Day 2: Pamela Courtney

Our Day 2 honoree is dedicated educator and author Pamela Courtney. With nearly three decades as an early childhood practitioner and elementary school teacher, Pam brings the eyes of an educator to each narrative she crafts. “My duty is great,” states Pam. “I’m a writer who teaches. I’m a teacher who writes.” Pam’s Louisiana upbringing inspired her debut: A Season of Fishin’—A Fish Fry Tradition (spring 2025), Macmillan (FSG) and nurtured her life’s passion of writing, teaching, and enjoying culturally diverse music.

Combining these loves, Pam created MyLMNOP, a literacy and music program for early learners. Pam is the grateful recipient of a We Need Diverse Books (WNDB) Mentorship, a WNDB Walter Dean Myers Grant, and a Highlights Diversity Fellowship. Pam’s second picture book, Freedom’s Eve: A Story of Watch Night is scheduled to debut fall 2026. Pam also serves on the faculty at Boyds Mills (formally Highlights Foundation).

The Journey: My Path To Publishing

Highlights put out a call for their Diversity Fellowship-a 24-month program for diverse writers. I didn’t know it at the time that I applied, but this Fellowship would prove the ultimate in mentorship (shout out the AMAZING, oh-so-insightful and major cheerleader, Debbi Michiko Florence), coaching, career, confidence and community building! Ten out of three hundred children’s writers were chosen. WHOOHOOO, one of the ten was me! We were all gifted a trip to the magic that is the Highlights campus. At the inaugural celebration Leah Henderson. issued a challenge. I took on that challenge. I promised myself I would for the first time ever, finally submit my manuscript. On my birthday in 2021, I pressed send to my top listed agents. I felt confident declaring, “I’m a children’s writer.” All wanted to see more work. Note: WRITERS! ALWAYS HAVE AT LEAST 3 MANUSCRIPTS TO SHARE WITH EXCITED AGENTS! I didn’t have another truly polished manuscript. I had good drafts; none I wanted to share. I told these perspective agents I had enrolled in Storytellers Academy to polish my drafts. Most were willing to wait. One got back to me before I completed my class. I knew he was the agent for me. He believed in my story and sent it out That story, Freedom’s Eve—A Story of Watch Night is to be released fall of this year, 2026.

This story was a hard sale, but James McGowan of Bookends Literary fiercely championed it and kept sending it out. While we waited, I sent James a poem, turned children’s story, originally called Fish Fry Friday, A Cane River Tail-Tale (LOL). “Where have you been hiding this? Why wasn’t this sent to me before now? This is such a delightful story!” James cast a limited net (little pun intended) we got a bite. Janine O’Malley was hooked. The title was changed to A Season For Fishin’—A Fish Fry Tradition. Talk about your tides turning. My fish story was sold before the story I’d originally subbed to James had. Janine O’Malley is the editor for both stories. Now that’s some catch, right?

The Inspiration: Who/What Inspired Me

My Louisiana upbringing, with all of its multicultural fixin’s, diverse ethnicities, cultural traditions, language, music, and of course food, nurtured and literally branded my style of writing. I wrapped myself in the storytelling styles of our neighbors who’d gather on my grandmother’s porch to whisper secrets or exclaim the joyful events in their lives. Each visitor brought their unique, southern cadence, lending to each story’s distinctive voice. They painted such vivid pictures of what I now consider the oral history of our neighborhood–requiring no illustrations, no written text–just my being there, witnessing tradition, becoming part of this culture. This was my childhood master study of storytelling. From this youthful lens, I developed the blueprint for my own writing and for how I would teach writing to my early learners, early elementary students, and adult writers.

The Process: How I Work

Some ideas are recommended to me. Other ideas whisper, then wait with patience for me to decide if I’ll give them any energy for research. Before I add anything to paper, I think. A LOT. My writing begins in my head. I consider not only who will show up, what disposition they’ll have, but I think about why they should exist and in what kind of world they should exist. But here’s something I notice in each of my narratives. Every character has a strong desire to belong—to have a definitive role and be part of something they feel matters. Creating my character and their world is so much fun. I consider the story’s mood, how I want readers to feel when they’re reading my words. I love having fun with words, so I work to make sure the language I use will invite readers to immerse themselves into my character’s emotional world.

Community is also important when I write. Solitary writing does NOT work for me. Though I write alone more than I’d like. I prefer to write with a group. I’m there, online with other writers who challenge, encourage, and keep me accountable. However, the most important part of writing is my choice of snack, beverage, music, and the view (always from my mom’s kitchen table—the best way to see the squirrels, birds, and the cats who lounge in our backyard). I not only love creating a mood in my writing, I love creating a mood in my writing space—as mentioned, my mom’s kitchen table.

Under the Radar:

Gabriele Davis-Peaches (illustrated Kim Holt), Our Joyful Noise (Craig Stanley)

J. P. Mitchell-Sweet Fire (illustrated by Fuuji Takashi)

Brentom Jackson-Elijah’s Easter Suit (illustrated by Emmanuel Boateng); DeAndra Hodge-Illustrator of Yvonne Clark and Her Engineering Spark, and the Kid Confident: Middle Grade Shelf-Help series; Denise Rosario Adusei-Cesaria Feels The Beat (illustrated by Priscilla Soares)

Connect With Pam: 

Instagram/Threads: @pam_is_mylmnop

Facebook: @pamelacourtney

Website: @mylmnopreadstokids.blogspot.com