Reading · Jyoti’s Substack

In January, I entered the new year with so many mixed feelings. Gratitude for starting the year with my parents in India, dread for the current political landscape in the USA, fraught with so much negativity, pride for the fierce fight the kidlit community is waging for the freedom to read, hope for a brighter day - all these feelings churning in me day after day. It is exhausting.

I made a deliberate choice to step away from the noise. But not to step away from conversations.

No to doomscrolling, no to obsessing about the news, no to letting my attention be grabbed by the latest, the loudest.

Yes, to stepping in to conversations, rooted in love and empathy. Where can I contribute? Who can I uplift? Where can I make a positive impact?

Yes, to more writing of course. Yes to teaching. Yes to mentoring.

And so:

I’m teaching a picture book writing class through The Writing Barn (again). This will be my fifth time teaching this class. I thought to take a break because it’s a LOT of work. But…every time, I find something new to dig into, to expand my understanding of picture book craft, and I am reminded anew how much I love teaching. It is a privilege to be in conversation with writers telling stories of their heart. It is a privilege to read their stories and offer feedback. I also try to provide some insight into what can be a very competitive and opaque industry. And in the process, I am thankful for all that teaching gives back to me.
Way before I sold my first manuscript, way before I even had an agent, I used to volunteer at the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival. When my first book came out, I was invited to be a participating author, which blew my mind! This year, I accepted an invitation to join their board. What an honor to be in conversation with authors, librarians, teachers and booksellers to curate and uplift a diverse and magnificent selection of children’s literature.
I joined Authors Against Book Bans to fight the scourge of book-banning legislations that have swept across our nation. The concerted effort to target the voices of BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities, to erase history and to silence dissension is unconscionable. If you think your city, your district, your county, is safe, think again. This is a conversation we cannot step away from.
I am attending nErDcampCT, Varta, the ALA and other similar events to remind myself and others of the power of storytelling to spark and build change. In these spaces, we sit in respectful conversation to remind each other of our shared hopes and the strength and joy that comes with diversity and solidarity.
The PB Rising Stars Mentorship program connects agented and unagented picture book writers to published writers with the expressed goal of uplifting and empowering voices from diverse backgrounds. As a first time mentor, I am looking forward to conversations about craft and creativity that will lead to many more beautiful, and much-needed stories out in the world.
And finally, I am starting a podcast Do we really need another podcast you ask? IDK but…this one springs from my curiosity about the world of picture book illustrations and the incredible work that illustrators do to bring our stories to life. It started as a planned 15 minute conversation with Nabi H. Ali, that I was going to post on my Substack. Nabi as you know, is the illustrator of Love is Here With You: A Lullaby of Blessings. Shaunda Wenger, talented author and dear friend, said , “ummm, why isn’t this a podcast?” And so yeah, that’s what I’m doing. I’ll be in conversation with and highlighting the work of illustrators, book designers, art directors and the many creatives who make picture books the visual and narrative feasts that they are.

I’ll post a link when I'm ready to launch. Here’s the graphic for the first episode. Are you a picture book illustrator or book designer and want to be featured? Reach out! Have a question you want me to ask an illustrator? Let me know in comments!

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