Interview with Debut Author Anitra Rowe Schulte

Happy Thursday Critters! Can you believe we’ve made it to December?! Today we have an interview with debut picture book author Anitra Rowe Schulte, who I’m thrilled to be featuring on Critter Lit! Not only is she a fellow Two Lions author who I share an editor with, but her debut picture book has received glowing and starred reviews and was just named a best book of 2021 by Kirkus Reviews. So exciting! Anitra’s book, DANCING WITH DADDY, illustrated by Ziyue Chen, is a truly spectacular debut and one that is not to be missed!

So without further ado, please welcome Anitra Rowe Schulte!

Where do you live?

I live in Geneva, Illinois, which is 30 miles west of Chicago, where suburbia ends and pumpkin patches begin.

When did you know you wanted to write picture books?

When I was in kindergarten, I joined my first writer’s group at my local elementary school. At the Young Authors Club, I worked on developing ideas and turning them into picture books. I was hooked! There were lots of clues along the way, leading me back to this first love, but I really started working on my craft seriously about five years ago, in 2016.

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

My road to publication was a little windy at first. As I was learning the craft, I played around and experimented a lot. But the stories that always seemed to connect most with others were those inspired by emotions and experiences that I lived through first-hand. I met my agent, Stephanie Hansen, at a live pitch session in 2017. The story that I pitched her that day never sold, but it jumpstarted a wonderful relationship. After a kidlit author friend suggested that I lean into telling my family’s story, I gave that a go and found it to be so natural and powerful! My debut, DANCING WITH DADDY, illustrated by Ziyue Chen, is very much based on my family life. That story went on submission in 2018 and sold within a couple of months. I cannot say enough good things about my editor, Kelsey Skea, and the Two Lions team! The entire experience has been a total dream come true.

Can you share a bit about your process?

For me, a new idea usually arrives unexpectedly, like a colorful string just outside my door. I pick it up and twirl it around a bit, to see what it wants to be. Then, with an idea in my mind, I start pulling that string. I pull and pull and loop and weave until something starts to take shape. I will not stop until I run out of string or hit a nasty snag. Most of the time, I’m writing at my kitchen table. But if the string is still coming while I’m out driving my daughters to therapy or soccer or piano, I will not hesitate to write in parking garages, parking lots or someone’s driveway. My laptop never leaves my side! 

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

I am in three critique groups, and one of the things that keeps me from getting stuck is sharing stories with these three groups in separate waves. I send my first polished draft to one group. When the story is a little further along, I’ll send it to the second group. When it’s close to polished and final, I’ll send it to the third group. That way, I’m always inching a story forward, toward becoming the best story it can be, but also getting fresh eyes at every step along the way. 

I get a lot of new ideas from my three daughters and from tuning into the things that I love and make me tick. I also received great advice at a writing conference once: To think of something that you really want to impart or share with someone in your life. I’ve found that concepts conceived in this way have a built-in audience and point of view and an emotional clarity that never wavers – a true north.

Anything you can’t live without while you write?

Black coffee or green tea and peanut butter spoons topped with mini M&Ms. If you’ve never tried this, I warn you: It’s life changing and dangerously good. 

Any authors and/or illustrators who inspire you?

So many! I love picture books by Margarita Engle, Kelly DiPucchio, Pat Zietlow Miller, and Kelly Starling Lyons. They always choose the perfect and most-poignant words and grab hold of your heart. I also love everything that illustrators Marla Frazee, Cindy Derby, Corinna Luyken, and Sophie Blackall create. 

Dream project to work on?

There is a middle grade story inside me, about small-town life, sister bonds, and magical circumstances that I keep noodling. I’d love to figure that story out. There is so much I want to say about what it’s like growing up with big dreams, hungry for an artistic outlet, all the while wrestling with a love + disdain for the isolating endless rows of corn and soybeans. It keeps swirling in the grain bins of my mind. Someday…  

Tell us about your debut book.

When my husband Dan was about to take our three girls to a father-daughter dance, I started imagining what the night would be like. The story that resulted was DANCING WITH DADDY. The main character of the story is inspired by my oldest daughter, who has a chromosome deletion (4p-), which is called Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome. After years of checking out library books, and not finding any PBs with characters that reminded me of our family, I decided to write something that I wanted to see on the shelves. Here’s the story summary:

Elsie can’t wait to go to her first father-daughter dance. She picked out the perfect dress and has been practicing swirling and swaying in her wheelchair. Elsie’s heart pirouettes as she prepares for her special night. With gestures, smiles, and words from a book filled with pictures, she shares her excitement with her family. But when a winter storm comes, she wonders if she’ll get the chance to spin and dance her way to a dream come true.

Interior Art from DANCING WITH DADDY by Anitra Rowe Schulte, Illustrated by Ziyue Chen, published by Two Lions

Interior Art from DANCING WITH DADDY by Anitra Rowe Schulte, Illustrated by Ziyue Chen, published by Two Lions

Interior Art from DANCING WITH DADDY by Anitra Rowe Schulte, Illustrated by Ziyue Chen, published by Two Lions

What’s up next for you?

My second picture book, WILLOW AND BUNNY, illustrated by Christopher Denise, will be released in Fall 2022. I’ve seen sketches and a few pieces of final art, and it is jaw-droppingly gorgeous. Christopher captures the mood with such gravity and tenderness. WILLOW AND BUNNY, a story about a small bunny and a protective willow tree, is inspired by the scary moments that thrust people under the same canopy, and how difficult it can be to find light on the other side of devastation. With friendship, love and courage, we can make it through tough times – it’s a message that I really wanted to convey to my children, and I hope other readers feel it in their hearts, as well. 

And last, but not least, favorite 80s movie?

This is a real toss up – it’s gotta be either Muppets Take Manhattan or Footloose. I’ve watched each of them at least 50 times. I’ve always been a real Kermit lover (he was on my 4-year-old birthday cake), and I love all the over-the-top characters and dance numbers. This probably why I also love Footloose. Plus Kevin Bacon.

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Huge thank you to Anitra for stopping by Critter Lit! Congrats on your fantastic debut! We can’t wait for WILLOW AND BUNNY!

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Anitra Rowe Schulte is a children’s book writer, whose picture book debut DANCING WITH DADDY, illustrated by Ziyue Chen (Two Lions) publishes on Dec. 1, 2021. Her second picture book WILLOW AND BUNNY, illustrated by Christopher Denise (Two Lions) is set for Fall 2022. Anitra is a proud member of the 2021 debut group PB Debut Troupe 21 and the upcoming group PB Tales of 2022. Anitra is represented by Stephanie Hansen of Metamorphosis Literary Agency. She lives in Geneva, Illinois, with her husband, three daughters, and super-sweet kitty Pancake. Anitra is an active member of SCBWI and 12x12 and a 2021 PBChat mentor.

FOR MORE INFORMATION visit Anitra online at www.anitraroweschulte.com or follow her on social media:

Twitter: @anitraschulte

Instagram: @anitraroweschulte

BUY THIS BOOK To order Anitra’s book, click here.

WIN A COPY! Want to win a copy of DANCING WITH DADDY?! Leave a COMMENT below or RETWEET this post on Twitter. One lucky winner will be announced on Thursday, December 9th! US addresses only please.

Interview with Author Tracy C. Gold

Happy Thursday Critters! Today we have an interview with an author whose debut board book, EVERYONE’S SLEEPY BUT THE BABY, illustrated by Adele Dafflon, will be released on April 13th with Familius. I love original board books and this one is very funny— especially for all you fellow parents out there who know the struggles of getting a baby to sleep. I’m thrilled to have her with us today, so without further ado, please welcome Tracy C. Gold!

Where do you live?

I live in Baltimore City, Maryland, in a tree-lined neighborhood full of houses from 1900.

When did you know you wanted to write picture books?

I actually never even considered it until I had a kid of my own! After she was born, I started reading tons of picture books and getting ideas for my own. I jot down ideas on my phone whenever they come to me and one of those became Everyone’s Sleepy but the Baby!

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

Oh goodness, it has been a long and winding road indeed. I’ve been writing novels for ten years and haven’t had one published yet. Despite getting into big contests like Pitch Wars and getting lots of interest from agents, ultimately, I faced down hundreds of rejections from agents across four different novels. At an SCBWI MD/DE/WV conference, my friend Kathy MacMillan raved about her picture book publisher, Familius. So when I had a draft of a picture book I thought was special, I just sent it straight to them as a cold query, without mentioning Kathy. I was utterly shocked when they wrote to me only ONE WEEK later saying they wanted to publish it as part of their board book line. That book is Everyone’s Sleepy but the Baby. For my second book, Trick or Treat, Bugs to Eat, the path was a bit more “traditional,” though still twisty. Somewhere in my novel writing education, I interned for literary agent Carrie Pestritto for a year or so. I wrote to her to tell her about my deal for SLEEPY, and that I was looking for an agent for other picture books. She said she’d represent me herself! It wasn’t until many months later, after we’d submitted 3-4 other picture books, that Sourcebooks said they wanted to publish my Halloween book about bats, Trick or Treat, Bugs to Eat.

Can you share a bit about your process?

All of my books, novels and picture books alike, are inspired by real life. That could be looking around my house and noticing that my dog and my husband were snoring, and I was exhausted, while my child was wide awake, for Everyone’s Sleepy but the Baby, or seeing a million bats fly out from under Congress Bridge while traveling in Austin, TX, and turning it into a picture book years later. I’m also working on a historical novel about a ship of Jewish refugees turned away from the US, Cuba, and Canada in 1939 that was inspired by a friend posting about her relatives who were on the ship amidst revelations of poor treatment of refugees in the US during the Trump administration. So, I never know whether I’ll get an idea right away or if something needs to marinate for a while, but the whole world is full of amazing stories.

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

I try not to stress too much about it, really! I like to take breaks between heavy writing periods to refill my well. So if I’m not writing, or if I don’t have good ideas, I consume lots of media—reading books in many genres, watching great tv shows, and especially paying attention to interesting stories in the news. I play close attention to media coming from The Maryland Zoo and the National Aquarium, near me, as I love writing about animals. When I’m in the middle of an intense writing project, I close myself off to a lot of outside media, because if I’m reading a really good novel, I won’t put it down to work on my own writing. So I’m very aware that my creativity goes in cycles. Natalie Goldberg, who has a great craft book called Writing Down the Bones, compares this process to composting. Sometimes you’re loading the compost heap with all the raw material, and sometimes you’re taking out that rich soil to plant your garden.

Anything you can’t live without while you write?

I am actually quite flexible especially now that I am a parent—sometimes the only time I have to work all day is when my daughter is in the bath. I pull up a chair and open my laptop and hope I don’t get splashed! But if I had my way I would have my ergonomic keyboard and chair, huge monitor, black coffee in the morning, and peppermint tea at night. Plus lots of dark chocolate!

Any authors and/or illustrators who inspire you?

