Stories & Case Studies Archives

Stories & Case Studies

Valeria Wicker on The Ugly Doodles, Literary Agents, and Traditional Publishing

Children’s book author and illustrator Valeria Wicker joined me for a second interview to discuss her debut picture book, The Ugly Doodles, working with literary agent Adria Goetz, and what the traditional publishing journey actually looks like behind the scenes. We talked about creativity, self-doubt, illustration, submissions, editor feedback, and the emotional highs and lows of getting a picture book deal. If you haven't read my first interview with Valeria, be sure to check it out so you're up to speed on her backstory.

September 26, 2018

Who Are “They” Anyway?

Sometimes we repeat sayings without ever questioning whether they're true. This short poem explores the importance of examining advice carefully and seeking wisdom from trustworthy sources.

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!

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.

July 18, 2018

Valeria Wicker on Children’s Illustration, Creativity, and Building an Artistic Career

Building a creative career often requires persistence, curiosity, and a willingness to evolve. Children's book illustrator Valeria Wicker embodies all three. Originally trained as a fashion designer in Italy, Valeria eventually found her passion in writing and illustrating children's books. In this interview, she shares insights about creativity, artistic growth, memorable characters, balancing family life with creative work, and the lessons she has learned along the way. Whether you're an aspiring illustrator, writer, or creative professional, Valeria's journey offers both encouragement and practical advice.

July 9, 2018

Illustrator Steve Brown on Creativity, Character Design, and Children’s Book

Children's book illustrators play a critical role in bringing stories to life, yet readers rarely get a chance to hear about the creative process behind the artwork. In this interview, children's illustrator Steve Brown shares insights about character design, creativity, freelancing, overcoming self-doubt, and building a career illustrating books for young readers. Whether you're an aspiring illustrator, author, or children's book enthusiast, Steve offers practical advice and a candid look into the realities of creative work.

July 2, 2018

10 Read-Aloud Books Boys Love

As a father of two boys when writing this article (now two boys and a girl!), I've read hundreds of picture books aloud over the years. Some were enjoyable once. Others were requested night after night until I practically had them memorized. The books on this list are the ones that consistently earned laughs, attention, and repeat requests in our home. While every child is different, these picture books became favorites for both my boys and me. If you're looking for engaging read-aloud books for young boys, these are excellent places to start.

June 13, 2018

Lessons from Rhonda Gowler Greene: Persistence, Picture Books, and Traditional Publishing Success

Rhonda Gowler Greene is the author of more than two dozen children's picture books and has spent over two decades building a successful traditional publishing career. Her books have received numerous honors, including School Library Journal Best Book, ILA Children's Choice Book, Bank Street College Best Book recognition, and multiple starred reviews. What makes her publishing journey especially encouraging for aspiring authors is that it began with persistence through rejection. Before selling her first books and securing literary representation, Rhonda accumulated more than 220 rejections while continuing to study children's literature and refine her craft. In this interview, we discuss literary agents, publishing rejection, writing picture books, creative persistence, balancing family and writing, and what aspiring authors can learn from a lifetime spent studying children's literature. Although this conversation took place in 2018, the lessons about writing, publishing, and professional growth remain just as relevant today.