RACHELLLLL!!!! This was wildly emotional to read holy moly— Little Rachel is ADORABLE and I’m working on a time machine to go back and protect her at all costs 😤 I am so happy for you and your dream, my friend, and so happy for the world that we get to have your stories in it SO SOON ❤️❤️❤️
Awww thanks, Mon! It is funny because I hated that photo as a kid. I was so embarrassed by it. But now it has become my guide — and I love it so much! When I made the cover for HOW TO PEE, I had no idea I was even taking inspo from it 🤣 Anyway, appreciate you and honored to walk this fun weird path with you!
I identify with this so much, but on a bit of a flip side.
In fourth grade journaling (creative writing), I definitely ripped off storylines from Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers (it was fanfic before fanfic); my teacher just encouraged me in my writing. My classmates were the ones who handed me the shovel.
But two years later, I had an also amazing teacher who encouraged my writing even more, even though half the time it made no sense to anyone but me sometimes. (Side note: she was the only one to teach me how to draw anything recognizable and helped me fall in love with art.)
I became a professional journalist but grabbed the shovel again when I realized the way to get ahead in that industry was to be negative. Eventually, I went back to school and became a middle school English teacher. I locked the shovels in the boiler room because the belonged nowhere near my kids. Those kids encouraged my fiction writing and insisted that I finish. They even helped spark a series of short stories. They’ve grasped the shovel-free zone. 😊
I will become a published author in the near future. I know this because my cousin (then 14, like my middle schoolers) visited from England last year, and we talked books and my own writing. She made me sign my name on a bookmark and insisted that I write under my signature “Future Famous Author.”
This spring I had my NaNoWriMo hoodie embroidered with the words “Future Famous Author.”
Oh my goodness, I almost missed this lovely note but I'm so glad I found it. Thank you for writing it.
I love that you had supportive teachers who kept that shovel away! And then you eventually became one and gave that gift to your students...who returned the favor. What a beautiful shovel-free zone you all crafted together.
I look forward to seeing your future books, Future Famous Author. :) Keep making those stories and hiding the shovels far away. Cheering you on!
WOW this is such a big month for you! Remember to enjoy it!!! Congrats on your debut and thanks for being vulnerable with us. Also, WTF fourth grade teacher?! Not cool.
Thanks so much, Celina! It is a big month and I think I’ve processed enough all year that I now ready to celebrate and enjoy it all thoroughly 😉 It will be so much fun!
Yeah, I still don’t get how that happened! The prompt was for a Christmas story and I wrote it about Santa and elves and she said I stole it from movies and tv shows. I was so confused and devastated! Looking back I’m like…of course I wrote it about Santa and elves — what was she expecting?! 🤣
I'm not getting misty-eyed, YOU'RE getting misty-eyed! Oh, wait--we both are! Ha! Well, I'm so very, very excited for you--this week is going to be the culmination of so many dreams and hopes and imaginings! AND--you have even so much more to look forward to! Congrats and hugs, hugs, hugs!
Haha — yes, right there with you misty-eyed friend ;) Thank you for your excitement. I’m eagerly awaiting the chance to witness all of this journey coming up for YOU as well. PFFs celebrating books together — nothing better than that!
Very excited for you -- I know this is just the start of an excellent kidlit journey! (And I definitely relate to sticker anxiety -- I still have stickers from childhood, even though the adhesive has likely dried up.)
Jen!! Thank you so much. (And oh my gosh, that folder I showed in the video is totally real — full of stickers from my childhood haha)
Also I’ve been running around and haven’t had the chance to pop into the discord for a chat, but I’m cheering you on over here as well. I also just realized I wasn’t subscribed to Sunday Haha like I thought and quickly remedied that ;)
I think there's so much in our childhood that can bolster our confidence, the reminder of our boundless imagination and ability to dream. Excited to see this book and all the others yet to come!!
IM SO PROUD OF YOU! I think little Rachel and big Rachel are so talented. Thank you for sharing your gifts and your fears with the world! Also boo to that teacher.
RACHELLLLL!!!! This was wildly emotional to read holy moly— Little Rachel is ADORABLE and I’m working on a time machine to go back and protect her at all costs 😤 I am so happy for you and your dream, my friend, and so happy for the world that we get to have your stories in it SO SOON ❤️❤️❤️
Awww thanks, Mon! It is funny because I hated that photo as a kid. I was so embarrassed by it. But now it has become my guide — and I love it so much! When I made the cover for HOW TO PEE, I had no idea I was even taking inspo from it 🤣 Anyway, appreciate you and honored to walk this fun weird path with you!