Well, Kathy MacMillan who I mentioned earlier is such an inspiration because in addition to being a wonderful writer of picture books and YA, she gives back to her community so much as the Co-RA of our region of SCBWI. I also admire Linda Sue Park, who also writes stories based in non-fiction, from the sparse yet stunning A Single Shard set in ancient Korea, to the hard-hitting A Long Walk to Water about the Lost Boys of Sudan, to Gondra’s Treasure, a sweet picture book about a dragon who’s a mix of different mythologies.

Dream project to work on?

Hello, Universe, hire me to do a Star Wars picture book? I would also completely flip out if the WWII refugee novel I am working on was published and *gasp* turned into a movie. I love working on picture books because of the collaboration with artists and think film would take that to a whole new level. I also think the message of this refugee story, and any refugee story, really, is so important. The United States needs to do a better job of living up to that Emma Lazarus poem in the Statue of Liberty: "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free." Any US Citizen could have been a refugee if we had been born into different circumstances.

Tell us about your debut book.

Everyone’s Sleepy but the Baby, illustrated by Adele Dafflon, is a short, sweet and slightly sassy book about a baby who will just not sleep! It is directly inspired by my exhaustion as a new mother and I’d like to think it’s a version of Adam Mansbach’s “Go the F**k to Sleep” that you could actually read to your child. It will bring laughs as a baby shower gift book, but also actually help soothe fussy babies and toddlers to sleep.

Interior Art from EVERYONE’S SLEEPY BUT THE BABY written by Tracy C. Gold, illustrated by Adele Dafflon

What’s up next for you?

After Everyone’s Sleepy but the Baby is well out in the world, I will be focusing on launching my second picture book—technically my debut hardcover picture book, as SLEEPY is a board book. I have an additional book contracted with Sourcebooks as well, but I don’t know what it will be yet, so that will be fun to work out! I have a ton of ideas and drafts already!

And last, but not least, favorite 80s movie?

I’m going to have to say The Breakfast Club! When John Bender comes in, he goes out of his way to knock little things over because he just has so much energy and wants attention, and that makes me laugh so hard because it reminds me so much of my very hyper little brother. (Who is an adult now but just as full of energy as he was as a teen.) The whole movie is hilarious with an ultimately sweet message. Plus random 80s dance scene?!

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Huge thank you to Tracy for stopping by Critter Lit today! Congrats on your debut!

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TRACY C. GOLD loves bringing characters to life. She is a writer, freelance editor, and mom living in Baltimore, Maryland. She has two picture books forthcoming in 2021, Everyone’s Sleepy but the Baby from Familius in March and Trick or Treat, Bugs to Eat from Sourcebooks in August. She also writes short stories, essays, novels, and poems. Her work has been published in several magazines and anthologies. Tracy earned her M.F.A. in Creative Writing and Publishing Arts at the University of Baltimore and earned her B.A. in English from Duke University. When she’s not writing or editing, she’s playing with her toddler, or hanging out with her horse and dog, both rescues. You can find out more about Tracy or sign up for her newsletter at tracycgold.com or follow her on social media:

Twitter @tracycgold

Instagram

Facebook author page.

ORDER THIS BOOK To order a copy of EVERYONE’S SLEEPY BUT THE BABY, click here.

WIN A COPY! Want to win a copy of EVERYONE’S SLEEPY BUT THE BABY?! Leave a COMMENT below or RETWEET this post on Twitter. One lucky winner will be announced on Thursday, March 25th! US addresses only please.

Interview with Author Kim Weybrecht

Happy New Year Critters! We made it to 2021! Let’s hope it’s better than last year. I’m thrilled to be back with you all and kicking off the new year of interviews with a local debut author.

So without further ado, please welcome Kim Weybrecht!

Where do you live?

I live in Highland Heights, Ohio

When did you know you wanted to write picture books?

Just a few years ago I decided I wanted to put one of my bedtime stories into an actual book.

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

At first I was going to try to self-publish the book. That seemed too overwhelming and I wasn't sure that I would get the quality I wanted going that route. A golf buddy of my husband’s, who is in the printing business told me about Brown Books Publishing, a hybrid publisher. At first, when they read through my book, it was not ready for publishing. They told me to take some workshops and work on the manuscript. I worked on the manuscript and thought maybe I'll self-publish. Then I found my Illustrator, Morgan Spicer. She recommended an editor. I worked with the editor and then I decided to present the book again to Brown Books. This time they loved it! Only a few minor edits and my story was ready to publish.

Anything you can’t live without while you write?

When I write I really love to have a cup of tea!

Any authors and/or illustrators who inspire you?

Authors that inspire me are Judy Blume and Beverly Cleary.

Tell us about your debut book.

Daisy Takes a Ride is my first book. Daisy is a happy beagle who lives with her owners, Sam and Zoe. When the three of them take a sudden trip to the hospital in the middle of the night, Daisy is told to wait in the truck. But Daisy is curious about the camper that has parked nearby. She jumps out of the truck and is soon on her own camping adventure. Daisy makes a new friend, but there is so much more waiting for her when she gets back home .... I would always read books to my kids before bedtime. When they got a little older, they wanted me to make up stories instead of reading from a book. So I had to get my creative juices flowing. This story just came to me one night about 4 years ago. After I finished the story, my daughter told me it was a really good story and I should make it into a book. I started this a couple years ago and I am glad to finally get it to print. My goal is to get the book into as many little hands as I can. I have donated numerous copies and want kids to fall in love with Daisy and her story.

What’s up next for you?

I am going to start writing book #2 about Daisy. It will involve Daisy accidentally joining a neighborhood running race.

And last, but not least, favorite 80s movie?

My favorite 80's movie is Return of the Jedi - love all things Star Wars!

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Huge thanks to Kim stopping by Critter Lit today! Congrats on your debut!

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KIM WEYBRECHT grew up in the Midwest, the second eldest of five children. Camping and biking adventures were a huge part of her family's lifestyle. One of her first jobs was as a summer park counselor, where she played games and told stories to children. Throughout her career, Kim has taught, tutored, and coached children. As a volunteer school librarian, she loved reading and encouraging them to get excited about books. Today, when Kim isn't with kids, she enjoys playing tennis, running, and baking muffins. She and her husband share their home in Highland Heights, Ohio with two teenagers and two boisterous beagles.

ORDER THIS BOOK To order a copy of DAISY TAKES A RIDE, click here.

WIN A COPY! Want to win a copy of DAISY TAKES A RIDE?! Leave a COMMENT below or RETWEET this post on Twitter. One lucky winner will be announced on Thursday, January 14th! US addresses only please.

Interview with Author Erin Silver

Happy Tuesday Critters! Today we have a fantastic interview with the incredibly talented Erin Silver who is jumping into Kidlit with TWO debut books this month! How exciting is that?! JUST WATCH ME, a middle grade novel, released October 7th with Common Deer Press and WHAT KIDS DID: STORIES OF KINDNESS AND INVENTION IN THE TIME OF COVID-19 releases TODAY with Second Story Press. I’m thrilled to be sharing Erin’s work, road to publication, and insights with all of you today.

So without further ado, please welcome Erin Silver!

Where do you live?

I live in Toronto, Canada.

When did you know you wanted to write?

I’ve always wanted to be a writer—since I was a little kid. I can’t remember wanting to do anything else. The path to having my first book published took 40 years but I’m finally doing what I love!

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

The road to publication was a long one! I went to journalism school, after my undergraduate degree, and worked in communications for several years until I had my kids. All of a sudden, they gave me the inspiration to write other things! I worked as a magazine editor and wrote articles (mostly about them!) for newspapers, magazines and blogs before deciding it was time to pursue my dream of becoming an author. I went back to school when I was 35 to get my Master’s of Fine Arts in Creative Nonfiction. 

Even after I graduated, it was tough going. I took writing workshops, went to conferences and retreats and submitted work to agents, editors and publishers. I wrote and wrote and wrote. I even experimented with writing romance novellas under a pen name before realizing I wanted to write books my kids could read! I got lots of rejections—and I mean lots—but I knew if I gave up I would never get the one “yes” I needed to become an author. I kept at it. There was nothing else I wanted to do or was qualified to do, so I kept writing things I was interested in or things I thought my kids wanted to read. Things I thought would make a difference to young readers. I wanted to show my kids what it meant to be resilient and persevere. 

Less than two years ago, I finally got a yes from a small Canadian publisher to write a nonfiction book for kids about Canadian LGBTQ athletes. Called Proud to Play, it was such a thrill to write stories that mattered. It was going to be my first book. Then the pandemic hit and the book was put on hold. Someone told me that it’s always good to be working on several things at once, and I took that to heart. While I was working on Proud to Play, I had also submitted a middle grade novel, Just Watch Me, to a contest held by Common Deer Press, another small Canadian publisher. (They are all so great to work with!) My book won third place and a publishing contract! It was published earlier this October. 

It was also during the pandemic that I was emailing back and forth with an editor at Second Story Press. They asked if I wanted to write a book about kids around the world who helped during the pandemic. I said “yes,” of course! I had a month to scour the whole internet and tell some amazing stories so the book could be published this fall. I’m so thrilled and honoured to have a middle grade novel and a picture book published in the same month.

Spread from WHAT KIDS DID by Erin Silver

Spread from WHAT KIDS DID by Erin Silver

Can you share a bit about your process?

When I have an idea or a deadline, I sit down and just write. I write until I can’t think straight and my eyes blur and my fingers cramp from typing so much. I get really motivated, inspired and energized when I have a project that I know will make a difference. Nothing makes me happier than working on a book. It’s honestly the thrill of a lifetime for me and there’s nothing else I’d rather do. When I don’t have a deadline or I’m just working on my own projects that I hope will one day be published, I end up moving at a slower pace and making time for other things, like going to yoga class and for walks with friends. I also enjoy being involved in the writing community and going to critique groups, writer’s meetings, conferences and taking writing workshops. It’s all online these days, though, so most often I’m sitting at my desk in my office!

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

Ideas are everywhere. I listen to what my kids are talking about or what they’re interested in. I jot down funny stories I hear from friends. I was even in traffic one day, complaining about how slowly we were moving—and how late my son would be for baseball practice—when I got the idea for a nonfiction book about traffic. I did some research, pitched it to an editor at Orca, and ended up getting a book contract. Another time, I was overwhelmed by how much food I had in my fridge. Between the overripe fruit and leftover chicken, I didn’t know how we’d eat it all. It felt wasteful. I searched up “food waste” online and was shocked at how much food gets wasted. I typed up a proposal, sent it to my editor at Orca, and got another book contract. Ideas are all over—even in your fridge.

Anything you can’t live without while you write?

Coffee!

Any authors and/or illustrators who inspire you?

Oh gosh there are honestly so many. I don’t know where to begin. I read as many middle grade books as I can. I really love Canadian authors Susin Nielsen, Kira Vermond, Tanaz Bhathena and Heather Camlot. I recently discovered Meg Medina, Kate Messner and Sharon M. Draper. I just read Draper’s book, Out of My Mind, and Wow! I will never forget that title.

