We are so happy to welcome Janet Costa Bates, award-winning author of several titles including, most recently, the picture book Time for Bed, Old House.

We talk about Impostor Syndrome, selling books with *and* without an agent, and collaborating with your creative partners (wait until you hear how well her illustrator tapped into her story).

And, yes, Julie met Janet at SCBWI Whispering Pines the same year Jessica was there--and this was also the site of Janet's life-changing meeting with editor Christian Trimmer.

Janet Costa Bates is the author of picture book TIME FOR BED, OLD HOUSE which received starred reviews from the School Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, and the Bulletin for the Center of Children’s Books. She drew inspiration from her Cape Verdean-American background to write her first picture book, SEASIDE DREAM, winner of a Lee and Low New Voices Honor Award as well her RICA BAPTISTA chapter book series, to be published by Candlewick Press starting in Fall 2022. She lives in Massachusetts with her family. www.janetcostabates.com