Interview with Debut Author Megan Litwin

Happy Thursday Critters! Can you believe it’s December 1st?! Where did the year go? We are in the final stretch of interviews for 2022, with just three left! Today we are starting off December with author Megan Litwin, whose debut picture book, TWINKLE TWINKLE WINTER NIGHT, illustrated by Nneka Myers just released in September with Clarion Books. I’m thrilled to have Megan with us today to kick off the last month of the year with a perfectly cozy and seasonal title.

So without further ado, please welcome Megan Litwin!

Where do you live?

I live in a lovely New England town about 45 minutes west of Boston. 

How many years have you been in publishing?

That depends on how you look at it! I joined SCBWI and started attending conference and critique groups in 2016. So, on one hand, it has been about 6 years of being “all-in” on my goal of publishing picture books. But before that, way back in the year 2000, I went to Simmons University for graduate school because of their amazing and unique program in Children’s Literature. After graduation, I went directly into teaching, but also published a dozen work-for-hire books in the educational market and continued to keep an interested eye on the children’s book world. I guess you could say I have danced in and out of publishing for 20 years now!

How did you first get published?

My publishing story is a happy slush pile one. After deciding it was time to find an agent, and after all the necessary research, I got ready to send out round one queries. I sent my very first, pie-in-the-sky query to Steve Malk at Writers’ House – someone I respect and who, I think, holds a lot of respect for picture books specifically. So obviously I was over-the-moon thrilled when he responded with a kind and personal email. He ended up connecting me with his colleague Lindsay Auld, who also shared a number of important values with me, and we went out on submission that same season. However, that manuscript, despite quite a few close calls, never sold. It wasn’t until our second submission that I landed my first book deal – this book we’re talking about today. 

Do you write full-time?

I do write full-time. But I also spend time visiting schools, both to celebrate reading and to offer classroom-based workshops on writing and revision and all sorts of things. I’m an author, but I’m very much a teacher-at-heart.

What inspired you to create picture books?

I LOVE picture books. Picture books are truly unique – a mix of story and art and theater and music. I love ALL those things! They also often hold some sort of emotional truth at their core, and as an emotional person with big feelings, picture books have always appealed to me. 

What is your favorite thing about being an author?

Being on the inside of the book-making process is just the most fascinating thing. I loved every step of the two-year journey making this book once the contract was signed. Seeing early sketches, watching details change, moving text around for perfect page turns, thinking about cover art and jacket copy and the DEDICATION (oh my goodness, was there ever a harder writing assignment?) – each step was thrilling. It is a truly collaborative process with the illustrator, editor, designer (and many more hands), and I just found the whole thing magical. I’ve always thought of myself as a team player, and making books is a very cool kind of teamwork!

What do you find difficult working as an author?

Controlling my book-buying urges! I spend a lot of time in libraries and bookstores, surrounded by beautiful books, and also reading book reviews and blogs and articles about all the best new books. I want ALL THE BOOKS! And I certainly buy plenty. But I do have to draw the line somewhere, and so I also look for other ways to support good books like writing reviews or telling others or taking it out of the library. Managing my book love is like a part-time job! ☺ 

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

Getting outside is my go-to. I might take my dog for a walk or bring my notebook out to my porch. There is something about letting my mind wander out in nature, with all the sounds and smells, that opens things up for me creatively.

Anything you are habitual about when it comes to creativity?

I’m a morning writer, and it starts with coffee, a candle, and turning on the jar of twinkly lights that sit on my desk. I call them my “thinking lights” and I originally started using them during the remote-school phase so that my kids had a visual of when I was in “deep work” mode and was hoping not to be disturbed. But then I liked them so much (and the visual actually helped remind ME to stay focused), so I kept them around! 

Recommended reading?

My three favorite craft books that sit near my writing desk are Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott, On Writing by Stephen King, and Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. I reread parts of them all the time whenever I need a little inspiration on the journey.

What has been the highlight of your career thus far?

The launch party for Twinkle, Twinkle, Winter Night at nearby bookstore An Unlikely Story was something I’ll never forget. That bookstore is such a special place to me – over the years I’ve spent time browsing the shelves (with magical brooms and books dangling from the ceiling overhead), writing and dreaming and meeting with other writers in the café, and attending events on their second-floor event room with authors and illustrators I admire. So then standing on the same stage where I saw kidlit greats like Matt de la Pena and Christian Robinson, Chris Van Dusen, Megan McDonald, and store owner Jeff Kinney himself…it was literally a dream coming true. 

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

Well, someone DID tell me (way back in 2007 when I took a local writing class called “So You Want to be a Children’s Book Writer”), but I wasn’t ready to listen. The instructor told us about SCBWI and though it sounded interesting, I felt too busy with teaching and life and thought I would just continue writing on my own. I didn’t realize how important a writing community would be. I ended up joining SCBWI and a local writer’s group and attending events many years later in 2016, and made immediate strides forward. More importantly, I remember feeling like I had found my people – and that goes a long way toward sustaining creativity and resilience in this field. 

Can you tell us about your newest book?

Twinkle, Twinkle, Winter Night is a celebration of wintertime magic. A slight twist on a familiar song, the refrain says it all: “Twinkle, twinkle, winter night. Everywhere you look’s there light.” It was inspired by a cold, dark nighttime drive one December with my own children, when they were suddenly mesmerized by all the magic around them. No matter what you celebrate or how you do so, the world shines bright for all to see. I’m hoping this inclusive and poetic ode to the season of lights, with luminous and festive artwork from Nneka Myers, is one children will want to read again and again.

Interior art from TWINKLE TWINKLE WINTER NIGHT by Megan Litwin, illustrated by Nneka Myers, published by Clarion Books, September 2022

Interior art from TWINKLE TWINKLE WINTER NIGHT by Megan Litwin, illustrated by Nneka Myers, published by Clarion Books, September 2022

What’s up next for you?

Right now, I’m reading and celebrating Twinkle, Twinkle, Winter Night all around Massachusetts – ‘tis the season! Then in February, I have the first of two early readers coming out. Dirt & Bugsy: Bug Catchers, illustrated by Shauna Lynn Panczyszyn and published by Penguin Young Readers, is about two best buds who catch all kinds of bugs together. It is based on some real-life bug-tastic adventures in my household, but more importantly, I got to combine my teacher and writer hearts to create a story that would be just-right for budding readers. I also recently signed a second picture book contract, and we’ve got another on submission, so stay tuned!

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

MUDGE! I love so many literary dogs, but Mudge from Cynthia Rylant and Suçie Stevenson’s beloved Henry and Mudge series is my all-time favorite. Big, sloppy, sweet, lovable, and the most loyal best friend you could ever ask for.

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

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MEGAN LITWIN is a children’s book author, a former classroom teacher, and a forever believer in book magic. She holds a Master of Arts in Children’s Literature from Simmons University and lives in Massachusetts with her family.

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

Twitter: @Meg_Litwin

https://twitter.com/Meg_Litwin

IG: @meganlitwinbooks

https://www.instagram.com/meganlitwinbooks/

BUY THIS BOOK To purchase Megan’s book, click here.

WIN A COPY! Want to win a giveaway copy of TWINKLE TWINKLE WINTER NIGHT?! Leave a COMMENT below or RETWEET this post on Twitter. One lucky winner will be announced on Thursday, December 8th! US addresses only please.

Interview with Author + Illustrator Berrie Torgan-Randall

Happy Thursday Critters! Today I’m interviewing a fellow Syracuse alum, and I’m so thrilled to have her with us today! Berrie Torgan-Randall’s debut BELLA & BLUE: BELLA MEETS BLUE is the first in a new graphic early reader series with Blue Bronco Books, Jr., which just released this month. I love the art and limited palette for this series, it’s incredibly sweet and charming.

So without further ado, please welcome Berrie Torgan-Randall to Critter Lit!

Where do you live?

