Happy Thursday Critters! Today, I’m thrilled to feature an interview with Angela Burke Kunkel, whose debut picture book, DIGGING FOR WORDS: JOSÉ ALBERTO GUTIÉRREZ AND THE LIBRARY HE BUILT, illustrated by Paola Escobar, releases this month and has received multiple starred reviews! I’ve been so excited about this book and can’t wait to share with all of you! So without further ado, please welcome Angela Burke Kunkel!
Where do you live?
I live in tiny “city” (if you call it a town, residents will correct you) of 2.5 miles in beautiful Vermont, near the shores of Lake Champlain. Before that, my family and I lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The desert is beautiful, too, but in a very different way!
When did you know you wanted to write picture books?
I’ve always loved to write, but I didn’t consider picture books a possibility until I had my own kids. I take them to the library at least once a week, and have from the time they were infants. Rediscovering picture books through their eyes helped me build a new appreciation for the form. I was familiar with well-loved books from my own childhood, but exploring the library with my children helped me discover new titles and artists on a weekly basis. I didn’t know it yet, but I was embarking on an intensive study of the form.
Tell us about your road to publication, what did that involve for you?
In my “day job” is as a school librarian, I developed relationships with local authors and independent booksellers in Albuquerque. When I shyly confessed I wanted to write while at a bookstore event, others were kind enough to tell me about the local chapter of SCBWI. From there, I heard about both StoryStorm and the 12x12 challenge. The structured approach to both, as well as in-person encouragement and support, helped me to establish a more regular writing routine.
In February 2017, I happened upon a viral video of José Alberto Gutiérrez, a Colombian trash collector who established a library for the children of his neighborhood, entirely from books found along his garbage route. At the time, I was working as a librarian in New Mexico, and much of my work involved helping students and families get access to books despite socio-economic or linguistic barriers. José addressed similar inequities with his own project. I found his story and his warmth so inspiring that I tried free writing about him one morning, and that casual free write evolved, after many drafts and revisions, into my debut picture book, DIGGING FOR WORDS!
Can you share a bit about your process?
My process is kind of all over the place, and it varies from project to project! I will say that I am a total research nerd, and I have to cut myself off at a certain point and get to the actual writing. I find that starting by hand in a messy notebook and freewriting really helps. And, even though I am not an illustrator, I always make a storyboard using Debbie Ridpath Ohi’s template. Once I’m a few drafts in, I use a 32-page blank books (you can buy a pack from school supply stores) to get a feel for pacing and page turns. I’m starting to become more comfortable with Scrivener, and it’s a helpful place to organize my research, but I like the tactile experience of sketching out my vision and cutting up and rearranging text.
Interior spread from DIGGING FOR WORDS: JOSÉ ALBERTO GUTIÉRREZ AND THE LIBRARY HE BUILT written by Angela Kunkel, illustrated by Paola Escobar
The process for DIGGING was interesting because I had the idea for the dual narrative from the very beginning, and I never varied from that structure. I wrote the first draft based entirely on the video that served as the original inspiration, and then went back and did much more extensive research on José and his library, as well as Colombia and Bogotá. I did not contact José until much later, because I wanted him to be able to read a polished draft of the story I had in mind. Considering my tendency to wander down too many rabbit holes and prolong my research, I should probably revisit this approach with other projects!
What do you do to shake the rust off or get new ideas?
Although it isn’t happening much right now, I always find myself inspired when I travel. Even if it is just a simple day trip to an art museum or a historical site, getting away from my desk and seeing something new always reinvigorates me.
I also try to make sure that I read widely and vary what I read--- from picture books to adult nonfiction and everything in between. I find that if I cast my net really wide and just stay curious, good ideas come along. My problem isn’t so much generating ideas as it is finding time to write about all of them!
Anything you can’t live without while you write?
Coffee in the morning and Earl Grey tea in the afternoon. So basically, caffeine.
