We’re looking forward to introducing you to Bianca Schulze. Check out our conversation below.
Bianca, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
After the familiar routine of getting the kids off to school, I settle in with my Live Well greens drink, followed by my lavender latte with mushroom coffee. I quickly scan through emails to catch any urgent subject lines that demand immediate attention. Then I dive into managing the virtual book tours I run for authors through The Children’s Book Review, coordinating the day’s promotional activities.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Bianca Schulze, a children’s book author originally from Sydney, Australia, now living near Boulder, Colorado, with my husband and three kids. You might know my international bestseller Don’t Wake the Dragon, but what I’m most passionate about is helping families discover the magic of reading together.
I founded The Children’s Book Review back in 2008 with a simple but powerful belief: every book is not for every child, but for every child there is a book. We’ve been on a mission to help parents, grandparents, teachers, and librarians find those perfect matches—the books that will spark a lifelong love of reading. Through our website, we share honest reviews, curated book lists, author interviews, and practical tips to support growing readers.
I also host The Growing Readers Podcast, where I connect with authors, educators, and fellow book lovers to explore what makes children’s literature so transformative. What makes our work special is that we understand every child is unique—we’re not just recommending the most popular books, but helping families discover the stories that will resonate with their specific young readers. Whether you’re raising a reluctant reader or a book devourer, we’ve got resources to meet you where you are on your reading journey.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
Self-doubt has been my guardian for years—it kept me careful, protected me from risks that could have led to failure. And honestly? It worked for a while. But now, after building over a decade of expertise in children’s literature, that same protective instinct is the very thing that can stand in the way of me and the readers who need what I have to offer. I’ve released that part of me that whispers “maybe you’re not ready” and embraced the truth: I am ready and my voice matters. The families searching for that perfect book, the young minds waiting to discover stories that will shape them—they deserve an author and literacy advocate who shows up fully, without hesitation.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
The way you’re figuring things out right now, even when it feels messy or uncertain—that’s not failure, that’s growth happening in real time. Keep asking questions, keep trying new approaches. Every skill you’re building today is preparing you for something bigger than you can imagine.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
Absolutely—what you see is genuinely who I am. My curiosity, my passion for stories that matter to young people, even my tendency to get excited about the smallest details in a manuscript—that’s all authentically me. I think readers can sense when someone is being genuine, and that connection is what makes the work meaningful.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
I’d immediately stop getting paralyzed by perfectionism—the kind that keeps me endlessly revising the same page instead of moving forward with the story. Don’t get me wrong: every word matters in children’s literature, and I’d never compromise on quality. But there’s a difference between crafting something beautiful and being frozen by the fear that it’s not perfect enough. I’d channel that meticulous attention to detail into completing more manuscripts, knowing that a well-crafted story shared with young readers will always matter more than a “perfect” story that never leaves my desk. And I’d make sure to balance those focused writing hours with intentional time for my family—because the people who love and support this work deserve presence, not just the promise of it someday when the book is done.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.biancaschulze.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/biancaschulzewriter/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/biancaschulze/
- Twitter: https://x.com/book_mommy
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/biancaschulzewriter/
- Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-childrens-book-review-growing-readers-podcast/id1550324351
Image Credits
Headshot Credit: Susan English
