Lindsay Gizicki Brings Imagination to Life in Her Children’s Books 

Fostering Creativity and Joyful Learning Through Playful Stories and Engaging Illustrations

Lindsay Gizicki, an award-winning author, creates engaging children’s books inspired by her children, blending imagination with meaningful lessons for young readers.

Lindsay Gizicki’s journey as a storyteller is rooted in a deep love for children’s literature and an unwavering commitment to igniting the imaginations of young readers. With a background in journalism and a passion for creative expression, Lindsay blends her professional expertise with a personal touch that makes her writing relatable and impactful. As the editor of an architecture magazine and a community advocate for independent authors, Lindsay has cultivated a unique perspective on the world of literature. Her recent works, The Pirate Doctor and The Guardians of the Garden, showcase her ability to weave playful and meaningful stories inspired by the experiences of her own children. In this interview, Lindsay shares the heartwarming stories behind her latest books, her approach to collaborations with illustrators, and her aspirations for the future. A dedicated advocate for fostering creativity in young minds, Lindsay’s work continues to inspire and educate readers of all ages.

Lindsay’s books are a delightful mix of creativity and heart, making them perfect for sparking imagination in young readers.

“The Pirate Doctor” and “The Guardians of the Garden” are your most recent publications. Could you share the inspiration behind these stories and what messages you hope young readers will take away from them?

Both of these stories were inspired by my children! The Pirate Doctor was inspired by my daughter telling me of her dreams of becoming a doctor… for pirates. So I created a made-up world where a little girl could be a heroine in a pirate story. The Guardians of the Garden is about two children who playfully guard their backyard garden from critters who wish to steal their fruits and veggies. Every year, our family plants our own garden in our backyard. One year, my kids realized that the squirrels were stealing our cherry tomatoes and they were in shock! They started pretending that they were going to protect the veggies from the naughty squirrels. This, of course, led to me writing a playful story about it. I hope that children who read these books love how imaginative and playful they are. Never stop dreaming! Life can be so much fun if you just find simple joy in everything. 

“I hope that children who read these books love how imaginative and playful they are. Never stop dreaming!” – Lindsay Gizicki

Your website mentions author visits and consulting services. How have these interactions with educators and students influenced your writing process and the themes you choose to explore?

Author visits are one of my favorite things about this industry. Engaging with students and my readers, and the teachers and parents who help them read my books is so crucial to understanding who I’m writing for. It really motivates me to keep going and gives me fresh ideas on new stories, or ways to market my books to readers. With my consultation services, helping other authors get their ideas into the world gives me fresh marketing ideas of my own. This industry is truly a uniquely collaborative one. I’m grateful for the opportunities that have come my way.

The illustrations in your books are notably child-friendly and engaging. Can you discuss the collaborative process with your illustrators and how you ensure the visuals align with your narratives?

I’m very lucky to have met a wonderful illustrator who has illustrated all of my books. We work really well together as a team. It’s a lot of back and forth ideas and collaboration to make sure we’re both happy with the image and that it aligns with the overall theme of the book. She’s even willing to incorporate special images into my books. For example, my upcoming book shows a librarian reading to children. Inside the book, there is a beautiful illustration of two kids running under a weeping willow tree. That image comes directly from a family photo I have of my own children. 

Looking ahead, are there any new projects or themes you’re excited to explore in your future writings? How do you envision your work evolving to continue captivating and educating young audiences?

I’ve been asked many times if I’ll always write picture books, or if eventually I’ll write books for older kids. I would say getting into the middle grade writing community would be very likely for me. I’ve always written books that I thought my kids would love. They’re getting older now and becoming more independent readers—so it only makes sense that my writing style would change as well. My next book might very well be a chapter book!