More About Anne Appert (They/Them)
Languages: English
Anne (they/them) is a queer, nonbinary storyteller who uses whimsy and humor to inspire and connect with readers on their own journeys towards becoming their most authentic selves. Anne holds a B.F.A. in Illustration from the Fashion Institute of Technology. Their artwork has won several awards from The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, including a portfolio honor in the 2021 Winter Conference Portfolio Showcase and winning the 2023 New England SCBWI Conference Portfolio Showcase.
Anne’s author/illustrator debut BLOB, a humorous book about being yourself, published with HarperCollins in 2021. They also wrote and illustrated WHAT IF YOU WISH?, a lyrical book about holding on to wonder even in the face of doubt, which will publish with HarperCollins on March 5th, 2024. Anne is currently illustrating the early chapter book series ZOOMI & ZOE written by Corey Ann Haydu. The first book in the series is expected to publish in Spring 2025 with Quirk Books.
Anne is an active member in their local SCBWI chapter, where they volunteer as the Illustrator Coordinator. In the past, they volunteered as a moderator for the #KidLitArt chat on twitter. When not working on picture books and graphic novels, Anne teaches digital painting at Montclair State University. This semester, they are also teaching picture book illustration, their favorite subject to teach!
Anne is passionate about helping other authors and illustrators elevate their storytelling and learn how to navigate this industry, especially those from historically underrepresented backgrounds. They are thrilled to be mentoring in the PBRising Stars program for a second year!
Anne finds inspiration in childhood memories, the outdoors, anything colorful (particularly the color yellow), and visits with their niblings. When not teaching or creating books for children, Anne enjoys dying their hair every color of the rainbow, making stickers, spending too much time at independent bookstores, and teaching themself how to roller-skate.
You can find Anne online at:
Anne's strengths are…
Anne's strengths are story brainstorming, creating strong beginnings, pacing, writing humor with heart, writing in multiple genres, big picture changes and line edits, cutting the fluff (Anne has been called Anne the Ax by their critique groups!), dummy development, balancing words and art, website organization for illustrators, color palettes, portfolio development, illustrating in multiple styles, finding the heart of the story/illustration and strengthening it so that it can shine, letting your authentic voice find it's way into your storytelling (words and pictures!)
What Anne is looking for…
Anne is looking for a mentee who is actively working on their craft, is serious about a career in traditional children's publishing, and is seeking to grow as a storyteller.
Anne would love to work with someone who is eager to bounce ideas back and forth, who is open to feedback and adapts it to their work in an authentic way, and who communicates their goals/dreams for their career/this mentorship thoughtfully and clearly. Sometimes our creative journeys surprise us, and Anne hopes their mentee is open to the many unexpected possibilities and pivots that may arise while working together!
Anne is particularly excited to connect with someone creating fresh, humorous ideas, someone exploring important topics thoughtfully, and/or someone looking to develop an industry level portfolio. They are eager to work with someone who is ready to take their storytelling, whether in a dummy or a portfolio, to the next level and wants to prepare the foundation for creative sustainability.
They are excited to be surprised by a unique dummy or clever portfolio. Anne especially encourages neurodiverse and/or historically underrepresented creators to apply, particularly members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
A Note from Anne:
“As picture book author/illustrators or illustrators, we are storytellers first and foremost. There is so much potential for creativity within the picture book format, and, by trying something unique and authentic, we create space for our readers to sort through their own emotions or to experience something completely outside their usual worldview. Consider how letting the essence of yourself spill onto the page will allow you to not only stand out in a crowded market but also connect your storytelling with your future audience! Get excited, try something new, and, most of all, trust your readers.”
Anne’s Picture Books
Anne creates in other markets. For a full catalog of Anne’s work, please visit their website.
BLOB, written and illustrated by Anne Appert
Anne’s Upcoming Picture Books
WHAT IF YOU WISH? by Anne Appert (HarperCollins 2024)
If Anne created a Visual Wish List, it would be made up of…
*Unless otherwise stated, the below serves as a wish list only. Each mentor is excited about the opportunity to find a manuscript they can’t stop thinking about. Please apply if you think you’d be a good fit.
I’M FROM, written by Gary R. Gray Jr. and illustrated by Oge Mora
AFTER THE FALL: HOW HUMPTY DUMPTY GOT BACK UP AGAIN by Dan Santat
SHIP IN A BOTTLE by Andrew Prahin
BUTTERFLY CHILD by Marc Majewski
SPRECKLE’S SNACK SURPRISE by Sandra Salsbury
YOUR MAMA, written by NoNieqa Ramos and illustrated by Jacqueline Alcántara
TURTLE IN A TREE by Neesha Hudson
NOT HE OR SHE, I’M ME, written by A.M. Wild and illustrated by Kah Yangni
Delightfully unique characters with their own quirky journeys of self-discovery, like those in…
The T.V. show - Schitt’s Creek
Stories/Art that embody the heart, sincerity, and queer normativity of…
The T.V. show - Our Flag Means Death
Anne is a good fit for…
Humor
Humor with heart
Subversive and/or quirky stories, dummies, and art
Lyrical and/or whimsical stories, dummies, and art
Illustrators
Author-Illustrators
Illustrators who want to be author-illustrators
Author-illustrators/Illustrators who enjoy writing/illustrating in a variety of genres/styles
Stories/Art tackling anxiety and mental health
Illustrators who work in Procreate or Photoshop
Illustrators who work in watercolor or gouache
Anne is not a good fit for…
Nonfiction
Rhyme
Stories/art about religion
Illustrators who work in acrylic or oil*
Illustrators who work in marker or colored pencil*
*Illustrators! Please note: While Anne won't be able to help with HOW to use acrylic, oil, marker, or colored pencils, they can help with things like composition, color, anatomy, emotion, storytelling, etc. If you are confident in your medium of choice but would like mentorship and guidance on how to make images stronger, how to make them fit in the kidlit illustration market, how to make a strong dummy or portfolio, or other general illustration practices, DO still apply!
Who can apply to Anne? Unagented illustrators and author-illustrators only.
Anne is open to everyone but LGBTQIA+ applicants are encouraged to apply, particularly trans and nonbinary creators.
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