Hi! I’m Carrie Schneider.
I’ve been drawing, painting, and writing all my life, so I’m excited to have a new platform to share those things with others – and hopefully some of the joy that they bring me!
(If you’d like to see some of the art I’ve made, there are examples in varied styles and media in my portfolio.)
Here’s a bit of the story of how I came to write and illustrate picture books for children:
In 2014, I had been working on a YA fantasy novel for a few years while teaching Spanish, Portuguese, and Brazilian literature at nearby universities, but when my husband and I learned that we were expecting a daughter, I wanted to focus my creative energy on making something for her.
The first picture book that I created is The Importance of Earnest, a story about self-discovery and unconditional love that I wrote and illustrated while expecting our daughter.
I have many wonderful memories of sitting at our patio table painting pictures of our sweet adopted dog Earnest and our own backyard plants, and wonderful memories too of reading it to both of our children. I have also shared it with friends and family members, often to be told that it is worth publishing and that they want to see what’s next. Thank you!
So, here is what’s next! The project I’m currently working on is a book I’m calling After the Rainbow. I wanted to make a story for my daughter (now 5 years old) to celebrate and validate her uniqueness, as well as that of every child. I was inspired by our shared love of rainbows and magical creatures.
I’ve been revising and illustrating it during the busy past year, often with my helper by my side as her baby brother (born in March 2020) naps.
I’m currently learning so much from the children’s literature organizations and critique groups I’ve joined and am looking for an agent and publisher as I work. I’m very excited to move forward with this new career after academia. Wish me luck! And feel free to contact me if you have interest in working together to bring picture books to children!
Carrie Schneider Author/Illustrator 