My Creative Life for Artists and Creators

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 pl...

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 p...

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 st...

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...

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...

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...

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 co...

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 id...

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 A...

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...

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...

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....

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 pu...

Hi Everyone! Today my guest is Lauren Emmons, who returns to share her wonderful book No Cats in the Library. Here is more about Lauren: Lauren Emmons is a North Dakotan-based author-illustrator with an MA in Children's Book Illustration. Their first illustrated picture book, Prak Fills The House, will be published by Peachtree Publishing in 2023; and their debut author illustrated book, No Ca...

Hi Everyone! My special guest is Melquea Smith, an illustrator and world traveler. We tackle the subject of budgeting and travel in this episode. Here is more about Melquea: Melquea Smith is a Black award-winning illustrator pursuing a career in illustrating books for children and children's media. She is the illustrator of The Biggest Gift of All published by INCLUDAS Press and The Time Machine p...

Hi Everyone! Today I'm interviewing David MacMullin, children's book author and illustrator. Here is more about David: David McMullin is a full time traveler and picture book author. He has also been an actor, library youth specialist, and a teacher! His debut book is Free to Be Fabulous, about picture book about being yourself is illustrated by Robbie Cathro and published by Clarion for 2...

Hi, Everyone; I had the wonderful Laura Lacámara⁠ as a return guest! Here is more about Laura: Laura Lacamara is a Cuban-born Laura Lacámara is the award-winning author and illustrator of Dalia’s Wondrous Hair published by Piñata Books, a bilingual picture book and the author of Floating on Mama’s Song Illustrated by Yuyi Morales and published by HarperCollins, Floating on Mama’s Song was a Junior...

Hi Everyone! Today's guest is Jackie Morera, children's book author of Aubelo's Flower Shop. Here is more about Jackie and her writing: Jackie Morera is a Cuban-American author of books for young readers of all ages. Born and raised in Miami, Jackie now lives in Central Florida with her husband, son, and goofy pup. She enjoys telling stories, savoring pastelitos, and cozying up for a g...

Hi Everyone! Some big news I wanted to share with everyone! I SOLD a book! This episode is just me, Nancy So Miller, talking about selling my debut as author/illustrator. Here is a little bit about me: Nancy Miller is a Korean American children's book illustrator and art teacher. She creates tiny worlds that capture the magic and joy of childhood for clients. These worlds are handmade, allowin...

Hi Everyone! I have return guest Jime Wimmer chatting about the topic of AI, art, and education. Here is more about Jime: Jime Wimmer currently resides in Savannah and is a full-time ​Drawing Professor. She instructs all levels, from Freshmen through Seniors in Traditional and Digital Drawing and Drawing for Storyboard. She raised two sons while working through her BS in Art Education and earning...

Hi Everyone! My special guest is Julissa Mora, children's book author and illustrator. Here is more about Julissa: Julissa Mora is a children’s book author and illustrator and surface designer living in Austin, TX. She made her author/illustrator debut with Baking with Abuelita published by Random House Books for Young Readers. She enjoys creating whimsical scenes filled with cute and playful...