Meet Carrie Pearson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Carrie Pearson.  

Carrie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
When asked how I became a children’s book author, I respond that it culminates all my chosen careers. I have a BA in early childhood education from the University of Michigan (Go Blue!). I transitioned from teaching to the business space and later to nonprofit and community development work. In addition to being a writer for specific discerning audiences, a children’s book author is also a solopreneur, a marketer, and a professional speaker; who knew? So, being effective in this career requires everything I’ve experienced and learned along the way.

Writing sellable manuscripts for the traditional publishing industry is a learned practice like every career. And practice I did! It took several years, supported by a large village of people who were further along their publishing journeys. My turning point came when I was awarded a picture book writing mentorship with Newbery Award author/illustrator Lynne Rae Perkins, also a Michigander. (The Newbery Award is the children’s book version of the Oscar.) The mentorship was judged from one of my manuscripts — proof that my writing was finally moving in the right direction. As of August 2023, with the help of my literary agent Kelly Sonnack, I will have authored five books on the shelf with small, middle-sized, and larger publishers. We have one unannounced deal and more books in development.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Selling manuscripts to traditional publishers (versus publishing independently) is a model that requires both patience and persistence – with big helpings of timing and luck. We learn to keep going through rejection, deal with a lack of personal power to move the process along, stay true to our goals, and celebrate when the pieces line up. There are many gatekeepers along the way who can open the door widely or close it with a thud. But as I watch each book move to completion, I am grateful for every agent, editor, illustrator, art director, marketing team, reviewer, and bookseller in the process.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My authored books are nonfiction (true facts told truthfully) or informational fiction (true facts told within a made-up construct). They are picture books which means they are artfully and beautifully illustrated by a professional children’s book illustrator. Picture books are crafted to share with a pre-reader by a reader, so most often, they are read to a child by an adult. Sometimes they are called ‘lap-sit’ books because they are often read during close interactions. However, they are also read nationwide in classrooms and libraries to explain educational concepts and extend curriculum. Currently, my authored books are:

A WARM WINTER TAIL (about animal adaptation to cold)

A COOL SUMMER TAIL (about animal adaptation to heat)

STRETCH TO THE SUN: FROM A TINY SPROUT TO THE TALLEST TREE ON EARTH (about the tallest tree in the world, a coast redwood, its unique and important ecosystem, and battle to survive)

REAL LIFE PRINCESSES CHANGE THE WORLD (about a diverse group of princesses who defy the traditional princess caricature through their occupations and the betterment of their communities)

VIRGINIA WOULDN’T SLOW DOWN!: DR. APGAR AND HER LIFE-SAVING INVENTION (about one of the least known, most impactful physician inventors who, through her eponymous APGAR Score, touches almost every baby born around the world)

The sixth book, about animal gestation, is under development.

Can you share something surprising about yourself? 
Before I started writing children’s books, I didn’t realize how much research would be needed to create good nonfiction books for children. Like my colleagues, I’ve learned to interview, read, digest, scan, visit, and photograph to become a subject matter expert. We must understand our topics at a high level and minutely. This understanding allows us to find the most effective words to tell a true story, one that will engage, inform, and delight.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://carriepearsonbooks.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carrieapearson.author/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pearsoncarrieann
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/carrieapearson
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@carrieapearsonchildrensauthor/featured

Image Credits
Taylor C. Pearson