A Milestones Met Interview
Please share your exciting news (agent signing, book sale, etc.)!
I signed with a new agent, Elisa Houot of The Seymour Agency.
How long have you been writing/pursuing an agent/publishing deal and how has the Courage to Create program/tools served you in reaching this milestone?
I started checking into writing and illustrating seriously towards the end of 2018. I signed up for SCBWI, 12×12, Storyteller Academy, SVSLearn, and any and all classes that I could afford to join and learn from. My critique partners encouraged me to join a Writing Barn class, and I did. I took Writing with Authenticity with Jessixa Bagley in 2021 where one of my best stories was hatched. I also was a finalist in PBParty 2021 for illustration which gave me extra confidence in my craft. I found my agent through a Twitter Pitch Perfect Live event.
When we reach a milestone, it means we may encounter new fears and challenges, as well as joys along the journey. How has being a part of the CTC community prepared you for both enjoying the celebration of a milestone reached and the work that is next to come?
I love to read when members post Monday Motivations, midweek struggles, and Friday Ta-Das. It gives you a glimpse into the life of an author both new and experienced, and everyone goes through the same issues but at a different stage of their career.
In the Courage to Create, we call on our Big Why as we engage in the ups and downs of the literary life? What’s your Big Why and how does it keep you motivated to keep working towards new milestones?
After being left-brained for most of my career, I love the creative aspects of being an author-illustrator by using my right-brain. Creativity bring so much joy. Also, I would like to see more diversity and STEM in kidlit.
It’s not easy to keep creating courage when it comes to our literary lives. Did you ever encounter a low point or period and did you lean on any of the CTC tools or practices? What did the no/not yets, or near misses/champagne rejections teach you in hindsight now that your YES is here?
I am relatively new to CTC. I just know from other authors posting in the CTC group that everyone is on their own journey. It is not a competition and not to compare your progress with others. Don’t let the negativity pull you down. I have encountered low points and doubts just like everyone else. I always turned to meditation and painting to lift myself up. Nos on the way to the yes, reiterated that I have to keep searching for that agent that loves my work as much as I do. That will be my dream agent. Until then, I had to keep myself occupied and keep learning the craft and keep improving.
As we celebrate your milestone reached, what thoughts can you share with other writers who may doubt they will reach their first or next milestone?
I am at the first stage of my career, so I take this with a grain of salt. If you are looking for your agent, don’t limit yourself to traditional ways of querying. I found my chance on Twitter during an event called Pitch Perfect Live. Just keep going! Don’t give up! Think of your aspirations to become published as your inner child. If you truly love your inner child, you won’t give up. That would be bad parenting. Look at that face! How could you give up? Use all your critique partners’ help. It takes a village to raise a child.
What is your favorite Courage to Create Belief?
“CREATIVITY is not a competition.”
Ramya Spaulding (R.G. Spaulding) is an Indian-American. She loves to draw and frequently got into trouble as a kid for daydreaming too much. Art was encouraged to be pursued only as a hobby and not as a primary profession growing up. When she quit her engineering job in 2017, she decided to establish her second career as an author/illustrator. She currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family. She wants to see more interracial kids like hers represented in picture books. She also loves to include a hint of STEM into picture books. You can find out more by visiting https://rgspaulding.com/.
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