Welcome to the writing corner
My Little Sunshine House is the home of Zanni Louise — a mother of three and a children’s book author with a deep love for picture books and stories for young readers.
After spending seven years home with her third child, Zanni returned to her lifelong passion for writing. This page gathers the thinking, reading, and resources behind that work.
About the project
The book takes shape slowly, in the quiet hours between school runs and bedtime stories. It draws on everyday family life on the Alstonville plateau, regular trips to Byron Bay, and the small, bright moments that make up a childhood.
Zanni’s work focuses on warmth, gentle humour, and the kind of language children love to hear read aloud.
Writing a picture book begins with listening, the way a child listens to a story read aloud at bedtime. The rhythm of language, the breath between sentences, and the small silences where an illustration can speak all shape the early drafts. Picture books live in that delicate space where a few carefully chosen words carry the weight of an entire emotional world, and every syllable is tested against the ears of a young reader who is hearing the story for the very first time.
The creative process is rarely linear. A story idea might arrive during a walk, a conversation, or a quiet evening when the household has finally settled, and then sit patiently in a notebook for months before it finds its true shape. Revising means reading aloud, cutting what is not essential, and trusting that the heart of the narrative will survive each careful edit. Some drafts are written quickly, others slowly, but each one teaches something new about pacing, character, and the gentle art of leaving room for a reader's imagination.
Resources for aspiring children's authors can be as simple as a stack of well-loved books and as broad as a community of fellow writers sharing their craft. Reading widely across the picture book world, studying how established authors handle structure, and seeking honest feedback from trusted readers all help build a sustainable creative practice. Writing for children is both a discipline and a gift, and approaching it with curiosity, patience, and warmth allows the work to grow at its own steady pace.
Stories for the small, bright moments.
On the writing process
Notes & reflections
Reading widely
Zanni reads stacks of picture books — old favourites and new releases — to keep a feel for rhythm, voice, and what today’s children respond to.
Writing in small pockets
With three children at home, writing happens in short bursts: early mornings, nap times, and the rare quiet evening.
Revision & patience
Drafts are rewritten many times. Each pass trims, softens, and finds the truest version of the story.
Resources for aspiring children’s authors
Where to start
Over time, Zanni has collected a short list of favourite books, websites, and conversations that helped her begin. A longer round-up — Fifteen Great Resources For Aspiring Children’s Authors — was shared on the blog in November 2016 and remains a useful starting point for new writers.
Readers are warmly invited to read that post, leave a comment with their own recommendations, or get in touch to share what they are working on.
Read along
Follow the journey on the blog, or reach out to share your own writing and ideas.