The Picture Book Buzz - Interview with Ashley Belote
- Maria Marshall
- Nov 16
- 8 min read
Ashley Belote is an author and illustrator who studied traditional animation under the direction of Don Bluth.
Ashley is a West Virginia native and earned her BA from Alderson Broaddus University. She earned her MA in Arts Administration from the University of Kentucky. Her graduate study included a children’s literature and illustration course, The Whole Book Approach, through Simmons College at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. She also serves as the Illustrator Coordinator for the Carolinas chapter of SCBWI.
Ashley’s the author/illustrator of Don't Wash Winston (2024), Sheepwrecked (2024), Witch & Wombat (2023), Listen Up, Louella (2022), A Partridge in the We Tree (2022), and The Me Tree (2021). And the illustrator of Frankenslime by Joy Keller (2021) and Valenslime by Joy Keller (2021).
Her newest book, Little Red and Big, Bad Fred, releases on November 18th.
Welcome Ashley,
I am thrilled to be a guest on your blog!
Tell us a little about yourself. (Where/when do you write? How long have you been writing? What is your favorite book to write?)
I write whenever inspiration strikes, haha. That will typically happen very early in the morning or in the evening, but sometimes I get ideas while grocery shopping, running, driving, etc. That’s why I always carry a notebook with me for those just in case moments! I have a really fun art studio in my house that I work out of. I am actually writing my answers from my studio as we speak! This is such a fun and comfortable space for me to create in, and when I'm out on the road, I always look forward to coming back to it.
I have been writing and drawing my entire life! There is not a time in my life that I don't remember drawing or coloring. My mom jokes that when she handed me my first crayon at two years old, she had no idea that I would hold on to it forever, haha. I was known as the “art kid” in school, so being an artist was my identity from a very young age.
In terms of my favorite book that I've worked on, that's a tough one! I love different aspects of each project and always learn something new every time. One of my favorite books to write was Sheepwrecked, haha. It came out in 2024, and I LOVE puns, so it was a blast to work on. The sheep puns are epic! I think using clever wordplay is my favorite part of writing for my audience. I love to laugh, so making others laugh is always my main goal!
It is so wonderful to "meet" you, Ashley. What is one of the most fun or unusual places where you’ve written a manuscript?
I have an answer for each! Haha! One of the most fun places I’ve worked on a manuscript was a train station in London! My husband and I took our first trip to Europe this past summer, and we had a few travel delays, which gave me a little time to work in between sightseeing destinations. I love working on manuscripts in strange places because it gets me out of my normal space and prompts me to think differently.
One of the most unusual places was the McDonald’s drive-through, haha. I had been sitting in line for a while, and my mind was wandering. I started thinking about one of my stories and had an idea! So, I pulled out my laptop and put the car in park and wrote while I continued to wait for my hot cakes :D
That's funny! What was your inspiration or spark of interest for Little Red and Big, Bad Fred?
I have always loved fairy tales, in particular, Little Red Riding Hood. I love spoofing and creating parodies, so fractured fairy tales are among my favorite books to read. I was sketching an image of a little boy for a portfolio piece one day and really liked the character I was creating. I thought it would be fun to add an animal, so I began thinking about what animals don't often appear in my work. I draw a lot of bears and cute characters, so I wanted to branch out a bit and try something new. A wolf seemed like a great choice! Once I started sketching him, I thought it would be hilarious if the wolf and the little boy played hide-and-seek, but the wolf would intend to eat the kid, and the kid would just be playing a game, haha. That's when I realized this had potential for more than a portfolio piece; it could become a full-fledged narrative!
It is a great premise, and I love that red is a boy and the wolf is named Fred! Which came first for you with Little Red and Big, Bad Fred, the text or the illustrations?
Definitely the illustrations, but that is often my process for my books. I am a visual person and a visual learner. I can't really write about characters unless I can see them first, so my ideas often come in the form of images that I expand into story ideas. So, the characters came to me first, and then I started building the scenery around them. As I experimented, the entire world began to take shape.
Interesting. What was the hardest or most challenging thing about writing and illustrating Little Red and Big, Bad Fred? And what was the most fun?
