Today I’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Broedel! She is a nurse-turned-writer who enthusiastically follows life wherever it takes her. Years spent living abroad and moving regularly have given her an appreciation for varied culture, art, study of language, and adventure in general. A pre-published author of picture books in rhyme and prose, Jennifer nurtures her creativity, humor, and love for language by writing daily. Her other hobbies include painting, singing, and growing three small humans. She regularly studies craft and is an active participant of SCBWI and Julie Hedlund’s 12×12 writing challenge. As a military spouse and mother of three, she loves travel, wit, and looking at piles of laundry that accumulate as she works on new manuscripts.

You can join her in her authorly networking and appreciation of children’s literature on Twitter (@JBroedelAuthor), or find her on Facebook (@JBroedelAuthor).

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

+ + Author Spotlight Interview with Jennifer Broedel + +

Jamie: Thank you so much for doing this interview! Ok first question–Have you always wanted to be a writer? And was there a particular moment you thought, ‘I can do this!’?

JB: The short answer is no, I didn’t always know I wanted to write more than anything else (though now, I’m sure I’ll be actively writing for the rest of my life). I’m aflame with it. I finally have that thing that people talk about, when they say they can’t wait to get out of bed and do what they do. (I’ve even jumped out of bed to do it at 2:00 am.) Now, for the not-so-short answer:

As a military spouse, I’ve learned to enthusiastically dive right in to whatever path is in front of me. My passion for writing was born from the positivity I experience when I try something new.

After college, I became a nurse, and I was great at helping patients. I got married and that’s when my adventures really began. In the wide world, I found out so much about myself and the joys of broadening your experience and scope. That probably had a lot to do with my eagerness to try writing.

When my daughter was born, we moved to Europe. I got a Master’s degree, but didn’t return to work outside of my home. I learned to speak Italian, ran a small art business (selling my own paintings), and really just enjoyed my children. The allure of everything I tried was that I could involve my kids, and not have to take time away from them to do it. So, the opportunity to write children’s books came very organically. Writing creatively is a subconscious draw, I think, that I’ve only formally recognized in recent years. Funnily enough, it took my reading a TON of picture books to think “I can do this! I should do this!”

Reflecting on how I got here, it becomes clearer that I’ve never NOT been a writer. I’ve always found a lot of gratification in finding just the right words to say what I’d like to say. Encouraging teachers, friends, and family always told me that I write well.

The poems I had published in school magazines, the picture book I wrote and illustrated for my brother when I was 13, the nursing articles I wrote for Army newspapers, and the embarrassing YA novel I wrote in high school…they’ve all led me here. Yes, I’ve always been a writer. Creativity is a big part of who I am. I come by it via an artist mother and a musician Dad who majored in English. Looking back now, I see that I’ve always had the make-up of a children’s writer.

Jamie: I love that. You were meant to do this! So a lot of my readers have kids and I’ve reviewed children’s books on the blog in the past. Can you recommend my next children’s book(s) to buy and review?

JB: Dan Santat’s AFTER THE FALL is masterful. I love a story that tells us about a known character, and Santat gives us a further look at life for Humpty Dumpty, following his tumble. It’s a crowd pleaser for adults and children, and Santat’s illustrations are engaging (he’s great at illustrative subplots and little Easter Egg details that make his art so dynamic). The ending is **chef kiss.**

Jamie: That’s so cool, because I totally just got that book about three weeks ago and we’ve fallen (ha!) in love. I will definitely put up a review of that book soon. Ok, next question: In your opinion, what are the top 5 best children’s books published in the last year?

JB: It’s hard to pick the BEST, but judging by re-readability, which is to me, a gold standard for picture books, I’d say some of my favorites are:

NOT QUITE NARWHAL by Jessie Sima
AFTER THE FALL by Dan Santat
YOU DON’T WANT A UNICORN by Ame Dyckman
THE RABBIT LISTENED by Cori Doerrfeld
THEY ALL SAW A CAT by Brendan Wenzel (from 2016, but still good)

Some of my favorite authors include Julia Donaladson, Ame Dyckman, Bob Shea, Josh Funk, Stacy McAnulty, Kelly DiPucchio, Molly Idle, Mac Barnett, and Dan Santat.

Jamie: I’m really excited to check those out, thank you! Let’s change gears and talk about your writing process. Talk to us about your writing routine; what’s a typical writing schedule for you?

