Picture Book Creator Conference

➡ Register for the VIRTUAL event:

Picture Book Creator's Conference

Are you ready to take your picture book from idea to publication? The Picture Book Creator Conference hosted by At Home Author is your exclusive opportunity to learn from the pros, connect with fellow authors, and discover actionable strategies for writing, publishing, and marketing a successful children's book.

📅 Date: Friday, January 24th, 2025

⏰ Time: 8am-5pm CST

📍 Location: Zoom

💰 Cost: $175

➕$35 per pitch

What's in Store:

6 Expert-Led Sessions

Dive into six jam-packed sessions designed specifically for aspiring picture book authors like you! We’ve broken the day into two parts, with three sessions in the morning and three in the afternoon, covering everything from story development to the ins and outs of publishing and marketing.

Each session will include:

30-minute presentation from industry experts
15 minutes for live Q&A where you can get your most pressing questions answered
15-minute breaks between sessions for quick recharges

We also have literary agents in attendance that registered participants can book a live, 10-minute pitch session with. More details below!

Schedule

🕘 Morning Sessions (9:00 AM - 12:00 PM CST)

⭐️ 9-9:45am CST

HOW SELF-PUBLISHING IS RESHAPING KIDLIT with Kelly Barrales-Saylor

...and the overall publishing market!

Explore the dynamics between self-publishing and traditional publishing in the children’s literary landscape. We will discuss how the growth of self-publishing in children’s books influences traditional publishers, including the acquisition of successful self-published titles and the use of self-publishing trends to gauge market interests.

⭐️ 10-10:45am CST

CRAFTING A CHILDREN'S BOOKS SERIES with Ivan Taurisano

What makes a PB series ✨sell✨

Join Ivan Taurisano, Associate Editor at Abrams Children’s Books, for a 30-minute discussion on picture book series, followed by a 15-minute Q&A session.

In this presentation, you will learn how to think like an editor regarding your work, or new idea, and evaluate its potential for a series. We will discuss characters, character development, plot, branding, and what makes a picture book series a commercial success. Whether you’re an author, an illustrator, or both, if you have ever dreamed of creating your own picture book series, you won’t want to miss this presentation!

⭐️ 11-11:45am CST

BUILDING YOUR AUTHOR BRAND with Rosie J. Pova

Grow your author brand and boost your success

Building an author platform is no longer optional—it’s a crucial part of your journey as a children's book author if you want to grow your career, stand out, and be successful. In this workshop, you'll receive a blueprint to grow your online presence, expand your audience reach, and showcase your unique voice. Learn how to strategically position yourself in the market, create content that sparks interest, and leverage opportunities to boost your visibility, impact, and income.

🕐 Afternoon Sessions (1:00 PM - 4:00 PM CST)

⭐️ 1-1:45pm CST

PICTURE BOOK POWER AT VENDOR EVENTS with Katie Weaver

Everything you need to know about successful sales at vendor events

We will cover what types of events, how to find them, how much you should spend, and how to decide if you should participate. We’ll talk about the basics: what you need to set up, collect payments, and what else you should bring. Then we’ll dive even deeper and talk about vending strategies including the best ways to set up your space to maximize sales, best practices to maximize your profits, booth ‘upgrades’ that have helped sales, and so much more.

More specifically, you'll learn:

▪️How to find, vet, and decide on which vendor events to participate in

▪️An in-depth look at what you need (and what you don't)

▪️Vending best practices including how to set up, how to increase sales/profits, pricing strategy, and so much more.

▪️Proven tips and tricks from someone who has been vending for 20+ years

And if that’s not enough, we’re also going to talk about what not to do, I’ll show you my actual numbers, I’ll share my best vending secrets and strategies, and everything in between. You’ll be fully prepared to participate in vendor events—or step up your vending game after this.

⭐️ 2-2:45pm CST

PERFECTING YOUR PITCH with Dan Cramer

Hook, line, and sinker—reel those readers in!

Ready to craft a pitch that turns heads? In this engaging class, we’ll dive into the must-have ingredients of a standout pitch: an irresistible Main Character, a compelling Hook, and high-stakes drama that leaves them wanting more.

