The Picture Book Buzz - Interview w/Jessica Goecke and Review of Billy and the Hole

Jessica Goecke is a writer, illustrator, and graphic designer.

She is a 2023 PB Rising Stars mentee and recipient of SCBWI's Don Freeman grant. She lives just outside Seattle with her husband, two kids, and miniature schnauzer, Duke.

Jessica’s debut picture book, Billy and the Hole, releases on August 11, 2025.

Welcome Jessica,

Tell us a little about yourself. (Where/when do you write and illustrate? How long have you been writing and illustrating?)

Thanks for having me!  I just learned that I started writing and illustrating children’s books around 2^nd grade. My parents kept a single bankers box of childhood keepsakes, which included my first books. They won awards! But I seriously started writing for children in 2022. At the time, I was also working as a freelance graphic designer, mostly for law firms and real estate agents. I had started to work on a few illustration projects for a client, and I enjoyed it so much, I began exploring paths that would allow me to do more illustration.

Now I write and illustrate full-time from all sorts of places around my house. I illustrate mostly at my desk because I developed frozen shoulder a couple of years ago, and my physical therapist insisted I get a proper setup. My favorite place to write drafts and puzzle through revisions is in the bath. I have a massive soaking tub. I call it my thinking bath.

It's so nice to "meet" you Jessica. That bath sounds wonderful! What is one of the most fun or unusual places where you’ve written a manuscript or created an illustration?

See above. The bath certainly feels like an unusual place to work, but I believe the internet sells ‘bath desks’, which makes me think there’s a market. I’m not alone.

Ha! That might be true. What was your inspiration or spark of interest for Billy and the Hole?

When I first decided to try to get into narrative illustration, I joined Storyteller Academy to learn the craft of creating a children’s book in its entirety. I took a writing class taught by Jim Averbeck, and he encouraged us to try writing from a one-word story prompt. I thought “hole” would make a good prompt because there were so many directions I could take it.

At the time, I was feeling particularly cynical about kids and the lack of freedom or boredom that leads to creativity and adventure. I think that’s where the initial idea of Billy really came from – it was a sort of salve for myself as an anxious millennial parent coming out of the pandemic with kids who don’t know how to spend a minute alone. The opening of Interesting to hear your perspective as a parent can only happen to a kid who is not within arm’s reach of an adult. So, I asked myself, what would a kid do if they found a mysterious hole in the ground? There is no adult around, cautioning, “Stand back! That hole looks deep!” (which is 100% what I would be shouting at my kid, by the way). As the story developed, I realized I was telling a cautionary tale, and I am okay with that because for me as a child, those were the kinds of stories that stuck with me.

Interesting to hear your perspective on this as a parent and as the child you had been. Thank you. Which comes first for you, the text or the illustration?

Most often the text comes first, however there have been stories that were inspired by a single illustration. I find that those stories are much harder to crack, like I’m trying to back into a world that I know nothing about. Typically, when I’m writing, I am storyboarding in my head, so I have a pretty good idea of what I’m going to do when it comes time to illustrate.

I get that. I love that Billy and the Hole has the dark-ish, mysterious, “just missed it” aspects similar to Sam and Dave Dig a Hole – was this a mentor text or comp for you?

I adore Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen’s work. Sam and Dave Dig a Hole was definitely a comp title when I pitched the project, citing the unforeseen twist (which, by the way, I did not notice until my child pointed it out after reading that book about a hundred times). I actually leaned a lot on Extra Yarn (also Barnett/Klassen) as a mentor text because it had the tone and pacing of a folk tale, which is what I wanted for this book.

Nice! I love the folk tale, Brother's Grimm feel that you created. Many illustrators leave treasures or weave special images (or elements) throughout the illustrations. Did you do this in Billy and the Hole? If so, could you share one or more with us?

Text & Image © Jessica Goecke, 2026.

Ok, I did! The front end papers include a flyer for the Woodinville Library, which is our local branch. The stuffed walrus is inspired by my beloved walrus from childhood. Also, if you look at the wagon scene, you’ll see a mailbox with the name Hollands, which is the last name of my dearest friend.

Thank you so much for sharing these treasures with us! What was the hardest or most challenging part of writing and/or illustrating Billy and the Hole? What was the most fun part?  

The hardest part in the writing process was moving the story past the initial draft. I found that the first iteration of this story left an imprint on my brain that was limiting. Once I got comfortable with disassembling everything and piecing it back together, revising became much easier. I liken it to a good Bananagrams strategy -- sometimes you have to break apart your entire puzzle in order to fit another letter. If you hang on too tight to what you’ve already built, you’ll have a heck of a time trying to make it work. I believe there are about 15 drafts of this story.

