Welcome back to our series, 20 QUESTIONS!,

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

This month’s question:

Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book or with a similar theme?

“I definitely want each book to stand on its own, and when I have a story idea, I like to have the freedom to experiment with different formats and genres to see what works best. But I think whether I intend it or not, my books will always have a common thread because of my voice as a writer and illustrator.”

– Abi Cushman, author-illustrator of WOMBATS ARE PRETTY WEIRD (Greenwillow Books, 2023)

“I want each book to stand on its own, except for my series! Books I create often reflect what I am passionate about or what I am obsessed with at the moment, and, like most people, I’m passionate and interested in a lot of different things! Trying to connect each book with a similar theme will just distract readers from the heart of each story and limit its potential. The only thing that will connect my books is perhaps my voice and perhaps my love of cats.”

– Isabella Kung, author-illustrator of NO SNOWBALL! (Orchard Books, 2022)

“I don’t start a new project with a ‘body of work’ in mind— I just find the next thing that fascinates me, that sparks my curiosity, and that I am willing— even eager— to spend a long time researching and thinking about. That being said, once a book is finished, I can begin to see how it fits in with my other books. There are themes of perseverance, problem-solving, and a love of the arts and creativity in all of my picture book biographies, for example. I think what speaks to us as writers creates our voice and body of work, whether we’re aware of that in the moment or not.”

– Angela Burke Kunkel, author of MAKE WAY (Random House Studio, 2023)

“I started off writing only STEAM books, and then I panicked that I was stuck in a box, so I started writing all kinds of other things, and then I panicked that I was losing my STEAM brand! What I’ve come to realize is that I can only write what I’m feeling passionate about at that moment. Sometimes, I have ideas that I know are marketable or “on brand”, but my heart just isn’t in it. So I have to just follow my heart and write what comes, which ends up aligning to some personal core and philosophy. In the end, I try not to worry about it too much.”

- Vicky Fang, author of THE BOO CREW NEEDS YOU!  (Sourcebooks/Jabberwocky, 2023)

“I do think there is a common thread among the different books I write, even if it’s not intentional. I often find myself writing about underdogs, women (or even fictional female comic book characters), who have defied expectations about what they can or should be.”

– Kirsten W. Larson, author of THE FIRE OF STARS: The Life and Brilliance of the Woman Who Discovered What Stars Are Made Of (Chronicle Books, 2023)