Happy Thursday Critters! This week we have an interview with author Rebecca Kraft Rector! Her newest picture book, SQUISH SQUASH SQUISHED, illustrated by Dana Wulfekotte just came out with Nancy Paulson Books in February. I’m thrilled to have Rebecca with us today to talk about her new book and her road to publication.
So without further ado, please welcome Rebecca Kraft Rector!
Where do you live?
I live in Tidewater Virginia. I grew up in Maryland and have also lived in Georgia and Florida.
When did you know you wanted to write picture books?
I’ve always been a voracious reader and have been writing stories and poems since I was a child. I delighted (?) my friends with stories about fleas on a dog and a girl who was a strawberry. I love horses and wrote many horse stories. It wasn't until I worked with fellow librarian and author Mary Downing Hahn that I realized that real people could have their stories published.
Tell us about your road to publication, what did that involve for you?
My first publications were in magazines, followed by a slush pile acceptance of my middle grade science fiction novel TRIA AND THE GREAT STAR RESCUE with Delacorte Random House. When my later novels and picture books were rejected, I started writing for educational publishers and had about 25 fiction and nonfiction leveled readers published. Finally, at a Highlights Foundation workshop, SQUISH SQUASH SQUASHED attracted the attention of Cecilia Yung who showed it to Nancy Paulsen who agreed to publish it. Nancy Paulsen Books is an imprint of Penguin Random House. I also acquired an agent as a result of the Highlights workshop and she sold my forthcoming picture book LITTLE RED WRITING HOOD to Aladdin/Simon & Schuster.
Can you share a bit about your process?
I’m trying to streamline my process, but at the moment it’s write, revise, revise, revise, let it sit, revise, revise, revise, repeat endlessly. My ideal process would be to know up front the best character, goal, and conflict, in order for the story to resonate with emotion, theme or takeaway. But for now, my writing process is also a discovery process.
What do you do to shake the rust off or get new ideas?
Read, take a walk, listen to people and kids.
Anything you can’t live without while you write?
Dark chocolate chips.
Any authors and/or illustrators who inspire you?
Almost every author I read is an inspiration. Some for humor, some for heart, some for structure, and most for fun.
Dream project to work on?
It would be wonderful to interest a publisher in one of my picture book or middle grade horse stories.
Tell us about your debut picture book.
SQUISH SQUASH SQUISHED is about Max and Molly who complain about not having enough room in the back seat of their gracious-spacious automobile. Their mother invites animal friends to ride along until the kids really are squish squash squished. The book is filled with wordplay, refrains, and animal noises. I had a great time writing it and I hope it becomes a popular read-aloud to share with children.
Interior art from SQUISH SQUASH SQUISHED by Rebecca Kraft Rector, illustrated by Dana Wulfekotte
Interior art from SQUISH SQUASH SQUISHED by Rebecca Kraft Rector, illustrated by Dana Wulfekotte
What’s up next for you?
I’m working on companion stories for SQUISH SQUASH SQUISHED and LITTLE RED WRITING HOOD, as well as other picture books. I’m also on my five hundredth draft of a middle grade fantasy.
And last, but not least, favorite 80s movie?
Back to the Future.
Huge thank you to Rebecca for stopping by Critter Lit today! Congrats on your debut picture book! We can’t wait to read your next book!
REBECCA KRAFT RECTOR is a retired librarian and the author of more than thirty fiction and nonfiction books for children. Her cats Ollie and Opal keep her company while she writes. When she isn’t writing and eating chocolate, she’s trying to keep deer out of her garden.
SQUISH SQUASH SQUISHED is her first picture book. Her second picture book LITTLE RED WRITING HOOD is coming from Aladdin in Spring 2022.
FOR MORE INFORMATION about Rebecca or her books, visit her online: RebeccaKraftRector.wordpress.com
Or follow her on social media:
@RebeccaKraftRector on Facebook
@RebeccaKRector on Instagram and Twitter
ORDER THIS BOOK To order a copy of SQUISH SQUASH SQUISHED click here.
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