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Picture this: You see a school looking for authors to visit their students. Your book is perfect for their age group, you've got a fun interactive presentation planned, and you're offering competitive pricing. You craft an email and hit send, excited about the opportunity. Then... nothing. Maybe you get a polite "we'll be in touch" that turns into radio silence. Or worse—they go with another author whose books have fewer reviews than yours. What happened?

So when people ask me whether AI will replace writers, I’m not answering as a theorist. I’m answering as someone embedded in the daily reality of publishing. And that reality is this: Publishing has never rewarded “good enough.” It wants specificity. Emotional depth. Voice. Those things don’t scale neatly. And they don’t come from shortcuts.

If you're just trying to get your book out of your head and onto a page, that's totally fine! Heck, you can jot your very first draft down on a napkin if you have to. (We’ve all been there!) But, there comes a time when you have to dress your manuscript up for the big leagues. If you’re ready to pitch an agent or an editor, there are some general guidelines to follow.

There’s still a lot we don’t know about where AI and publishing will go next. Laws will continue to evolve, and so will technology. But some things are already clear. Copyright belongs to humans. Authors deserve transparency. And ownership begins with understanding what you’re agreeing to.

Our world is craving genuine people and authentic stories. The market is flooded every day with new children’s books. What will set yours apart?

Some days, finding time to write feels like trying to catch a firefly with oven mitts on—possible, technically, but wow does it take effort.

The good news? Most website mistakes are fixable—and once you know what to look for, you'll never make the same mistakes again.

Below are four excellent writing conferences (including ours!) that picture book writers should keep on their radar—plus two kidlit writing organizations that are just too good to leave out. 👇

In publishing, the wins aren’t just the book deals or the big moments. They’re the people who hand you coffee. The mentors who show up. The gut feelings that say, this one’s worth it.

As someone who designs websites for authors, I've seen firsthand how a strategically built website can become a review-generating machine.

Deciding whether your children's book manuscript is truly ready to send out into the world—whether that means querying agents or diving into self-publishing—can feel both thrilling and terrifying. And honestly? Only you can make that call. But as an agented and traditionally published picture book author who’s helped hundreds of writers navigate both traditional and indie publishing paths, I’ve found that most successful authors can answer YES to the following question

Children’s book authors, on the other hand, face a unique challenge.  We must write a book that appeals to two very different audiences: 4-8 year olds with limited vocabularies and the attention span of a fruit fly; and adults who may have already maxed out on the amount of Bluey they can handle in one day.

Write because you want to write, not because you want to be published. Because that is the one thing that is truly under your control!

If you know me at all, you know that school visits are one of my absolute favorite parts of being a children’s book author. The hugs, the high fives, the curious questions like “How long does it take to write a book?” and “Do you know Mo Willems?” (yes, that’s a real question I’ve been asked)… I live for this stuff.

Not just royalties. But smart money moves. Tiny financial shifts that make a big difference. And most of all, let’s talk about building stability—one choice at a time.