Library Families, Chalk Painting, and Ballet with Author Steena Hernandez

Today I am so pleased to introduce you to author Steena Hernandez. Steena’s debut picture book, Lupita’s Brown Ballet Slippers, illustrated by Melissa Castillo is coming out with Beaming Books on October 22, 2024.  It was a joy to talk with Steena and I can’t thank her enough for being on the show. Here are some highlights: The joy of being a library family and sharing that time together, picking whatever book your heart desires. The overwhelming generosity found within the kidlit world. The beauty of the two way street one can find in kidlit critique group relationships. Chalk painting and walking in nature to refill a creative well running dry. Her home that is full of chalk painted furniture. How joyful it is to go back after the chalk paint dries with a bottle cap and scrape the paint away, creating something worn and new at the same time.  How powerful it can be to step away from our writing. Taking a real break from it and coming back after a week away. Her background in professional dance and it’s inspiration to create her debut picture book. Writing for the little girl who wants to see someone who looks like her on the cover. Links Mentioned: Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) 12x12 Picture Book Challenge Steena’s website, Twitter, Instagram, Newsletter, and Link.tree  PbParty PBSOAR24 on Instagram and Twitter Vivian Kirkfield’s 50 precious words Las Musas Books Lupita’s Brown Ballet Slippers is available for preorder at Nowhere Books and the Twig in San Antonio, Target, Bookshop, Barnes and Noble, Amazon. Lupita’s Brown Ballet Slippers Cover Reveal Rachael Herron, Ink in Your Veins Podcast