I identify with this so much, but on a bit of a flip side.
In fourth grade journaling (creative writing), I definitely ripped off storylines from Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers (it was fanfic before fanfic); my teacher just encouraged me in my writing. My classmates were the ones who handed me the shovel.
But two years later, I had an also amazing teacher who encouraged my writing even more, even though half the time it made no sense to anyone but me sometimes. (Side note: she was the only one to teach me how to draw anything recognizable and helped me fall in love with art.)
I became a professional journalist but grabbed the shovel again when I realized the way to get ahead in that industry was to be negative. Eventually, I went back to school and became a middle school English teacher. I locked the shovels in the boiler room because the belonged nowhere near my kids. Those kids encouraged my fiction writing and insisted that I finish. They even helped spark a series of short stories. They’ve grasped the shovel-free zone. 😊
I will become a published author in the near future. I know this because my cousin (then 14, like my middle schoolers) visited from England last year, and we talked books and my own writing. She made me sign my name on a bookmark and insisted that I write under my signature “Future Famous Author.”
This spring I had my NaNoWriMo hoodie embroidered with the words “Future Famous Author.”
Kids are amazing. I’m blessed to write for them.😊
Oh my goodness, I almost missed this lovely note but I'm so glad I found it. Thank you for writing it.
I love that you had supportive teachers who kept that shovel away! And then you eventually became one and gave that gift to your students...who returned the favor. What a beautiful shovel-free zone you all crafted together.
I look forward to seeing your future books, Future Famous Author. :) Keep making those stories and hiding the shovels far away. Cheering you on!
Congrats Rachel!!! From one kid dream follower to another 💕
Aww thank you, Eliza! You are incredible :)
WOW this is such a big month for you! Remember to enjoy it!!! Congrats on your debut and thanks for being vulnerable with us. Also, WTF fourth grade teacher?! Not cool.
Thanks so much, Celina! It is a big month and I think I’ve processed enough all year that I now ready to celebrate and enjoy it all thoroughly 😉 It will be so much fun!
Yeah, I still don’t get how that happened! The prompt was for a Christmas story and I wrote it about Santa and elves and she said I stole it from movies and tv shows. I was so confused and devastated! Looking back I’m like…of course I wrote it about Santa and elves — what was she expecting?! 🤣
This is everything! Huge congrats to Little Rachel and Big Rachel for coming together to make big little dreams happen.
Aww thank you, Kelsey! Appreciate the congrats so much and the support of dreams. Sending support your way too!
I'm not getting misty-eyed, YOU'RE getting misty-eyed! Oh, wait--we both are! Ha! Well, I'm so very, very excited for you--this week is going to be the culmination of so many dreams and hopes and imaginings! AND--you have even so much more to look forward to! Congrats and hugs, hugs, hugs!
Haha — yes, right there with you misty-eyed friend ;) Thank you for your excitement. I’m eagerly awaiting the chance to witness all of this journey coming up for YOU as well. PFFs celebrating books together — nothing better than that!
Very excited for you -- I know this is just the start of an excellent kidlit journey! (And I definitely relate to sticker anxiety -- I still have stickers from childhood, even though the adhesive has likely dried up.)
Jen!! Thank you so much. (And oh my gosh, that folder I showed in the video is totally real — full of stickers from my childhood haha)
Also I’ve been running around and haven’t had the chance to pop into the discord for a chat, but I’m cheering you on over here as well. I also just realized I wasn’t subscribed to Sunday Haha like I thought and quickly remedied that ;)
I think there's so much in our childhood that can bolster our confidence, the reminder of our boundless imagination and ability to dream. Excited to see this book and all the others yet to come!!
Wow, beautifully said. Love this, Hannah. And thank you! Hopefully we’ll have another adventure with Martha sometime soon ;)
Thanks for sharing your story, Rachel! Huge congrats and I can't wait to read your book(s)!
Aww thank you, Teresa! I’m cheering you on over here too!!!
IM SO PROUD OF YOU! I think little Rachel and big Rachel are so talented. Thank you for sharing your gifts and your fears with the world! Also boo to that teacher.
Thank you, Taylor!!! Means the world. So excited to see you soooonnn
So ridiculously adorable. Congrats
Aww thank you, Sasha!