Dream project to work on?

I am particularly proud of What Kids Did. There are so many amazing kids who used their skills, abilities and tenacity to help other people at a time when even adults were paralyzed by fear and anxiety. To be able to write a book that highlights their accomplishments and puts it on display for other kids to emulate is really meaningful. And I’ve really enjoyed working with the Second Story Press team to pull it all together in such a short time. I love the concept, the design, how we’re promoting it. They even created an e-book version, since how else will kids read it when many are learning virtually and even school libraries are closed? My publisher made it happen and I’m beyond excited to share these inspiring stories.

But honestly, every project that an editor or publisher wants me to write is a dream project. I’m 40, but I’m very much a new children’s author at the beginning of my career. I have so much to learn and accomplish, but I never thought I’d get this far. It’s surreal. It felt like it took forever to get that first “yes,” and now I’m looking ahead with several book projects underway and hoping for a whole career. I will never take it for granted. I hope I can continue to write books kids like, books that inspire people, make them laugh or help them see things in a new light. I’m learning as I go, too!

Tell us about your debut book.

My debut book is my middle grade novel called Just Watch Me. It’s about social media, video games and divorce. I started it a few years ago when my kids were younger and struggling with my divorce from their dad. I remember reading to my kids when they were small and noticing that all the books had a mom and a dad. I was mad that my kids were growing up thinking that having divorced parents wasn’t “normal.” I wanted them to know that even if they lived in a single-parent home, they would be ok. And since there was nothing for them about the topic written in a way that interested them, I decided to write it myself. I made it really funny, with lots of embarrassing bloopers, and I based it around the themes of social media and video games because these are really important in the lives of pre-teens today, but if you read until the end, you’ll see that there’s a bigger message. It’s dedicated to my boys and to every other kid whose parents have gone through a divorce.

What’s up next for you?

I’m so excited to be promoting my books. Especially during a pandemic, What Kids Did is particularly relevant and timely. The world feels like it’s been turned upside down, and there’s a lot of anxiety. I hope this book teaches kids that they can make a big difference, even if they’re small. I hope readers are inspired to help someone and that they realize that even the tiniest gestures can have a huge impact. I’m also working on a few other projects with some amazing Canadian publishers. I have a picture book and three nonfiction books in the pipes, plus other books I’m pitching or working on for fun. I always like to have something on the go.

And last, but not least, favorite 80s movie?

I can’t pick just one! Princess Bride, Grease, Dirty Dancing…there were so many. My sister and I had dance routines and knew the lines for all of them!

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Huge thank you to Erin for stopping by Critter Lit today! Congrats on all your success!

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ERIN SILVER is a children’s author and freelance writer with nearly 20 years of professional industry experience. Her work has appeared in Good Housekeeping, The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star, Today's Parent, Chatelaine, ParentsCanada, Best Health and Clean Eating magazine, among others.

Erin’s middle grade novel, Just Watch Me, won a publishing contract with Common Deer Press and is available in October 2020. What Kids Did, a picture book about the amazing ways kids around the world helped during the pandemic, is available in October as well (Second Story Press). Proud to Play (Lorimer, spring 2021) is about the experience of LGBTQ athletes in Canadian sports. Erin also has two more books coming out with Orca in 2022.

Erin has a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Nonfiction from King's College in Halifax, a postgraduate journalism degree from Ryerson University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto.

She is a member of IBBY, The Writers Union of Canada, CANSCAIP, SCBWI, and Authors Booking Service.

FOR MORE INFORMATION visit Erin online at www.erinsilver.ca or on social media:

www.facebook.com/erin.dym

ca.linkedin.com/in/silvererin

twitter.com/1ErinSilver

www.instagram.com/erinsilver1/

ORDER THIS BOOK To order a copy of WHAT KIDS DID or JUST WATCH ME click here.

WIN A COPY! Want to win a copy of WHAT KIDS DID?! Leave a COMMENT below or RETWEET this post on Twitter. One lucky winner will be announced on Thursday, November 5th! US addresses only please.

Interview with Author Julie Abery

Happy Thursday Critters! How are you all doing amidst all this social distancing? I hope you are staying healthy and sane. I know I’m feeling a bit cooped up, but trying to focus on keeping busy and spending time with my kiddos at home. So let’s talk about something inspiring— new books! Today’s author is stopping by Critter Lit all the way from Switzerland! Please welcome Julie Abery!

Where do you live?

I am originally from England. I spent many living in Europe, bringing up my three (now grown) children, experiencing new languages and cultures, but I now call Switzerland home.

How many years have you been in publishing?

I suppose I have been in publishing a relatively short time. Back in 2016, I signed with my stellar agent, Essie White of Storm Literary Agency. I had been lucky enough to win a critique with her thanks to Vivian Kirkfield’s 50 Precious Words contest, and I was thrilled when she said she would like to offer me representation. 

She sent Little Tiger out into the world straight away, and shortly after Yusra Swims. Yusra Swims, illustrated by Sally Deng and published by Creative Editions, launched in February 2020, and was my first signed publishing contract back in 2016, but the first to publish were two board books in the Little Animal Friends series (Amicus Ink), Little Tiger and Little Panda in spring 2019. These little treasures are illustrated by the talented, Suzie Mason, and there are now four on the market, with two more publishing in spring 2021.

What inspires you to create picture books?

As a former early years’ teacher, I have spent many years teaching English to classes in international schools. Picture books were my friends and allies bringing rhyme, rhythm and repetition to the ears of my young students. It is the magic that picture books create for children that inspires my writing.

Can you tell us about your newest book?

Yusra Swims is a biography in rhyming verse relating the story of Olympic swimmer and Syrian refugee, Yusra Mardini. It follows her journey from her home in Syria, to a sinking boat on the Aegean Sea and on to Germany where she realizes a dream and swims for the IOC (International Olympic Committee) Refugee Team in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. As the story of Yusra’s incredible journey spread, she became a vocal advocate for the plight of refugees and in 2017, she was appointed a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Goodwill Ambassador. A mighty girl indeed!

What’s up next for you?

There are another two amazing NF stories publishing with Kids Can Press. The Old Man and the Penguin: A True Story of True Friendship in October 2020 and Sakamoto’s Swim Club: How a Teacher LED an Unlikely Team to Olympic Gold coming out in Spring 2021.

And last but not least, your favorite 80’s movie? 

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. I liked it so much my mother in law bought me a little E.T. to sit on a plant pot. It watched over me for many years! 😊

Thanks so much for having me on Critter Lit today, Lindsay! It’s been a pleasure to chat.

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Huge thank you to Julie for stopping by Critter Lit today! Congrats on all your wonderful books!

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JULIE ABERY is a children’s author and former Pre-K teacher. Originally from England, she has spent half of her life living in Europe, bringing up her three (now grown up) children and experiencing new languages and cultures. She now calls Switzerland home.

Julie’s debut board books Little Tiger and Little Panda illustrated by Suzie Mason, published in March 2019 with Amicus Ink. Little Hippo and Little Monkey joined the Little Animal Friends series in February 2020; a nonfiction picture book biography entitled Yusra Swims, Creative Editions, illustrated by Sally Deng in February 2020; a true story THE OLD MAN AND THE PENGUIN: A TRUE STORY OF TRUE FRIENDSHIP, Kids Can Press (Fall 2020) and nonfiction picture book bio SAKAMOTO’S SWIM CLUB: HOW A TEACHER LED AN UNLIKELY TEAM TO OLYMPIC GOLD, Kids Can Press (Spring 2021).

She is represented by Essie White of Storm Literary Agency.

FOR MORE INFORMATION on Julie or her books, visit her website or follow her on social media:

Website: https://littleredstoryshed.wordpress.com/

Twitter: @juliedawnabery

Facebook: julieabery

Instagram: juliedawnabery

BUY THIS BOOK To purchase Julie’s books, click here.

BOOK GIVEAWAY!

Want a chance to win a copy of YUSRA SWIMS?! Comment on this post or share it on Twitter. One lucky winner will be selected Thursday, April 2nd.

Interview with Debut Author Özgen Halil

Happy Thursday Critters! Today we have debut author Özgen Halil, who recently self-published her first book, HENRIETTA HEN IN TROUBLE AGAIN. I’m thrilled to have Özgen with us today to offer some insight into the self-publish side of publishing and what that process looks like. So without further ado…please welcome Özgen Halil!

Where do you live?

I now live in a village called Weavering in Maidstone which is in Kent (The Garden Of England) in the UK. We moved here just over a year ago but mostly I have lived in South East London/UK and spent a couple of years in Sydney Australia when I was a child.

Özgen with her brother— circa 1970s

When did you know you wanted to write picture books? 

I always loved writing a story, whether it was at school or just at home - I love being creative. My first memory of that was when I around 6 years old and I remember writing a really funny story about my brother with illustrations just to make him laugh. As children, we were really close and still are as adults. It’s always been on my mind to do this but it wasn’t until last year that I had the opportunity to finally put things into action and I wrote Henrietta Hen In Trouble Again.  

Illustration from HENRIETTA HEN IN TROUBLE AGAIN written by Özgen Halil, Illustrated by Sarah-Leigh Wills

Can you tell us more about your decision to self-publish and what that process has looked like for you?

Honestly, I don’t think that I actually sat down and thought about which route I should go in. It just felt natural for me to do it myself. As a person, I have always been very independent from a young age and my attitude in life has always been “If you want something - YOU have to go out there and get it!” I am a real grafter and always work hard and do my best. Besides, I don’t think I would know where to start to get a publisher.

Can you share a bit about your process?

My instinct was to go on a self-publishing course to see what the process would be. Apart from writing the story, I had to find the right illustrator for the book (my own illustration abilities are work-in-progress) so that took a little bit of time searching and speaking to various illustrators. Once I instructed my illustrator (Sarah-Leigh Wills - who did such an amazing job with the illustrations), I then searched and found printers and got together a launch team in readiness of the release and in between, I got my website together and social media accounts set up. Each step of the way has been very important and at times quite hard and now that the book is ready, I have my marketing hat on, to the next level of promoting the book, getting the story out there and scheduling school and library visits. It's full on.

Illustration from HENRIETTA HEN IN TROUBLE AGAIN written by Özgen Halil, Illustrated by Sarah-Leigh Wills

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

If I have an “off-day” I just leave it alone and come back to it later. I get away from my desk and do something different or I just go out for a walk. If it’s not happening that day, I won’t force it. As for new ideas, I don’t have any special strategies in place - I guess it also depends on what sort of mood I am in - some days I am more productive than others. I can say that the story comes first, that’s my starting point, and then I map out the characters. Usually I have an idea of how I want the characters to look like. For example, I wanted Dotty Donkey to have goofy teeth and Henrietta Hen to have a handbag and a necklace. I think of ideas all the time.

Anything you can't live without while you write?

