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Your Once Upon a Time is NowÂ
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Your story deserves an audience. Whether you're haunted by an idea that's trying to find its way onto the page or working on a draft that needs fine-tuning, Finch & Squirrel is here to help.
TELL ME MOREWondering how to make your story sparkle?
If any of this sounds familiar, we can help:
- You're excited about your idea for a picture book but aren't sure how to wrestle it onto the page.
- You feel great about your story idea but not so confident in your writing.
- You feel stuck, second-guessing every sentence instead of making progress.
- You aren’t sure your story is engaging enough to hold a child’s attention.
- You’re unsure if your manuscript is age-appropriate in terms of language, theme, and pacing.
- You’ve received mixed feedback (or no feedback at all) and need guidance on what’s working and what could be better.
- You’re struggling with word count, flow, or structure and don’t know how to tighten your story.
- You’re ready to take the next step but need professional insights to feel confident about your manuscript.
Imagine how it would feel to watch children light up as they hear your story...
...and demand it again and again because they love it so much.
Move forward on your path to publication with confidence and excitement, knowing your book is the best it can be.
Make your dream of becoming a published children’s book author come to life, holding your finished book in your hands.
Set an example and leave a legacy for the children you love.
Make yourself (and them) proud!
Not only is this possible, it’s exactly what my coaching services and manuscript reviews are designed to help you achieve.
DETAILS PLEASEHI, I'M BARBARA
Think of Me As Your Fairy Godmother
I know what it’s like to wonder if your story is good enough.Â
I’ve been writing since I learned to read, and I worked in magazine publishing and Fortune 500 corporate communications before my granddaughters inspired me to try my hand at writing for children. I knew I was a strong writer, but I had never written for kids before—all I knew was that it was different. Who knew writing an 800-word story could be so hard?
It took me two years and countless hours of research to feel confident enough to finish my manuscript and begin working with an illustrator. My first picture book, The Climbing Tree, ended up winning First Place in the Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards, and I went on to publish two more picture books, with a fourth coming out in July 2025.Â
These days, my corporate work takes a back seat to my writing and teaching. (I serve as an adjunct faculty member at Georgetown University, where I teach graduate-level writing courses.) Through Finch & Squirrel, I help aspiring authors refine their stories with the same care I once needed myself.
Why work with me?
As both an award-winning children’s book author and a writing professor, I bring real-world publishing experience and years of teaching expertise. I know how to recognize your unique strengths as a writer and offer guidance that enhances your story, while preserving your unique voice and creative vision.
Over the years, I've learned that I create my best work when I have a little structure in place. Structure doesn't come naturally to me, so I developed a Storybook Blueprint that I use to write my own picture books. As a writing professor in a graduate program, I work with adults of all ages and experience levels, and I've observed that my students learn best when I can offer them frameworks to master new concepts. So now I use my blueprint to coach other writers and evaluate and analyze manuscripts. It's not about force-fitting you into a box, but putting guardrails in place that help you move faster while staying on track.
This isn’t just about writing or fixing a story—it’s about helping you build confidence, grow as a writer, and create a book that kids will treasure. (And have some fun along the way.)
LET'S DO THIS!
I want you to know the thrill of getting an email like this one:
“Hi Barbara,
I thought you might like the attached photo of Willa reading Virginia Loves Dogs last night. As a dog lover herself, she was obsessed and had me read it to her multiple times. And when I got tired, she scooted over to my husband and had him read it to her yet again. What a fantastic book!
Ann”
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I can help you if...
- You're either new to writing for children or looking to level up your skills.
- You want flexible, personalized coaching—at your pace, on your schedule.
- You’d love a supportive mentor and sounding board for your ideas.
- You want to write or strengthen your story while keeping your unique voice intact--no heavy-handed editor for you!
- You want to retain complete creative control and all rights to your work.