JB: I treat my writing with the same degree of priority as I would a job outside of my home. Every night after I get the kids down to bed and the house is quiet, I work on some kind of writing-related stuff. I create a new manuscript, work on revisions, critique pieces for my peers, research craft, or read picture books. Some nights I can work for hours, some nights I may only be able to work for 45 minutes. If I am deliberate in setting aside time each night and if I accomplish one thing, then I consider that successful.

Weekends are great, because my husband is more available to help with the kids, and he likes to facilitate my writing when he can. He’s actually happiest when our evenings are spent side-by-side; he reads, I write. Sometimes, he puts down his book and beta-reads what I’ve been working on that evening. His enthusiasm for my passion is so sweet.

Jamie: That really is adorable. That’s kind of a writer’s dream–to have the love of your life cheering for you and often working right beside you! Next question. What would you say is the hardest sentence to write, the first or the last?

JB: I’d say the first sentence is much trickier to write. That’s true of a lot of life, I think. The hardest part is getting started; once you’re rolling, it’s a little easier. With writing, your opening HAS to engage the reader in just the right way. You want to give a taste of context, character, conflict (and in picture books, that has to happen VERY quickly, with word-count restrictions). With last lines, I think I have a knack for writing that final “wink” to the reader. I like to tell a final joke, or wrap back around to something that I introduced early in the story. The ending is a satisfying little tie-up, to say to the reader “here’s a cherry on top.” With opening lines, you’ve got to make a promise to the reader…and then you HAVE to deliver. Without a strong opening, what’s to keep the reader going? How can you expect them to keep turning pages to the end, without that delicious first taste? And that’s the pressure that makes a first sentence harder for me.

Jamie: That makes so much sense, especially for the kids books which are by nature, much shorter than other works. Since we were all kids once, most of us have experience being read children’s books and/or reading them to ourselves long ago. What’s your favorite childhood book?

JB: MISS NELSON IS MISSING (OOO! And FERDINAND)

Jamie: What’s your favorite under-appreciated children’s book?

JB: Dan Krall’s THE GREAT LOLLIPOP CAPER. It’s just so funny and the salty voice of the main character is right up my alley.

Jamie: Going back to your own writing process, what kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?

JB: Once I decide on a picture book premise, I Google that topic for other books out there, ask colleagues for recommendations of mentor texts, and I study online authors’ forums. I review similar texts for story structure, and examine any personal notes I’ve taken at conferences or online classes, to analyze concepts of writing craft. This doesn’t always happen BEFORE I write a first draft, but these steps are crucial in ensuring the strength of my piece, in terms of marketability and integrity of writing. Research times vary by manuscript.

Jamie: What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?

JB: Joining professional writers’ organizations: SCBWI (Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators) and Julie Hedlund’s 12×12 picture book writing community.

These memberships have opened up a robust community of peers, a wealth of online learning resources (interactive forums, educational materials, classes, webinars), submission opportunities, and networking. My critique partners (found through these organizations and associated conferences) have been absolute treasures. Put simply, I wouldn’t be the writer I am without my earnest involvement with these groups. I also wouldn’t know as much about submissions, industry standards, realistic expectations of operations…nothing. If you want to make it as a writer, you owe it to yourself, your craft, and your peers to reach out and join a group like this. It’s been so enriching!

Jamie: Well thank you so much for taking the time to do this! I know your answers will be really helpful who are just getting started in their writing careers. For anyone interested in following Jen on twitter, she shares a lot of encouraging quotes and tidbits (@JBroedelAuthor). Can you leave us with any final  advice you have for aspiring writers?

JB: While social media won’t make or break your writing career, it can certainly enrich and help things along. In my experience, the community of writers in children’s literature is VERY warm. By participating in social media interactions, you can build a network of peers and engage industry professionals. Twitter is like a cocktail party, and it’s ok to eavesdrop; it helps you keep your finger on the pulse of the industry. By tweeting, retweeting, and surfing the feed, you build up relationships, and in the arena of publishing, that’s a huge help. You can learn about competitions, submission opportunities, giveaways, book recommendations, conferences, free webinars, learning resources and more. Plus, it’s fun to chit chat with friends that you meet online or at conferences. Of course, your first priority should be the writing (quality writing and diligent revising), but social media is a very useful tool in that. It helps with bridge-building. (Plus, if you’re into nonfiction writing, social media is important in building a platform.)

Thank you again for your time, Jennifer! If you’d like to follow along with her writing adventures, don’t forget to check her out on Twitter (@JBroedelAuthor), or find her on Facebook (@JBroedelAuthor).