I live in a small town, Media, southwest of Philadelphia, PA. It’s a lovely Philly suburb with a thriving downtown with shops and restaurants. Water is pronounced “Wooder” and you can order a cheesesteak “Wit or Witout (cheez whiz).”

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

I loved everything about art class – the burlap and glue collages, the linoleum prints, and the smell of the Tempera paint. In pursuit of this passion, I went to art school where I took all sorts of fine arts classes. I loved being in the art room, and there was one other special place where I loved to be—the school library. After working odd jobs after art school that weren’t very gratifying, I reconsidered my career options and remembered the joy of my time spent in the school library. I went to grad school to become an elementary school librarian.   

Being a librarian is my bread and butter, a profession that I love. However, my true passion is illustrating and writing children’s books.  It wasn’t until later after my kids went to school did I really pursue my dream of writing and illustrating for children.

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

Every Monday (sometimes it’s a Tuesday), I participate in a self ritual of “Marketing Monday” where I send out a portfolio query. Most often I hear crickets from my queries but one day I got a, “yes, we are interested in having you write and illustrate an early reader graphic novel.”

Can you share a bit about your process?

I set a timer for six minutes and write down as many ideas as I can in my sketchbook. I choose one or two of the ideas and then sketch very loose thumbnails on a storyboard. I write a script to go along with the thumbnails so that my editor can figure out the sketchy thumbnails. Once the script and thumbnails are approved, I start working on the character sketches and tighten up my thumbnail sketches. 

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

I don’t allow my mind to stew and obsess about a story. Allowing only six minutes for an initial idea helps my ideas stay fresh. That being said,  I have several manuscripts that I have stewed over which are now shelved and waiting for me to see them with fresh eyes.

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

Podcasts. My favorites are mysteries, docudramas, swindlers, and sci-fi. 

Any authors and/or illustrators who inspire you?

Melissa Iwai, Dan Santant, Judy Byron Schachner, Patrice Barton, Jennifer Hansen Rolli, Monica Carnesi, Michael Rex, Jennifer E Morris, Zachariah Ohora, Maurice Sendak, Steph Fizer Coleman, to name a few!

Dream project to work on?

I would love to illustrate and write an early chapter book - much like the Owl Diary series and to write and illustrate a book for babies and toddlers. I would also love to license my illustrations and my surface pattern designs so that I can see my illustrations on cards, fabrics, and gifts. I would love to illustrate for Highlights Magazine and continue receiving assignments for Ladybug Magazine. Oh and I like to garden so I would like to have a flower garden with flowers that are showie and beautiful and give away bouquets to everyone - currently my garden is a deer smorgasbord.

Tell us about your debut book.

Bella & Blue: Bella meets Blue  is a graphic early reader series that celebrates life's everyday struggles, silliness, and surprises. Eight year old Bella has anxiety. Small things aren't so small for Bella. But with the help of her colorful dog, Blue, and her grandma, Gigi, who has a flair for all things French and over-the-top hats, Bella can handle every day's twists and turns. Blue is the companion children dream of having. He's the therapy dog that plays paddy-cake to calm Bella's nerves & take away her blues. Celebrate the beauty of being blue, in this first of the graphic early reader series, Bella & Blue. Book 1 contains 3 short stories, perfect for the stamina of emerging readers ages K-3rd grade.

Sample art from BELLA & BLUE: BELLA MEETS BLUE written and illustrated by Berrie Torgan-Randall, published by Blue Bronco Books, Jr.

What’s up next for you?

I  have a six-panel illustration in the Nov/Dec issue of Ladybug Magazine. I will continue to query my art and stories and put myself out there on “Marketing Monday - sometimes Tuesday.” Also, I will plan and dream about next year’s garden.

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

The Breakfast Club - I was (and still am) the Ally Sheedy character - weird by lovable.

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

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BERRIE TORGAN-RANDALL has been passionate about children’s literature since she was a little girl and has fed her desire by becoming a children’s librarian and by pursuing a career as an illustrator and writer of children’s books. Berrie studied at Syracuse University earning a BFA in Media Arts and Surface Pattern Design. Pursuing her desire to work with children, she returned to school and earned a Masters Degree in Information Studies at Drexel University. As a teacher/librarian and mother of three, Berrie has created and developed her stories drawn from real-life experiences and her imagination. Berrie is the Illustrator Coordinator for Eastern Pennsylvania Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) where she coordinates events and classes for illustrators. Bella & Blue is Berrie’s debut early reader graphic novel.

FOR MORE INFORMATION about Berrie, visit her online at www.berrietr.com or follow her on social media:

Twitter | Instagram

ORDER THIS BOOK To order a copy of BELLA & BLUE: BELLA MEETS BLUE, click here.

WIN A COPY! Want to win a copy of BELLA & BLUE?! Leave a COMMENT below or RETWEET this post on Twitter. One lucky winner will be announced on Thursday, October 13th! US addresses only please.

Interview with Author Kimberly Wilson

Happy Thursday Critters! I’ve been in the blackhole of deadlines for the past few weeks— but I’m thrilled to be back this week with an interview with author Kimberly Wilson. I was lucky enough to read Kimberly’s manuscript a couple years ago as a Critter Lit critique submission— and now it’s a published book! (Congrats Kimberly, we are so excited for you!). A PENNY’S WORTH, illustrated by Mark Hoffmann, published by Page Street Kids just released in April. Don’t you just love when things come full circle like that?!

So without further ado, please welcome Kimberly Wilson!

Where do you live?

I’ve lived in Charlotte, NC, for almost 22 years, but I grew up in Upstate NY.

When did you know you wanted to write picture books?

I knew I wanted to write from the time I was in third grade. Inspired by reading L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables, I spent many days outdoors, pouring my imagination onto the paper. My favorite subject in high school was English and I continued studying creative writing through college. Though it wasn’t until my girls were born that I experienced a spark of interest in picture books. 

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

A decade after that initial spark, I finally decided to dive into following my dream. That’s when I joined the SCBWI, took every picture book craft class I could, found my amazing critique groups, and began attending conferences. In fact, a critique for A Penny’s Worth at the SCBWI NJ Conference in June 2019 turned into an R&R with Page Street Kids. And a few rounds of revision later, it became an offer! After four years of working full time on writing, revising, critiquing, and querying, my debut picture book hit the shelves!

Can you share a bit about your process?

I like to start with a pitch. This way, I have all the elements of the story formulated before I begin writing––character, setting, problem, stakes, solution, and the hooks. Sometimes this can evolve over the course of months, and other times it comes quickly. Once I have it fleshed out, I paste it at the top of the page and refer to it while I write my first draft and all the way through revision.

I’m also a list maker, so I write down every pun and idiom I can find about my topic so I can puzzle piece them into the manuscript as I write. Many times, I add too many and end up cutting some later––but at least I’m never short on this type of word play!

The first draft is my biggest challenge! I do a lot of legwork before I’m able to get my story on the page (75% preparation, 25% procrastination). It also really helps to have a critique meeting on the calendar to give me a deadline.

Revision is my favorite part of the process. I love layering in the emotional arc, sneaking in educational tidbits, and infusing characters with their own unique personalities. Writing and revising dialogue is so much fun!

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

I have several go-to moves to get my brainstorming juices flowing. I either head outside for a walk, dive into an online pun and idiom search, or take a shower (this one is the clear winner!).

Anything you can’t live without while you write?

The biggest must-have, without a doubt, is coffee. My most-used tools are a Thesaurus, the Idioms by Free Dictionary site, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library app, my bookshelf, and my TUL colored gel pens. 

Any authors and/or illustrators who inspire you?

I could go on all day answering this question! 

I’m so lucky to be in a community with super-talented critique partners and an incredible debut group who inspire me daily.

I’ve always been captivated by Ame Dyckman’s humor. Reading books like Misunderstood Shark, Dandy, and You Don’t Want a Unicorn made me realize one of my goals is to make kids giggle through my writing. 

