In this week's episode of the Artist Academy Podcast, I'm chatting with Kelli Panique, host of Picture Book Summit, an online conference created for aspiring and published children's book writers and illustrators. If you've ever dreamed of creating a children's book, whether you're writing, illustrating, or hoping to do both, this episode is for you.

Since I'm currently working on my own picture book, I took this opportunity to ask all the beginner questions. Kelli shares what to expect at Picture Book Summit, how the children's publishing industry works, what agents and editors are looking for, and why storytelling matters just as much as the illustrations.

We also talk about finding illustrators, traditional publishing versus self-publishing, creating stories that kids genuinely connect with, and simple ways to improve your storytelling from the very beginning. Whether you're a muralist looking for a new creative challenge or someone who's had a children's book idea sitting in a notebook for years, you'll walk away with a better understanding of what it takes to bring that story to life.

Picture Book Summit website: www.picturebooksummit.com
Picture Book Summit IG: @picture_book_summit