My Creative Life for Artists and Creators

Hi Everyone! My special guest today is Rekah Salin, #kidlit illustrator. Here is more about Rekha.

Rekha Salin, is an artist/illustrator from India, living in Bahrain.

She is passionate about telling stories through pictures and feels there is so much of joy in giving characters a place and a world to live in and bringing stories to life which can make a

reader laugh, cry, think, empower or just be silly. She comes with a Degree in Finance and Accounting, but telling stories and connecting with people is what she truly loves. When she is not drawing you can find her going on long walks, clicking pics. Spending time with family is her favorite thing to do. 

Her clients include Oxford University Press, Puffin Books UK and Gnome Road Publishing.

You can know more about here at –

Portfolio- www.rekhasalin.com

Instagram- www.instagram.com/illustrate_daily

Newsletter- https://rekhasalin.substack.com/

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Hi Everyone! Today, my guest is Tracy Scaglione, kidlit author and librarian. Here is more about Tracy:

Tracy Scaglione is in her 24th year as an elementary school librarian in Georgia, following a career in broadcast journalism and educational TV.  She has served as Media Resource or Lead Librarian for her school district for almost 15 years while also running a school level media program.  Her library program was selected as the 2024 Georgia Library Media Association's 2024 Elementary School Judy Serritella Exemplary Media Program. She has secured approximately $100,000 in grants for her school library. 

She has served on UGA's Georgia Picture Book Committee, the Target Kids Book Club Selection Group, and she is also a First Book Marketplace Champion.  Tracy Scaglione has presented at many conferences including UGA's Children's Literature Conference, GLMA, and GaETC.  She has been working on the craft of writing for children for nearly ten years, attending workshops at the Highlights Foundation.  Scaglione is also a member of SCBWI, and has attended several SCBWI Southern Breeze conferences and workshops through the years.  She writes fiction and nonfiction picture book stories while also working on a YA novel.

Visit Tracy's Instagram.

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Hi Everyone! Today, my special guest is a long-time friend, Kristin Marteness, a kidlit author. Here is more about her:

Kristin’s love for writing sparked in third grade when she entered her school’s “Young Authors” contest with a story about a bubble-gum machine—and took first place. That early win set her on a path of yearly submissions, culminating in a second-place finish at the Wyoming state competition during her sophomore year of high school, cementing her commitment to the craft.In junior year of high school, a poem she penned won 2nd place between two high schools and was featured in Listen magazine, marking another proud moment on her writing journey.College broadened her horizons further. A poem she submitted appeared in the literary journal of Wilbur Wright College in Chicago.Her first true break into the publishing world came when a steampunk short story she entered in a contest was selected for inclusion in an anthology, published by Spencer Hill Press.​Although writing remains her foremost passion, she spend most of her days working as a learning-systems administrator for a large retailer. Outside of work, she’s an avid animal lover, music enthusiast, photographer, and history buff.

Visit her site: https://kristinmarteness.weebly.com/

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Hi Everyone, I spoke with kidlit author Michael Wang. He is the author of Leif's Gift. Here is more about Michael.

Michael Wang is an author, designer, and avid plant enthusiast. He spent many years in graphic design before co-founding a studio that creates and curates artwork for hotels. Michael was born in Taiwan and grew up in New York City, where he still resides. Leif’s Gift (Norton Young Readers), illustrated by Lenny Wen, is his debut picture book. In his spare time, he can be found hiking, beachcombing, or tending to the urban jungle featured on his Instagram, @plantgroovy. Follow his storytelling journey at @michaelwangstories or visit michaelwangstories.com for more.

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Hi Everyone! It was wonderful to interview Bill Thao, kidlit illustrator. Here is more about Billy:

Billy Thao is a Hmong American children's illustrator represented by Molly O'Neil at Root Literary. Thao started his career as a fine artist and has participated in groups and duo art exhibitions. In 2021, his debut picture book, "Yang Warriors," written by acclaimed author, Kao Kalia Yang was published by University of Minnesota Press. In addition, he has collaborated with the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and Northern Festival. When he is not working on projects, he enjoys mind and body activities, reading, and daydreaming of exciting stories. 

Visit Billy's website.

Hi Everyone! Today, my guest is Julia Mills, an NJ-based author/illustrator and art teacher. More about Julia:

Julia Mills is the award-winning author/illustrator of I AM STUCK and ROBINSON’S NEW THING (Harper Kids/Clarion). She is also a public school art teacher which means she has paint on her hands 99% of the time.

Julia likes to write stories that deal with big emotions while still having plenty of room for humor. She creates her art with watercolor, colored pencil, pastel, crayon, paint sticks and digital collage. Julia lives in New Jersey with her husband, two kids, and two black cats named Cosmo and Klaus.

Visit Julia's site to learn more!

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Hi everyone! My guest today is Brittany Nearhoof, a Georgia art teacher and artist. Here is more about Brittany:

Brittany Nearhoof has been teaching art in coastal Georgia since 2008 and currently teaches high school art for Bryan County Schools. She was named District Teacher of the Year and selected as a Top 10 Finalist for Georgia Teacher of the Year in 2024, bringing a deep awareness of accessibility and adaptability to her work informed by her lived experience in public education. A professionally exhibiting artist with multiple “Best in Show” awards, Nearhoof teaches with the goal of helping students think like artists—creative, curious, and confident learners unafraid to explore and take risks.

Brittany's work on IG.

Hi Everyone! My guest on this episode is Rachel Rizzuto, kidlit author and illustrator. Rachel's work makes me laugh in a good way! I'm so glad she agreed to be a guest. Here's more about Rachel:

Rachel Rizzuto is an author-illustrator using character-driven storytelling to provide touchstones for anxious and inquisitive children. She's been a Chicago stage actor, a dolphin show narrator, a bookshop graphic designer, a marketing executive, and a teacher at The Second City. She infuses humor and hope into stressful situations, creating a safe environment in which readers can process their own experiences while knowing we're on our way to a happy ending.

Rachel's website

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Hi Everyone! Today I had the pleasure of interviewing Katie, Mazeika, author Maybe Just Ask Me! published by S&S/Beach Lane Books. Here is more about Katie:

Katie Mazeika is an award-winning author and illustrator who can’t imagine a better job than making books. She loves creating stories based on real people and events. Katie is passionate about highlighting disabled voices in her work. Katie is the author/illustrator of Maybe Just Ask Me! published by Simon and Schuster/Beach Lane Books.

Visit Katie's site:

https://www.katiemazeika.com/

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Hi Everyone! I interviewed Tonnye Fletcher, kidlit author and K-2 elementary music teacher, today. Here is more about Tonnye:

Tonnye Fletcher is a K-2 music teacher, an author, an educational speaker, and an officer for her local reading council. She is the author of MUSIC PLANTS HOPE due out Spring 2026 from Reycraft Publishing.

Visit Tonnye's site:

tonnyefletcher.com/

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