Prof Bio:
Heather lives in eastern Pennsylvania with her husband and six children (five human & one canine). When she’s not writing, you can find her connecting local children’s writer and illustrator friends to critique groups, helping plan Eastern PA SCBWI events, reading, running, chasing children (sometimes on the beach), baking, sewing, scrapbooking, or playing with her friends and family. While doing all of those things, she’s still dreaming up story ideas that she turns into books for others to enjoy.
Heather writes stories about children’s interactions with themselves, others, and the world, and she hopes they will inspire, entertain, and connect with her readers.
THE REAL AUTHOR Heather writes:
I’ve been a fan of picture books all my life. I first dreamed of the possibility of becoming a children’s book author after author-illustrator Steven Kellogg came to visit my elementary school, but I brushed the dream aside because the child me doubted I had the “talent” to pull it off.
Throughout the years, I couldn’t let go of the possibility, but the adult me chose a “practical” career path that would earn me a regular paycheck.
Meanwhile, I secretly jotted down story ideas and stowed them away. It wasn’t until the youngest of my five children was in preschool and I had more time to devote to learning about the craft and industry that I decided to finally try to make my dream a reality. That was almost 20 years ago!
I began submitting my work in 2018, but by 2021, I hadn’t had any luck signing with an agent, so I made it my goal to not only query agents but also small presses that allowed un-agented submissions.
One of those presses was Clavis Books, a well-established, reputable company that publishes authors and illustrators from around the world. During
the pandemic, Clavis posted several read-aloud videos, so I got a feel for their tastes and wondered if a story I had written several years prior might be a good fit for their list. I pulled PAISLEY’S BIG BIRTHDAY out of the virtual drawer, made a few small changes, and submitted it to them in February 2021.
A month after submitting to Clavis, I received an email from the CEO. I scanned it quickly and read, “It is a nice and sweet story, very close to children and told from their perspective.” I expected the rest to read the typical, “but, unfortunately, it isn’t a fit for our list.” But it didn’t say that. Instead, it said, “So, we would like to consider publication.” After so many rejections, I could hardly believe what I was reading!
Some of my favorites: children, picture books, chocolate, baking, sewing (I have a side gig doing custom sewing projects, organizing things, the beach, working out, and story in different forms (movies, TV, books).
Fun facts: I grew up in a town that had no library (book mobile, anyone?) or high school; our family was a “Nielsen family” for several years; I am related to one of the U.S. vice presidents (Garret Hobart), and every Christmas my mom, kids, and I bake about 2,000 cookies in one weekend.
How to support Heather:
Request her books from the library, Heather's books
Order her books from local bookshops
Review her books on Amazon and Goodreads
Read more about her work at HEATHER PIERCE STIGALL - Heather Pierce Stigall Welcome
Wednesdays are Real Author days - contact Robin to be included.
Heather is our regional Energizer Bunny, Eight Armed Octopus parent, Enthusiastic Cheerleader, and Frequent Flyer in the children's section of the library. Congrats on her kidlit success so far and I look forward to reading more of Heather's upcoming books.