Interview with Debut Author/Illustrator Paddy Donnelly

Happy Thursday Critters! Today we have an interview with author/illustrator Paddy Donnelly! His newest book, THE VANISHING LAKE, just came out this week with Yeehoo Press. The art in this book is charming and the story is fantastic too— it’s based on a real lake in Ireland that disappears and reappears depending on the weather. I love a good mystery. I’m thrilled to have Paddy with us today to chat about his new book and becoming a debut author/illustrator.

So without further ado, please welcome Paddy Donnelly!

Where do you live?

Belgium, however I'm originally from Ireland.

When did you know you wanted to write/illustrate picture books?

My background is in web design. I've never formally trained as an illustrator and only started experimenting with illustration a few years ago. I got into making iPhone apps for kids, which was a great mix of design and illustration, and that then got me interested in trying my hand at picture books. Around the end of 2017 I started broadening my portfolio with children's illustration work and I signed on with my illustration agent. In 2018 I started working on illustrating my first children's books. I hadn't really thought I would be writing my own stories as well, but I gave it a go in 2018 and found I absolutely loved the process. Having that total creative control over both the words and pictures really appealed to me.

Tell us about your debut author illustrated picture book.

THE VANISHING LAKE - Something mysterious is happening at Grandad's lake. There are days the lake is beautiful, shimmering, and full. And then there are other days . . . where the lake is completely empty! Meara asks her granddad why the water disappears, but doesn't believe any of his far-fetched stories of mermaids, giants and narwhals. Meara sets out to uncover the truth for herself. Little does she know the answer is much larger than she realizes...

Loughareema empty.

Loughareema full.

This story is actually based on a real place, close to where I grew up in Ballycastle in Ireland. It’s a lake called Loughareema which actually does disappear and reappear every few days, depending on the weather. Growing up in Ireland, storytelling is an important part of life, so I was surrounded by myths and legends from a young age and I think that’s had a big influence on what stories I like to write about.

Sketch from THE VANISHING LAKE by Paddy Donnelly

Interior Art from THE VANISHING LAKE by Paddy Donnelly

Interior Art from THE VANISHING LAKE by Paddy Donnelly

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

For my author illustrated picture book, I had the initial idea around spring 2018. My agent pitched it to publishers and Yeehoo Press purchased the rights to the story about a year after that, and I created the artwork during the summer of 2019. The Chinese version of the book was released in fall 2020 and the English language version will be released on April 20th 2021. In total I think it was about three years from idea to publication. During that time I illustrated a number of other picture books, including a recent one - HERE BE DRAGONS, written by Susannah Lloyd which follows a rather hapless knight who thinks he knows exactly how to find a dragon. He travels right to the spot marked ‘X’, past treasure, suspicious bones, and many signs telling him to turn back. The knight is missing all the signs of the dragon, but kids surely won't.

Can you share a bit about your process?

For my author illustrated picture book the story was based on the real Vanishing Lake, Loughareema. I think I must have been reminded of it one day and thought it could be an interesting idea for a picture book. When you grow up with a wonder like this on your doorstep, you definitely take it for granted, and I hadn’t really thought about it in years. I thought the title itself was intriguing and then I set off to develop a story around that. The mystery of ‘why’ the lake would disappear and reappear had potential to be a good driving force for the story, and then setting the character up to be unwilling to believe these reasons, spurred myself on to come up with crazier and crazier ones. That’s how the story started with me and it developed from there. I knew how many pages I'd have in the story, and I knew there had to be certain beats like the lake there, then disappearing, then there again, and I knew I wanted 3 or 4 wild stories to feature and then a resolution at the end. So once I had those basic big blocks in place, I started to write. And then the writing had an influence on the illustrations, and the illustrations had an effect on the words and I bounced back and forth along the way. For creating the illustrations, I use a Wacom Cintiq and Photoshop. I've always worked digitally as my background is in graphic design, so even my sketches will be done on the tablet.

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

I play the Irish sport of hurling over here in Belgium: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1Vw66Zs0dQ Sport is such a fantastic way to clear your head, escape and recharge. Especially as I work from home (although everyone is doing that now) it's tough to sometimes separate your home and work life. So getting out of the house and participating in a team sport really helps me find that balance.

Anything you can’t live without while you write/draw?

Apart from my Wacom Cintiq and Photoshop, I guess coffee and biscuits!

Any authors and/or illustrators who inspire you?

Chris Haughton's blend of storytelling and unique visual style is incredibly inspirational. His use of vibrant colour and the way he can give a seemingly simple story so many layers is amazing.

Molly Mendoza's book Skip is a masterpiece. You really feel like you fall into the psychedelic artwork.

Ximo Abadía's amazingly textured and unusual style just feel timeless and yet other-worldly. I love it.

Dream project to work on?

My favourite book as a child was Watership Down, so if I got to work on illustrations for an edition of that, that'd be amazing.

What’s up next for you?

I actually have my second author illustrated picture book - DODOS AREN'T EXTINCT - coming out in Spring 2022, so I'm working on the illustrations for that as we speak. A Dodo reveals a huge secret: they're not actually extinct—they've been hiding in plain sight all this time, and they're not the only ones... Along with that, I have a few other picture books all in the works.

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

Back to the Future.

---

Huge thank you to Paddy for visiting us at Critter Lit today! Congrats on your new book— it’s fantastic! We can’t wait to see your upcoming titles.

---

PADDY DONNELLY is an Irish author & illustrator living in Belgium. He grew up on the north coast of Ireland, surrounded by mythical stories of giants, magical creatures and shape-shifting animals - all set in a stunning landscape from another time. All of this prompted his love for nature, animals, the sea and storytelling. He creates his illustrations digitally, but loves working with a textured, painterly approach. The Vanishing Lake is his debut author illustrated picture book, based on a real lake close to his childhood home in Ireland. He wishes Pluto was still a planet.

FOR MORE INFORMATION about Paddy or his books, visit him online: http://lefft.com or follow him on social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paddy/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/paddydonnelly
My Books: http://lefft.com/books/

ORDER THIS BOOK To order a copy of THE VANISHING LAKE click here.

WIN A COPY! Want to win a copy of THE VANISHING LAKE? Leave a COMMENT below or RETWEET this post on Twitter. One lucky winner will be announced on Thursday, April 29th! US addresses only please.

