Meet Betsy
Welcome to my virtual studio. As both a writer and designer, I’m driven by a curiosity about the world. In my studio, I take that curiosity and use it to create new worlds. Explore to find out more about me, my books, and my thoughts on writing as well as the thoughts of friends who stop by the studio. If you’ve got something you’d like to share reach out to me through the contact form. I’d love to hear from you. Scroll down to read what’s been happening in the studio.
I am migrating to Substack over the next year for long-form writing and news updates so check me out over there. For now I’ll leave this page up so you can read through the archive.
My Dog Is NOT A Scientist - Coming Spring 2023!!!
I am so excited to announce that my debut picture book My Dog Is NOT A Scientist is coming out in the Spring of 2023 from Yeehoo Press.
Finding and Hiring A Freelance Illustrator: Three Tips From An Illustrator's Perspective
Having been on both sides of the writer/illustrator relationship at different times in her career, Ariel Mendez understands how difficult it can be for an author to find and afford an illustrator as well as how to work with a freelancer once you’ve found one. In this article, Ariel shares the insight she’s learned with us.
Katzenberger: Fear & Friendship in IT WILL BE OK
The theme of the story—that we can be afraid of things that appear very small to others but feel very big to us—seems obvious to me now. But I don’t think I knew what I was trying to say until many, many revisions into the writing . . .
Judy Blume’s Puzzle
Judy Blume takes on first drafts like jigsaw puzzles. Instead of plotting everything out ahead of time or beginning on page one and writing through to the end, Blume begins by . . .
AMY CHU & JANET K. LEE, BRINGING SEA SIRENS TO LIFE
Last year, graphic novel sales drastically outpaced the growth rate of other print publishing. More and more readers are drawn to the marriage of art and storytelling that goes into books like Sea Sirens, a new middle-grade novel about a Vietnamese-American surfer and her water-loving cat. Spine sat down with Eisner Award-winning illustrator Janet K. Lee as well as writer and co-founder of Alpha Girl Comics Amy Chu to talk about bringing their graphic novel to life. . .