Tag
April 30, 2019
It's a joy to have children's book author Susan Maupin Schmid by for an interview. Susan is the author of the 100 Dresses series from Random House, an avid seamstress, and a Mentor Mom for MOMSnext (a division of MOPS International). She considers her inner 10-year-old her greatest asset as a writer and mentor (except when said inner child wants to stay up late or play Animal Crossing).
April 15, 2019
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.
February 20, 2019
Why do some books, products, businesses, and ideas spread naturally while others are forgotten? Usually, the answer comes down to two things: value and emotion. People share things that improve their lives. They remember things that make them feel something. When creative work accomplishes both, it becomes difficult to ignore.
August 22, 2018
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.
June 29, 2018
Writing is often viewed as a skill reserved for authors, journalists, and content creators. In reality, writing is one of the most powerful tools available for improving how we think, communicate, learn, and create. When thoughts remain in our heads, they often feel complete and coherent. Writing forces us to examine those thoughts more carefully. It exposes weaknesses in our reasoning, clarifies our ideas, and helps us communicate more effectively with others. Whether you write professionally, keep a journal, publish online, or simply take notes, writing can have a profound impact on both your thinking and your life. Here are five reasons writing remains one of the most valuable skills you can develop.
December 30, 2017
Writing a children's book manuscript felt like a major accomplishment. Then I discovered I was only halfway through the journey. As someone with little artistic ability, I suddenly faced an entirely new challenge: finding an illustrator who could bring my story to life. What I imagined would be a simple handoff of the manuscript turned into months of collaboration, feedback, revisions, and creative problem-solving. Although the book itself was never published, the experience taught me valuable lessons about communication, creative partnerships, and the realities of producing a picture book. If you're considering hiring an illustrator for your own children's book, I hope these lessons help you begin the process with more realistic expectations than I had.
November 4, 2017
My brother, Thane Keller, is a science fiction author, U.S. Army veteran, husband, and father. His experiences serving in Iraq and Afghanistan have influenced both his worldview and the stories he writes. In this interview, we discuss self-publishing, writing discipline, military influence on storytelling, building fictional worlds, and what aspiring authors can learn from the long process of finishing books. Although this conversation took place in 2017, many of the lessons about persistence, creativity, and craftsmanship remain just as relevant today.
August 27, 2017
It's been said every sentence is a persuasive argument that succeeds or fails in convincing the reader to read the next. Agree or disagree?
Frankly, I don't agree (completely) because the reader is complex, having a multi-dimensional purpose for reading. One aspect may be truly that each good sentence does cause the reader to continue on. But at the same time, the reader, once personally invested through time, money, promise, or any other act of will may continue reading not for that purposes alone. I listen to audio books during my commute. I have literally finished books only to be able to say I finished them, not because they provided some revolutionary insight or emotional experience. I simply wanted to finish what I started.