My desktop computer. I spent years typing documents in my previous jobs and at speeds of at least 80 words per minute so it’s just easier and quicker for me to type. I prefer a desktop computer to a laptop or anything else. 

Illustration from HENRIETTA HEN IN TROUBLE AGAIN written by Özgen Halil, Illustrated by Sarah-Leigh Wills

Any authors and/or illustrators who inspire you?

Awww there’s lots, but one that really stood out for me is Oliver Jeffers. I used to read his books to my younger son and I loved them just as much as he did. His style is simple but really effective and the stories are so cute. I really admire him -  he’s very talented.

Dream project to work on?

I’m a newbie so my first children’s picture book - Henrietta Hen In Trouble Again, has been a dream project to work on. However, it would also be a dream to work on projects that enables me to give to the community, especially vulnerable children and to make their lives better in any way - I would love that.

 Tell us about your debut book.

Henrietta Hen In Trouble Again is about a Hen and her best friend Dotty Donkey, together they go berry picking in the woods only to find themselves in some danger. There is a happy ending - because we just love happy endings. The book promotes friendships, kindness and sharing and is suitable for the ages between 4-8 years old. I have based Henrietta Hen’s character on my mother’s personality. She is my mother all over!

What's up next for you?

I have already written Chi Chi And The Birthday Surprise and hope to write further children’s picture books in the coming year. I will release information about that book in early 2020. Also in the pipeline is The Evil Eye Quartet starting off with “White Wings” and these books will be suitable for young adults.

And last, but not least, favorite 80s movie?

Hmmm.…it’s between E.T. and Top Gun (only because I used to fancy Tom Cruise)…ok its E.T.— I loved that film so much and I had the lunchbox, keyring and the toy - what an amazing film!

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Huge thank you to Özgen for stopping by Critter Lit today! Thank you for sharing your work with us and best of luck on all your future projects!

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ÖZGEN HALIL’S love for children’s picture books started from as young as 4 years old. Her mother read stories to her and her brother and she would tell them funny stories about where she came from (which was a small village in Cyprus) to keep them entertained. Later on at primary school, Özgen often visited the local library to borrow books such as The Cat In The Hat by Dr Suess, The Adventures Of Tin Tin by Hergé and the Asterix series by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo which she loved reading. As an adult, she spent over 25 years in the corporate world as a Legal PA/EA, and finally plucked up the courage to publish her first children’s picture book called Henrietta Hen In Trouble Again as a self-publishing author. She loves animals but hates spiders (after one crawled up her leg when she was 3 years old). Her goal as an author is to be able to bring happiness into children's lives and contribute in making their lives better.

FOR MORE INFORMATION about Özgen Halil visit her online or follow her on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ozgenhalilbooks/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ozgenbhalil/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dearozgen

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/ozgen5382/

TO DOWNLOAD A FREE COPY of Özgen’s book, click here. To purchase a paperback copy of Özgen’s book, click here. A portion of each sale goes to the children's charity Demelza.

BOOK GIVEAWAY!

Want a chance to win a paperback copy of HENRIETTA HEN IN TROUBLE AGAIN?! Comment on this post or share it on Twitter. One lucky winner will be selected Thursday, October 10th! US addresses only please.

Interview with Debut Author Amanda Jackson

Happy Thursday Critters! Today we are joined by debut author Amanda Jackson, whose new picture book, MY SHAPE IS SAM, comes out September 17th! I’m so thrilled to be sharing this brilliant book with you all today! And bonus— Amanda’s book is illustrated by fellow illustrator, Lydia Nichols, who I studied illustration with at Syracuse. I can’t wait for you to all see this fantastic book these two incredibly talented women created.

So without further ado…please welcome Amanda Jackson!

Where do you live?

I live in Beaverton, Oregon, about 10 minutes from downtown Portland.

When did you know you wanted to write picture books?

My husband and I moved to California in 2016. We’d gone for his job and quickly realized we wouldn't be staying for as long as we’d planned. In the meantime, I was offered a job working with a child with autism. However, without a commitment to staying in the area, I couldn’t, in good conscience, accept the position. It was that instability that kept me jobless, and presented a gift in disguise. I remember having to make the decision to stop worrying about what to do with myself, and try to make the most of this unstructured, uncertain time.

I’ve always loved writing, but had never tried writing for kids. Because most of my professional life has been spent with picture book readers/listeners, I started there. I wrote my first picture book story (which will of course never see the light of day) and realized this was “my thing.” That realization made me feel like the luckiest person in the world. And it was such a clear realization too. Like stumbling across something I’d been looking for my whole life. It was magic, and I dove in head-first.

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

In mid-2017, I participated in a Twitter pitch even called Pit2Pub. That’s where I connected with Charlotte Wenger, then an editor with Page Street Kids. She requested the manuscript for My Shape is Sam, and made an offer a couple months later! So exciting. It’s been a wonderful couple years of working with Charlotte and all the wonderful people at Page Street. They’re so collaborative and honoring of their makers’ hopes for their work.

Can you share a bit about your process?

Sure! I’m not a routine writer. I spend a lot of time at my desk, but it happens whenever I have the time. But I love to write, so there’s rarely a day I don’t do it. I’m always in the midst of a few projects at different stages. My favorite stage is revision. It’s not as overwhelming as a blank page, and it always reminds me of throwing pottery - the calm of having already done the work of getting something on the wheel, and then I just have to keep shaping it until it’s beautiful.

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

The best thing I’ve found for new ideas is reading. Lots. Good work is so inspiring, especially if I’m feeling stuck in one of my own stories. Like a palette cleanser, it helps me push “reset” and see my work with fresh eyes.

Anything you can’t live without while you write?

Hmm the only thing I can think of is quiet. It sounds fun to write with music on (especially to influence the mood of my story), but my brain just doesn’t work that way.

Any authors and/or illustrators who inspire you?

Oh my gosh so many. Several picture book authors that come to mind first: Julie Fogliano, Ryan T. Higgins, Anna Walker, Oliver Jeffers... there are so many more. I’m inspired by the ability to pack a punch with a few simple words. That’s one of the reasons I adore this craft. And a few of my favorite illustrators: Lydia Nichols, Fiona Lumbers, and Beatrice Alemagna.

Dream project to work on?

A series. I would LOVE to work on a project that extends beyond one picture book. To create characters that readers get to know (and look forward to!) through multiple books. Ah that sounds like so much fun.

Tell us about your debut book.

MY SHAPE IS SAM is about Sam, a square who lives in a world of shapes. Everyone has a job to do, depending on their shape. But Sam doesn’t like stacking like the squares. He wants to roll like the circles.

My hope is that this story helps readers challenge norms that don't fit them. And that they continue to discover who they are, in spite of prescriptive expectations.

What’s up next for you?

I’ve always got projects in progress, so for now, more writing and revising!

And last, but not least, favorite 80s movie?

Ha! Hmm. Crossing Delancey is way up there. It stars Amy Irving and Peter Riegert, and it’s not super well known. I’m such a sucker for the unlikely lovers trope, plus the music is great (I think it’s the only soundtrack I own!), I’ve seen it a million times.

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Huge thank you to Amanda Jackson for stopping by Critter Lit today! We are so excited for your debut and can’t wait to see what you do next!

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AMANDA JACKSON writes stories for kids and their grown-ups. She's pretty sure there's nothing better in the world. She grew up in Pennsylvania, where she discovered her love of making: drawing, crafting, sewing, cooking, storytelling. Anything to give her imagination a voice. When she was six, someone gave her a journal. She instantly felt at home with the magic that happens when words come from inside, pass across the page, and connect with someone else. In her twenties, Amanda moved to Portland, Oregon, and cozied right into the land of gray skies and creative living. She finished her degree in Human Development, worked with lots of awesome kids, and married her love. Of all the happies in her life, writing is one of the happiest. And she’s beyond thrilled to share her words with you.

FOR MORE INFORMATION about Amanda Jackson visit her online or follow her on social media:

Twitter: @Amanda2Jackson

TO ORDER Amanda’s book, ring up your local bookstore or click here.

BOOK GIVEAWAY!

Want a chance to win a copy of MY SHAPE IS SAM?! Comment on this post or share it on Twitter. One lucky winner will be selected Thursday, September 19th! US addresses only please.

Critter Lit Call for Questions

Happy Thursday Critters! Today I’m reaching out to find out about YOUR questions. Questions about writing, illustrating, querying, submissions, publishing— and everything else in between. Critter Lit will begin featuring a Q & A post every month answering YOUR questions. So send them over to lindsay@critterlit.com. I look forward to hearing from you!

xo

Lindsay

What's up on deck? Tune in next week for an interview with debut author Jonathan Stutzman!

Interview with Debut Author Laura Roettiger

Happy Thursday Critters! Today we have a debut author interview with Laura Roettiger! Laura’s debut book, ALIANA REACHES FOR THE MOON, illustrated by Ariel Boroff, releases on February 19th with Eifrig Publishing. We are so thrilled to have her here today to talk about her new book.

So without further ado…

Please welcome Laura Roettiger!

Where do you live?

I live in the Rocky Mountains at 8,200 ft just west of Boulder, Colorado. For perspective, Boulder is 5,340 ft but only 10 miles away so the road to where I live is quite steep. My backyard is National Forest so it’s beautiful but so different from Chicago and the suburbs where I lived my whole life before moving here in 2016.

 When did you know you wanted to write picture books?

I was a reading specialist in Chicago and spent my days reading and writing with students. I often wrote stories for them when I couldn’t find books that I wanted to use. ALIANA REACHES FOR THE MOON was the first book I wrote with the intention of publishing. I know how rare that is; most people talk about the pile of unusable drafts they wrote before getting anything published.

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

In late 2016 and early 2017, I received some love in a few pitch parties that ultimately led to rejection. They liked the concept but not the actual story. This is because the manuscript WASN’T READY and it’s a very different book now than where it was at that time two years ago. I also submitted to a few publishing houses that accept un-agented work, including Eifrig Publishing. I am a writer, not an illustrator, and they only take on fully illustrated books. I had been approached by a local artist who wanted to collaborate and her sketches were the first ones submitted to Eifrig along with the original manuscript, a letter that explained who Aliana was, my plans for a series of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Music) books, and how the vision of Eifrig Publishing aligned with my values. She had editing and revision recommendations and I continued to work on the story. Fast forward to July 2017 at Southampton Writers Conference and my manuscript went through a revision that I have described as ‘performing surgery on a loved one.’ I know other people use the phrase, ‘kill your darlings’ but I didn’t want to kill my book, I wanted to make it better. The original manuscript was trying to do too many things at the same time. The final book kept many of the ideas and cut out others. When I shared it with Penny at Eifrig, she agreed it was 100% improved. In October 2017, the illustrator backed out of the project due to time constraints of her other jobs. Through a mutual friend, Ariel Boroff and I met and began collaborating. She has done an amazing job of bringing the book to life while working as a costumer on a TV show - “Station 19” which is a “Gray’s Anatomy” spinoff about a fire house. Aliana’s father is a fireman so we both felt like that was a nice overlap.

