AT THE KID TABLE

Today we get to sit next to Canadian nature enthusiast, cat lover, and children’s book author-illustrator Celia Krampien! Throughout our chat, I felt inspired by Celia’s learner mindset. She said she often doesn’t feel good at things at first but her “quiet stubbornness” gives her the confidence that she can always learn to do better.

In this episode, she shares: 

* How she found the courage to try new things (like figure skating) and change her career mid-degree

* How she learned to not let the rejections keep her down

* How she crafted a setting that feels like a character in her debut novel

* How reading books that you love is the best way to learn how to write a novel

You will leave this episode inspired to approach new opportunities with a learner mentality! So grab your juice box, pull up a chair, and come chat with us AT THE KID TABLE (here, spotify, or apple podcasts).

Also I highly recommend connecting with Celia on her website and preeordering THE BELLWOODS GAME and FIONA BUILDS A FAIRYHOUSE here! (This is my affiliate link that will take you to Bookshop.org)

A great way to support this podcast is by sharing it with a friend. If you get three people to subscribe, you (and your book) get a podcast shoutout!

Thanks to Whiskey Geraldine for the amazing music and author Joanna Rowland for sponsoring this episode. You can also get a podcast shoutout by becoming a paid subscriber.

Thanks for sitting with me AT THE KID TABLE today! I’ll save you a seat next time.

Your ready-to-learn-something-new friend,

Rachel

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rachelmichellewilson.substack.com

This week AT THE KID TABLE we sit next to animated film lover, board gamer, cut paper collagist, and children’s book author-illustrator Breanna Carzoo!

In this episode, Breanna shares:

* How a mislabelled shy kid who loved acting chose courage instead of fear to pursue a passion for storytelling

* The inspiration behind her beloved LOU and upcoming GREENLIGHT about powerless inanimate objects who discover the power in themselves and what makes them special

* And why she prioritizes a life outside of publishing

You will leave this episode feeling inspired to trust yourself and move forward with courage even when you don’t know the outcome. Listen to it here, spotify, or apple podcasts.

Also I highly recommend connecting with Breanna on her website and purchasing her books from your local independent bookstore.

A great way to support this podcast is by sharing it with a friend.

Thanks to Angela Pham Krans for being such a wonderful cohost, Whiskey Geraldine for the amazing music, and author Joanna Rowland for sponsoring this episode. If you would like to sponsor an episode, become a paid subscriber, and we’ll give you (and your book) a shoutout.

Thanks for sitting with me AT THE KID TABLE today! I’ll save you a seat next time.

Your seeing-myself-in-inanimate-objects-everywhere-now friend,

Rachel

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rachelmichellewilson.substack.com

We had so much fun chatting with author-illustrator Isabella Kung. Her books NO FUZZBALL and NO SNOWBALL are hilarious read-alouds full of cat personality. I highly recommend purchasing these books from your local independent bookstore.

One of my favorite quotes from Isabella is: “The more I am brave enough to explore and have fun, the more my inner child emerges.”

Isn’t that beautiful?

We also talked about:

* How Isabella made her own kid table as a kid by joining strangers’ tables

* Her path to art school (including adventures with host families in the United States)

* Her struggle with perfectionism and tricks she uses to keep her playfulness and creativity alive

* How she organizes her schedule to juggle all the eggs in her basket (books, illustration, teaching, social media, etsy shop, etc.)

* How she changed her mindset to overcome the creative block she experienced in the last few years

* How to write sequels, create lovable characters, and craft great read-alouds that kids will participate in (even to the point of losing their voices)

You can connect with Isabella through the links on her website and purchase NO FUZZBALL and NO SNOWBALL from your local independent bookstore!

A great way to support this podcast is by sharing it with a friend.

Thanks to Angela Pham Krans for being such a wonderful cohost, Whiskey Geraldine for the amazing music, and author Joanna Rowland for sponsoring this episode. If you would like to sponsor an episode, become a paid subscriber, and we’ll give you (and your book) a shoutout.

Thanks for sitting with me AT THE KID TABLE today! I’ll save you a seat next time.

Your armed-with-amazing-new-tricks-to-manage-her-perfectionism friend,

Rachel

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rachelmichellewilson.substack.com

Hi there,

I have some exciting news. AT THE KID TABLE is now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts! You can now listen here on substack and/or subscribe wherever you usually listen to podcasts.

