Feel free to scroll to the bottom for the giveaway winner announcement, but I hope you’ll pop back up here when you’re done!

I want to give you a little dose of encouragement today, because it’s the advice I’m giving myself in this season, too.

Write at Home

July has been extra busy around here. We got back from our incredible Alaskan cruise, I spent the following few weeks prepping and preparing for our next year of homeschooling, and we just completed our first week back to school this past week.

Summer is always a tricky writing time for me. Our routine is out of whack, there are tons of fun summertime opportunities to take advantage of, and I want to do my best to make sure my kids have their own memorable summers.

It’s hard to not feel guilty when the busyness strikes and my creative output is nowhere near where it’s been in other seasons.

But here are 5 things I’ve been doing this summer to keep my creativity warmed up…

1. I’m entering the moment. Savoring my beautifully full life, resting in the memory-making, and knowing that stories have a way of growing from the beauty of the real world.

2. I’m keeping my story ideas list handy. My Google Docs app is always right there, so I can capture those plot bunnies before they hop away!

3. I’m listening to writing podcasts and webinars. I can’t always attend live sessions, but I love to rewatch the 12x12 monthly webinars, peruse craft vides by Abbie Emmons and Alyssa Matesic on YouTube, and listen to podcasts like the 12x12 Picture Book Podcast and the Middle Grade Matters podcast. This helps me improve my craft, even if I can’t practice those skills on a daily basis.

4. I’m reading a lot. Okay this sounds like an excuse to partake in my favorite hobby. BUT HEAR ME OUT! Reading strengthens my stories. Seeing what works in other books inspires me. Finding what wouldn’t work for my writing guides me. Taking note of what’s relevant in today’s market informs me. Reading is part of the work, and that’s a hill I’ll die on.

5. I’m letting my brain work out plot puzzles. You’d be surprised how much your brain can noodle through when it’s not being forced to focus so hard on the problems. Give yourself the room to breathe and I bet you’ll figure things out without even trying.

Most of all, I’m not letting myself feel guilty for focusing on where this season is calling me. Some seasons are for writing a ton. Some are for slowing down and gently gathering the best ideas. Some are for focusing on the other pursuits I’ve been called to (homeschooling) while my creative ideas simmer in the background.

And simmer they will! I firmly believe that we return to our stories smarter, wiser, and more grounded. And better writers to boot! So let those ideas bubble on the back burner. Pretty soon you’ll have a delicious storybook concoction brewed to perfection on your mental stovetop!

(Or, you know. It’ll blacken and burn and you’ll have to scrape it straight into the trash. Just kidding. 😉)

So get out there and live your life this summer! I promise, your creative pursuits will thank you when you return.

Read at Home

Here are some books we’ve been loving lately…

Picture books:

Leafy Landmarks: Travels with Trees by Michelle Schaub and Anne Lambelet (the perfect blend of poetry, American history, and natural science)

The Queen and the Corgi by Caroline L. Perry and Lydia Corry (a brilliantly readable history of Queen Elizabeth II and her adorable dogs)

In the World of Whales by Michelle Cusolito and Jessica Lanan (a gorgeously paced and beautifully illustrated peek into the birth of a whale)

And of course our first day of school tradition book, This is My Home, This is My School by Jonathan Bean.

Reading aloud: We recently finished What Happened Then by Erin Soderberg Downing and Nora gave it 5 stars! Something about this book just connected with her. Then we started in on When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead and we were immediately hooked. What is going on in this story??

Adult: I LOVED reading The Correspondent by Virginia Evans this month. A beautifully bittersweet story about the choices we make, the secrets we keep, and the relationships we intentionally protect or inadvertently destroy — all written through letters sent to and from the lovable main character. I always think it’s so powerful to see an older character have such a strong arc. It’s never too late to change.

And now, I’m so excited to share the winner of the giveaway!

Just as a reminder, this person will receive:

1. A signed copy of Stories by Sea

2. Stickers, bookmarks, and other nifty gifties

3. A simple lighthouse craft

Thank you to every person who participated, and every person who quietly supports me and my work behind the scenes. I appreciate it all so much!

And now, the winner of the giveaway is…

*drumroll please*

JULIE GRAHAM!

