Instructor Spotlight: Violet Lemay on the Power of Darkness in Kidlit

Violet Lemay is the instructor for the WriteForKids Session Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark: How Conflict, Setbacks & Emotional Upheaval Can Make Your Writing Come Alive. She’s also the wonderfully talented artist who helped create our mascots Beacon, Mitty, Lilypad, Skylar, Humbug and Bamboozler.

Violet’s career as an an illustrator and author spans more than 50 books and includes work with HarperCollins, Penguin Random House, duopress, ‘Magination Press, and Michael Sampson Books. As an editorial illustrator, Violet contributed art to hundreds of magazines and newspapers.

Violet’s latest book, Alithia Ramirez Was an Artist, celebrates the life and art of a young victim of the Uvalde tragedy.

Written with the support of Alithia’s parents, this touching story has resonated throughout the publishing world, sweeping the 2024 Children’s Book Council’s Favorite award categories (Children’s Favorite, Librarian Favorite & Teacher Favorite for grades 3-5).