Seina Wedlick: Deconstructing Story Structures
KidLit Craft is back with another Snack-Sized Author Interview. In this series, we ask authors five quick questions that give us insight into their craft and process. Today we’re talking with author Seina Wedlick.
Seina is the author of three picture books, including her latest, Space for Everyone, which comes out today! Seina enjoys drawing on her culture and traditions in stories that celebrate community.
Welcome, Seina!
Question 1: What's your writing superpower?
I enjoy exploring different story structures, and I think that’s where my strengths lie. I enjoy deconstructing story structures and studying the various frameworks to determine the best way to tell a story. It is fun to explore various picture books and identify patterns, analyze narratives, and try to distill a story to its core elements. I’ve used different story structures in some of my picture books, like Naming Ceremony (illustrated by Jenin Mohammed) and The Night Market (illustrated by Briana Mukodiri Uchendu), and it was such a fun process to discover the right framework to tell both stories during the writing process.
Question 2: What’s an element of craft you explored in your latest project and what tips can you share with other authors for growing in their use of that particular element?
In my latest picture book, Space for Everyone (illustrated by Camilla Sucre), which comes out today (January 21st), I really wanted to explore empathy and community through Zainab’s kitchen’s table. It’s sometimes easier to focus on the big moments that happen in people’s lives, but I also wanted to capture the quiet moments, like when Zainab shares tea with her mom at the table, when she does her homework at the table, how she makes room for family and friends during a meal, etc. In Space for Everyone, I wanted to center community around the table, which is often where family stories and traditions are passed down.
Question 3: If you could travel back in time, what advice would you give yourself as a new author?
Traditional publishing is often a slow process, and I didn’t find that out until I sold my first picture book, Naming Ceremony. There are occasionally books that get snapped up and released really quickly, but, more often than not, it’s a much longer wait from acquisition to publication. It’s so important for writers to plug into a community of other writers they can share this journey with and to use the “waiting period” to work on something new or hone-in on their craft.
Question 4: What inspires you as a writer?
I really enjoy writing about my culture and traditions. I am inspired daily by my children, and I want them to be able to read books that reflect parts of their identity. I enjoy writing fun family stories, like Naming Ceremony and Space for Everyone, and I also enjoy writing stories with a hint of whimsy, like The Night Market. I enjoy storytelling across a wide spectrum, and the thought of one of my books finding its way into a new reader’s hands and pulling them into pages where they perhaps get to experience something new still amazes me. I enjoy going to school and library visits and hearing all the fun questions kids come up with.
Question 5: What’s one book you think every kidlit author should read?
This is such a tough question to answer. There are so many wonderful books out there, and I think every author should read widely in the genre they want to write in. There are so many brilliant children’s books that do an excellent job with using literary devices that bring stories to life. From Newbery- and Caldecott Award-winning books to librarian recommendations and books that fall under the radar, the world is full of amazing books, and you just have to find those to speak to you.
Bonus Question: What can fans look forward to next?
I'm so excited for the launch of my next picture book, Space for Everyone (illustrated by Camilla Sucre), which comes out on January 21st. I love writing about family and community, and this book embraces both and is centered around the memories we make at our kitchen tables. And in this book, Zainab's table always has space for everyone.
Seina Wedlick is a Nigerian-American children’s book author who enjoys writing diverse stories infused with her culture and traditions. Seina is the author of Naming Ceremony (Abrams Kids, Spring 2023), The Night Market (Random House, Fall 2024), and Space for Everyone (Random House, Winter 2025).
She is passionate about early literacy and believes in equity in education. She believes in supporting early childhood literacy and highlighting the importance of diversity, culture, and traditions, which she reflects in her books. Seina also enjoys reading to the sound of pouring rain and considers herself an expert at pairing books with delicious snacks. When she’s not writing or working on special projects, she can be found exploring or spending time with her family.
You can find Seina on Instagram @seinawedlick
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