I’m Elayne Crain, and I’m a writer of childish things.
My debut picture book (with illustrator John Ledda), There’s Something Odd About the Babysitter, published by Feiwel and Friends at Macmillan, is proud to have been selected as a Summer 2025 Kids’ Indie Next List pick!
I’m thrilled to be represented by Sean McCarthy of Sean McCarthy Literary Agency.
Long ago, I earned my bachelor’s degree from Carnegie Mellon University, where on two separate occasions, I spotted Fred Rogers and lost my mind. Thankfully, I eventually recovered and even went on to earn my MBA in marketing. Now I’m a hardworking SCBWI, 12×12, and Inked Voices member who writes humor and heart picture books, poetry, and middle grade. I write about my writing at elaynecrain.substack.com. Or, if you just want my kidlit origin story (which includes some funny “receipts”), that’s here.
I’m easily found (“Thanks, unusual name!”) on all the usual social media suspects.
If you want to know a bit about my non-writing life, I’ve always been a big fan of letting curiosity lead. Some examples include:
- starting my own artisan food business, selling products around the country (inc. Crate & Barrel).
- appearing on national TV (PBS’s Ask This Old House).
- spending summers with the old-timey magazine Newsweek, as well as the Foreign Commercial Service in Belgium.
- traveling extensively and living all over the U.S. (even three years in Australia).
- learning entrepreneurial skills from Martha Stewart and her MSLO crew.
- marrying a submarine officer and raising delightfully redheaded children.
- volunteering like a mother.
I’m a huge fan of libraries, comedy, kids, and anything homemade, vintage or French.
If you’ve reached this far down the page and, against all odds, want more of my hot takes, sign up for my monthly wrap-up email there, which includes links to my full month of posts.