I’m so excited for you, Julie!!! I’ll be emailing you soon to coordinate. I hope you and your kids enjoy your book and goodies!

Outside the Home

Stories by Sea is setting sail in less than two months! Come say hi at one (or more!) of these events!

And if you haven’t had a chance to preorder yet, you can still do so from Barnes & Noble, Gnome Road Publishing, Amazon, or your favorite local bookstore. If you want a signed copy from yours truly, preorder from my favorite local bookstore!

Hope to see you real soon!

Usually I post on the last Sunday of the month, but today is my birthday (🥳) and I wanted to celebrate by gifting one of YOU something special as a thank you for being here and supporting me in my writerly pursuits.

For real, THANK YOU! ❤️

One of you lucky ducks will receive:

1. A signed copy of Stories by Sea

2. Stickers, bookmarks, and other nifty gifties

3. A simple lighthouse craft (for you or a child in your life!)

How it works:

This giveaway is especially for my Substack subscribers. If you’re subscribed, you’re already entered!

But if you want more chances to win:

1. For one bonus entry: Like this post on Substack

2. For two bonus entries: Comment on this post on Substack and tell me what you’re reading this summer!

3. For five bonus entries: Email or DM me a screenshot showing that you’ve either requested Stories by Sea at your local library or preordered the book

The winner will be announced on July 26th so you’ve got plenty of time for those bonus entries! Good luck!!!

Write at Home

Summer has been jam-packed with swimming, trips to the lake, extra time with friends, and LOTS of books. And by the time you’re reading this, we’ll be on an Alaskan cruise!

I’ve been tweaking some picture book manuscripts with my agent’s direction, and we’ve got quite a few things on submission right now with various editors. Today actually marks one year of being on sub, which feels a bit discouraging if I’m being honest.

BUT I’m reminding myself daily how grateful I am just to be here, welcoming a real book into the world in less than three months. Not many people get this chance and I have full faith that if (when) the next book comes, it will be in God’s perfect timing.

Preorder signed copies!

Read at Home

Here are some books we’ve been loving lately…

Picture books: Summer-themed books are some of my FAVORITES. At the top of the list right now is Hot Dog by Doug Salati, Swashby and the Sea by Beth Ferry and Juana Martinez-Neal, and A Fish Like Me by Jamie Sumner and Devon Holzwarth (this book, you guys, ohhhh my goodness please please read it).

Plus honorable mention goes to All the Ice Cream in the Land by Emmy Kastner which maybe isn’t summer-themed exactly, but is a fantastic modern fairytale! Plus ice cream and summer just go together, right?!

Middle grade: I grabbed each of my big kids a themed book to read on the cruise during downtime. Jameson got the newest Montgomery Bonbon (these books are SO funny), and Nora got Odder by the incomparable Katherine Applegate.

Plus, Claire got the second book in the series she’s working through. 😊

Reading aloud: We’re about halfway through What Happened Then by Erin Soderberg Downing, which is perfect for this time of year (summer family mystery set in a lake house on a private island), and we recently finished the audiobook of Wonder by R.J. Palacio. Hoping to watch the movie adaptation soon!

I’d love to know what you’re reading this summer!

Stories by Sea has been making waves!

Early reviews have been trickling in for Stories by Sea (check them all out on Goodreads and Barnes & Noble!) and it’s been making my heart SO happy to see that readers are connecting with this story already.

Check out what these kind reviewers have said:

“As a writer, library worker, and lighthouse lover, I anticipated liking this book. But after reading it, I suspect that Jessica Iwanski could write about my least favorite topic and I would fall in love with that book as well. As soon as I finished reading it, I went right back to the beginning and read it again so I could savor every word. … This is a must-read for anyone who loves books and libraries!” — Becky Scharnhorst, award-winning author of Best Buds and How to Get Your Octopus to School

“This lyrical picture book is SO special, and so beautifully executed—every word, every page, every illustration sings with its love of lighthouses, books, and readers. I really enjoyed this fascinating step back into a time when a book was precious and eagerly awaited cargo. A great addition to home, school, and library bookshelves!” — Mona Voelkel, author of Stanley and the Wild Words and Moon Choo-Choo

“There is so much to love about this story, from its beautiful prose that sings off the page to its stunning illustrations filled with tiny details. I have no doubt that this book will capture the hearts and minds of readers everywhere for years to come!” — Kristi Mahoney, award-winning author of Alpacas Make Terrible Librarians and Owls Make Terrible Teachers

Upcoming Events

If you’re local, please consider joining me at a launch event this fall!

