Skip to content
PodcastsArts12 x 12 Picture Book Podcast

12 x 12 Picture Book Podcast

Julie Hedlund
12 x 12 Picture Book Podcast
Latest episode

27 episodes

  • 12 x 12 Picture Book Podcast

    027 - Kari Lavelle & Lindsay Leslie Team Up for Author Visits

    07/09/2026 | 41 mins.
    You've got a friend in me!
    In this episode, Kelli Panique chats with Kari Lavelle (pronounced CAR-EE) and Lindsay Leslie. Their writing friendship began when they were both just starting to write picture books, bloomed as they critiqued each other's work, and continues to blossom as they do author visits together! Could having an author visit partner be the key to your success? Find out how this partnership works in today's episode. 
    Here's what you'll discover in this episode: 
    How they met and when they started writing
    The role their friendship played when times were tough
    The number one recommendation they give aspiring writers
    Why writing friendships are important outside of critique groups
    The challenge of debuting books and author visits during the pandemic
    What's a booking agent and how they work
    Determining the value of your author visit and what to offer
    Why they started doing author visits together
    How their visits work even though one writes fiction and the other writes nonfiction 
    How they involve the kids in their presentations
    What has evolved in their visits over the years
    The difference between presenting to younger grades versus older grades
    The surprising preferences of younger readers versus older readers
    Their tips for reigning in an excited audience
    Funny things that happened during author visits
    Their advice for writers just starting with author visits

     
    Links mentioned in this episode: 
    How Now Booking
    Lindsay Leslie on Instagram and Bluesky
    Find Kari Lavelle on Instagram and Bluesky
     
    Books* mentioned in this episode:
    Gus Hearts the Bus by Lindsay Leslie and Geeta Ladi
    So You Want to Build a Library by Lindsay Leslie and Aviel Basil
    Dusk Explorers by Lindsay Leslie and Ellen Rooney
    Butt or Face by Kari Lavelle
    We Move the World by Kari Lavelle and Nabi H. Ali
    Ode to Grapefruit: How James Earl Jones Found His Voice by Kari Lavelle and Bryan Collier
     
    Find these books and more in the 12 x 12 Bookshop! 
    If you enjoy the podcast, please like, subscribe, and review so other kidlit writers can find us!  
    Have questions for us or ideas for future episodes? Leave us a quick voicemail here. 
    Thank you for listening!
  • 12 x 12 Picture Book Podcast

    026 - Does Your Picture Book Have Enough Hooks?

    07/02/2026 | 32 mins.
    Hook, hook, does your book have enough hooks?
    In this episode, Julie gives an overview of picture book hooks and why they are so important in today's children's publishing market.  
    Here's what you'll discover in this episode: 
    The importance of having multiple hooks in your picture book manuscript
    The influence of the publishing market on hooks
    The definition of hooks in picture books
    Why agents and editors are looking for multiple hooks or entry points
    The difference between hooks and layers
    Are agents and editors only looking for high concept books?
    Kid-facing hooks vs. Adult-facing hooks
    Different categories of hooks in picture books
    Julie's Hook, Line, or Stinker workshop at Picture Book Summit 2026

     
    Links mentioned in this episode: 
    Get the 12 x 12 Guide to Picture Book Hooks HERE.
    Get the 12 x 12 Guide to Layers in Picture Books HERE.
    Join Julie at the online Picture Book Summit 2026 HERE.
     
    Books mentioned in this episode:
    Stalagmite and Stalactite by Drew Breckmeyer
    Dalmartian by Lucy Ruth Cummins
     
    Find these books and more in the 12 x 12 Bookshop! 
    If you enjoy the podcast, please like, subscribe, and review so other kidlit writers can find us!  
    Have questions for us or ideas for future episodes? Leave us a quick voicemail here. 
    Thank you for listening!
  • 12 x 12 Picture Book Podcast

    025 - Debbie Davey's Self-Publishing Journey

    06/25/2026 | 34 mins.
    Author Debbie Davey won a spot on the podcast by donating to Publishing for Minnesota! (Thank you, Debbie!)
    In this episode, Debbie shares her experience with self-publishing two picture books.
    Here's what you'll discover in this episode: 
    Why she chose to self-publish
    What company she used to self-publish
    How she sold her books
    Where she found her illustrator
    Whether or not it's okay to use AI
    What steps she took to find her writing voice
    How she funded her books
    The influence her dad had on her writing
    How she recouped her investment on her first book
    What she wants kids to get out of her books
    Reasons to self-publish vs. pursuing traditional publishing
    Debbie's advice to writers thinking of self-publishing
    What she did to get her books in bookstores and libraries
    How distribution works
    Her willingness to research and keep learning throughout the publishing process
    The importance of taking courses
    Getting feedback and revising
    The importance of putting the best work out there—whether self-publishing or traditionally publishing
    Her work in teaching English at Outschool

     
    Books mentioned in this episode:
    A Walk in Town by Debbie Davey and illustrated by Diana Florescu
    The Holiday Stroll by Debbie Davey and illustrated by Diana Florescu
    Grandpa Green written and illustrated by Lane Smith
    Find these books and more in the 12 x 12 Bookshop! 

