20 Questions: Things We Are Grateful for

Welcome back to our series, 20 QUESTIONS!,

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

(Note that we enjoy the series so much we’ve reset for a second round of 20.)

This month’s question:

What’s one thing you’re grateful for in your creative or personal life?

Isabella Kung

“I’m so grateful for the opportunity and privilege to explore and express myself in a creative way. Not only does the act of writing and illustrating fulfill me to no end, it allows me to connect with others in a way very few can–especially kids! Just seeing the little ones light up and fill with joy when they read my books warms my heart.” 

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

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Angela Burke Kunkel

“There’s a lot of overlap between what I’m grateful for in my personal life and my creative life. I’m grateful to live in a place full of natural beauty that inspires me daily. I’m grateful that my family, especially my husband, is supportive of my writing and celebrates all sorts of book-related milestones with me, large and small. I’m grateful that the words I’ve worked so hard on are then turned into beautiful art by illustrations whose talents I can’t even begin to comprehend. And I’m grateful to work in partnership with my editor, who so very carefully guides these books into existence!”

– Angela Burke Kunkel, author of MAKE WAY: THE STORY OF ROBERT McCLOSKEY, NANCY SCHÖN, AND SOME VERY FAMOUS DUCKLINGS (Random House Studio, 2023) and WORLD MORE BEAUTIFUL: THE LIFE AND ART OF BARBARA COONEY (Random House Studio, 2024)

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Kim Rogers

“When I was growing up, I never saw a kid like me in a book. I am so grateful that I get to publish books that allow Native kids, specifically Wichita kids, to see themselves centered as heroes in stories.”

– Kim Rogers, author of JUST LIKE GRANDMA and A LETTER FOR BOB (Heartdrum, 2023)

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“As newbie authors, we’re all tempted to seek relationships with editors and agents in pursuit of a contract. While those relationships are important, my friendships with local writers or writers I”ve met at conferences have sustained me through the tough times, motivated me, opened my eyes to new ideas and experiences, and made me a better writer. With love to all my writer-pals out there. You know who you are!”

– The Soaring 20s “collective unconscious”

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Valerie Bolling

“Seeing my words matched with gorgeous art to produce a book, meeting and inspiring young readers and writers, connecting with other creators who are also passionate about writing/illustrating stories for children are all things I’m grateful for. I’m also thrilled that I get to determine and manage my own schedule, which means I can make time for what’s important to me besides writing – like walking/exercising, reading, and spending time with my husband and our friends.”

– Valerie Bolling, author of BING, BOP, BAM: TIME TO JAM!, illus. Sabrena Khadija (Abrams Appleseed, 2023)

20 Questions: Our First Stories

Welcome back to our series, 20 QUESTIONS!,

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

(Note that we enjoy the series so much we’ve reset for a second round of 20.)

This month’s question:

What’s the first thing you remember writing or drawing, and how old were you?

Kirsten W. Larson

“I still have my first books from first grade, a book about snowy owls and the Niña, Pinta, and Santa Maria, complete with probably the best illustrations I’ve ever drawn (and that’s not saying much). Even as a kid, I was intrigued by true stories.”

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

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Lindsay H. Metcalf

“I recently came across a treasure trove of stories that first-grade me wrote in 1988. Although there is some fiction (a romance about a waltzing ostrich), the most prevalent genre is personal essay, with such titles as ‘My Pet,’ ‘Teeth,’ and ‘I Like Baby Ducklings.’ I always thought I was a good speller, but, well . . . see for yourself.”

—Lindsay H. Metcalf, co-editor with Keila V. Dawson and Jeanette Bradley of NO WORLD TOO BIG: Young People Fighting Global Climate Change, illus. Jeanette Bradley (Charlesbridge, 2023)

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Kim Rogers

“I wrote my first poem in the first grade. It was raining that day, and I was filled with so much emotion that I had to put it down on paper. I wrote it on one of our worksheets and drew a picture of a girl under an umbrella next to it. When I got it back, my teacher told me that she really liked what I’d written.”

—Kim Rogers, author of A LETTER FOR BOB, illus. Jonathan Nelson (Heartdrum, 2023) 

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Valerie Bolling

“I wrote ‘poems’ in a bland, white marble composition book when I was six years old. Using the daily phonics lessons I’d learned, I created simple rhymes, like: There is a cat. It sat on a mat. It caught a rat.”

—Valerie Bolling, author of TOGETHER WE SWIM, illus. Kaylani Juanita (Chronicle, 2023)

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Abi Cushman

“My parents bought me a blank book when I was in elementary school. I was very excited because I could make my story look like a REAL book. While this wasn’t the first thing I ever wrote, it was the first book I remember writing and illustrating. Here’s the logline: When Mr. Johnson falls ill with a disease no one knew of, Petunia the cat and Wilber the dog travel to Italy and starve on the street, until… Okay, there was no ending.”

—Abi Cushman, author-illustrator of WOMBATS ARE PRETTY WEIRD: A [Not So] Serious Guide (Greenwillow Books, 2023)

20 Questions: Writer's Block

Welcome back to our series, 20 QUESTIONS!,

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

This month’s question:

How do you deal with writer’s block?

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Darshana Khiani

“When I get really stuck, I put the story away for a while, usually at least several months. During this time I will dive into another project. This helps me get some distance from the stuck project so I can see it more clearly.”

—Darshana Khiani, author of I’M AN AMERICAN, illus. Laura Freeman (Viking, 2023)

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Angela Burke Kunkel

“Something that’s been helpful for me (and I wish I knew who to give credit to) is reframing ‘writer’s block’ as creative resistance. Doing something physical or creative rather than sitting down and wrestling with my writing always helps. Taking a walk, practicing yoga, trying a new recipe, working in my garden, or learning a new craft—any or all of these helps me let go of that creative resistance and return to the work in a way that’s more open and playful.”

—Angela Burke Kunkel, author of MAKE WAY, illus. Claire Keane (Random House Studio, 2023).

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Kim Rogers

“Reading always helps me through writer’s block. I find inspiration and some ideas for my own books in everything that I read.”

—Kim Rogers, author of A LETTER FOR BOB, illus. Jonathan Nelson (Heartdrum, 2023)

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Valerie Bowling

“Take a walk, read, do something else. The ideas will come eventually. Also, if you keep an ongoing list of ideas (use Storystorm for inspiration), you’ll always have ways to get unblocked by focusing on a new story.”

—Valerie Bolling, author of RAINBOW DAYS: THE GRAY DAY, illus. Kai Robinson (Scholastic, 2023)

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Kirsten W. Larson

“The only answer for me is to ‘give it time.’ While I wait, I read mentor texts for inspiration and let my subconscious work on the problem. Often the answer comes to me when my body is busy and my mind is wandering, like on a walk, in a shower, or while doing yoga. With enough time—sometimes years!—an answer often comes.”

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