Alli Dunlop

Alli is a children’s book author-illustrator, mom of four, and a veterinarian. She lives in Hartland, WI with her husband Drew. They are turning a 7-acre property into a hobby farm named Little Willow Farmette. With two dogs, two rats, a tortoise named Hustle, and four very lively daughters (Avery, Hayden, Noa, and Ryleigh), their home is never short on adventure—or noise!

Growing up surrounded by animals and having a grandfather who was a vet, inspired Alli to become a vet as well. For over a decade, she's helped pets and their people live their best lives through a blend of traditional and integrative care. She spends her days healing animals and her evenings writing and illustrating. For years, her dog Gunner was her rock, confidant, and constant source of unconditional love through moments of doubt and anxiety. Inspired by him, she wrote her first manuscript, The Dog That Keeps Your Secrets, a heartfelt children’s story about the incredible bond between kids who feel different—like they don’t quite fit in—and the pets who love them just as they are. 

She decided to illustrate the book herself, even though she hadn’t attempted to draw anything since high school. Now, her nights are filled with YouTube tutorials and my digital sketchbook, proving it’s never too late to learn something new.

When and where do you usually write? 

As a full-time working mom of four, I write and illustrate in pockets of time throughout the day. For writing, often my best inspiration happens while I’m in the car! I will record an audio file as I talk out loud, and go back and transcribe it later. I keep an iPhone note of ideas and inspirations as they come to me, and I use a cloud-based document to write so that I can access it from my phone, or sit down on my laptop for revisions. All of my illustration work is digital as well. While I hope I will be able to explore traditional mediums in future, at this phase of my life digital art is what feels accessible. I illustrate while I drink my morning Chai latte before I go into the clinic to see patients. I draw with one hand as I eat with the other on the days I’m able to have a lunch break. Many people ask, “how do you find time for it all?”. My answer is this — I consider myself so incredibly fortunate to have stumbled upon a passion such as this in my late 30s. Creating picture books feeds my soul. Now that I have finally found the courage to put a tiny bit of my heart out there with each thing that I create, it’s easy to "find the time” because I want to do it. 

What motivated you to write a book?

I had many moments growing up where I noticed the things that made me feel different from others. At times, the world felt very lonely. I have come to appreciate the importance of of community, and the power that the feeling of belonging holds. I write in the hope that I can help one child, or their grown-up, feel just a little less alone. 

What is the most surprising thing you've learned in your author journey?

The most surprising thing that I have learned along my journey so far is again the importance of community. The children’s literary community as a whole is so kind, supportive, and encouraging. I quickly learned, as I think many of us do, how little I knew about the creation, publication, and marketing of children’s books in the beginning. I still have much to learn, but the knowledge I have gained was not from a social media post or an online article — it’s been from the beautiful humans in this community. SCBWI has brought to me new friends, critique partners, opportunities for professional critique, workshops, and more. I am so grateful. 

What advice do you have for new authors?

Advice I would give: don’t be afraid of constructive criticism. You don’t need to heed every critique that you receive, but it is a service to yourself to hear it, sit with it, and thoughtfully consider its merits. Putting something creative out there for feedback is scary! It is baring a part of your heart and it’s a vulnerable thing to hear that your words didn’t come across as you had intended them. That being said, in my limited experience, it will only make your work better, your message stronger, and your words more true to your intent.