Where Are the Women? Interview With Author-Illustrator Janice Hechter…And a Giveaway!

Would you like a Thin Mint? Or a Trefoil? Maybe you are eager to try one of the newest Girl Scout cookies, a Lemon-Up…

If I could, I’d reach through the screen right now and hand you one. It’s not Girl Scout cookie season anymore, but my friend Miguel had a stash of them and was kind enough to send me some for my guest interview today.

I used to sell these delectable cookies door-to-door as a young Brownie. It was hard work, but worth it, because it brought in a lot of money for our troop, and the larger Girl Scout organization. Also, the cookies just made people really happy! 😊

The Girl Scouts have hustle and grit, you know. They get things done, and sometimes, those things have a large and lasting impact on our world. Like the first statue of real women in New York City’s Central Park, installed in 2020. We have Girl Scouts to thank for that! That magnificent bronze casting of women’s rights pioneers Sojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, all gathered around a table together.

I wasn’t aware of this beautiful statue’s connection to the Girl Scouts until I had the pleasure of reading author-illustrator Janice Hechter’s new book, Where Are the Women? The Girl Scouts’ Campaign for the First Statue of Women in Central Park (Red Chair Press, 2025).

Janice is a talented artist whose colorful, contemporary, and distinctive paintings have been exhibited throughout the United States. She’s illustrated numerous children’s books, with Where are the Women? the second she’s both written and illustrated. Its won several awards since coming out earlier this year and even been featured on NPR’s “All Things Considered”! Click here to listen to that interview:

Where Are the Women? features a troop of real-life Girl Scouts from New York City who learned, on a field trip during the summer of 2016, that there wasn’t a single statue of a real woman in all of Central Park (because Mother Goose and Alice in Wonderland, though lovely, were not real people).

They also learned of an important organization called Monumental Women that was working hard to get one installed there. So, what did the troop do?

They got to work! Raising money and awareness for Monumental Women and this important cause.

Selling LOTS of cookies, canvassing and marching with signs in Central Park, speaking to reporters…even making event appearances and meeting with Mayor Bill de Blasio!

As a reader, I enjoyed following the girls on this mission, and learning the story behind such an important landmark in our history. It’s a book that I feel appeals to both young and old readers, those who love American history, New York City, and of course, the Girl Scouts of America (and who doesn’t?). Janice even has a Free Educator’s Guide available on the Red Chair Press website for classroom curriculum use.

But without further ado, let me introduce Janice! I got to meet her in person this past weekend at her Boston-area Brookline Booksmith event, and I’m thrilled to have her here with me today. We’re going to talk about her important book, as well as her writing and illustrating journey.

Hilary Margitich: Janice, welcome to Writers’ Rumpus!

I’m a big fan of your work, and this book. I’m munching on some Girl Scout cookies in honor of it, would you like one?

Janice Hechter: Thank you so much, Hilary. If they’re Peanut Butter Patties or Thin Mints, I’m definitely in!

HM: [Sending virtual Thin Mints] Janice, I have so much love for Girl Scouts, New York City, and this beautiful new statue that now resides in Central Park. That you were able to capture this incredible story both visually and in written form, is impressive. Tell me, how did the seed for this story first get planted inside of you?

JH: At the end of March, 2020, during the COVID pandemic, my daughter was sent home from college, along with everyone else, and she continued her classes online. One of her courses was about public monuments and she asked me if I wanted to sit in on it. I did have an interest in statues, so I said, “yes.” The class was certainly thought-provoking. But all of the statues mentioned in the class depicted men. Were there any statues of women? I did a google search and found out about the Girl Scouts’ efforts to help Monumental Women bring about the first statue of women in Central Park. This story had never been told in a children’s book before. And I thought, why not let kids in on an important piece of HERstory?

HM: I am so glad you did. I enjoyed how you showcased each girl who made this happen–portraying their distinct facial features in the artwork and capturing each of their sentiments in the text. You even used their full names. Did you get to work directly with them in developing the story?

