Hi Everyone! My guest is Meg Auchenback, children's book author and illustrator. It was a delight to speak with Meg, and here is more about her:

Meg Auchenbach, Children’s Author & Illustrator and her debut IF YOU ARE AN ARTIST (Peter Pauper Press, 2024) was inspired by her former career as an elementary art teacher, where she watched children daydream, experiment, and create. Meg’s hope is to create stories that inspire magical thoughts and cultivate a sense of wonder.

Meg's Website: ⁠https://www.megauchenbach.com/⁠

Meg's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/megauchenbachart/

Links to order If You Aren An Artist.

Aaron's Books (Local Independent Bookstore in Lititz, PA): https://www.aaronsbooks.com/book/9781441342010

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/You-Are-Artist-Meg-Auchenbach/dp/144134201X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=36YQA85LN4MHD&keywords=meg+auchenbach&qid=1694019984&sprefix=meg+auchenbach%2Caps%2C97&sr=8-1

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1144008650?ean=9781441342010

Thank you for listening!

Hi Everyone! Today's guest is Violet Tobacco, an Atlanta-based illustrator I met at the SCBWI Southern Breeze Springmingle. Here is more about Violet.

Violet is an illustrator based in Atlanta, Georgia. Violet studied theater in college but gravitated toward other mediums of art before graduating. Always a storyteller with an affinity for whimsy, humor, and a well-delivered moral.  Violet's clients include Scholastic, Simon & Schuster, Hachette, and Disney Hyperion.

You can find Violet online at:

https://www.instagram.com/violettobacco/

https://www.violettobacco.com/

More about Violet's Journey

https://thebrightagency.com/us/blog/artist-journey-violet-tobacco

Thank you for listening!

Hi Everyone! My special guest is Merrill Rainey, Picture-Book-Creator and Paper-Toy-Maker. Here is more about Merrill:

Growing up, Merrill Rainey spent most of his Saturday afternoons drawing, watching monster movies, and going on imaginary adventures. Today, he is a cowboy-boot-wearing, picture-book-creator and paper-toy-maker. Merrill’s work focuses on exploring creativity and imaginative play. His current titles include Roar! I’m a Dinosaur (winner of the Good Housekeeping Best Kids' Board Book of 2022), Oink! I’m a Pig, and the Color, Cut, Create series. His newest illustrated title Giants Are Very Brave People, written by Florence Parry Heide, is a reimagined classic picture book about a little giant that learns to be brave with the help of a new friend. Merrill also works for many children’s magazines like Highlights, Ranger Rick, and Humpty Dumpty. He has served on faculty at the Highlights Foundation retreat center and is currently the illustrator coordinator for the Northern Ohio chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Merrill lives in the village of Whitehouse, Ohio, with his editor (his wife), subject matter experts (his kids), and very opinionated coworkers (a very hungry toad and some crabby hermit crabs). 

To see Merrill's work:

https://littlerainey.com/

Merrill's Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/littlerainey

Thank you for listening!

Hi, Everyone! I decided to discuss why Art Teachers Make Good Freelancers. As I was working as an art teacher and freelance illustrator, I started noticing that there were experiences I'd had that allowed me to do better at my second go around with working as a children's book illustrator.

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Hi Everyone! I interviewed Amy Houts, a children's book author who has written over 100 children's books. She has written for a wide range of markets. It's incredible what she has accomplished in her career! She was so kind to share.

Amy's site: https://www.amyhouts.com/

Amy's X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmyHouts

Thank you for listening! Please like, subscribe or leave a review of the podcast!

Hi, Everyone! I got to speak with return guest Lu Pan about what it was like finishing his Master's Degree in Accessories Design and his reflections on his internships, award-winning designs, and career path.

Lu on Linkedin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lupandesign/

Lu's website

https://www.lupandesign.com/

Thank you for listening!

Hi Everyone, this was a very hard episode to record, but I wanted to talk about a former guest, Reema Zoumut, an art teacher I'd been fortunate to have met during my time as a teacher. Her students fondly referred to her as Mrs. Z. She taught animation, graphic design, and photography. She was also a guest on the podcast. A little over a year ago Reema passed away, and I wanted to say some words about having known her. She was so giving, and never expected anything in return. Just be a good teacher. If you had met her, you would have loved her too.

Thanks for listening!

Hi Everyone! Today's guest is Victoria Ying, award-winning author and illustrator of graphic novels. Here is more about Victoria:

Victoria Ying is a critically acclaimed author and artist living in Los Angeles. She started her career in the arts by falling in love with comic books, this eventually turned into a career working in animation and graphic novels. Her film credits include Tangled, Wreck it Ralph, Frozen, Paperman, Big Hero 6, and Moana. She is the author and illustrator of her own series “City of Secrets and City of Illusion” through Penguin/Viking and the illustrator of the DC series “Diana Princess of the Amazons.” Her upcoming graphic novel projects her YA debut, “Hungry Ghost” and the Marvel/Scholastic “Shang-Chi and the Secret of Immortality.”

To see her work visit:

https://www.victoriaying.com/

Victoria's Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/victoriaying/?hl=ha-ng

Twitter: https://twitter.com/victoriaying

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Hi Everyone, I spoke with my librarian friend, Kathryn Hodges to find out more about what young readers are interested in and how librarians get the books that they want to them.

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Hi Everyone, today I'm discussing my marketing efforts for the past year. I forgot one tip. I attended an in person Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators conference. I highly recommend doing inperson events if you are able to. I met some wonderful fellow author/illustrators at the conference.

To see my work

Nancy So Miller Illustration

Nancy's Instagram

Nancy's Twitter

Thanks for listening!