The most challenging aspect of writing this story was choosing what to keep out of the text, if that makes sense, haha. I love this book for a lot of reasons, but one of my favorites is the visual humor taking place in the art. I love it when art tells a considerable part of the story, especially the jokes! This one was a little more challenging to figure out what to hold back from the text and what to show in the art, because I was spoofing a classic story. It was kind of like piecing together a puzzle, and I loved every minute of it.
The most fun aspect of creating this book was drawing these characters, haha. Whenever I create characters in a book, those characters become my friends. We get to hang out every day, tell jokes together, try on different outfits, and have tons of fun! Haha. Every time I finish a project, I am of course excited, but I'm also just a little bit sad because it's like I don't get to hang out with those friends anymore. But then hopefully I get a new project and can make new friends next :-)
What a great way to think about your characters. Is there a spread of which you are especially proud? Or perhaps is your favorite spread?
Text & Image © Ashley Belote, 2025.
YES! I love the spread where Little Red arrives at Great-Grandpa’s house in the snow. I modeled that house after the one I grew up in. I am from West Virginia, and I grew up in a cute cabin in the woods. I am fortunate that my mom still lives there, so I go home often. My house there is one of my happy places, and I knew one day I would put it in a book—this was the perfect opportunity!
Aww, what a great way to celebrate and share your cherished cabin. How long did it take from the first draft to publication for the text and illustrations of Little Red and Big, Bad Fred?
I had the idea for this story concept about five years ago, so it's something that I have been playing with for a while. I think that's one thing I love about publishing, though. There is nothing better than working hard on something for a long time and finally seeing it take flight. It's extremely rewarding when a concept that you came up with in your mind eventually becomes a published work. Honestly, it makes me cry to think about how special it is to open the box of books for the first time. I'm fortunate to speak with many students in schools across the country, and this is one thing I make sure to discuss in my presentations. Sometimes you'll have a great idea, and it might take 5, 10, or more years to come to fruition, but when you are so passionate about it, all the waiting and work are worth it.
Thank you for this inspiring nugget. Having created multiple picture books, what was the most rewarding part of the publishing process for Little Red and Big, Bad Fred?
Coming up with a new twist on a classic story was the most rewarding part of this project. I have a tremendous amount of respect for classics and their creators, so being able to spin something so beloved was truly a creative honor.
And it is such a great re-telling! I love the Wile-E.-Coyote-esc escapades of the wolf and the shift to a narrative on friendship. What's something you want your readers to know or learn about Little Red and Big, Bad Fred?
I want my readers to understand that this is a story of kindness and second chances. Fred the wolf spends over half of the story making attempts to eat Little Red, only for the two to end up becoming friends. Sometimes we need to show kindness to others, and we'll be rewarded in ways we would have never imagined. There are also tons of funny jokes that happen in the art, so I definitely want readers to know that they are in for a treat and to pay attention to the details because there are lots of giggles to be had :-)
That is so very true! Are there any new projects you are working on now that you can share a tidbit with us?
Yes! I am so excited to be working on my first early graphic novel series with Random House! It's called Squirrel Lock Holmes, and the first book will debut on March 3rd, 2026! It's all about a squirrel named Squirrel Lock Holmes and her sidekick, Mole Watson, and they solve mysteries around the forest. The first book is called The Pet Rock Mystery! Reggie the rabbit has lost his pet rock, and it's up to Squirrel Lock and Watson to solve the case. It's been so much fun to work in a comic book style format because I am a huge fan of classics in that genre. I grew up reading the Sunday Funnies in the paper with my parents, and I have always wanted to create stories in panels like those narratives. I'm certainly learning a lot about my art style and visual storytelling as I move through the project.
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?
Sandstone Falls © Gary Hartley
My favorite National Park is the New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia! I am originally from northern West Virginia, so I love the beauty of the state's mountain scenery. The New River Gorge is one of the most spectacular places because it has a little bit of everything! You can hike, go white water rafting, and it’s beautiful in every season (fall being one of my favorites). I love hiking around the gorge and zip-lining there! It's a stunning part of the world, so I would encourage your readers to check it out if they are looking for a fun adventure!
Thank you so much for having me on the blog! I have had a ton of fun with these questions and appreciate the opportunity to share my book with your readers :)
Thank you, Ashley, for sharing with us a bit about yourself and your new book.
To find out more about Ashley Belote, or to contact her:
Website: https://www.ashleybelote.com/home
X (Twitter): https://x.com/AshleyBelote1
