 We are thrilled to host Justin Colón on our blog today! Read more about his upcoming picture book, THE ZOMBEES. KLiC: What was your inspiration for THE ZOMBEES? JC: I had an existing contract with Simon & Schuster in which I needed to provide a follow-up book to The Quacken. They wanted something that featured another punny creature, humor, spookiness, and some sort of chase sequence. With those parameters in mind, I researched portmanteau creatures and worked from there. I'm also a Halloween buff and beekeeper, so I'm sure that played heavily into it as well. KLiC: Please tell us about your writing process. How long did it take you to write and sell THE ZOMBEES? JC: From pitch to acquisition, the process took about eleven months. I pitched the title and character concept of The Zombees, during a February Zoom call with my editor, Kendra Levin. She loved it, and I got to writing. By mid-March I submitted the manuscript, and by mid-April I received a request for a significant 'revise and resubmit'. I submitted it in June, and by July I was informed by the editorial team that they were passing. They asked if I would be open to keeping the concept but writing an entirely new story, one that wasn't so dark and featured a message of bee positivity. Fast forward to January, after I had put the manuscript to rest for several months, and an entirely new story, told in rhyme, came to me while showering. I was able to produce a full draft, almost identical to the one being published, within two days. Normally my manuscripts take months (even years). I attribute this quickness to working on the story for so long and exploring all other options beforehand. I think what's far more interesting, though, is how quickly Kaly Quarles illustrated the book. From the time she was hired, Kaly delivered final art in just three months. She rocked under pressure, and that's what allowed us to stick to our original publication date of 2025. KLiC: What are your favorite illustrations in THE ZOMBEES? JC: This book feels like the essence of Halloween. It's spooky, festive fun. Each time I sit down with it I discover something new that I love and hadn't noticed before. As a spread, my favorite illustration is of the silhouetted zombees leaving the graveyard behind as they fly into the moonlit sky. Some of my favorite individual elements are the worm that appears on each page. The cat re-enacting the zombees in the library. And all the delicious looking candies and desserts Kaly crafted. I wish I could snatch them out of the page and eat them. KLiC: What’s the one thing you want children to take away from THE ZOMBEES? JC: As a beekeeper, I often work to educate the public about honeybees and how they're intelligent, hardworking creatures that generally don't attack unless provoked. But that's not my objective here. All I hope is that this story proves a fun read-aloud for the Halloween season. I love when I receive messages from families and educators that the little ones in their lives ask to read my stories on repeat. It's an incredible feeling to know your story has enthralled a child. KLiC: Do you have any tips for pre-published authors? JC: Aside from the usual advice, I encourage you to think about your story's theme and takeaway. If you had to sum up your story in one word, what would that word be? What is your story really about at its core? What is its point? What do you hope readers will gain and take away from the experience? Also, I would love to help you on your publication journey. I provide query and manuscript critiques, consultations, classes, and mentorship through my website: justincolonbooks.com/editorial-services KLiC: What’s next for you? JC: Beginning in autumn, I'll be traveling the country to do events and school visits for The Quacken and Impossible Possums. And in spring of 2026, my next picture book, Vampurr (illustrated by Lenny Wen) publishes with FSG/Macmillan. KLiC: Is there anything you want readers to know about you or your book(s)? JC: I will be doing spooky Halloween-themed school visits for The Zombees during late September through October. If you're interested in me visiting your school, feel free to contact me through my school visits page: justincolonbooks.com/school-visits Justin Colón (he/him/his) is a professional actor and children's book author. His previous picture books include The Quacken (illustrated by Pablo Pino) and Impossible Possums, (illustrated by James Rey Sanchez). A lover of Halloween and zombie movies, Justin is also a backyard beekeeper. Though his bees sometimes frighten the neighbors, they’ve never tried to eat their brains— something Justin takes great pride in. He lives in New York, but you can visit him at JustinColonBooks.com.  Photo by Sal Peretti