I also connect with books like Ben Clanton’s Rot, The Cutest in the World! and Jory John and Pete Oswald’s The Good Egg. I really love reading and writing about anthropomorphized inanimate objects! 

Some mentor texts I admired while writing A Penny’s Worth were Linus the Little Yellow Pencil, by Scott Magoon, Eraser, by Anna Kang and Christopher Weyant, Brick: Who Found Herself in Architecture, by Joshua David Stein and Julia Rothman, and Oliver: The Second Largest Living Thing on Earth, by Josh Crute and John Taesoo Kim. The last two have an informational spin, another thing I enjoy including in many of my manuscripts.

Dream project to work on?

Gosh, every project is a dream to me! I have an informational manuscript with a twist that is very close to my heart, and another one in the works. I find it’s these connections with stories that make them dream projects for me. It’s also a goal of mine to collaborate on a humorous early graphic novel series. It’s such a fun genre––and I get a kick out of writing the dialogue!

Tell us about your debut book.

A PENNY’S WORTH (Page Street Kids), illustrated by Mark Hoffmann, is a pun-filled story of a shiny new cent who feels like a million bucks. But when she’s told she’s not enough to slot-surf like Quarter or even pay for penny candy like Dime, she begins to doubt her value. Refusing to be short-changed, Penny sets out to find her purpose at any cost and ends up learning an important lesson about self-worth in the process. 

The story also incorporates beginner money-math as well as back matter filled with penny fun facts and history, money equivalents, and resources to learn more.

What’s up next for you?

A DOLLAR’S GRAND DREAM (Page Street Kids), also illustrated by Mark Hoffmann, hits shelves spring 2023. In this punny sequel to A Penny’s Worth, Big Bill is a wranglin’ change makin’ dollar. Until he learns about the glitz and glamour of the grand life and wishes he were bigger. But when he gets his wish, he realizes livin’ large might not be as one-derful as he thought. Sprinkled with humor and money math (and more puns!), readers will learn about place values and the age-old lesson that the grass is not always greener on the other side.

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

As you wish (haha!)––The Princess Bride––hands down!

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Huge Thank you to Kimberly for stopping by Critter Lit today!

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Kimberly Wilson’s prized childhood possessions included a butterfly Trapper Keeper full of her stories, an overflowing bookshelf, and a pocket thesaurus. But it took many years (and a couple careers) before she pursued her dream of writing for children. A lover of puns and wordplay, Kimberly enjoys mixing humor, heart, and educational details into her writing. A PENNY’S WORTH (Page Street Kids), illustrated by Mark Hoffmann, is her debut picture book. The sequel, A DOLLAR’S GRAND DREAM, releases in 2023. Kimberly lives in North Carolina with her husband, two daughters, and their puppy.

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

Website: www.kimberlywilsonwrites.com

Twitter: @authorkimwilson

Instagram: @kimberlywilsonwrites

Goodreads: @kimberlywilsonwrites

ORDER THIS BOOK To order a copy of A PENNY’S WORTH, click here.

WIN A COPY! Want to win a copy of A PENNY’S WORTH?! Leave a COMMENT below or RETWEET this post on Twitter. One lucky winner will be announced on Thursday, June 23rd! US addresses only please.

Interview with Debut Author Sarah Bagley Steele

Happy Thursday Critters! Today we have an interview with author Sarah Bagley Steele, whose debut picture book, THE HAPPIEST KID, illustrated by Elsa Pui Si Lo and Clarice Yunyi Cai, releases with Yeehoo Press this month. I’m thrilled to have Sarah with us today to talk about her new book, writing process, and start in kidlit.

So without further ado, please welcome Sarah Bagley Steele!

Where do you live?

Brooklyn, NY.

How many years have you been in publishing?

I started writing picture books in 2017 and sent out my first query almost exactly four years ago. 

How did you first get published?

The Happiest Kid is my debut book and I sold it directly to the publisher, Yeehoo Press. I submitted it in February 2020 after reading they had an interest in children’s books about emotions. In June 2020, I received a revise and resubmit request from my future editor, along with the most helpful, insightful feedback that led me to an “aha!” moment with the manuscript. I tore through a revision, sent it back, and received an offer the following month. 

Do you write full-time?

I do. I produced theater for many years and pivoted to writing for children when my company shuttered. It was always a dream of mine, and I was fortunate to have a window of time where I could pursue it. 

What inspires you to create picture books?

I love the shared experience of a picture book, both for the creators and the readers. Picture books are usually read together – parents reading to children in bed, teachers to classrooms. There’s a ritual to picture book reading that I find very moving. As a writer, I’m inspired by the way the illustrations and the text dance together to tell a complete story. 

What surprised you the most working as an author?

The timeline surprised me. There was a busy period with a lot of activity and back and forth with my editor, then long stretches of quiet once the text was set. It made me appreciate even more just how much work and time goes into creating a picture book. 

What is your favorite thing about being an author?

I love the moment when I first think of a new story idea and my mind starts racing with possibilities. It never gets old.

What do you find difficult working as an author?

Finishing a first draft. I enjoy rewriting, but the initial process of getting something new down on paper, however messy and imperfect – and with an ending – is always hard. 

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

I love a good, long walk in the park, quietly thinking and looking at the world. I like to work stories out in my head before I ever start typing. I walk, and I mutter to myself. 

Anything you are habitual about when it comes to creativity?

I like to write in silence, which often means I work at late at night once everyone has gone to bed. My husband and children love to listen to music while they work, but I can’t do it. I have difficulty writing in cafés or crowded library reading rooms. I think I just get easily distracted!

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

Being on Critter Lit is a positive experience! Thank you so much for having me. The willingness of Kid Lit creators to support and lift each other up has been so inspiring and I hope to carry that forward. 

Recommended reading?

I love a good bedtime story, and Goodnight Ganesha by Nadia Salomon and illustrated by Poonam Mistry has such beautiful language and rich cultural details, and the artwork is stunning. My whole family was fascinated by the nonfiction picture book Battle of the Butts by Jocelyn Rish, illustrated by David Creighton-Pester, about how animals use their behinds for evolutionary advantages. And in middle grade, a recent favorite was The Wolf’s Curse by Jessica Vitalis, which was magical and mythic and dreamy and had me feeling all the feels. 

What has been the highlight of your career thus far?

Last week the preorders of The Happiest Kid began arriving and my friends and family kept texting me photos – my father proudly holding the book, my best friends’ children sitting together on the floor reading it. My daughter asked me to sign her book. Sharing something from your heart with the people you love is hard to beat. 

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

Do your research. Join Julie Hedlund’s 12x12 Picture Book Challenge, join SCWBI, join the KidLit411 Facebook Group, follow writers you like on Twitter, read the deal announcements in Publishers Weekly. There are so many wise and generous creators out there willing to offer advice and answer your questions, but first you have to ask them.  

Can you tell us about your newest book?

The Happiest Kid, illustrated by Elsa Pui Si Lo and Clarice Yunyi Cai, is about a happy kid who wakes up one morning not feeling happy. Where she normally sees a bright sun, there is now a cloud. She doesn’t know why it’s there, but she doesn’t want anyone to see it—not her parents, not her teacher, and not her friends—so she hides it away. She stuffs it in her pocket, and zips it in her backpack. But as the day goes on, the cloud grows too big and heavy for her to carry, and she must find the courage to let it out. It’s a reassuring book about big feelings and understanding that everyone feels sad sometimes, and that’s okay. 

Interior art from THE HAPPIEST KID by Sarah Bagley Steele, illustrated by Elsa Pui Si Lo and Clarice Yunyi Cai

What’s up next for you?

I’m getting ready to submit a new picture book and am also determined to return to the unfinished middle grade manuscript that keeps haunting my dreams. 

