Billie Holladay Skelley - August 2025 Featured Author

Billie Holladay Skelley’s writing crosses several different genres and has appeared in numerous journals, magazines, and anthologies in print and online—ranging from the American Journal of Nursing to Chicken Soup for the Soul. An award-winning author, she also has written thirteen books for children and teens. 

Congrats on your recently released picture book, Raccoon to the Moon. Tell us a little about it! 

Raccoon to the Moon (ISBN: 978-1-959489-05-4) (Crossing Time Press) explores the themes of friendship, kindness, consideration for others, and working together to achieve a goal. It is about a raccoon who longs to make a trip to the moon, but his plans don’t work out when his friends get involved. Even though he is unsuccessful in his quest, he comes to understand and appreciate the power of kindness and the value of friendship. The story is written with a rhyming text, and it has delightful, engaging illustrations that I think young readers will enjoy. It’s a great read-aloud book for children and adults to share together. 

Link to book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1959489054/    

We'd love to hear more about your writing journey. What's the process been like?

I’ve enjoyed writing for as long as I can remember—not necessarily for publication, but just for pleasure. After high school, I attended the University of Wisconsin where I received my bachelor’s and master’s degrees. I worked as a Clinical Nurse Specialist and Nursing Instructor in Wisconsin, and I participated in Nursing Curriculum Development in Iowa. During this time, an article based on my thesis for my master’s degree was published in a nursing journal, and that was my first exposure to the “larger” publishing world. It was a positive experience, and I ended up writing several health-related articles for other magazines. That was the start, but I always wanted to write for children. There are always ups and downs in writing, but I think there have been two highlights in my journey that have truly inspired me: my children’s book, Ruth Law: The Queen of the Air, was selected to receive the 2021 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Children’s Literature Award, and my children’s book, Bass Reeves: Legendary Lawman of the Wild West, received a 2024 Will Rogers Medallion Award and a 2024 Spur Award.

How have you stayed connected to the writing community?

I am a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), but I also belong to the Missouri Writers’ Guild (MWG) and the Oklahoma Writers’ Federation, Inc. (OWFI). I am a member of Saturday Writers, the Joplin Writers’ Guild (JWG), the Springfield Writers Guild (SWG), and the Ozarks Writers League (OWL). I have served as the secretary for my local writing group, I’ve sponsored writing competitions, and I presently serve as a Director at Large for the Missouri Writers’ Guild. I think all of these organizations keep me connected to the writing community—through their conferences, their competitions, and through the fellowship with the fantastic writers in these groups.

What do you love about being a writer?

I love the whole process—from the initial idea to the actual publication. I like doing research, and I enjoy getting my thoughts down on paper (and out of my head)—so that they can be shared with others. I especially enjoy writing about historical figures and sharing their achievements and accomplishments with today’s youth. I think it helps young readers realize that even though these people were quite remarkable, they often faced the same problems and challenges that today’s youth face. I think it gives young readers hope that they, too, can work through their concerns and still be successful. 

What is the best advice you've ever been given about writing? What advice would you give to someone who is just starting out?

I think the most useful advice I have ever been given is just to persevere and not to give up. When your material is criticized or rejected, it is easy to feel down and depressed, and it may be difficult to continue—but every writer I have known has had their work rejected—often numerous times. If you believe in what you are writing and you craft it the way you want it, there is usually a place for it … it may take some time to find that place … but it usually can be found. There is a quote that was shared with me years ago that I frequently repeat to myself: 

“Success is never final, failure is never fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts.” 

Link to my website: https://bhskelley.com  

Link to my Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/author/billieholladayskelley