Nadia Salomon: Keep Hustling
KidLit Craft is back with another Snack-Sized Author Interview. In this series, we ask authors five quick questions that give us insight into their craft and process. Today we’re talking with author Nadia Salomon.
Nadia Salomon and I met years ago at a regional writing conference, and I was immediately drawn to her positive, passionate, and generous spirit. She is such a bright light in the KidLit world, using her abundance of energy both to create her own beautiful and important stories and also to lift up so many of her fellow creators. Nadia leads with her heart, whether in building community or in writing stories that matter. She is a force for good and a wonderful friend. ~ Kristi
Welcome, Nadia!
Question 1: What's your writing superpower?
This is a really great question! One that I spent a lot of time thinking about. While writing itself is a superpower, looking at my body of work I would say writing with emotion. My writing tends to be very visceral. Because of this, it helps me tap into emotion well.
Question 2: What’s an element of craft you explored in your latest project and what tips can you share with other authors for growing in their use of that particular element?
In one of my latest projects, I had to focus on worldbuilding.
While I was able to capture other story elements, “worldbuilding” got lost. Actually, it was a big problem! I think sometimes writers (myself included) focus so much on the story's structure, the messy middle, creating stakes, and crafting a satisfying or surprising ending that we forget important details like the “world” our character(s) live in. We tend to automatically delegate this part to the illustrator, especially in picture books, chapter books, illustrated middle grades, and graphic novels.
World building is something we should be showing from the get go. By worldbuilding, I don't mean just the physical space or environment our main characters occupy. It could be language, a ritual, dialogue, references to time, power dynamics, and so on.
Explore guide books like Wonderbook by Jeff VanderMeer or Tim Hikson's YouTube series, Hello Future Me. I also take sessions with SCBWI that offer great webinars by authors like Tracey Baptiste, who have spoken on worldbuilding.
Question 3: If you could travel back in time, what advice would you give yourself as a new author?
Keep hustling. Keep following your arrow, even when no one sees your vision. Rejection still happens; it doesn't define you or the value of your work. Publishing is a subjective industry, until you find people who align with your values and support your creative endeavors.
Question 4: What inspires you as a writer?
Unique life experiences inspire me to write. I've always written and journaled, but I've found sometimes shifting an experience and looking at it from a child's perspective can prove interesting. (See author/illustrator Jen de Oliveira's webcomic - “True Stories From a School Library.” It's a perfect example of what I mean by a child's perspective.) Lastly, it doesn't hurt to have a live-in muse who gives me plenty of fodder for stories.
Question 5: What’s one book you think every kidlit author should read?
As a mom, you're asking me to pick my favorite kiddo. As a book blogger... I'm dying over here, because I just can't stop at one. But if I must... I'll say, Beowulf! It's my all-time favorite book. I love it because it's fantastical, imaginative, has great world building, creatures, flawed characters, and does big emotion well. I know, I know–it's not a kid's book, but I love it! And I think every kidlit author should read it.
Bonus Question: What can fans look forward to next?
I'm currently in the revision trenches. Out on sub. Still working on a middle grade and two fantastical graphic novels. But you can follow me now across socials @nadias.nook (Instagram, Substack, etc) to hear me talk about books!
Nadia Salomon is an award-winning journalist. She is the author of Goodnight, Ganesha, a Bank Street Best Children’s Book and an ALSC Día Selection. A Voice of Hope is her acclaimed release. It received the 2025 BCALA, SLJ Children and Youth Literary Award, a 2025 Notable Social Studies Trade Book award, a Bank Street Best Children's Book award, and earned two starred reviews from SLJ and the Horn Book. Nadia's title, A Rakhi for Rakesh, releases with HarperCollins (Versify) in July 2025. It's about a pair of siblings who must overcome big emotions to celebrate Raksha Badhan. She works closely with SCBWI, 12x12 Challenge, Kids Comics Unite, and Storyteller Academy. When Nadia’s not spinning yarns, you’ll find her blogging about her favorite reads at Nadia’s Nook.
You can find her online on her website and on Instagram @nadiasalomon.author.
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