Interview with Author/Illustrator Sandra Salsbury Part 2

Happy Thursday Critters! Isn’t it awesome when things come full circle? I love it. It just feels right. Like all is right with the world— which let’s be honest, is a rare feeling these days. Needless to say, today our interview is very full circle.

Back in 2018, I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to mentor Sandra Salsbury, an up-and-coming author/illustrator, through Writing With the Stars. If you don’t know about this fantastic mentorship, click here. It is very cool and an amazing opportunity for unpublished authors, illustrators, and author/illustrators. Hopefully, it will be up and running again in the near future.

When I first interviewed Sandra, she hadn’t found an agent yet and was unpublished— which I knew was only a matter of time. She is supremely talented (see stunning art below). So, I’m thrilled that today, I get to interview Sandra as an author/illustrator with a debut picture book, BEST FRIEND IN THE WHOLE WORLD, which just came out with Peachtree Publishing. This is the manuscript and book dummy that led me to select her to mentor. Like I said— full circle. So cool.

So without further ado, please welcome Sandra Salsbury!

Where do you live?

I live in Berkeley, California in a house full of ferns.

When did you know you wanted to write/illustrate picture books?

Drawing was always one of my favorite hobbies growing up, but I didn’t seriously consider art as a career until after I had already started college. One semester as a biology major and I realized that I should probably study art instead. I spent 4 years getting a BFA in illustration and it wasn’t until my last semester, when I enrolled in children’s illustration because it fit my schedule, that I realized picture book illustration might be something that interested me. 

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

The funny thing about the road to publication is that it’s hard to pinpoint when it really starts. I took that first children’s illustration class in 2006, the semester I graduated with my BFA. I didn’t feel ready to go out there in the world, so I continued to get an MFA as well. In 2011, I started getting published as an illustrator, mostly with educational companies and small presses. Finally, in 2014, I realized that to get the kind of agent I wanted and the sorts of work I was interested in, I would need to try writing as well. In 2016, I came up with the idea for Best Friend in the Whole World and started developing it. In 2018, I won a mentorship with you and then went on to win the Don Freeman Grant from SCBWI. I also signed with my agent at the very end of the year and we went on submission in 2019. After 7 months of being on submission, we had offers from 2 publishers and selected to publish with Peachtree. From there, everything came together fairly quickly (at least, compared to the rest) and now the book is out! So, it only ended up taking about 15 years. 

Thumbnails, sketches, and final art from BEST FRIEND IN THE WHOLE WORLD by Sandra Salsbury

Can you share a bit about your process?

When I begin working on a story, it spends a long time in my head at first. I like to figure out the major plot points, my middle, and my end, all before I even look at a piece of paper. I will sometimes begin by writing out the opening lines of my story in my head. Once I feel like I have a good understanding of where I am going, I will do character sketches and start working on the manuscript. After I have the words written out, I will do thumbnails of my pages and then go back and forth between the words and the pictures until I find the right balance. At this point, I usually realize there’s something impossibly broken with the story and I will agonize over how I didn’t see it sooner and how the story is terrible, but after a couple weeks of hand-wringing, the answer will smack me in the face and end up with something that works.  

 The process for my art involves many incremental steps from thumbnails (each stage getting more detailed), to value studies, to color roughs, then line art, and finally the final paintings. The paintings are done on Arches 140lb cold press watercolor paper with Prismacolor Col-Erase pencils in brown and Winsor & Newton paints in Cadmium Yellow, Scarlet Lake, French Ultramarine, and Burnt Umber.

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

Read more books! I find that if I don’t read enough picture books, all my ideas slowly dry up. I start to worry that I will never get another good idea in my life. I tell all my friends that it’s over and I have to quit. And then finally, I go to the library and pick up a pile of new books and magically, inside those books are also new ideas.

Anything you can’t live without while you write/draw?

When I am writing or drawing, I actually need total silence and zero distractions. So much of the writing and drawing process is about thinking for me that I can’t work with music or tv in the background. However, once I get to the painting stage, I don’t need to think anymore and I love listening to audiobooks. When painting Best Friend in the Whole World, I finished fourteen audiobooks in six weeks. 

Any authors and/or illustrators who inspire you?

My current picture book obsession is Pokko and the Drum by Matthew Forsythe. I also am in love with In A Jar by Deborah Marcero. Some illustrators I routinely look at are Julia Sarda, Rebecca Green, Jon Klassen, and Jessixa Bagley. 

Dream project to work on?

The wonderful thing about being an author-illustrator is that if I can dream it up, I can work on it! I would love to someday do a middle grade graphic novel and right now the only thing really stopping me is my own fears (in my defense, graphic novels seem really scary).

Tell us about your debut book.

Roland lives a quiet life all by himself. One day, he stumbles across someone to be his new best friend. It’s fine it’s just a pine cone! But soon signs start popping up in the woods that make Roland realize someone else might be missing their best pine cone friend and Roland must make the choice between having a good friend and being a good friend.

Interior Art from BEST FRIEND IN THE WHOLE WORLD by Sandra Salsbury

The funny origin story of this book is that once when I was a child I found a perfect stick and then tragically lost it later that day. The inexplicable and irrational bond I felt with that stick has stayed with me into adulthood and I wanted to write a story that captured the bond children can have with their friends—real or imagined. 

Interior Art from BEST FRIEND IN THE WHOLE WORLD by Sandra Salsbury

Interior Art from BEST FRIEND IN THE WHOLE WORLD by Sandra Salsbury

What’s up next for you?

Hopefully more books! I have a couple more ideas that feel could actually turn into something, so I’m currently coxing them to life. Some of them are being more stubborn than others.

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

If I had to pick just ONE, it would definitely be The Princess Bride. I know a million people probably pick The Princess Bride, but that’s only because it’s SUCH AN AMAZING MOVIE!

---

Huge thank you to Sandra for stopping by Critter Lit again! We are so so proud of you over here at Critter Lit and can’t wait to see what you come up with next!

