2024 Mentee

“PBRS is just what I needed to get out of my writing funk. I will forever be grateful to Ebony, Kailei, and my awesome mentor Anne Wynter for allowing me to participate in such a supportive, skill-enhancing, community-building, brand-honing, industry-understanding, and validating experience. Being a 2024 PBRS mentee exceeded my expectations 10-fold!”

2024 Mentee

“PB Rising Stars for the WIN! I never imagined that I would be lucky enough to be picked as a PB Rising Star and fulfill one of my dreams. To be paired with an incredible mentor, to have my work validated and to now be a lifetime member in a community of rockstars, well, there are no words. This program is the best of the best and Ebony, Kailei, Layla, and Trenise have poured their hearts and souls into this and everything they do. The level of effort, detail and inspiration will last me a lifetime. I cannot thank them enough.”

2024 Mentee

“PB Rising Stars has been a blessing in many ways. My writing skills have improved immensely. I have the confidence to continue on my writing journey. The support from my mentor, Ebony, and Kailei has been incredible. This experience was invaluable and will be etched in my memories for many years. I highly recommend this mentorship to anyone who desires to write children’s books!”

2024 Mentee

“I believe that many years from now, I will remember the summer of 2024 as the summer of PB Rising Stars. It was the first time I had a consistent period dedicated to writing, and I had the privilege of working with my mentor, Tina Cho. Through the PB Rising Star program, I focused on improving my craft, writing, and revising. I also learned about the business side of writing from founders Ebony and Kailei. This summer was tremendously helpful for my growth as a writer.”

2024 Mentee

“Being chosen as a mentee was truly a blessing. Not only did I learn SO much about the craft of writing for children, I made so many new friends and look forward to a lifelong friendship with my mentor. I cannot thank Ebony and Kailei enough for the time, hard work, and love they put into PB Rising Stars.”

2024 Mentee

“The PB Rising Stars Mentorship was full of knowledge, well organized, and craft focused. My confidence and skill set grew tremendously with each mentor chat, webinar, and virtual class. I also gained a mentee family and a mentor friend for life—and community is so beneficial in this field. I feel more ready than ever to move forward towards my goals and I owe a lot of that feeling to this program. It truly is a game changer.”

2024 Mentee

“Getting a PB Rising Stars Mentorship is going to be a POWERFUL addition to any writing or illustration career in Publishing. Not only did my craft improve, but I now have an even sharper handle on my brand and my business as a children's book illustrator.

Don't sell yourself short. Make sure you apply!”

2024 Mentee

“Being selected as a mentee in the PB Rising Mentorship Program was a dream come true! Working with Srividhya was a delight. Her feedback has helped me grow as a writer. I will carry all her advice with me as I continue my writing journey. The business-intensive workshops with Ebony and Kailei were transformative, teaching me valuable skills like querying and revising and providing abundance of information about working in publishing industry. This program has boosted my confidence and connected me with a supportive kidlit community. I’m incredibly grateful that I had this opportunity and highly recommend it to anyone considering it!”

2024 Mentee

“PB Rising Stars mentorship likely changed my life. I feel incredibly grateful for everything my mentor, Kailei & Ebony gave me this summer. They each were so generous with their time and genuinely believe in me, which is invaluable. Jordan (who I am still star-struck by, lol) was very encouraging and patient, teaching me about what he liked in my writing specifically, and gently pointing out areas that I should improve. Without telling me exactly how to fix things, he let me talk through things and work collaboratively with him, so I could see what worked and what didn't. His teaching style and mentorship gave me the tools & confidence to learn how to continue improving my work independently, beyond this mentorship. Also, Kailei & Ebony's business incentive month was SO helpful. I feel like I took a business class in an MFA program or something. I learned more about things I didn't even know I didn't know but needed to. Additionally (if I even needed more!), this mentorship gave me a community of fabulous, encouraging picture book creators. I can't wait to stay in touch with everyone and celebrate whatever happens next together! Thank you to PB Rising Stars from the bottom of my happy little heart.”

2024 Mentee

“I can’t say enough good things about this program! If I had to categorize PB Rising Stars in one word, it would be: transformative. My mentor was so knowledgeable, honest, and reassuring; I felt like I was learning from (and with) an old friend. At the start of the mentorship, I made a list of goals but between meetings with my mentor, the craft workshops, and the business intensives, my growth far exceeded what I thought was even possible. The generosity and kindness of everyone involved in this program is really what makes it so special. From the community amongst mentees to the support from the PB Rising Stars team, an environment of intense learning was not only cultivated but nurtured. I’m beyond grateful for this mentorship and honored to be a forever member of the PB Rising Stars family. Anyone looking to improve their craft and build their confidence should apply to be a mentee — it will undoubtedly be the best thing you’ve ever done for yourself!”

