Book Creators Share Their Jobs #BeforeKidlit

Over on Twitter, Giuseppe Castellano had an idea . . .

I’d LOVE a #beforekidlit hashtag through which industry pros shared what they did before they became popular/famous/successful, etc.

— Giuseppe Castellano (@pinocastellano) October 25, 2017

And authors and illustrators have responded, sharing their jobs before they got into making books for kids. They’re using the hashtag #beforekidlit. I shared some below, click here to see them all.

#beforekidlit lots of talk on how long a book career takes. After I sold my first book I worked for 13 years at B&N. I was broke a lot!

— Meghan McCarthy (@meghanauthor) October 27, 2017

#beforekidlit paperboy, comic book store clerk, nanny to three boys, video game artist, cartoon show creator (The Replacements)

— Dan Santat (@dsantat) October 26, 2017

#beforekidlit I worked at a flower shop, then waited tables at an Italian restaurant, then got a job prepping characters for animation (1/3)

— Renée Kurilla (@reneekurilla) October 26, 2017

#beforekidlit I bagged groceries, washed dishes, ushered, worked in a shop, worked in a bookstore, waited tables at an Italian place frequented by Joseph "Joe Bananas" Bonanno, painted hundreds of D&D books and Magic cards, and taught figure drawing.

— Adam Rex (@MrAdamRex) October 26, 2017

https://twitter.com/JulieFalatko/status/923517627493908480

I was very lucky #beforekidlit I worked in animation for over 15 years doing layout and visdev. Before that I made sandwiches.

— Kenard Pak (@kenardpak) October 27, 2017

https://twitter.com/gregpizzoli/status/923358209703841792

#beforekidlit Subway sandwich artist. Dancing chicken. Farmer. Cook. Wedding singer. Teacher. Airbrush face and body painter.

— Amy Ignatow (@amyignatow) October 26, 2017

#beforekidlit: camp counselor, art teacher & I participated in focus groups for extra money.

— Jarrett J. Krosoczka (@StudioJJK) October 26, 2017

https://twitter.com/MollyIdle/status/923728006257917952

https://twitter.com/mattholm/status/923360536556900356

https://twitter.com/CorinnaLuyken/status/924140475715436545

https://twitter.com/JonathanAuxier/status/923633191403081728

#beforekidlit I worked in many a things in the arts before kidlit, incl. wedding videographer, film editor, graphic designer, animator… ->

— Cale Atkinson (@2dCale) October 26, 2017

#beforekidlit I went to film school, worked as a graphic designer at a T-shirt co, then as a production coordinator on an animated tv show

— Vashti Harrison (@VashtiHarrison) October 26, 2017

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