The Books the Raised Me
Lauren Hoffmeier Lauren Hoffmeier

The Books the Raised Me

A picture book is a treasure. It’s the beginning of a lifelong relationship that only gets better with age. As I sat down to contemplate which 20 of the many picture books impacted my upbringing, I was confronted with the agony of choosing. In the end, for the purposes of this blog, there was no rhyme or reason to my selection of these 20 books, as I couldn’t rightfully decide. I just had to go with my gut, letting you in on the childhood of an American kid who grew up in New York City in the early '90s.

Read More
How Studying Theater Improved My Writing
Lauren Hoffmeier Lauren Hoffmeier

How Studying Theater Improved My Writing

As a children's author, it's crucial for me to develop characters that are interesting, engaging, and relatable to young readers. Drawing on skills learned in the theater helps me infuse an atmosphere of fun and play into the process - another essential quality for children’s stories.

Read More
Life Lessons We Can Learn from Kids to Become Better Adults
Lauren Hoffmeier Lauren Hoffmeier

Life Lessons We Can Learn from Kids to Become Better Adults

One of the biggest pieces of advice I can give to aspiring authors is that your work has to be something you love because you'll be working at it pretty much all of the time. Fortunately, I love what I do because I learn something new about it every day, which keeps things interesting. And my biggest teachers are the kids.

Read More
5 Tips for Writing a Children's Book: Get Started with These Strategies
Lauren Hoffmeier Lauren Hoffmeier

5 Tips for Writing a Children's Book: Get Started with These Strategies

Writing for kids is a weird and wonderful journey. You've got to dive right into the deep end of that rainbow-sprinkled, slime-filled, squiggle-shaped pool of imagination. Writing for kids can feel like hours of fun-filled character creation, but it can also be daunting if you don't plan ahead.

Read More
How to Publish a Book
Lauren Hoffmeier Lauren Hoffmeier

How to Publish a Book

“I have a great idea for a book!” Have you ever thought that to yourself? There’s an old saying: Everyone has a book in them. So how do we get that book out? Well, you could say it starts with writing it down, but how do we get that book into the hands of people around the world? 

Read More