October 21, 2021

The Gift Shop Bear Review: A Heartwarming Christmas Picture Book for Families

Christmas picture books have a special way of capturing the wonder, warmth, and anticipation of the holiday season. The Gift Shop Bear by author and illustrator Phyllis Harris combines beautiful illustrations, a memorable stuffed bear character, and a heartwarming Christmas story that celebrates friendship, family, and the magic of Christmas. In this review, I'll share what makes The Gift Shop Bear stand out, who it's best suited for, and why it may deserve a place among your family's favorite holiday read-alouds.

October 15, 2021

What Successful Children’s Authors Know About Writing, Rejection, and Creativity

Writing is often portrayed as a magical process fueled by inspiration and creativity. In reality, most authors spend far more time wrestling with self-doubt, revising imperfect drafts, managing rejection, and learning how to stay consistent when motivation fades. To better understand the realities of the writing life, six accomplished children's authors share insights into their creative process, writing habits, challenges, sources of encouragement, and proudest career moments. Their answers reveal common themes about persistence, creativity, community, and the mindset required to build a sustainable writing career. Whether you're an aspiring writer, a published author, or simply curious about the creative process, these lessons offer a valuable behind-the-scenes look at what it truly means to be an author.

May 18, 2021

What Literary Agents Look For in Children’s Books: Insights from Adria Goetz

Literary agents occupy a unique position in the publishing industry. They evaluate thousands of submissions, identify promising talent, negotiate publishing deals, and help shape books that ultimately reach readers around the world. In this interview, literary agent Adria Goetz shares insights into querying, children's publishing, author platforms, book pitches, illustrator portfolios, and the qualities that help writers stand out in a highly competitive market. Whether you're pursuing traditional publishing or simply hoping to better understand the industry, her perspective offers a valuable behind-the-scenes look at how literary agents evaluate books and creative careers.

May 4, 2021

How Grief Shapes Growth, Grace, and Emotional Resilience

Grief is one of the most universal human experiences, yet many people feel completely unprepared when loss arrives. In this interview, grief counselor, author, and podcast host Mandy Capehart shares practical insights on emotional resilience, healthy grieving, communication, personal growth, and creating space for healing. Whether you're navigating loss yourself or supporting someone through a difficult season, these lessons offer a thoughtful framework for approaching grief with greater grace and understanding.

April 20, 2021

How to Refresh Your Blog Branding Without a Complete Website Redesign

Every blog eventually reaches a point where it no longer reflects the person behind it. Your interests evolve, your audience changes, and your website may begin to feel disconnected from your current goals. Fortunately, refreshing your blog branding does not require a complete redesign. Small updates to your brand vision, visual identity, and website structure can help your blog feel more aligned, professional, and memorable. Here are three simple ways to refresh your blog branding without rebuilding everything from scratch.

March 2, 2021

Brian P. Cleary on Writing, Publishing, Copywriting, and Selling 3 Million Books

What can writers learn from an author who has sold more than 3 million books, published over 50 titles, and spent four decades writing professionally? In this interview, bestselling children’s author, poet, speaker, and American Greetings Senior Editor Brian P. Cleary shares insights on writing concisely, copywriting, creativity, publishing, school visits, poetry, and the realities of making a living with words.

February 16, 2021

What Tara Lazar Taught Me About Writing Children’s Books, Creativity, and StoryStorm

Many aspiring authors dream of publishing a children's book. Far fewer build a sustainable writing life that lasts for years or even decades. In this interview, bestselling children's author and StoryStorm founder Tara Lazar shares lessons on creativity, idea generation, publishing, perseverance, and why writing is more than a hobby—it's a lifestyle. Whether you're an aspiring author, experienced writer, or creative professional, Tara's insights offer practical encouragement for building a long-term creative practice.

February 2, 2021

How Branding and Storytelling Help Writers Build Audience Trust

Great communication shapes everything—from marketing campaigns and brand messaging to books, websites, and social media posts. Few people have seen both sides of that equation as closely as author, illustrator, and communications professional Shay Fan. Having worked in branding, public relations, content strategy, and publishing, Shay has spent years studying how people connect with ideas, stories, and each other. In this interview, she shares lessons on communication, audience trust, branding, storytelling, publishing, and what creators can learn from both the corporate and creative worlds.