One of the biggest things I’ve learned that works for me is to set micro deadlines for smaller chunks of the project that lead up to the BIG final deadline.īedtime Ballerina Sketch by Shanda McCloskey Only time will tell if I succeed! I have MADE deadlines and I have MISSED deadlines for one reason or another, but I really WANT to be in control, so I keep trying and I do think I’m improving little by little. So far, I’ve had the luxury of working on one project at a time, but that is now morphing into 1-2 illustration projects alongside personal writing/illustrating projects simultaneously. It seems as though I work best with a lot going on (to feel exciting), but not too much (to feel trapped).

I’ve had to self discover my strengths and weaknesses just by trying things.

Thanks for inviting me, Rhys! I find time management so interesting, actually. Were you always able to juggle multiple projects or has the nature of the beast simply taken hold? Dragon! I’m sure you’re feeling the whole gambit of possible emotions! Coming off your recent success with Doll-E 1.0 and T-Bone the Drone, and knowing your actively working on illustrations for Bedtime Ballet and Little Red Writing Hood and the Big Bad Editor, how do you find time for all your publishing pursuits AND life outside of work? You must be exceptional with time management. Shanda, thank you for treating us and the publishing industry at large with a peak behind the literary curtain! We are moments away from the release of your third book, Firetruck vs. She graciously stopped by to raise the mysterious book publishing curtains for us to capture a glimpse of what it’s like living that author illustrator life. As if she has time to do anything else, Shanda (rhymes with panda) studied art in Atlanta and New York City, taught art to High School students, has two daughters, and is married to a web developer. She is represented by Erica Rand Silverman with Stimola Literary Studi o. Dragon (by Chris Barton – Little, Brown and Company – March 10, 2020), Bedtime Ballet (by Kallie George – Little, Brown BFYR – January 2021), and Little Red Writing Hood and the Big Bad Editor (by Rebecca Rector – Aladdin – Fall 2021). She is currently working on illustrations for three additional picture books Fire Truck vs.

Our special guest today, Shanda McCloskey, is the author and illustrator behind Doll-E 1.0 ( Little, Brown and Company – 2018) and T-Bone the Drone (Little, Brown and Company – 2019).

Bedtime Ballet by Kallie George