We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Shanda McCloskey. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Shanda below.

Alright, Shanda thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

My parents let me be messy and make things. Weird paper items, art, stories, even businesses. They never made me feel like my ideas weren’t worth trying out. They actually asked me my opinion on things! I know this trust and freedom impacted me as a whole creative person.

“Just make a mark and see where it takes you.” -Peter Reynolds (The Dot)

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Shanda (rhymes with panda) McCloskey. I’m an author and illustrator of children’s books. I guess I started on this path in elementary school when I was enthralled with the Scholastic Book Fair and the crisp, beautiful books that contained words + pictures that seemed to dance together and create magic! I’ve continued to explore the phenomenon of words and pictures working together in picture books and graphic novels first in my work as an art teacher, and now as an author and illustrator!

My book work has shown me things about myself I never knew existed beforehand. For example, I’m now fascinated with robots (real ones like Mars rovers and fiction ones too like sweet BB8). Also, introvert me doesn’t mind public speaking (especially to kids). I actually really enjoy going to schools all over the world and talking about robots, drones, STEM, STEAM, and reading/making stories with words + pictures.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on NFTs. (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)

I find NFTs intriguing as artists can earn royalties forever on their works of art. THAT could really change things for artists! Anyway, I don’t understand it thoroughly, but I’m listening…

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Right after I landed a literary agent to champion my stories, I had LASIK surgery. Then a myriad of eye health problems followed along with debilitating depression that I might never see the world as I once did. Needless to say, I do not recommend LASIK, but with the immense help of my husband, family, friends, medication, and more doctors and surgeries, I recovered. But I don’t see the world the way I once did. Literally and figuratively.

Today, publishing books is a constant battle of resilience. Daily, I push through my own inner demons of doubt, time management issues, comparing myself to others, social media suck, family stuff, health stuff, house stuff, financial stuff, etc. Then there’s the bigger needs of resilience when you get a “no” from an editor or publisher, or even worse, your publisher decides you need to change every illustration in a book (months after you’ve turned it in) for no extra pay. THAT was a tough one to push through, but I think the book is actually better for it now that I’m on the other side :)

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.shandamc.com/