Kelly Rice Schmitt
Kelly Rice Schmitt is an author of STEAM children’s literature. She holds a B.B.A in Finance and Chinese from the University of Notre Dame and is an advocate for girls in STEM, business, and other fields with gender gaps. She can be found in North Carolina helping other traders grow their businesses, writing for children, and exploring, singing, and creating with her husband and young children.
Interview
What was your favorite book when you were a child?
How can I choose just one!? For younger readers, I LOVED the Magic School Bus series by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen and Paddington by Michael Bond. In middle grade I loved A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl.
What’s your favorite line from a book?
“You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we’re apart…I’ll always be with you.”—A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh
Who are your top three favorite authors or illustrators?
David Roberts, Julie Morstad, Oge Mora
Why did you want to become an author or illustrator?
I love getting little humans excited about BIG ideas and believe that children are often far more capable than grown-ups assume. I write to spark curiosity, courage, and joy in readers and love books that trust the remarkable ability of the growing child mind.
Do you have any advice for future authors or illustrators?
Create! Without getting art or words on the page, you will have nothing to edit and improve. Find your voice and write the stories you were meant to tell — what is special about you and your experience that you can share with kids?
