Kaitlyn, welcome to my blog! It is so nice to meet you. 

Kaitlyn Wells is the author of the children’s books A Family Looks Like Love and Under the Clam Moon, and lead author of the National Geographic Kids Encyclopedia of African American History & Culture. As an award-winning journalist, her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post, among others. She has also taught and lectured at the City University of New York and Fordham University. She holds a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University and a bachelor’s degree from The University of Texas at Austin.

A double lung transplant recipient, Kaitlyn inhales every moment with her wonderful husband, a clever toddler, energetic dog, and floofy cat. Born in Texas, nurtured in Seattle, and now treasuring the gift of life in New York City, she advocates for media literacy and health policy initiatives.

Visit kaitwells.substack.com to subscribe to her newsletter, which explores how BIPOC women, trans and nonbinary folks navigate the world. Find her online at kaitwells.com/find-me. 

Where are you from? I’m from Texas and have lived in New York City for the last 14 years. As the unspoken rule goes, I officially became a New Yorker at the 10-year mark. Wow, saying that makes me realize just how long I’ve lived in this wonderful city. 

When did you begin writing stories? When do many authors get their start? During childhood. I’m not sure I ever took it seriously or spent a ton of time writing fiction though. Still, I’ve always been a voracious reader, and I have a strong curiosity about the world. I think that’s what led me to get into journalism. While I don’t recall writing a ton of fiction during childhood, I have always been involved in the school newspaper or yearbook since grade school. And those are about stories that happen to be true.

Tell us about your new book: I’m so excited about Under the Clam Moon! It’s a nighttime clamming adventure where a child and their uncle go hunting for clams. They go on a silly adventure and make new memories as they walk up and down the beach. It’s a lovely shoreside journey that’s beautifully illustrated by the talented Mariyah Rahman. And the book includes some backmatter about different clam species and my personal connection to clamming while growing up in the Seattle, Washington suburbs.

And I’m proud to share that Kirkus Reviews called it “a dreamy ode to family and a soft, nocturnal, natural world,” adding that my “lyrical prose has a delightful cadence, ideal for reading aloud.” And Publisher’s Weekly deemed it “a jubilant, anecdotal-feeling celebration of intergenerational bonding and the natural world.”

As a fun aside, I actually sold this book the week after I gave birth. So, it’s been an exciting couple of years all around.

What inspired you to write this book? The inspiration for Under the Clam Moon began with a flash of a memory of driftwood on the beach. I attended a virtual craft workshop on generating story ideas with the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. The session included random word and photo prompts, and an image of a stick fort in the woods caught my eye. 

I lived in the suburbs of Seattle, Washington for a decade, where Douglas Firs and Western Red Cedars were the backdrops of my playground. So that image of the stick fort really called to me. From there, my brain made the connection from children playing outdoors to other activities I enjoyed as a kid. I remembered hiking in the woods and playing on a nearby beach, which reminded me of clam digging with my friends.

How long did it take you to write your book? Under the Clam Moon came together relatively quickly. I spent a month drafting the manuscript and having it peer reviewed by six other children’s book authors. (There’s nothing magical about the number six; it’s just how many people offered to critique it in exchange for my honest feedback of their own work.) Then, it only needed one round of revisions with my agent.

What comes first for you: the idea, the character, or the ending? For me, the ideas are usually the initial spark for creativity. But that catalyst can vary depending on the project. Under the Clam Moon started with an idea because the inspiration was based on a photo. So, the characters made themselves known as I began writing the book, as did the ending.

Although, for another work in progress, my cat inspired the book so the character arrived first and I’ve built the story around an exaggerated version of her personality. And my son became the inspiration with another idea I began toying with last week after I sat and watched him play.

This is just to say there’s no wrong way to write a book, or begin the creative process. Do what works for you, and don’t be afraid to approach your idea, character, or ending from a new perspective. You may be surprised at what you discover.