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 Photo by: Kariba Jack Photography We are ecstatic to have YA author Brittney Morris on our blog today! Read more about her upcoming young adult book, THIS BOOK MIGHT BE ABOUT ZINNIA. KLiC: What was your inspiration for THIS BOOK MIGHT BE ABOUT ZINNIA? Brittney Morris: As a gentle parent breaking cycles of trauma in my own family, I’ve done a lot of unlearning what I’ve was taught as a daughter—that parents should get their way because they’re bigger and stronger (and in my case, louder) than you, that unconditional love means abandoning your own boundaries no matter the cost, and that biological family is the only family you need. I’ve been teaching my son that he owes me nothing, that no one is entitled to a breach of his boundaries (family or not), and that found family is sometimes the strongest bond one can find in the known universe. Any of these things could’ve inspired a book in me, but somehow they all came together to inspire just one. KLiC: Please tell us about your writing process. How long did it take you to write and sell this book? BM: I like to keep my writing process simple and straightforward: Swift drafting, slow editing. I take about 24 hours to outline the entire book on one page, using a bullet point for each chapter. Then I write the first draft faster than my inner editor can keep up. I can’t hit the backspace button if I don’t give myself time to. Once I get notes back on my first draft, that’s when the slow, methodical, increasingly precise dissection happens. That’s the hardest part for me. I sold this book on option, so it sold in a matter of weeks. KLiC: What kind of research did you do for THIS BOOK MIGHT BE ABOUT ZINNIA? What’s the one thing you want teens to take away from your book? BM: Well for one, I watched both Mamma Mia and The Godfather 1, 2, and 3, none of which I’d seen before. For Tuesday’s POV, I listened to a lot of early 2000s pop-punk and top 40 music and really tried to immerse myself in my own childhood—remembering how driving directions were printed, how we would rush home from school to catch our favorite shows before streaming existed, and how we didn’t have the language to articulate or even recognize gaslighting, stonewalling, or narcissistic behavior in general, especially in our own parents. Zinnia’s POV is much more enlightened about such behaviors, thanks to the prolificness of search engines, social media, and widespread access to and endorsement of therapy and self-care. But they also cause her distress. I think with so many overwhelming reminders that we could be improving our lives with therapy, self-care, emotional maturity, and striving to be a better human, there’s pressure on teens today like never before. If there’s one thing to take away, it’s that it’s okay to pursue quiet. Ease. Simplicity. The average life. It’s okay to be just okay at something—at everything, really. No matter how much social media would have you believe you’re being graded on this stuff, the grading system is mostly made up, and your happiness is what matters most. KLiC: Do you have any tips for pre-published authors? BM: “Write what you love” is a cliche for a reason. Don’t worry about writing what sells. Worry about what lights you up. When your passion shows up on the page, the market will meet you. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Brittney Morris is the author of SLAY, The Cost of Knowing, and The Jump, and has written video game narrative for Insomniac Games’s Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 for PlayStation 5, Unknown Worlds’s Subnautica: Below Zero, and Soma Games’s The Lost Legends of Redwall. She is the founder and former president of the Boston University Creative Writing Club. She holds a BA in economics. You can find her online at AuthorBrittneyMorris.com and on X or Instagram. Find out more about This Book Might be About Zinnia here.   KLiC: What was your inspiration for YOU'RE OUT OF LUCK, ALINA BUTT? ABH: You’re Out of Luck Alina Butt is largely inspired by my own childhood. Since a big part of this book takes place in Pakistan with Alina’s family, my summer trips back home were a huge inspiration - along with all the colourful and warm memories I made there with my grandparents and cousins. I wanted to show a real version of Pakistan - not what is always shown in the media, rather Pakistan and the two very different worlds of the rich and the struggling that exist there, alongside the beauty and love which the country exudes. KLiC: Please tell us about your writing process. How long did it take you to write and sell this book? ABH: My writing process starts with a lot of thinking. I take time to think about my story for quite a while - what I want it to be, where I want my characters to go, what I want them to discover, before I start officially planning. Every time I get a great idea, no matter where I am, I jot it down. Then I begin planning the story - the beginning, middle, end, and some but not all of the details in between. I don’t spend too long on this part, as I like to give myself some freedom to be creative and change things up as I write. I go back and forth between my outline and story, being flexible about adding