I’m also a huge fan of Inkjoy pens, .5, not .7 thickness! And I love buying cheap-but-pretty composition books. I prefer composition books to spiral notebooks because I’m less likely to tear pages out or attempt to throw away “bad” ideas, and they’re so inexpensive that I don’t get too precious about them. It’s ok if they just become messy notebooks, and I’m freer with my ideas that way.
Any authors and/or illustrators who inspire you?
There are so many that I’m having trouble listing just a few! One thing I love about kidlit is that other creators are so willing to share resources and encourage one another.
Kate Messner inspires me with how prolific she is, and how she writes across age groups and genres. I learn so much from the writing resources she shares! I’m also amazed by Mac Barnett’s ability to break with convention in The Important Thing About Margaret Wise Brown. And I love the lyrical language of picture book biographies by Anika Aldamuy Denise, Kyo Maclear, Amy Novesky, and Laurel Snyder.
I’m constantly drawn to color and texture, and the interplay between text and image, so I love following illustrators on Instagram. Some of my favorites are Paola Escobar (who illustrated DIGGING), E.B. Goodale, Vanessa Brantley Newton, Oge Mora, Melissa Sweet, and Isabelle Arsenault.
Dream project to work on?
Ack! This is a tough one to answer, because I had a dream project that went in the drawer recently for . . . secret reasons. I think it goes back to the question about generating ideas, though. The exciting part of writing is looking for that next idea that sets your heart and brain on fire. I’m not sure what another dream project would be, but I know I’ll have fun exploring until I get there. And it’s always fun to daydream about being paired with an amazing illustrator whose work I admire.
Tell us about your debut book.
I can’t wait for readers to meet José! DIGGING FOR WORDS: JOSÉ ALBERTO GUTIÉRREZ AND THE LIBRARY HE BUILT is based on the true story of a Colombian garbage collector who found a single discarded book on his route--- only to expand that moment of discovery into an entire library for the children of his barrio, entirely from books found in the trash. It’s a story about the power of literature and the power of community, and it related to a cause near and dear to my librarian heart: equitable book access for all.
Interior spread from DIGGING FOR WORDS: JOSÉ ALBERTO GUTIÉRREZ AND THE LIBRARY HE BUILT written by Angela Kunkel, illustrated by Paola Escobar
The book is beautifully illustrated by Colombian artist Paola Escobar, and she’s incorporated so many amazing details from José’s real-life neighborhood and library, as well as nods to literary works that impacted José.
Interior spread from DIGGING FOR WORDS: JOSÉ ALBERTO GUTIÉRREZ AND THE LIBRARY HE BUILT written by Angela Kunkel, illustrated by Paola Escobar
I also want to add that I am thrilled that Schwartz & Wade decided to simultaneously publish DIGGING in Spanish as RESCATANDO PALABRAS. This idea came to me while working at a school with an incredible dual-language education program, and I hope it will find a wider audience by being accessible to children in both languages.
What’s up next for you?
I wish I could say! I have two more picture books under contract, but I’m not able to share just yet. They’re two very different stories in two very different styles, and I’m so excited about both.
And last, but not least, favorite 80s movie?
Oh, Princess Bride, hands down.
Huge thank you to Angela for stopping by Critter Lit today! Congrats on your beautiful debut!
ANGELA BURKE KUNKEL is the author of the forthcoming DIGGING FOR WORDS: JOSÉ ALBERTO GUTIÉRREZ AND THE LIBRARY HE BUILT, illustrated by Paola Escobar and published by Random House/Schwartz and Wade. After soaking up the sun in the Southwest for a number of years, she now lives in Vermont with her family, two dogs, two guinea pigs, and one rapidly-growing bearded dragon (really, it’s rather alarming). Angela currently works as a school librarian and is a former English Language Arts teacher. DIGGING FOR WORDS is her first picture book--- look for both English and Spanish editions on September 8th.
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