2024 Mentee

“PB Rising Stars has made a huge difference in my picture book writing and illustrating practice. My mentor, Monica Arnaldo, showed me what an established, sustainable career in publishing could look like. She offered sharp insights, and pushed me to connect with traditional media in a fun and playful way. The workshops throughout the program sparked new ideas and deepened my understanding of the publishing industry.

I started the program after a round of querying agents that got me several warm rejections. I resolved to focus on building my craft, forging connections, and polishing my picture book dummies. But, with the encouragement of my mentor, I queried my top-choice agent. I am delighted to share that agent offered representation, and I accepted! PB Rising Stars and my mentee were critical to getting to this point, and I feel prepared to take the next step on my picture book journey because of everything I’ve learned. I'm so glad I applied, and so glad to be part of PB Rising Stars.”

2024 Mentee

“I've taken workshops and classes before, but the PB Rising Stars Mentorship completely transformed how I write, and how I approach the business of writing. My mentor, Sade Smith (Julie and The Mango Tree and Granny's Kitchen), was beyond amazing. She shared her knowledge, encouraged, and pointed out areas to focus on and thoughts to keep in mind, while ensuring I developed my stories the way I envisioned them, only better. I marvel how I can now look back at my older manuscripts, identify where they were lacking, and more importantly, make improvements based on the skills I've gained from her. The unparalleled bonus of Ebony and Kailei sharing their professional insights, altered how I saw myself as a writer, and gave me the ability to build my career from a much stronger foundation of industry knowledge. I was stunned by their impeccable organizational skills, the care with which they ran the program, and the generous commitment they have to give back to the writing community. The PBRS family has been beautifully welcoming and I will be forever grateful to have been chosen as a 2024 mentee.”

2024 Mentee

“How do I begin to sum up my thank yous to the PB Rising Stars mentorship program? It has been the most transformative experience for me, not only as a writer but as a person of color navigating the publishing space. I am stronger in my words and in my belief of myself because of the mentorship and friendship I have with my mentor Kealani Netani. Her knowledge and kindness has marked me forever and I am eternally grateful I get to walk away from this program with a life long friend along with the strength to tackle the query process on my journey to being published. Infinite thank you PBRS! You're the real deal!”

2024 Mentee

“The PB Rising Stars Mentorship has been life-changing. It's helped me develop my style and ideas, pinpoint and fight imposter syndrome, and learn so much about the industry. But most of all, PBRS has welcomed me into a community—it’s amazing to share the journey with like-minded people. A fellowship, if you will. And just like Frodo, my burden weighs heavy on my neck, and I can’t get it all the way to the fires of the US publishing industry by myself.”

2024 Mentee

“The PB Rising Stars mentorship helped me find a new direction in my work. The experience has given me a renewed sense of excitement and confidence as I embark upon the next part of my creative journey.”

2023 Mentee

"The PB Rising Stars mentorship program with Ebony and Kailei was such a transformative and affirming summer experience. With Sylvia Chen's guidance, I was able to more fully appreciate the intricacies of the craft from characterization, pacing, and even making room for the illustrator to express their creativity. On top of the very frank mentor conversations and insightful workshops, I left feeling more ready to take on the challenge of the publishing industry and more prepared for whatever lies ahead."

2023 Mentee

“PB Rising Stars Mentorship program is not what you may be expecting. It's much more than having a mentor. Ebony and Kailei bring the right people together to create a family of kidlit writers, willing to volunteer their time to help their fellow writers so that someday we can do the same.”

2023 Mentee

“The PB Rising Stars mentorship was a fantastic experience, boosting my confidence, giving me a deeper understanding of and trust in my work, and the space to grow and develop with support from a wonderful mentor and wider network.”

2023 Mentee

“Being selected as a 2023 PB Rising Star Mentee was an honor. It was a gateway to invaluable information and experience shared by published authors, and an awesome mentor. I was able to connect with a community of talented, aspiring writers, and built relationships that will extend beyond the mentorship program. The informative workshops and time spent with my mentor helped me to grow as a writer and allowed me to look at my work from a fresh perspective. I now have new writing tools I can use as I continue on my writing journey towards publication.”

