Author Interview
Ray of sunshine, big heart, infectious spirit and an inspiring commitment to enriching the lives of others. These are just a few of the words I would use to describe Sarina Siebenaler, autism advocate and author of the new Silly Books for Kids collection.
This past week, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Sarina to learn more about her and her journey as an author. To get the full scoop and learn a few of her hard-earned storytelling tips – check out our conversation below.
Author Profile
Mom of 3 rockstar kids, wife, autism advocate and author
Lives in sunny Arizona where flip-flops and t-shirts are mandatory
Celebrating 15th wedding anniversary with partner in crime
“Creating smiles, laughter, and learning brings so much joy to my heart. Children will always be my first commitment in my writing process.”
– Sarina Siebenaler
Sarina’s Tips
1.) Hire the Right Talent – surround yourself with the right people to bring your vision to life (editor, illustrator, graphic designer, mentors, etc.)
2.) Keep Learning – never stop studying and researching, find mentorships, talk to published authors, build genuine relationships, read a lot of children’s books, know your niche, figure out your marketing plan, and be original
3.) Don’t Rush the Process – find beta readers, proofread your final interior design, and send it to your editor for a final look over. If you think you are not ready, do not publish
4.) Take Care of Yourself – after working long hours and putting your heart and soul into your project, don’t forget to take a break, recharge and have some fun
In Conversation
Sarina, it’s such a pleasure to connect with you. I’m in Canada, you’re in the US – but we have so much in common and I have so many questions. First off, what drew you to children’s books?
Growing up, I’ve always embraced poetry and art. I was a struggled reader as a child and children’s books written in rhyme helped boost my reading skills. Later, when I had children, I spent a lot of treasured moments reading stories and having connected conversations with them about what we were reading.
Do Not Wish for A Pet Ostrich! is your first book. What inspired you to write it?
My son was diagnosed with Autism at 22 months and silly stories helped him with his verbal skills. I knew then that someday I would turn my love of poetry and art to picture books. I hope to make a difference in early literacy and spark the growth of emergent and reluctant readers.
You are a self-published author, which I know first-hand, is quite the feat. Can you tell me about your experience?
There are so many facets to creating a picture book. Self-publishing is a full-time job. It can test so many feelings of fear and doubt. But it’s also a labor of love that is so gratifying and rewarding. If you truly believe in your product and it was meant to make a difference – all of it becomes worthwhile.
Thankfully, I connected with mentors and like-minded individuals that truly understand. Their support is invaluable, and I am just lucky enough to be surrounded by a diverse group of people in this author community.
With visual storytelling, imagery is everything. What was it like working with an illustrator?
It has been one of my favorite parts of the self-publishing journey. I was lucky to find Gabby Correia. She is nothing less than amazing. Every time she sends me a new spread, it’s like she is sending me a present. She is truly extraordinary, and I am so happy I found the best partner to create books with.
Gabby lives in South Africa, so we communicate by email. I wish we could meet one day. I’d give her a huge hug. She’s just so talented and an all-around beautiful person.
Every day is an adventure in the self-publishing world and you never know what curve ball will be thrown at you next. What was your biggest challenge?
All the necessary small details. There are so many, like copyrights, the Library of Congress Number, ISBN’s, uploading your book to retail outlets, choosing a font, contracts, keywords, categories, etc.
The monster of all challenges, though, is the marketing plan/process. It takes time to find where your book will fit – in the world of so much competition. I’m still learning so much. I research and study a lot of what I need to do to be better.
Hard work aside, there is so much beauty in being a children’s author. What is the best part for you?
First, the children who inspire me. They provide me with the motivation to keep creating. The feedback from parents, grandparents, teachers, and librarians is very special too. When I receive letters, pictures, reviews, and videos of happy readers it makes my heart swell.
I can genuinely say that I hope to continue doing this when I become a grandparent someday. I can see myself reading to classrooms full of children during my retirement. Kids are so smart and if you listen closely, we can learn so much from them.
We all venture into storytelling for so many reasons. Why do you love creating books?
Helping with early literacy and putting smiles on children’s faces will always be a huge component of what makes creating books special. Ultimately following my dreams and turning words and art into stories is so fulfilling.
Lastly, I know you’re an incredible wife and mom. What role has your family played in bringing your books to fruition.
My husband is the one person that continues to tolerate my crazy ideas and my love of new adventures and my children give me the ideas and inspiration for every book I’ve worked on. I couldn’t do any of this without them.
Thank you, Sarina. You truly are inspiring, and I can’t wait to check out your new book – Do Not Wish for a Birthday Unicorn! – coming later this year.