Skip to main content

American Chronicle | Author Spotlight: Jo Linsdell of Out and About at the Zoo

Jo Linsdell picture book 'Out and About at the Zoo' is a rhyming picture book with colorful pictures showing children a fun day out discovering different things in the world around them. This first book in the ´Out and About´ series is a wonderful introduction to a day at the zoo for children young and old.

Linsdell, also the illustrator, has created pictures so adorable it makes you want to hug each animal in the book. Both the pictures and the text will entice a child's wonder and excitement during a day at the zoo.

Linsdell writes mostly about Italy, pregnancy and parenting, marketing (She LOVES social media) and the writing industry. She has some very successful blogs such as Writers and Authors were those who are new or experienced authors can pick up a tip or two.

Linsdell has enjoyed writing since she could hold a pen in her hand but officially started her writing career in 2006. Since then, Linsdell has worked for numerous clients around the world and won a few awards along the way too. She has also published several books including the popular 'Italian for Tourists' phrasebook. Linsdell won several awards for her blogs and was listed on the Literary World Who's Who in the writing industry in 2009.

Originally from the UK, Linsdell came to Rome, Italy for 3 days back in July 2001 and ended up staying. In 2006, she married a lovely Italian man named Maurizio and together they have two sons. Her family and Italian surrounds have been an inspiration to Linsdell from day one. "I've always loved to try new experiences and that's reflected both in my work experience and writing. I've done a bit of everything from credit controller to receptionist to shop assistant to tour guide. My work experience is as varied as the genres I write," shared Linsdell. "One of the first jobs I had when I moved to Rome was for a company that produced publications for the dental industry. A learnt a lot about formatting and other behind the scenes skills there. Later on, I had a job writing research articles for the Neurology department and there I picked up knowledge about researching, submitting queries and the submission process in general. It was after that job I started taking my writing seriously and had my first freelance article published. Soon after, I published my first book."

Linsdell's first book was 'Italian for Tourists,' an English-Italian phrasebook covering only the words and phrases tourists actually need during their visit to Italy. A book many travelers will find useful I'm sure. Her second book was 'A Guide to Weddings in Italy,' which she wrote following her own wedding in Italy in 2006. Another book many have found useful and even inspirational for weddings in other locations around the world. Linsdell also published several e-books including a collection of poetry.

Her latest book 'Out and About at the Zoo,' is a picture book for younger readers. "I wrote 'Out and About at the Zoo' for my four-year-old son after taking him to the zoo for the first time. Spending quality time together with my kids is one of the most important things to me and I love watching them discover the world. They are already growing up so fast and these first years are so special," shared Linsdell.

The book is a fun way to discover different animals and something about them but it also highlights the joy of quality family time together. Linsdell is also the illustrator of her recently release children's picture book. "With 'Out and About at the Zoo' the text just seemed to flow and didn't take me long at all. The illustrations were the hard part. I studied art and design in college and so drawing up the sketches was easy but making them digital and print quality was not. This was my first time using a graphics program and I had no idea about transparencies, layers and embedding. It was a real learning curve for me," shared Linsdell.

 See the spotlight at
American Chronicle | Author Spotlight: Jo Linsdell of Out and About at the Zoo

Popular posts from this blog

The Comeback of 2D Animation: Why We’re Craving Realness Again

There’s something happening in animation right now that’s worth paying attention to—not because it’s simply nostalgic, but because it’s deeply human. As someone who works in the mental health and creative storytelling space, I can’t help but see these conversations about art, AI, and hand-drawn storytelling as part of a bigger theme: our collective hunger for authenticity. We live in a time where AI-generated content is everywhere—convenient, efficient, and often soulless. It’s not surprising that artists and audiences alike are looking back toward something that feels more tactile, more imperfect, more human. That brings us to 2D animation, an art form that has shaped generations and now, it seems, might just be making a comeback. Here’s what Language of the Soul podcast host, Dominick Domingo, had to say on this trend: There’s been a lot of industry talk lately speculating about 2D/traditional ANIMATION making a comeback. Recent articles confirm that although Disney has not greenlit...

Storytelling, Mindfulness, and What Makes Us Human in a Tech-Driven World

In a time when artificial intelligence is advancing at lightning speed, many of us find ourselves quietly asking: What does it mean to be human? Amidst the algorithms, the data, and the drive for efficiency, how do we stay connected to the qualities that make our lives rich with meaning? One timeless answer lies in something we’ve carried with us since the dawn of time: the stories we tell. Stories are more than entertainment. They are the glue that binds us to one another, the mirrors in which we glimpse our purpose, and the maps that help us navigate life’s complexities. In our latest Language of the Soul conversation, we sit down with Denise Piles—mindfulness coach, former nun, and seasoned corporate professional—to reflect on how storytelling and mindfulness can help us stay rooted in our shared humanity, even in the fast-paced world of technology. Denise’s journey is remarkable. From a life shaped by faith and service to a career at Microsoft, she has walked two seemingly diff...

Interview Friday with author Rie McGaha

Rie McGaha was born and raised in northern California along the shores of Humboldt County where her grandmother often took her to dig for clams and watch the whales migrate. Being raised with the mountains on one side and the ocean on the other, gave Rie a deep love for nature. She has resided in the Kiamichi Mountains of SE Oklahoma for more than ten years with her husband, Nathan, where they rescue animals, nurses them back to health and tries to find homes for them. She is the mother of 12 and Nana of 33. VS: Rie, I want to thank you for being my guest here on The Writing Mama today. As you know, being a parent is hard work and when you throw writing into the mix . . . well it seems almost impossible to get everything done. I find myself asking if I giving my three children enough attention throughout the day. Now you didn’t really start writing until your children were grown, however, you have your grandchildren running around from time to time, so to start here is the first qu...