2023 Mentee

“I've participated in my share of kidlit courses, webinars, seminars, and other opportunities to connect with kidlit creatives and gatekeepers and nothing has compared to PB Rising Stars. The experience was inspiring, validating, and vastly empowering. Connecting with my brilliant mentor Lisa Varchol Perron marked an exuberant leap forward in my writing career. Through gleaning from her vast insights and talents, I am now armed with sharpened tools, honed skills, and fortified confidence in myself and my stories. I have no doubt that this mentorship propelled my career forward. Ebony and Kailei- through their generosity, innovation, and total dedication to the kidlit community- have created an opportunity unlike any other and I feel I have found my home amongst this community of talented, gracious, and determined picture book writers about to take flight.”

2023 Mentee

“The PB Rising Stars mentorship program was an invaluable experience in contributing to my growth as a picture book writer. Kailei and Ebony are passionate about helping aspiring kidlit creators grow in their craft on their journey to getting published. I was so fortunate to have been selected as a mentee. I chose to apply to two mentors who I thought would be a good fit for what I write. When my name was announced as a winner, I felt such gratitude and joy! The program not only offered one-on-one mentorship, but five webinars on topics related to children’s book publishing. It was all helpful, but I really gained so much from my relationship with my mentor. She helped me by reading my stories and giving feedback, reviewing my query letters and comp titles, and sharing her own experiences in publishing. What a gift this program is! Thank you, thank you, thank you for this amazing program.“

2023 Mentee

“I am a grateful and humble 2023 PB Rising Stars mentee. This program helped me in so many ways—from the nurturing of the founders and my mentor, to the well designed and helpful webinars filled with fantastic panelists. Oh my, and the fun vibes? Powerful enough to float a ship full of hopeful mentees up to the stars.

My mentor was the glove to my shaky hand. Her wisdom and experience bedazzled that glove as she guided me with a thoughtful critique style, attention to detail, and speedy communication. With a mind blowing grasp of my words, she brought me into a realm of understanding what and how I was writing that literally carried me into a part of something bigger. It carries me still.”

2023 Mentee

“My PB Rising Stars highlight was the camaraderie, in what can be a lifestyle of soul-searching solitude, that made the whole writing experience about community and sharing and opening yourself up to growth.”

2023 Mentee

“Being awarded a PBRisingStars mentorship was the gift I needed at the right time in my growth as a kidlit author-illustrator. And time is key–the mentorship provides a period of time in which to work closely with a mentor with industry experience and craft knowledge. This was unlike anything I experienced before with paid critiques at conferences or intensives that are usually brief and not designed for the critiquer to gain a greater feel for your work overall. Three months is also enough time to deepen your perspective on your own work.

You will see significant progress, even if at the end you achieved some of your original goals versus all. I enjoyed working with my mentor who provided her feedback in a warm and professional manner. The same can be said of Ebony and Kailei. They are wonderful hosts who infuse lots of fun into the program without compromising professionalism.

And now that I’m an alumnus, the mentorship keeps on giving as my circle of kidlit creators now includes my inspiring fellow mentees. When so much of writing and illustrating is done alone, the feeling of community and camaraderie is priceless. I look back on my time in the PBRisingStars mentorship with fond gratitude for all it provided to boost confidence in my skills as a storyteller in pictures and words.”

2023 Mentee

“The PB Rising Stars Mentorship was an incredible experience. When I had decided to pursue this career, I was seeking a mentor similar to what I had in grad school, and was dismayed to discover that this is not something that’s just out there for anyone to obtain. I learned all I could myself by joining organizations and critique groups, and taking courses and webinars - but what this mentorship provided was something completely different. First of all, the feeling that this person chose ME and MY work provided a validation that, as an unagented/unpublished writer, I couldn't get anywhere else right now--the understanding that I'm worthy, that I'm on the right path. Then there's the fact that this mentor also chose this manuscript because she knew exactly what to do with it - it wasn't me hiring a professional for a paid critique, where they are required to provide feedback no matter what, whether the MS resonates with them and they see your vision, or not. And this particular mentorship is unique because all of the mentors have been in the trenches recently. You're not getting advice and information that's been recycled for years, it's in real time, and my mind was blown more than once with regards to some of the information that was passed along to me. Regarding the actual work we did together, my mentor was able to strategically recognize patterns in my writing and my process and zero in on supporting me with revision techniques that became ingrained within me. By the time I was drafting and revising a new MS during the last month, I had my mentor's voice in my head, and I'll carry it with me always--and that's given me a confidence I didn't know I could have. It was everything I had hoped it would be, and more.”