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

Something that I still struggle with is knowing when to keep working on a manuscript that isn’t getting any bites, and when to move on to something new. It’s important to believe in your work, but also to keep growing and moving forward.  

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

Adventures in Babysitting. Please tell me I’m not the only one who used to lip sync along to the opening scene with a hairbrush microphone!

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

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Sarah Bagley Steele is a children’s author who loves stories of all kinds that not only make you feel, but help you see the world differently than when you began. 

Before turning her attention to her own writing, Sarah worked in the theater industry, developing new plays and musicals off Broadway. She founded a summer theater company in Pennsylvania and produced ten seasons of free Shakespeare in the Park. 

Sarah lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband, two children and rascal puppy. When not writing, she loves reading, cooking, and crafting of all sorts. On her Instagram feed @sarah.writes.for.kids she shares book recommendations, and activity and craft ideas. You can also find her at www.sarahbagleysteele.com.

BUY THIS BOOK To order THE HAPPIEST KID, click here.

WIN A COPY! Want to win a copy of THE HAPPIEST KID?! Leave a COMMENT below or RETWEET this post on Twitter. One lucky winner will be announced on Thursday, March 17th! US addresses only please.

Interview with Author Ray A. Price

Happy New Year Critters! We are officially back for 2022! We have a ton of fantastic interviews scheduled this year that I’m so excited to share with you all! I actually just filled our last interview slot for 2022 last week so anyone looking to schedule an interview with us for 2023 please feel free to reach out to me at lindsay@critterlit.com.

To kick off the new year we have an interview with self-published author Ray A. Price! I’m thrilled to have him with us today to talk about his new book, MY BROTHER IS A WEREWOLF, illustrated by Sam Aston, his road to publication, and his creative process.

So without further ado, please welcome Ray A. Price to Critter Lit!

Where do you live?

I live in Washington Pennsylvania. It’s about 25 minutes away from Pittsburgh Pennsylvania.

How many years have you been in publishing?

I have been in publishing for a year. 

How did you first get published?

I published my first story independently in 2020.

Do you write full-time?

No.

What inspires you to create picture books?

At first, my inspiration came from my daughter. When she was younger, I would guest read for her classroom. I would buy a picture book and cookies for the class. After I did this a few times my daughter looked at me and said, “Dad I know you used to write plays for stage in college, can you write a story for me?” It was a challenge I accepted. I wanted to tell stories that she would be proud of but also relatable. 

What is your favorite thing about being an author?

My favorite thing is how my stories resonate with others. The feedback from reviews or the pictures from kids holding my book is just amazing. The hard work is definitely worth it. 

What do you find difficult working as an author?

What can be difficult is finding unique voices for the characters I write. It’s challenging for sure but it’s fun creating characters that have different personalities, quirks, abilities, etc. As a writer I enjoy creating fresh characters and my goal is to tell stories that are believable with solid beginnings, middles, and ends. 

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

I’m definitely not immune to writer’s block. To keep things fresh and creative I will often times read or watch children’s literature or television. It helps me find out what they are interested in. I also have a young niece and she’s like a sponge. She absorbs so much and I like being around her. I think it’s important to be around children and to engage with what they are watching and what they are playing. It helps my writing. Children are a lot smarter than we think. 

Anything you are habitual about when it comes to creativity?

I always outline. For me, it’s my map of the story. The story can definitely change after my outline but I always start with an outline before writing my first draft. 

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

Yes, I had an interaction with a member who read an early copy of My Brother is a Werewolf for her blog. She gave it a really great review. She mentioned that the story was very great and that the overall presentation was amazing. That meant a lot coming from another kid lit author. 

Recommended reading?

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie has always been one of my favorite picture books. I still really enjoy classic stories like Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella, and The Three Little Pigs. 

What has been the highlight of your career thus far?

One of the highlights has been seeing how my book makes families smile and laugh. Recently a guy on social media shared an image of his kids holding my book. He posted a review about it and that was just really amazing. Anytime kids are enjoying my stories I love it. That pushes me forward to write more and to keep more people to enjoy my books.

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

I wish someone would had told me how fun this is. I’m having a blast doing this. It’s hard work but it never feels like work. I have been fortunate enough to find people on my team that feel the same. We are all so dedicated and devoted to the projects. It’s fun collaborating with individuals from around the world and creating a picture book.

Can you tell us about your newest book?

My newest book is My Brother is a Werewolf.  The story is about a young girl named Brie. Brie wanted a puppy. But got a younger brother. Accidentally turning her five year old brother into a werewolf is the biggest mistake of her life. She’ll do anything to fix him because cleaning up werewolf poop is as bad as you think it is. Brie thinks she had caused her parents to divorce because of her mistake. As the reader, we see how divorce looks through the eyes of a child and how Brie will do anything to fix her family.

What’s up next for you?

We just released My Brother is a Werewolf so we are going to continue to promote it. We have a planned audio book version releasing later this year. 

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

Yes, it is important to find a team. Find people who are not just there for a paycheck but want to see your goal and dream come true. Interview people until you’re comfortable and do not settle. 

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

Star Wars Return of the Jedi. 

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Huge thank you to Ray for stopping by Critter Lit today! Congrats on your wonderful new book!

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RAY A. PRICE is the author of My Brother is a Werewolf. He is an author for children’s books, short stories, and comics. Ray started his interest with children’s stories when he used to read to his daughter’s elementary classes as a guest parent speaker. After many visits to her classes and dozens of cookies donated in each visit, his little girl gave him the idea to write his own children’s book. With that in mind, Ray sat down and began writing with his heart to create a story dedicated to her. Build with Bricks was Ray’s first self published children story in 2020.

Ray has many other achievements that he is very proud of. He has a bachelors degree in political science and a master degree in fraud and forensic. He is a full-time fraud investigator. During his studies, he did plenty of playwriting. Ray found his passion for writing when he wrote short stories in middle school.

When Ray is not thinking of new ideas for his next story, he likes to be family oriented. Ray likes to travel and sample new restaurants with his family. He loves playing video games and discovering new television shows. When the weather is nice, he loves taking his English Bulldog on walks. Ray listens to various podcast daily and loves reading comics.

FOR MORE INFORMATION visit Ray online here or follow him on Twitter: @RaymondAPrice

BUY THIS BOOK To order MY BROTHER IS A WEREWOLF, click here.

WIN A COPY! Want to win a copy of MY BROTHER IS A WEREWOLF?! Leave a COMMENT below or RETWEET this post on Twitter. One lucky winner will be announced on Thursday, January 27th! US addresses only please.

Interview with Debut Author Kristy Everington

Happy Thursday Critters! Today we have a fantastic interview with a debut author whose book ISOBEL ADDS IT UP, illustrated by AG Ford, just released this past June with Random House Studio. I’m thrilled to have her with us today to talk about her debut, road to publication, and process.

So without further ado, please welcome Kristy Everington!

Where do you live?

I’m from Perth, Australia, and now live in the San Francisco Bay Area. It’s a beautiful area  – I enjoy all of the local wildlife, especially the tiny baby deer right now! And we have a neighborhood owl, Howard. 

When did you know you wanted to write picture books?

I discovered picture books when I was studying for my MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults at Vermont College of Fine Arts. I came into the program writing young adult fiction and hadn’t even really read any picture books! In my first semester, I had Kathi Appelt as my advisor, and thought it would be a waste not to try picture books with a picture book master! 

I invested my time in reading and writing picture books, and fell in love! There’s so much to love in the picture book space – the brevity of the stories, the interplay between the text and art, the humor, the heart. I’ve learned a lot of things I didn’t know from reading non-fiction picture books too – I firmly believe picture books aren’t just for children!

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

After I finished studying, I started going to conferences and learning more about the business side of writing. I spent a lot of time researching agents and how to go about querying them. I started querying with other picture books first and then moved onto Isobel Adds It Up. It was one of the very first picture books I had written, but it went through a lot of revisions before I started querying it!

