Welcome back to our series, 20 QUESTIONS!,

where we answer questions about writing, reading, and author life.

This month’s question:

What’s been the most surprising part of becoming a published author and/or illustrator?

“The amazing strength of community - in every way thinkable! The community of my critique groups, my literary agency, the RMC-SCBWI chapter, the 12x12PB Challenge, my promotional groups, and the editorial and design community within the publishing houses. I feel incredibly and increasingly lucky to be a part of them all, and I hope I honor them with my efforts too!”

—Julie Rowan-Zoch, illustrator of NOT ALL SHEEP ARE BORING! (G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, 2022) 

“The most surprising part was how much a picture book can mean to a child! I never thought my humor book about a sassy black cat can help a child grieve the loss of his beloved cat. His parents wrote me a letter and shared that their son even cuddles my book as he goes to bed each night! To know how much my book meant to him made my heart full!”

—Isabella Kung, author and illustrator of NO SNOWBALL! (Orchard Books, 2022)

“The most surprising thing for me right now is that I love illustrating (gasp)! I started off writing only, and then I got a huge opportunity (thank you to my editors, Andrew Arnold and Rose Pleuler, and my agent, Elizabeth Bennett!) to illustrate my FRIENDBOTS early reader comics. It was a huge challenge for me. And now… I have five more books coming out that I am illustrating! These days, when I write a manuscript, I often think I might want to illustrate it too. I never imagined I would be a published author AND illustrator. It’s been an amazing journey of growth and learning.”

—Vicky Fang, author and illustrator of FRIENDBOTS (HarperAlley, 2021)

“That it happened at all! My debut picture book as an author/illustrator came out 30 years after I first thought I might like to do it. Some people fall gently into publishing right out of school and others need to stumble around in the woods awhile and that’s okay. Fellow Xennials, if you’re in the woods, keep walking!“

—Liza Ferneyhough, author and illustrator of NANA, NENEK & NINA (Dial Books for Young Readers, 2022)