The most fun part happened to coincide with the hardest part because I was revising and polishing this story during my PB Rising Stars mentorship. My incredible mentor, Justin Colón, worked with me through revisions and brainstorming, and we often live-edited together in Google Docs, which was so fast-paced and intense, but also so much fun. It was way out of my comfort zone, and it turned out to be a huge growing period for me. It got to a point where I could rapid-fire lines at him to test for humor, which was great fun because I threw some weird stuff at him.

That sounds like an amazing opportunity and a rare gift. How long did it take from the first “seed” of the idea to publication for Billy and the Hole?

It has been about 4 years. Billy and the Hole was one of the first stories I wrote. When I applied for the PB Rising Stars mentorship, I had written a number of other stories that were maybe more commercial at the time, but I really wanted to work on Billy and the Hole because it best represents the kinds of stories I want to create.

Is there a spread that you were especially excited about or proud of? Or perhaps one which is your favorite spread?

Text & Image © Jessica Goecke, 2026.

I am proud of the walrus going into the hole because it feels like a big moment, and I am happy with how it translates. My favorite page, though, is the string quartet. I don’t know why! It makes me smile every time I see it. In fact, you know how people say it’s weird to hang your own art in your house? I’m here to tell you that I have that page framed and hanging above the toilet in my guest bathroom, and I have no regrets.

Okay, that's funny! How many revisions did the text and/or illustrations of Billy and the Hole take from first draft to publication?

There are about 15 versions of Billy and the Hole. As for the illustrations, I think there are about 3 versions of Billy’s world. There is an early dummy with an entirely different illustration style that I think has only ever been seen by Justin and my critique partners.

Oh, that's tantalizing. I love your illustrations and wonder what this "different style" looks like.

What’s something you want your readers to know or hope they discover about Billy and the Hole?

I hope Billy and the Hole serves as a reminder that healthy friendships go both ways, and I hope it inspires readers to think about how self-esteem might affect the choices we make and the quality of the relationships into which we place our time and energy.

I think that is a good take away from this book. Are there any projects you are working on now that you can share a tidbit with us?

I illustrated a hilarious book by Julie Hauswirth, called If My Sister Were a Worm. It comes out on October 20^th of this year with Holiday House.

I’m also working on an illustrated dual POV chapter book series, called Orion and Cosmo from Holiday House, written by Stephanie Ward. It’s about a space-obsessed boy who befriends a Martian stranded on Earth. The characters are vibrant, and I’m having a ball helping them come to life visually.

My second author-illustrated picture book releases in 2027 with Atheneum. It’s called The Other Gardener, and it’s about a girl who loves her garden until she finds a hole (I know, I know) in her fence and imagines what can be on the other side based on the very limited view the hole provides.

I’m also working with the lovely team at Flamingo again, illustrating a picture book called Winnie and the New Kid, written by Danielle Mund. This book is so full of heart, and it is the freshest take on the issue of bullying I’ve seen in a long time. That one is scheduled for publication in 2028.

These all sound amazing and we'll have to keep our eyes open for them! Last question,  what is your favorite National Park or Forest, regional park, or city park (anywhere in the world)? Or the one you’re longing to visit. Why?

I love this question. My family and I have a goal of visiting a National Park every summer. We have a few incredible parks right here in Washington. This year we did North Cascades, which blew my mind. We visited Yellowstone a few years ago and that was unbelievable. It’s the kind of place that makes you wonder how this is our planet and think a lot about what a privilege it is to be here.

I think the park I feel most sentimental about is Redwood National (and State) Parks. I grew up in California, and the Redwoods are the trees that I actively want to hug and save. I am telling you, when I stand in a redwood forest, I feel like I am among ancient spirits – silent, beautiful sentinels. The junior ranger program at Redwood National Park was also one of the best we’ve experienced so far. We learned a lot.

think the next park on our list is Arches. The kids have been asking about that one for several years.

Thank you, Jessica, for sharing about yourself and your debut picture book with us.  

For more information about Jessica Goecke, or to contact her:

Website: https://jessicagoecke.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessica.goecke/

Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/jessicagoecke.bsky.social

Review of Billy and the Hole

A wonderful new dark picture book for fans of Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen who enjoy slightly uncomfortable, dark humor and the improbable imagination of Oliver Jeffer's Stuck.

Billy and the Hole

Author & Illustrator: Jessica Goecke

Publisher: Flamingo Books (August 11, 2026)

Ages: 4 - 8

Themes:

Friendship, dark humor, toxic relationships, manipulation, and imagination.

