PICTURE BOOK AUTHOR ACADEMY
✦ Selective Mentorship — Application Only
Turn Your Picture Book Author Dream Into a Traditional Publishing Deal
The only mentorship that walks you step-by-step from raw idea or draft to submission-ready picture book, positioned to attract agents and publishers — with a proven system, professional feedback, and an award-winning author in your corner.
Admission by application only · Limited spots
What you'll walk away with:
3+ submission-ready manuscripts
Professional query letters & pitch materials
Personalized agents & publisher's curated list
A strong author brand & marketing plan
Clear, confident next steps forward
3 months of hands-on mentorship + support
Writers have signed with agents
Writers have landed publishing deals
Multi-book careers launched
Award-winning picture book author as your mentor
An entire team of professionals working with you
✦ VIDEO STORIES ✦
Watch Their Transformations
Nothing speaks louder than seeing the results for yourself.
✦ STUDENT STORIES ✦
Hear It From Writers Like You
Real writers who showed up, did the work, and changed their publishing journey forever.
Becky H. came to the mentorship at a plateau. Together, we refined her portfolio, polished her submissions, and built her agent list. Shortly after, she signed with a great agent.
Kasey completed the mentorship and quickly landed a book deal.
Becky W. graduated from the program, signed with a top agent, and secured a publishing deal with a wonderful house.
Melanie had been writing for years but felt stuck. Just nine days after finishing the mentorship, she signed with an agent.
Mary connected with her agent after one of my workshops and soon signed two publishing deals with Random House.
Alexine refined her manuscript portfolio through the mentorship, signed with an agent, and is now happily on submission to publishers.
Blaire started the mentorship with just one rough draft of a picture book. By graduation, she had six polished stories, signed with a top agent, and published her debut. Today, she’s an award-winning author with three books out and a thriving career.
Missy had been trying for years to break in. After upgrading her portfolio in the mentorship, she queried—and got an agent’s reply of interest within two hours!
Rose, a freelance journalist, joined the mentorship with only early drafts. By the end, she signed with one of the top agents in the industry—and soon after, a Big 5 book deal.
Christine completed the mentorship and landed a 7-book deal for her debut series—plus three agent offers! Her first book launched in July 2025.
Book By Our Students
Flute: A Dolphin's Wild Journey Home
Kasey Whitelaw
Marisol Can't Sleep
Sandra Martin Denis
Bea's Balikbayan Treasures
Christine Newskah
The Ocean Protectors
Blair Northen Williamson
Birthday Bash
Blair Northen Williamson
How to Befriend A Vampire
Rose Marie Walano
It Takes Time To Grow A New Friend
Becky Walker
✦ REAL RESULTS ✦
A Mentorship That Moves Careers Forward
This isn't a course you forget about. It's a mentorship that changes the trajectory of your writing career.
3+
Polished manuscripts
Submission-ready by the end of your 3 months
1:1
Personalized Feedback
Professional guidance tailored to your unique voice and goals
∞
Long term path forward
Professional guidance tailored to your unique voice and goals
✦ THE METHOD ✦
The P.A.S.S. System - Your Roadmap To Publishing
A proven 4-pillar framework that takes you from where you are now to where you want to be — with no guesswork.
Portfolio
Develop polished, submission-ready manuscripts and strong query materials that grab attention from agents and publishers.
Audit
Receive professional, targeted feedback that identifies exactly what's holding your writing back — and how to fix it.
Submit
Learn the insider strategy for pitching and submitting to the right agents and publishers — not just any, but the right ones for your work.
Support
Get the accountability, encouragement, and ongoing mentorship to position yourself for success.
No More ...
✦ WHAT SETS THIS APART ✦
Everything You Need - Without The Overwhelm
This is not a generic course but a high-touch, results-driven mentorship built for serious writers.
1:1 Strategy & Feedback
Every piece of feedback is crafted for your specific manuscripts, your voice, and your goals — never generic, never one-size-fits-all.
Professional Manuscript Guidance
Rosie reviews your work with the eye of a published author who understands what acquisitions editors are actually looking for right now.
Author Brand & Marketing Foundation
Publishers want picture book authors who show up in the world. You'll build an author presence that attracts readers — and impresses agents.
Step-by-Step Traditional Publishing Roadmap
No more wondering what to do next. You'll have a clear, ordered plan from first draft all the way through signing with an agent or publisher.
Accountability & Support
You won't do this alone. Ongoing check-ins and encouragement ensure you keep moving forward, even on the hard days.
WHAT YOU'LL GAIN:
Clarity on the publishing processes
Finally understand how traditional publishing works — and exactly where you fit in it.
