Happy Thursday Critters! Today, we have a fantastic debut author to share her new picture book, WOOD, WIRE, WINGS: Emma Lilian Todd Invents an Airplane, illustrated by Tracy Subisak, a nonfiction story about a self-taught female engineer in the early 1900s. I love the STEM hook for all the kiddos out there who love to tinker and the opportunity to learn about Emma Lilian Todd— a pioneer in her own time. This book has been getting wonderful reviews and I’m thrilled to share it with you all today. Make sure to check this one out!
So without further ado…please welcome Kirsten Larson!
Where do you live?
I currently live in southern California’s high desert, a spot where NASA, the military, and companies like Virgin Galactic test aircraft and spacecraft of the future. Growing up, my father was in the Air Force, so I’ve lived all over the U.S., as well as in Germany and Saudi Arabia.
When did you know you wanted to write picture books?
My kids loved nonfiction books about space, airplanes, and weather when they were toddlers (and still do today). As I read through some of the books in our library’s kids’ nonfiction section, I realized I could probably learn to write them. (And writing books might be a really fun job.)
Tell us about your road to publication, what did that involve for you?
I had a two-fold path to publication. First, I wrote nonfiction articles for children’s magazines, building up my writing portfolio so I could apply for jobs writing those school and library nonfiction books. I’ve written more than 25 such books for kids on topics like tsunamis, space robots, and CIA spies.
At the same time, I developed my picture book-writing skills, taking classes, joining critique groups, and building up a body of my own creative work so I could land an agent. I first wrote WOOD, WIRE, WINGS: Emma Lilian Todd Invents an Airplane in March 2014 in Susanna Hill’s Making Picture Book Magic class. Over the next couple of years, I had it critiqued by my critique partners as well as at conferences. (Thanks SCBWI!) I queried my agent with the book, revised it yet again, and eventually got a book deal in January 2017 (but not until after I had revised it yet again!).
What do you do to shake the rust off or get new ideas?
I get ideas from reading books, newspapers, and magazines; listening to podcasts; watching TV shows; and taking “field trips” to museums and historic sites. My story idea file has 362 entries right now. I just checked. I will never have enough time to research and write all those ideas in my lifetime, even if I never have another idea. Getting ideas isn’t the problem for me, it’s deciding which ideas merit my time and attention. Aside from considering my personal emotional connection, I have to consider what research resources I can get my hands on (since I write nonfiction) and what ideas have kid and classroom appeal in terms of theme and content.
Tell us about your debut book.
WOOD, WIRE, WINGS: Emma Lilian Todd Invents an Airplane, illustrated by Tracy Subisak (Calkins Creek, Feb. 25, 2020) is the true story of the first woman to design her own airplane, which flew successfully in 1910. Lilian Todd was a visionary, who believed airplanes would become a practical form of transportation and reshape our world. She was one of the earliest STEM educators too, founding the Junior Aero Club in America is 1908 to teach children the science of flight. Her story really shows kids that invention is “99 percent perspiration” and a LOT of failure.
And last, but not least, favorite 80s movie?
When Harry Met Sally has been my long-standing favorite movie. Meg Ryan’s character, Sally, is a journalist living in New York City. Maybe my passion for this movie should have given me a hint about my future career path as a writer.
Thank you to Kirsten for stopping by Critter Lit today! We are so excited about your debut and can’t wait to read what intriguing nonfiction book you come out with next. Congrats!
KIRSTEN W. LARSON used to work with rocket scientists at NASA. Now she writes books for curious kids. She’s the author of WOOD, WIRE, WINGS: EMMA LILIAN TODD INVENTS AN AIRPLANE, illustrated by Tracy Subisak (Calkins Creek, February 2020), CECILIA PAYNE: MAKING OF A STAR (SCIENTIST), illustrated by Katherine Roy (Chronicle, Fall 2021), along with 25 other nonfiction books for kids. Find her at kirsten-w-larson.com or on Twitter/Instagram @KirstenWLarson.
FOR MORE INFORMATION on Kirsten, follow her on Instagram or Twitter @KirstenWLarsen or visit her online at www.kirsten-w-larson.com
BUY THIS BOOK To purchase Kirsten’s book, click here.
BOOK GIVEAWAY!
Want a chance to win a copy of WOOD, WIRE, WINGS: EMMA LILIAN TODD INVENTS AN AIRPLANE?! Comment on this post or share it on Twitter. One lucky winner will be selected Thursday, March 5th. US addresses only please.