By the end, you’ll have the tools to transform your query letter or product description into something that truly shines—and demands to be noticed.

⭐️ 3-3:45pm CST

KNOWING YOUR AUDIENCE with Brian Gehrlein

How to write for five-year-olds

Did you know there's a psychology behind what captivates young readers? There's a pattern in great picture books and in this presentation, Brian will peel back the layers to share how picture books speak uniquely to this audience.

Using commercial fiction mentor texts, Brian will answer:

▪️How do these books captivate five-year-olds?

▪️How can we ensure our own stories authentically engage little listeners?

Event Speakers

Kelly Barrales-Saylor

Kelly Barrales-Saylor is an Executive Editor at Ten Speed Children's and previously served as the editorial director of Sourcebooks eXplore, a children's nonfiction division of Sourcebooks. She has acquired and published hundreds of books, including numerous New York Times bestsellers. Her goal is to publish books that affect people’s lives in a positive way by making them laugh, learning something new, or just creating shared moments at bedtime.

Ivan Taurisano

Ivan Taurisano holds degrees in English, Creative Writing, Children’s Literature, and an MFA in Writing for Children. Ivan began his career at Sourcebooks and now works at Abrams as an Associate Editor, focusing on novelty books, board books, graphic novels, and select MG and YA titles. Ivan has worked with brands like How to Catch, Little Heroes Big Hearts, Sesame Street, Disney, Tokidoki, and Pokémon. He is passionate about stories with strong commercial hooks, compelling characters, and series potential.

Rosie J. Pova

Rosie J. Pova is an award-winning children's book author, writing coach, and speaker. Her book Sunday Rain was featured in The New York Times and Parents magazine. She received Readers' Favorite Awards for The School of Failure: A Story About Success, and her next book, Sally's Musical Tale, is set for release in spring 2025. As a writing coach, she has guided many aspiring picture book authors through her Mentorships, Picture Book Writers' Hub Mastermind, and Picture Book Mastery course.

Katie Weaver

Residing in Colorado with her family, Katie Weaver is a highly acclaimed author, honored with multiple awards. As a mother of five, her vibrant life with young children serves as an endless wellspring of inspiration. Noteworthy works by Katie include: "When the Sky Roars", "The Trouble with Children (According to Dog)," both acknowledged with the prestigious Kirkus Star, and "Uh-OH! My Dragon's Hungry." She finds joy in both traveling and writing, often engaging in the latter once her children are asleep.

Dan Cramer

Dan Cramer is the founder and owner of Page Turner Literary Agency.

While he loves all books, his heart beats for children’s literature. These books and their authors are not afraid to tackle tough topics, to celebrate diversity, or bring awareness to issues that others would turn their backs on. Children’s literature never ceases to surprise him with its fortitude.

Brian Gehrlein

Brian Gehrlein is the author of THE BOOK OF RULES illustrated by Tom Knight (FSG, 2021), THIS IS NOT A SLEEPY BEAR BOOK illustrated by Jenn Harney (Little, Brown, 2025), and an untitled third picture book published by Dial. Brian and his wife, Katherine, live in Liberty, Missouri with their sons Peter and Albee. When he isn’t writing picture books, Brian can be found drinking coffee or chasing his two boys and their corgi around the house. Brian runs a picture book Zoom critique service and would love to be part of your story!

Don’t miss this chance to jumpstart your picture book career. Whether you're just getting started or ready to publish, the Picture Book Creator Conference will give you the tools, resources, and inspiration you need to succeed!

Pitch Opportunties + Critiques!

We're fortunate to have literary agents and editors in attendance that you can pitch your manuscript to LIVE. This paid add-on is only available to registered participants, offering an exclusive opportunity to receive feedback on your project from an industry professional. While a pitch session doesn’t guarantee representation, it can help open doors for you and your picture book. Those same agents and editors are also offering written critiques for attendees as well!

