SCBWI Success Story: Jacinta Liu
Jacinta Liu is a Chinese-Australian children’s book author and oracle cards creator. She walked away from a successful career at a prestigious investment bank in search of something more. That deeper purpose surfaced when her daughter’s life-threatening illness and recovery ignited a profound calling to write for children. She writes to empower young readers to find their own answers. Jacinta’s debut picture book is now out with Hachette Australia. Grandmother from the East, Grandmother from the West is a heartfelt tribute to heritage, family, and the powerful women who shape us. It is scheduled for release in the UK and US over the next year. She is open to representation, with a portfolio of manuscripts ready for their special home. You can find Jacinta at www.jacintaliu.com.
They say it takes a village to raise a child, and I believe the same is true when it comes to nurturing a book into the world.
I began writing for children in 2017, shortly after my daughter recovered from a life-threatening illness at the end of 2016. During our five-month hospital stay, I struggled with intense emotions, and journaling was what got me through that darkest phase of my life. It was incredibly healing, and it was then I realized that writing was always destined for me. Sometimes, we need extremely challenging experiences to awaken us and redirect our paths.
Over the next few years, I poured myself into learning the craft of writing and shaping my truth and imagination into story. Conceiving and giving form to each idea brought me immense joy and purpose. But finding home for those stories had been a long and painful journey. For a long time, I couldn’t reconcile why the stories I had poured my heart and soul into went unrecognized and unseen.
During those hard moments, I found solace in being part of a heart-centered community. Each talk at SCBWI didn’t just offer knowledge or information - it reminded me why I needed to keep showing up, and that I wasn’t alone in this. Hearing other authors and illustrators share their journeys to success helped me develop patience, perseverance, and compassion for my own.
In 2021, I was awarded a BIPOC scholarship at the SCBWI Summer Conference for my picture book manuscript, Grandmother from the East, Grandmother from the West. This meant more than financial support - it was a recognition of my voice and a reminder that my stories mattered. Later that same year, an editor at Hachette Australia fell in love with the manuscript. In 2022, I received a publishing offer. The SCBWI committee was so happy for me, and for my part, there was no better feeling than knowing there were people in my corner, cheering me on.
In 2024, I made a big decision to fly from Australia to attend the SCBWI NY Conference in person, and I’m so glad I did. So many friendships and connections unfolded from there, and I felt more connected to the heart of the organization than ever before.
When my debut was released this March, it aligned beautifully with the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, where both Freda Chiu, the illustrator, and I were attending. I’m so grateful that SCBWI added a special event to help launch the book at the fair. To celebrate that milestone with the very community that had witnessed and championed my growth was a true full-circle moment.
I’m so grateful for SCBWI’s ongoing support, love, and companionship. And I hope, in some small way, I’m also giving back to the community that has so generously given to me and to so many others. Writing can be a hard and lonely road, but when you find your tribe, it becomes more than just a journey. It feels like a homecoming.