and removing parts. You’re Out of Luck, Alina Butt was sold very quickly as it was the second part to the Alina Butt series. My publisher was very interested in continuing on with Alina’s journey! KLiC: What Kind of research did you do? ABH: Even though I am from Pakistan, and I have visited there many times, I had to research the different sites Alina explores in the city of Lahore. I wanted to make sure I did the country justice and didn’t get anything wrong, in terms of the names of sites, accurate descriptions of places/ buildings/ traditions. I had lots of fun doing it! KLiC: What’s the one thing you want children to take away from your book? ABH: I hope this book helps kids focus on the blessings in their lives, and helps them to learn to always look for the bright side in every situation, establishing a positive/ growth mindset. KLiC: Do you have any tips for pre-published authors? ABH: Just start writing - do not wait for the perfect time, because there is none! And once you start, don’t stop! Keep at it! Please don’t worry about making it perfect, because you will have plenty of time to do that (during the hundreds of edits you do after you finish). Let your creativity flow, and get those thoughts that turn into words onto that Google doc! KLiC: What’s next for you? ABH: I am currently working on the third part of the Alina Butt series!  Ambreen Butt-Hussain is the author of the middle-grade Alina Butt series, which consists of the books, The Unlovable Alina Butt and You’re Out of Luck, Alina Butt. Ambreen was born in Pakistan but lived in England and Scotland before finally settling in Canada for many years. She has a bachelor of science from the University of Toronto and a master of education from Queen’s University. She continues to move around and has recently made Princeton, New Jersey her new home, with her husband and two sons. She teaches middle schoolers by day and writes for them by night! Ambreen is currently working on the third part of her series.
You’re Out of Luck, Alina Butt Book cover: Julie McLaughlin  Book Release News for GOAL SETTING IN THE WRITING CLASSROOM: BUILDING STUDENT AGENCY, INDEPENDENCE, AND SUCCESS Book Description Goal setting is an integral part of life. But when and how do we teach this important skill to students? And how can we do so in ways that are engaging, rewarding, and nestled into our other priorities in the writing classroom? In Goal Setting in the Writing Classroom: Building Student Agency, Independence, and Success, Valerie Bolling breathes new life into the work of goal setting with students. Bolling guides teachers, step by step, through helping students set goals, monitor progress, revise (and sometimes even abandon!) goals, and celebrate their achievements along the way. Moreover, Bolling illustrates how teachers, themselves, can set their own goals so that they are learning alongside their students and serving as models for them. Goal Setting in the Writing Classroom draws on Valerie Bolling’s experiences as a teacher, instructional coach, and children's book author to offer relevant and engaging stories, lessons, strategies, and graphic organizers to help all students become successful and independent goal setters and writers. Pre-Release Buzz “When it comes to motivating writers, self-selected goals are much more powerful than school-selected goals, and this book offers practical steps that not only help students to make and revise goals, it also offers reflective practices that foster continual improvement. I like how Goal Setting in the Writing Classroom positions the students to do the thinking.” ―Kelly Gallagher, author of Write Like This and Teaching Adolescent Writers “Valerie skillfully blends her experience as a children’s author and middle school writing teacher to offer practical strategies that help students set and achieve personal writing goals. This book is a valuable tool for educators.” ―Dr. Towanda Harris, author of The Right Tools: A Guide to Selecting, Evaluating, and Implementing Classroom Resources and Practices “In Goal Setting in the Writing Classroom, Valerie Bolling shares her knowledge and experience as an educator, author, and human that gives new meaning to the term mentor author. Students will love learning about her process, can reflect on her work and find easy to implement steps to improve their own writing. She shares her secrets to meaningful goal setting ‘that leads to confidence, perseverance, and self-reflection.’ Read, write, reflect, and repeat.” ―JoEllen McCarthy, educator, literacy advisor, and author of Layers of Learning: Using Read Alouds to Connect Literacy and Caring Conversations Release Date and Purchase Information Goal Setting in the Writing Classroom: Building Student Agency, Independence, and Success is released TODAY on June 20, 2025. You may order here: Bookshop Routledge Amazon How This Book Came to Be My editor, Kassia Omohundro Wedekind, saw me present on a panel during the 2023 NCTE annual conference. After the conference, she emailed me to see if I’d be interested in writing a book for teachers. I wasn’t sure at first because I’d never written such a book. Though I’d been an educator for 30 years, I doubted if I’d be able to do it, especially when I was told that I’d need to write a minimum of 30,000 words! (This book is almost 40,000 words.) After careful consideration – and encouragement from my husband, agent, and friends – I decided to accept the challenge. Having only published children’s books before, I was hesitant, but Kassia assured me that she would be a collaborator throughout the process, and she kept her word. Each step of the way she was there, and I’m so grateful for her guidance and support. Why It Made Sense for Me to Write This Book I believe in goal-setting, personally and professionally, and I have witnessed how taking this action has contributed to my success as well as my students’. My husband and I set goals every year as a couple and as individuals. When I was a classroom teacher and instructional coach, I set goals each year. I determined what I would study and learn to develop a particular skill or gain an understanding of something new. I also looked at student data to set goals for what I wanted students to learn and improve. As a writer, I set goals, too. I have set goals to study and write new genres, read a certain number of books, and schedule events to promote and sell my books. Most importantly, I have achieved or surpassed most of the goals I’ve set, and many of my students have exceeded their goals. My 30 years as an educator and five years as an author of 11 children’s books make me a credible source for writing about this topic. What’s Next I’m working on my second book for teachers, which I’m co-authoring with Pamela Courtney. My first picture book biography, A Flea for Justice: Marian Wright Edelman Stands Up for Change (illustrated by TeMika Grooms) will be released on Sept. 16, 2025. I also have another picture book, The March for Hope (illustrated by Monica Mikai), scheduled for release in 2026 and a board book, Chloe’s Community Garden (illustrated by Felicia Whaley) slated for 2027.  Valerie Bolling is an award-winning educator and author. She was an educator for 30 years, teaching grades 2, 4, 5, and 8 and working as an instructional coach and planning professional development for middle and high school teachers. She has been an author of children’s books for five years, having published more than 10 books. Goal Setting in the Writing Classroom is her first book for teachers. A graduate of Tufts University and Teachers College, Columbia University, Valerie has always loved teaching and writing, and she enjoys connecting with both children and adults and inspiring them to write their own stories.
Connect with Me Website: valeriebolling.com Instagram: instagram.com/valeriebollingauthor Bluesky: valeriebolling.bsky.social Facebook: facebook.com/ValerieBollingAuthor LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/valerie-bolling-223a92271  We are so excited to interview the talented author-illustrator, Corlette Douglas. She has two books coming out on June 24th: LEO WAKES UP GRUMPY and LEO TAKES A BATH. For this interview we talked to her about LEO WAKES UP GRUMPY. KLiC: What are your favorite illustrations in the book? CD: My favorite illustration in the book is the one where Leo is screaming and the words Ah appear on the wall, as well as the one where Leo is tossing his toys, making a big fuss. KLiC: What’s the one thing you want children to take away from your book? CD: Learning to express one's emotions is vital for a developing young mind. But at times, it's essential to take a step back and breathe, think about our emotions, and if we can't do it alone, there's always an adult to help you remember that the grumpy way we're feeling will only last for a little while. KLiC: What’s next for you? CD: My goal is to keep writing fun stories and explore my illustrating and writing process. KLiC: Is there anything you want readers to know about you or your book(s)? CD: I hope the readers can see a little of Leo in themselves as they read these stories. We were all once or are becoming toddlers learning new helpful emotions for the first time, and patience goes a long way when handling toddlers who have tiny bodies and big emotions.  Corlette Douglas is a Guyanese-American artist and author of children’s books from Brooklyn, New York. She's a 10-year veteran in children’s media with work ranging from animation to print, creating content meant to educate and entertain. Readers will soon discover that she is a vibrant and colorful human being who carries those characteristics over into her work. Corlette adores creating characters that are compelling, authentic, and relatable. Her characters often deal with the everyday struggles of making hard choices, overcoming intimidating situations, or dealing with big emotions in a small body. Learn more about Corlette and order her books here.