I had just revised it at the Big Sur Writing Workshop when I sent the first query for that manuscript to my now-agent, Jordan Hamessley. It was the first manuscript we put on submission to editors. It went through some more revisions before selling. It sounds simple when you summarize it, but it all took a lot of time and there was definitely a lot of angst involved! 

Can you share a bit about your process?

I write picture books by hand first. I like to write with a pencil rather than a pen – there’s something freeing about the pencil not being permanent and having the ability to erase what I’ve written! I often think of titles first. It usually doesn’t take very long to write a first draft, but then it can take some time to hone the story. 

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

I go for daily walks around the neighborhood, and there’s always lots of things to see and think about. Ideas come from everywhere, so just paying attention to news stories, pop culture, and regular happenings in life gives me ideas. My cats alone give me lots of inspiration for stories!

Anything you can’t live without while you write?

I like to light a candle and have a cup of tea. My favorite writing tea is white tea with pomegranate, but it’s been discontinued and my supply is dwindling so I need to find a replacement!

Any authors and/or illustrators who inspire you?

So many! Some of my favorites are Oliver Jeffers, Carolyn Crimi, Jon Klassen, Sophie Blackall, Sean Ferrell, and Mac Barnett.

Dream project to work on?

One of the very first picture books I wrote was based on my cats when they were kittens called Chicken Face and Lily, and I have dreams of that being made into a picture book series and maybe even a TV show! I would never get sick of writing about their adventures.

Tell us about your debut book.

Isobel Adds It Up, illustrated by the talented A.G. Ford, is about a girl who loves math, but she is interrupted by the ruckus caused by her mysterious new neighbors. The inspiration came from my own noisy neighbors, which is something I think a lot of people can relate to after spending the last year at home!

Interior art from ISOBEL ADDS IT UP by Kristy Everington, illustrated by AG Ford with Random House Studio

Interior art from ISOBEL ADDS IT UP by Kristy Everington, illustrated by AG Ford with Random House Studio

What’s up next for you?

I’m working on a few picture book ideas – mostly funny ones with animals. 

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

Ooh, it’s a toss up between Dirty Dancing and The Lost Boys, but I will have to say Dirty Dancing. My friends and I were all obsessed with it when it first came out. I even saw Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights at the cinema when it came out. My friend who I saw it with swore me to secrecy because she was embarrassed (sorry, Al)!

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

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Originally from Perth, Australia, KRISTY EVERINGTON now lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and quite a lot of cats. She enjoys exploring the California coastline and visiting as many lighthouses as she can. Kristy holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts.

FOR MORE INFORMATION visit Kristy online: https://www.kristyeverington.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kmeverington

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

ORDER THIS BOOK To order a copy ISOBEL ADDS IT UP, click here.

WIN A COPY! Want to win a copy of ISOBEL ADDS IT UP?! Leave a COMMENT below or RETWEET this post on Twitter. One lucky winner will be announced on Thursday, July 15th. US addresses only please.

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Interview with Debut Author Tina Shepardson

Happy Thursday Critters! Today we have an interview with a debut author whose book, WALKOUT, illustrated by Terry Sirrell, takes on the topic of school safety for kids. I’m thrilled to have her with us today to talk about her road to publication and process of taking on such a difficult topic in a picture book.

So without further ado, please welcome Tina Shepardson!

Where do you live?

Syracuse, New York.

When did you know you wanted to write picture books?

Since grade school in the 70s, I wrote stories, tied them with string, and shared them with children I babysat for. After college, I started teaching. I was so busy teaching my students books, I didn’t have the time to write my own, but I did keep a journal of ideas for a some day. 

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

In 2016, I began to carve out consistent writing time. In addition, I began looking for courses to learn the craft and for critique and professional writing groups. This way i could learn from them as well as help them with their craft. I participated in The Children’s Book Academy The Craft of Writing Picture Books and joined the 12x12 Writing Group. Both were so instrumental in me learning from others and meeting my current critique partners. I wrote several different drafts and was open to all the ways the piece needed to improve as well as the ways I needed to grow as a writer. 

Can you share a bit about your process?

Sure! I have taught English Language Arts for 33 years so I have many planners to choose from when brainstorming a story. Once I have notes organized onto a graphic organizer, I let it sit while I look at several mentor texts to help me determine a possible structure or format that may work with a particular piece. After the first draft is written, I leave it alone for a week so that when I return, I am reading it with fresh eyes. Once I revise it to the best of my abilities, I submit it to my critiques groups and look forward to their wonderful suggestions. So often they see things that I may not see on my own. Once I have their feedback, I continue to revise and then write it out on Post-its. I have a PB template on my wall so once all the Post-its are on the pages of the template, I can read it aloud, listen to the pacing, etc. 

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

Teaching and parenting have been amazing opportunities to find ideas. Simply listening  and working with children there are so many ideas. Also, participating in Tara Lazar’s Story Storm each January is such an inspirational experience. Each day, a different author presents an idea for finding ideas and topics to write about, These talented and diverse authors provide so many creative strategies for spotting more ideas. 

Anything you can’t live without while you write?

Great question! I have to have The Children’s Word Book and The Emotion Thesaurus. Of course there has to be a few snacks, so chocolate chip cookies or Lindt’s dark orange chocolate squares are nearby but only if I have completed section or accomplished a certain goal.

Any authors and/or illustrators who inspire you?

Yes! When I was a child, my favorite characters were found in E. B. White’s books Stuart Little and Charlotte’s Web, A. A. Milne’s Winnie The Pooh, and Arnold Lobel’s Frog and Toad series. These characters were staples in my life. I adored their stories, the illustrations and their journneys, and the messages they shared. Throughout my teaching career, I bring these stories into lessons and our character education programs.

Dream project to work on?

I would absolutely love for a book to become a series and eventually a program for kids. This would provide more opportunities to make a difference and be in contact with children in ways that help them grow and become their best version of themselves. I think about this all of the time!

Tell us about your debut book.

In 1999, when Columbine experienced tragic school violence, my students and I sent them (and other schools like Sandy Hook) care packages of poems and seed packets to express our care and compassion to the communities. By the time the shooting in Parkland, Florida occurred in 2018, I was taking children’s writing courses. I didn’t find picture books helping kids understand they could advocate for safe schools in positive, proactive ways that united others and thought perhaps I could write one. Once I did, around that same time, I found a NYT article that really helped me structure it the way it needed based on the true events of the article itself. I was so excited to find this.

Interior art from WALKOUT by Tina Shepardson, Illustrated by Terry Sirrell

Interior art from WALKOUT by Tina Shepardson, Illustrated by Terry Sirrell

Walkout is a picture book inspired by a true story. Walkout shows democracy in action as Maddie organizes a safe school’s anti-violence walkout. Other kids throughout the States are walking out. But Maddie’s principal has announced that only older grades can participate. At the same time, Maddie’s best friend Stella is too scared to help. Readers wonder if Stella will find her courage and join Maddie in walking out. 

Interior art from WALKOUT by Tina Shepardson, Illustrated by Terry Sirrell

What’s up next for you?

In early 2022, I have a chapter book releasing with Clear Fork Publishing entitled Canines Unleashed. Hank, an Akita, finds himself in Canines Unleashed, a doggie daycare, when his owner starts kindergarten. He is nervous about this new adventure. How will he surf the kitchen counter for crumbs after lunch? Hank must find a way to face his fears, take responsibility for his actions and accept new challenges he never experienced in his once sheltered world. Follow the real Hank on Instagram @hank_madeleine. This project is near and dear to my heart because I was able to incorporate my daughter and akitas as main characters. I am working on creating a podcast to accompany this as well…. and hopefully more books!

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

That is a tall order! I will have to go with 1989’s When Harry Met Sally. Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan together create such a heartwarming and hilarious story line. The soundtrack is beautiful. I love films that entertain and share a lesson.

