My Creative Life By Nancy Miller

Hi Everyone! My guest today is Xin Lin, children's book author and illustrator. Here is more about her. Xin (Sheen) Li is an illustrator and writer. After spending half of her life living in countries outside of her homeland, Xin chose to paint and write, as stories help her to make sense of a world that otherwise is often lost in translation. I Lived Inside a Whale is her debut picture book as author and illustrator. Additionally, Xin also illustrated You and the Universe, a picture book written by Professor Stephen Hawking and his daughter Lucy Hawking. Xin's website Xin IG Thank you for listening!

Hi Everyone! Today's special guest is Aram Kim, children's book author and illustrator. Here is more about Aram. Aram Kim [ah-rahm: both a’s sound like those in the laughter sound, haha] is a writer, illustrator, and designer of children’s picture books. By day, she is an Art Director in the picture book team at Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group. At all other times, she writes and illustrates her own stories. She is the author and illustrator of Tomorrow is New Year’s Day and Sunday Funday in Koreatown. Learn more about Aram at: https://www.aramkim.com/ Thanks for listening!

Amanda Rawson Hill lives in central California, where the miles and miles of orchards and farmland never seem to end, the summers are excruciatingly hot, and the winters are foggy and green. She is the author of Once Upon a Family, The Hope of Elephants, and You'll Find Me. Her website: https://amandarawsonhill.com/ Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B079DWZ4WM Thanks for listening!

Hi All! Today my guest is Rasika Ashwin an art teacher, surface designer, and kid lit creator. We met from the Storyteller Academy community. Here is where you can see more of Rasika's work: IG: https://www.instagram.com/cocorosha_artroom/ Spoonflower: https://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/cocorosha Other sites: https://linktr.ee/CocoRosha Thanks for listening!

Hi Everyone! This is Nancy So Miller for My Creative Life Podcast. In this episode, I discuss handling rejection and passing when it comes to your work. I am not sure it will work for everyone, but it helped me when I was sending my work out. My Website My IG X Thanks for listening!

Hi Everyone! This is Nancy So Miller for My Creative Life and my special guest is Rebecca Gardyn Levington, the author behind such lyrical books as BRAINSTORM!, WHATEVER COMES TOMORROW and AFIKOMAN, WHERE’D YOU GO? A PASSOVER HIDE-AND-SEEK ADVENTURE. Here is more about Rebecca: Rebecca Gardyn Levington is a children’s book author, poet, and journalist with a particular penchant for penning both playful and poignant picture books and poems – primarily in rhyme. Rebecca's website Rebecca's IG Rebecca's X/Twitter Thank you for listening!

Hi Everyone, this is Nancy Miller and Tiffany Gordon for My Creative Life Podcast and today my guest is Meredith Laxton. More about Meredith: Meredith Laxton is the illustrator of the graphic novel edition of Mary Downing Hahn’s classic ghost stories Wait Till Helen Comes, and The Old Willis place. They have also created work published by IDW, Humanoids, and Comics Experience. Meredith and their partner share a home with two cats and collaborate on various self-published works together. Visit them at meredithlaxton.com. Meredith's Website IG Twitter Thanks for listening!

Hi, Everyone; on this episode of My Creative Life, I interviewed YA author Alex Samuely. Here is more about Alex: Alex Samuely works in corporate communications by day and writes YA by night. Her young adult contemporary fantasy novels draw inspiration from her favorite locations, because she strongly believes that setting is a character. Alex, a 2020 Pitch Wars alumna, can be found dreaming up story ideas after visiting quaint small towns, spooky forests, and places with a slightly eerie vibe. Alexi's X/Twitter Thanks for listening!

Hi Everyone, this is Nancy Miller for My Creative Life and today's guest is Lynnor Bontigao, children's book author and illustrator. Here is more about Lynnor: Lynnor Bontigao is a Philippine-born author-illustrator. She has a degree in Advertising but fell in love with children’s books after joining Ang InK, a children’s book illustrator group. In the US, she switched gears and became a Programmer in NYC, and after 15 years, Lynnor went back to her love of drawing. Her debut as an author-illustrator, SARI-SARI SUMMERS, is a nostalgic love letter to the Philippines and grandmothers with a bonus sweet recipe. She also illustrated one of Kirkus Reviews' Best Picture Books of 2023, THE WORLD'S BEST CLASS PLANT by award-winning authors Liz Garton Scanlon & Audrey Vernick, as well as YOU ARE REVOLUTIONARY by Cindy Wang Brandt of the popular podcast, Parenting Forward, and JACK & AGYU by Fil-Am author Justine Villanueva. Lynnor is the recipient of the 1st annual 2020 SCBWI Tomie dePaola Pro

Hi Everyone, this is Nancy Miller for My Creative Life and today my guest is children's book author and illustrator, Mirka Hokkanen. More about Mirka: Mirka Hokkanen is a Finnish-American author, illustrator, printmaker and educator. Her art has been shown in galleries around the world and my illustrations have been featured on products from picture books to home goods. Her art focuses on the nature and animals that surrounds me. For children’s illustration she love creating character based, uplifting and funny stories. She is the author and illustrator of the Little Seasons: Spring Seeds and Little Season: Autumn Leaves published by Odd Dot. Mirka's website Mirka's IG Mirka's Twitter/X Thanks for listening!

