events & picture books salon

upcoming events

STEM bookfair signing at the Bakken Museum with The Thinking Spot bookstore

Sunday, October 12
10am – 4pm (my signing 12-1 pm)

Rain Taxi's Twin Cities Book Festival (MN Author Showcase)

Saturday, November 8

Just Us signing at MSP airport, See18 Gallery with Picture Book Parade

Thursday, October 18
12 – 2 pm

Holiday Book Fair at Lake Monster Brewing

Sunday, November 9
1-4pm

upcoming picture book salons:

–

Speaker: Sarah Warren
Topic: “BIG FEAR”
Date: Monday, November 3rd
Time: 7-8pm (Central)
Location: Virtual
– 
– 
– 
Maggie Smith says, “To make things that don’t exist yet–and don’t need to exist, because that is the very definition of art–and to send them out into the world is wildly, impractically, gorgeously hopeful.” But what do we do when our fears overwhelm our ability to hope?
– 
We fear rejection. We fear failure. We fear public humiliation. Fear can make us self-conscious, risk-averse validation seekers. The worst part is that our biggest fears might come true. Mine have! Let’s talk about how we can learn to trust, celebrate, and use our voices despite our fears. There’s hope. Let’s find it together! Come ready to write. You will have the opportunity to share.
– 
We will have several copies of Sarah’s books to give away to attendees. More about Sarah here: sarahwbooks.com
—
Picture Book Salon is FREE and public. RSVP on the FB page or through the contact link.
– 
Save the date for our final virtual Salon of the year: **Tuesday** December 2nd with Sun Yung Shin (7-8pm on Zoom)

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

Some recordings of previous Salons can be found on our Facebook group page, or on YouTube with these links:

  • April 2025 (Magdalena Mora: LIGHT & SHADOW)
  • May 2024  (Pat Zietlow Miller: CUT THE FLUFF)
  • March 2024  (Colleen Muske: GROWING A BOOK)
  • February 2024  (Joyce Sidman: WRITING THROUGH WINTER)
  • October 2023  (Kurtis Scaletta: GRANNY REX”: A BOOK SIX(TY MILLION) YEARS IN THE MAKING)
  • May 2023  (Zaynab Abdi: GREEN CARD VOICES)
  • April 2023  (Tasslyn Magnusson: FIGHTING BOOK BANS)
  • March 2023  (Laura Purdie Salas & Yvonne Pearson: CREATING AND PERFORMING LIBRARY STORYTIMES)
  • February 2023  (Cori Doerrfeld: “BENEATH” THE COVER)
  • April 2022  (Dr. Artika Tyner: WRITING FOR JUSTICE)
  • March 2022  (Kayla Harren: STORYTELLING WITH CHARACTER, COLOR, AND LIGHT)
  • November 2021  (Stephen Shaskan:  GRAPHIC CHAPTER BOOKS & SERIES)
  • October 2021  (Phyllis Root, Liza Ketchum, Jackie Briggs Martin & Claudia McGehee: “BEGIN WITH A BEE” COLLABORATION)
  • April 2021  (Angela Whited & Kara Forde: BOOKSTORES & THE PANDEMIC)
  • November 2020  (Carol Hinz (Editor at Lerner): PICTURE BOOKS & THE PANDEMIC)
  • October 2020  (Dara Beevas (Wise Ink): INDIE AUTHOR REVOLUTION)
Picture Book Salon BOOK BASH event, June 2023 – Left to right: Molly Beth Griffin, Loretta Ellsworth, Yvonne Pearson, Billy Thao, Monica Rojas
Picture Book Salon with Lerner Publishing, June 2024 – Speakers left to right: Shaina Olmanson (editor), Ty Chapman (author), Karlyn Coleman (marketing)

upcoming events

STEM bookfair signing at the Bakken Museum with The Thinking Spot bookstore

Sunday, October 12
10am – 4pm (my signing 12-1 pm)

Just Us signing at MSP airport, See18 Gallery with Picture Book Parade

Thursday, October 18
12 – 2 pm

Rain Taxi's Twin Cities Book Festival (MN Author Showcase)

Saturday, November 8

Holiday Book Fair at Lake Monster Brewing

Sunday, November 9
1-4pm

upcoming picture book salons:

–

Speaker: Sarah Warren
Topic: “BIG FEAR”
Date: Monday, November 3rd
Time: 7-8pm (Central)
Location: Virtual
– 
– 
– 
Maggie Smith says, “To make things that don’t exist yet–and don’t need to exist, because that is the very definition of art–and to send them out into the world is wildly, impractically, gorgeously hopeful.” But what do we do when our fears overwhelm our ability to hope?
– 
We fear rejection. We fear failure. We fear public humiliation. Fear can make us self-conscious, risk-averse validation seekers. The worst part is that our biggest fears might come true. Mine have! Let’s talk about how we can learn to trust, celebrate, and use our voices despite our fears. There’s hope. Let’s find it together! Come ready to write. You will have the opportunity to share.
– 
We will have several copies of Sarah’s books to give away to attendees. More about Sarah here: sarahwbooks.com
— 
Picture Book Salon is FREE and public. RSVP on the FB page or through the contact link.
– 
Save the date for our final virtual Salon of the year: **Tuesday** December 2nd with Sun Yung Shin (7-8pm on Zoom)

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

Some recordings of previous Salons can be found on our Facebook group page, or on YouTube with these links:

  • May 2024  (Pat Zietlow Miller: CUT THE FLUFF)
  • March 2024  (Colleen Muske: GROWING A BOOK)
  • February 2024  (Joyce Sidman: WRITING THROUGH WINTER)
  • October 2023  (Kurtis Scaletta: GRANNY REX”: A BOOK SIX(TY MILLION) YEARS IN THE MAKING)
  • May 2023  (Zaynab Abdi: GREEN CARD VOICES)
  • April 2023  (Tasslyn Magnusson: FIGHTING BOOK BANS)
  • March 2023  (Laura Purdie Salas & Yvonne Pearson: CREATING AND PERFORMING LIBRARY STORYTIMES)
  • February 2023  (Cori Doerrfeld: “BENEATH” THE COVER)
  • April 2022  (Dr. Artika Tyner: WRITING FOR JUSTICE)
  • March 2022  (Kayla Harren: STORYTELLING WITH CHARACTER, COLOR, AND LIGHT)
  • November 2021  (Stephen Shaskan:  GRAPHIC CHAPTER BOOKS & SERIES)
  • October 2021  (Phyllis Root, Liza Ketchum, Jackie Briggs Martin & Claudia McGehee: “BEGIN WITH A BEE” COLLABORATION)
  • April 2021  (Angela Whited & Kara Forde: BOOKSTORES & THE PANDEMIC)
  • November 2020  (Carol Hinz (Editor at Lerner): PICTURE BOOKS & THE PANDEMIC)
  • October 2020  (Dara Beevas (Wise Ink): INDIE AUTHOR REVOLUTION)
Picture Book Salon BOOK BASH event, June 2023 – Left to right: Molly Beth Griffin, Loretta Ellsworth, Yvonne Pearson, Billy Thao, Monica Rojas
Picture Book Salon with Lerner Publishing, June 2024 – Speakers left to right: Shaina Olmanson (editor), Ty Chapman (author), Karlyn Coleman (marketing)

readings & signings

Yes, I am available for story times! Please contact me for rates and details.

Photos from Star of the North nomination event at Mackin, Children’s Book Week readings at New Brighton and North St. Paul libraries, events which served over 70 children plus their adults and Screen-free Week readings at Kinderberry Hill Child Development centers, Eden Prairie and Edina.