Gaylene Wilson
Kid Lit is my passion. After working as a journalist for a small newspaper, I found my niche in children’s literature. I love writing suspenseful YA, as well as humorous middle grade and quirky picture books.
I also love drawing, and picked it up again after taking a twenty year break! I started slow, doing YouTube tutorials to figure out how to use the Procreate drawing app, then began to experiment with creating my own designs, lettering styles, and book covers. It has been so rewarding to create my own illustrations!
The biggest thing that has helped me in my writing and illustrating career is having a trusted writers group who gives me valuable feedback. Attending writing conferences can help you make those connections. I have attended the Writing and Illustrating for Young Readers conference off and on for many years, taking intensive week-long classes from award-winning authors such as Carol Lynch Williams, Martine Leavitt, Julie Berry, Brandon Mull, Lindsey Leavitt, and Ann Dee Ellis, as well as picture book authors Rick Walton and Lisa Wheeler.
Gaylene Wilson 