Kelly Bennett is coming to town!

 By Margaret Lea 

Cate Berry, picture book author, will be the speaker at our October 6, 2025 Zoom chapter meeting. She will be speaking on "Secrets to a Long, Unshakeable Career in Publishing." Below is my interview with Cate. For more info on Cate and her work, check out her website at cateberry.com. 

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer? What most helped you get there? 

It sounds cliché, but reading is what MOST helped me become a published author. Want to write picture books? Read at least 300 before you even begin drafting. I'm serious. There is a rhythm to picture books, a cadence and a "puzzle element" that's absorbed into your subconscious by reading in bulk. This is also true for middle grade and YA. Try and feel your way into the game. You'll also discover which authors, subjects and subgenres speak to you. It's fun to draft. I get it. But while you're building up your chops, keep reading the form. I have taken classes, trained with mentors and even received an MFA in Writing for Children and nothing replaces what I've learned from reading. Bonus: make friends with your librarians! They love helping you find new and challenging titles. And, bonus-bonus, they will be the first in line to order your book when it's published!

What was your career before writing? Are you writing full-time now?

I do write mostly full time now. I continue teaching and public speaking because it's a satisfying way to give back and to socialize! Writing is lonely. I am not crazy about small talk, but I adore connecting one-on-one over craft and the publishing business. Earlier in my life I studied acting and performed professionally. That led to songwriting. Then two kids in two years happened (not our best work!), and ironically, when I turned to writing for kids my background served as the perfect education for children's books. I had years of training with character and story and dialogue. Songwriting helped hone potent, lyrical sentences and language. I joke that I spent twenty years studying to be a picture book author before I picked up a pen.

What are your top tips for pre-published authors?

Beyond reading, get out and talk to people! Go to conferences, meetups, retreats. Ultimately, all creative work is collaborative. No one writes a book alone. Find your people. One of the best things I did as a young writer was develop friendships with female authors who were a decade or so ahead of me. They helped normalize the lows and encourage the highs. It also saved me time. Having a wonderful mentor ultimately helps you stay on track, avoiding pitfalls and burnout. Another thing I'd advise is saddling up to very hard working writers and keeping stride with them. Don't linger with folks who complain and find ways of not writing. Instead, keep company with someone more disciplined than yourself. It will push you to stay productive.

What are your top tips for published authors?

I am extremely passionate about helping authors keep their authenticity throughout their publishing journey. Whenever art and commerce intersect, there is an incongruity. When you begin publishing and selling, an entirely new skill set is required. An author needs to build up their fertile inner life. That helps regulate the highs and lows of the business, and it's something we don't talk about enough. I started doing public talks around this subject and developed tangible ways for helping build up muscles of resilience and perseverance. A great quick, free way that helps is writing letters to your artist self. If that feels too cheesy, write letters to a close friend or loved one. But the emphasis should be on letting your artist have a voice on the page. I also stress finding and understanding your personal set of values and making sure your professional decisions are in alignment with that. I lead workshops and classes on this subject! It's so needed in our industry. 

Can you share a fun story about yourself? (Preferably something related to writing.)

My superpower is that I can talk to a tree stump. My grandmother gave me the great gift of gab and I've used it well in this industry. So many people (agents, editors, publicists) have their guard up. They know we writers need them to sell and promote our work. But I try to put that aside and just talk to people. I love making friends. This love of talking to people has helped me land two agents, without having to query. I've simply met them at a conference or retreat, or been introduced through mutual friends, and one thing has led to another. I always tell people to use your gifts! Maybe you hate talking at events but you're a fantastic storyteller. Or you're great at organizing. Don't be afraid to lean into your talents and use them in unorthodox ways to get your work out there. There is no "one way,” and I'm living proof of that.