Can you share a bit about your process?

I have a vivid imagination and often come up with ideas for stories when I am out in nature. I also like to do research and write by hand before I begin drafting a story. Sometimes the research doesn’t even end up in the manuscript, but it gives me additional background knowledge to draw on.

ALIANA REACHES FOR THE MOON was originally written by hand. This year I participated in StoryStorm (31 ideas in January) which was fun. I have many ideas that I thought of when I wasn’t home. I text myself so that I can add them to the brainstorm document when I get home. It’s amusing to see the ideas and I wonder if anyone ever saw the texts if they would think I was crazy! 

My last two books, one which is ready to query and one which is still in revisions, came from different places. The first is inspired by my beloved Goldendoodle puppy, Charlie. I shared it on the 12x12Forum, with my two in person critique groups more than once, and I think it’s ready to send out into the world. I love thinking about that first day, the germ of the idea, and how it’s transformed now that it is ready to share and hopefully be loved. The other one, which is still a WIP was inspired by a 12x12 webinar about how illustrations and text work together in different ways. I’m trying to grow as a writer and try new things. This one is definitely a departure but so far the feedback from critique partners is good so I am going to keep polishing. 

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

I don’t usually have trouble coming up with ideas. In the beginning, I had ideas that I couldn’t figure out how to turn into stories. I’m past that now thanks to several classes, conferences, and studying picture books with a writer’s eye.

Anything you can’t live without while you write?

I usually write in my dining room which has actually never been used for eating. It’s wide open with floor to ceiling windows, beautiful artwork, a desk and a large table for two different perspectives, furniture that belonged to my parents’ and grandparents, and interesting woodwork. I like to be comfortable so right now, since it’s winter I’m wearing a sweatshirt and soft flannel. Often I’m in my pajamas. I used to joke that if I was in my pajamas at noon that was the sign of a productive writing morning. 

Any authors and/or illustrators who inspire you?

There are so many and I hesitate to name names, but I will say I was fortunate to meet Amy Krouse Rosenthal, David Shannon, and Kevin Henkes while I was teaching and they were so generous with their young fans. That stays with me.

Dream project to work on?

I know this may sound funny, but Aliana is a dream project. She is based on my daughters and a few special students from Carlos Fuentes Charter School in Chicago. I have two more books written about Aliana and Gustavo, both which need further revision, and I can’t wait to see if the world loves her as much as I do.

Tell us about your debut book.

ALIANA REACHES FOR THE MOON is about a curious and creative girl who observes the bright light of the full moon. She uses information from books about the moon and experiments with light and reflection to create a surprise for her brother Gustavo. The book celebrates curiosity and demonstrates her patience and her parents’ patience. The messages are layered and not heavy-handed which is something I’m very happy about.

What’s up next for you?

I have two launch parties and a few events here in Colorado and ten days of mostly school visits in Chicago. I am very excited to be going back to two of the schools where my children were students. I am also working on lining up events at one or both of the places that wrote endorsements for the book: Adler Planetarium in Chicago, and the Challenger Center which has 40 education centers.  https://www.challenger.org

I am also hoping to find an agent this year and am a Gold member of 12x12. 

And last, but not least, favorite 80s movie?

Dirty Dancing. 

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Huge thank you to Laura for stopping by Critter Lit today! We can wait to see your book in the world on February 19th! Congrats!

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Laura Roettiger is the author of ALIANA REACHES FOR THE MOON. She is a life-long Chicago resident who moved to the Rocky Mountains in 2016. Living adjacent to Roosevelt National Forest and just a few miles from the Continental Divide has provided her with inspiration for much of what she writes about. In Chicago, she worked as a reading specialist and elementary teacher and raised three children who are also the inspiration for her writing. Her superpower is encouraging curiosity in children and letting them know she believes in them. Since moving to Colorado, she has worked in Environmental Education and is now a literacy mentor at a STEM school. In 2018, she adopted a Goldendoodle puppy, Charlie, who is the inspiration for her latest polished manuscript. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION about Laura and her work visit her website: www.lauraroettigerbooks.com.

TO PRE-ORDER Laura’s debut book, ring up your local bookstore, or click here.

BOOK GIVEAWAY!

Want a chance to win a SIGNED copy of ALIANA REACHES FOR THE MOON?! Comment on this post or share it on Twitter. One lucky winner will be selected Thursday, February 14th! US addresses only please.

What's up on deck? Tune in next week for an interview with debut author Cathy Breisacher.

Happy New Year Critters!

Happy New Year Critters! Can you believe it’s 2019?! I feel as though 2018 flew by! I’m excited to dive into this year and see what exciting adventures await. 2019 will be filled with three new book releases for me as well as a fabulous list of upcoming debut and veteran interviews! Check out some of the authors, illustrators, and author/illustrators who will be stopping by Critter Lit this year:

Lindsay Leslie

Meera Sriram

Sue Fliess

Cathy Breisacher

Shawnie Clark

Jamie L. B. Deenihan

Cathy Ballou Mealey

Julie Falatko

Sheri Dillard

Scott Magoon

Mikela Provost

Ishta Mercurio

Debbie Ridpath Ohi

Jenn Harney

Christopher Denise

June Smalls

Sue Reagan

Amanda Jackson

Tara Lazar

and more! I’m so excited to share with you what these amazingly talented people have to say about their process and work. This year is your year! Finish that novel, picture book, middle grade, young adult…you got this!

“It’s never too late to be what you might have been.” - George Eliot

So go out there and start writing!

Check in with me on Twitter for some Critter Lit Writing Resolutions that I’ll be posting throughout the month of January. Have a writing resolution of your own? I’d love to hear it!

Until next time…

xo

Lindsay

Interview with Debut Picture Book Author/Illustrator Jen Betton

Happy Thursday Critters! Today, I’m thrilled to share an interview with Jen Betton, the debut author and illustrator of HEDGEHOG NEEDS A HUG. I met Jen while we were both in school at Syracuse. I was working towards my BFA in Illustration when I took an intro class on Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, taught by Jen, who was an MFA Illustration student at the time. Adobe Illustrator is actually the only program that I use when I work digitally…which I have Jen to thank for. I’m not sure I would have learned it otherwise. Thanks Jen!

I'm so excited to share Jen’s work with you all today, and I’m sure you’ll see why. Her watercolors are GORGEOUS! And she has this tremendous ability capturing light….I’m a huge fan of her work and I hope you will all go out and read HEDGEHOG NEEDS A HUG!

So without further ado…please welcome Jen Betton!

Where do you live?

I recently moved to the Dallas area, so I’m still getting connected with the Kid Lit community here.

When did you know you wanted to make picture books?

I always loved picture books; I never really grew out of them. It just took a while to give myself permission to pursue it because I thought I needed to do something more practical! I loved painting and I loved stories, so creating picture books was a natural combination of those loves.

Tell us about your debut book as an author and illustrator?

HEDGEHOG NEEDS A HUG is the first book I’ve written as well as illustrated! It is about a Hedgehog who feels down in the snout and droopy in the prickles and so goes looking for a hug, but other creatures don’t want to get close to his spines! Fortunately, he finds someone else who is feeling the same way. 

 I came up with this story while I was brainstorming story ideas that involved animals who have a physical characteristic that is at odds with what they want. I love stories where the character has a goal that inherently creates conflict!

One thing that helped me figure out my story structure was understanding the heart of the story. This is the essential, core theme of the story, beneath the surface-level action. I was brainstorming the ending and I had to decide how Hedgehog would finally get his hug. Hedgehog could have hugged another hedgehog (someone just like him) or a turtle (someone who would not be hurt) but I had an “aha” moment where I understood that empathy was important to the story, and I quickly realized that Hedgehog needed to give Skunk a hug.

Can you share a bit about your process?

If I’m writing the story, then I start with an outline. I really have to get the structure of the story right, and the first draft is almost in bullet points. After that I might start weaving small thumbnail sketches into a storyboard while concurrently revising my manuscript. After I have the basic story arc hammered out, I keep writing, tweaking, polishing. At the same time I’m working on the storyboard with rough sketches, trying to get the composition, the page turns, the expressions right. I try to not to get too far into the drawings until the manuscript is fairly firm, because it’s like working a Rubik’s Cube – every change affects every other part of the puzzle. 

Next, I start working on finished drawings. For this stage I usually gather a lot of reference materials, sometimes getting friends to pose for photos or taking a trip to the zoo. Then I’ll do some color studies. After all those steps are approved by the art director, I’ll start on the finished paintings. I transfer the drawings to my illustration board, and then I jump in with watercolor. After I’ve taken the painting as far as I can, I’ll often add a bit of colored pencil or pastel for details. Once it is scanned, I’ll touch it up a little bit in Photoshop. 

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

Inspiration, community, and perspiration! I get inspired by both books and people. Reading the beautiful books that others have created and seeing how they solved problems teaches me a lot. I find conferences to be energizing - rubbing shoulders with creative pals. My imagination also responds well to discipline, so participating in Storystorm or checking in with critique buddies for some accountability really helps me. And sometimes it’s really helpful to just do something for fun without expectations of how it will turn out. 

Any art supplies you can't live without?

Strathmore 500 Illustration board. Totally different way to watercolor, and I love it! 

Favorite authors/illustrators?

Soooo many!! John Singer Sargent’s watercolors are stunning. I love Trina Schart Hyman, Min Ji Kim, Lizbeth Zwerger, Christian Birmingham, Scott Gustafson, Greg Manchess. A couple newer illustrators I love are Jessica Lanan and Corinna Luyken. 

Dream project or book to work on?

Something with a sense of wonder or otherworldliness, like Ocean Meets Sky by the Fan Brothers or The Brilliant Deep by Kate Messner and Matthew Forsythe.

What's up next for you?

I’ve been working on a new story, called ANITA’S FLOWERS, which is about perseverance, failure, friendship, and finding your gift. Hopefully it will be ready to submit soon!

I’ve also been working on some goodies for HEDGEHOG NEEDS A HUG: coloring pages, an activity kit, bookplates, etc. There is also a teacher’s guide by Marcie Colleen. You can download them here. 

And last, but not least, favorite 80s movie?

Princess Bride and Adventures in Babysitting

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Jen Betton loves to draw and make up stories with her pictures. In Kindergarten she got into trouble for drawing presents on a picture of Santa, and she has been illustrating ever since. She wrote and illustrated HEDGEHOG NEEDS A HUG, published with Penguin-Putnam, and she illustrated TWILIGHT CHANT, written by Holly Thompson, published with Clarion.

She has a BA in English, and a BFA and MFA in Illustration. She lives in the Dallas area with her husband and two children.

For more information about Jen Betton and her books, visit her online at www.jenbetton.com or follow her on Twitter: @JenBetton.

TO ORDER a copy of HEDGEHOG NEEDS A HUG ring up your local bookstore, or click here.

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BOOK GIVEAWAY!

