting roughly 225 rejections before selling her first book. Since then, she has become one of the most recognizable names in children's literature, publishing dozens of books while helping countless writers improve through workshops, critiques, and speaking engagements. In this interview, Lisa shares lessons on rejection, revision, creativity, picture book writing, and the mindset required to build a lasting writing career.

August 1, 2018

How to Know When Your Writing Is Ready for Feedback

Finishing a draft feels like a major accomplishment. Sharing that draft with someone else can feel even harder. Every writer eventually faces the same question: When should I ask for feedback? Share your work too early and you may receive criticism for problems you could have fixed yourself. Wait too long and you may miss valuable opportunities to improve. The goal isn't simply to get feedback. The goal is to get the right feedback at the right stage of the writing process. Before sending your manuscript to critique partners, beta readers, agents, or editors, consider these four signs that you're ready to share your work.

July 31, 2018

6 Essential Writing Fundamentals Every Author Should Master

Strong stories are rarely the result of a single breakthrough technique. More often, they emerge from consistently applying a handful of fundamental writing principles. Whether you're writing novels, picture books, short stories, or articles, the same core elements tend to separate engaging writing from forgettable writing. Strong openings capture attention. Meaningful characters create emotional investment. Well-structured plots maintain momentum. Careful revision strengthens everything else. Mastering these fundamentals won't guarantee success, but neglecting them almost always leads to weaker stories. The six writing fundamentals below can help you create more compelling work and become a stronger writer over time.