Children’s Books

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April 15, 2019

Bonnie Clark on Literary Agents, Picture Books, and Traditional Publishing

Picture book author Bonnie Clark joined me to discuss her debut children's book, TASTE YOUR WORDS, working with literary agent Adria Goetz, balancing writing with parenting, overcoming rejection, and navigating the traditional publishing process. Whether you're pursuing traditional publishing or simply trying to finish your next manuscript, her journey offers valuable lessons on persistence, creativity, and long-term growth.

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 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.

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.

February 13, 2018

Lessons from Debbie Dadey: 166 Children’s Books, 42 Million Copies Sold

Debbie Dadey is one of the most successful children's authors of the modern era. Best known as the co-creator of The Adventures of the Bailey School Kids series, she has published more than 160 traditionally published books and sold over 42 million copies worldwide. A former teacher and librarian, Debbie has spent decades helping young readers discover a love of books. In this interview, we discuss writing perseverance, traditional publishing, critique groups, finding time to write, working with co-authors, mentoring aspiring writers, and what it takes to build a long-term career in children's publishing. Although this conversation took place in 2018, the lessons about creativity, persistence, and professional growth remain just as relevant today.