We want to congratulate Melissa Koch whose picture book STONE BY STONE: A ROCK’S JOURNEY THROUGH TIME was picked up by Della Farrell at Holiday House! It’s illustrated by Victoria Tentler-Kryov, and publication is set for spring 2026. Continue reading to hear more about her exciting journey!
Please tell us a bit about your new book! STONE BY STONE: A ROCK’S JOURNEY THROUGH TIME, a lyrical nonfiction picture book, takes readers on a journey down two merging pathways: Earth’s forming of rocks and human’s building of stone structures. From the stacked stones that guide our way to the stone walls that separate us, our stone structures tell our tale. Stone by stone we can rebuild, reconnect, and reimagine new possibilities. We—just like Earth’s rocks—are unique and a part of something bigger than ourselves.
With expansive back matter, STONE BY STONE connects children’s exploration of rocks and classroom science discussions on the geology of rock formation to human engineering of stone structures around the world.
How long have you been writing/working on this specific project? The idea and words for this story came very fast — less than a week. It’s the manuscript that I used to query my agent and it’s the first book we sent out on submission together. The writing and revising with critique partners and my agent had seven versions, a small number of new versions compared to most of my manuscripts!
The editor, Della Farrell at Holiday House, asked me to add a prologue that seemed to write itself, and then for the main text we had two short rounds of edits. That’s it! I find Della’s suggestions really easy to work with. There’s something in our shared understanding of the Big Idea that makes it possible for me to take her suggestions and run with them in a way that both of us have been pleased with the results. We have another book together, currently under contract, where the edits have also gone well. (Knock on wood.)
Where did the seeds of the stories come from? The idea came from a mash up of two things: my fascination with the prefix ‘re’ and my love of stone structures.
I lived in Greece for awhile and have traveled to many places around the world that have beautiful stone structures hundreds of years old. The artistry and engineering is so impressive. I also love the feel of a great rock in my hand. In our travels, my husband and I have sought out stone masons to listen to their stories. Currently, we are building a stone fence by hand on our property.
My mentor text was THE UNDEFEATED by Kwame Alexander. I’d love to talk with him someday about prefixes.
What is your connection to The Writing Barn and/or Bethany Hegedus’ Courage to Create Community? I was in the first Courage to Create cohort! The community, classes, and encouragement from Bethany kept me returning to and refining my craft. Courage to Create also gave me my critique group. We’ve been together since 2021 and are still going strong! We all have several published books now.
What fears/hopes did you have before participating in WSS or a WB class/intensive? I feared that my writing wasn’t strong enough or the right fit for traditional publishing.
Did the WB programming aid you in the craft and the business of writing? If so, how? Too many ways to count. I do not have an MFA or degree in writing from a college or university. I was an English major in college and writing for the education market was always a big part of my career as a developer of educational technologies and programs. I feel like I have a degree in creative writing from the WB and CTC given all the classes I’ve taken. Wait . . . Is there a diploma?
What is a takeaway you will carry with you far beyond this good news as you continue to build and develop your career? It is so easy to be discouraged in our writing and in the efforts to publish. Heck, it’s easy to be discouraged about life in these challenging times. But when I look at that word on the page—discouraged—I see its root: courage. I’d rather spend my life in a state of courage and encouragement for myself and others.
I like this quote from Annie Dillard, The Writing Life: “You were made and set here to give voice to this, your own astonishment.”
Any advice you have for writers/creatives having trouble staying the course while pursuing their goals?What’s that thing that makes you smile when you are all alone? What astonishes and encourages you at the same time? Move towards that. Write about that.
Who in the kidlit world are you currently reading, excited about forthcoming books? Again, too many to count. Here are a few immediately on my mind but there are far more:
Lynn Street, Maria Marianayagam, Joan Schoettler, Kate Fox, Dean Robbins, Kate Messner, Oliver Jeffers, Lesa Cline-Ransome, Christina Soontornvat, Melissa Stewart, Jennifer Swanson, Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond, Barb Rosenstock, Candace Fleming, Sarah Albee, Heather Montgomery, Jason Chin, Laura Purdie Salas, Kwame Alexander, Kirsten Larson, Meeg Pincus
Where can readers order your book? Available in 2026 from Holiday House, Amazon, and your local independent book store
About Author Melissa Koch
Melissa Koch writes nonfiction children’s books (PB to YA) that focus on making science and social justice personal and valuable to kids. Her recent publications for young adults include 3D Printing: The Revolution in Personalized Manufacturing (2017) and Forest Talk: How Trees Communicate (2019). For young adults exploring education careers and current educators, she co-authored “Gender Bias: Past, Present, and Future” in Multicultural Education, 10th edition (2019) and Teachers, Schools, and Society, 6th edition (2021). She has also designed award-winning learning technologies and out-of-school learning experiences that encourage women and youth from diverse backgrounds to pursue their dreams in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.