Interview With Picture Book Author Cortney Cino

 

1. What inspired you to write this book?
Piper’s Fort Frenzy was inspired by my daughter, who loves building forts all around our house. I wanted to capture that joyful chaos of childhood creativity and promote unplugged play during a time when screens and AI are creeping into most aspects of our lives. 

2. What exactly is it about — and who is it written for?
This story is narrated by Piper, a spirited and determined girl who can transform everyday materials, such as cardboard and pillows, into something extraordinary. She really wants to sleep in one of her forts, but things keep going wrong. These challenges ultimately lead her to something better than she originally imagined. It’s written for children ages 3–8 who love to build and create with their hands.

3. What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book?
I hope kids walk away inspired to start creating something out of everyday objects around their house. 

4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design?
The title Piper’s Fort Frenzy captures both Piper’s boundless energy and the delightful chaos of her building spree. The cover is filled with color and movement, showing Piper in mid-build, creative, and a little shocked that her foot just punched through one of the walls!

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other than “run!”?
Write what delights you and/or what you know well already. It will come more easily to you and feel more authentic to the reader.

6. What trends in the book world do you see — and where do you think the publishing industry is heading? 

I can try to address this question from the standpoint of a picture book author/publisher. From a picture book author and small press perspective, I see indie publishers gaining traction. Many are releasing beautifully produced books with strong branding and a faster time to market than large houses. Access to talented illustrators, editors, and designers through sites like Reedsy and Behance has made high-quality production more attainable than before. 

While traditional retail outlets, such as bookstores and schools, remain more challenging for small presses to break into, those barriers are slowly being lowered. Paid trade reviews, small-press-friendly distributors, and a growing openness from traditional publishers to partner with successful indies (as seen with Sourcebooks and Macmillan) are shifting the landscape. At the same time, distribution continues to evolve — with companies like B&T closing and new groups, such as Stable Book Group, emerging. Overall, the book industry is ever evolving. In general, many changes will benefit small presses. That said, small presses still need a compelling story, cover, and marketing plan that competes with those of large presses to achieve true traction for their books. 

7. Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book?
Absolutely. My kids build forts every week. It is amazing to me what they can do with a box. It drives me a little crazy sometimes, as there is often a mess I have to help clean up. I remind myself that they are showing major creativity and not asking for devices when they're building. 

8. How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing similar to?
My writing is often playful, with a subtle hint of adult humor. The Piper books (this is the second in a series; the first book is called Piper's Pet Pursuit) definitely fit this description. I have a few other books that are more inspirational. I like to straddle those two themes - books that make kids giggle or inspire them. 

9. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book?
The biggest challenge was balancing the story’s energy with readability and pacing. 

10. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours?
Piper’s Fort Frenzy celebrates imagination and unplugged play in its purest form. It takes kids back to the basics of creating and building using what you have around your house - no devices or artificial intelligence needed. It reminds kids that they possess a great deal of intelligence and resourcefulness within themselves.

About The Author:

Cortney Cino is a picture book author, healthcare marketer (specializing in complex science topics like HIV medications and prenatal diagnostics), and mom to three girls-including a set of twins. She's passionate about crafting stories that inspire creativity, spark laughter, and invite families to connect. In 2023, she founded Whimspire Books, a small press based in Sacramento, CA. Piper's Fort Frenzy is her fifth picture book. Inspired by her eldest daughter—a true master fort builder-the story celebrates a spunky young girl's love of building while shining a spotlight on the value of imaginative, non-device play and the importance of encouraging girls in STEM. For more info, please see: www.whimspirebooks.com.

Do You Need Book Marketing Help?

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About Brian Feinblum

This award-winning blog has generated over 5,000,000 page views. With 5,400+ posts over the past 14 years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs  by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs  and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.”  Copyright 2025.

 

For the past three decades, Brian Feinblum has helped thousands of authors. He formed his own book publicity firm in 2020. Prior to that, for 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and as the director of publicity at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler.

 

His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/whats-needed-to-promote-a-book-successfully). He was recently interviewed by the IBPA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0BhO9m8jbs

 

He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, BookCAMP, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, Morgan James Publishing, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. He served as a judge for the 2024 IBPA Book Awards.

 

His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. His first published book was The Florida Homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook.  It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.

 

Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog.

 

You can connect with him at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum/ or https://www.facebook.com/brian.feinblum