Want a chance to win a copy of HEDGEHOG NEEDS A HUG?! Comment on this post or share it on Twitter. One lucky winner will be selected Thursday, September 20th! US addresses only please.

What's up on deck? Tune in next week for a Critter Lit Craft Post.

Interview with Debut Picture Book Author Marcy Campbell

I was lucky enough to meet Marcy Campbell a couple years ago at the Buckeye Book Fair in Wooster, Ohio. I was participating as an author/illustrator when Marcy walked up and introduced herself. She told me how she'd just signed with an agent and they'd recently sold her first picture book, ADRIAN SIMCOX DOES NOT HAVE A HORSE. It's funny because at the time, I remember getting a feeling that the book she was describing was going to be special, different, maybe even make a mark. And I was right. It's been wonderful to watch the word spread about this book. It has gained incredible buzz. In addition to Marcy's wonderfully powerful text (I cried the first time I read it), the illustrations are by the extremely talented Corinna Luyken, whose debut picture book last year, THE BOOK OF MISTAKES, was my absolute favorite of the year. Needless to say ADRIAN SIMCOX DOES NOT HAVE A HORSE is a must read!

I'm incredibly honored to interview Marcy and thrilled for you all to hear about her stunning, poignant, and extremely relevant debut picture book: ADRIAN SIMCOX DOES NOT HAVE A HORSE.

So without further ado....please welcome Marcy Campbell!

Where do you live?

Wooster, Ohio.

When did you know you wanted to make picture books?

I’ve always been a writer, since my preschool years when I taped books of my pictures together, but I was never encouraged to pursue it as a “career” and so I did other things first, primarily marketing and public relations. I finally decided to take the leap and got a graduate degree in creative writing. I wrote strictly for adults, however, and after publishing a bunch of short stories, started working on what I’d hoped would be a great literary novel. Then, I became a parent and filled my home with picture books. I think any writer, after spending a lot of time with a certain type of book, will entertain the thought of writing those books. Still, it took me quite awhile to set aside my adult novel projects. I kept a list of picture book ideas and kept adding to it. Then, one rainy afternoon, I was sick and tired of editing my novel, and I opened that idea file and got to work on Adrian. It felt right almost immediately. I won’t say that writing for kids is any easier than for adults (and in many ways, it’s more difficult), but it feels natural, like what I’m supposed to be doing.

Can you share a bit about your process?

I have a very different process for picture books versus novels (I just finished drafting a middle grade.) I’m very methodical about novels and have all sorts of steps throughout the phases of outlining, drafting and revising, but so far, my best picture book ideas have come in a moment of inspiration and were written pretty quickly. I think about the idea for awhile and jot down some notes, but then I wait for that moment when I hear the voice in my head and have a sense of the story’s arc. The writing can then happen in a day. After that, I’ll sit on it for a few weeks, revisiting, tweaking individual lines. I’ve found that the picture book drafts that took me a long time to write tend to not work out in the end. Of course writing processes are very different for each writer, and even different for the same writer across different types of books. It can take some experimentation to find what works best.

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

Nothing beats surrounding myself with a stack of new books. When I’m in idea generation mode, I’ll be at the library a lot, and you’ll see towering stacks of picture books on my coffee table. Inevitably, something grabs me and turns me onto a new idea. I also find that long walks in the woods help a great deal (for many maladies, not just a lack of book ideas). I like to clean or paint (walls and furniture, not canvases) or rearrange things in my house, anything that keeps my hands busy while letting my mind wander. When I’m coming up with ideas, I have a spotless house! When I’m finishing a manuscript…not so much.

Anything you can't write without?

I’m pretty adaptable in terms of location. I write nearly everything on my laptop, so I’m kind of lost without that, though I’ve certainly been known to jot down ideas on scraps of napkin in a pinch. The most important thing to my writing, and general well-being, is a great cup of coffee.  

Favorite authors/illustrators?

Oh gosh, such a hard question. I will say that the picture book that I found most inspirational while writing ADRIAN was Matt de la Pena and Christian Robinson’s Last Stop on Market Street. There are so many fabulous picture book authors and illustrators out there, and, having entered the kidlit world kind of late, I’m discovering new ones every week. Jacqueline Woodson’s books have really touched me. When I want some fun, I love Mac Barnett and Bob Shea and Ame Dyckman (especially her work with Zach O'Hora, whose illustrations I love). Lane Smith is a perennial favorite of mine. I’m certainly partial to Corinna Luyken’s illustrations (and I loved her before she did my book, so I’m only a little bit biased). I’m beyond fortunate to be working with her. The most recent picture book I can’t put down (from both a text and illustration perspective) is Julián Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love.

Tell us about your debut book. What inspired you to write it?

I did know a boy when I was a kid who said he had a horse, but he said he had a lot of things, and his family seemed to be doing well financially, so there was probably some truth to his boasting. I remember, however, that I thought he was lying about the horse in particular. That childhood memory became one line in a list of picture book ideas I started keeping after having my own kids. “Boy says he has a horse and girl doesn’t believe him.” One rainy afternoon, I was struggling with a rewrite of an adult novel and decided to try my hand at a picture book. Chloe's voice came to me quite clearly, and the story took off from there. Over the last few years, I’ve put in a lot of time volunteering at my kids’ public elementary school, which has a high percentage of children with economic need, and I believe those experiences helped shape the story beyond just a couple of kids arguing about a horse and toward issues of class and empathy.

Dream project or book to work on?

That’s a tough one. Thankfully, my dream book is usually the one I’m working on right now. I do think it would be fun to collaborate on some kind of science series with my husband some day (he’s a biologist).

And last, but not least, favorite 80s movie?

Hands down, Back to Future (the first one; I don’t care much for the sequels). I had a huge crush on Michael J. Fox, and there was a year where my friends and I were listening to all this old 50s and 60s music for some reason. It hit all the right buttons. I still get chills when he’s playing “Earth Angel” at the dance, and his parents kiss, and his hand reappears.

Thank you Marcy for chatting with us today! Wishing you heaps of success with your stunning debut and future projects!

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Marcy Campbell lives in Ohio with her family and menagerie of rescued pets. Her writing for adults has been published widely in journals and magazines, including Salon. She grew up on a farm filled with cows, chickens, cats, and dogs, but she never had a horse. Adrian Simcox Does NOT Have a Horse is her debut picture book.

For more information about Marcy Campbell and her books, visit her online at www.marcycampbell.com or follow her on Twitter @marcycampbell.

TO PURCHASE A COPY of ADRIAN SIMCOX DOES NOT HAVE A HORSE visit your local bookstore, or click here.

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BOOK GIVEAWAY!

Want a chance to win a copy of ADRIAN SIMCOX DOES NOT HAVE A HORSE?! Comment on this post or share it on Twitter. One lucky winner will be selected Thursday, August 23rd! US addresses only please.

What's up on deck? Tune in next week for an interview with author + illustrator Betsy Snyder!

Interview with Author/Illustrator Sandra Salsbury

This past spring, I had a wonderful experience participating in Writing with the Stars, a contest for aspiring authors and illustrators to win a free three-month mentorship with a published author or author/illustrator. The contest is run by Tara Leubbe and Becky Cattie, two sisters, who not only write together, but take the time to run this contest, offering wonderful opportunities to unpublished authors and illustrators. Which as you know, is what we are all about here at Critter Lit.

Make sure to check out Tara and Becky's website if you haven't already done so: www.beckytarabooks.com. The contest will start up again this December.

Contest applicants get to submit their work (either a manuscript or dummy) to a mentor of their choice. I was stunned with all the amazing work I was sent as a mentor. It was such a difficult decision to pick one mentee to work with, but ultimately Sandra Salsbury's work stood out to me immediately. The first thing I noticed was how well she handled her medium, watercolor. But the second, and what really struck me, especially with regards to picture books, is how great she is at composing different perspectives of storytelling.

I've had the opportunity to get to know Sandra and her work these past few months while mentoring her on her book dummy, MR. FLUFF IS MISSING. I hope you enjoy her work as much as I do!

So without further ado, I'm thrilled to introduce Sandra Salsbury!

Where do you live?

I live in Berkeley, CA, just below hills full of hiking trails and down the street from one of the best bakeries.

When did you know you wanted to make picture books?

I originally enrolled in art school because I loved to draw, but I spent most of my time floundering around with my art, not really knowing what I would do with it after graduation. It had never even occurred to me that there were people out there making picture books. In my last semester I ended up, on whim, enrolling in a children's illustration class with a local illustrator, LeUyen Pham. This was back in 2006, so there was no way for me, nor any of my classmates, to know what a gift it was to be taught by someone like LeUyen. It felt like there was suddenly a place where my art made sense and it was almost absurd that it hadn't occurred to me before. I ended up enrolling in an MFA program after to focus my portfolio on children's illustration and creating picture books has been my goal since then.

Can you share a bit about your process?

My process sort of looks like thinking, then writing, then drawing, then rewriting, then redrawing, and then more thinking and drawing and writing. My stories go through many iterations, first in my head, then in a word document, then on sheets of paper with squares printed out. I usually work in three different sizes of sketches. The smallest is to figure out the overall flow of the story and the pages are small enough that they all fit on one sheet of paper (I will do 3-6 of these, typically). The next size is to figure out the composition of each page. I try to draw 4-8 versions of the page to find the best one. Sometimes the first one is the one that works, but sometimes it's the 8th. The largest size is the most refined version and it's the pages I use for my dummy. Some pages will only have one version, but some will have to be drawing again and again, as I made small changes in the story. And even at the end, you don't know how well a story works until you have put it together into a little book with pages that turn, so I end up with 5-8 final dummies. While working on the dummies I will also do character sketches and art samples to figure out my style and by the time I get to the final paintings, all the hard work is done so I put on an audiobook and get some "reading" done while I paint.

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

I am lucky to live right next to a number of beautiful trails and it seems like my brain does its best thinking while my legs are moving. If I am stuck on a project or I can't think of an idea, the solution is always to take a long walk. Sometimes I have to take a lot of walks, but eventually when I let my mind drift away from the problem at hand or I stop trying to come up with a good idea, something will pop into my head. The best answers are the ones that feel obvious because then you know they are simple enough to work.

Art supplies you can't live without?

Arches 140lb cold press watercolor paper. I have tried switching papers, but I am so familiar with the way the paper absorbs paint and water, that using anything else feels like learning how to paint all over again. People always ask about paint brands and brushes, but paper is the true hero of watercolor paintings.

Favorite illustrators?

What an impossible question! I love Holly Hobbie's watercolors, Judy Schachner's expressions, Dan Santat's design, Jon Klassen's simplicity, LeUyen Pham's body language, Lorena Alvarez's colors, Chris Appelhan's characters...

Dream project or book to work on?

My dream project is just to write and illustrate (and get published!) my own story. I want to take something from an idea in my mind to a book on a shelf.

And last, but not least, favorite 80s movie?

The Princess Bride. Any other choice would be inconceivable.