---

Sandra Salsbury grew up in the Santa Cruz mountains, where she made friends with many pine cones and sticks. She received a BFA and MFA in illustration from the Academy of Art University. She currently lives in Berkeley with her husband, a large collection of staghorn ferns, and countless spiders who provide moral support, as the great spiders in literature are known to do. For more information about Sandra or her book, visit her online or follow her on social media:

Website: www.sandrasalsbury.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/sandrasalsbury

instagram: www.instagram.com/sandrasalsbury

ORDER THIS BOOK To order a copy of BEST FRIEND IN THE WHOLE WORLD, click here.

WIN A COPY! Want to win a copy of BEST FRIEND IN THE WHOLE WORLD?! Leave a COMMENT below or RETWEET this post on Twitter. One lucky winner will be announced on Thursday, March 18th! US addresses only please.

Interview with Author/Illustrator Kayla Stark

Happy Thursday Critters! Today we have an interview with author/illustrator Kayla Stark whose new book FRIENDS AT THE FIREHOUSE, which released in August with Chronicle Books, is one of the coolest lift-the-flap books I’ve seen in a long time! I’m so excited to share her work with you all today and continue our week of creatives that work with novelty and board books.

So without further ado, please welcome Kayla Stark!

Where do you live?

Nashville, TN USA

How many years have you been in publishing?

This is a rough approximation, but I think it’s been close to 4 years now!

How did you first get published?

Parallax Publishing reached out to me about illustrating a picture book called “Mr. Pack Rat Really Wants That”. The author saw my work on the Women Who Draw website and then asked the editor to email me. I think that’s a pretty unusual way for the publisher to reach out, but I’m so happy they did. I did a few tests before I officially landed the job. Since this was my first time working on a picture book, Parallax wanted to make sure I was up to it. 

Do you write/illustrate full-time? 

Yes, I do! I spend more time illustrating than writing at this point, but I’m hearing the siren call of writing and I can’t stay away. It’s intimidating because I’m not as practiced in writing, but I do want to pitch my own stories—and I have so many ideas!

What inspires you to create picture books? 

That’s a good question. The picture book industry seems to be where my work best fits. In the beginning I didn’t set out to make my work fit the picture book industry, but once I became friends with other picture book illustrators and learned more about the industry I felt like I had finally found a place to park my work and settle in. 

In my work I like to ask silly questions and play with ridiculous “what ifs”. Questioning and observing everything always leads me to an idea or story that begs for further exploration. 

What surprised you the most working as an author/illustrator?

I was surprised when I saw how much work and energy went into the creation and promotion of a new book. It’s a true team effort! I’m also constantly surprised by how connected the illustration/publishing world is. Everyone knows everyone!

What is your favorite thing about being an author/illustrator?

There are 2 things that immediately come to mind.
#1 - I love the initial stages of a job. The research phase and open possibilities give me such a rush!
#2 - Once a book/project is finished I look forward to the promotional events. Launch parties, process posts, interviews, readings, signings etc. I’m an extroverted person and getting these opportunities to travel, meet, and speak to new people fills me up!

What do you find difficult working as an author/illustrator?

Sometimes the daily monotony and isolation gets to me. It can feel like I’m working in a vacuum and treading water. It’s imperative to keep up my momentum and focus in order to finish projects. Knowing I have to power through on the days I don’t feel creative is difficult. I try to spin it in my brain and think of it as leveling up my self discipline.  

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

Hmmm…I’ll try a few different things. FaceTiming a friend who gets it is the best medicine. I’m so happy (and lucky) to be friends with a number of illustrators and other artists—both local and online! I’m a part of The Warren Studio here in Nashville, TN. When I need a change of pace I’ll go in and see people, get lunch, and just have a fun day.

Some other things I’ll do when I need new ideas is— read; workout; go to a museum*; schedule a trip*; go to my list of ideas and thoughts I keep in my phone; create a new color palette and imagine what type of scene or story would use it. 

*I’m not doing these things currently due to Covid-19 safety concerns.

Anything you are habitual about when it comes to creativity? 

I used to watch a little bit of TV after waking up, however I realized that when I do that my mind wants to be entertained all day instead of getting into work mode. Now when I wake up, instead of turning on the TV, I do these things in this order to feel like it’s time for work—open the blinds, brush my teeth, wash my face, grab my coffee, and walk upstairs to my desk. 

I also like to be left alone for the first few hours of the work day. My husband has been working from home since March and I had to set up a no talking rule for the first 3 hours of the work day. 

Can you share a positive experience you’ve had in the Kid Lit community?

Wow, most everything has been positive. Hmm…something that stands out is getting to know others in the Kid Lit community on Instagram. It’s led to friendships, critique groups, collaboration opportunities, agents, meet ups, and a wonderfully fulfilling life/career. 

When I think about it, it’s crazy how many friends I’ve made through Instagram and the close knit connections of the kid lit community. 

Recommended reading?
All of Martin Salisbury’s books on picture books and illustration. 

The Fog by Kyo Maclear, illustrated by Kenard Pak.

Mac Barnett’s books are always a delight.

I’ll stick to these few for this purpose, but I need to make a whole list separated into categories.

What has been the highlight of your career thus far? 

I just illustrated the covers for a new release of classic titles (The Jungle Book, Black Beauty, Alice in Wonderland, and Treasure Island). It was surreal to see that job land on my desk and I am happy I was trusted to take on these beloved titles. I’ll be sharing those on my Instagram very soon along with some behind the scenes process posts! 

What is something you wish someone had told you when you first started writing/illustrating?

This is still a job, sometimes you are going to have to put in extra hours and work when you don’t feel like it. Somedays it will feel like you are going nowhere and somedays you’ll feel on top of the world, but most days you’ll feel somewhere in between. Ask for help when you need it, take care of yourself, take criticism (but not personally), and just keep going. You will never feel like you’ve “arrived”, so stop expecting that. You are doing what you love, celebrate that!

Friends at the Firehouse by Kayla Stark, Chronicle Books

Can you tell us about your newest book?

Friends at the Firehouse written and illustrated by me is a lift-the-flap journey through a firehouse. The annual parade is about to start and we need to find the missing Dalmatian puppy. There are 35 flaps to inspect and tons of details for kids to pour over. It’s published by Chronicle Books as part of their Double Booked series—which means the book is a unique die cut shape (a firehouse in this case) and opens from both sides as a gate fold! 