9/23 at 10:00 AM: Storytime at Beyond Words Bookstore in Mesa. This event is geared towards ages 5 and under, but siblings are welcome!

10/3 at 10:00 AM: Storytime at Atticus Books in Fountain Hills.

10/17 from 10am-12pm: Open house BOOK LAUNCH PARTY at Literally, a Bookshop in Gilbert. This is the big shebang, the official celebration, and you’re all invited! There will be freebies, activities, cool lighthouse stuff to look at and try on, a storytime, and book signings! Bring your copy of Stories by Sea or snag one in-store and I’ll personalize it for you.

10/24 from 11:30am-12pm: Storytime at the Dana Park Barnes & Noble.

Can’t wait to see you SOON! 😊

If you’re like me, your main goals are:

1. Keep this crew of little angels busy.

And

2. Maximize all the extra time with a stack of good books!

But at this point, I’m running on half a cup of cold coffee and a prayer. 😅

Incorporating a legit ✨Summer Reading Program✨ complete with sticker charts, online avatars, and trips to specific bookstores and libraries to complete challenges might feel like the exact motivation you need.

Then again, it might feel like the actual last thing you need as you’re sitting there burnt out and running on fumes. (yes, hello, it’s me)

I LOVE summer reading. It’s my favorite kind of reading of the year. But some years require a different approach to ensure it’s breathing life back into my world, and not draining my very last crumb of energy.

Here are my tried-and-true strategies for keeping it low pressure, low effort, and LOW STRESS so you can enjoy a literature-rich summer with your kids:

• Prioritize fun and easy read alouds that everyone is excited about. This isn’t the time to bust out that historical fiction set in ancient Mesopotamia (unless you’re all really into that..?). Keep a super simple log of what you’ve read and vote on favorites. If you’re up for it, making a fun themed snack when you finish the book can go a long way in creating core memories for your kids and you.

• Start a summer family book club. This is actually how I run my kids’ literature learning all year long. Plan to meet together once a month (or more) and chat about what you’ve each been reading lately. Keep it casual (no pop quizzes here!) and enjoyable (donuts? cookies? burgers? Tie it to something delicious and your kids will be super motivated, trust me!). Think about the way adults talk about books and then do that with your kids. Lifelong readers are the ones who fell in love with stories, not necessarily the ones who aced their literature exams.

  

• Try audiobooks. If you’ve never dabbled in audiobooks, summer is a great time to give them a chance. You can even get them for free through your library (I use Hoopla or Libby). Put them on in the car as you’re schlepping kids off to swim lessons, while you’re on your Great American Road Trip, while you’re sweating under the fan in the living room. Audiobooks activate the same part of your brain as when you read with your eyes — YES, THEY COUNT. ❤️

• Institute a daily quiet reading time. At our house, we call this SQURT (Super Quiet Uninterrupted Reading Time) and it happens all year long. Set a timeframe and send the little darlings off to their quiet spaces to read with their eyes or listen with their ears while they draw, craft, grind Play-Doh into your floor, etc. Here’s the important part: take the time to read, too! Kids are more inclined to read when they see it modeled for them. Make it a thing. And enjoy!!!

• Curate a selection of books for your kids to choose from. I’m not against letting kids loose in the library with an empty bag and heart set on adventure. But, curating a selection helps you ensure that your kids are reading material that is appropriate for them and likely to be a hit. You can order books ahead of time or head to the library with your list. (Just be sure to keep it fun and take their preferences into account.)

• Grab some graphic novels. I cannot tell you how life-changing these have been for my kids’ reading lives! There are so many excellent graphic novels and graphic novel versions of your favorite classics, like “Anne of Green Gables” and “The Hobbit.” My go-to lists are found at Read Aloud Revival and Reading Middle Grade.

• Make books readily available. Put them on your coffee table, facing out on your bookshelves, right there next to that toilet you keep forgetting to scrub. Whatever you have to do to make reading accessible anywhere in your home.

