Sarah Linx is a young female author with a passion for writing, animals, creativity, and teaching young children. She believes that teaching can be done both inside and out of the classroom, and comes in a variety of different ways. Sarah uses her passion for teaching and writing to help young students realize that learning can be fun and memorable.
1. What was your favorite subject in school?
My favorite subjects in school growing up were English and art. I loved it when we were given creative writing exercises and I got more excited about it than my classmates. My 4th grade teacher found a way to incorporate art into anything she taught! English, science, and math! It was awesome when we had to draw something we learned about or made us happy. When we studied poetry, we had to draw a picture that represented our poem!
2. What inspires you?
My childhood experiences have definitely inspired all of my books. Counting Kitties and A Home at Last were inspired by creative writing projects that I wrote in middle school. As an adult, I found new inspiration in my childhood stories and invented my own illustration style true to what I liked drawing with as a kid so I could share them with the world.
3. What is your favorite type/style of art?
Definitely landscapes. Particularly seascapes or images/artwork that fill me up with a sense of calm.
4. How do you celebrate when you finish a project?
I give myself bragging rights in my household and I literally tell anyone that’s home. My parents are so proud of me, and my dogs look at me like “I’m crazy.” I might treat myself to some chocolate chips out of the bag!
5. What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about art?
Always be willing to learn and take constructive criticism well in order to improve and create the best product you can. Sometimes this hurts and I take it the wrong way, but it is the only way I have succeeded.
6. What are common traps for new artists?
Where do I get started on that one!? Unfortunately, this has happened to me more than once, even when someone convinced me their services and experiences in collaborating with them will be different than the ones I had before. Nope. Each time I ask myself how many times will I fall for the same thing? Hopefully, I learned my lesson.
The first is people on social media claiming that their services can help expand your reach, and get more followers, and maybe even a few interview invites or reviews. I’m all for honest collaborations, but after I pay them, I got nowhere, but they got my money.
Another trap is author/illustrator review circles or clubs. Research these carefully. Illustrators can join the prestigious partners like SCBWI to hone their crafts. I was invited to join someone’s book and review club when I first started out. I had to pay an expensive fee and review so many of the members’ books a month with money I didn’t have. Other people never chose my books, and I felt like an outsider where friends only helped friends.
Again, research clubs carefully and find one that forms friendships and reciprocal opportunities!
Last but not least, I’ll share my first trap! I got a professional and rather hefty contract in the mail that came with swag in a nice folder. I was so excited; I thought a publisher wanted my work! Except, they were a vanity press. I had to pay them upfront, and any add-ons were also very expensive. Whether self-publishing or reaching agents and publishers, they pay you! If you have to pay a price, run! The only exception to that might be self-pub advertising or formatting packages, but none of them are required before publication!
7. Do you only work in one medium?
For now, I am most comfortable using the name media I have used in all of my works. The childlike appearance has become my personal style and perfect for my playful books.
8. Are there any artists that inspire you?
So many artists inspired me growing up and still do. For literature, Eric Carle books and Maurice Sendak’s Little Bear character. Then there is Gretchen Shields known for her work with Amy Tan (Saga the Chinese Siamese Cat) that I will never grow tired of!
In TV/film, I love the hand drawn animated movies that often had the sketched or watercolor scenery. Older Disney movies or manga type tv shows like Sailor Moon or Pokemon. These all had a sense of beauty and elegance. The colors balanced complementary and contrasting colors perfectly to tell a story. I learned so much as a kid watching these shows and copying their shapes.
9. What challenges have you had as an illustrator?
The biggest challenge I have had as an illustrator is not to give up on something when it gets tough. A Home at Last was my first written project but my third published project because I had no idea how to develop the skills I needed for it. I thought it would never happen, yet my heart shattered on the inside thinking about the failure. I wanted it to become a book still the same. After giving up so many times, on the brink of tears, I convinced myself to try again because I couldn’t face the heartbreak of giving up on the story any longer.
I soon realized that the only thing standing in my way all of these years was myself! I told myself I wasn't good enough, and I believed it. I began researching clip art images and styles I wanted to learn. I even traced shapes off of TVs and computer clip art until I could create or adapt the foundational shapes into my own characters.
Having no experience with professional art classes, I needed to give myself the time to practice and grow, even if it meant doing something a bunch of times before I liked it.
It was the best feeling ever to overcome these feelings and I am even prouder of this book now because of how hard it was to complete it!
10. What inspired you to try children's literature?
My first job was working as a summer day camp counselor every summer in the camp I attended as a child. I mostly worked in the younger ages like Pre-K level children where they were starting to really get curious about the world, become sensitive to people’s feelings, and understand when someone is being made fun of or hurt at someone’s expense. The camp had every activity you could imagine, but in all of the festivities and chaos, the children needed time to “cool down” and have some time self-regulate their emotions and bodies. It was often 100+ degrees, and I wasn’t going to force them into activities that would be dangerous to do in that weather.
I always kept a short children’s book or stuffed animal in my backpack and group mates would ask for it if they needed some time to themselves.
As I began to read under a shady tree, more and more kids joined us until practically our whole group was there with us.
One day, a child was crying because she was asked to read in front of her child peers when she didn’t know how. She was so upset! The group was singing “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” and were given printed lyrics to read as they sang in music class. I had to take her outside and said, “You know the song, right?” The little one was like, “Yeah, but they will catch me not reading from the paper.” I told her that she was too young to start reading and began a whole story about how all of her friends already read “I can read” type books before entering Kindergarten. I smiled and said “Have you ever tried reading?” She said no. “How are you supposed to know if you can or not?” Anyway, she looked at the paper while singing the song and we later had a group discussion about how not everyone had time to practice at home.
Days later, I had just received my proof copy of Counting Kitties. I sat with this child and we read the book once or twice before the camp routines started. After a week, she began to read easier words and phrases with less coaching.
Her friends came up to us and said, “Hey look guys, [her name] is reading! She didn’t know like a couple of days ago. No way! Not possible! Did you practice because of what happened in music class? This is the coolest thing ever!”
They interrogated me like I was some criminal, and the other child was laughing like she was in on a secret that no one else was “in on.”
The kids were like, “Yeah we know you had something to do with it, but how?” to me.
The kids knew I was coaching her.
The now-reading child was smothered in hugs and high fives with cheers as they noticed her skills.
To say I was speechless was an understatement. If I could help one child smile or strengthen their literacy skills, then I did my job as an author.
I knew I had to keep going.
11. What do you do when you feel stuck?
It’s okay to step back, but you really need to reflect on the specific thing that is holding you back. Usually it’s one minor thing or one character. Once I identify the problem, I can research strategies and practice until I can develop it into a page that meets my story.
12. How do you ensure that the illustrations are age appropriate and engaging for young readers?
There can be a variety of ages in children’s literature. My books are made for really young children, so I make sure that my stories are also appropriate. Since I am also in college to become a teacher, I started using what I learned about child development to make sure that I am drawing pictures that match the story in a way the intended age group could understand. I am often told that my style is “too babyish” but I always intended my books for children who are on the cusp of learning to read independently.
I use simple shapes and bright colors that look like a child could try it themselves, but this is why the images are appealing to them.
Sarah, thank you so much for the insight into your creative process! And thank you for the good work you do with kids. Follow Sarah on social media and check out her book, Counting Kitties, in our Bookshop! Keep shining!
Twitter/X: https://x.com/SarahLinx2
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