JH: I could have never written this story without interviewing the Girl Scouts. Although there were loads of articles on the Girl Scouts’ fight for a statue of women in Central Park, they only revealed that the Girl Scouts sold cookies and marched. That was not enough information to write a 32-page book! Since the events had taken place fairly recently, there were no books to refer to or documents to plow through at the Library of Congress.

Through my group interviews with the Girl Scouts and troop leaders, I not only learned new details to spotlight in my book, but observed the girls’ interactions with one another in real time, gaining insight into their personalities and thought processes.

HM: It really adds a whole other dimension to the story–well done! Your prior work has been primarily as an illustrator, working with authors who write the text. How do you approach the joint role of author and illustrator? Do you doodle to brainstorm? Sketch out the written story, then start creating the pictures? How does all of that come together for you?

JH: This is my second book as both author and illustrator. Although I started off as an illustrator alone, I soon became enamored with the text in children’s books, as well. I honed the craft of writing children’s books for many years before writing this book, through classes and critique groups. I always work on the text first, then comb through it to see where some of what I wrote might work better in illustrations, rather than text. I wind up eliminating a lot of text and show it in the illustrations, instead. I enjoy the freedom of being both author and illustrator, which allows me the opportunity to edit text and art, in tandem.

HM: That must be very satisfying to have that dual ownership of your story. You’ve been an artist for a long time, and you even studied illustration in college. Did you always see your creative path heading towards creating children’s books? Or did that develop later? And how did it develop?

JH: I never envisioned myself illustrating children’s books until I had my daughter. Before that, I always illustrated for adults. I did posters, flyers, logos, book covers, brochures, etc. It was upon reading tons and tons of picture books to my daughter that I longed to illustrate a picture book. I loved the creativity, variety of styles, and expressiveness in many of the children’s books I read, and picked many of them due to the appeal of their illustrations.

HM: Yes, having a child in your life to read them to certainly gives you a big crash course in how they are written and illustrated! Can you share a little bit with us about what you are working on right now, or what is next for you in the realm of children’s books?

JH: I recently finished up the illustrations for a new nonfiction book as writer/illustrator coming out next year with Kar-Ben Publishing, an imprint of Lerner. It’s about a talented female artist who refused to remain on the sidelines at a time when art critics and juries ignored women’s art. I’m presently in the process of researching new ideas for nonfiction picture books. I’m always thinking about new topics to write and illustrate, no matter where I am, or what I’m doing.

HM: That is so exciting. Janice, it’s been so much fun talking with you today. Even more of a sweet treat than eating the cookies! I hope we’ve inspired everyone to go get your incredible book and read it to the kids they love. Please come back and do this again with me, okay?

JH: Thank you so much, Hilary. I really appreciate your taking the time to interview me. I’d love to join you again when my new book comes out.

Janice is graciously offering a copy of her new book to a lucky reader! To enter, please comment on this post. If you share on social media, please mention it in your comment and you’ll get another entry. Giveaway closes in one week. US only.

Author and illustrator Janice Hechter’s new picture book, WHERE ARE THE WOMEN?: THE GIRL SCOUTS’ CAMPAIGN FOR THE FIRST STATUE OF WOMEN IN CENTRAL PARK, was published on February 4, 2025 by Red Chair Press Press. The book has won a Mom’s Choice Gold Award, a Bronze Readers’ Choice Award, a Second Place Royal Dragonfly Book Award, a Book Excellence Award, a 2025 International Impact Award, and a Next Generation Indie Book Award. THE POWER OF HER PAINTBRUSH, written and illustrated by Janice, will be published by KAR-BEN (Lerner) in 2026. ADVENTURE GIRL, also written and illustrated by Janice, was published in 2021 by Alazar Press. She has illustrated eight picture books in total.

Janice is a fine artist who has exhibited her paintings in various galleries and museums throughout the country. She is an active member of SCBWI, and holds a B.F.A. degree in illustration from Carnegie Mellon University. To view more of Janice’s illustrations and learn more about her, visit her website at http://www.janicehechter.com.