Happy Thursday Critters! Can you believe it’s July already?!! I’m so excited about today’s interview because our author’s debut picture book is one that I’ve been waiting to come out for some time. I love the hook, concept, art, and humor! This book has it all! I’m thrilled to have her with us today and can’t wait for you to hear all about her hilarious new picture book, T. REXES CAN’T TIE THEIR SHOES, illustrated by Steph Laberis.
So without further ado, please welcome Anna Lazowski!
Where do you live?
I live in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
When did you know you wanted to write/illustrate picture books?
I think I always knew in the back of my mind I wanted to write, and I've always loved picture books. A well-executed picture book is such an incredible thing, they seem so deceptively simple to write but are actually anything but. They have to be entertaining, and be something kids and adults want to go back to. They have to communicate complex subject matter in simple, elegant ways. Some of my favourite books ever are picture books so I guess it makes sense I began my career as a writer trying to capture that magic.
Tell us about your road to publication, what did that involve for you?
It's one of those fairytale stories that's actually hard to believe. I participated in a Twitter pitch contest, #PBPitch, in June 2019, with a pitch I'd used before with no success. But during that event it got one like. Just one. That like happened to come from Frances Gilbert, an editor at Doubleday. I sent the manuscript off to her and prepared for a long wait. Then an email came back from her an hour later offering to acquire T. REXES CAN'T TIE THEIR SHOES. For me it was a combination of luck, timing, and having a strong enough concept to catch her attention as she scrolled through the feed.
Can you share a bit about your process?
My process is pretty simple, I get an idea - often for a title or concept and things unfold from there. If I'm writing NF, I lean on my background in journalism and do a pile of research before diving into the first draft. If I'm writing fiction I just sit down and start. Sometimes an entire arc will pop into my head and I just have to try to get it down without wrecking it!
What do you do to shake the rust off or get new ideas?
I have folders full of ideas, that's not the problem. For me there's sometimes a bit of paralysis when the manuscript is almost done but I have to do one final revision before I can consider it complete. Sometimes those drafts wait awhile for me to be inspired to come back and wrap them up. It feels like I have to wait for the right moment or I'll just be sitting there staring at the screen.
Anything you can’t live without while you write/draw?
I'm so used to snatching bits of time here and there I can write pretty much anywhere at any time. It's a useful skill.
Any authors and/or illustrators who inspire you?
So many!! I love the work The Fan Brothers do, and I love how Dev Petty's writing seems so effortless (which it obviously isn't). I have a background in fine arts and have been enjoying reading through a bunch of Amy Guglielmo's work and love what Elly MacKay does with her illustration. I also love reading unpublished work by up and coming writers when I do critique giveaways because I get to read something only a handful of people have seen.
Dream project to work on?
That's an interesting question, I think the initial dream was just getting published. But I've always loved books that walk the line between light and darkness, so I'd like to find a way to explore those themes a bit in a way that works. I have a deep fondness for weird kids and strange situations so I'd love to delve into that a bit more.
Tell us about your debut book.
My debut book, T. REXES CAN'T TIE THEIR SHOES, was expertly illustrated by Steph Laberis, and is an ABC book that looks at all the things kids can do that animals can't. The images show animals failing at things like riding a bicycle or flipping a pancake, but it turns all those negative experiences into a reminder that it's okay not to be good at something right away. Which I think is a useful message for kids and their parents.
Interior art from T. REXES CAN’T TIE THEIR SHOES Shoes by Anna Lazowski, illustrated by Steph Laberis
Interior art from T. REXES CAN’T TIE THEIR SHOES Shoes by Anna Lazowski, illustrated by Steph Laberis
What’s up next for you?
I have a pile of stories that are submission or close to submission ready so I'll be pecking away at those over the summer. And my second picture book, DARK CLOUD, was acquired by Kids Can Press and is scheduled for a Spring 2023 release. The illustrator hasn't been announced yet but I am already so excited for that book to be out in the world too!!!
And last, but not least, favorite 80s movie?
This is the hardest question actually. I rewatched a bunch of John Hughes movies recently and was disappointed to see they really hadn't aged well. So today, I'm going to go with a tie between two that actually capture my personality pretty well: Labyrinth and Lost Boys. And can I give Pretty In Pink an honorable mention just for Jon Cryer's character Duckie? So good!
Huge thank you to Anna for stopping by Critter Lit today! We are so excited for your debut and can’t wait to see DARK CLOUD when it releases in 2023!
ANNA LAZOWSKI wrote her first picture book for a class assignment in the sixth grade and has been creating stories ever since. Now an award-winning radio producer, Anna has an MA (Journalism) from the University of Western Ontario and a BFA (Hons.) from the University of Manitoba. Anna’s debut picture book, T. REXES CAN’T TIE THEIR SHOES (Doubleday Books for Young Readers), illustrated by Steph Laberis, is launching in spring of 2021. Her second book, DARK CLOUD, (Kids Can Press) will be published in spring of 2023. Her journalistic work has been published in various newspapers and magazines, and she has been a nationally syndicated radio columnist covering music and health. She lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba with her husband Mike, their kids, and their dog Jackson.
FOR MORE INFORMATION visit Anna online: https://www.annalazowskibooks.com/
Or follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/anna_lazowski
ORDER THIS BOOK To order a copy T. REXES CAN’T TIE THEIR SHOES, click here.
WIN A COPY! Want to win a copy of T. REXES CAN’T TIE THEIR SHOES?! Leave a COMMENT below or RETWEET this post on Twitter. One lucky winner will be announced on Thursday, July 8th. US addresses only please.