I am so excited to feature my writing pal and dear friend, Alayne Kay Christian. Her terrific new picture book, TURKEY ON THE RUN!, illustrated by Neha Rawat, released from Flamingo Books (Penguin Random House) on September 29, 2026. Alayne shares her inspiration, as well as her thoughts on stories, creativity, and connection. Welcome back, Alayne!
Thank you for having me on your blog, Melissa. Before we move on, I must tell you congratulations on your picture book, Stella’s Special Recipe: A Rosh Hashanah Story. it’s such a great book about traditions, connecting generations, and my favorite . . . creativity. I love the art as well!
1) STORIES – Discuss the inspiration for your ideas and stories, and share the process about your latest projects.
With TURKEY ON THE RUN!, it all started over twenty years ago. I used to have a hobby where I made and sold greeting cards. I had a Thanksgiving one where it had a turkey running around frantically trying to convince people to eat ham or pizza. Or maybe think of their health and start a vegetarian diet. I always thought that was so funny, and it stuck with me. However, I hadn’t started writing picture books yet. Once I started writing picture books, I tried writing a traditional story with the Turkey idea, but it wasn’t working. Somewhere along the line, I started thinking about structuring it a different way. I think it was probably from a post during Tara Lazar’s Picture Book Idea Month—today, it’s called Storystorm. Anyway, the idea of the Gingerbread Man came to me. So, in 2015, I started playing with that. And then it went through what felt like a million and one critiques and revisions until it finally became the story that hooked my agent, Jackie Kruzie, and got us a picture book contract with Flamingo books!
My other two favorite picture books AN OLD MAN AND HIS PENGUIN: HOW DINDIM MADE JOÃO PEREIRA DE SOUZA AN HONORARY PENGUIN and A WEED THAT WOKE CHRISTMAS: THE MOSTLY TRUE TALE OF THE TOLEDO CHRISTMAS WEED were both inspired by heart-tugging true stories.
My next book, which has not been announced yet, so I can’t say much about it, was inspired by traveling the country with my husband for 2.5 years as full-time RVers where we visited campsites across the United States. But it was also loosely sparked by the nursery rhyme song TEN LITTLE INDIANS. However, in the end, it is nothing like that. It morphed its way into being my first sold picture book written 100% in rhyme. TURKEY ON THE RUN! is a combination of prose and rhyme.
2) CREATIVITY — How do you showcase your creative side through writing/illustrating and other pursuits?
Well, of course, the number one place my creativity is showcased to the world is through my published books. I also like to think that my blog posts, webinars, and courses all showcase my creativity. I love to do book trailers! And I believe I often showcase my creativity in critiques I do for people.
Not so much for showcasing, but I dabble in art and photography. And I enjoy playing ukulele and singing.
3) CONNECTION — How do you connect to your young readers through your writing/illustrating, and how do you stay connected to the KidLit community?
The biggest way I connect with young readers is by writing books that I believe will touch them in some way whether it be sheer entertainment, making them laugh, making them think, making them realize they’re not alone, or touching their hearts . . . or preferably all the above in one!
I like to take trips down memory lane to recall my experiences from a child’s perspective. School and library visits are always a perfect way to connect with young readers. I would love to have a blog that connects with my readers, including teachers and librarians, but I haven’t figured that out yet.
As far as the kid-lit writing community, I stay connected via social media. I enjoy groups/communities like Kidlit411 and 12×12. SCBWI events and social media are good ways to connect with fellow writers. It’s fun to connect during events like Storystorm, 50PreciousWords, Susannah Hill’s various writing contests, March on Mentor Texts and more. Oh, and the ever-wonderful critique group(s)! I’ve been in mine for nearly ten years, and I was critique buddies with some of the members for years prior. I recently joined an additional group whose focus is rhyming picture books, and I’m loving that group as well. And then, I’ve made kid-lit writer friends over the years that I talk to frequently via the phone of zoom. I also love giving back to the community with critique giveaways, webinar giveaways, course giveaways, Zoom call giveaways, book giveaways, and so on.
ALAYNE’S BIO:
Alayne Kay Christian is a former acquisitions editor, an award-winning children’s book author, and a picture book writing mentor/teacher. Her top published picture books are . . .
Turkey on the Run!
An Old Man and His Penguin: How Dindim Made João Pereira de Souza an Honorary Penguin
The Weed That Woke Christmas: The Mostly True Story of the Toledo Christmas Weed.
Born in the Rockies, raised in Chicago, and now a true-blue Texan, Alayne’s writing shares her creative spirit, a bit of her funny bone, and the kinship to nature and humanity that reside within her heart.
Alayne is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. She has studied picture book and chapter book writing under some of the top names in children’s literature. Alayne teaches a picture book writing course Art of Arc: How to Analyze Your Picture Book Manuscript (deepen your understanding of picture books written with a classic arc). In addition, she shares her knowledge with writers through free and affordable webinars and she is available for school visits and speaking engagements.
CONNECT WITH ALAYNE:
https://alaynekaychristianauthor.com/
Art of Arc http://www.alaynekaychristian.com/contact.html
Blog https://alaynekaychristian.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alaynekay.christian
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alaynekay/
Blue Sky https://bsky.app/profile/alaynekaychristian.bsky.social
Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/alayne-kay-christian/12/168/525/
Facebook Author’s Page: https://www.facebook.com/AlayneKayChristianAuthor/
Amazon Author’s Page: https://amazon.com/author/alayne_kay_christian
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1933927.Alayne_Kay_Christian
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCY6yndWtpXwX6CIRoFi7X4g