Women’s History Month Feature
PaSH Magazine is celebrating Women’s History Month with a Q&A style mini-series highlighting women from many different industries making an impact in the world, their communities and for themselves. In this Q&A we will spend time with Annabeth Bondor-Stone.
Meet Annabeth Bondor-Stone
Annabeth Bondor-Stone is an Emmy-nominated TV writer and co-creator of Eva the Owlet on Apple TV+, with credits that include the Michelle Obama-produced Netflix series Waffles and Mochi, plus projects for Disney, Nickelodeon, Sesame Workshop, and Apple. She’s also a children’s book author with titles translated into multiple languages and featured on the Chicago Public Library’s Best Fiction for Young Readers list. She does all of this alongside her husband and creative partner, Connor White. This would be a real behind-the-scenes story of a woman (and mom!) building something meaningful at the intersection of storytelling, kids’ media, and entertainment.
Was there a pivotal moment in your career that changed the trajectory of your path or helped you step fully into your purpose?
I knew I wanted to be a writer from a pretty young age, but that can mean so many things and I wasn’t sure what it meant for me. A few years out of college, I got an email from my cousin that changed my life. She said her nine-year-old son needed more funny books to read and asked if I could write one for him. He even had a few ideas for the book, and one of them was “a pirate named Shivers who’s afraid of everything.” I thought that was such a funny idea that I wrote it for him as a present. That became my first book series, “Shivers! The Pirate Who’s Afraid of Everything.” I was a huge reader growing up, so being able to write stories that get kids excited about reading was so meaningful to me. I was hooked!
How do you stay grounded and maintain your creative voice in an industry that often tries to shape narratives and expectations?
Part of the reality of being a working writer is that by the time your story gets out into the world, it’s no longer just your vision. I see it as a good thing because everyone brings their expertise and point of view to the table. My new book, Kitty Caterpillar, is the first fiction picture book I’ve ever written. My incredible editor has worked on countless picture books before this, and I never could have gotten it to where it is without her. Every project is a new chance for collaboration.
Looking back at your journey so far, what milestone are you most proud of achieving?
For me, the milestones don’t come to mind as much as the moments of pure joy where I’m like, “I can’t believe this is actually my job.” Any time I get to do an author visit at a school, it’s so gratifying because I get to actually see the impact the story is having on readers in real time—plus, I get to hear all the kids’ hilarious and thoughtful questions. Another incredible moment was getting my first TV writing job, which was on a show called Helpsters that was produced by Sesame Workshop. I remember being on set, surrounded by all these hilarious people and puppets, thinking, “Is this a dream?” It’s still kind of hard to believe it was real.
What role has mentorship or community played in your career, and how important is it for women to support other women in entertainment?
Community is everything. Since I’m always jumping from project to project, I’m lucky to meet so many wonderful people. On the other hand, it can be challenging to maintain community when you’re not all in the same space. It’s a really important part of my job to reach out and stay in touch. I have long-running relationships that shape me every day, like with my book agent, Erica Silverman, who’s been with me from the beginning. There are other relationships that are more short-term but still have a huge impact. Of course, it’s so important for women to support other women in entertainment. We all need to lift up as many people as we can because it’s the right thing to do, and it makes for a better industry.
How do you balance creative passion with the business side of entertainment?
At this point in my life, creative work is very much a business. My husband is my writing partner and it’s how we support our family. At the same time, I only work on projects that I’m passionate about on some level. If there’s no passion, it shows on the page. Like with anything, there are different phases. Right now, the business side informs a lot of my decisions, but I hope that at some point I can hole up in a cabin somewhere and just write. I’d be very curious to see what would happen.
What advice would you give to young women who want to pursue careers in film, music, producing, or other creative industries but may feel intimidated by the industry?
Getting that first job can often feel like the biggest hurdle, but there are so many ways to get a foot in the door, especially if you’re not precious about landing your “perfect” job right away. Creative industries may feel different because there’s less of a traditional path, but it’s all about forming genuine connections. If you can, spend time in spaces with people who share your passion—go to shows, concerts, book readings, panels—and you’ll start to build the community you need to get started.
Thank you for reading this installment of the Women’s History Month Features. Come back each day to read a new inspiring story, centering women.
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