May 16

May 16 Episode 14: Parallel Careers, Professional Jealousy and the Hustle w/ Guest Host JJK

On this week’s episode, Grace has long time friend and fellow children’s book author, Jarrett Krosockza filling in for Alvina while she’s on sabbatical. They both have known Jarrett professionally for many years. He and Grace begin the episode by sharing all the crazy ways they have led parallel lives since both studying at Rhode Island School of Design.

Jarrett is the author of many wonderful graphic novels you may know like Lunch Lady and Hey Kiddo.

Grace and Jarett connected years after graduating from RISD while they were both living on Summer Street in Somerville, Mass. As they take a trip down memory lane, you will hear them tell the story about the time they were both at a pot-luck dinner and someone had brought road kill venison pate! They discuss professional jealousy and how it shows up in their lives. That turns into a great conversation about just how tough it is in the “hustle” of the children’s literature world and trying to get your book published.

Being parents to young children now themselves, Grace and Jarett reflect on how their writing and drawings have changed since having kids. Not only do they have new perspectives from a parental point of view, but also can now see through the eyes of children as the readers. Grace talks about how her daughter was really scared of ‘Where the Wild Things Are”. Meanwhile ironically, Grace was taught all along that the book was supposedly the gold standard of children’s book illustration.

Like Grace and Alvina always do, they end the episode with discussing what it is they’re both grateful for. Jarrett and Grace are both thankful for the connections and friendships (like this one!) that they have in order to successfully make it in this world.