creativity

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November 19, 2019

Earth Hour Book Interview: Nanette Heffernan on Writing Environmental Picture Books

Environmental challenges can often feel too large for any one person to influence. Climate change, conservation, pollution, and sustainability are global issues that affect billions of people. Yet meaningful change rarely begins with governments or organizations alone. It often starts with individuals who choose to take small actions and encourage others to do the same. Children's books have a unique ability to introduce these ideas early, helping young readers understand both the challenges facing our planet and their role in creating positive change. In this interview, author Nanette Heffernan and editor Julie Bliven discuss the creation of Earth Hour, a picture book inspired by the global conservation movement that encourages people around the world to turn off non-essential lights for one hour each year. Their conversation offers valuable insights into environmental storytelling, the picture book publishing process, and how books can inspire readers to think differently about their impact on the world.

November 12, 2019

Writing Books That Matter: Charlotte Watson Sherman and Jes Negron on Brown Sugar Babe

Some books entertain. Some educate. A rare few are created because their authors believe the book needs to exist. Brown Sugar Babe is one of those books. In this interview, author Charlotte Watson Sherman and editor Jes Negron discuss the purpose behind the picture book, the importance of representation in children's literature, the realities of the publishing process, and the role stories can play in helping young readers see themselves with confidence, dignity, and hope. Their conversation offers valuable insights not only into publishing children's books, but also into creating work that serves a meaningful purpose beyond the page.

September 27, 2019

Illustrating Children’s Books: Lessons from Phyllis Harris on Creativity, Publishing, and Persistence

Children's book illustrations often feel effortless. A reader turns the page, smiles at the artwork, and becomes immersed in the story without ever considering the years of practice, experimentation, revisions, and professional growth required to create those images. Behind every published picture book is a creative process shaped by persistence, craftsmanship, and a commitment to continual improvement. In this interview, children's book illustrator and author Phyllis Harris shares lessons from a career spanning more than 30 books, discussing creativity, publishing, artistic development, resilience, and what it takes to build a lasting career creating work that resonates with children and families.

September 24, 2019

What It Really Takes to Write Children’s Books: Insights from Brooke Van Sickle

Writing for children looks simple from the outside. The books are shorter, the language appears straightforward, and the stories often feel effortless. Yet creating books that truly connect with young readers requires far more skill, discipline, and intentionality than many people realize. Children's author, editor, and educator Brooke Van Sickle has spent years studying the craft, building a platform within the children's publishing industry, and helping aspiring authors navigate the path from idea to publication. In this interview, Brooke shares practical lessons on writing for children, developing creative discipline, building an author platform, and pursuing a long-term career in publishing.

September 21, 2019

Why Creative People Hold Themselves Back

Most people do not struggle with a lack of potential. They struggle with a lack of willingness to share it. We hold ourselves back all the time. We stay quiet when we should speak up. We keep ideas to ourselves that could help other people. We hide creative work because we fear criticism. We convince ourselves our writing, art, business idea, or contribution is not quite ready yet. On the surface, holding back appears to be a confidence problem. In reality, it is often a fear problem. Fear of rejection. Fear of failure. Fear of standing out. Fear of discovering what happens when we finally put ourselves out there. The tragedy is that the gifts, ideas, and experiences we withhold cannot help anyone while they remain hidden. Creativity only creates value when it moves beyond the creator and into the world.

September 19, 2019

Why Writing Shorter Helps You Write Longer

Big creative projects often feel overwhelming before they even begin. Whether you're writing a novel, launching a blog, building a business, or pursuing any long-term goal, it's easy to become fixated on the size of the finish line. The larger the project appears, the easier it becomes to procrastinate, overthink, or convince yourself you'll start tomorrow. Ironically, the people who produce the most work rarely focus on the finished product. They focus on the next small step. Learning to write longer often starts by learning to write shorter, reducing intimidating goals into manageable actions that can be repeated consistently over time.

September 12, 2019

How Successful Authors Overcome Writer’s Block (And Keep Creating)

Every writer eventually encounters the same frustrating experience: staring at the page with nothing to say. Ideas disappear. Motivation fades. Progress stalls. Some people call it writer's block. Others describe it as creative fatigue, burnout, or simply feeling stuck. Whatever name you give it, the experience is remarkably common. To better understand how writers navigate these creative slowdowns, I asked six successful authors to share their experiences with writer's block, what it feels like, how they work through it, and what they do to prevent it from happening in the first place. Their answers reveal an encouraging truth: writer's block is not a sign that you're not a writer. It's often part of the creative process itself.

September 10, 2019

How Amy and Greg Newbold Create Picture Books as a Team

Creating picture books is often viewed as a solitary pursuit, but some of the most memorable books are built through collaboration. Author Amy Newbold and illustrator Greg Newbold have spent years combining storytelling, visual art, creativity, and mutual trust to create award-winning children's books together. In this interview, they share lessons on writing, illustration, publishing, creative partnerships, and what it takes to build books as a husband-and-wife team.