Interior art from Friends at the Firehouse by Kayla Stark, Chronicle Books

Interior art from Friends at the Firehouse by Kayla Stark, Chronicle Books

It’s the most complex book I’ve worked on and it took me a WHILE to wrap my mind around everything as I was laying out the illustrations. I visited 2 local fire stations before starting and took hundreds of photos. The firefighters drove me around in the truck and I got to slide down the pole like a real fire fighter!

Interior art from Friends at the Firehouse by Kayla Stark, Chronicle Books

Interior art from Friends at the Firehouse by Kayla Stark, Chronicle Books

What’s up next for you?

I have some stories of my own I’m going to pitch! So I’ll be going into writing mode and working on getting a manuscript and book dummy together.

I’m also working on a language learning vocabulary book! —along the lines of Richard Scarry’s Big Book of Words, but with my own world and characters. :)

Anything else you’d like to share with aspiring authors and illustrators?

I know this is said over and over again, but I believe it bears repeating. Create the work you want to get hired to do! All the time I see and talk to artists that are just waiting for someone to hire them for their dream job, but there are no clear examples in their portfolio to show they CAN do that job. You have to show you can already do something before someone will hire you do it. 

Draw and write a lot! Start building your social media platform now and engage with other people. It can be annoying to keep up with all the platforms, so pick 1-2 and post consistently!

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

Oooh. I’ll say The Shining. I’m not a horror nut, but there’s just something about that movie.

---

Huge thank you to Kayla for stopping by Critter Lit today! Congrats on your new book, we can’t wait to see your upcoming projects!

---

After graduating with a BFA from the University of Tennessee at Martin and working for a few years as a graphic designer; KAYLA STARK decided to shift into the world of her first love—illustration! She works both digitally and traditionally, depending on the project, and is most comfortable when settling into the beginning “research” phase of projects. The traditional media she uses most often are: watercolor, gouache, and colored pencils (she is on a constant search for the perfect, scratchy pencil texture) She is naturally very curious and asks a lot of questions—this quality is a constant fuel for inspiration.

She lives in Nashville, TN in a small house with her husband and 2 cats. Most of the time she is working upstairs in her studio, but a few days a week she joins a group of friends and fellow illustrators at a co-working space in East Nashville.

Kayla’s hobbies include playing board games, participating in (almost) any event, learning languages, and planning trips (she loves public transit). Some of Kayla’s favorite topics are birds, traveling, science, animal fun facts, and history.

She has done work for various clients including Highlights Magazine, Sleeping Bear Press and Chronicle.

FOR MORE INFORMATION visit Kayla online at www.kaylastark.com or on social media:

Instagram: @kayla_stark

ORDER THIS BOOK To order a copy of FRIENDS AT THE FIREHOUSE click here.

WIN A COPY! Want to win a copy of FRIENDS AT THE FIREHOUSE?! Leave a COMMENT below or RETWEET this post on Twitter. TWO lucky winners will be announced on Thursday, October 29th! US addresses only please.

Interview with Author/Illustrator Jane Smith

Happy TUESDAY Critters! I’m so excited to be featuring an interview with another illustrator this week. As you may have noticed, it’s TUESDAY, not THURSDAY! This week we will be featuring two fantastic interviews with two incredibly talented women. I can’t wait for you to meet them both and learn about their work. So without further ado, let’s kick off the first interview of the week with the immensely talented Jane Smith!

Where do you live?

I live in Wilmington, North Carolina, which is a small city along the Atlantic coast.

How many years have you been in publishing?

I’ve been working in publishing for about 18 years now.

How did you first get published?

I’ve spent the majority of my career as a freelancer, and so when I was beginning, long before I had an agent, I just sent out tons of promo postcards, dummy book submissions and answered lots of job ads for freelance illustrators in places like Craigslist. I would do whatever book publishing gigs I could—mostly educational work. I’m not sure exactly what my very first published project was, but I do remember fondly illustrating two nursery rhyme board books for a Hooked-On Phonics box set for babies that was packaged with a CD, DVD and several other board books.

Those early dummy book submissions also yielded my first published book as an author. It was a six-spread novelty pop-up book titled Fairytale Mix-Up, in which the reader could mix and match the split pop-up pages to create different versions of classic fairytale characters. I had originally proposed myself as the illustrator, but my art style at the time wasn’t right for the book. However, the project led to many more freelance book design gigs and later to an in-house position as an art director of children’s novelty books, which was where I learned the publishing business from the inside out.

Do you write/illustrate full-time?

I do. However, this is a tricky question, because I think that the term “full-time” often means different things to different people! In my case, as a freelance author-illustrator, I show up and work in my studio six days a week. There are times when there’s a lot of paying jobs. There are also times when there’s not. There are also times when I’m putting in crazy hours and other times when it’s more quiet and relaxed. Sometimes I’m working on a book for a paying client. Sometimes I’m working on a book I hope to sell to a publisher. Sometimes I’m working on my portfolio, and sometimes I’m working on self-promotion. It’s a job no one can ever fire me from, because it’s a job I gave to myself!

What inspires you to create picture books?

Growing up, my mom was a school librarian, and so I was always surrounded by books. I fell in love with reading and stories and the endless ways they can inspire, connect and comfort at an early age. I spent the better part of my childhood on our screened in porch reading, writing and making art. Those experiences have carried over into adulthood.

These days, I’m inspired by pretty much everything around me—cartoons, succulents, cupcakes, unicorns, animals, adventures, mysteries, rainstorms and more—but mostly by my own deep feelings of compassion for kid’s emotional lives and experiences. The best picture books combine this with a bit of whimsy and magic is made.

What surprised you the most working as an author/illustrator?

Hmmm...probably that when you’re young and everyone tells you the cliché that it’s about the journey, not the destination, they were 100% right! I don’t think you ever do get to a place where you feel like you’ve “arrived.” Beyond each milestone is the continued drive and energy to keep growing, learning, changing and creating.

What is your favorite thing about being an author/illustrator?

Working at home alone in my studio! And also, the flexibility that comes with it!

What do you find difficult working as an author/illustrator?

Also, working at home alone in my studio! Ha! It can be a lonely business at times and often it’s hard to get perspective working in a vacuum. This is why I love traveling to illustration & SCBWI conferences, visiting art friends in cities across the country and chatting with my lovely agent, Nicole Tugeau, on the phone!

