We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Nydia Armendia-Sánchez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Nydia, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
The pursuit of my purpose has been a transformative journey. My career path was not a straight line and encompassed diverse roles, including teaching, sales of wedding dresses and facility services, and creative endeavors such as starting a handcrafted spice shop on Etsy. But as my 40th birthday loomed, I felt unfulfilled professionally. I still hadn’t found that thing that brought my joy.
A pivotal moment occurred pre-COVID, while visiting a bookstore with my children. Upon reading MAYBE by Kobi Yamada, I was deeply moved by the story. It stirred something within me, and I cried right then and there. What hadn’t I tried? What was I good at? But more importantly, what could I see myself doing for the next 25 years that I would actually enjoy? A job that I would want to go to everyday and not get a stomach ache in the morning due to the impending dread of my day ahead.
At the same time in my life, I was having a hard time finding books for my own kids that reflected my family’s background, so I began writing stories I thought they might enjoy. I took pen to paper and wrote one or two “books” without any knowledge of how to craft a story. The idea of possibly writing for kids had never crossed my mind. I looked up writing courses and enrolled in my first KidLit class at UCLA Extension. This introduction to children’s literature opened a door and was the first step in becoming a children’s author.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am a proud, Latine children’s author based in Southern California with two published picture books: Not Far from Here and Frida Kahlo’s Flower Crown, also available in Spanish as Frida Kahlo y su corona de flores. I have two more forthcoming picture books that highlight Guatemalan culture and country: The Women Before Us (2026) and Vroom, Vroom, Vámonos (Scholastic 2028). In addition, a fifth children’s book is unannounced, and it is a very exciting biography on a famous person that hasn’t been written about in the children’s space. It’s going to be stunning!
I am passionate about engaging with young readers and families through school events, such as family literacy nights and school visits, both in English and Spanish.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Believing in yourself is important. This has been a hard one for me, and I’m still actively on this journey. This doesn’t mean you don’t have self-doubt, but it is critical to celebrate small wins like taking a step forward and enrolling in that course that you’ve been eyeing or doing research online about the new skill/s you’ll need to reach your goal or dream. I’d like to think I have the skill of persistence. It isn’t enough to be interested. You must be committed. To whatever you do. This is especially true for the publishing industry (and in life!). I committed to learning how to write a picture book by taking classes, attending conferences, and being a part of critique groups. And when I was rejected over and over by literary agents, I kept querying. For every no I received, I sent out one to two more queries. It’s not easy, and I gave up many times in my mind, but ultimately, I kept persisting. Also, as a writer, it’s necessary to never stop creating. While you are waiting for someone to say yes whether that’s an agent or an editor, keep writing. And if you don’t have a story idea, do something else that that you enjoy doing. Creativity in all its forms welcomes more creativity.
Drawing from personal experience, I’ve found podcasts, books, and blogs are incredibly beneficial resources for personal and professional growth. I don’t have an MFA, so I’m a self taught writer, as are many creatives. Finding industry peers who are on similar journeys has been integral in my journey. I joined online writing groups very early on and wasn’t afraid to ask questions. They were all beginners at one point too. Hearing from others who have faced the same challenges whether personal or industry related is a support system I consider myself very lucky to have.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
I have a couple of strategies. The first is a mental break through physical activity—I like to clean or organize. Cleaning a space or reorganizing my closet (which can be a project in itself!), helps me pause the cycle of stress and come back to my tasks with a fresh perspective.
My more strategic approach is something I started this year: creating an accomplishment board. It’s similar to a vision board, but it’s a visual reminder of past successes, both personal and professional. When I’m feeling overwhelmed or doubting my abilities, I look at that board as concrete evidence that I have successfully overcome difficult challenges before. This shifts my focus from the current overwhelming feelings to my proven ability to handle hard things.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://nydiaarmendia.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author.nydia.armendia
Image Credits
All selfies
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