    If you enjoy the podcast, please like, subscribe, and review so other kidlit writers can find us!  
    Have questions for us or ideas for future episodes? Leave us a quick voicemail here. 
    Thank you for listening!
  • 12 x 12 Picture Book Podcast

    024 - Picture Book Summit 2026 Agents & Edtiors

    06/18/2026 | 31 mins.
    The Flintstones meet the Jetsons!
    It's our first-ever crossover episode! The 12 x 12 Picture Book Podcast is just one of the hats that Julie Hedlund and Kelli Panique wear. A couple other hats they wear are Picture Book Summit and the Picture Book Summit Podcast. Picture Book Summit is an annual online writing conference designed specifically for picture book writers and illustrators. Everything takes place online on October 3, 2026. Early Bird Registration is open through August 27, 2026.
    Today, we've invited their fellow PBSummit team members, Emma Walton Hamilton and Katie Davis, to the podcast to talk about our Featured Agent and Featured Editor panels.
    Here's what you'll discover in this episode: 
    What it's like to get these agents and editors together in one (Zoom) room
    Tips we've learned from critique panels
    Things that have surprised us in previous agent and editor panels
    How use the information in these panels to decipher what's going on in the current picture book market
    What a slush pile is
    What an "above-the-slush-pile" opportunity is and how to get one at Picture Book Summit
    Why you should care about these panels even if you already have an agent
    How these panels can inform what project you work on next
    Whether agents and editors like art notes
    How hearing agents and editors speak helps with your market research
    The importance of researching agents and editors
    How attendees influence what we ask our panel members  
    The advantage of having 4 months of Summit replays
    Exactly how the submission opportunities work in Picture Book Summit
    What happens if you don't need submission opportunities right now
    Whether you should send one manuscript to all the editors and agents
    Listen to the Picture Book Summit Podcast about the 2026 Superstar Speakers here.
    Listen to the Picture Book Summit Podcast about the 2026 Workshops here.
     
    Picture Book Summit 2026 takes place online on October 3, 2026. Get your ticket to Picture Book Summit 2026 today! Save $100 with Early Bird Pricing by 8/27/26. Click here!
     
    If you enjoy the podcast, please like, subscribe, and review so other kidlit writers can find us!  
    Have questions for us or ideas for future episodes? Leave us a quick voicemail here. 
    Thank you for listening!
  • 12 x 12 Picture Book Podcast

    023 - Bologna Children's Book Fair

    06/11/2026 | 1h 3 mins.
    This past April, Julie went to Italy (her favorite country) to attend The Bologna Children's Book Fair for the first time in five years. It was fantastico, stupendo, bellissima! While in the land of la dolce vita, Julie roamed the Fair with microphones and talked to other kidlit creators on the scene. Have you ever wondered whether you should attend Bologna? Take a listen and find out! So much inspiration in this episode.
     
    Listen in to discover:
    What the Bologna Book Fair is (and isn't)
    Why Julie has attended 4 times
    How to approach the Fair if you go
    Opportunities at the Fair for illustrators and authors
    Interview with Sarah Baker, Executive Director of SCBWI SCBWI's presence and activities at the Fair

    Interview with Sara Willia, illustrator and 12 x 12 Podcast Producer Plus Sara turns the tables on Julie and asks her some questions

    Interview with 12 x 12 member and SCBWI volunteer Julie Blaho SCBWI's brand new Italian chapter

    Interview with author/illustrator Selina Alko
    Interview with author/illustrator Vesper Stamper
    Interview with comics/graphic novel agent Janna Morishima

    Books mentioned in this episode:
    Song After Song: The Musical Life of Julie Andrews, by Julie Hedlund and Ilaria Urbinati
    My Love For You is the Sun, by Julie Hedlund and Susan Eaddy
    Becca and Bubbe's Bucket List, by Laura Gehl and Sarah Baker
    The Ghost Train, by Ross MacKay and Sara Willia
    Otherwise Known as Judy The Great, by Selina Alko
    A Knot is Not a Tangle, by Daniel Nayeri and Vesper Stamper
    Pinocchio, by Carlo Collodi
    Other things to check out:
    Bologna Children's Book Fair website
    Kids Comics Unite
    SCBWI Italy
    Julie's Video from her 2nd Bologna Trip
    Grab these books and more from the 12 x 12 Bookshop.org Podcast list here.
    And check out our full list of books by 12 x 12 ANHPI members here.
    If you enjoy the podcast, please like, subscribe, and review so other kidlit writers can find us!  
    Have questions for us or ideas for future episodes? Leave us a quick voicemail here. 
    Not a member of 12 x 12 yet? Join the wait list and get a free gift. Join here.
    Thank you for listening!
    #kidlit #bolognabookfair #author #illustration
More Arts podcasts
About 12 x 12 Picture Book Podcast
Podcast for picture book writers by picture books writers with the 12 x 12 Picture Book Writing Challenge founder Julie Hedlund and co-host Kelli Panique www.12x12challenge.com
Podcast website

Listen to 12 x 12 Picture Book Podcast, Walk-In Talk Podcast and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app

Get the free radio.net app

  • Stations and podcasts to bookmark
  • Stream via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
  • Supports Carplay & Android Auto
  • Many other app features