A couple of years ago I was lucky enough to be invited to a writer’s critique group in my area. We call ourselves Trail Mix because we are a mix bag of kid lit writers and illustrators. I had no idea what was involved in traditional publishing and I am so grateful that I have been able to learn from these incredibly talented artists. Their knowledge about the industry and passion for writing have been invaluable for me on this journey. They’ve taught me to be teachable and their honesty and encouragement is the reason I am where I am today. I joined Trail-Mix to learn from other writers and discovered some amazingly kind and talented friends.