12×12 Featured Author - September 2026
What do baseball and being an author have in common? Failure, or in the publishing industry, rejection! As authors, we must find a way to accept rejection as a normal part of the process and find ways to move past without it impacting the trajectory of our careers. I give a few tips for things that have helped me stay focused on the future and not any rejection(s) I’ve faced.
Podcast: 12×12 New York Times Bestsellers!
My debut picture book, MAC & CHEESE: THE ORIGIN STORY landed at #1 on the New York Times best seller list at the same time another 12x12 author’s book (BUTT OR FACE by Kari Lavelle) landed on the list! Listen to how we got there, how we found out, and a whole lot more!
12x12 How I Got My Agent
12x12 is a community of picture book authors and illustrators who are challenged to write 12 picture book drafts in 12 months. Most importantly, the community supports each other through encouragement, accountability, and information sharing to help each other improve their craft.
Simply 7 with Michael Benner and Alison Hawkins: Mac & Cheese
An interview with Jena Benton Lasley on the inspiration and creation of Mac & Cheese: The Origin Story.