2022 Mentee

“As an agented by unpublished writer, being a PB Rising Mentee helped me understand my place in the writing industry. Working with my mentor and participating in the webinars helped me improve my craft substantially and led me to realize what kind of career I want to have. Prior to PB Rising Stars, I knew I wanted to write PBs, but I had no specific direction or vision for my success. As a result of the program, I know exactly what I want and have better tools to get there. I think that's the best part of the program -- having the support, the community, and the resources to define who you want to be as a writer. There are many writing courses and writing mentorships out there -- and I've taken lots of them -- but this Picture Book-specific mentorship one is the cream of the crop. Nowhere else can you develop relationships with established writers and learn the nuances of how to be more successful in this industry. And the community formed with your fellow mentees is special; knowing you're not alone on the path to success and having a group of other developing writers rooting for you and supporting is the best. If you're ready to take the next step in your development and want to level up your craft, gain more industry knowledge and holistically improve as a writer, you NEED to apply for this program. You won't regret it!”

2022 Mentee

“One of the best decisions I made in 2022 was applying to and being accepted into the PBRising Stars Mentorship Program. The knowledge, experience, wisdom, encouragement, and network opportunity that I got from Ebony, Kailei and Maria, my mentor, has been invaluable. These wonderful ladies were there for me every step of the way to help me fulfill my writing goals…. In addition, I made wonderful connections and friendships with the other mentees. Writing can be a lonely and long journey but it’s more fun, rewarding, and joyous when you have other wonderful and talented people on a similar journey.

Ebony and Kailei’s devotion and commitment to creating this successful mentorship is inspiring. Not only did they create a program that has improved our writing skills, they have also created a space that’s diverse and inclusive!”

2022 Mentee

“First, I want to say that the quality of this mentorship is unparalleled. From how well organized—from the application process to the welcome packet (which is phenomenal!) to the wrap party. It's so brilliantly done and all the passion and effort put in shoes in all the details. My mentor experience was so amazing and positive and confidence boosting. My mentor (Jessica) helped me hone my skills and really helped me become a better writer. My first drafts compare to what would've been a 5th or 6th draft.”

2022 Mentee

“From the process of application to the announcement of the mentees I was guided by the most supportive and attentive team. Communications are prompt, clear and professional. The program ensures that the expectations for both the mentee and the mentor are in alignment. I was lucky to be paired with a mentor that helped me develop my stories while staying true to my voice. It was an absolute honor to be a part of the PB Rising Stars mentees. It definitely elevated my submission packet.”

2022 Mentee

“PBRisingStars is what you make of it, and for me, the experience was impactful and illuminating. Mentorship. Community. Workshops. All the good things. My mentor poured her heart into these three months, brought an invaluable perspective, and is now a dear friend and confidant. Our mentee group is still in touch, sharing roadblocks and celebrating successes. Ebony and Kailei care about developing kidlit writers and have created a program that, like wine, can only get better with time.”

2022 Mentee

“I can’t say enough good about PBRisingStars and my mentor Kailei Pew…I’m proud of what we accomplished during the mentorship…and beyond! This opportunity is the one that keeps giving. Even though the mentorship is over, the 2022 Rising Stars still support each other on Slack…Do yourself a favor even if you’ve been turned down for a mentorship before or many times before, put yourself out there and apply!”

2022 Mentee

“PB Rising Stars has been a super valuable and fun mentorship! The combination of workshops, working with the mentor, and connecting with other mentees was the perfect mix in this incredible experience. It was so organised and rich especially for a program held for the first time. Almost all of my knowledge about Picture Books has been through PB Rising Stars!”

2022 Mentee

“The PB Rising Stars mentorship was exactly what I needed in my PB writing journey. The program helped make me a better writer with its wonderful workshops and the invaluable feedback from my mentor. It was an amazing experience, and I will be forever grateful to Ebony and Kailei for bringing together such a special group of mentees that continues to be a source of joy and inspiration.”

2022 Mentee

“Ebony and Kailei knocked it out of the park their first year and the second year looks like it's going to be even better! If that's even possible. The program was structured yet still allowed flexibility for mentors and mentees to do what worked best for them. I wasn't expecting more than to be paired with a mentor, but PB Rising Stars added in fun group Zoom meetings, craft meetings and a Slack channel that allowed communication between all the mentees. Our "class of '22" group is still keeping in touch with each other!”

2022 Mentee

“How do I find the words? The PB Rising Stars Mentorship changed my life. This isn’t a quick path to being agented or getting a book deal. This program is the perfect opportunity for both creative and personal development, in whichever ways you need it most. My mentor, Ebony Lynn Mudd, helped me identify all the parts in the writing process where I needed more structure (namely, having an actual writing process instead of creating whenever I’m in the mood), and that has changed my work for the better. Forever.

Aside from having endless support + resources from Kailei, Ebony, and my fellow mentees, PB Rising Stars also gave me a community. And that’s priceless.”