In this episode, award-winning children’s book author Stephen Briseño chats with us about:

* Eating menudo and other delicious Mexican food at the kid table with his family

* Discovering writing as a safe way to express himself as a shy kid

* Using his love of movies as inspiration for his stories and his craft

* Writing as a hunk of clay that you shave away

* Studying mentor texts in an effective way

* Empowering kids through representation

* Writing from the Mexican-American perspective—always

And you don’t want to miss the four questions he uses to evaluate a story!

Purchase THE NOTEBOOK KEEPER and preorder QUEEN OF LEAVES from your local independent bookstore!

A great way to support this podcast is by sharing it with a friend.

Thanks to Angela Pham Krans for being such a wonderful cohost, Whiskey Geraldine for the amazing music and author Joanna Rowland for sponsoring this episode. If you would like to sponsor an episode, become a paid subscriber, and we’ll give you a shoutout!

Thanks for sitting with me! I’ll save you a seat for next time.

Your wanting-to-try-menudo friend,

Rachel

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rachelmichellewilson.substack.com

In this episode, children’s book debut author-illustrator Marietta Apollonio chatted with me about:

* How miraculous it is that kids made it through the 80s

* How boredom (like selling mattresses at a mattress store) leads to creativity

* The importance of being supported by a community and giving back when good things happen

* Feeling your feelings after rejection before diving in to learn from it

* Saying “why not” to new opportunities

* Living your kid dreams. Get on that horse and take those karate lessons!

* How to make an awesome book trailer

Check out Marietta’s website and instagram. And preorder JACK THE LIBRARY CAT from your local independent bookstore!

A great way to support this podcast is by sharing it with a friend.

Thanks to Whiskey Geraldine for the amazing music and author Joanna Rowland for sponsoring this episode.

If you would like to sponsor an episode, become a paid subscriber and we’ll give you a shoutout!

Thanks for sitting with me! I’ll save you a seat for next time.

Your ready-to-say-why-not-to-the-next-opportunity friend,

Rachel

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rachelmichellewilson.substack.com

Hello there!

I’ve been thinking a lot about friendship and how much of a struggle it’s been my whole life. I always thought I was just bad at it. But the more I share my experiences, the more I learn that EVERYONE struggles with friendships. Kids. Teens. Adults. Maybe even you?

So I decided to dedicate this newsletter to the frustrations and beauty of friendships. Share some of my vulnerable moments and epiphanies. Delight in the awkward and celebrate the miraculous moments of connection I’ve felt along the way.

My hope is that by sharing a few of my experiences, some of you may feel more accepted and less alone too. So here we go!

I hear big green buttons make good friends.

Friendship snapshots

2-4 years old

My mom was a single parent and often needed to put my sister and me in daycare, so she could work. This gave me a strong social foundation. I was friends with everyone. Carefree. Adaptable. Open.

Truth: People can love you.

I was trying so hard to smile right that I forgot how to smile at all ;)

But then I had some difficult family stuff happen, and my biological father left us. I felt abandoned and rejected. It was the first time I learned that people could really hurt me, and I felt afraid a lot of the time.

Truth: People can hurt you.

My sister Andria and I at a family Christmas pageant.

5-8 years old

I was bullied at school. It didn’t help that I had to wear giant glasses with bifocals to help correct my lazy eye. Then my mom got remarried and my five new step-siblings didn’t like me. School wasn’t safe. Home wasn’t safe. I found my safe space in books.

Truth: You can always find a safe space (and a friend) in books.

My blended family

Through all the rejection, I developed a lot of anxiety. I didn’t realize it was anxiety until my 20s as it manifested as good grades, responsible behavior, and emotional maturity—all celebrated qualities by the adults around me. To express and process those big emotions, I would write and paint and make funny videos and sew and play piano and dance. Now that I look back, I can see that creativity taught me how to transform my fears into something beautiful. It gave me the courage to leave my toxic bully “friends” and take a chance on others again.

Truth: Creating something takes courage. So does friendship.

They called themselves the cheetah girls. This could be a mean girls poster haha.

9-11 years old

I entered fifth grade determined to be a friend to everyone I met. I reached out to others and thrived at school and extracurricular activities. I found a supportive group of friends. I remember my proudest achievement that year was winning the Hope of America award. For me it was a symbol that, though things at home were rocky and I was facing constant rejection from my step-siblings, I could determine my own life.

