Behind the Scenes: A Picture Book Author’s Day at the Indianapolis Public Library

Some days start with a chocolate protein shake (because coffee is gross). Others start with a checklist, a cooler, and a wagon full of books.

Saturday was one of those days. My alarm went off at six, and by 7:30 my husband Jim—also known as the CEO (Carries Everything Out)—and I were on the road to the Indianapolis Public Library for the Meet an Author, Be an Author event. ​We were both excited but running on fumes. Jim was still recovering from being sick for two weeks and had stayed up way too late the night before, and I was wishing I’d finished hemming my new wide-legged lounge pants. Ugh. So, jeans it was.

​I’d packed the night before: one crate, one box, and a cooler, all perfectly sized to fit in our fold-up utility wagon. The checklist was checked, mostly. Ten minutes after leaving for downtown Indy, we realized we’d left a water bottle and a box of Kleenex sitting neatly on the kitchen table, among other personal comfort items. But we had the important stuff — books, tabletop display, and cash box — so we decided against turning back around.
 
Setting the Stage at the Indianapolis Public Library
My table looked exceptionally cozy once we set up. It was just big enough for both of my custom foam-board cutouts: Paxton in his sailboat from The Wonder of Under and Remmy with his cotton candy from Remmy’s Sticky Situation. A cozy knitted runner and a few sunflowers added a fall touch. I used a little wood crate as a bookshelf and framed photos of kids reading and building sailboats from the activity in The Wonder of Under. By the time I finished arranging everything, the table felt like a cheerful story nook. A tiny corner of imagination in a big, bustling room.
 
Storytime Conversations
The best part of these events is always the people. A man stopped by and pointed at The Wonder of Under’s cover, where Paxton peers under the couch. He laughed and said, “This gives me PTSD.” When he was five, he’d done exactly that. Hung upside down, peeking under the couch, then tumbled off and broke his arm. We both laughed, and I apologized for accidentally triggering his childhood trauma. He reassured me that he was over it and asked about the story.

Next to me was debut author Ryan Mendenhall, who was launching The Kid-Eating Couch, a title that got plenty of double takes and giggles. We swapped self-publishing stories, compared notes on marketing, and traded advice about what’s worked for each of us. I also caught up with Ron Braun, the cartoonist behind the Once Upon a Platypus series, who continues to prove that platypuses can be both hilarious and heartwarming.
 
A couple stopped at my table later in the day and were instantly drawn to Remmy’s Sticky Situation. Once they discovered the fun facts about raccoons in the back, they were sold. That conversation led to one of my favorite questions: “Do you write?” The woman smiled and said yes. She’s Suzanne Atkinson, author of Where Are Spunky’s Missing Friends?, a mystery about a little squirrel searching for his buddies. Naturally, we decided that Remmy and Spunky would make excellent friends.
 
Writer Talk
Between readers, the authors traded wisdom like candy. We discussed ISBN numbers and why it’s smart to buy your own. I sparked a conversation (and a bit of fear) by mentioning what happens if a traditional publisher closes. We talked about how royalty checks can stop and authors may need to fight to regain their copyrights. It’s the kind of real-world talk that rarely shows up in storybooks but bonds writers fast.
 
The question I heard most from readers, though, was, “Where do you get your ideas?” A few already suspected the truth about Remmy’s Sticky Situation: that it was inspired by the viral video of a raccoon sadly watching his cotton candy disappear when he tried to wash it.
 
Wrapping Up
By late afternoon, the buzz of conversation started to fade, and authors began packing up their tables. Jim and I loaded our crate, box, and cooler back into the wagon. We were tired but enjoyed the day. Even Jim, my introverted husband, found a few football fans/authors to talk about this year’s season.
 
As we rolled our little book wagon toward the exit, I glanced back at the rows of tables and thought about the stories that had filled that room all day. Some were printed and polished, others still in progress, but each one mattered.
 
After my CEO and I took everything out to the car, we snuck back in to get a “shelfie” of me with my book from the Indianapolis Public Library’s children’s section. It was great to see my book as a part of their collection.
 
For me, being a picture book author is part art, part adventure, and part community. You spend weeks tucked away writing and marketing, then step into the world for a day like this and remember why you do it: to share something joyful, to make someone smile, to remind yourself that stories really do have the power to connect us.
 
And maybe—just maybe—to give someone a tiny dose of nostalgia or, in one reader’s case, a very funny flashback to an unfortunate tumble off the couch.