12 x 12 Picture Book Podcast

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!

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!

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!

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!

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