 We are excited to interview debut picture book author Kortney Nash on our blog today! Her book, Tell Me About Juneteenth, illustrated by Deandra Hodge was recently released. Read more about it here: KLiC: What was your inspiration for Tell Me About Juneteenth? Kortney Nash: I’ve always loved a good block party, and I really wanted to capture that joy within this book––being surrounded by family, friends, and neighbors while under the sun eating good food and running around is such a special feeling that I hold dear from my own childhood. So I found a lot of inspiration in that sense of nostalgia when bringing this story to life. I’m from Los Angeles, and there’s nothing like celebrating Juneteenth in Leimert Park just in terms of the energy and excitement, so I wanted to capture a bit of that as well because that’s where most of my adult Juneteenth memories have taken place. KLiC: What are your favorite illustrations in the book? KN: This is such a tough question! I adore every single illustration in the book, and truly couldn’t be more overjoyed with the way Deandra brings this story to life. There is one spread toward the end of the book that I’m particularly fond of, where we get to see the kids in the book running around through the fire hydrant spray. There’s so much joy on that page, and it feels like readers can really experience the relief of playing in cold water on a hot summer day. Whenever I show this book to friends and family the first thing they do is talk about how fantastic the art is and I have to agree whole-heartedly––there’s something to love about every single spread in this book which makes reading it extra fun! KLiC: What’s the one thing you want children to take away from your book? KN: I want children to feel empowered after reading this story. My hope is that this both builds excitement about the celebratory aspect of Juneteenth while also teaching kids about the history behind the holiday in an accessible way. With all of the book banning happening, and so much censorship of American and world history taking place in schools, I feel really thankful to have the opportunity to share this book with young readers at this specific moment in time. KLiC: What’s next for you? KN: I am not entirely sure yet! I’ve been doing a lot of thinking and a lot of writing to try to and come up with my next idea. Right now, I think I’m just super stoked that this book is actually out in the world––I wrote the first draft of the manuscript in 2023, so it’s been really gratifying to see this go from an idea to an actual book that can be held and enjoyed by others. I’m looking forward to sitting down and writing some more stories soon, probably similarly inspired by childhood memories:-) Kortney Nash is from Los Angeles and has celebrated many Juneteenths in Leimert Park. Tell Me About Juneteenth is her first picture book. When not writing, she can be found cross stitching or trying out new recipes in the kitchen. Learn more here: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250908797/tellmeaboutjuneteenth/   Valerie Bolling was thrilled to have the opportunity to interview her agent sister, Pamela Courtney, about her debut picture book, A Season for Fishin’: A Fish Fry Tradition. Let’s learn more about this beautiful book… VB: Pam, I’m so excited for your debut. What’s your one-liner to describe this book? PC: Chér and Papéré reel in a skillet full of Louisiana fun as the start of still water fishin’ and the flavors of the season’s first fish fry get underway... Let the Cane River fish fry begin. Howeeee! Sounds like fish fry Friday. VB: That’s a great description. I’m sure some readers are craving fried fish now. Tell us how this fish fry story came to be. PC: This book began as a poem in Renée LaTulippe’s Lyrical Language Lab class as part of a collection of poems for a novel in verse. However, it was suggested the poem would be a cool children’s book and that I had to add a young protagonist. All of my childhood memories of running from house to house on Friday evenings tasting the neighbors’ fried fare poured. I didn’t, couldn’t, move until my protagonist caught and ate her catch. I wrote the draft in one sitting. This does not happen often. But when it does, y’all . . . it's pure magic. Now, it has to be noted there were revisions after my completed first draft. I don’t like revising. However, my editor challenged me to add heightened depth to my character. So, I dug deeper. I researched for a second element that would add a new perspective to my character’s—well, character. Here's where I began adding layers to my character. My character wanted to be part of this family tradition of still water fishin’. What really is still water fishing? What would it mean to participate in this tradition? My character wanted to bring home a batch of bream for Maméré. What would