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

I get out of the house/studio! Go for a walk. Meet up with a friend. Travel. Read a book. Visit a museum. (I LOVE museums!!!) Hang out with my family. Try a new restaurant. Cook a new recipe. 

Anything you are habitual about when it comes to creativity?

Every day I meditate for 10 minutes. For me it’s a must to calm my mind and body, so I can focus.

Can you share a positive experience you’ve had in the Kid Lit community?

Oh, goodness! I’ve honestly had so many! It’s been my experience that the Kid Lit community, especially the SCBWI, is incredibly supportive, willing to share information and eager to champion one another!

For several years a good while back, I had the absolute pleasure of co-coordinating the SCBWI Westside Illustrators “Schmooze” (now called “Mingle”) in Los Angeles with one of my dearest friends. And it was a blast! We hosted monthly meetings and even organized a couple art exhibitions together. I meet so many talented and wonderfully kind kid lit writers and illustrators—many of whom I’m still friends with today!

Recommended reading?

Ooo! I have to admit that even though I adore reading children’s books of all genres, my pleasure reading consists mostly of creepy mysteries, crime and horror stories, which I would only recommend to a fellow lover of the macabre! So, instead, I’ll share the latest professional reading that has helped me with my children’s book work:

The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master by Martha Alderson

What has been the highlight of your career thus far?

Developing, selling and launching children’s picture book projects that I’ve written & illustrated myself: the 6-book CHLOE ZOE picture book series, HELLO NEW HOUSE and my forthcoming picture book, MISS MEOW! 

Interior art from HELLO, NEW HOUSE by Jane Smith

What is something you wish someone had told you when you first started writing/illustrating?

When I was first starting out, I wish someone had told that illustrating stories and characters is not about drawing everything “correctly” or getting the perspective or lighting “right”; that it’s actually about creating believability. The point of the artwork is not to be in service to an objective idea of what is “good,” but rather about transporting the reader in time, space and emotion. As long as it is believable within the context of the story you are telling, it doesn’t matter if the lighting is off or if the proportions are wonky. As long as you’ve convinced your reader to believe in your story that all that really matters!

Can you tell us about your newest book?

Yes, I’m absolutely thrilled to share that my new picture book, HELLO NEW HOUSE, is releasing on October 1st. with publisher Albert Whitman & Company! This title is close to my heart, because it is directly inspired by my family’s real life, coast-to-coast move from Hermosa Beach (in the Southbay of Los Angeles), California to Wilmington, North Carolina. It was a dramatic move that was a study in relative contrasts—big city vs. small town, urban vs. rural, west coast vs. east coast, desert vs. lush tropics. And the changes were both exciting and intimidating.

Interior Art from HELLO, NEW HOUSE by Jane Smith

I wrote HELLO NEW HOUSE as a kind of meditation for myself and my daughter, comparing what was new to what was different to what was still the same, as a way to calm and reassure us when adjusting to the move was hard. Through the use of short, light and direct language, it is my hope that young kids will also experience HELLO NEW HOUSE as a meditation on change and that it will be a happy, welcome tool for families adjusting to their own moves in life.

Interior art from HELLO, NEW HOUSE by Jane Smith

Interior art from HELLO, NEW HOUSE by Jane Smith

What’s up next for you?

I’m so excited to share that I’m working on final art right now for my next picture books as an author-illustrator: MISS MEOW! This is a super fun story about an unexpected intruder who ruffles the fur of Miss Meow, a little girl who loves pretending to be a very territorial family pet cat. It releases next fall in 2021 with West Margin Press.

Anything else you’d like to share with aspiring authors and illustrators?

My best advice for aspiring author and illustrators is to remember that publishing is a long game—endurance, persistence and perseverance are the tools that will get you to where you want to go.

And always keep writing and illustrating NEW stories—don’t get stuck on one singular story and don’t be afraid of letting a story go once you’ve learned whatever it is you needed to learn from it! You are a storyteller and you have LOTS of stories inside you! 

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

Ooo!!! It’s almost too hard to choose—I have LOTS of favorites! Ha! But I think I have to go with Footloose! Followed closely by Pretty in Pink, Flashdance (which totally does not hold up! Ha!) and Quicksilver!

---

Huge thank you to Jane for stopping by Critter Lit today! Congrats on all your wonderful books! We so appreciate your insightful answers and advice.

---

JANE SMITH is the author-illustrator of the 6-book CHLOE ZOE picture book series, published by Albert Whitman & Co. Her forthcoming picture books, HELLO NEW HOUSE (Albert Whitman & Co.) and MISS MEOW (West Margin Press) will release in fall 2020 and fall 2021 respectively. Jane earned her BFA in Illustration at the Columbus College of Art & Design before beginning her career in publishing as an art director of children’s novelty books. She currently creates artwork for a variety of publishing and art licensing clients in her Wilmington, North Carolina studio, where she lives with her graphic designer husband, super star daughter and lots and lots of bugs.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT JANE SMITH follow her on social media:

• Personal Website: http://www.superjane.com

• Blog: https://birdmeetsworm.blogspot.com/

 • Instagram: @superjanesmith

• Twitter: @SuperJaneArtist

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SuperJaneSmith/

• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/superjanesmith/

ORDER THIS BOOK To order a copy of HELLO, NEW HOUSE, click here.

WIN A COPY! Want to win a copy of HELLO, NEW HOUSE?! Leave a COMMENT below or RETWEET this post on Twitter. One lucky winner will be announced on Tuesday, October 6th! US addresses only please.

Interview with Debut Author and Illustrator Mikela Prevost

Happy Thursday Critters! Today we have a fabulous interview with debut author and illustrator Mikela Prevost whose book, LET’S HAVE A DOG PARTY! came out in March. I adore this book so much! It’s cute, funny, and oh so charming with a lot of heart— my favorite combination. Here’s a sneak peek for those of you who haven’t read Mikela’s wonderful debut yet…

Kate and Frank are best friends. To celebrate Frank's birthday, Kate throws him a party with all her favorite things: lots of friends, dancing in circles, loud singing, and sparkly confetti everywhere. But best friends don't always have the same taste in parties. Frank prefers quiet, sun-drenched naps on his favorite rug. So he hides. Kate must find a way to bring Frank back to the party--on his own terms.

