Happy Thursday Critters! This week we have an interview with author Betsy Ellor, whose newest book, MY DOG IS NOT A SCIENTIST, illustrated by Luisa Vera, publishes with Yeehoo Press on April 18th. I’m thrilled to have her with us today to chat about her new book, writing process, and creative approach.

So without further ado, please welcome Betsy Ellor!

Where do you live?

I live in beautiful Beverly, Massachusetts. I’m close to the ocean and walking on the beach inspires me every day. I love writing stories about science but with an emotional heart. The beach is the perfect place to see the wonder and magic of science and heart coming together.

When did you know you wanted to write picture books?

I’ve been writing stories for as long as I can remember. At age 8 I spiral bound by first-hand illustrated kids' books. I still have it in a drawer somewhere. There have been phases in life where life got lifey and I wrote less, but I’ve always written. Even if it was just sketching out ideas in a journal that never turned into anything. For the last 5 years, I’ve taken it a lot more seriously and it has been amazing to finally give it my focus and see my work come into the world.

Tell us about your road to publication, what did that involve for you?

This particular book is a wonder. I wrote the first draft in one sitting and really only did one or two revisions before I submitted it. There was certainly some magic going on with this one. None of my other books have come this easily. Bringing me to that point as a writer was a longer journey. I was a playwright first and had a musical that I co-wrote, Sara Crewe, published and performed. When that didn’t sell as well as I’d hoped I lost heart and didn’t write much for a number of years. Picture books are what brought me back to writing. Reading them when my son was young reconnected me to the joy of words. I started taking my writing seriously again and over the last 5 years I wrote two adult novels, two middle-grade novels, I edited and published an anthology called Heroic Care and I wrote a dozen picture books. (Well a dozen good picture books + many, many more terrible picture books.) I also came back to writing with a much sharper interest in learning the business side of writing. I’m no expert at book marketing but this time around I’ve definitely learned the value of being your own marketing machine.

Can you share a bit about your process?

My process varies a lot because my story ideas come to me in different ways. With My Dog Is NOT A Scientist I started with the title and I had to build out from there. More often I start with a character or a topic I want to explore. I usually begin with a blank paper and just scribble and free-associate all over it. I research and jot notes. I connect related things with lines and highlight things in different colors. I keep adding until I have a mess that sort of looks like it’s going somewhere. Then I sit down and start unwinding all my scattered thoughts into a story. I usually take ten or more revisions and some critique group feedback to get it really where I want it.

What do you do to shake the rust off or get new ideas?

Walking and gardening are my two big go-to's when I need to shake things up in my brain. I also end up driving my son around a lot and that free time for my brain to wander is when I solve half my story problems. I don’t like driving but I’m grateful for that mental downtime. New ideas typically come when I’m with friends or people watching. Never underestimate the power of sitting in a coffee shop just watching the world.

Anything you can’t live without while you write?

Either a view or a candle. Staring off into space seems to be a big part of my process. I have my desk positioned in the window so I can watch the light in the trees while I stare. At night I usually light a candle for the same reason. Oh and, always a hot cup of tea.

Any authors and/or illustrators who inspire you?

So many!! I love Amy Dyckman’s humor and Mac Barnett’s. I love anything by the Fan Brothers. I love Kate Messner - I think we are soul sisters in our pursuit of curiosity. I should really give a shout out to Scott Magoon, though. His book Breathe was essential when my son, who struggles with anxiety, was younger. Then we moved towns during pandemic and I just left the book forward facing on the bookshelf as a reminder for me and my son. I hope to create something that can be that meaningful in someone’s life. I love all of Scott’s work but since then I’ve also met him. We’ve had coffee several times and his mentoring has inspired me more than I can say.

Dream project to work on?

Honestly, my dream project is usually whichever project I’m working on at the moment. I’m a full-time working single mom so I don’t have enough free time to work on things I don’t LOVE. Beyond that, I hope to work on something that is more fully collaborative. I loved working with Miriam, the composer, on Sara Crewe. Bouncing ideas off someone with a totally different point of view but the same commitment to the project is incredibly invigorating. I’d love to work on a graphic novel or picture book where the illustrator and I develop ideas together.

Tell us about your debut book.

My Dog Is NOT A Scientist is a humorous look at the scientific method. Yara is determined to win the science fair despite her neighbor, Eddie’s constant comments about her failures. Like every good scientist, Yara starts with a question, makes observations, and comes up with a hypothesis . . . but each time she starts an experiment, her dog, Renzo, ruins it. Yara is determined to achieve her goal—no matter what her crazy canine throws her way, but the night before the fair all Yara has to show is Renzo damage. That’s when Yara realizes that maybe Renzo is up to something more than making trouble. With a little creative problem-solving, Yara proves that anyone can be a scientist if they follow their curiosity.

*Interior art from MY DOG IS NOT A SCIENTIST by Betsy Ellor, illustrated by Luisa Vera, published by Yeehoo Press*

The book is a STEAM story about the scientific method but it is also about resilience in the face of criticism, self-doubt, and setbacks all told with a dose of humor. The back matter will help set up young scientists to follow their own curiosity and a downloadable curriculum guide will support educators and parents who want to build on the SEL and STEAM themes.

What’s up next for you?

I have a couple more picture books and a middle-grade novel in the pipeline, but unfortunately nothing I can share yet. Right, I’m finishing up two new picture books I and I’m diving into my next middle-grade novel. I’m definitely keeping busy.

And last, but not least, who is your favorite children’s book character?

Where to even start! There are so many. Growing up I loved The BFG, Willy Wonka, and really any character created by Roald Dahl. I love Julia Donaldson’s characters, especially the mouse from The Gruffalo. Lately, I’ve been reading more middle-grade and graphic novels and I’m in love with Roshani Chokshi’s Aru Shah and all the characters in Judd Winnick’s HiLo series. Honestly, though this list could go on for pages and pages.

Huge thank you to Betsy for stopping by CritterLit today! Congrats on your new book!

BETSY ELLOR lives in a house where curiosity and chaos run wild. She divides her time between seeking out great stories and designing great spaces at Endicott College where others can cultivate their own curiosity. Her previous works include the anthology Heroic Care, and Sara Crewe, a family musical that’s been performed across the U.S. My Dog Is NOT A Scientist comes out April 18 from Yeehoo Press.

FOR MORE INFORMATION about Betsy, visit her online or follow her on social media:

Instagram: @betsyellor

Twitter: @bewordsunbound

Website: wordsunboundstudio.com

ORDER THIS BOOK To order a copy of MY DOG IS NOT A SCIENTIST, click here.

WIN A COPY! Want to win a copy of MY DOG IS NOT A SCIENTIST? Leave a COMMENT below or RETWEET this post on Twitter. One lucky winner will be announced on Thursday, April 20th! US addresses only please.