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Huge thank you to Tina for stopping by Critter Lit today! Congrats on your upcoming books!

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An award-winning teacher for 33 years, TINA SHEPARDSON has shared thousands of books with children. As a passionate advocate for children and reading, she finds her best stories are inspired through her favorite roles in life: mother and teacher. Find her in Upstate New York with her family, enjoying the latest snowstorm with her akitas.

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

Twitter: @ShepardsonTina

Instagram: @hank_madeleine

Facebook: TinaShepardson

ORDER THIS BOOK To order a copy of WALKOUT click here.

WIN A COPY! Want to win a copy of WALKOUT?! Leave a COMMENT below or RETWEET this post on Twitter. One lucky winner will be announced on Thursday, June 2nd! 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 Debut Author Jeff Goodman

Happy Thursday Critters! I hope you are all staying warm out there— because it is freezing in Ohio! So it seems fitting that we are chatting with a debut author today from sunny Los Angeles to warm things up a bit.

Please welcome Jeff Goodman to Critter Lit!

Where do you live?

My wife, daughter, and I live in Los Angeles, where I was born and raised. It’s a crazy metropolis that doesn’t make sense in many ways, but it’s beautiful all the same.

When did you know you wanted to write picture books?

Writing a children’s book has been a goal of mine for many years. I really got inspired to make it happen after the birth of my daughter, which reconnected me to children’s literature in a new and more meaningful way.

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

It all started with a birthday present: Through an elementary school auction, my wife bought me a consultation meeting with a local publisher. That initial meeting led to many months of revising, editing, and market research — all before finding an illustrator, creating a draft layout, and putting the finishing touches on the book before making it available to the public. The process required ample collaboration, and as a debut author I was grateful to have the guidance and encouragement of experienced professionals. I now have a much better understanding of how much work goes into the creation of a 24-page children’s book! 

Can you share a bit about your process?

My concept — a children’s book about a dozen eggs, each cooked differently to reveal a different emotion — became an exercise in trial and error. It required lots of mixing and matching! In addition, since I wanted to make a rhyming book, it took significant time to find age-appropriate words to fit into the ABCB stanza structure. It helps that I’m a bit of a word nerd; I enjoyed the challenge of emphasizing the right syllables in each line while maintaining the desired meaning. My thesaurus got a great workout.

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

Spend time with children. As a parent, uncle, and literacy volunteer (shout-out to Reading to Kids), I’m always amazed at the new insights and fresh perspectives I glean from the little ones in my life. Their curiosity, fascinations, and sense of wonder are contagious!

Anything you can’t live without while you write?

I love listening to music, but I find that I often get distracted by lyrics when I’m writing. So, I usually opt for instrumental artists: Ludovico Eindaudi, Lance Allen, Chris Thile, The Greyboy Allstars, and The Six Parts Seven, to name a few.

Any authors and/or illustrators who inspire you?

I’ll always admire Shel Silverstein’s clever use of language; his work manages to be fun, memorable, and poignant. And I’m truly inspired by the brilliance of Gabriella Urbina, who illustrated my debut children’s book; I still marvel at her technical skills and her ability to convert ideas into images.

Dream project to work on?

I’m a huge basketball fan, so it would be pretty special to incorporate my love of hoops into a children’s book somehow.

Tell us about your debut book.

Feel Like Eggs? is about a carton of a dozen eggs, each cooked a different way to reveal a different emotion. It’s the rhyming answer to the question, “Why express yourself when you can eggs-press yourself?” Featuring plenty of wordplay and charming illustrations, the book is a fun foray into social-emotional learning for the little ones in your life.

What’s up next for you?

I have a few additional manuscripts for children’s books in the works, and I hope to bring them to life in the near future.

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

Hmm ... either Ferris Bueller’s Day Off or Rain Man, depending on my mood.

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

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JEFF GOODMAN wrote Feel Like Eggs? to help kids understand and express the feelings they experience in their daily lives. As an award-winning journalist and school communications specialist, Jeff has written extensively about education, child development, and social-emotional learning. He currently works in communications at UCLA. An alumnus of UC Berkeley, Jeff lives in Los Angeles with his wife and daughter.

FOR MORE INFORMATION about Jeff and his book, visit his website at jeffgoodmanauthor.com or follow him on social media:

Facebook: fb.me/jeffgoodmanauthor

Twitter: @jeffgodman2

Instagram: @jeffgoodman2

ORDER THIS BOOK To order a copy of Jeff’s book, click here.

WIN A COPY! Want to win a copy of FEEL LIKE EGGS?! Leave a COMMENT below or RETWEET this post on Twitter. One lucky winner will be announced on Thursday, February 17th! US addresses only please.

Interview with Debut Author Lindsay H. Metcalf

Happy Thursday Critters! Today we have an interview with a debut picture book author that has not one, not two, BUT THREE picture books coming out this year! What a debut year! I’m thrilled to have today’s author with us and I can’t wait for you to read about her fantastic lineup of books this year.

So without further ado, please welcome Lindsay Metcalf!

Where do you live?

I live in rural Kansas, just three miles from the wheat, corn, and soybean farm where I grew up. My whole family lives here now, so my kids are blessed with abundant grandparent and cousin time. 

When did you know you wanted to write picture books?

I knew the day my youngest went to preschool and I finally had a few hours to myself. I had left my job as a newspaper reporter and editor a few years earlier to be a stay-at-home mom. In those early years caring for my sons, we read together constantly. The irreverent, funny new picture books we found surprised and delighted me. I wanted to try writing one, especially for my oldest, who was born with microtia/atresia—a malformed ear and no ear canal. I wanted him to see himself in a book. The day my youngest son went to preschool, I snuggled up with my Cavalier King Charles puppy in a cozy armchair and drafted the picture book of my heart, which spilled out way too long, descriptive, and didactic. But I couldn’t stop scratching the itch to write. I read up on how the heck people got published, and later that fall, in 2015, I found SCBWI and my first critique partners. The rest is herstory.

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

Because I had been writing daily for many years, I hoped my trajectory would be shorter than others who had less experience in writing. Ha. Pretty pompous, eh? Picture books spare no one, and my learning curve was steep!

I submitted that first story to all the editors and agents on faculty at my first regional SCBWI conference in 2015. Of course I submitted waaaay too soon. Fortunately, all those rejections included glimmers of kindness and encouragement. I began to understand what I had to do: attend more conferences and small, craft-focused workshops; collect critique partners; and devour craft books such as Ann Whitford Paul’s Writing Picture Books. I learned the basics in Susanna Hill’s Making Picture Book Magic course, began to thread nonfiction narratives in Kristen Fulton’s Nonfiction Archaeology course (which is no longer offered, unfortunately), and refined my craft in Renee LaTulippe’s Lyrical Language Lab. In the meantime I signed up educational webinars and participated in ReFoReMo, Storystorm (which was called PiBoIdMo at the time), KidLit Summer School, and other free craft challenges. I subscribed to newsletters such as KidLit 411 and joined writer-focused Facebook groups such as Sub It Club while following every kidlit blog I could find. 

Then in 2017, on the same day I won a mentorship through Tara Luebbe and Becky Cattie’s Writing with the Stars contest, I had “the call” with my agent. That was probably the best day of my kidlit career thus far. It took another year and a half to sell my first book. 

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

I get a lot of my ideas from reading the news. I subscribe to four newspapers — two local ones as well as the digital editions of the New York Times and the Washington Post. Email newsletters are also essential for nonfiction ideas. My favorites include the Smithsonian, JSTOR, Library of Congress, and the National Archives. I shake off the rust by playing with my kids. Whenever they say something clever, I sneak away to record it on my phone.

Tell us about your debut books.

I have three nonfiction picture books coming out in fall 2020. I consider all of them my debuts, so I hope you don’t mind if I tell you about all three.

