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Nicole Loy writes fun, read-aloud stories that bring laughter and excitement to reading. An educator by day and dessert enthusiast at heart, Nicole lives in rural Ohio where she enjoys biking, hiking, and exploring new places with her husband and daughter.

Creating quality picture books is part art, part science (books are actually quite technical to bring to market), and a lot of collaboration. The collective expertise of the author, illustrator, editors, book designer, formatter, and others is what makes a book ‘pop’. And while all partnerships matter, when you are the author and publisher, your collaboration with the illustrator of your book is particularly critical, delicate, and more nuanced than many expect.

Katherine is an award-winning picture book author who writes stories that celebrate the love and joy found in family life. Her books often feature authentic disability representation, inspired by her belief that every child deserves to see themselves in literature. Katie lives on Cape Cod with her husband and two young daughters.

Every writing conference, blog post, and publishing guide tells you the same thing: "Authors need a professional online presence." But when you start researching your options, it feels overwhelming. Do you spend weekends learning WordPress? Hire a designer for thousands? Use a template that looks like everyone else's? The good news? You don't need to choose between broke and professional.

At Home Author chats with literary agent, James McGowan about publishing and the querying process.

As a literary agent and a children's author, I've been on both sides of this question—and whether or not your story rhymes isn't really what you should be asking. What matters is whether rhyme is the right tool for this specific book. And understanding the difference will save you from a lot of confusion about why certain feedback keeps coming up in your rejections.

Looking for the best software to write a children's book? Compare top writing tools for picture books, revision, layout, and planning.

If the word "networking" makes you want to hide under your desk, you aren't alone. Most writers are introverts by nature—we literally create worlds in our heads so we don't have to talk to people! But building a career in kid-lit requires making connections. The good news? You don't have to turn into an extrovert to succeed. You just need a game plan. Here is how I survived (and actually enjoyed!) my first major industry events.

One of the most rewarding parts of being a children’s book author is getting to do school visits! With those eager young faces smiling up at you, their eyes wide as they ask, “Are you a REAL author?” it’s hard not to feel like a celebrity!

When you've decided on the traditional publishing route, the next step in the process is to query agents or book publishers directly

At Home Author chats with literary agent, Bonnie Swanson about publishing and the querying process.

Learn how to write a children's book for beginners with clear steps for idea, structure, revision, and publishing choices that work.