Truth: Being a friend is more powerful than hoping for friends.

12-14 years old

Then middle school happened. Almost all my friends went to a different school. My best friend started to get into makeup and boys and being popular while I just wanted to keep having silly dance parties and making funny videos together (I’m still like this!). One day, she suddenly stopped talking to me. I remember visiting her house and bawling, “Why don’t you want to be my friend anymore?” as she sat in silence. I never understood what happened. My family stuff got even more overwhelming as my parents separated. At school, I felt connected to individuals but always on the outside of the group. It seemed like all the rules of friendship had changed, and everyone understood them but me.

Truth: People can leave at any time. Friendships end.

Me with some neighborhood friends (I’m on the left) — I definitely felt like an outsider

15-17 years old

In high school, due to someone reaching out to me, I gathered up the courage to reach out to others again. I developed quality friendships both inside and outside of classes. I was still confused by the complicated rules of friendship and now DATING. Yikes. But by senior year, I had a few great groups of friends, one of which included my current best friend and husband, Aaron (we didn’t get married until years later).

Truth: It may take years to find them, but good friends are always out there.

17-24 years old

When graduation rolled around, I felt confident I could make new friends in the future. Besides, my best friend at the time was going to the same college! How exciting! We drove up to orientation together. I remember her being strangely distant as I chatted with the other attendees. On the way home, I asked if she was okay. She didn’t really answer, and after that event, she didn’t talk to me ever again. Awkwardly we both decided to live on campus and got placed within a few rooms of each other. She pretended like she didn’t know me. It hurt and shook me for a while. But this time I recovered quicker and focused on making other friends.

Truth: An important part of friendship is learning to let people go.

Me with one of my best friends in college (still BFFs today)

These years were full of fun and silly and heartwarming memories. There was also a lot of confusion and heartbreak too. When yet another friend suddenly stopped talking to me, it triggered my old fears of not being good enough or lovable. The common denominator of all these failed friendships was me. I believed that this kept happening because there was something wrong with me. But then one of these friends (I will be forever grateful to her) wrote me an apology letter. She said she had been jealous of me, and for the first time, I realized that it didn’t have to be my fault. Maybe people are complicated and afraid (just like I am), and some people react to those feelings by withdrawing.

Truth: Sometimes people aren’t able to be a friend because of their own struggles. It doesn’t mean something is wrong with you.

25-30 years old

I started working “adult” jobs and met a lot of different people. But yet again, the rules of friendship changed. What is this thing we call adult friendship? And then once you have a partner or get married, it gets even more complicated. Double dates can be great when everyone likes hanging out with each other but that usually takes a miracle. Ah! Adult friendship is hard.

Truth: There is no one size fits all approach to friendship.

Thankfully, along the way I made a group of dear friends who loved geeking out about creativity and stories and writing. That child self who just wanted to make stuff with friends peeked out after a long hibernation. She led the way to children’s books where I met even more people who wanted to geek out and make stuff. For the first time ever, I felt like I was a part of a COMMUNITY.

Truth: Community is even harder to find than friendship. But it’s worth the wait.

Here are just a few of the wonderful kidlit friends I’ve made along the way. There’s also many I haven’t met in person.

31 years old (now)

At the risk of sounding too “I lived happily ever after” about it all, I want to be honest about the fact that it hasn’t all been sunny, even after finding community. I’ve spent all 31 years trying to figure out friendship. Most of my life, I’ve overcomplicated it. Friendships are hard. People are complicated and confusing. We all struggle with assumptions and expectations and communication.

Sometimes I’ve made friends with people who eventually took advantage of me, who turned out to be adult bullies, and who saw me as an opportunity instead of a person. The more I put myself out there, the more I will probably encounter people like that.

BUT that’s what makes those moments of genuine friendship even more remarkable! The fact that two imperfect people can connect across their fears and baggage and trauma and insecurities is pretty cool.

If there is anything I’ve learned over this friendship rollercoaster of mine, it’s that there will always be GOOD friends out there.

Truth: People will love you. People will hurt you. Friendship is worth the risk.

If this post resonated with you, would you mind sharing it?

Thanks for sitting with me AT THE KID TABLE. I’ll save you a seat next week!