BEATRIX POTTER, SCIENTIST, illustrated by Junyi Wu (September 1, 2020, Albert Whitman & Company), is a picture-book biography focused on the interplay between the author's foundational love of science and burgeoning talent as an artist. As a child, Beatrix kept a meticulous cabinet of labeled and pinned insect specimens, and even boiled her pets after they died so she could articulate and study their bones. Then, as she traveled northern England and Scotland as a young woman, she fell in love with fungi and fell down a decade-long rabbit hole of obsession that ended with her breakthrough science on spore germination being presented to the Linnean Society, which wouldn’t allow her to attend because she was a woman. 

NO VOICE TOO SMALL: Fourteen Young Americans Making History (September 22, 2020, Charlesbridge) is a picture-book poetry anthology co-edited by me, Keila V. Dawson (THE KING CAKE BABY) and Jeanette Bradley (LOVE, MAMA), and illustrated by Bradley. It features short biographies about contemporary young activists who are taking the lead where grown-ups aren’t moving fast enough. Subjects include literacy activist Marley Dias, water protector Jasilyn Charger, Scout for Equality founder Zach Wahls, and immigration reformer Viridiana Sanchez Santos. Contributors include Nikki Grimes, Joseph Bruchac, Lesléa Newman, Guadalupe García McCall, Carole Boston Weatherford, Traci Sorell, Hena Khan, G. Neri, and more. You can find a complete list of our amazing contributors at the link above. 

FARMERS UNITE! Planting a Protest for Fair Prices (November 10, 2020, Calkins Creek) will be illustrated with archival photos and targeted toward more of a middle-grade audience. In the late 1970s, grain prices had tanked, farm auction notices filled newspapers, and people had forgotten that food didn’t grow in grocery stores. So, on February 5, 1979, thousands of tractors from all parts of the US took to the highways and flooded Washington, DC, in protest. Farmers wanted fair prices for their products and demanded action from Congress. After police corralled the tractors on the National Mall, the farmers and their tractors stayed through a snowstorm and dug out the city. Americans were now convinced they needed farmers, but the law took longer. I grew up on a Kansas farm, so this rarely told story of grassroots perseverance and economic justice hits home for me. I wrote it imagining that it would be illustrated traditionally and reach an audience of children about age 5-9. My editor, Carolyn Yoder, saw the potential for a 9-12 audience using photos, and although my manuscript hasn’t changed fundamentally, the book now spreads over 64 pages! It’s strange how these three are all coalescing at the same time. I started writing FARMERS in October 2016 as part of the Nonfiction Archaeology class. That story has been through thirty-plus major revisions. I began researching BEATRIX a year later. NO VOICE TOO SMALL sold first, though—on proposal in a whirlwind collaboration in 2018 that began in a private Facebook group for #kidlitwomen. 

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

Eighties me would say it’s a toss-up between “Mannequin” and “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.” These were my go-to sleepover flicks. My friends and I would fantasize about winning a TV dance contest or being a time-traveling mannequin while we played on a three-in-one pool, table tennis, and air hockey table and ate greasy pizza.

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Huge thank you to Lindsay for stopping by Critter Lit today! Congratulations on your THREE debuts! We can’t wait to see what you write next!

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LINDSAY H. METCALF is a journalist and author of nonfiction picture books: Beatrix Potter, Scientist; Farmers Unite! Planting a Protest for Fair Prices; and No Voice Too Small, her co-edited poetry anthology about young change-makers. Lindsay lives in north-central Kansas with her husband, two sons, and a variety of pets. You can reach her at lindsayhmetcalf.com.

FOLLOW LINDSAY ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

Twitter and Instagram: @lindsayhmetcalf

Subscribe for updates: lindsayhmetcalf.com/newsletter

BUY THIS BOOK To order a copies of Lindsay’s new books, click here.

WIN A COPY! Want to win a copy of BEATRIX POTTER, SCIENTIST?! Leave a COMMENT below or RETWEET this post on Twitter. One lucky winner will be announced on Thursday, September 10th! US addresses only please.

Interview with Debut Author AJ Irving

Happy Thursday Critters! Today I’m not only celebrating my oldest son’s fifth birthday BUT we also have a fabulous interview with debut picture book author AJ Irving! I’m thrilled to have her with us today to talk about her new book, DANCE LIKE A LEAF, illustrated by Claudia Navarro, which comes out with Barefoot Books in August. This book has received a starred review from School and Library Journal (woo-hoo!). It’s a lovely, beautiful story about the connection between a child and grandmother. Make sure to check out DANCE LIKE A LEAF!

So without further ado…please welcome AJ Irving!

Where do you live?

My family moved from Seattle to Etna, Wyoming, in late December 2019. Etna is a tiny town 45 miles south of Jackson Hole. It’s a gorgeous area. I recently went on a hike in Grand Teton National Park. My friend and I saw waterfalls, moose, and a grizzly cub. The cub was only a few feet away from us. We couldn’t see the mama bear so we were pretty freaked out! 

When did you know you wanted to write picture books?

I’ve always wanted to be a writer, but I rediscovered my love of kidlit after I became a mother. I started writing picture books after my twelve-year-old son was born. 

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

Honestly, I didn’t know what I was doing at first. My stories were too long and didn’t leave room for art. I submitted to a few houses that accepted unsolicited manuscripts. I received one form rejection. In 2014, I discovered the online kidlit community. I joined SCBWI, attended my first conference, signed up for 12x12, and connected with critique partners. My craft slowly improved. In 2017, I was selected for a mentorship with Laura Gehl through Writing with the Stars. In 2017 and 2018, I was a #PBParty finalist. I pitched my debut picture book, DANCE LIKE A LEAF, in #KidPit in 2018, and received a heart from my fabulous editor, Kate DePalma. I signed with my wonderful agent, Jordan Hamessley, shortly after I received an offer from Barefoot Books. 

Can you share a bit about your process?

First of all, I think it’s important to read a wide variety of recent picture books, and really study them. My story ideas come from everywhere: things my kids say, photos, videos, life experiences, relationships with my friends and family. 

Word strings come to me out of the blue, especially when I’m hiking or walking by myself. I type these lines on my phone immediately. When I get home, I piece them together on paper. I almost always write a first draft on paper. I feel more connected to my pen. There’s something magical about the hand moving across the page. It’s the best feeling in the world when words just flow out of you. Never stop writing when you’re in the zone! I usually revise a manuscript several times before I send it to my critique group. If my critique group is excited about a project, I send it to my agent.  

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

I couldn’t create anything at all when the pandemic started. I watched a lot of webinars which definitely inspired me. I’m thankful the kidlit community has offered so many free resources during this time. Little bits of good news also help me shake the rust off. They give me hope and remind me that this is what I’m meant to do. I got out of my writing funk and was excited to return to my craft after I received requests for more work from two editors and a starred review from School Library Journal.   

Anything you can’t live without while you write?

I have grown close with three of my agent sisters. We have a private group called The Candle Coven. Now, I always light a candle when I write. 

Any authors and/or illustrators who inspire you?

Is there a word limit for this interview? So many! Laura Gehl will always be one of the most inspirational authors to me. She is prolific. She had two books come out on the same day last week! She sends me inspirational emails, which I print off and put in my writing space. We swap manuscripts, and I ask her for advice all the time. She’s a wonderful friend and an incredibly talented picture book author. 

Arree Chung! Arree gives so much time and energy to help kidlit creators. He is a brilliant author/illustrator and a beautiful human being. I worked closely with Arree on a manuscript in Storyteller Academy. He boosted my confidence and taught me how to make dummies. I’m sure he’d be excited to learn that the manuscript he helped me with is currently on submission. 

I also have to give a shoutout to all the members of my debut group. I’d be lost without Perfect2020pbs. It has been an honor to share my debut year with all of you!

Dream project to work on?

