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Sag Harbor Author Billy Baldwin on Overcoming Dyslexia—and Building an Award-Winning Children’s Book World
The Sag Harbor storyteller shares how dyslexia, imagination, and persistence shaped his path to children’s books—and why he’s still rooting for the underdog—in conversation with Stephen Hamilton at The Church this Friday (yes, he’s bringing cookies).
Author Billy Baldwin never expected to spend his life reading and writing.
“I don’t like reading and writing, but it’s what I do all day,” says Baldwin, an award-winning author of 12 children’s books, currently working on his 13th, Itch and the Critter Patrol.
You can hardly blame the resistance. As a child with dyslexia, nearly every subject except math was a struggle. Growing up, as he puts it, “in an alcoholic family” brought its own challenges.
“I’ve had every obstacle in my life not to create books,” he says. “Everything in the normal world made me feel like a freak—I don’t fit the norm of a writer or publisher.”
What he did have was an imagination that wouldn’t quit. Today, he works out of a garage-turned-studio in Sag Harbor.
“I have these ideas that have to come out, and creating kids’ books seemed the easiest way to do it,” he says. His first book: The Last Leaf.
From Real Estate to Cookie Island
The path wasn’t linear. Baldwin moved from commercial real estate to launching a cooking company before writing his first book, Cookie Island.
“When I started, I had no writers, publishers or illustrators,” he says. “No one would talk to me. I had no credibility.”
After nearly giving up, he found illustrator Liesl Bell on Upwork—drawn to her lines, which reminded him of Dr. Seuss.
They’ve now worked together for 12 years, collaborating five days a week via Zoom from South Africa. It took seven years before they met in person.
A Visual-First Process
Baldwin approaches storytelling as both writer and visual editor.
“I write the idea first, then I scratch and draw the pictures and give them to my artist,” he says. “I bring in a writer to help if I go over 1500 words. Cookie Island was 30,000 words.”
His books, for ages 4 to 10, blend vivid imagery with themes of resilience and self-belief. They appeal to children (and adults) of all ages.
“I go for walks to quiet my mind—I can’t force ideas,” he says. “When they come, I write fast, then structure the story and put the emotion back in at the end.”
He’s also developing his work for animation and digital platforms.
“Almost all our books have legs for TV, film and licensing,” he says. “There’s interest—I just keep pushing.”
Rooting for the Underdog
At the core of Baldwin’s work is a simple rule: write what you know.
“You’ve got to create what’s in your heart,” he says.
His book The Boy, The Mermaid and The Storm was inspired by his brother, a sailor facing personal challenges.
“The boy learns you don’t always beat the storm physically,” Baldwin says. “Spiritually and mentally, you never lose.”
Why Sag Harbor
Sag Harbor is both home and creative fuel—deeply tied to his family roots.
“I love small towns. The water, paddling, my health food store—I even donate to the library,” he says.
And yes, he still bakes cookies—bringing his “chocolate chocolate oatmeal coconut” to Friday’s talk at The Church.
“That cookie company released something in me,” he says, laughing. “I’m a creative trapped in a visual art body.”
Event Details
Knowledge Friday with Billy Baldwin in conversation with Stephen Hamilton is Friday, May 1, at 6 p.m. at The Church in Sag Harbor.
More: thechurchsagharbor.org
billybaldwinstories.com
