Ever since this blog’s anniversary, I’ve been having a lot of thoughts… about websites! I never had a web presence before, and I never wanted one. I figured one day I’d have an author website, but in the interim, social media was enough. Then, Twitter imploded. I deleted my account. I reconnected with most people…

When I started writing picture books, I knew I wanted to write in rhyme. And when I started this blog, I knew I wanted to have a conversation about it. I love rhyme, but there’s so much conflicting advice. Personally, I’ve heard the following: “Don’t write in rhyme.” I couldn’t listen to this because it…

I absolutely adore this week’s topic… writing contests! Adriana reached out to me via the website to pitch this discussion, and it immediately resonated with me. Contests have many benefits… There are usually prizes, like books, critiques, or memberships. It’s a way to engage in the community, reading and commenting on other entries. There are…

Luce and I met at the SCBWI In-Person Winter Conference in February 2023. (That’s also where I met Alma!) We ran into each other at lectures and mixers throughout the weekend, eventually exchanging information to keep in touch. (As a quick aside, this is the lesson of networking! 1) It’s exciting to meet peers because…

Once upon a time, I met Karen through Storyteller Academy, an online school for children’s book creators. During one of our classes in 2023, we realized we both lived in Los Angeles. We also both worked in the entertainment industry — Karen is in SAG-AFTRA, and I’m in the WGA. That year, both unions were…

This week, I’m speaking with Miki, who I met through a mutual friend at Storyteller Academy. (Shout out to Ricardo Aguilar!) After connecting virtually, we decided to meet up in person, organizing a group outing to the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at USC. Though we had to contend with heavy rain on the…