• Create a summer reading bucket list. Ask your kids what they want their reading to look like this summer. Do they want to explore a new genre? Try a classic? Finish the backlist of their favorite author? Read a book that takes place in the summer? Give your kids the independence to structure their own reading goals, and then help them find books that fit.

• Adopt a “We are reading people” family attitude. All of the ideas above will help you do just that. Every time your child finishes a book, celebrate! Talk about books at the dinner table. Try a new read aloud genre together. Make a treat based on your favorite book this summer. The more times a kid can see “Hey, I’m a reader, too!” the more deeply you’re instilling the unshakeable knowledge that any person can be a reading person.

Write at Home

A lot of my writing time has been spent gearing up for STORIES BY SEA’s launch this September (9/22/26). I’ve been scheduling blog tours, bookstore events (more details to come!), and some low-pressure school visits to start off, plus trying to be strategic with my social media promotion campaign. It feels like a full-time job!

But I’ve learned that the writing life comes in seasons. Some seasons are for lots of writing, some are for revising, some are for marketing, some are for events and outreach, etc.

It can be tough, though. My heart is always aching to get back to the writing. But being an author requires more of me than that, and that’s okay. It’s all important, good work.

Preorder signed copies!

Read at Home

Here are some of the books we’ve been loving lately…

Picture books: I yanked out my big ol’ stack of summer picture books last week and sprinkled them around the house like a lil book fairy.

Middle grade: Mystery has been a hot genre in our house recently. Jameson (10) has been tearing through “Montgomery Bonbon: Murder at the Museum” and “The Nine Night Mystery” and Nora (8) is loving the “Mystery at the Biltmore” series. I’ve been reading “Blood in the Water” by Tiffany D. Jackson.

Reading aloud: We finished up “The Giver” by Lois Lowry (five stars from all of us!) and now we’re reading another dystopian that I used to love as a kid: “Downsiders” by Neal Shusterman. We've also been reading parts of Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” for Read Aloud Revival’s Shakespeare Summer. Last summer we did “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and it was so, so good that we knew we had to join the fun again this year!

That’s all for now! Thanks for stopping by today, and happy summer reading!

In fact, if I could jump back in time and sit down with my past self, knowing all that I know now… Well, I’d probably have some words. Words like:

“Buckle up, pal.”

and

“I hope you like taking a ridiculous amount of notes.”

and also

“A children’s book about 19th century American lighthouses is extremely niche and probably hard to sell to editors and ARE YOU REALLY SURE ABOUT THIS?!”

But of course, I did write the book. And an editor loved it. And everything worked out just fine. And honestly I wouldn’t have listened to this sound advice anyway because I’m what you might call eternally optimistic and wildly creative stubborn.

Researching for a picture book is no small undertaking.

You have to really, really, really love the topic you’re diving into because you’re going to spend an exorbitant amount of time hanging out with it, buying it coffee, asking about its life goals and dreams.

Luckily, I did love my topic.

I started as all good readers-turned-authors do. I read. A LOT. Big, fat books, articles online, tons of picture books in the genre and style I was going for.

And after I’d read all I could read, I went to a real lighthouse.

The day we visited, we happened to be the only ones there. We got a private tour and I had the chance to ask questions to my heart’s content.

We learned about the people who had lived in the lighthouse, bravely tending the light and rescuing those lost at sea. We saw their bedrooms and the way their windows opened to the ocean, welcoming the crash and sigh of its voice. We climbed to the lantern room and stood where the giant Fresnel lens once stood, rotating like clockwork, steady and sure, guiding countless sailors to safety.

Plus, we tried on some lightkeeper gear.

But my research didn’t stop there.

Over the next few months as I finished early drafts of STORIES BY SEA, I reached out to more lighthouse professionals to help me fact-check my work and answer the new mountain of questions I had. I felt like a totalbigtimeimposter coming to these people with absolutely zero cred to my name and a picture book manuscript that wouldn’t be published for another two years. But everyone was so kind and helpful and I kept reminding myself that I had to start somewhere.

It might as well be here and now.

Jeff Gales (the Executive Director of the United States Lighthouse Service) spent actual hours chatting with me on the phone about lighthouses, their history, and lighthouse libraries specifically. He also put me in contact with Jeff Shook (President of the Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy), who owns an honest-to-goodness original lighthouse library box and generously spent time taking pictures to send to me.

