On a steamy Virginia morning under the shade of Hollins University’s Front Quadrangle canopy of ash, poplar, and dogwood trees, I graduated with my M.F.A. in Children’s Book Writing and Illustrating. My family was present, the speeches were moving, and I gave sweaty hugs to my old co-workers, professors, and friends. I will go further into my four-year graduate school journey in another blog post, but the purpose of mentioning my graduation here is that it ties into this month’s guest for my kid lit interview series.
Meet Rebekah, a fellow Hollins graduate. Photo courtesy of Rebekah Lowell.
Rebekah Lowell graduated in 2018 with the same M.F.A. I received (I was actually in attendance for her graduation as part of my duties as a Hollins Student Activities GA). The first and only of its kind in the U.S., the Hollins University Children’s Book Writing and Illustrating graduate program was a safe haven for Rebekah to hone in her artistic skills while exploring new forms of storytelling. She recently received representation from the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, an esteemed children’s book agency representing award-winning authors and illustrators. Her personal debut novel-in-verse, The Road to After, reimagines her trek to Hollins via the perspective of a girl escaping domestic abuse with her mother and sister.
How did you receive an agent?
The easy answer is by saying that signed with my first agent because I paid $50 and met with her at a one-on-one at NESCBWI. But the more complicated answer is everything that led up to that offer of rep. In 2018, I had a BFA from RISD, four years of grad school under my belt, several NESCBWI conferences, portfolio reviews, countless critique group meetings, about twenty picture book manuscripts, a dozen dummies, a 4x4 Mentorship Program with Brian Lies, and many, many rejections under my belt.
I went to that conference hoping for the best but was prepared for another rejection. After four solid years of querying my best work, I received my first offer.
Apple picking. Photo courtesy of Rebekah Lowell.
We sold my first novel in verse but after a couple of years of working together, we parted ways amicably. I’m now represented by Paige Terlip at Andrea Brown Literary Agency and I’m so thrilled by this!
Who are your favorite children's book authors or illustrators?
(I am also adding broader illustrators as well because their work inspires me.)
Barbara Cooney
Beatrix Potter
Jessie Wilcox Smith
Garth Williams
E.H. Shephard
Arthur Rackham
Edmund Dulac
Robert Lawson
Robert McCloskley
Arnold Lobel
Jerry Pinkney
Bernie Fuchs
Brian Lies
Mary Jane Begin
Sophie Blackhall
Michaela Goade
Melissa Sweet
Eric Rohman
Ashley Wolff
Katherine Roy
John Rocco
Eliza Wheeler
Studio reading nook. Photo courtesy of Rebekah Lowell.
Isabelle Arsenault
Julia Denos
Sarah Jacoby
EB Lewis
David Wiesner
Matt Ottley
Elise Hurst
Bob Marstal
Vesper Stamper
Camille Garoche
Corinna Luyken
Jen Betton
Esme Shapiro
Anna Walker
Abigail Halpin
Erin McGuire
Jane Kim of Inkdwell (nature art)
Liz Clayton Fuller (bird art)
I feel like I am forgetting some! I love art, can you tell?
How would you describe your illustrative style?
Natural, whimsical, empathetic, classic, I’ve also heard quiet. Lately I’ve been working on keeping my classic look while incorporating bolder decisions with color and value. After learning surface pattern design with Bonnie Christine, I’ve started a shift in my illustration work as well.
Do you have a specific place devoted to your creative process?
Yes! I have a studio space over my garage. My father built my house and I live in the field where I grew up (and where I used to have a horse). Having a studio space where I can work from home and live on the land I love - where I find inspiration and can be near my family - is a dream come true. I have two sides to my studio space: one side is where I have my computer and art tables set up, along with flat file storage, and the other side is set up to be more like a little library. I have two 12-cube shelves packed with kid lit books and a large fluffy bean bag to curl up on to read. I also have vertical art canvas storage on that side, but it’s still my reading nook side. To write, we must read.
You attended Hollins University in Virginia for your M.F.A. in Children's Book Writing and Illustrating. How has receiving this degree impacted your writing and illustrating career?
The Road to After, published earlier this month by Penguin Random House. Photo courtesy of Rebekah Lowell.
Attending Hollins has impacted my creative career more than any other venture I have set towards working in the industry of children’s literature. Studying under Ruth Sanderson the first year I was at Hollins, we focused on creating a picture book dummy for a manuscript I had. That dummy is the one that Brian Lies chose anonymously when I was selected for the 4x4 Mentorship Program where we worked together for several months. While working with Brian, I found my current illustration style, which helped me focus on my thesis. I fully believe finding my style helped me sign with my first agent. The dummy I shared with Wendi Gu, which prompted her offer of representation, was one of my thesis projects that I worked on with Mary Jane Begin and Lisa Fraustino. It was in one of my writing classes with Hillary Homzie that I penned the first words of what is now The Road to After, and they were read and critiqued by Writer-in-Residence Cece Bell, who introduced me to novels in verse and Brown Girl Dreaming. My middle grade novel was published by Nancy Paulsen Books earlier this month. I met editor Frances Gilbert in 2014 at Hollins and Nicole de las Heras a summer later, and right now we are all working together on another book, Catching Flight. The illustration that caught Frances’ attention on Twitter was from another one of my thesis projects. Hollins didn’t hand any of this to me, but I think it presents every opportunity for someone who is hungry for success. I strongly feel that it’s because I kept working, kept revising, kept drawing, kept submitting, kept relationships going, kept showing up, and kept hope alive that it all came together this way.
Do you have any advice for aspiring children's book author-illustrators?
Consistency is key. Do something small each day toward your goals. Keep tabs on yourself in planners or notebooks, chart your milestones, or find accountability partners or a critique group to keep you going. Don’t stop the momentum because the more you put it off, the more the long journey ahead can feel daunting. Just do the next thing, and you will get there. No one is an overnight success.
To see more of Rebekah’s work, visit her website rebekahlowell.com and follow her on Instagram @rebekahlowell. Her debut novel-in-verse, The Road to After, is out on shelves now.
Learn more about Hollins University’s graduate programs in children’s literature here.