Pitches - $35 each

Critiques - $75 each

Please note that paying for a pitch session is not the same as paying an agent for representation, which is never allowed in the industry. These optional add-ons are industry standard for writing conferences, but it's important to note that this doesn’t guarantee representation—it's an opportunity to get direct feedback and potentially open doors for you and your book.

Bonnie Swanson -Fine Print Literary

Bonnie Swanson (the agent not the cartoon character!) is a former elementary school teacher who lives in Southern Illinois. She has a husband, three grown children, two bonus daughters, and three fur-babies who think they need to eat all the cat food. While she eagerly (and impatiently) awaits grandkids, she is lucky enough to have one granddog, Onix, and two grandkitties, Maki and Whiskey.

Bonnie represents authors who cover all the age groups from picture books through adult, many of whom have their own furry overlords or small two-legged dictators commanding their households, too.

In picture books, Bonnie wants:

PB fiction and nonfiction
Rhyme (but it has to be perfect)
Child-centered with all the agency

Esty Loveing-Downes - Arthouse Literary

Esty holds a BFA in creative writing from Ringling College of Art + Design and is currently an MFA candidate in fiction at Queens University of Charlotte. Aside from serving as a daily editor for the Southern Review of Books, she joined the teams at Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency and Tobias Literary Agency before joining the ArtHouse Literary Agency team and becoming an Associate Literary Agent.

In picture books, send heartwarming titles with a BIPOC focus like EYES THAT KISS IN THE CORNERS and creative, imagination-friendly projects like DRAGONS LOVE TACOS.

In picture books, Esty wants:

Creative, imagination-friendly projects like DRAGONS LOVE TACOS
Heartwarming titles with a BIPOC focus

Amy Nielsen - The Purcell Agency

Amy Nielsen spent nearly twenty years sharing her love of books with young readers on the other side of the writing aisle as a youth librarian. Daily immersion in story took root, and she started penning her 2024 YA debut, Worth It, behind her checkout desk.

She left the library after her youngest son was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and began writing full-time. She also began working with other authors helping them to elevate their craft and go on to pursue publication deals. While she will always enjoy pursuing her own writing goals, helping other authors has become a passion. She is honored to now serve as an associate literary agent at The Purcell Agency.

In picture books, Amy wants:

Hyperbolic, zany storylines that teach a life lesson (even subtle)
Laugh-out-loud moments written simply to entertain
Comps to Robert Munsch or Michael Marchenko

Bethany Jett - The C.Y.L.E. Agency

Bethany Jett is an associate literary agent with the C.Y.L.E. agency, as well as a multi-award-winning author, and a marketing strategist who earned top honors in her master’s program, where she earned her MFA in Communications focusing on Marketing and PR. Bethany is a military spouse (and a military mama!). She and her husband live outside of the DC area with their teenage sons and a not-at-all spoiled Pomeranian.

In picture books, Bethany wants:

Holiday picture books
Bilingual books
Stories with a literary, classic feel,
Humorous, character-driven series
Stories where the MC has a disability but it does not define who they are.

She is not looking for:

STEM, STEAM, SEL
Rhyme

Daniele Hunter - McIntosh & Otis

Daniele Hunter (she/her) is a queer, disabled junior agent in the children's department at McIntosh & Otis. She started at McIntosh & Otis in 2016 as an intern and has been there ever since! She has a BA in English with concentrations in Literary Criticism, Poetry, and Creative Writing from Drew University. Prior to agenting, she held various odd jobs in the publishing industry, from proofreading to teaching and working on literary journals. She's also a member of the American Association of Literary Agents and is on their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee, and co-directs their fellowship program through Literary Agents of Change. In her spare time, she reads way too quickly, sings opera, and puts her ambidexterity to good use as a knitter. She lives in New Jersey with her spouse and their cat.

In picture books, Daniele wants:

Honesty on heavy topics like grief; hopeful but not saccharine
Disability, in both fiction and nonfiction
Diverse cultures, holidays, traditions, identities
BIPOC and/or LGBTQIA+ concepts – Anything from slice-of-life, to celebratory, to informative, to issue-based!
PB bios; women, LGBTQIA+, and/or BIPOC subjects preferred
Authors, author-illustrators, or author/illustrator teams!