Once I had all my facts checked and finalized, I wrote the author’s note for the back of STORIES BY SEA. This is a little section for my extra-curious readers who want to know more about lighthouse libraries and why they were so precious to the families who received them.

Then, I patted myself on the back, got myself a little treat, and heaved a huge sigh of relief. The hardest part was done.

*throws confetti*

My editor and I recently finished all our final edits and proofreading so that STORIES BY SEA: A LIGHTHOUSE LIBRARY’S JOURNEY can be sent off to the printers. It’s surreal to think that in just a few short months, this book of my heart that I spent countless hours eyeballs-deep in research for will be in the hands of readers.

Writing picture books is hard (often grueling) work, whether we’re writing about Gruffalos or dinosaurs eating their classmates or 19th century lighthouses.

These books demand our utmost because children deserve it. All those hours and days and weeks and months (and years!) we spend perfecting 300-400 words… It’s important and it’s worthwhile.

And now that I think about it, if I could jump back in time and sit down with my past self, that’s probably exactly what I would say.

Books we’ve been loving lately…

Picture books: Because of a Shoe by Julie Fogliano and Marla Frazee, Don’t Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson and Dan Santat, If We Were Dogs by Sophie Blackall, Sunflower Seeds by Ellen Heck, Tiny Worlds by Brittany Cicchese, and Bandage Buddies by Kathryn Rammell.

Middle grade: I’ve been dipping my toes into reading more middle grade and right now I’m really enjoying What Happened to Rachel Riley by Claire Swinarski.

Reading aloud: The kids and I just finished The Hobbit and loved every second of it! Now we’re diving into The Giver by Lois Lowry.

Adult: I recently finished Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (and saw the fantastic movie!) and it was an easy five stars.

And now…

*drumroll please*

I am thrilled to announce that STORIES BY SEA: A LIGHTHOUSE LIBRARY’S JOURNEY was chosen as a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection!

Preorder signed copies

As a lifelong library lover, this award means so much to me. To know that librarians and editors are falling in love with the book that Angela and I created is remarkable and humbling. And to know that libraries all over the country will have STORIES BY SEA on their shelves is truly a dream come true.

If you want to snag a signed copy, I’ve partnered with my favorite local bookstore to make that fast and easy for you!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Step back in time to explore the fascinating journey of a brass-bound case filled with books as it travels from lighthouse to lighthouse, connecting lighthouse keepers and their families to the rest of the world.

Tending a lighthouse was a lonely job, and obtaining supplies and communicating with people beyond their isolated home could be difficult. In 1876, portable libraries made up of sturdy books contained in wooden cases started circulating on lighthouse supply ships. These books provided information and entertainment for lighthouse keepers and their families. And each stop along the way became part of this innovative library’s own story. With lovely prose by debut author Jessica Iwanski and detailed illustrations by award-winning illustrator Angela C. Hawkins, Stories by Sea tells the true story of traveling library boxes and the courage and persistence of those who received them, got lost in their pages, and sent them on to the next stop.

Coming September 22, 2026

Preorder from Gnome Road

Preorder from Barnes & Noble

Preorder from Amazon

Isn’t she gorgeous?! I can’t wait to show you more of Angela’s beautiful illustrations soon! But first, a little behind-the-scenes on how this book came to be. Buckle up, friends, it was a wild ride…

How I Got My First Book Deal (and agent!)

It started with a question I asked myself in the spring of 2023: how badly did I want to be a published author?

I’ve always been a writer at heart, but this was the moment I decided to do something about it. I knew there was a chance I’d never get a “yes,” but I refused to keep being the reason it was a “no.”

Picture books were where I fell in love with reading as a child, and after years of teaching through picture books with all three of my kids and our co-op, I knew this was the space I wanted to write in.

Jumping into picture book writing was overwhelming. I had no idea where to start, what to write, how to write. I didn’t even know what a literary agent was or why I’d need one. And what the heck was a query letter anyway?!

But I quickly found plenty of kidlit resources (listed below) and dove headlong into learning. I was still a lost puppy, but I had some framework. And I was having the most fun of my entire life.