Want to know more about Sandra or her work? Visit her online at www.sandrasalsbury.com or you can follow her on Twitter @SandraSalsbury

A Bad Case of the Hypotheticals

They'll always be a reason not to do the work. Not to write. Not to draw. Not to read. Trust me, I get it. With two boys under the age of 3, my stack of books to be read is epic. I feel like there is never enough time in the day and I find myself wishing I could do more of a lot of things. But the trick is to make it count, right?

I happen to work some unusual hours seeing as my husband and I both work from home and we've decided to stay at home with our boys, splitting work shifts while the other watches the kids. It's a bit crazy, and every day is different, but it works for us. My first two hours of work happen first thing, from 5-7am. And I have to make them count. If there's one thing having kids taught me it's that procrastination is simply NOT an option. I literally don't have time to waste time because at the end of those first two hours, my eight-month-old will want to eat, and he doesn't really care that I need five more minutes to finish up. Or that I didn't accomplish everything I wanted to because I spent the first hour wasting time online.

So how do we make time to get the work done? Create books? Write? Draw? Read? If you're just starting out, unpublished, and trying to get your foot in the door, you probably have a day job. So there goes a vast amount of time you could be dedicating to your writing or drawing. The good news is, that day job can actually help you tremendously. I haven't had a day job for a long time now, but I did when I first started out. Before I was published, I worked at a children's book store in Brookline, Massachusetts. (Shout out to Terri and The Children's Book Shop!) It was a great experience and I learned a ton about the picture book market. I had the chance to read the latest books and see what contemporary authors and illustrators were doing in the business. It also got me out of my own head sometimes, which as a creative, can be imperative.

I worked five days a week, then I'd go home, eat dinner, and sit down in my make-shift studio space, and work again. But this time on writing or illustrations for my portfolio. I spent three years sending out postcard mailers, every three months, to any art director whose address I could find. Years went by and I never heard anything. It was a tough time, filled with a lot of self-doubt and a bad case of the hypotheticals.

It's really easy to get caught up in playing out all the scenarios that can happen. I'm super type A, which means I generally overthink things to death. As I sat at my drawing table night after night, I would obsess over getting published, breaking through, or meeting the right art director who'd finally give me a shot. Here's the thing though-- I had to give myself a shot first. If I didn't believe I was talented enough to publish a book, then how could I expect anyone else to?

Unfortunately, the kidlit industry, is a one in a million. Literally. Not everyone gets to do this. So many things have to line up. It's like fate. Or a romantic comedy (although at times it feels like a tragedy). But at the end of the day, you either do the work or you don't. All the stars could align and you finally get your shot, but if you don't have the work done and haven't put in the time, it won't matter, and the opportunity will pass you by. It's easy to say you'll get around to it someday. But let's be honest, you won't. You have to make time for your craft. Ideally everyday, and if not everyday, regularly in a schedule that works for you. Even if it's just an hour a week you carve out for yourself to write or draw, take it! It's a start, and hopefully that one hour will become important enough to you, that you'll make time for another hour, and another hour, until you find you've created enough time for yourself to follow your dream and really make a go of it.

I tend to get caught up in the hypotheticals particularly when I'm in the midst of a submission. After all this time, I still do it, even though I know better. I worry over if anyone will like my work or the dummy I've spent months fine tuning. Will it sell? Will it ever see the light of day? Or will it just end up in a drawer? If it does sell, who will buy it? Will I be working with a new publisher? Which then brings on a whole new list of worries: Will we work well together? Will our visions for the book align? The list goes on and on. Thus, a bad case of the hypotheticals.

But none of that really matters at the end of the day. Because it's about the work. Once it's out there, you've done your job. And whatever the result, you have to be okay with that. Trust what you've put out there. And if it's not that one that makes it, try again. And again. And again. This industry is a numbers game. Be your biggest advocate. Pick yourself up and keep going.

Even now, I'm still not used to rejections. I think it's safe to say that none of us are. But with each one, you can get a bit tougher, a bit stronger. Be open minded. Listen to constructive criticism about your work, and then discard the stuff that doesn't resonate with you. I find that the criticism that I get the most upset over, or react the strongest to, is usually the one thing I need to address. At the end of the day it's your work, and you have to do what feels right for you and your book.

Ideally, when I go out on a submission, I always want to sell the book, obviously. I try not to worry about how I will feel if it doesn't sell. Which is tough, because I've put months of work into something that may never make it on a book shelf. I recently went out on submission with a new project, that I knew was a long shot, considering the concept. But it made me laugh every time I worked on it, so I wanted to try it out in the marketplace. Unfortunately, although I had a lot of editors think it was funny too, it ultimately wasn't the right fit for anyone. And that's okay. I can't control what other people think about my work. Nor can you. But you have to keep trying.

So I still get up every morning and do the work. I write about what I think is funny. Or what my hilarious (I know, I'm biased) two-year-old said the other day. And I keep going. Because I love this job. It truly is the best job in the world.

So keep going. Keep writing. Keep drawing. And keep those hypotheticals at bay. Get up each day, and put in the time. Because dreams need nourishment and only you can provide that for yourself.

Making BROBARIANS - The Cover

Making the cover for any book is stressful. So many things factor into the design and overall look. And of course there is the ultimate question bouncing around in the back of your mind...Will this cover sell this book? For most books I work on, I go through many revisions before I settle on the right look for the cover. So far my record is 40 cover sketches (When Blue Met Egg). Thankfully Brobarians didn't require quite that many. Here's a look at the sketches that lead up to the final cover I chose for Brobarians with the wonderful team I worked with at Two Lions:

Brobarians Cover Sketch 1

I think I was a little gung-ho on this one. We ultimately didn't go with this option because we didn't want to give away the fantasy scenes included in the interior of the book. This is where the reader sees how the brothers actually see themselves in their imagination.

Brobarians Cover Sketch 2

Although this really conveyed the action and energy of the story through the movement of the brothers running, we wanted readers to connect with the characters, which is tough through a profile image.

Brobarians Cover Sketch 3

Now we were getting somewhere. We could see the brother's environment, we had a head on perspective to connect with them. But, by closing Iggy's eyes, the reader loses the connection with him. So this cover option didn't make it either.

Brobarians Cover Sketch 4

I tried a variation on Cover Sketch 3 by doing more of a close-up on the brothers. Obviously Iggy's eyes closed was still an issue, but I wanted to see if a close-up would make a difference. Ultimately, we felt that we understood the context better if we could see more of the background and the objects they were holding on to.

Brobarians Cover Sketch 5

Again, super gung-ho. I loved the idea of this cover, but it would have given away too much. And this spread in the book is one of my favorites. Having gone this way for the cover would have taken away from the climax of their battle scene.

Brobarians Cover Sketch 6

While I was sketching all of the cover options, this was one of my favorites. But after some back and forth over it with the team at Two Lions, we decided the attitude the boys had was a little too much and didn't really reflect the feel of the book. 

Brobarians Cover Sketch 7

Finally, we had a winner! I say finally like seven sketches is a lot, it's really not. But I was thrilled with this sketch and so happy that the team at Two Lions loved it too. It showed the environment, the brother's personalities, and the feeling of the book. It was the whole package! You'll also notice we dropped the hyphen in the title. We thought this would be much easier for readers when looking for the book in a search engine. Next, we had to make the jacket...

Brobarians Cover Sketch 7 - Final

Here's the final sketch.

Brobarians Jacket Sketch

Then I created the rest of the art for the jacket. Now I needed to add color...

Brobarians Jacket - Color Finish

This is how the art looks when I send it to my editor and art director for approval. Everything is taped down so that I can still make changes. I had run out of drafting tape at this point and all I had left was floral wasabi tape, thus the patterned tape everywhere. I don't glue anything down until the very end.

Brobarians Jacket

Then the book designer goes in and lays out all the copy on the flaps and spine of the book. We went through a few changes with this until we settled on the perfect one. I'm thrilled with how it all came together. I worked with an amazing team of people at Two Lions.

Brobarians - Final Cover

Ta-da! Here's the final cover! I'd come along way since the cover I submitted with my book dummy during the submission process:

Brobarians - Original Book Dummy Cover

So all that for one cover - no big deal right? I hope you enjoy Brobarians as much as I do. For more information about the book or to pre-order Brobarians, click here.

Until next time, Happy Reading!

Lindsay

Create What You Love. And Do It Everyday.

Create what you love. And do it every day.

At 31 this is what I would have told my 24-year-old self when I started in publishing.

It sounds relatively simple right? Wrong. Or at least, that’s how it was for me. Specifically the do it everyday part. I didn’t keep a sketch book. I didn’t write everyday. I didn’t think about new ideas all the time. I’d come up with a book idea. Write it. Make a dummy. And pitch it. If it sold, I’d make said book. Exert a serious amount of energy and then feel like I needed a three month vacation. And then repeat the whole thing all over again for the next book. Which isn’t exactly wrong. The problem was that I was treating my book career like a hobby. A career is not something you do occasionally. It’s something you invest your time in everyday. And I love my job. So why wasn’t I investing my time?

For me it was easy to step back and say I deserved a break after completing a book. It takes a lot of work! But I found when I looked at it like this, it started to feel like a burden. And writing and illustrating is not a burden, it’s a privilege. Truly. So I realized it was time for a radical change. Which is funny because 2016 was insanely full of them for me and my family, so why not add one more?

This past August we sold our house, bought a new one (but not without being transient for three months at my parents and in-laws with a baby and dog in tow). Renovated the new house because it was a total disaster. Moved in two days before Christmas and basically reinvented our whole work schedule. It was a massive overhaul. And it changed everything in the most difficult and best way possible.

So…

It’s 6:19am right now and I’ve already been up for an hour and half. 

This is what I do everyday now. Including Saturdays and Sundays. Which today is Saturday. I wake up at 5am and work for a solid four hours before most people start their work day. And I do it seven days a week. I know what you’re thinking…I can’t do that. I can’t wake up that early. I’m too busy. (I know this because those are all the things I said when my brilliant husband suggested this to me.) He told me that in an average work day, people are only truly productive for four hours, which is crazy considering most people work a job from 9-5 everyday. So why couldn’t that work for me? It would certainly allow me to be a mom and take care of my home and family in a much more efficient way than I was already, let’s be honest, struggling to do.

It’s all about commitment to craft. Do you love to create? Great. Do you love creating so much that you would get up and do it at 5am? Because that’s what it takes. Everyday. Even if you have another job. I’m not saying you have wake up at 5am like I do, but you do have to be committed to making time for your craft each and everyday. I picked 5am because I like feeling like I’ve already worked a solid block of time before the day has really started, that and I have a 18-month-old son. This is the schedule that works for me and my family. You have to find what works for you.

Because here’s the thing - if you keep waiting for extra time to come along for you to create your next idea, it won’t. Time doesn’t give a crap about you or the millions of things you have to get done everyday. Now, don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of mornings I get up and everything I write is terrible and my drawings are awful. But I still keep going. I push to get through those four hours even if it’s killing me.

