About

Short Bio:

Charlotte Sullivan Wild is the author of several picture books. LOVE, VIOLET, illustrated by Charlene Chua, is a Stonewall Book Award winner, Charlotte Huck Honor Book, Lambda Literary Award Finalist, and Bookstagang’s Best of 2022 winner for Future Classics and Community Favorites (Farrar, Straus and Giroux; Jan. 4, 2022). THE AMAZING IDEA OF YOU was illustrated by Mary Lundquist (Bloomsbury, 2019). She has previously worked as an educator, bookseller, volunteer radio host, and creator of children’s literature events. Originally from frosty Minnesota, she lives wherever her wife is stationed, most recently in San Antonio, Texas and now in Italy! Learn more: www.charlotteswild.com

Long Bio:

Charlotte Sullivan Wild is the author of several picture books. LOVE, VIOLET, illustrated by Charlene Chua, is a Stonewall Book Award winner, Charlotte Huck Honor Book, Lambda Literary Award Finalist, and Bookstagang’s Best of 2022 winner for Future Classics and Community Favorites (Farrar, Straus and Giroux; Jan. 4, 2022). THE AMAZING IDEA OF YOU was illustrated by Mary Lundquist (Bloomsbury, 2019).

She has received grants for her work in children’s literature from the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators, Minnesota State Arts Board, Metro Regional Arts Council, and The Jerome Foundation, as well as a 2012 Loft Shabo Picture book Award and a Pushcart nomination. Her poetry and essays for adults have been published or honored by Fourth Genre, Rockford Review, Freshwater, Front Range Review, The Minneapolis StarTribune, and others.

She has served as the Regional Advisor for the Southwest Texas chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI); founding host of the Picture Book Salon of San Antonio, Texas; and bookseller at The Twig Book Shop.

She taught children’s literature in the public schools and at the undergraduate level for nearly two decades. During 2011-2012, she served as the Visiting Scholar in Children’s Literature at Normandale Community College in Bloomington, Minnesota. She earned her MS in Curriculum and Instruction from Minnesota State University, Mankato, and MFA in fiction from Hamline University, St. Paul, Minnesota.

She has enjoyed volunteering in public and school libraries, and interviewing children’s authors for Write On! Radio (KFAI). Before the onset of chronic illness (ME/CFS), she adored hiking, singing in choirs, and reading stories for hours with her siblings’ kids. Originally from frosty Minneapolis, she now lives wherever her wife is stationed, recently in San Antonio, Texas, and now in northern Italy with a flock of spirited hens, the Eggyatrixes. Learn more: www.charlotteswild.com

 

What’s New: Italy!

In 2019, we moved to northern Italy, where my wife is stationed. We are nestled in a rural three-road town, halfway between Venice and the sea, and the Dolomite Mountains. We live across from small family farms and vineyards. Our life is filled with the sounds of church bells, recess, early roosters, and the odd tractor (or motorcycle) roaring down the road. We love how our neighbors spend evenings together outside, sharing the freshest food, watching soccer and chatting.

During the Pandemic we added The Eggyatrixes to our family – four spirited chickens, each with their own personalities and opinions. We are smitten! I’m thankful for this unexpected adventure during a hard season.

 

What’s New: Living with ME/CFS Disability

Unfortunately, 2019 also brought a new chronic illness for me, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), formerly called Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). Many with Long Covid develop ME/CFS. It flattened me just days before the launch of my debut picture book The Amazing Idea of You (Lundquist, Bloomsbury). Only with the support of many did I get through those book events and our international move. But once we landed in Italy, it became clear I could no longer “push through” normal life.

I now spend most of my day resting. I must use energy very sparingly. That means almost no social interactions, which is not easy for this extrovert! For long stretches at first, I couldn’t write at all. I’ve now learned about my new limits and come to accept them (okay, some days). That has helped me to stay more within my “energy envelope.”

As a result, I’m writing again! Some of the coping strategies I’ve developed have even improved my creative process. I’m engaging with the world in new ways: making videos instead of doing school visits and connecting virtually with colleagues and readers around the world. I’ve also reflected with new insight on bouts of extended illness I had as a child. This journey is inspiring new projects that I hope will speak to kids facing illness and to their friends who care about them.

Some days are brutal. But writing and connecting with others in the midst of that is a gift. It has also given me a fresh appreciation for life, beauty, and relationships. And for the joy of sharing stories with you. For awhile there, I thought I would never get to do that again.

Headshots & Book Cover Images

Click on the links below to download zipped folders of both high and low resolution head shots and book covers. Please contact me if you need another size or format. Author Photos by Lexi Murzea.

In the Media

VIDEO: PANEL
“OutWrite 2022 Presents: Queer Picture Books of 2022”
(begins 3:55, 44:20)
The DC Center for the LGBT Community, 7 Aug. 2022

BLOG AUTHOR INTERVIEW
Jenny Pease, #ChatWithThePBLady, 24 July 2022

BLOG AUHTOR INTERVIEW
Reads Rainbow, Charlotte (@pointofhopes), 11 July 2022

GEEKS OUT INTERVIEW
“Love, Violet Interview w/ C. S. Wild & Charlene Chua”
GeeksOUT, Michele Kirichanskaya, 11 Mar. 2022

MEET THE AUTHOR
“Interview with Charlotte Sullivan Wild, Author of Love, Violet”
Pride and Less Prejudice, 14 Feb. 2022

GUEST BLOG POST
“On Creating Love (When Work Isn’t Enough)”
Cynsations, Cynthia Leitich Smith, 10 Feb. 2022

VIDEO: Making Love, Violet & Story Time (28:34)
8 Jan. 2022

BLOG AUTHOR INTERVIEW
“Warm Hearts & a Giveaway”
Picture Book Builders Blog, Kim Norman, 4 Jan. 2022

BLOG AUTHOR INTERVIEW
Rebecca Crunden, 5 Dec. 2021

BLOG FEATURE
“No More Ghosts! A (Queer) Picture Book Love Story”
We Need Diverse Books Blog, 16 Nov. 2021

BLOG AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT
Host Helen Ishmurzin, 9 Nov. 2021

VIDEO: Love, Violet: A Valentine for You! (7:27)
6 Nov. 2021

DUAL BLOG INTERVIEW & VIDEO PREMIER (LOVE, VIOLET)
With Illustrator Charlene Chua
Math Is Everywhere, Kaitlyn Sanchez, 6 Nov. 2021

PODCAST: The Writing Barn’s The Porchlight Ep. # 49 with Charlotte Sullivan Wild, 8 May 2019.

VIDEO INTERVIEW: Empowered Publicity Children’s Books Spotlight Series Ep. #29 25 Apr. 2019

VIDEO SHORT 4 KIDS: #HowToMakeAPictureBook with Carolyn Dee Flores, 23 Feb. 2019

SHELF AWARENESS: Image of the Day ~ AMAZING IDEA launch at The Twig Book Shop! 20 Feb 2019

THE LOFT LITERARY CENTER: The Writer’s Block Blog ~ Charlotte Sullivan on Finding & Keeping Creative Success, 13 Oct. 2014 

MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO, CLASSICAL: Music with Minnesotans ~ Charlotte Sullivan on Writing to Music (and LOVE, VIOLET), 10 Feb. 2014