Interview: Trenise
SARAH STEINBACHER: Your debut picture book, POST OFFICE BAY, tells the true story of a mail system that’s operated since the 1770s. How did you first hear about the barrel mailbox at Post Office Bay?
TRENISE: I learned about the real-lifer Post Office Bay by doing what I do best: reading! I’ve been a National Geographic reader/watcher since I was a kid, and now as an adult, I also subscribe to the digital magazine and newsletter. On, New Year’s Eve 2022, I saw a headline in the newsletter about the world’s “most unusual” post office. That intrigued me, so I clicked on the article and read about this centuries-old tradition of whalers, sailors and travelers across the ages, leaving letters in a barrel on a beach in the Galápagos Islands, and hand-delivering the ones they collected. I knew instantly that this needed to be a picture book!
SARAH STEINBACHER: POST OFFICE BAY weaves themes of family, community, and the goodwill and interconnectedness of people throughout time. What do you hope young readers take away from the story?
TRENISE: At the core of this tradition is kindness and care for your fellow person. The original whalers didn’t know who they were collecting letters on behalf of, but they did know what it was like to be at sea for months, sometimes years, away from loved ones. They knew what it meant to want to connect, even across such vast distances. So they made the commitment to each other to make sure those letters got delivered, no matter what. There is something so inherently selfless about doing something for someone knowing that they can’t return the favor. Doing it solely to bring them joy. I want kids to receive that message, and practice showing more kindness to others in their lives. The world needs more of it!
SARAH STEINBACHER: As an avid world traveler yourself, what’s the coolest place you’ve ever visited? And what new place tops your Bucket List right now?
TRENISE: Oh man, there are so many! In January 2025, my husband and I went to Thailand for our honeymoon and had the most magical time. We visited an elephant sanctuary, explored a cave system in Khao Sok National Park, kayaked through another sea cave system into these absolutely breathtaking tranquil lagoons, and went to an AWESOME water park called Andamanda, among other things! It was an unforgettable experience!
At the top of my bucket list now is the Galápagos Islands! I’d love to visit it in real life and leave a copy of my book there, and my husband and I have said that when we sell 5,000 copies, we’ll do it!
SARAH STEINBACHER: How has your previous experience as a Disney cast member influenced the way you approach writing children’s stories?
TRENISE: This is such a great question! I’m glad you asked. I’ve been a Disney kid my whole life, so getting to work at both Disneyland and Disney World was an incredible experience! I’ve learned so much about storytelling, connecting with kids, and leaving lasting, generational impressions on families as a result of working with the Mouse. My biggest learning – and what I try to bring to my storytelling – is lean into curiosity and wonder. We live in a big, huge, exciting world! Kids love being taken on adventures, and Disney has really captured that desire in how it brings imaginative places and worlds to life.
SARAH STEINBACHER: As a lover of zoos and animal science, what’s your all-time favorite animal?
TRENISE: This is so hard, because I love so many! At various times in my life, I would have said dolphins (shoutout to kid me!), red pandas, harpy eagles (so cool, and so scary looking lol), or komodo dragons (I was obsessed with them in 3rd grade). But right now, I’m going to say manta rays. Why? You’ll have to keep an eye on my IG (@booksbytrenise) to find out! 👀 I just might have a new project to announce, soon!
SARAH STEINBACHER: With over 2.4K Instagram followers, what tips do you have for new writers on growing an Instagram platform?
TRENISE: I would say be intentional. Your social space is what YOU make it, so make sure you’re filling it with people who inspire you and fill your timeline with joys instead of stressors. When it comes to content creation, I keep it simple: I do things that make ME happy, bring lots of enthusiasm, and I don’t overthink production or trends. I often say: “assume the person watching this video is on the toilet,” haha! How much effort do I really want to put into editing something that people are casually scrolling? Especially with how the algorithm works these days. For me, I don’t want to put a lot of my energy there! That leaves less time for writing. But what I bring to the table – a genuine passion for reading broadly and enthusiasm – I can do that very easily, with low effort! So that’s what I lean into. Also, always always ALWAYS support your peers and amplify the work of others! Writing can be solitary, but community is not. If you want to be in it, you have to show up for others!
SARAH STEINBACHER: You average reading over 100 books a year. What recent book is stuck in your head and what kidlit book do you wish more people knew about?
TRENISE: I quite literally cannot shut up about THE LOST YEAR, a middle grade novel by Katherine Marsh. It’s a historical fiction, told in multiple POV about the 1930s Ukrainian famine. In the present, a young boy who is stuck at home due to COVID-19 discovers his great-grandmother’s journals about growing up in the USSR during that era. The narrative alternatives between Matthew’s POV, his great-grandmothers and other family members, and it’s just so incredibly captivating. I won’t say more, so readers can experience Katherine’s incredible storytelling for themselves, but this book is a MUST-read!
A book I wish more people knew about is EARLY DEPARTURES by Justin A. Reynolds. It’s one of my favorite YA novels of all time! It’s set in a world where people can be medically revived from death for a short period of time, usually to resolve wills or to communicate important information, etc. Our protag must re-connect with his ex-best friend who recently died – except the ex-best friend doesn't know he’s died. It’s a beautiful story about platonic male friendship, but also about grief, community, and love. Terrific book!
Also, I review books weekly on IG, so tap in there if you want more recs!
SARAH STEINBACHER: What’s something most people like that you just don’t get?
TRENISE: Two things germane to most writers: coffee and cats. I am not a Starbucks girlie and truly do not get the hype about what are essentially adult milkshakes with caffeine, haha! And cats? I LOVE big cats in the wild, but domesticated cats? Hard pass lol
SARAH STEINBACHER: What do you see as the biggest challenges facing the kidlit community right now?
TRENISE: I could talk about this for hours lol but instead of focusing on the big-picture publishing challenges, I want to talk about craft. I think one of the biggest problems today is that writers want to rush their craft to get to the finish line. Especially with the proliferation of AI, we’re seeing more and more people want the appearance of being an author – having books out, having some semblance of “fame” or recognition, etc. – without doing the work to really elevate their writing. Storytelling is one of the most human, interpersonal things we can do. And when we outsource that to technology, or try to rush the process, we do a disservice to ourselves and our future readers!
SARAH STEINBACHER: What’s one writing tip you swear by?
TRENISE: Be intentional with your storytelling. From idea to execution, really give some thought to the story you want to tell, and why you’re the best person to tell it. There are eleventy million books already in the world. Why write another if you don’t want to put in the time and effort to make it truly sing?
SARAH STEINBACHER: Do you have any other projects you’d like to share?
TRENISE: I wish I could, but they aren’t announced yet, but feel free to tease that I have two more books coming out in the next couple of years.
Follow Trenise through her website and Instagram.
*****Order Trenise’s debut picture book, POST OFFICE BAY, available now at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop, Reycraft.*****