Confidence in your writing and submissions
Submit your work knowing it's polished, professional, and genuinely ready for agents.
A professional portfolio
A complete makeover of your body of work.
A stronger author brand
A clear identity and presence that makes you memorable to agents and publishers alike.
A long term path forward
A career strategy that grows with you — not just advice for right now, but for years ahead.
✦ HONEST FIT CHECK ✦
Is This Right For You?
This mentorship is selective for a reason — we want every picture book authors accepted to truly succeed here.
This IS for you if...
You're serious about traditional publishing — not just dreaming about it
You're open to revision, feedback, and real professional critique
You're ready to grow your craft and invest in your career
You're looking for credible, industry-insider guidance and support
You can dedicate 30 minutes daily or a few focused hours on weekends
This IS NOT for you if...
You're looking for a quick fix or overnight results
You write casually and aren't ready to treat this as a career
Your focus is exclusively on self-publishing
You're unwilling to revise your work or learn the business side of publishing
You want validation rather than honest professional feedback
✦ YOUR DELIVERABLES ✦
Here's Exactly What You'll Have When We're Done
Tangible, professional assets you'll use to launch your publishing career — not just ideas in a notebook.
Polished Manuscripts
Complete, submission-ready picture book manuscripts that reflect your best work and meet professional industry standards.
Query letters and submission materials
Compelling query letters and a complete submission package that gets your work noticed in crowded agent inboxes.
Agent & Editor Target List
A curated, personalized list of agents and editors who are genuinely right for your work and actively seeking picture books.
Author Branding Plan
A clear strategy for your author brand, online presence, and platform — so publishers see you as a complete professional package.
Clear Next Steps
A personalized action plan for what to do after the mentorship — so you never feel lost or stuck about what comes next.
Optional Continued Support
Month-to-month maintenance mentorship available so you always have a trusted advisor as you navigate the industry.
YOUR MENTOR
Meet Rosie J. Pova
Award-winning Author
Writing Mentor
NYT Featured
Parents Magazine Featured
Rosie J. Pova is an award-winning children's author whose books have been featured in The New York Times and Parents Magazine. She's not just an author — she's an industry insider who understands what it actually takes to get writers signed.
Through her books, workshops, and the Picture Book Author Academy mentorship, Rosie helps aspiring picture book authors strengthen their craft, prepare for submission, and pursue traditional publishing with clarity and confidence.
She built this mentorship because she knows the path forward doesn't have to be confusing, lonely, or filled with rejection you can't learn from. With the right guidance, writers go further — faster.
Award-winning children's book author
Featured in The New York Times
Featured in Parents Magazine
Founder of the Picture Book Author Academy
Writing mentor to aspiring picture book authors worldwide
✦ FAQ ✦
Your Questions, Answered.
Everything you need to know before applying.
How long is the mentorship?
The mentorship runs for 3 months. After your 3 months, you have the option to continue with flexible month-to-month maintenance support — ideal for writers who are actively submitting and want to stay accountable with ongoing guidance.
What's the commitment?
About 30 minutes a few times a week, or a couple of focused hours on weekends. This mentorship is designed for writers with real lives — the schedule is flexible, personalized, and fits any lifestile.
What will I walk away with at the end?
By the end of your 3 months, you'll have: 3 or more polished, submission-ready manuscripts; professionally crafted query letters and submission materials; a personalized agent and editor target list; a clear author branding plan; and your specific next steps so you know exactly what to do after the mentorship ends.
Do I already need a manuscript to apply?
Not necessarily. Whether you have a rough draft or multiple manuscripts in progress, Rosie will meet you where you are. What matters most is that you're serious about traditional publishing, open to feedback, and ready to do the work.
Is this program only for picture books?
Yes. The Picture Book Author Academy is specifically designed for writers pursuing traditional publishing in the picture book market. Rosie's expertise, feedback, and the P.A.S.S. System are all built around this specific and nuanced genre.
How does the application process works?
Admission is by application only — this ensures every writer accepted into the program is a genuine fit. After talking to one of our PBAA team members, we’ll share next steps with you. If you're selected, you'll be invited to a brief call with Rosie to make sure we are a mutual fit before moving forward.
What if I've already been rejected by agents?
Rejection is part of publishing — even for eventual bestsellers. Many of Rosie's most successful mentees came to her after rounds of rejections. The mentorship helps you understand why your projects aren't attracting attention, what needs to change, and how to submit work that's genuinely ready.
READY TO BEGIN?
Your Picture Book Career Starts Now
Admission is by application only. Spots are limited to ensure every writer receives the focused, personalized attention they deserve.
By application only · Limited spots available