Here’s what a typical morning looks like:

5am: Roll out of bed, which is difficult every morning. I don’t think that will ever change. Especially when my dog (a mid-sized portable heater) snuggles next to me. She is not supportive of my early morning drive.

5:05am: COFFEE.

5:10am: Some sort of stretch or repetition of ten to get blood flowing. My hands are stiff in the morning. And my brain is fuzzy. This helps. Seriously. I know it sounds silly, but it works.

5:10-6am: Draw. Anything. As much as I can. Whatever pops into my head. I use Japanese PiGMA pens and whiteout for corrections. I started using this method for a few reasons. I generally stay away from black ink in my work, it always feels too harsh or heavy. I tend to prefer grey or navy ink or a simple pencil line. But my goal is to make intentional lines, no second-guessing myself, and pencil encourages hesitation. The more I used the black ink, the more confident I became in the lines I was making. Going directly to ink, rather than creating a pencil sketch first, pushes me to be decisive with my line. Now, of course, I still make plenty of bad lines and change my mind about the drawing as it comes together - thus the whiteout. But I find that my morning sketches have a way of maintaining the integrity of the line I intended because I haven’t sketched, used a light table to transfer, and then created the finish. The first drawing is the finished drawing.

6am: Then I post one of my morning sketches. This is a relatively new thing. I’m horrible at social media. But I found that posting a drawing everyday makes me feel accountable to something. Like if I miss a day, everyone will know. Which isn’t really the point, the drawing is for me, but thinking this way is encouraging. Keep drawing. Keep creating.

6am-7am: Write. I allocate a solid hour to NEW creative writing every morning. Not editing. Not a book I’m currently under contract for. But new ideas. This part is really difficult for me. I tend to self edit a lot as I write. I work on just getting words on the page in this hour. The computer I write with doesn’t have access to internet intentionally. The internet is a time succubus that doesn’t care about the creative work you need to do, so ignore it.

7am-9am: This is when I do the work I’m contractually accountable for, like new books or illustration jobs. Currently, I’m working on finishes for my new book, DON'T FORGET DEXTER.

9am: I walk out of my bat cave and see my little man. This is my favorite part. Because this is the part where I actually feel like I’m devoting time to my craft and my family. I don’t feel torn between carving out time during the day to work or play with my son. This schedule allows me to do both and feel good about my use of time.

The rest of the day is spent working during the time my son is napping. Before I did the 5am wake-up, I’d get really stressed out because I could only work during his naps. Sometimes he would wake up early, sometimes he wouldn’t sleep at all. I couldn’t focus. And it felt like I wasn’t able to get anything done because of constant interruptions. But now, by the time he’s up, I’ve already worked four hours, so anything else I’m able to accomplish is a bonus.

Then at some point, I take a walk with my family, to reboot and think about new ideas.

Now obviously, everyone’s schedule is different. People have day jobs, kids, and a million other responsibilities. And I’m not suggesting to all of you that this is what you have to do to be successful with your craft. All I can tell you is that this is how I feel successful on my own terms, without external pressures telling me otherwise.

*Also, in case you’re wondering, my husband is self-employed and works from home too. Which means I have to make those four hours count. I have to hustle. We both do. There is no day job income to fall back on for us. This is the price we pay for the freedom to create and spend time with our son everyday.

If you get anything at all out of this post, I hope it’s this: don’t waste time waiting around for the perfect moment to create because it will never come.

You have to make time for what you love.

Happy writing!

Lindsay

Top Five Favorite Picture Books - Writing

My husband and I read to our son every night. And every night it's always so tough to pick what books to read. My husband just grabs books off the shelf at random, without even looking. I, on the other hand, sit there staring, as if its the most important decision I'll make all day. It's usually not, but that doesn't change the fact that I still do it every night.

Over the years, I've amassed quite the picture book collection, as I'm sure you can imagine. Some as a bookseller, some as an illustrator, some as an author/illustrator, and now, as a mom. It's funny how my tastes have changed since becoming a mom. Before I would buy books that had really amazing art, I didn't pay that much attention to the story. As someone who came to publishing as an illustrator first, the writing in any book always came second to me. If I didn't like the art, I wouldn't buy the book. Period. Even if it was an amazing story. Now, I want the whole package. I expect amazing art and text. If I'm going to add it to our collection, it better be good. Like really good. It's the same attitude I have when I create my own books. I have to make a brilliant book so it can hold it's own against millions of other books. So that someone will want to add it to their collection and share with their family. The way I do. 

There are so many books to choose from, even among the collection we've already created based on our family's tastes. My son is still young enough that he isn't really picking books out himself just yet (unless is a very loved and chewed copy of Little Fur Family - what can I say he loves the "kerchoo" part, laughs every time).

So here's my list of five books that every time I read them I think "man, I hope I'm this good some day." They are the books that I never tire of reading. Some old, some new. The ones that are just so good, no holes, nothing I would change. Perfect in my opinion.

I've focused this list on storytelling, although every single one of them has amazing art that deserves it's own shout out. 

1. INTERRUPTING CHICKEN By David Ezra Stein

It’s time for the little red chicken’s bedtime story —and a reminder from Papa to try not to interrupt. But the chicken can’t help herself! Whether the tale is HANSEL AND GRETEL or LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD or even CHICKEN LITTLE, she jumps into the story to save its hapless characters from doing some dangerous or silly thing. Now it’s the little red chicken’s turn to tell a story, but will her yawning papa make it to the end without his own kind of interrupting?

This might be my favorite read-a-loud of all time. Seriously. It's that good. This one is on my list for a few reasons. One, I never get tired of reading it (which is always a good starting point). Two, at 1 1/2, Jack actually pays attention throughout this entire book, which always amazes me. And three, the DIALOGUE. It's pitch perfect. Every word choice is spot on. The conversation between Papa and Little Red Chicken reads like any parent with their child at bedtime. Little Red Chicken is impatient and impulsive, she can't wait to interrupt, because after all, she knows what's going to happen. I find that when I read this book aloud, I don't have to think about the inflections in my voice, or the best way to tell the story for my son to understand what's happening. It just naturally happens because the text is so good. Keep in mind this is a book that won a Caldecott Honor, and I'm telling you how wonderful the text is. I haven't even mentioned how amazing the illustrations are. Two styles in one book! That's how great this book is.

2. AND THEN IT'S SPRING Written by Julie Fogliano, Illustrated by Erin Stead

Following a snow-filled winter, a young boy and his dog decide that they've had enough of all that brown and resolve to plant a garden. They dig, they plant, they play, they wait...and wait...until at last, the brown becomes a more hopeful shade of brown, a sign that spring may finally be on its way.

Every time I read Julie's words, it hurts. They are just so good. Personally, I think she is one of the best writers in children's lit, not just picture books. Her WORD CHOICE is exquisite. Every line seems perfectly constructed. Each word meticulously chosen. I once read that J.D. Salinger agonized over every word choice. Each one had to be perfect or he'd cross it out. I imagine that is what it's like for Julie. Her words are captivating and ask you to run away with them in such an effortless way, which of course I'm sure she would say otherwise. Here is my favorite passage:

and the brown, 
still brown, has a greenish hum
that you can only hear
if you put your ear to the ground
and close your eyes

Just beautiful. Oh, and did I mention the art is created by Caldecott winning illustrator Erin Stead. Any illustrator looking for a lesson in perfect composition and execution, look at this book. The illustrations are absolutely stunning and there are so many lovely details to look for on each page.

3. THE DAY THE CRAYONS QUIT Written by Drew Daywalt, Illustrated by Oliver Jeffers

Poor Duncan just wants to color. But when he opens his box of crayons, he finds only letters, all saying the same thing: His crayons have had enough! They quit! Beige Crayon is tired of playing second fiddle to Brown Crayon. Black wants to be used for more than just outlining. Blue needs a break from coloring all those bodies of water. And Orange and Yellow are no longer speaking—each believes he is the true color of the sun. What can Duncan possibly do to appease all of the crayons and get them back to doing what they do best?

Okay, let's be totally honest here. This is one of those books that the first time I read it I was like "Dammit! I wish I'd thought of that!" I remember I was standing in Anthropologie of all places, that's how big the book had gotten already (I know, I know, how had I not seen this sooner...what can I say it was the summer I got married, things were crazy). The entire CONCEPT is absolutely brilliant, as you all probably already know. And not just that, but the voices of each crayon are so funny. I think Peach crayon is my favorite. The humor in this book is just off the charts. Every color, relationship, and concern is so well thought out. And this was a debut picture book paired with Oliver Jeffer's illustrations! It kills me, it's so good! A must have for any picture book collection.

4. THE NEW SMALL PERSON by Lauren Child

Elmore Green starts life as an only child, as many children do. He has a room to himself, where he can line up his precious things and nobody will move them one inch. But one day everything changes. When the new small person comes along, it seems that everybody might like it a bit more than they like Elmore Green. And when the small person knocks over Elmore’s things and even licks his jelly-bean collection, Elmore’s parents say that he can’t be angry because the small person is only small. Elmore wants the small person to go back to wherever it came from. Then, one night, everything changes. . . .

This is not only my favorite new sibling book, but it's also one of my favorite books of all time. I think the VOICE is what really sets it apart. Elmore Green does not want a new sibling, he won't even refer to him by name, just "The New Small Person." He has no interest in sharing his jelly beans, especially the orange ones, or tv shows, or his collection of things. Everything about Elmore is so spot on with what a kid would actually do and say. I love how the two brothers finally come together in the middle of the night after Elmore has a nightmare and the new small person proclaims "Go away scary!". This book is clever and sweet all at once, punctuated by Lauren Child's whimsical cut-paper illustrations.

5. IN A BLUE ROOM Written by Jim Averbeck, Illustrated by Tricia Tusa

Alice is wide, wide awake. Mama brings flowers, tea, a quilt, even lullaby bells to help her sleep. But none of these things are blue, and Alice can sleep only in a blue room. Yet when the light goes out, a bit of magic is stirred up. Pale blue moonlight swirls into her bedroom window. Then the night swirls out, around the moon and into the universe, leaving Alice fast alsleep in a most celestial blue room.

This is a one of my favorite bedtime books in our collection. I have loved this book since it came out and I was hand-selling it as a bookseller in The Children's Book Shop in Boston. Jim Averbeck does such as amazing job creating the mood of this story. Throughout the story he references the all the senses, colors, and creates a feeling of total relaxation. I can smell the lilacs, feel the warm tea, and hear the soft sound of lullaby bells chiming in the breeze. This book is like a warm comfy quilt wrapped around you before you drift off to sleep. And perfectly illustrated by the always amazing Tricia Tusa who paces the final lines of the book in one of the best succession of spreads I've ever seen in a picture book. Love love this book.

Please take a moment to check these books out from your local library if you get the chance. They are wonderful reads!

Happy Reading!

Lindsay