FAQ | Ellie Peterson

Frequently Asked Questions from Kids

Dogs or cats?
Dogs.

When's your birthday?
June 9th, 1978

What's your favorite color?
I like them all, but I suppose I'm partial to yellow.

How long have you been an author/illustrator?

The first book I illustrated came out in 2018, but I started trying to write and illustrate books for publication in 2015. (Of course, I've been writing and illustrating though since I could hold a pencil!)

What advice do you have for kids who like to write and draw?
Write and draw all the time! Bring a notebook and/or sketch pad with you wherever you go. Consistent practice is really the key to becoming better. And don't be afraid to share you work with others. This helps you see your work in ways you might not have on your own and is great for improvement.

Will you ever make another Pufferfish book?

I think Sea Urchin is dying for a story of his own and I will probably start on that pretty soon.

Do you know any good jokes?

Only bad ones. But I'm happy to share them with you. Feel free to email me from the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions from Adults

What advice do you have for aspiring authors and illustrators?

I get this question so often, I actually created a helpful document you can find linked below!

Ellie's Advice for Aspiring Authors

Can you critique my picture book manuscript/dummy or portfolio?

I love helping other prospective writers and illustrators! Unfortunately, it's not a service I can offer on a regular basis due to my busy publication schedule. If you are interested, please reach out via the contact page to see if I have availability and for my rates.

Are you available for speaking engagements for adults?

Yes! I offer the following presentations for adult audiences. Please reach out via my contact page for availability and rates.

Kidlit 101: So you want to write a picture book - Covers the basics of making your manuscript the best it can be, finding representation, and getting your work published.
School visits that have librarians asking you back - How to craft a fun and engaging author presentation and how to work best with school librarians.
Picture Book Dummies for Smarties - How to storyboard and draft your picture book into a format suitable for submission

Can you illustrate my picture book?

It's always so nice to hear that my work resonates with someone so much, they'd like me to illustrate their manuscript! At this time however, I'm only available to illustrate books that are traditionally published and negotiated through my agent Adria Goetz. Thank you for your interest!