All the best from your imperfect friend,

Rachel

AT THE KID TABLE is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rachelmichellewilson.substack.com

Hi there,

Exciting things are happening over here on the podcast including NEW INTRO AND OUTRO MUSIC (whiskey geraldine rocks!) and BETTER SOUND QUALITY. I’ll continue learning and improving as I go :)

In this episode, children’s book author-illustrator Mark Hoffmann chatted with us about:

* How art didn’t feel like a potential career until a few wonderful teachers opened his eyes to the possibilities (thank goodness for amazing teachers!)

* How he stays inspired by exploring outside his area of expertise (like plumbing!)

* How the best critiques are the most specific (all that red ink is a good sign)

* His research process for his books (which includes super cool ebay purchases from the 1800s)

* His term “crotch punching music” (we laughed so hard and I’m guessing you will too)

We also may have accidentally offended graham cracker and cheez-it companies…they almost shut down our chat but luckily it worked out ;)

Check out Mark’s website and instagram for art, books, and gab n’ doodle live chats with other illustrators. And preorder his book THE NOTE WHO FACED THE MUSIC (written by Lindsay Bonilla)!

A great way to support this podcast is by sharing it with a friend.

Thanks to author Angela Pham Krans for being my delightful cohost, Whiskey Geraldine for the amazing music, and author Joanna Rowland for sponsoring this episode.

If you would like to sponsor an episode, become a paid subscriber and we’ll give you a shoutout!

Thanks for sitting with me! I’ll save you a seat for next time.

Your learning-to-learn-as-she-goes-instead-of-letting-perfectionism-take-over friend,

Rachel

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rachelmichellewilson.substack.com

Hello there!

I hope your January was fantastic and that you found ways to navigate any winter blues. This week I have so many exciting things to share with you!

I quit my day job

You may or may not know that I’ve been working as a writer in the tech industry for a handful of years. I’ve been called a technical writer, documentation specialist, content writer, UX writer, product writer—tech industry titles are so fun, aren’t they?—but no matter the name, the job situation felt pretty similar.

* People often didn’t know how to work with a writer, so a big part of my job was explaining my job.

* Everyone thinks they can write which creates really weird dynamics.

* People are often super sensitive about their writing, so just the act of doing my job made insecure people uncomfortable.

For these reasons (and many more), writers are often working in toxic situations. And if they don’t have managers who can put protective boundaries in place, they are left to navigate these difficult dynamics by themselves.

My point is…I’M SO GLAD I QUIT!

I tried to find a picture that captured how great I feel, and the only face that truly felt right was my dog’s goofy happy face in this picture.

The big green button approves of my decision.

But I’m also really glad I WAITED to quit until now.

Even though dealing with the toxicity of corporate jobs was really hard sometimes, the consistent paycheck and the nice benefits gave me a safe space on the side to create. I didn’t put pressure on my art. As what I call a “recovering perfectionist,” I needed that space.

Without these jobs, I would not be a children’s book author-illustrator today.

I don’t believe in a “one path fits all” approach, so what I’m saying is not meant to be any sort of life advice. I just wanted to share why I’m glad I quit and also why I’m glad I waited to quit until 1) I had a literary agent and 2) I sold some books.

I’m also weirdly grateful that my job got really toxic at the end because it was the push I needed to commit fully to my dream. Even though I could feel in my heart it was the right time, I was scared. Letting go of the financial security and cushy benefits was hard, but it already feels worth it. I’m excited for this new path.

Speaking of new paths…

The first episode of AT THE KID TABLE is out!

Happy book birthday to my dear friend Angela Pham Krans! As part of the celebration of her debut book, she was my first guest AT THE KID TABLE. We chatted about how boredom inspires creativity, the importance of saying your dream out loud, and celebrating the small milestones along the way.

Watch the full interview on YouTube or Instagram.

Listen to the podcast version below.

I have learned so much from Angela, and I LOVE her book. Grab a copy of FINDING PAPA at your local independent bookstore today!

Some creative inspiration

Watch: Slow Horses (it’s funny and compelling and a refreshing take on the whole secret agent genre)

Listen: Angela’s AT THE KID TABLE interview (he he he)

Read: Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders (if you like experimental storytelling, this will blow your mind)

Thanks for sitting with me AT THE KID TABLE.

As always, I’ll save you a seat for next week!