I’m thrilled to have Mikela with us today, so without further ado…please welcome Mikela Prevost!

Where do you live?

In the Valley of the SUN! Phoenix, Arizona.

When did you know you wanted to write/illustrate picture books?

As a kid, I wasn't terribly good at reading but I always had the pictures in books to help guide me through the story in one way or the other. But by 2nd grade, I had started to grow in my reading abilities and at that point, the Harry Potter books of my day were Shel Silverstein's Where the Sidewalk Ends and The Light in the Attic. I devoured these books, for the brevity of the poems and the child-like pen and ink illustrations. 

Silverstein's illustrations seemed so approachable, something that I could do. Drawing came much easier to me than reading, so seeing how a story could be encapsulated in such a brief poem along with an outlandish drawing was so attractive to me. The worlds he created through his poems always had me wondering what else happened beyond that last sentence. 

As a writer and illustrator now, I want to try and give young readers that sense of  "seen" as Shel Silverstein did for me.

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

Signing with a literary agent was the best way for my work to evolve. I attended SCBWI's Winter Conference in 2017 where Rebecca Sherman of Writer's House came across my work. She loved my illustration work and knew that my writing had potential. Over the course of several months, I was writing stories and sending sketches to Rebecca but she really wanted to start my career off on the right foot, so she pushed me to produce my best work. I'm so thankful she did, as I look back and see those earlier stories - I would not want them out in public! When the story idea for Let's Have a Dog Party! came, Rebecca made me feel like I had struck gold! We sent the text, dummy and two finished illustrations out, it went to auction and we found a great home for the story with Joanna Cardenas who (at the time) was the editor for Viking/Penguin.

Can you share a bit about your process?

Writing and illustrating is such a balancing act - having just enough of the best words while allowing the illustrations to do some heavy lifting. I  try to write more than I need then weed out what is superfluous to the story. 

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

I "squeeze the sponge dry" on a topic until I've exhausted every possible story idea. I write out ideas until I reach the end of the page. 95% is garbage worthy, but I will stumble on a gem that makes me so excited, I won't sleep at night.

Anything you can’t live without while you write/draw?

While writing, I listen to a curated instrumental playlist that cues up my brain to stay focused on just that story. While illustrating I binge podcasts and watch/listen to old Mystery Science Theater 3000 episodes. And I keep the coffee flowin'.

Any authors and/or illustrators who inspire you?

My illustration friends Molly Idle, for her graceful, luscious line work and joyful colors and Juana Martinez-Neal, who captures the essence of children so innately. Also, her talent with patterns is second to none! An author I aspire to emulate is Jon Agee - his humor is so wry yet it translates to children in the perfect way. My Rhinoceros was my own personal masterclass in writing.    

Dream project to work on?

Anything that results in a kid loving a book so much, it falls apart. That, to me, is the true mark of a successful book.

Tell us about your debut book.

With Let's Have a Dog Party! I was sitting in my office, wracking my brain for a good story idea, while my kids and a few neighbor kids were running back and forth by my door chasing our little dog Pepper. She's a good-natured dog that will tolerate anything, but I knew eventually the chaos would reach a crescendo and she would take off running. If I wasn't there to stop this fiasco, I imagined a party breaking out. That's where the idea came from - I liked the idea of the kid characters just deciding out of the blue that "today" was Frank's birthday and using whatever they had on hand to celebrate. Like my kids, I knew a point would come that the characters would realize the poor dog had hit his limit and need to de-escalate the situation.

What’s up next for you?

I can't say just yet - but I can say I'm excited!

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

Ghostbusters! And it still is my favorite movie! I saw it in the theater with my Dad, so I'll always have the good memories to associate with the movie.

---

Huge thank you to Mikela for stopping by Critter Lit today! We can’t wait to see your debut book and all that you do!

---

MIKELA PREVOST is an author and illustrator currently residing in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband and their three kids. Born and raised in Southern California, she received her BFA from the University of Redlands, and an MFA in Illustration from California State University of Fullerton. Writing and illustrating for children has been her life-long pursuit and passion. Her work is driven by the desire to capture the whimsical innocence and unique perspective from which a child sees the world. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION about Mikela visit her website or follow her on social media:

Instagram

Twitter

Facebook

TO ORDER Mikela’s books, ring up your local bookstore or click here.

BOOK GIVEAWAY!

Want a chance to win a copy of LET’S HAVE A DOG PARTY?! Comment on this post or share it on Twitter. One lucky winner will be selected Thursday, June 6th! US addresses only please.

Interview with Author/Illustrator Corinna Luyken

Happy Thursday Critters! Today CORINNA LUYKEN is here! I’m such a huge fan of Corinna’s work, as I know all of you will be too. Her first book, THE BOOK OF MISTAKES, was my favorite book of 2017. Corinna’s books are incredibly beautiful and insightful, and I can’t wait for all of you to see MY HEART, her newest picture book that will be released on January 8th. It is simply exquisite.

So without further ado, please welcome Corinna Luyken!

Where do you live?

In Olympia, WA, at the base of the Puget Sound.

How many years have you been in publishing?

My first book, THE BOOK OF MISTAKES, came out in 2017.

How many books have you published?

MY HEART is my third book as illustrator, second as author/illustrator.

Do you write/illustrate full-time?

I do!  It’s been an eighteen year dream of making picture books, and I feel incredibly grateful to be doing this full time.

Interior spread from MY HEART

What inspires you to create picture books?

I’m in love with the form of the picture book, the way that words and images can work together to make something bigger than either one alone. Although I love to draw, and I love to write, it’s the magic that happens when they come together that thrills me.

What surprised you the most working as an author/illustrator?

After having a debut book that was well received, it really surprised me (in retrospect, maybe I shouldn’t have been so surprised) how difficult the second book became. Because suddenly I started to worry about what other people would think, and if the second book would measure up to the first one. I stressed myself out about all of this a lot more than I thought I would. Doubt and self judgement can be useful tools as an illustrator, but they can also paralyze you if you don’t keep them in perspective. I re-started a morning meditation practice in the midst of my second book, which helped a lot. Sometimes it’s good to remember that we are tiny specks on a spinning planet in a vast universe. Which helps me to create from a place of love, instead of fear.