Summer 2023

I wrote a few stories that had been tumbling around my head for a while — all very lyrical with nontraditional structures. I didn’t know yet that it’s really hard to break into the picture book world with what’s known as “quiet stories.” But it’s what I loved (still love), so I wrote them with passion.

Once I got started, it was like the floodgates opened. I couldn’t keep up with all the story ideas I had! Then one day I stumbled across a teeny, tiny, itty, bitty, random fact about these incredible portable library boxes that were created in the 1800s to carry books to lighthouse keepers. Before this invention, lighthouse families had little to no access to books, and very limited connection to the outside world.

I was deeply intrigued. Were there already picture books written about this? No? Hmm…

Well, maybe I could write one.

It took me several months to get the structure right. I wrote in bursts… In the passenger seat of cars, sitting on the sidelines of my son’s karate classes, between homeschooling kids and cooking dinners that were probably burning.

This story felt special, important. I wanted it to be timeless yet historically accurate. I wanted it to focus on the people, and how books changed their lives. I wanted it to be a celebration of libraries and the way reading brings us together, no matter where in the world we are.

Finally, I found my words:

“On a weather-worn ship in the middle of the sea, a brass-bound case begins its journey. It is made to last a lifetime, to carry the most precious cargo of all…”

Fall 2024

I kept working on my lighthouse library book (I called it “The Story Keepers”). I decided to polish it up and submit it for Mindy Alyse Weiss’s PBParty in the spring. If chosen, it would get placed in front of important agents and editors.

Several critiques and revisions later and I was feeling pretty good about it. But I held it loosely. I knew I might never get a book deal and that was okay. God’s plans are always better than mine and I was at peace enjoying the process and having a blast doing what has always made me feel whole — just writing.

December 2023

Enter the most important month of my publication journey. I wrote a couple of entries for Susanna Leonard Hill’s Holiday Writing Contest for kidlit writers.

One entry got honorable mention…and the other WON. I got first pick of the prizes, so naturally I snatched up the best option: a manuscript critique from Sandra Sutter, editor at Gnome Road Publishing.

January 2024

I sent “The Story Keepers” off to Sandra. In the meantime, I received some really hard feedback on that same manuscript from someone in the industry I really respected. She basically told me I needed to rework my entire vision for it. She felt parts of it were confusing and not kid-friendly enough.

I did end up taking some of her feedback, but most of it just sat heavily in my heart.

Then, two weeks later, I had my call with Sandra.

The Call

I was so nervous to talk to a real editor. I had my little notebook ready and my husband (Alex) took the kids to the backyard to keep things quiet in the house. My plan was to take Sandra’s feedback and use it to help me polish the manuscript to perfection before I submitted it to PBParty.

But God had different plans.

Sandra started talking about my writing.

“Lovely lyrical language… Fascinating facts I’ve never heard before… Nothing about it I’d change… I love lighthouses, too…”

At first, I didn’t realize what was going on. But suddenly I was hearing the words:

“I want this book.”

I think my jaw hit the floor. I was brand new to this. I didn’t have an agent. I didn’t even have a query letter!

Sandra knew all this, but she told me I have a genuine, natural talent for writing. She told me it was the kind of skill that is just there inside me. She told me all the things I had always hoped to hear about my writing, ever since I was a seven-year-old scribbling away in a Scooby-Doo journal. All the things I never dared to believe.

It was like balm to my soul. And it just goes to show that so much of this industry is subjective — just because one person doesn’t resonate with your story does not mean you wrote it the “wrong way.” It just means that story wasn’t meant for them.

The Contract

Sandra sent me the contract a few weeks later. In the background I was scrambling, trying to figure out who could help me look over a publishing contract. I only knew of a few literary agents so I spent those weeks hyperfixated on researching possible matches and writing a query letter.

By the end of it, I had a list of maybe 5-10 agents. But there was really only one I truly wanted.

I almost didn’t query her. I almost didn’t. She was closing to queries the very next day. I remember telling Alex, “Maybe I should just do this on my own. There's only one agent I actually want and the chances of her offering representation are so small.”

But Alex said, “Query her anyway. What do you have to lose?”

So I fired off the one and only query I’ve ever sent — to Anjanette Bar from Dunham Literary.

