Hello. My name is Tischa Brown, and I get to be your guest blogger for April! Three years ago releasing a book was NOT on my radar, but that’s exactly what happened on January 21, 2026. I, along with illustrator Felipe Blanco, debuted our first picture book, Got Ideas, Anyone? “How did it happen?” you ask. Well, that’s a story involving a broken ankle, an inspiring librarian, a supportive community, and a bit of money. I’m excited to tell you all about it over the next four weeks.
Every time I rolled into a classroom, faces lit up with curiosity. You could tell families wanted to know: Why is the new Director of Early Childhood Education on a knee scooter? It wasn’t the introduction I planned or hoped for, but my predicament and my new position gave me an intrigued, young audience. What better way to take advantage of it than to create a book? Back then, I didn’t know that getting a book published meant querying an agent, or submitting directly to a publisher. So I did what any industrious educator does; I crafted one myself. I printed x-rays of my ankle from the office copier, cut and pasted text with no developmental editing and laminated it onto construction paper. The kids loved it!
Why wouldn’t they? It looked like something they would make.
A month later, I found myself in a hotel teeming with throngs of lanyard laden conference goers. I imagined everyone knowing a lot more about writing and publishing than I did. Imposter Syndrome was trying to make a home in my soul, so I employed an old friend, Self-Talk. It went something like this: “Tischa, you might not know what they know, but you have skills that can help you here. You know how to observe, listen and learn. You know how to find common ground and build community. Focus on that and you’ll get through this weekend” Armed with that little boost of self-esteem and knowledge, I spied my target and approached. I don’t know if Jen Steiner remembers that first interaction, but it was quick and kind. It broadened my understanding of kidlit, but more than that, it gave me a face that smiled back as we passed in the hallways. The day went on much like that, with me spying out willing conversationalists between craft honing workshops, but it really began to click for me on Saturday night.
A day of learning did not leave much gas in the proverbial tank, and that old Imposter Syndrome was trying to settle in again, so when I entered the BIPOC Mingle, I was grappling with how a neophyte like myself fitted in. However, my insecurities dissolved as authors, agents and editors shared their experiences, empowering and affirming each other. I sat in a room next to people sharing a lens on what bound us together, no matter where we were on the journey. It was there that Federico Erebia told me I should look into 12x12. It was there Lisa Y. told me about Kweli. It was in that room I heard and owned the phrase “pre-published author" for the first time, and coming from that group, it felt like a title bestowed upon me and acceptance as a peer. Yeah, I entered feeling like an imposter, but I left an empowered peer.
Okay, empowerment is good, but only if you are going to do something with it. Next week, I’ll tell you what I did. Hope to see you there!
