We recently connected with Ellie Peterson and have shared our conversation below.

Ellie, appreciate you joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

For most of my adult life, I was a middle school science teacher. Twenty one years, in fact! And note that I say I “WAS” a teacher rather than that I was EMPLOYED as a teacher or WORKED as a teacher. When you’re a teacher, it is very much a part of your identity. I loved teaching science to kids, but I had always been passionate about art. (It’s the career path I probably would have chosen if my parents hadn’t instilled the idea that artists are destined to be poor.) In my free time, I would sketch and design art for my home. While at work I would add hand drawings to worksheets I created and doodle in the margins of all my agendas. It was just a fun creative outlet for me, until two things happened for me. First, I had kids of my own and fell in love with their picture books. This was the kind of art I was always making! Sweet and spunky children, funny animals, special moments at home and in school. Second, a teaching colleague of mine authored a children’s book. Seeing someone like me, a teacher, be successful in this endeavor made me realize that it was not only possible, but a path I wanted to pursue.

Ellie, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m a children’s book author and illustrator residing in the Pacific Northwest. I got my start by illustrating a book called Bea’s Bees by Katherine Pryor with a small, independent publisher, and now have six books out and two more on the way! In fact, on my books, How to Hug a Pufferfish, won the Washington State Picture Book award for 2023. I work pretty exclusively on picture books, but am branching out into graphic novel for early and middle grade readers. My books are largely about STEM topics or social and emotional issues for kids. I work hard to bring humor and warmth into every story with voicey characters, relatable scenarios, and unlikely pairings. I love getting to meet the kids who read my books, so I try to visit as many school as I can! Last year, I presented at about 40 elementary schools!

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

A couple years into my journey to become a picture book author/illustrator I signed up to attend a large local conference for children’s writers and illustrators. I created a dummy (this is what you call a “mock up” of a picture book) and signed up for a roundtable critique with a couple of the conference presenters. I was feeling pretty proud of my work, a picture book about beat up old truck that gets converted into a children’s garden bed. My first critique went pretty well in my mind. I had some things to work on, but it seemed like I was on the right path. My second critique was awful. It was with a VERY prominent picture book author and illustrator, a legend, really, and he tore my work apart. I pasted a smile on my face and nodded politely while he basically told me I wasn’t ready and needed to do a lot more work. Then, I went to my car and cried. I felt like I was wasting my time and could never make it in this industry. I felt pretty sorry for myself for a few days. And then I remembered some of the practical things suggested by the other people in the group. Those felt like doable suggestions. And so I started very small with rethinking my style and approach. I experimented a lot more with what I was drawing and the media I used and pretty soon, I had developed a body of work that was so much better than what I started with. It was hard to hear that criticism in the moment, but if I hadn’t been slapped with reality, I don’t think I would have been pushed to change.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Let’s move beyond “like” and “follow”! It’s nice to open your favorite social media app and see that someone new is enjoying your work, but it does very little to move the needle in terms of making a living as a creative. It means so much more when someone shares that work with a friend, family member, or colleague! And when it comes to supporting kids’ authors and illustrators – buy books! Especially from marginalized creators and especially from independent bookstores, which do the heavy work when it comes to supporting our writing and drawing community. If your library doesn’t carry your favorite creator’s book, consider putting in a purchase request and check it out. Lastly, I’d counsel us all to take a hard look at which creative voices are being silenced and what we can do to fight that. Book challenges are becoming all too common and much more insidious these days. Our voices are need at city council and school board meetings, and we all need to vote if we’re to grow and flourish a creative ecosystem.

Contact Info:

• Website: elliepetersonart.com
• Instagram: @ellie_pete
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elliepetersonsbooks
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@elliepeterson4541