Following my passion for writing and the Children's Book Academy ​with Dr. Mira Reisberg

January 2017
I knew 2017 would be THE year for creativity.  To be honest, there hasn't been a year where there hasn't been creativity or some kind of art in my life.  Whether I'm sketching my thoughts on a random piece of paper, sharing some late-night doodles on Instagram, or participating in the local art show, there's is no way I could go a whole year without creating something.  But this would be THE year for it- I could feel it, and I just had to jump at looking for a way to make this something happen.

I had a children's story jumbling around in my head for more time that I'd like to admit, but never got it past several preliminary sketches.  But late last year, I decided 2017 would be the year that I would make my character come to life.  I really wanted to dive in and write the story out well, so after a long and windy journey down the rabbit hole of the internet, I found the Children's Book Academy online. (www.childrensbookacademy.com) There were so many courses offered, and the instructor and creator, Dr. Mira Reisberg, was not only the most qualified and knowledgeable person to take my first leap into children's book writing (she's had many years of experience in children's literature and worked in pretty much all aspects of the field possible), but her photo also made her seem like a very warm, and likable person.  I decided to take a chance and sign up for The Craft and Business of Writing Children's Picture Books, which started in a few short weeks!

I could not be happier with my decision.  It was a six week class, which flew by so fast, and I missed being a part of it as soon as it was over.  There was so much material to learn about the children's literature world and how to write picture books, it really was the best way to really dive in to what I wanted to achieve.  Mira Reisberg was so kind and generous with her time, and really cared about her students and what we were learning in her class.  She, along with Kelly Delaney (an editor at Random House), and Bryan Patrick Avery (who was also a magician on the side!), really made the class enjoyable and engaging.  One of the best things I've taken away from this class is the online community of children's book authors and illustrators who also took the course, and the wonderful connections I've made (including a book pen pal in San Francisco who I've continued to share book ideas with!) . In addition, the big bonus of the course is the Golden Ticket- an opportunity to submit directly to an agent or editor at a publishing house, and bypass the slush pile.  So exciting!!

I'm so thrilled to say that this class has sparked my passion towards writing for children.  There's not a day that goes by without a new idea swirling around for a possible picture book or character illustration.  I have learned so much in the short six weeks, and cannot wait to continue to learn more about the kidlit world and work towards getting my stories published.  This class has not only been a great educational resource, but also a very inspiring beginning for my passion of writing and illustrating for children.