Although I know my heart’s topics typically lend themselves to the upper MG and YA genres, I have always loved and dreamed of writing picturebooks. Often motivated by writing contests or calls for children’s magazines, I love the challenge of word counts and the invitations of prompts. I wrote Night Night Ninja in 2021 for #50PRECIOUSWORDS 2021. I am excited to see how my writing contest entry for the Institute of Children’s Literature Narrative Nonfiction contest unfolds across the remainder of 2023: Alex Slater: Kid Inventor of Taco vs. Burrito, a Food-Fighting Card Game.
My children give me inspiration for many of the stories. I have a manuscript inspired by my son titled Puppy Pouts.
A new puppy? Yes! But when Chip steals Daddy’s attention, receives new toys, eats treats, and yanks Drew’s blanket, puppy pouts fatten Drew’s lip. Will Chip fetch Drew’s heart?
I have another picturebook inspired by my oldest daughter titled Lost with Papa.
Truly, what I love most about writing is how writing is a journey. I love looking back at my progress and feeling proud of my improvements. Even more, I love imagining how much better of a writer I’ll continue to grow into throughout the rest of my life. As writers, none of us know how well we can write, and we never will, if we choose to always put pen to paper, or fingertips to keys, and see where our writing journeys take us and our readers.