12 x 12 Picture Book Podcast

Do you change your writing or does your writing change you?
In early 2026, Daria Peoples gave a webinar about Rainbow Arcs and plotting the internal and external arcs of your story in a way that can save you time in the drafting process and help you see holes in works-in-progress. In this episode, we talk to Daria directly after the presentation, and we dig a little deeper into some of the aspects of the webinar and give each other a little therapy along the way.
Here's what you'll discover in this episode: 
The power of writing—whether you get published or not
Writing and illustrating without an audience
Creating no matter the outcome
How your writing impacts you
What happens when a book resonates with your readers
The responsibility of writing for children
How kids get to the heart of the matter
Self-care when writing and illustrating tough topics
Making changes based on Daria's plot arc for internal and external emotions
How other people around us can see the themes of our work before we do
What's next for Daria
 

Links mentioned in this episode: 
25% off Daria's webinar: Rainbow Arcs
 
Books* mentioned in this episode:
This Is It by Daria Peoples
Hello, Mister Blue by Daria Peoples
America, My Love, America, My Heart by Daria Peoples
My Love for You is the Sun by Julie Hedlund and Susan Eaddy
I Got Next by Daria Peoples
 
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!

What you need to know about AI
In 2025, Chiara Colombi gave our most asked-about webinar called "What Kidlit Creators Need to Know About AI."
Chiara works with an AI data privacy firm and was able to break down what we as creatives need to know about this technology to use it wisely and to protect ourselves and our work. 
Now, a year later, Chiara returns to give us an update about AI and children's publishing—and it's not all bad news! 
Here's what you'll discover in this episode: 
Why Chiara is the perfect person to give us insight into AI from a creator's perspective
How her writing led her to work in AI
Why you should learn about how AI works—even if you never use it
What's going on with the Anthropic AI lawsuit
How AI is affecting different industries
Why there are reasons for hope
Publishers want human-created text and art
The importance of human translators
Discussions about AI at Bologna
Market analysis by AI - Yes or no?
Using AI in your marketing
Publishing contracts and AI
AI Detection Tools Used by Publishers 

Links mentioned in this episode: 
25% off Chiara's webinar: What Kidlit Creators Should Know About AI
AI and Publishing: FAQ for Writers from Jane Friedman
023: Julie in Bologna
Authors Guild AI Model Contract Clauses
Books* mentioned in this episode:
Rocket Ship, Solo Trip by Chiara Colombi and Scott Magoon
Rocket Beams, Lunar Dreams by Chiara Colombi and Scott Magoon
Your Name is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow and Luisa Uribe
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!

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!