Meet the faculty of the 2021 Austin SCBWI Writers & Illustrators Working Conference. We’ve asked all our faculty members to answer 4 quick questions so we can get to know them better.
Bethany Hegedus, Author
Bethany Hegedus’ children’s picture books include the award-winning Grandfather Gandhi and Be the Change: A Grandfather Gandhi Story, both co-written with Arun Gandhi (grandson of Mahatma Gandhi), as well Alabama Spitfire: The Story of Harper Lee and To Kill a Mockingbird, Rise!: From Caged Bird to Poet of the People: Dr. Maya Angelou, Hard Work But It’s Worth It: The Life of Jimmy Carter and most recenlty Huddle Up! Cuddle Up!–an ode to family, football and bedtime. She holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from VCFA, is the Founder and Creative Director of The Writing Barn, a writing retreat and workshop space in Austin, Texas and is host of the popular Courage to Create podcast.
Author Bethany Hegedus
What attracted you to children’s books?
As a prior educator, I love exploring childhood and connecting to young readers.
What’s the best part of your job?
Going deep in revision, when the emotional puzzle of story begins to click into place.
What’s the most challenging part of your job?
The wait. It can be excruciating.
What’s the best piece of advice you were given that helped drive your career?
Write from your unhealed places.
Come see Bethany Hegedus at the 2021 Austin SCBWI conference, May 1-2, 2021.