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12 x 12 Picture Book Podcast

Julie Hedlund
12 x 12 Picture Book Podcast
Latest episode

29 episodes

  • 12 x 12 Picture Book Podcast

    029 - Rainbow Arcs After Party with Daria Peoples

    07/23/2026 | 31 mins.
    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!
  • 12 x 12 Picture Book Podcast

    028 - Chiara Colombi on Why AI Can't Replace Picture Book Creators

    07/16/2026 | 49 mins.
    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!
  • 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!
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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

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