We were lucky to catch up with Sarina Siebenaler recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Sarina , 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?
Becoming a writer for children’s books is an inner self-reward for my ability to fulfill my creative outlet.
Most importantly, it allows me an opportunity to have an impact on young minds by making a positive contribution to a child’s development and cultivating a love of learning and reading.
Children’s books provide lasting memories that are treasured by families, which build lasting connections beyond the pages of a book. Inspiring curious minds encourages imagination and exploration to have their own creative potential and encourages them to dream, invent, and think outside of the box.
Picture books are the perfect marriage of beautiful art and poetry, which is a gateway to the magical world of storytelling and can stay with readers throughout their lives. This nurtures the influence of a lifelong reader.
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?
Creating silly stories for young readers brings me great joy as a writer. After all, laughter is the best medicine! I’m very proud of our team’s work, especially for those we have impacted through a smile with early literacy.
Employing playful language through wordplay, puns, and lyrical rhymes is a lot of fun. It’s a linguistic device to engage in an active and lively reading experience. The visual humor that Gabby Correia, illustrator, offers in each of our books – ties into the enhanced comedic effect through outlandish characters, exaggerated expressions, and absurd situations. This visual component marries well with the extra layer of humor that complements each story.
We create an original theme for each story in our series to bring in new characters and carry readers through an episodic feeling to new imaginations and childlike experiences. Unexpected twists, unexpected punchlines, or sudden reversals can catch readers off guard and elicit laughter. This surprise and anticipation can maximize the humor’s impact.
It has taken me three years to feel comfortable in creating books. I’m constantly pivoting to ensure that my time, efforts, and costs have a positive return and impact on my work. This is challenging, but the sense of achievement from the hard work can be incredibly fulfilling. I’m always learning and trust that every mistake I make is an opportunity to grow.
Currently, I have three published books that are available on Amazon and major book retail stores.
– Do Not Wish for a Pet Ostrich!
– Do Not Wish for a Birthday Unicorn!
– Do Not Wish for a Christmas Elf!
Stay tuned for the 4th book in this laugh-out-loud collection!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I believe that success is subjective and multifaceted for each creator and business.
Here are three top habits that I have found helpful for my publishing journey.
1. Regular writing and reading: I set aside dedicated writing time to help build momentum, stay focused, and maintain my creative flow. I also read many children’s books, within and outside my genre of writing, to stimulate my imagination and understand current market trends.
2. Discipline and persistence: Writing a children’s book limited to a few hundred words can be challenging. I push through edits even when I don’t feel inspired. I ask beta readers to help, which can change sections or the entire story. Sometimes, having to start from scratch can feel overwhelming. If readers show interest and emotion and learn from my work, this is true mastery of the products I make available to them.
3. Continuous learning and time management: I actively seek opportunities through mentorship, writing workshops, and webinars to stay engaged with industry trends and marketing strategies. I keep myself on a dedicated timeline to ensure the management of my projects is within the parameters I deliver.
The ultimate habit is to create a healthy balance of work with the meaningful people in your life and self-care.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I am profoundly grateful for the unwavering support of the readers who have enjoyed my work. They are the heartbeat of my business and have motivated me to continue the excellence of every written word of forthcoming books I create for them.
The genuine reviews, recommendations, and individuals who have shared my work (e.g., educators, parents, librarians, bloggers, YouTubers, fellow writers, and book enthusiasts) have been instrumental in propelling my vision and imagination to continue creating and gifting a love of reading and learning through early literacy.
If readers or book enthusiasts are excited to connect with me. They can find me at books@sarinasiebenaler.com.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sarinasiebenaler.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/sarina_siebenaler
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/sillybooksforkids
- Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/sarina-siebenaler-48933631
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/sarinasieb
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgSm4Gh17T8&t=67s
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcsPQB8UOi8&t=14s
