PICTUREBOOKING PODCAST INTERVIEW
Julie joins guest host Nadia Salomon on Nick John Patton’s Picturebooking Podcast. They discuss humorous picture books, wordplay, and how to write with heart.
Click here to listen to the episode!
OVER, BEAR! UNDER, WHERE? is a hilariously punny story that will have readers laughing out loud as they join a pair of unlikely pals, overcoming their fears as they discover that friendship underpins all.
SCBWI PICTURE BOOK BIRTHDAY PARTY
Julie joined other authors and illustrators from the Rocky Mountain Chapter of SCBWI at Second Star to the Right Saturday, November 13, for an all day book-a-palooza celebrating all of the book birthdays of 2021.
They welcomed many local favorites in a series of 45 minute panel discussions, including some time for Q + A!
Click here to learn all about the event.
Click here to learn more about the Rocky Mountain Chapter of SCBWI.
SIMPLY 7 INTERVIEW WITH JENA BENTON
Join Julie as she answers questions about the journey of creating “OVER, BEAR! UNDER, WHERE?” and the process of getting it published. The interview is conducted by writer and illustrator Jena Benton, a self-described third generation Alaskan.
“I knew this book was going to be a tough one to sell, given it is so reliant on the art for the humor and story arc. I got encouragement to keep going with it from my mentor and friend Jane Yolen,” said Hedlund.
Click here to read the complete interview.
PICTURE BOOK LOOK PODCAST — EPISODE 68
Julie Hedlund, Michael Slack and Talia Benamy share the creative process behind, OVER, BEAR! UNDER, WHERE? with Kim Chaffee and Kirsti Call, hosts of the Picture Book Look Podcast. Listeners of the podcast, get a behind-the-scenes look into the host’s favorite picture books and authors who create them.
Click here to listen to this interesting podcast.
PICTURE BOOK PLAYGROUND APPEARANCE
Check out Julie’s appearance on Picture Book Playground’s “Fall Release Celebration” show. Julie was joined by Derick Wilder “The Longest Letsgoboy,” Jessica Kulekjian “Before We Stood Tall,” and Jenna Waldman”Larry’s Latkes.”
“It was so exciting for OVER, BEAR! UNDER, WHERE? to be featured on Picture Book Playground,” she said.
INTERVIEW ON WRITERS’ RUMPUS
Julie shares her insights into her upcoming book, “OVER, BEAR! UNDER, WHERE?” with Hilary Margitich from Writers’ Rumpus, a blog featuring writers and illustrators of children’s books for all ages, from picture books to middle grade and young adult.
The interview ranged from questions about the initial spark of inspiration for the book to deciding on a vocabulary for the characters in the book. It also delves into Julie’s impact on the kidlit community and her many long-term projects such as: the 12 x 12 Picture Book Challenge.
Click here to read the complete interview.
“OVER, BEAR! UNDER, WHERE?” SELECTED BY TODAY
Every year, experts at The TODAY Show review and evaluate hundreds of toys and books for children, prior to the holiday gift-giving season. This year, they selected “OVER, BEAR! UNDER, WHERE?” as one of the 39 best toys and gifts for 2-year-olds in 2021. “This funny, punny book features friends Over and Under for a wordplay-filled take on prepositions,” said the experts at The TODAY Show.
Click here to see where “OVER, BEAR! UNDER, WHERE?” landed on their list.
PICTURE BOOK BUILDERS BLOG
Julie Hedlund and “OVER, BEAR! UNDER, WHERE” are featured in the October 22, 2021 edition of the Picture Book Builders Blog. She is interviewed by Kim Norman, author of more than twenty children’s books.
Julie covers her love of words as a self-confessed “word nerd,” and the joy and whimsy contained within the pages of the book including the heart warming friendship that evolve among the characters: Bird, Mole, Bear and Dog.
Click here to read the full interview.
LAURA ROETTIGER BLOG
Read the most recent blog post from Laura Roettiger, Author, Photographer, Editor. She interviewed Julie Hedlund for the October 27, 2021 edition of her blog. Julie shares what inspires her and the key takeaways from “OVER, BEAR! UNDER, WHERE?”
If you comment on the blog post you could win a 30-minute “Ask me anything,” with Julie on ZOOM.
Click here to read the full interview.
INSTITUTE FOR WRITERS PODCAST
Join me as I appear on the Institute for Writers podcast to share my Top 3 Submission Tips. Click here to listen.
As frequent speaker at writing retreats and conferences, I’ve shared my Top 3 Submission Tips many times. But on the Institute for Writers podcast, I was able to go into more depth and answer follow-up questions that I think offered greater insights for listeners.
I developed The Complete Picture Book Submissions System with Emma Walton Hamilton and is I’m one of the founders of Picture Book Summit, a yearly online conference for picture book creators from around the world.
You can pre-order my new book, Over, Bear! Under, Where? to be released in September 2021 from Philomel Books from Bookshop.org.
FUNNY AND FEMALE:
A RESEARCH PROJECT BY A HOITY-TOITY OTTER
Apparently there are women who… get this… make funny books for kids. Hoity-Toity Otter, the rather furry alter ego of Abi Cushman, completed a research project for a recently-published article.
Julie Hedlund was one of thirteen authors interviewed for the project posted on Tara Lazar’s blog, “Writing for Kids (While Raising Them).”
Click here to read Julie’s thoughts and others.
(Hoity-Toity Otter is not only the author of the article, he also plays the small but pivotal role of “Taxi Cab Passenger Who Eats a Three-Course Meal While Sitting in Traffic” in the upcoming picture book, “ANIMALS GO VROOM,” by author-illustrator, Abi Cushmanwhich which rolls onto shelves on July 13, 2021 from Viking Children’s Books.)
BOOK ECHOES | JANUARY 20,2021
Hellooooo… Do you hear an echo? New 12X12 Challenge member, Connie B. Dowell, invited me to be her latest guest on the Book Echoes podcast. I hope you’ll give it a listen (along with her many other wonderful episodes, including 12X12’s own Valerie Bolling.
Connie and I talked about picture book writing, 12 x 12 (of course), and what it means to be an ally. Thanks again for having me, Connie!
Click here to check out the interview.
YOU’VE GOT MEL | OCTOBER 29, 2020
I was a guest on “You’ve Got Mel” a Podcast hosted by Mel Rosenberg, from Ramat Gan, Jerusalem. What a fantastic interview. During the course of our conversation we talked about where writing comes from, the creative inspiration and how much the role of “perspiration” is becoming a successful writer.
On thing that was particularly interesting, was our discussion about — “what childhood age I write from.” Which in case you’re wondering is — age 5. I really enjoyed the experience or talking about the craft of writing with such an insightful interviewer.
Click here to check out the interview on Facebook.