Tim McCanna is the author and illustrator of the Peach and Plum early graphic novel series. He has also written several picture books including Bitty Bot’s Big Beach Getaway, an ALA Golden Duck Notable Picture Book, In a Garden, a Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year, So Many Sounds, an ALA-Children’s Book Council “Building a Home Library” book, and Watersong, a New York Public Library Best Book for Kids and NCTE Notable Poetry Book. Tim served five years as Assistant Regional Advisor for SCBWI’s San Francisco/South chapter, and he is a picture book specialist for Storyteller Academy. He lives with his family in San Jose, California.

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Over the years, Tim has been an actor, musician, musical theatre writer, graphic designer, and dad. Now, he’s combining all those experiences into making books for young people.

After growing up in Missouri, he spent his undergrad years at TCU, then earned an MFA in Dramatic Writing for Musical Theatre from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. While writing musicals and playing accordion in various rock bands, he worked in advertising as a graphic designer, creating logos, posters, brochures, billboards, and very boring direct mail pieces.

Around 2009, Tim was reading lots of picture books to his two kids at bedtime. He grew a love and appreciation for the art form and started writing stories of his own. Along the way, he took children's writing courses, joined the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), and shared his work with fellow writers in monthly critique group meetings.

Tim signed with a literary agent in 2014 and has since published books with Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books, Scholastic/Orchard Books, Abrams Appleseed, Disney Worldwide Publishing, and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

Interview:
Tim’s discusses his path to publication on the Picturebooking Podcast