Showing Up to the Page with Jessica Milo

Hi friends! ✨

This special episode of Showing Up to the Page features my dear friend and longtime critique partner, Jessica Milo. I had such a wonderful time chatting with her about her writing journey and how she makes space for her work.

I’m so excited to share more about Jessica and her debut picture book, My Pony Wonder.

Jessica Milo is a middle school librarian and kidlit author who writes picture books through YA. Her debut picture book, MY PONY WONDER, illustrated by Ramona Kaulitzki, is published with Random House Studio. Her next picture books are slated for release in 2028 and 2029. Jessica is agented by Wendi Gu of HG Literary. When not writing, Jessica loves to knit, hike, eat lots of pasta, play board games, read, and spoil her cat, Gus. She lives with her husband in Northern California. To learn more, visit her website at www.jessicamilo.com and follow her on IG @jessicamiloauthor.

I hope you enjoy our chat!

Although Jessica and I share our stories with one another as critique partners, so much of the work of writing happens while we’re alone. That’s why I love having these conversations with creators and finding out how they show up to the page. I love learning how other creatives make space for their work and keep going through all the hard parts.

🐴 One of the inspirations for My Pony Wonder was Jessica’s childhood memories of riding horses with her sister. Another was Valerie Bolling’s Together We Ride, illustrated by Kaylani Juanita, with its sparse, rhyming text. I loved hearing about the inspiration behind this special story!

✨ She doesn’t put pressure on herself as she creates and gives herself room to enjoy the process.

🗓️ Deadlines help her meet her goals.

💛 Community brings her back to her work.

Share Pencil and Persistence

Reach out to others. Don’t be afraid to simply ask if someone would like to connect, share work, or become critique partners, just like she did with me!

She reached out and asked if I wanted to be part of a critique group with her, and that is how our wonderful Write On Friends, our WOFs, came to be! 💛

So, you never know what can happen when you simply reach out and ask.

Jessica is offering a copy of My Pony Wonder to one lucky person who comments on this post! I will announce the winner next week in my notes.

Good luck, and thank you so much, Jessica, for this special treat!

If you enjoy My Pony Wonder, one of the best ways to support Jessica (and other creators you love) is to help their books find more readers.

📚 Leave a review.

🏛️ Request the book at your local library.

💛 Tell a friend about it.

💌 And if the story touched you, send the author a message. You’d be surprised how much those kind notes mean to creators.

These simple acts may seem small, but they make a big difference.

I am so proud of you and so happy for you, Jessica! Thank you again for being a part of Showing Up to the Page. ✨

And keep an eye out for Jessica’s other books coming soon. I cannot wait for you all to read them!

Another Showing Up to the Page conversation is coming soon! I can’t wait to introduce you to another creator and learn more about their creative journey.

Thank you for being here with me!

Sonrisas,