An Inspirational Publishing Journey, Inciting Excitement, and Opening Doors with Author Jessica Stremer

I’d like to introduce you to author Jessica Stremer for today’s episode! I’ve known Jessica since the very beginning of my kidlit journey. She was part of one of my first critique groups back in 2020. She quite literally helped shape my manuscript for my published picture book and many others.  I had the joy of seeing many of the manuscripts she brought for critiques become published books out in the world including GREAT CARRIER REEF (a NY Public Library Best Book of the Year and JLG Gold Standard selection), LIGHTS OUT: A Movement to Help Migrating Birds, and FIRE ESCAPE: How Animals and Plants Survive Wildfires (a JLG Gold Standard selection). Jessica is an award winning author and actively encouraging presence in the kidlit world. I hope you enjoy today’s interview and feel a spark of inspiration and excitement to fuel your own journey. Some Highlights: Several things you didn’t know about wildfires and how they differ from mega fires. The scary experience of starting in one genre and moving into another. The many ways community has fueled her writing journey. Book clubs with her kids. Why write: “You never know who’s going to read the book and the impact it will have on them.”  Final words of advice: “Find ways to make opportunities for yourself and be gracious.” Links Mentioned🔗: Jessica’s website Jessica Stremer on Threads, Twitter, and Instagram  Books& Company–go here for signed copies! Here’s their Instagram FIRE ESCAPE: HOW ANIMALS AND PLANTS SURVIVE WILDFIRES by Jessica Stremer illustrated by Michael Garland on Amazon, Bookshop, and Barnes and Noble LIGHTS OUT: A MOVEMENT TO HELP MIGRATING BIRDS by Jessica Stremer illustrated by Bonnie Pang on Amazon, Bookshop, and Barnes and Noble Also stay tuned for Jessica’s upcoming 2025 picture books including: PLIGHT OF THE PELICANS (available for preorder here); WONDERFULLY WILD; and TRAPPED IN THE TARPIT. Book Recommendations📚📚: THE GOLDEN DOOR (The Three Doors Series #1) by Emily Rodda THE SWIFTS: A DICTIONARY OF SCOUNDRELS (The Swifts #1) by Beth Lincoln illustrated by Claire Powell THE CARREFOUR CURSE by Dianne K. Salerni THE LAW OF BIRTHDAYS by Brenna Jeanerret illustrated by Marina KondrakhinaThank you, Jessica, for taking the time to talk with me. And thank you, listeners, for listening! Up next week we have author Diana I Kline.