We recently connected with Judy Campbell-Smith and have shared our conversation below.

Judy, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I have been writing stories ever since I was a little kid, but I always kept my stories for myself because I was scared to let anyone read it. It wasn’t until a family member asked me to write a children’s book for publication that discovered I really liked writing for kids. I reached out to an established author for advice, and she encouraged me to join the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Through SCBWI, I was able to connect with other writers and join a critique group to get feedback on my writing. I also started taking webinars and taking courses to learn more about the craft and business of publishing.

Sharing my work with other writers and trading feedback has been one of my most important experiences I have had that has helped me level up as a writer. If I had been less afraid to share my work early on, I can only imagine how much stronger my writing would be at this stage. Receiving feedback was scary at first, but learning to accept criticism and being willing to revise is an essential skill for a writer. All it took was a little bravery. It also helps that I have met so many supportive writers who have encouraged me along the way.

Judy, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I started writing children’s books in 2020 with AJ’s Neighborhood, a picture book I eventually self-published under India Street Press in 2022. For the illustrations, I teamed up with my friend, Amanda Dowell, who is an amazing artist and designer.
As I worked on that manuscript, my imagination began to run wild with other ideas for picture books. One of those ideas was a picture book about ice cream around the world. I researched, wrote, and revised that story during 2021. In 2022, I signed with agent who helped me get a publishing deal with Sleeping Bear Press. Ice Cream Everywhere: Sweet Stories from Around the World was released in 2024 with illustrations by Lucy Semple. My next picture book, Baseball for Breakfast: A (Mostly) True Story, will be released in 2026 from Charlesbridge with illustrations from Maggie Carroll. It’s based on true events, and tells the story of a young baseball fan getting to experience morning baseball games during World War II—with breakfast included!
I love finding true stories from history or interesting bits of real life trivia and presenting them in a unique way for young readers. My goal as an author is to get kids excited to find out more about my subjects after they finish the book. If I can get kids curious to learn more about another culture or a moment in history, then I’ve done my job as a writer.

It was my interest in facts and history in picture books that led me to start my blog series, the Back Matter Break Down. On my blog, I examine back matter in picture books and interview authors about how their process of putting together their back matter material. The blog series started in 2024, and has become a resource for other picture book writers on this often overlooked aspect of the publishing process. Check it out here: https://judycampbellsmith.com/blog/

I also provide affordable picture book critique services for any others wanting feedback on their manuscript. I offer written feedback as well as a chance to have a discussion over zoom to answer any questions authors may have. I love seeing other authors make progress in their work, and am proud of the chance to give back to the writing community where I have found so much support over the years. For more information on critiques visit my website: https://judycampbellsmith.com/for-writers/

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

Since becoming an author, I have learned that folks are always surprised how long it takes for a picture book to be published. For each of my books, it was a process months to write and perfect the initial drafts. Then submitting to agents and publishers also takes months, or even years. After a deal is signed, an illustrator also takes several months to finalize the artwork. Then there’s several more months or even years, before the book is printed and on shelves. Non-illustrated works can move a bit faster, but I think a lot of people are surprised when they learn about these timelines.
Another question I get a lot is, “Are you writing anything else?” It’s a good question, and the short answer is yes. But when I describe what the writing process looks like behind the scenes, the answer gets a bit more complicated. Because picture book texts are so short, many authors can write several of them in a year. There’s even a great organization called 12×12 that encourages writers to complete one picture book every month! I always have a few projects that I am working on at the same time, but they are different phases of the process. I can be researching for one project while revising a final draft of another. My goal is to be prolific so it’s important to keep a steady output of work, which means I am always working on multiple projects at once.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My motto as an author is “sparking curiosity and celebrating diversity.” I think phrase really captures my mission as a writer. Growing up, it was rare to see my own background reflected in books and movies. Today, I write the books that I wish I had as a kid, and I am so glad that my kids have access to so much diversity in the books they read.

I was a curious kid, and I love the idea that my books will make kids curious about their world and the other people living in it. As a Christian, I am passionate about the idea of a peaceful world where we love all of our neighbors, no matter our differences. I think this visible in each of my books in some way or another. Curiosity is a key attribute that helps overcome our differences with others, so I always want to deliver that spark for my readers. I write so that kids will be curious about our past, about how others live today, and about how we can make our world a better place for future generations.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://judycampbellsmith.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/judycampbellsmith/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judy-campbell-smith-b5737339
• Other: BlueSky : https://bsky.app/profile/judycampbellsmith.bsky.social