this mean for the character’s standing in the family if she failed? What exactly are bream? The only thing I knew about bream is that it’s one of my mama’s favorite panfried fish. And the one thing my character needed to go still water fishin’ and catch some bream was a cane fishing pole. But what would that pole look like? AND how can it connect to this tradition? I researched everything. Oddly enough, through my research, I found so many interesting facts. I was having fun! Revision Fun Fact—During revision, I learned that bamboo, what we call river cane, is native to my part of Louisiana. That’s what many use to make the fishing poles. As a child, I thought cane fishing poles were ONLY made from sugar cane stalks. VB: It’s really interesting to hear about your process, Pam. I didn’t realize how much research you did for the book, and you seem to have had a clear vision for it. Did the illustrator’s vision match yours? Were there any sweet surprises? PC: I fell in love the first time I saw my character’s sweet face. So much joy. There are some places where the movement and energy leap off the page. Toni Chambers shares her vision through these rich, saturated colors. Now in my mind, I envisioned this story in pastels (think E. B. Lewis). In hind-sight, no way would that work with the text. Having said that, I’m so glad I was not the illustrator. What Toni brought to this story is so much more than what my writer’s eye could ever see. Now, one of my favorite images in the book is . . . no, wait. I have several favorite moments that Toni gifted. I loveLoveLOVE that she gave our character this layered quirkiness by giving her a pair of yellow galoshes and purple hair. Imagine the personality of this kid in yellow Wellies fishing off the riverbank of Ol’ Cane River. Imagine! The next thing that almost brought me to tears was the matching overalls and striped shirts that the character and her papéré wore. There is no way I would ever have thought of showing their bond, their intimacy, in that sweet, sweet, yet oh-so-familiar way. Everyone knows that families down south love any occasion to dress alike. LOL. I enjoyed the story Toni delivered. VB: It's obvious that you love Toni’s illustrations and the sweet details she added to the story. How do you hope young readers will experience this book? What suggestions do you have for parents and teachers who read this book to children? PC: I wrote this book to share my multicultural experience in my rural Louisiana. I grew up speaking in a way I thought was purely unique to southern, Black American culture. However, the language of my childhood crisscrosses so many groups of people. Page after page shows that Black people are not a monolith. That’s important. Having said that, there are so many fun activities that can accompany this read aloud. Sharing the rich, yet complicated history of my hometown will be a fascinating lesson about powerful women in industry, the impact our waterways had on the nation’s economy, the influences of African, Tribal, and European peoples can be explored through food—so let’s cook up some Louisiana fare. Explore the sounds by sharing the multicultural blends of Zydeco music. Engage in the culture of the Mardi-Gras parade. This book demands you to have fun when creating activities. Laissez le bons temps rouler! VB: Wow, Pam! This book is such a treat! What book(s) can we look forward to next from you? PC: I have a book coming out in Fall 2026 called Freedom’s Eve: A Story of Watch Night. I am working on a piece of little-known American history, a biography, and a rhyming nonfiction story I’m excited for y’all to learn all about. But you’ll have to wait for those. VB: We’ll look forward to Freedom’s Eve next year and your future titles. Thanks so much for chatting with me, Pam, on the KidLit in Color blog. A Season for Fishin’: A Fish Fry Tradition is available wherever books are sold. Pam encourages readers to support their local bookstore.  Pam’s Louisiana upbringing inspired her 2025 spring publication, A Season of Fishin’—A Fish Fry Tradition, Macmillan (FSG) and nurtured her life’s passion of writing, teaching, and enjoying culturally diverse music. Combining these loves Pam created MyLMNOP,
