Valerie Bolling

  

  By Margaret Lea 

     Valerie has been writing poems since her elementary-school days, but not until 2016, inspired by writing a couple of stories for her nieces, did she get the urge to seriously pursue writing. She had some author friends, so she sought out their advice. She also talked with librarians and booksellers, attended classes and conferences, and joined SCBWI and writing groups. 

     Her debut picture book, LET’S DANCE, was picked up by an editor after a Twitter pitch event. It came out in March, 2020, and went on to win a SCBWI Crystal Kite award. Three months after her debut, she signed with agent James McGowan at BookEnds Literary. She has been with him ever since and very much enjoys working together. 

     Valerie spent 30 years as an educator. She taught elementary and middle school for many years and then was an instructional coach for other teachers. She believes her teaching experience helps her craft books that appeal to and resonate with kids. She left the classroom in 2023 to be a full time author, but still enjoys doing author visits at schools whenever she can. 

     She is a member of many writing groups and organizations. She recommends that all writers find communities like this where you can ask questions and support each other. For pre-published authors, Valerie says not to query before the work is ready. But also don’t let fear of rejection cause you to indefinitely postpone querying. Just polish your work through critique groups and classes, then send it out.

     For published authors, she says, “Hang in there and don’t get discouraged.” It’s an extremely tight market right now, and you have to just keep writing and submitting. She advises pushing yourself out of your comfort zone at times. For example, if participating in a book fair doesn’t sound fun to you, try one anyway. It may not be as hard as you expected. She also advises diversifying. She writes both rhyming and non-rhyming picture books, as well as board books, chapter books, and books for teachers. She has written fiction and non fiction, done a work-for-hire assignment, and also placed poems in children’s magazines.

     Valerie stresses the importance of persistence and trying new things. When the publisher Charlesbridge issued an open call for STEAM board books and picture books, she submitted a manuscript. It wasn’t selected. So she sent another picture book and a board book. Her board book, CHLOE’S COMMUNITY GARDEN, was chosen and will be out in 2027. 

     Her first picture book biography, A FLEA FOR JUSTICE: MARIAN WRIGHT EDELMAN STANDS UP FOR CHANGE, will be released this September. And her first historical fiction picture book, THE MARCH FOR HOPE, will come out in February 2026.

     In 2020, for a library near her home in Connecticut, Valerie got to virtually interview renowned author Jacqueline Woodson. She later met her in person at a national teacher’s conference, and Jacqueline remembered her!

     Check out valeriebolling.com to learn more about Valerie and her many books. An interesting fact is that she has been to five of the world’s seven continents. She hopes to eventually visit Australia and Antarctica as well. 

*Author Valerie Bolling will be the presenter at our virtual chapter meeting on September 8, 2025 (not the normal first-Monday schedule due to Labor Day). Her topic is “Infinite Ideas” and we will get to actively participate and generate new writing ideas.