Hi Everyone, on this episode of My Creative Life I interviewed Jolene Gutiérrez, children's book author. Here is more about Jolene and her writing: Jolene grew up on a farm and now lives with her family and a variety of animals in a suburb of Denver, Colorado. A school librarian since 1995, Jolene spends her days sharing children’s books and her nights writing them. Her writing credits include: Unbreakable: A Japanese American Family in an American Incarceration Camp (Abrams Childrens 2025, co-authored with Minoru Tonai), Mamiachi and Me (Abrams/Appleseed, 2024, co-authored with her son Dakota), The Ofrenda That We Built (Chronicle, 2024, co-authored with her daughter Shaian), Too Much! An Overwhelming Day (Abrams/Appleseed, 2023) Jolene's site Jolene's X/Twitter Jolene's IG Thanks for listening!

This is Nancy Miller for My Creative Life Podcast, interviewing Sharon Pegram, children's book author and freelance copy editor. Here is more about Sharon: Sharon Pegram writes middle grade and YA novels and runs a freelance editing business, Grim Reader Editing (grimreaderediting.com). She has volunteered extensively with the Southern Breeze region of SCBWI and is passionate about building communities of encouragement and mutual support among creators. Sharon's website Sharon's IG Sharon's X/Twitter Thanks for listening!

Hi Everyone, this is Nancy Miller for My Creative Life. Today my guest is Maja Hampson. Here is more about Maja. Maja is a writer, mom and conservation biologist. She writes middle grade and YA. She is represented by Kaitlyn Sanchez of the Bradford Literary Agency. Maja on IG Maja on X Thanks for listening!

This is Nancy So Miller for My Creative Life Podcast and today my special guest is Faith Kazmi, children's book author and illustrator of Box of Dreams pub. by Harper Collins Books. Here is more about Faith: Faith Kazmi is an educator and author whose debut picture book, Box of Dreams (HarperCollins), will be released in summer 2024. Many of Faith’s stories celebrate her Filipino American identity and others focus on themes of love, truth, and magic. She is the Director of the Stanford Women’s Community Center and enjoys working with students to explore what care, justice, and liberation look like. Faith resides in the SF/Bay Area with her family and their mini Goldendoodle, Coco. Faith's IG Fiath's X Click to order Box of Dreams Thanks for listening!

This is Nancy So Miller, with My Creative Life, and my guest today is children's book author and illustrator, Cherry Mo. About Cherry: Cherry Mo is the author-illustrator of her debut picture book HOME IN A LUNCHBOX from Penguin Workshop (June 11, 2024). Cherry grew up in Hong Kong and moved to the United States at the age of ten. HOME IN A LUNCHBOX is inspired by her first days of school in America. Cherry writes and illustrates stories that she hopes bring young readers a sense of comfort and belonging. She is represented by Emily van Beek of Folio Jr. See more of her work on www.cherrymo.com, or on Twitter and Instagram @hellocherrymo. Pre-order Home In A Lunchbox: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/725794/home-in-a-lunchbox-by-cherry-mo-illustrated-by-cherry-mo/ Thank you for listening!

Hi, Everyone, this is Nancy So Miller with My Creative Life. I've been contemplating the whole work-life balance. It's been a challenge, and I decided to talk about how a schedule has helped me stay on track with what I've been working on with my book project, teaching, and family. I've decided to air episodes once every two weeks to keep things going on the podcast. It's not a perfect solution, but it's all a work in progress. Thanks for listening!

Hi Everyone! This season, I interviewed quite a few authors, and I noticed there was a feeling of confidence about the work that they created. I wanted to discuss the importance of confidence and trust in your abilities and how it can help you reach your goals. Thank you for listening!

Hi Everyone! It was my pleasure to interview Sita Jit, children's book author. Here is more about Sita: Sita Jit (she/her) is an Indian-Canadian writer and educator. She writes picture books, chapter books and middle grade novels that are full of heart, joy and community. DIVYA FAR FROM HOME (Capstone, Fall 2024) is the first book in her debut chapter book series. Sita on Instagram Sita's website Sita Twitter Thanks for listening!

Hi Everyone! My guest today is, Arlene Abundis is a Cuban American author whose work honors resilience through mental and emotional health. A former preschool teacher, she lives nestled with her husband and three children between the foothills of the San Gabriel mountains in California. Arlene Abundis’s debut picture book, INTO THE MIGHTY SEA, with HarperCollins, will be released on June 4, 2024. To Order Into the Might Sea Arlene's Website: https://www.arleneabundis.com/ Arlene's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arleneabundis/ Arlene's Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArleneAbundis Thank you for listening!

Hi Everyone, my guest today is Kelly Rice Schmitt, children's book author of I SHIP published by Lerner Books. Here is more about Kelly: Kelly is an advocate for girls in STEM and business. Combining a love of writing with her STEAM background, Kelly creates books to inspire the next generation of leaders and innovators. Kelly is the author of I Ship: A Container Ship's Colossal Journey published by Lerner books. I Ship was an NPR Science Friday 2023 Best STEM Book for Kids pick and is the winner of an Undie Award for its creative case cover! Link to buy the I SHIP: https://bookshop.org/p/books/i-ship-a-container-ship-s-colossal-journey-kelly-rice-schmitt/19571828?ean=9781728476827  Kelly's website Kelly's Instagram Thanks for listening!