a literacy and music program for early learners. With nearly three decades as an early childhood practitioner and elementary school teacher, Pam brings the eyes of an educator to each narrative she crafts, as she engages children in history, folklore, and the mysticism of her rural Louisiana culture. “My duty is great,” states Pam. “I’m a writer who teaches. I’m a teacher who writes.” Pam is the recipient of WeNeedDiverseBooks Mentorship, Highlights Diversity Fellowship, and the WeNeedDiverseBooks Walter Dean Myers Grant. Pam also serves as faculty for the Highlights Foundation. For more about Pam and her books... Website: https://www.pamelacourtney.com/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/pamismylmnop.bsky.social IG: https://www.instagram.com/pam_is_mylmnop/ Threads: https://www.threads.com/@pam_is_mylmnop TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pam_is_mylmnop?lang=en  KLiC: What sparked your interest in doing Lighthouse Ladies? I appreciated Kris Coronado's approach to non-fiction. I enjoy learning about niche topics, and I love storytelling. Kris’s writing offers the best of both worlds in a captivating and fun way. Lighthouse Ladies shares four incredible lives, but you only get a glimpse before the wind and waves whisk you away to the next. It leaves the reader wanting more, which I think is always a good sign in non-fiction. I wanted to be part of that magic. KLiC: Please tell us about your art process? All of Lighthouse Ladies was illustrated digitally using Procreate. This was my first time lifting scenes directly from the text to inform the artwork. Because I understood what each spread was asking of me, most of my process involved finding fun and adventurous ways to approach each scene. These lighthouse keepers were always on the move, and I wanted readers to feel that energy with every page turn.  KLiC: What kind of research did you do for Lighthouse Ladies? By the time I was invited to join the project, Kris had already done extensive research, including providing reference images. I was set up for success thanks to her and our wonderful art director, Kate O'Sullivan, before I even began. KLiC: What are your favorite illustrations in the book? There are many illustrations I’m proud of throughout the book, but the one I want to highlight is the opening image of Venus Parker. As a Black woman living in the late 1800s, there are no documented images of her. I had plenty of visual references for the other women, but here was the only one of them who was a person of color—and she was faceless. I had to create an image for her based on historical research about how a woman in her time might have looked, and I did so with the greatest care I could offer. At times, this book felt like an act of preservation. In the case of Venus Parker, that feeling hit tenfold. I’m proud of her spread.  KLiC: What's next for you? I have two other picture books coming out this year: Sunshine Baby, Bofrot Cheeks by Bernard Mensah in July, and Come Catch a Dream by Brittany J. Thurman in November. Please look forward to those as well!  Islena Mil is an Afro-Latina Illustrator based in NYC, specializing in conceptual problem-solving and thoughtful storytelling. Her work is easily recognized by her use of engaging composition, detailed line-work, texture, and vibrant color. She aims to transport her readers to another world. isleniamil.com IG: isleniamil Name: Islenia Mil
Author: Kris Coronado Book Title: Lighthouse Ladies: Shining a Spotlight on Hardy Heroines Publisher Name: Harper Collins Date published: May 27th 2025 Illustrator full name: Islenia Milien (but professionally known as Islenia Mil)  KLiC: What was your inspiration for Ripening Time? This story, inspired by my childhood, is about a little girl who is waiting across a week for plantains to ripen. It’s a celebration of food and family and connecting across generations. My parents are Jamaican immigrants, and I grew up in Anchorage, Alaska, a place where—at the time—it wasn’t always easy to find plantains. My mother used to go to the grocery store across town in search of plantains, sometimes finding the food we longed to eat. Their presence in our home was always a special treat. Waiting for those green plantains to ripen was so hard, but that ripening time produced the very taste I wanted to eat! Given that background, Ripening Time was the perfect title! KLiC: Please tell us about your writing process. How long did it take you to write and sell this book? I first drafted this book in the autumn of 2021. I wanted to tell a story connected to a beloved food in my life, and I was also interested in creating a book structured around the days of the week. The ripening of plantains felt like the perfect fit. It took me another six to eight months after that first draft to finish the manuscript because I struggled to bring the story to a satisfactory ending. Sometimes the ideas are there, but the ending isn’t! Working with wonderful picture book writing coach, Rona Shirdan, helped me get that manuscript over the finish line! Sometimes we just need a solid outside voice to speak into our work. The manuscript sold to WorthyKids in the summer of 2022.  