His book, 111 Places for Kids in Washington That You Must Not Miss, will be available for sale at the Inkandescent Kids Book Fair! 
Inkandescent Kids: What advice do you have for kids who want to become writers?
Austin Graff: Read, read, read. As you read other people’s writing, spend time reflecting on what makes it great. It’s a gift that we can learn from the millions of writers who have gone before us.
Inkandescent Kids: How old were you when you knew you wanted to be a writer?
Austin Graff: When I was a child, I loved writing stories in school. That passion carried with me from elementary school to university. When I got older, I told myself I’d never write a book because of the work it takes. When my publisher offered me a contract to write this book, my wife encouraged me to do it simply so we could have a tangible memory of my daughter and me exploring all of D.C.
Inkandescent Kids: What is the most important thing you’ve learned about writing?
Austin Graff: Just start writing. Every month, I had 10-12 chapters due to my editor. Some months, I felt uninspired, but if I just started writing, the words would eventually flow.
Tell Inkandescent Kids about 111 Places for Kids in Washington
That You Must Not Miss.
Austin Graff: My publisher has a series of books in most major cities around the world built around visiting 111 places. Washington, D.C. has a few versions, including one for Black history and women’s history. My book is the kids’ version. My now nine-year-old daughter and I walked every street and alley in all 136+ D.C. neighborhoods and kept a running list of our favorite kid-friendly spots from playgrounds to museums to restaurants. This book is essentially my daughter’s favorite places in her hometown of Washington, D.C.
Inkandescent Kids: How did you get the idea for your book?
Austin Graff: I’m friends with Andrea Seiger, the author of 111 Places in Washington, DC That You Must Not Miss. She had heard our publisher was looking for someone to write a kids’ version for D.C. She put my name forward and the rest is history.
Inkandescent Kids: What do you hope readers will take away from your story?
Austin Graff: I wrote the book not just for tourists, but also for locals. All 111 places are in every part of the city of D.C. My hope is that it sparks curiosity to explore D.C. as a whole and see the human side of the nation’s capital.
Inkandescent Kids: What was it like to see your work published?
Austin Graff: My daughter is the most proud! Since she’s a big part of the book, she’s so proud. Every time we see it in a bookstore, she squeals and runs over to see it. It’s so fun to see!
Find out more about Austin K. Graff and his book at his website: Home – Curiosity & Connection
and be sure to follow him on social media!
Instagram
Austin Graff (@AustinKGraff) / X
Austin Graff | LinkedIn
Facebook
Austin Graff (@austinkgraff) | TikTok
Get your copy of 111 Places for Kids in Washington That You Must Not Miss at the Inkandescent Kids Book Fair! Free tickets on Eventbrite: Think like a reporter: Out of the mouths of kids come great ideas Tickets, Saturday, August 8 • 12 PM – 4 PM | Eventbrite
Welcome Emilia Renay, a YA author who will be exhibiting at our Inkandescent Kids Book Fair on August 8!
Inkandescent Kids: What is the most important thing you’ve learned about writing?
Emilia Renay: The most important thing I’ve learned about writing is to keep moving forward. There will always be more to learn, more room to grow, and more opportunities to develop your style, but you can’t hold yourself back waiting for perfection. One of the best parts of self‑publishing is the freedom to release your work without tailoring it to the general public. I can admit that Bluejay Odyssey has a few misspellings in the first book, but because I’m publishing it myself, I can always go back later and update both the grammar and the art. I never would have become an author if I had waited until the book felt perfect to me.
Inkandescent Kids: Tell Inkandescent Kids about Bluejay Odyssey!
Emilia Renay: Bluejay Odyssey is the first book I’ve ever published. As the opening installment in a six‑book series, it’s a YA sci‑fi fantasy story that follows dual protagonists Krynn and Jay. Krynn, the captain of a group of galactic bounty hunters, discovers an unexpected stowaway—a human—on their ship. Known for their fierce aggression and resilience, they are often perceived as nothing more than mindless brutes, fit only for underground fight rings, but Jay is different. She has no memory of her life before being found aboard the ship. As Captain Krynn and his crew investigate the mystery surrounding their unexpected guest, they uncover a startling truth: humans are far more complex and sentient than anyone ever imagined. As they travel across the galaxy, exploring new and mysterious worlds, they must also confront the looming threat of the Infestors, a relentless robotic race capable of deconstructing matter at the atomic level.
Amidst the cosmic battles and unfolding mysteries, Bluejay explores the powerful theme of found family and presents a realistic representation of mental and physical disabilities. In a race against time, Krynn and Jay must discover the hidden truths that could change the fate of the galaxy forever. Amidst the cosmic battles and unfolding mysteries, Bluejay explores the powerful theme of found family and presents a realistic representation of mental and physical disabilities. In a race against time, Krynn and Jay must discover the hidden truths that could change the fate of the galaxy forever.
Inkandescent Kids: What do you hope readers will take away from your story?
Emilia Renay: My biggest hope for my story is that it helps readers feel seen. Bluejay Odyssey draws from my own life
and focuses on showing realistic disabilities in its characters. My goal is to connect with readers so they feel represented while still providing them with a sci-fi fantasy story that’s entertaining and fun.
The second book in the Bluejay Odyssey series, Hunt for the Homeworld, releases this August!
Find out more about Emilia Renay and her books at her website: https://bluejay-odyssey.org/
and be sure to follow her on social media!
https://www.youtube.com/@Bluejay_Odyssey
https://www.instagram.com/the_world_of_etera/
Get your copies of Bluejay Odyssey and Hunt for the Homeworld and meet author Emilia Renay in person at the Inkandescent Kids Book Fair! Free tickets on Eventbrite: Think like a reporter: Out of the mouths of kids come great ideas Tickets, Saturday, August 8 • 12 PM – 4 PM | Eventbrite