What is your favorite thing about being an author/illustrator?

Finding out that a book I’ve made has touched someone else’s heart.

What do you find difficult working as an author/illustrator?

Balancing my devotion to my work and the amount of time it takes to make beautiful books with being a mom can be very difficult. But being a mom has also opened up my heart in a very big way. It’s a balancing act, but worth it.

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

Going for walks is great. Being near the ocean or any water also helps me to quiet my mind, which makes me more receptive to new ideas. Slowing down, in general, is a good thing. When I’m rushing around too much, it’s hard for me to make room for anything new. 

Anything you are habitual about when it comes to creativity?

I try to start every day with quiet meditation time. Whether things are going really well, or I’m struggling with something… either way it helps to keep it all in perspective. A hot cup of tea or coffee is also necessary!

Interior spread from MY HEART

Can you share a positive experience you’ve had in the kid lit community?

I’ve found this community to be full of many kind, generous people. Some of the most meaningful experiences have been small kindnesses early on in my career from people who were further along in the journey. Marla Frazee showed some interest in a dummy that I brought along to my first national SCBWI conference, and even went on to share it with an editor. The editor didn’t end up acquiring the story, but the fact that both of them saw potential in the project meant so much at the time. And then, a few years later (after many revisions) that dummy went on to win the SCBWI Don Freeman Work In Progress grant. And now, almost five years (and many more revisions) later, it is going to be my next book, MY HEART.

What is your favorite picture book?

I have SO many favorites!  I can’t choose just one…  but THE VERY PERSISTENT GAPPERS OF FRIP by Lane Smith and George Saunders is the book that made me want to make books.  

I also adore WHEN GREEN BECOMES TOMATOES by Julie Fogliano and Julie Morstad, EXTRA YARN by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen, EMILY’S BALLOON by Komako Sakai, WAVE by Suzy Lee, MIGRANT by Isabelle Arsenault and Maxine Trottier, SCHOOL’S FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL by Adam Rex and Christian Robinson, DU IZ TAK by Carson Ellis, ALL THE WORLD by Marla Frazee and Liz Garton Scanlon, NOTHING by Jon Agee, THE IRIDESCENCE OF BIRDS by Hadley Hooper and Patricia MacLachlan …. and many many more.

What has been the highlight of your career thus far?

There have been so many highlights! Watching my daughter hug our first copy of THE BOOK OF MISTAKES tightly to her chest (the book was inspired by and is dedicated to her), getting my first packet of thank you art from a classroom full of kids in the mail, receiving a note that I had won the Leo Award for my first book (Leo is a young boy who has created his own award for his favorite book of the year!), and also hearing from Lane Smith, who illustrated the book that made me want to make books (see above) that he loved THE BOOK OF MISTAKES.

What is something you wish someone had told you when you first started writing/illustrating?

Persistence is more important than talent. Persistence, and truly loving the work.

Interior spread from MY HEART

Tell us about your newest book?

MY HEART is coming out January 8th. It's a celebration of the heart (in all its varied emotions), as well as an ode to love, and to keeping your heart open. 

What’s up next for you?

I’m just finishing up illustrations for WEIRD LITTLE ROBOTS, which is a middle grade written by Carolyn Crimi and coming out from Candlewick in fall 2019.  

I’ve got a few other exciting things lined up, but I can’t talk about most of them yet! But I will be making another book as author/illustrator with Dial that has a lot of arguing in it. And the next picture book I’m working on is called NOTHING IN COMMON by Kate Hoefler. It is about an old man, a hot-air-balloon-flying dog, and two kids who appear to have nothing in common, but perhaps do where it counts most.  

Anything else you’d like to share with aspiring authors and illustrators?

I think it’s really important to read as widely as possible. To fall in love with an enormous variety of work. Not just the work that is similar to what you want to make. The more books you love, the wider the pool of words and images that will filter through you and into your work. If you only love a few artists or writers, often, without even meaning to, the work you make will end up being overly influenced by them. And the world doesn’t need another Carson Ellis or Isabelle Arsenault or Jon Klassen. The world needs YOU and your voice. For me, the best way to create a unique style is to open your heart very wide and study the vast web of work that came before you. The more that you can find to love, the more varied your influences will be and the more you will, without even trying, develop a unique voice and style.

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

Labyrinth!

---

Huge thank you to Corinna Luyken for stopping by Critter Lit today! We are so excited to see all of your upcoming books!

---

Corinna Luyken grew up in different cities along the West Coast, and after studying at Middlebury College, she settled in Washington State, where she draws inspiration from nature, her family, and the human form.

FOR MORE INFORMATION about Corinna and her work visit her website: www.corinnaluyken.com or follow her on Twitter or Instagram @CorinnaLuyken.

TO ORDER Corinna’s wonderful books, ring up your local bookstore, or click here.

BOOK GIVEAWAY!

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

What's up on deck? Tune in next week for a Critter Lit Interview with author/illustrator Lindsay Moore!

---

Interview with Picture Book Author + Illustrator Betsy Snyder

Photo Credit: Donna Von Bruening

I'm very excited for today's interview because it's with the lovely and incredibly talented Betsy Snyder, who also happens to be one of my critique partners and a very good friend. I actually knew Betsy's books before I knew her. As a bookseller, I fell in love with HAIKU BABY, Betsy's debut book, the first time I saw it. The art is charming, bright, and fresh. Anyone who walked in to the bookstore looking for a baby gift walked out with a copy of HAIKU BABY. 

Skip ahead a few years later. I had just moved from Boston to Cleveland with my future husband and started making connections with other writers and illustrators in the area. And who did I meet? Betsy Snyder. Sometimes it's really amazing how small the world can be. We had lunch and I clicked with her instantly. Eventually Betsy and I, along with three other lovely and talented women, created a critique group together, which we've been doing for almost seven years now.

Spread from HAIKU BABY by Betsy Snyder

I have learned so much from Betsy, watching her come up with creative new ways for kids to interact with books, and I'm thrilled to share her work with you today!

So without further ado, please welcome Betsy Snyder! 

Where do you live?