Synopsis:

A boy, a talking hole in the ground, and an impossible request.

This hole in the ground is no ordinary hole in the ground. For it speaks to Billy with a voice that's cold and hard, like ancient stone. At first, the hole in the ground is polite and kind, and tells Billy how clever he is. And, well, Billy just can't resist his new odd friend and their nice words. But when the hole's requests grow more extreme, and Billy can't always meet them--Billy will have to take matters into his own hands before his new friend takes matters into theirs.

From a singular new voice in children's books, Jessica Goecke, comes a new macabre picture book with gorgeous art and a touch of darkness that is also at turns laugh-out-loud funny. Perfect for fans of Jon Klassen's The Skull or Olive Jeffers's There's a Ghost In This House!

Opening Lines:

One day, Billy found a hole.

It wasn't there yesterday.

But there it was, right in

his favorite spot,

under his favorite tree.

What I LOVED about this book:

The sepia-toned illustrations combine with dry, wry humor to create a deliciously dark, slightly ominous story about boundaries and friendship. The simplicity of the image highlights both the aloneness of Billy and his friendship with his robot, Cosmo. It's a very solitary, bleak image.

Text & Image © Jessica Goecke, 2026.

When Billy decides to test the depth of the hole, by dropping an apple into it, he hears "a voice. Cold and hard, like ancient stone. - "I PREFER RED APPLES." The startled looks by both Billy and Cosmo are priceless. Since upsetting a talking hole could be dangerous, Billy and Cosmo pluck a few apples (note the image shows a wheelbarrow overflowing with apples) from a neighbor's tree. When the hole calls Billy clever, he is instantly willing to toss down a handful of reading material for the hole. Jessica Goecke beautifully, and subtly, plants the idea with the reader that the hole is engaging in psychological manipulation - the simple raised eyebrow on Cosmo says so much.

Blinded by the hole's praise, Billy devises a more extreme measure to get the hole's next request - "the biggest

wheel of Mr. Haaland’s prize Gorgonzola.” Having only two nickels, Billy stole the cheese. This moment is both understated - we only see him and Cosmo pulling the cheese to the hole. The inclusion of a grater & rubber chicken in his pile of supplies for the heist and the resulting full page smelly burp from the hole lend moments of humor to this moment for both the kids and the adult readers.

Text & Image © Jessica Goecke, 2026.

The hole continues to cajole Billy ("WE RE GOING TO BE THE BEST OF FRIENDS") and incrementally step up its demands - which are enthusiastically met with increasingly ridiculous offerings - tossing an entire string quartet into the hole. This slightly macabre moment, since up to now the hole has devoured all Billy's offerings - and these are real people, reminds me of Oliver Jeffers' Stuck, where a child tosses people and vehicles into a tree.

Caught in an exploitive and manipulative friendship, Billy felt needed and appreciated. After all, he was going to be invited to the hole's birthday party. Despite Cosmo's growing reluctance, Billy continues to obtain and feed the hole "anything it wanted."

Text & Image © Jessica Goecke, 2026.

As the dark humor builds (note the bubble bath and pirate ship full of gold tossed down the hole) and stretches into the absurd, it is interesting that Billy's tipping point is the hole's demand for his actual friend, Cosmo. It's an interesting case study on manipulative, toxic "friendships" (and for the adults mass manipulation), offering an opening for caregivers to discuss limits and early warning signs with kids. When the hole demands Cosmo, Billy (true to his nature) devises a plan that again involves a theft. See the "walrus" spread above in the interview.

Faced with an upset town (upon learning he has been the thief) or an upset, mean hole and losing Cosmo, Billy makes the only possible choice. Humor abounds in fun repeated lines, near misses (akin to Sam and Dave Dig a Hole), and slapstick moments (imagine a hole throwing a tantrum!). The ending is engaging, satisfying, and spookily humorous. This clever, darkly witty, and poignant debut picture book offers a funny and unsettling tale on toxic friendships, manipulation, and the value of true friends.

Resources:

• make your own paper, recycled, toilet paper roll, or dancing puppet robot.

• would you be friends with the hole? Is there anything you would not give the hole?

  
  

• what do you think makes a good friend? Who do you like to spend time with? Why?

• check out some ideas on helping identify healthy friendships and boundaries.

• pair this with The Skull by Jon Klassen, I Just Ate My Friend by Heidi McKinnon, and A Sick Day for Amos McGee: by Philip & Erin Stead, for a few other interesting books on friendships.