Amanda Carbonell - Belcastro Agency

Amanda Carbonell’s passion for all things scary came at the age of five thanks to her mother for introducing her to Buffy. Soon after, her world became consumed by books. While receiving her bachelor’s and distinction in Journalism from Western Connecticut State University, Amanda interned with ArtHouse Literary before interning with CMA, Inc.

She went on to agent-apprentice with Belcastro Literary Agency before being promoted to junior agent. When she is not reading through queries and building her client list, you can find her either writing Latinx paranormal/speculative stories with her agent or spending time with her family.

In picture books, Amanda wants:

Holiday picture books, especially lesser-known holidays and traditions, feel-good stories around Christmas for struggling families, etc.
Cutesy, laughable Halloween stories!
Something that can be a future series (but can ALSO stand alone)
Board books on speech development for littles.
Any stories that are good for a toddler's brain/learning (i.e. Ms. Rachel, Sesame Street, Circle Time, etc)

Elisa Houot - The Seymour Agency

Elisa Houot is a literary agent at The Seymour Agency and author of five published Young Adult novels. Enthusiastic about discovering new voices, Elisa lives in France with her adorable and barking companion, Muffin.

She joined The Seymour Agency after an MA in publishing. Reader, reviewer, book blogger, short story writer, published author, foreign rights agent, literary agent, Elisa has had many roles in the publishing industry. Beyond anything, she thrives on helping authors build their careers.

In picture books, Elisa wants:

SEL
PB Humor

Mara Cobb - Martin Literary Management

My favorite books have always been those that keep me on the edge of my seat in excitement and those that allow me to feel the full scope of human emotions as I read late into the night.

After earning my master's degree in English, achieving over fifty publications, and serving as the editor-in-chief for a small literary journal, I completed a year-long publishing internship learning the ins and outs of Martin Literary Management. Now, as a junior literary manager, I am most excited about coming alongside fresh and seasoned writers to help them reach their full potential.

In picture books, Mara wants:

Funny, yet heartwarming
Zany, laugh out loud with puns
Kindness, family, and boldness
Fresh and original concepts

Carey Blankenship-Kramer - Azantian Literary

Carey Blankenship-Kramer started as a literary agent in 2023 at Belcastro Agency. She joined Azantian Literary Agency in 2025 where she represents both children's and adult fiction authors across a wide range of genres, with her priority being marginalized voices. She graduated from Berry College with a dual degree in English and Creative Writing and later received her master’s in Writing and Digital Communications from Agnes Scott College. Her debut novel, GHOST SCOUT'S HONOR, was published by Scholastic. Outside of work, you can usually find Carey spending time with her partner and their small zoo, getting way too competitive on the tennis court, playing video games, or eating candy.

In picture books, Carey wants:

Author / illustrators.
Stories that teach readers something without being heavy-handed, (Emotional lesson or cultural)
Stories that focus on different cultures and types of families.
Something that makes you feel warm and fuzzy after reading it.
A spooky story that explores folklore from other cultures, like THE SKULL by Jon Klassen.
Not the biggest fan of potty humor or silly stories where the focus is solely on humor.

Morgan Wilson - Belcastro Literary Agency

Morgan’s love for writing and books and was fostered from an early age by a grandmother that wrote them bedtime stories and taught them how to write poetry. As they grew this love evolved into devouring books faster than their bookshelves could keep up and writing their own stories in magical kingdoms galaxies away.

With over a decade of work in classrooms across the Midwest, Morgan wants to uplift the stories that their students needed so that everyone can see themselves on the page using magic, finding love and defeating the bad guy. They are dedicated to being an agent for change in the publishing industry and working with marginalized voices so that every child and adult can experience the joy of a book that speaks to them.

In picture books, Morgan wants:

Underrepresented cultures, folklore, mythologies etc, and societal commentary.
Themes of self acceptance and self love
Conservation
Rhyme or prose
Authors, author/illustrators, and author/illustrator teams

Or...

Pitch sessions only available to registered participants!