KLiC: What are your favorite illustrations in the book? There is an absolutely gorgeous spread that takes place on Friday in the story. The plantains are almost ripe and the family is dancing in celebration. I love all the vibrant colors Carlos Vélez Aguilera brought into this illustration. They bring such happiness. During school visits, I love to talk with the children about how we can feel the excitement and joy because of the colors! And this book is full of such joy. This illustration perfectly captures that emotion present across the entire book! KLiC: Do you have any tips for pre-published authors? The journey to publication can sometimes be such a strange thing, and I think it matters that we: 1) connect with community that understands the work that we do; people who can encourage us and we can encourage as well, 2) keep learning—whether through reading craft books and mentor texts, taking classes, attending webinars, etc. and 3) believe that the work we create matters in the world; that our work adds beauty to the world.  KLiC: What’s next for you? I just wrapped up my second season of my podcast Picture Books Are for Grown-ups, Too! It’s such fun, but it’s also quite a bit of work, so I’m excited to take a little rest from that. In addition, I’m thrilled that my next picture book, Beyond Alaska’s Window, illustrated by Monica Mikai, will release with Viking in 2026. Inspired, once again, by my life, it’s the story of a Jamaican family in Alaska who eats the same Jamaican meal every Sunday across the changing seasons. This story is so close to my heart, and I loved creating a book I wish the child version of me had a chance to read decades ago.  Patrice Gopo is the child of Jamaican immigrants and was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska. She is an award-winning essayist and the author of multiple picture books, including Ripening Time and All the Places We Call Home. Patrice lives with her family in North Carolina, where one taste of fried plantains immediately takes her back to some of the sweetest moments in her childhood. Please visit patricegopo.com to learn more.
Name: Patrice Gopo Book Title: Ripening Time Publisher Name and Date published: WorthyKids/Hachette; April 22, 2025 Illustrator full name: Carlos Vélez Aguilera   We are thrilled to interview super talented author- illustrator Stacey Byer today! Read the interview with her about her upcoming picture book Will and Krill, releasing June 10, 2025: KLiC: What was your inspiration for Will and Krill? Stacey Byer: Will and Krill is a love letter to my older sibling and our childhood. I wanted to tell a story that celebrated our different personalities, sisterhood and friendship. She was the quiet kid, and I was the loud one, and in spite of our differences, we’re best friends. When we were little, I saw how quiet, introverted kids would sometimes be left out or overlooked. As an adult, I also saw this pattern when I worked at a daycare. It was important for me to write a story that highlighted that everyone has a voice, no matter how quiet. KLiC: What are your favorite illustrations in the book? SB: There are two pivotal scenes of Will going off into the deep blue ocean in search of a friend and another where she gets lost. These moments not only represent the trepidation that kids (and even adults) can feel but I hope also let readers know that we all have the ability to overcome obstacles. I want kids to feel proud of those moments, when something feels too big but you try anyway. KLiC: What’s the one thing you want children to take away from your book? SB: That it’s completely okay to just be YOU. Who we are, our personalities - they make us special and unique. It’s a beautiful and brave thing to just be yourself, and your voice matters no matter how small. Always remember powerful things can also come in small packages! KLiC: Is there anything you want readers to know about you or your book(s)? SB: Did you know that some whale species like the sperm and humpback are born in the Caribbean? This was also one of the inspirations for my book! There are even whale sanctuaries to protect whales in some of the islands. That’s why I set my whale community in the Caribbean sea because they’re Caribbean citizens like me! Follow Stacey here: https://www.instagram.com/stacebyer/ https://bsky.app/profile/staceybyer.bsky.social https://www.facebook.com/StaceyByerArt About Stacey: Born in the Caribbean, Stacey graduated with a degree in Illustration from Ringling College of Art and Design. She then returned to her island and used her art skills to promote art education in schools, and worked with different organisations such as Room to Read and Harper Collins UK. She has illustrated many educational materials that have become a permanent part of the local schools’ curriculum. Stacey also serves on the Grenada Community Library board where she advocates for the value of literacy and encourages a love for reading. She spends most evenings in her veranda dreaming up new ways to create materials that encourage diversity and inclusion.  |
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