What has your publishing experience been like? I’ve been honing my craft — as an author, journalist, and writer — my entire career. But I didn’t get serious about writing children’s books until 2019, and sold my first picture book within a year.

Since then, I’ve sold multiple books to different imprints. I’ve been fortunate on my path to publication. My amazing agent Jane Startz and communities like KidLit in Color have supported me on this journey. 

Yet, it hasn’t been easy. Juggling a full-time job and personal responsibilities means sometimes my publishing path becomes a winding road or leads to a Do Not Enter sign. But I keep working at it to try and deliver on my aim to have children to see themselves represented in the books that they read. I’ve worked really hard to write books that resonate with little readers and their parents. I don’t take this opportunity, this responsibility, for granted.

What has been the most challenging for you as a writer? Finding the time to write in dedicated chunks. Like many writers, I have a full-time job, and I also have a family. It’s easy for me to spread myself too thin. And I know I can’t be 100 percent invested in every aspect of my life all of the time, which means something has to suffer. And I won’t put my son or husband last. But my husband is incredibly supportive of my writing career and does what he can so I can take those moments to get words on the page, take a call with my editor, or plan out marketing for my next book.

What do you like to do in your spare time? The best part of my day is spending it with my family. I truly treasure that time. Right now, I make regular trips to the library with my son as my husband often works on weekends. Other than that, we’ve been homebound this winter with indoor activities like painting and puzzles. 

The three of us plan to explore New York City as the weather warms up. Just last week, my husband and I took our son to the American Museum of Natural History. Other upcoming adventures include art and children’s museums, the beach, the park, and weekly music class.

I also love watching movies, from dramas to thrillers and even some fearless KPop Demon Hunters. And late at night, I’m usually researching my works in progress or drafting book proposals. But that’s the type of work that I enjoy doing.

What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever received? Just write. Seems rather simple. It’s not; it’s actually infuriating. But it’s true. Sometimes you just have to write that messy first draft and push anxiety, fear, and perfectionism aside. 

I like to outline to help me get some words on the page. Nothing exhaustive, just a freeflow of writing for where I want certain elements, scenes, and themes to appear. From there, especially for longer works, I start drafting in the middle because beginnings and endings are intimidating. I always feel like I need to get them just right on the first attempt. That leaves me frozen. So by using an outline, and writing a messy draft from the middle, I gain confidence and momentum much more quickly.

What is next for you as an author? First, I’m going to enjoy bringing Under the Clam Moon into the world. I’m scheduling some author visits at local libraries and children’s museums. 

After that, I won’t have much of a break as I actually have another title arriving in a few months. I’m the lead author of the National Geographic Kids Encyclopedia of African American History and Culture. The encyclopedia arrives on December 29. Clocking in at 304 pages, the book was truly a labor of love. In it, readers get to explore more than 400 years of Black history through stories, photos, maps, and more. It highlights unsung heroes, recent discoveries, and (my personal favorite) classic folktales from the Black diaspora.

In general, I’m excited to share both of these books with young readers and their families over the coming months (and hopefully, years). And I’m beyond thrilled that I’ll be able to share these stories with my own son, who turns three in April. 

These next steps, this future as an author and with my family, wouldn’t have been possible without an extraordinary person. In 2024, I received the gift of life from a generous soul. She gave me both her lungs. Without her generosity and the extraordinary work of my medical team, I wouldn’t be here today. As a double lung transplant recipient, I’m eternally grateful I get to continue doing what I love, with those I love the most.

If you’d like to connect with Kaitlyn: 

https://www.facebook.com/KaitWells

https://bsky.app/profile/kaitwells.bsky.social

https://instagram.com/KaitWells15

https://www.threads.net/@kaitwells15

Thank you for stopping by. I loved reading about you and I wish you all the best in your author journey! 

May’s book giveaway winners are Ms Alexis’ kindergarten class. 

Until next month. . .

Stay Happy!

Leslie