Your somebody-pinch-her-because-she-doesn’t-have-to-go-to-useless-corporate-meetings-anymore friend,

Rachel

Thanks for reading AT THE KID TABLE! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rachelmichellewilson.substack.com

In this episode, debut author Angela Pham Krans talks about how:

* Responsibility and boredom inspired her creativity as a kid

* Story inspiration knocked when she was in the middle of a professional training

* BIG MAGIC and support from other creators gave her the courage to call herself a writer

* She protected her creativity by continuing to say it out loud, finding community, and celebrating small milestone along the way

* Nothing is a waste of time—whether it is writing for five minutes or reading mentor texts or whatever else. It all counts.

Her debut children’s book FINDING PAPA is out now! Run to your local bookstore and grab your copy.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rachelmichellewilson.substack.com

Hi there!

I know this is a bit late, but we are still in January so it still counts: happy 2023! Instead of making resolutions, I like to squish an entire year into a day. It sounds stressful, but it’s actually the opposite. I approach it in three ways.

Here is the audio version of this newsletter if you want to listen to it like a podcast:

Make a collage

I spend the first day of the year collaging my feelings about the year. I don’t go into it with a plan. I simply cut out words and images that stick out to me. I rearrange them in a way that feels “right.” And then I take a step back and see what meaning my brain comes up with for the year within the collage I created. It’s kind of a weird process, like I’m looking at someone else’s art and finding meaning, but it’s really fun and I actually discover a lot of things about my hopes and dreams and fears for the year — both during the process and throughout the year when I return to my collage.

Last year’s collage ended up being a combination of connecting and letting go. Very fitting for what I learned and experienced in 2022. Here it is:

This year’s collage has themes of exploration and learning new things and sight and who knows what else. If you’re up for it, I’d love to know what you see:

List soul happy tasks

A few years ago, I realized that I wanted to design my life around the things that made me happy. So I asked myself, “What makes your soul happy?” and wrote those things down. I figured a year is made up of days, so I might as well design my days around those tasks to have a happy year. It sounds simple but it seriously changed my life. I had spent a lot of time before that point trying to build habits and not getting anywhere. But now I can actually build habits and it’s been more FUN than discouraging. It also replenished my creative life, helped me overcome perfectionism (meaning change my mindset to help me better deal with my perfectionism when it pops up…it pops up less but just wanted to be honest that it still pops up), and led me to children’s books. So…I highly recommend the exercise.

This post is sponsored by the following big green button.

Follow the 10 minute rule

I design my days by listing the days of the week on a google doc with a soul happy task list to complete each day. To check the boxes, all I need to do is complete 10 minutes of each task. After the 10 minutes is over, I can either stop guilt-free or continue doing it if I happen to want to. Funnily enough, I almost always continue. For me the hardest part is starting. But then I’m like, “Oh yeah, I like this.” I don’t know why it is so hard for me to do the things I like but that’s a topic for another day (or a long therapy session).

What does 2023 look like AT THE KID TABLE?

As I asked myself this year what would make my soul happy, CONNECTION popped up a lot which will definitely influence this newsletter in a few ways:

* I want to connect with other children’s book authors and illustrators, so I’m starting a video podcast called AT THE KID TABLE. I’ll chat with friends about their kid table experiences and creativity and upcoming books live on Instagram. And then I’ll share the video and audio here as well so you can watch or listen depending on what works best for you.

* I also love connecting with others through the things they create. Some of my newsletters will be about what I learn from creators in the past and present as I analyze their books. And kinda related to that, just in case you’re looking for something fun to do, I’ll still share lists of picture books and other things that inspire me.

* Part of the reason I started this newsletter was to figure out how to be more myself online. So I’m going to keep connecting with amazing people like you with illustrated creative nuggets and jokes making fun of myself and (hopefully) relatable stories. You may also see me on camera more since I’m trying to get more comfortable with that. Silly videos are my jam. I just need to get brave enough to make more of them.

What does 2023 look like for me so far?

Right now, I’m celebrating the milestone of receiving my first ever super duper official editorial feedback last week! So for the next few months, I’ll be working on my debut picture book. It still hasn’t been officially announced, but once it is, I’ll be able to share more exciting details.

What does 2023 look like for you?

I would love to know what you are excited about this year. Feel free to leave a comment or reply to this email, and I’ll celebrate it with you.

Here’s to a marvelous 2023! I’m so glad you’re here. Thanks for sitting with me AT THE KID TABLE.

Your happy-she-finally-created-the-newsletter-that-had-been-nudging-her-mind-for-a-month friend,

Rachel

Thanks for reading AT THE KID TABLE! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rachelmichellewilson.substack.com