When I was a debut author in 2013, I joined a group of other debuts called The Lucky 13s. But the group consisted mostly of MG and YA authors; the picture bookish among us were only Pat Zietlow Miller, Jessica Young and me. I thought there should be a debut group for picture book authors only…and now there finally is!

Let me introduce Wendy BooydeGraaff, who is pulling this all together…and recruiting members.

wendybThere is a community for everything, and now there’s also one for picture book authors and/or illustrators who will debut in 2016. With the encouragement and online group expertise of the gracious Tara Lazar and the noble Sylvia Liu, 2016 Picture Book Debut Authors and/or Illustrators was born. It’s open for anyone who has a picture book coming out in 2016, and it’s meant to be a space for us to share our debut journey, to support, market, discuss, share new ideas and enable each other. It will be a space to connect with and promote each other, to celebrate this achievement, and to find out about the great new books that are coming into the world.

So far we have members whose books are coming out with a variety of publishers, including Lee and Low, Little Bee Books, Sky Pony Press, Peachtree Publishers, Bloomsbury, Harper Collins, Ripple Grove Press, and more.

Join us, and help shape our brand new community of 2016 Picture Book Debut Authors and/or Illustrators.

Wendy BooydeGraaff’s picture book debut, SALAD PIE, illustrated by Bryan Langdo, is coming out with Ripple Grove Press in late summer/early fall of 2016.

Thank you, Wendy! There’s so much to do and learn and experience with your debut, and it’s great to have others to share the wild ride!

Congratulations to you all, and we’ll see you in the bookstores!