events & picture books salon

upcoming events

Book talk for Rings of Heartwood at Anderson Center's Children's Book Festival, Red Wing MN

Saturday, September 13, 11 am-4 pm
(my talk time TBA)

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

Sunday, October 12, time TBA

Far, Far Away storytime at Content bookstore in Northfield, MN

Sunday, September 21, 2 pm

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

Thursday, October 16, time TBA
more info: picturebookparade.com/msp

upcoming picture book salons:

–

Speaker: Megan Maynor
Topic: “THE LONG HAUL”
Date: Monday, October 6th
Time: 7-8:30pm
Location: Open Book Building, room 303 (THIRD FLOOR)
1011 S Washington Ave, Minneapolis MN
–
“Writing a picture book can be a long journey. And each book is part of our overall journey as writers. In both cases, sometimes things are cruising along, and sometimes you are in a rut, or lost, or out of gas, or doing donuts in the driveway. Let’s talk about it!
–
I’ll share a bit about the development of my new picture book, IT’S TACO KNIGHT!, illustrated by Estrela Lourenco. Then we’ll expand the topic and talk about creative practices.
–
What practices were helpful at the beginning of your journey? Are they different now? I’ll share some of mine, including new ideas for shaking things up at this stage. Do you have habits, practices, exercises, craft books, podcasts, spells or incantations that help you? Please come and share!”
–
We will have several copies of IT’S TACO KNIGHT! to give away to attendees. Enjoy snacks, beverages, and hanging out in real life with other picture book creators.
–
–
Save these dates! Our next two Salons will be VIRTUAL:
Monday, November 3, with Sarah Warren (7-8pm on Zoom)
Tuesday, December 2, 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

Book talk for Rings of Heartwood at Anderson Center's Children's Book Festival, Red Wing MN

Saturday, September 13, 11 am-4 pm
(my talk time TBA)

Far, Far Away storytime at Content bookstore in Northfield, MN

Sunday, September 21, 2 pm

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

Sunday, October 12, time TBA

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

Thursday, October 16, time TBA
more info: picturebookparade.com/msp

upcoming picture book salons:

–

Speaker: Megan Maynor
Topic: “THE LONG HAUL”
Date: Monday, October 6th
Time: 7-8:30pm
Location: Open Book Building, room 303 (THIRD FLOOR)
1011 S Washington Ave, Minneapolis MN
–
“Writing a picture book can be a long journey. And each book is part of our overall journey as writers. In both cases, sometimes things are cruising along, and sometimes you are in a rut, or lost, or out of gas, or doing donuts in the driveway. Let’s talk about it!
–
I’ll share a bit about the development of my new picture book, IT’S TACO KNIGHT!, illustrated by Estrela Lourenco. Then we’ll expand the topic and talk about creative practices.
–
What practices were helpful at the beginning of your journey? Are they different now? I’ll share some of mine, including new ideas for shaking things up at this stage. Do you have habits, practices, exercises, craft books, podcasts, spells or incantations that help you? Please come and share!”
–
We will have several copies of IT’S TACO KNIGHT! to give away to attendees. Enjoy snacks, beverages, and hanging out in real life with other picture book creators.
–
–
Save these dates! Our next two Salons will be VIRTUAL:
Monday, November 3, with Sarah Warren (7-8pm on Zoom)
Tuesday, December 2, 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.