In this episode of Tom Ray's Art Podcast, I meet Evie Woltil Richner, an artist and emerging author with a dream to create children's books. With roots in painting and drawing, Evie's journey has led to picture book illustration. Evie's transition from academia led to pursuing a passion for creating children's books. We talk about character design and the challenges of breaking into the competitive publishing industry. Evie shares experiences with online courses, the importance of community through critique groups, and the invaluable insights gained from writers' workshops. Discover the strategies Evie employs as they navigate a path towards securing a book deal, from researching agents to honing a manuscript. Evie Woltil Richner's Illustration on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evierichnerillustration Evie Woltil Richner's Website: https://www.eviewoltilrichner.com Tom Ray's Art Podcast Website: https://www.tomrayswebsite.com