This topic is especially relevent to my life right now. After being completely devoted to my young adult novel for several years, I’ve started cheating. At first, it was just a picture book idea scribbled down here or there. Then, at the bookstore, I would slow down as I passed by the picture book section on my way to young adult. Now I’m shamelessly reading picture books as a passionate obsession. I’ll admit it, I’m a two-timer and I really like playing around.

The advantage of dating around the genres is that when you get stuck on one thing, you can move on for a while. I love the angsty complexity of my YA story, but I’m relieved to indulge in the colorful, poetic world of the picture book. I’ve got a crush on the simplicity, the humor, the interactive nature of repetition and reading out loud.

So am I a picture book writer now? No. I still want to finish revising my novel. I still want to create graphic novels with Tony and try my hand at chapter books. This may not be the easiest or most traditional way to work in children’s books. But what can I say? I’m a flirt!