Independence, OH

How many years have you been in publishing?

12 (What? Twelve?!)

How many books have you published?

21

Do you write and illustrate full-time?

Yes (mostly). My life is a mix of mothering my books and my small children and that balance changes as it needs to. But I write/illustrate as full-time as I can.

What inspires you to create picture books?

I love the way kids learn and explore the world and I seek to make books that support that process and inspire a similar sense of wonder. I was lucky to have a childhood filled with good books and I can remember poring over the pages, studying the details of the pictures and getting lost in the magical worlds books create.

What surprised you the most working as an author/illustrator?

I didn’t anticipate that along with becoming published would come requests for author programs and needing to get comfortable with public speaking. Being in the spotlight can feel intimidating for somewhat introverted creative-types like me that are most cozy in their quiet studios—YIKES! But now, I can genuinely say I LOVE getting out and sharing what I do with schools, libraries, museums and the author/illustrator community. More experience, consulting with educators to hone my programs, and seeing those eager little (and big) faces in the audience have really helped grow my confidence and minimize the jitters.

What is your favorite thing about being an author/illustrator?

Every project is a new adventure! I like the feeling of immersing myself in whatever I’m working on—I learn a little (or a lot) more with each new book I make. It’s so rewarding to be able to help a vision evolve from start to finish and then to finally see a book in print and be able to share it with others.

What do you find difficult working as an author/illustrator?

Starting a new book is exciting, but with that, there is also a murky place where I have way TOO many ideas and no direction or anchor. That’s when I feel lost and stuck and unsure—and sometimes it’s hard to see a way out of that. Each book is a new challenge, so I don’t think this process gets easier—but I am getting better at trusting that my good ideas will eventually take shape and get there with practice and persistence. As Dory would say, “Just keep swimming!”

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

I find inspiration in my kids, browsing at the library or a bookstore, creative chats (like with my critique group), nature walks, and travel.

I especially look at what’s out there and what’s not—my best ideas are often born around opportunities.

Anything you are habitual about when it comes to creativity?

Making lists (and losing them—ha!). But seriously, I love making lists and when I broke the index finger of my writing hand earlier this year, I almost went crazy. I have actually found that for me, this brainstorm process is less about holding on to the ideas, and ironically, more about letting them go to clear up more creative space in my head. 

Can you share a positive experience you’ve had in the Kid Lit Community?

Having work from Tons of Trucks (written by Sue Fliess) accepted into the Society of Illustrators Original Art Show and attending the opening in NYC was definitely a kid lit highlight for me. Mingling with that much talent and passion in one space was pretty dreamy.

What is your favorite picture book?

Do you really think I can pick just one? 

As a kid: Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey, The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams, and The Funny Thing by Wanda Gag

Now: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon and Marla Frazee, and When Green Becomes Tomatoes by Julie Fogliano and Julie Morstad

What has been the highlight of your career thus far?

It’s still hard to beat my first-ever submission becoming a 3-book (and later 5-book) contract with Random House. I’ll never forget my agent’s email with the subject line “Get out the champagne!!!” I’m so grateful my editor Heidi Kilgras saw something in me and helped me get my start with writing my own books.

What is something you wish someone had told you when you first started writing and illustrating?

It’s supposed to feel hard—but that struggle doesn’t mean you aren’t good enough. 

Tell us about your newest book?

I Can Dream and I Can Explore (May 2018) are the two newest books in the interactive series published by Chronicle Books. In terms of a theme, I Can Dream is centered around aspirational occupations, like a firefighter, astronaut, marine biologist, artist and more. I Can Explore is about being on-the-go—traveling by land, water, air and even snow.

The entire series shares the same format solution, text direction, and empowering message celebrating both independence and teamwork. Touch-and-feel covers and interactive holes on every page invite the reader to animate the characters by wiggling their fingers. Every book ends with a surprise gatefold finish, bringing all the characters together for an inclusive grand finale. 

I had so much fun developing this format and rolling it out over four books (and I still have more ideas!). Working with my Chronicle team was a dream (special shout-out to Ariel Richardson, Tara Creehan and Amelia Mack)—our visions were on the same page from the beginning, so our partnership felt easy and effortless.

What’s up next for you?

I’m working on a picture book with Susanna Leonard Hill. And thinking up new book ideas!

Anything else you’d like to share with aspiring authors and illustrators?

There is no one secret path (and certainly no shortcut) to getting published. It’s a journey and experience unique to each person, because we each come from different places and bring along our own influences and talents.

Networking with other authors and illustrators (via SCBWI, critique groups, workshops, etc.) is a great way to learn from the paths of others—and begin to forge your own. Plus, it can be a long road, so wouldn’t you rather have some travel buddies on your journey?

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

The Princess Bride and Dirty Dancing

Thank you so much for stopping by Critter Lit today Betsy!

---

Author and illustrator Betsy Snyder has twenty years of experience creating for the children's market. Her smile-inspiring art can be found on everything from social expressions products, board games, plush, decor, fabric, wallpaper, and of course—children’s books! Since making her publishing debut in 2007, Betsy has teamed with a diverse mix of publishers, earning recognition from groups including the Society of Illustrators, The New York Times, Scholastic Parent & Child Magazine, Indie Next List, the Cooperative Children’s Book Center and Please Touch Museum. Her newest titles, I Can Dream and I Can Explore (May 2018), join the earlier I Can Dance and I Can Play in an innovative board book series with Chronicle Books.

Betsy lives in Independence, Ohio, where she enjoys cozying up to doodle with her art-loving family of four and venturing out to schools and libraries to encourage kids (and even grown-ups) to share their stories and chase their dreams.

For more information about Betsy and her books, visit her online at www.betsysnyder.com. Follow her on Twitter @betsysnyderart or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/betsysnyderart.

TO PURCHASE A COPY of I CAN DREAM or I CAN EXPLORE visit your local bookstore, or click here.

---

BOOK GIVEAWAY!

Want a chance to win a SIGNED copy of I CAN DREAM or I CAN EXPLORE by Betsy Snyder?! Comment on this post below or share it on Twitter. Two lucky winners will be announced Thursday, August 30th! US addresses only please.

What's up on deck? Tune in next Thursday for an interview with picture book author Josh Funk!