About Us – The Kidlit Hive

About the Kidlit Hive

Founded in 2023 by Justin Colón, The Kidlit Hive aids writers and illustrators of children’s literature on their creative journey. Our high-quality and affordable educational opportunities, including webinars, workshops, and multi-week classes, focus on combining craft with market knowledge. From the beginner bees to the advanced, our curated lineup of events covers many fascinating topics in-depth. By bringing top-notch people to the community’s doorstep, we give people the tools they need to break into publishing and gain sustainable traction in the industry. These creators come from all avenues of publishing to support our inclusive and accessible environment made just for creators. So, whether you’re a multi-published veteran or just starting your first children’s book, we’re here to take the sting out of publishing.

Mission Statement

The Kidlit Hive is committed to equipping creators with the resources necessary to not only survive but thrive in the publishing industry. From picture books to graphic novels and middle grade, we help creators of all formats and genres of children’s literature. In our inclusive and accessible atmosphere, individuals from any level of publishing, regardless of experience and background, can enhance their craft and develop valuable connections within the Kidlit community. Our diverse selection of events featuring top-tier industry experts merges craft with market knowledge so that our community gets first-hand intel on the business side of things. In a field otherwise riddled with rejection, we support those passionate about children’s literature.

Meet the Owner/Director

The Kidlit Hive combines two of my greatest passions: children’s literature and beekeeping. As an author with several forthcoming picture books (via Simon & Schuster & Disney-Hyperion), I share the passion for children’s literature with those in my community. As a professional author and on-camera/voice actor, I understand creators’ struggles on an emotional and business level. These all-too-common struggles are what originally inspired me to combine business knowledge and creativity so that those within The Kidlit community can get the best of both worlds.

I listen to creators and only pick presenters I admire and trust to provide value you can’t find anywhere else. In fact, many of these industry insiders have been instrumental to my own success. Carefully-vetted guest panelists and instructors include authors, illustrators, agents, editors, and many more experts.