Six Questions with Dana Marie Miroballi

Dana Marie Miroballi is a writer, speech-language pathologist, and former teacher. She grew up on Army bases in Germany, served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Uzbekistan, and now lives in Chicago with her family. Dana is the author of If My Hair Had a Voice (Beaming Books 2024) and Inventions to Count On: A Celebration of Black Inventors (releases April 15 from Abrams Appleseed). She is represented by Ammi-Joan Paquette at Aevitas Creative Management. Visit Dana's website to learn more about her and her work.

1. How did you begin your journey as an author?

I’ve been writing poetry and stories since middle school but never thought I could become an author. I started getting picture book ideas during the COVID-19 lockdown because we were reading so much with the kids. Since we were stuck at home, I had time to explore picture book writing. I discovered Dr. Mira Reisberg’s Children's Book Academy and enrolled in a course. This introduced me to the kidlit community. I entered Mindy Alyse Weiss’s PBParty contest in 2021 and was selected as a finalist for a version of Inventions to Count On. I didn’t secure a contract that year, but I was chosen again in 2022 for If My Hair Had a Voice and connected with my agent.

2. Do you ever get stuck creatively? If so, how do you get unstuck?

Yes! Everyone gets stuck creatively. When I want to start something new, I check my ideas notebook. I began keeping one as part of Tara Lazar’s Storystorm challenge a few years ago. She also has an excellent inspiration list on her blog titled “500+ Things That Kids Like.” Exploring the kid's section of the library or bookstore is helpful when I have an idea but am still figuring out the execution or which format might work best. I also like to sit in the shower and let my ideas marinate, especially when struggling with a revision. I keep my phone close by to record voice memos.

3. What one piece of advice would you like to give to aspiring kidlit authors? What’s the best piece of advice a mentor has given you?

Take the opportunity to learn the craft! Enroll in a virtual writing course if possible, but don’t worry if you can’t. Find books about writing at the library and watch YouTube videos like Pat Zietlow Miller’s free webinar “When Less is More.” Some authors have resources for writers on their blog or website like “Josh Funk's Guide to Writing Picture Books.” Think about the types of books you want to write and find mentor texts to learn from. I also highly recommend the BookEnds Literary Agency YouTube channel for valuable insights on the querying process and the publishing industry. One of the best pieces of advice I received was to treat writing as a job, not a hobby.

4. What was the timeline for Inventions to Count On, from idea to publishing?

The idea for this book developed during a picture book writing course in 2020. I entered it in Mindy Alyse Weiss’s PBParty contest in March 2021. As a finalist, I received a few requests from agents and editors, but they passed. I signed with my agent in April 2022, and she sent the manuscript out. Abrams Appleseed made an offer in July 2022. Sawyer Cloud agreed to illustrate in March 2023, and I received my first revision notes. I submitted a revision in August 2023, heard back in December, and sent another revision in January 2024. Edits continued through July 2024. The book was sent to print in August 2024, and I received my copies in January 2025.

5. How was the editorial process? Did you do any revisions? Were you able to collaborate with the illustrator?

The editorial process was interesting. I did a ton of revisions. The original manuscript was more straightforward and didn’t include rhyming or a visual narrative. My first revision tasks were finalizing the group of inventors to feature and writing the rhyming couplets. I also worked on creating an introduction, conclusion, biographies, and backmatter about inventing. The revising started with just the text. Later, I was able to see the text with sketches and provide notes. I supplied photo references for the inventors and inventions, too. I follow illustrator Sawyer Cloud on Instagram, but we never spoke directly about the book. I corresponded with the editor and Sawyer with the art director.

6. Who should read this book?

Inventions to Count On can be enjoyed across age levels. The rhyming couplets, familiar items, and Sawyer’s beautiful illustrations make it especially engaging for toddlers through age six. The introduction, conclusion, and backmatter are great for kids six and up because they not only highlight the importance of learning about the contributions of Black inventors but also explain patents and inspire kids to consider what they might invent to influence tomorrow. The biographies in the backmatter provide more robust information about each inventor featured, which would appeal to older kids.