She responded two days later, asking if we could schedule a call.

The Call (Part 2)

Cue the nerves! Once again, Alex shuttled the kids out to the backyard. And once again, I had my little notebook ready.

Anjanette and I hit it off right away. We bonded over homeschooling, our faith, and a mutual love of Sophie Blackall.

She offered representation right there. It was another huge answer to prayer.

I remember walking into the backyard and seeing my family sitting at our little patio table, chatting and eating dinner. Nothing had changed, and everything had changed.

Alex looked up. “How did it go?”

With tears in my eyes and my hands over my lips, I just nodded my head.

And that was that. I had a book deal and an agent. God had blessed me immeasurably more than I could have ever asked or imagined. All it took was me stepping out in faith and refusing to be my own “no.”

The Afterward

Anjanette fit seamlessly into the contract dealings. We got everything squared away quickly and easily. And since that time, Anjanette and I have worked together to decide which of my other stories (some of which I’m so excited about!) are our top runners. We are currently on submission with four of them.

After being in the publishing world for 3+ years, I now know how unusual my journey was. It’s very rare to get a book deal so quickly and even more rare to query just one agent before finding representation.

All I can say is that God went before me and made my path straight. It has been the single most clear display of His loving direction over my life, and one of His most generous gifts.

I can’t wait to see and share what happens next. ✨

Phew! Thanks for sticking around (especially if you made it this far! Wow, you deserve an award 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻). And, as promised, here are some of my top recommendations if you want to write for kids but aren’t sure where to start:

Resources for new picture book writers

(aka the list I wish someone handed me when I was starting out!)

• Mindy Alyse Weiss’s PBParty and critique train — If you don’t have a critique group yet or need some unbiased eyes on a manuscript, hop on the critique train! Someone will critique for you and you will critique for someone else. This was where I started. And if you have a picture book ready to submit, try entering in Mindy’s PBParty in the spring. (The 2026 deadline is 3/26!)

• Tara Lazar’s Storystorm — A brainstorming event for all genres which takes place every January on Tara’s blog. Chock-full of daily inspiration and practical writing tips. This is where I come up with the majority of my story ideas.

• Susanna Leonard Hill’s writing contests — She hosts three main ones each year (Halloweensie, Holiday, and Valentiny). It’s a ton of fun to write to her prompts, totally free, plus excellent prizes that literally change lives. I’m proof of that!

• Vivian Kirkfield’s 50 Precious Words contest — Another fabulous writing contest that takes place each March. Incredible prizes and another wonderful way to flex your writerly muscles and meet other kidlit writers.

• Julie Hedlund’s 12x12 Challenge — The best thing I’ve done for my writing, hands down. Registration opens for about a month each January and signing up gets you access to an avalanche of material, monthly webinars, the friendliest writing community on the Internet, and so, so much more. This is where I found my critique group, where I still get all my questions answered, and where I actually learned to write picture books.

• Renee LaTulippe’s Lyrical Language Lab course (and YouTube channel) — Not just for those of us who love writing in rhyme! Lyrical language is important for prose, too. I’m currently working my way through Renee’s self-paced course and learning and writing so much.

• BookEnds Literary Agency on Youtube — Not always specific to picture book writing but an excellent, informative source for learning about the publishing industry, run by two agents. Do you also have no idea what a query letter is? You’ll find out here.

• Alyssa Matesic on YouTube — Similar to Bookends, Alyssa has great insight on the publishing industry at large and craft tips for all types of writers.

• Manuscript Wishlist — A great way to curate your list of potential agents and editors, based on their preferences and wishlists.

Picture book writers — please spread the PB love! Comment below with any additional resources you’ve found helpful in your writing journey!

Until next time, thanks for stopping by. It’s been so good having you here. ❤️

What to Expect

• Monthly musings on writing, reading, and homeschooling

• Craft tips and tricks for writers

• Book recs, library stacks, and what we’ve been reading lately

• Behind-the-scenes peeks into the traditional publishing world

• The inside scoop on giveaways and events

• …and a good old fashioned dose of reality from a writer mom who’s out here doing her best.

Basically, all the things I would tell you if I had you over for coffee on a random Wednesday morning. ☕️

So come on in! The door is always open. I hope you stop and stay a while.