Episode 7

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Published on:

11th Apr 2026

Claudia Rueda

Episode 7 – Claudia Rueda

How did a woman bent on changing the world make her way from law school and political cartoons to children's books?

In this episode of My First Book Story, Meredith Davis talks with New York Times bestselling Colombian author and illustrator Claudia Rueda—creator of over 30 picture books translated into 17 languages—about the path that led to her first published book. Claudia shares how a Zen-inspired story about a boy, his grandfather, and a runaway horse became her first published work (through an award in Mexico), and how a conversation with an art director at an SCBWI conference opened the door to her American publishing career. Claudia shares her story with warmth, wisdom, and a contagious love of playfulness and creativity.

Books mentioned

  • La suerte de Ozu/Ozu’s Luck (https://claudiarueda.com/#/ozus-luck/— first published in Mexico, 2003)
  • Let's Play in the Forest While the Wolf Is Not Around (https://claudiarueda.com/#/lets-play-in-the-forest/)
  • My Little Polar Bear (Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/Little-Polar-Bear-Claudia-Rueda/dp/0545146003)
  • Here Comes the Easter Cat (Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/Here-Comes-Easter-Deborah-Underwood/dp/0803739397)
  • Here Comes Santa Cat (Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/Here-Comes-Santa-Deborah-Underwood/dp/0803741006)
  • Here Comes Valentine Cat (Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/Here-Comes-Valentine-Deborah-Underwood/dp/0525429158)
  • Here Comes the Tooth Fairy Cat (Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/Here-Comes-Tooth-Fairy-Cat/dp/0525427740)
  • Meet the Smushkins (Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/Meet-Smushkins-Claudia-Rueda/dp/1536236586)
  • The Smushkins: Colors (Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/Smushkins-Colors-Claudia-Rueda/dp/1536236594)
  • The Smushkins: ABC Zoinks (Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/Smushkins-ABC-Zoinks-Claudia-Rueda/dp/1536236608)

Links

  • Claudia Rueda (https://claudiarueda.com)
  • Meredith Davis (https://meredithldavis.com)
  • Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (https://www.scbwi.org)
  • Scholastic Press (https://www.scholastic.com)
  • Penguin Random House (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com)
  • Chronicle Books (https://www.chroniclebooks.com)
  • Abrams Books (https://www.abramsbooks.com)
  • Episode Webpage (https://meredithdavis.substack.com/p/claudia-ruedas-first-book-story)

Theme music by Nate Davis

Produced by Clay Davis

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About the Podcast

My First Book Story
Interviews with successful authors about their journeys to their first published book
Welcome to My First Book Story, where I interview successful authors about their journeys to their first published book. Whether you’re still chasing your first book contract, going after the next one, or pursuing some other dream, these short interviews will inspire you to keep going.

Have you ever wondered how to break through an editor’s slush pile and breach the publishing wall? There are many paths to success, and each one is different. Mine was more than a decade in the making, others happened almost overnight. But the one thing each of these stories has in common is that it ends with a published book in the hands of readers.

I’m Meredith Davis, a traditionally published children’s book author living in Austin, Texas, a hotbed of talented book writers and illustrators. I’ve been in this world for thirty years, I’ve heard some great stories, and I can’t wait to share them with you.

About your host

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Meredith Davis

Meredith Davis is the author of THE MINOR MIRACLE and THE MINOR RESCUE, books one and two in THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF NOAH MINOR series (Waterbrook, 2024/25) and co-author of HER OWN TWO FEET: A RWANDAN GIRL’S BRAVE FIGHT TO WALK (Scholastic, 2019). She once worked at an independent children’s bookstore, started the Austin Chapter of SCBWI, and earned her Masters of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults at VCFA. Her superpowers include reading, grandmothering, and finding ways to fit more books in her Austin, Texas home.