The fastest manuscript I’ve ever written was inspired by our Weimaraner, Charlie. She passed away from lymphoma in March. Charlie shared so many first experiences with my children. I just had to tell this story. I’ve always admired Loren Long. He is an amazing author/illustrator, and he has a Weimaraner. It would be a dream come true to work on this book with him. 

Tell us about your debut book.

DANCE LIKE A LEAF was inspired by my grandma. I spent summers with her in Montana every year when I was growing up. We were also pen pals for most of my life. I wrote a letter for her when I learned that her life was nearing the end. I read this letter at her service. Several folks approached me after the service to let me know how much they were moved by my words. That’s when I knew I needed to write DANCE LIKE A LEAF. Autumn was my grandma’s favorite season. She loved tea and scarves and dancing. The story shows the special bond between a grandmother and granddaughter as they enjoy autumn together. Grandma’s health gradually declines, and after she passes away, the granddaughter continues their autumn traditions. I think it shows children a lovely way to remember loved ones after they are gone. 

What’s up next for you?

There’s so much waiting in publishing. I’m crossing my fingers and toes for my submissions. In the meantime, I am excited to revise my queer girl picture book, revisit some old manuscripts, and go on a lot of hikes before the snow returns.

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

Pretty in Pink! I was obsessed with Molly Ringwald when I was a kiddo. And Duckie is pretty much the best character ever. One of my favorite scenes is when he lip syncs “Try a Little Tenderness” by Otis Redding. That song used to be my ringtone. My dad still teases me about forcing him to watch this movie SO many times, but he admits he enjoyed it much more than Rainbow Brite. I introduced my daughter to Pretty in Pink. She loves it, too. 

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

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AJ Irving grew up in Boise, Idaho, writing stories and daydreaming about becoming an author. Now, she writes picture books and poetry on her big back porch in a tiny town near Jackson, Wyoming. AJ reads kidlit every day and dances every chance she gets. Her debut picture book, DANCE LIKE A LEAF, releases from Barefoot Books on August 21, 2020.

As an author and former bookmobile librarian, AJ is passionate about inspiring children to read. She received a B.A. in journalism and women’s and gender studies from the University of Oregon. AJ is represented by Jordan Hamessley of New Leaf Literary.

Learn more at www.ajirving.com or follow her on social media:

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/aj_irving

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/ajirvingauthor/

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/aj_irving/?hl=en

BUY THIS BOOK To order a copy of AJ’s debut picture book, DANCE LIKE A LEAF, click here.

WIN A COPY! Want to win a copy of DANCE LIKE A LEAF?! Leave a COMMENT below or RETWEET this post on Twitter. One lucky winner will be announced on Thursday, August 6th! US addresses only please.

Interview with Debut Author Paulette Bochnig Sharkey

Happy Thursday Critters! It’s so nice to be back with you all. I hope you are staying healthy and safe during this quarantine.

I’m thrilled to be sharing today’s interview with you because today is the very first time I’m interviewing a debut published author who I had the chance to work with through Critter Lit’s critique service! It’s so wonderful to see a project come full-circle. Frank and I receive lots of critique requests through the site, sometimes we get to work with people again, but most of the time we have no idea what happens to the manuscripts we critique. Generally, we are a stop along the publishing journey for many picture book authors. But with Paulette’s manuscript, I’m thrilled to say she got published! I was so excited to hear she sold her manuscript when she reached out to let me know. It’s wonderful to be apart of that process. I’m so excited for Paulette and can’t wait to share her debut book, A DOLL FOR GRANDMA, illustrated by Samantha Woo, with all of you today.

So without further ado, please welcome Paulette Bochnig Sharkey!

Where do you live?

I live in East Lansing, Michigan, home of Michigan State University. Go Green! 

When did you know you wanted to write picture books?

I didn’t grow up with picture books. The first childhood books I remember are the ones I read to myself, starting probably around 4th grade, like Nancy Drew mysteries and the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. I still have all my hardcover copies.

My introduction to picture books came much later, when I became a mom, which was in 1984. My daughter and I shared huge stacks of books every bedtime. I loved the minimalism of picture books and decided I wanted to write one. But decades passed before I made that happen.

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

When I was a stay-at-home mom, I sold a lot of nonfiction articles and word games to children’s magazines like Highlights, Ladybug, Cricket, and Hopscotch.

But it wasn’t until I retired from my job as a reference librarian that I got back to my goal of writing a picture book. I joined SCBWI and took a Writer’s Digest University course, “Writing the Picture Book.” During that 4-week course, I drafted a manuscript that, after many critiques (including a very helpful one from you, Lindsay!), became my debut picture book. 

Can you share a bit about your process?

Because I write more nonfiction than fiction, my process usually starts with research. I like hunting for interesting, even elusive nuggets of information. I think it’s the reference librarian in me. The problem is, I enjoy it so much that I sometimes have a hard time stopping the research and getting to the actual writing!

I like to have a fairly good opening line before I start writing. Of course, the opening often changes multiple times, but I seem to need it to get me going on a story. Recently, I’ve started writing a pitch before I write my first draft. I put the pitch at the top of my WIP to keep me on point.

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

Like many others, I often get ideas when I’m not at my desk. I find walking helps clear my mind to make room for new ideas. I read a lot for inspiration, heeding the advice of poet Jane Kenyon that writers need to "Read good books, have good sentences in your ears." 

During the Covid-19 pandemic, when it has been hard to focus on writing at all, I’ve turned to one of my favorite anxiety-tamers for word lovers: crossword puzzles. It’s hard to worry about your problems when you’re solving a crossword.

Anything you can’t live without while you write?

I need my computer, a good light source, and complete quiet. It’s nice if I have a cup of hot green tea, too, but that’s not a requirement! And I prefer to write first thing in the morning, before my mind gets cluttered with concerns of the day. I’m not a go-to-a-coffee-shop-to-write kind of person (and we can’t do that right now anyway). Too many distractions there. I’m happiest writing in my upstairs home office, with a nice view of squirrels scampering through the evergreens. 

Any authors who inspire you?

Oh, there are so many! I adore the writing of Kevin Henkes. So much humor and heart. A Weekend with Wendell is the first picture book I remember reading with my daughter that made us both laugh. In fact, I’m sure I laughed harder than she did. 

I’m a big fan of picture book biographies and am working on one myself. Two titles that I greatly admire and return to again and again for their lyrical language are Margarita Engle’s Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreño Played the Piano for President Lincoln and Jennifer Berne’s On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein.

And there have been some beautiful picture books about memory loss published in the last few years, like The Remember Balloons by Jessie Oliveros, The Tide by Clare Helen Welsh. Travels with My Granny by Juliet Rix, Finding Grandma’s Memories by Jiyeon Pak.

Dream project to work on?

I’m a pianist and have written several music-themed picture book manuscripts, including a biography of 19th century pianist Clara Schumann. I like projects that let me shine a light on lesser-known female musicians.

I also have an idea for a book about adoption that’s dear to my heart but I have not yet been able to find a way into that story. 

Tell us about your debut book.

A Doll for Grandma: A Story about Alzheimer’s Disease, illustrated by Samantha Woo (Beaming Books, May 2020), is a picture book about a little girl named Kiera, whose grandmother develops Alzheimer’s disease and moves into a memory-care home. There, Kiera embraces Grandma’s altered sense of reality and figures out a new way for the two of them to play together and sustain their close relationship. It’s a story about empathy, kindness, and the special bond between grandparent and grandchild. It’s about loving and accepting people as they are, even when they change.

My inspiration to write A Doll for Grandma came from many years working as a volunteer pianist in memory-care homes and from caring for family members with dementia. The best way to interact with people living with Alzheimer’s is to enter their reality, rather than trying to bring them back into our world. My main character models this behavior when she gives Grandma a baby doll. Kiera and Grandma care for their baby dolls together, sharing moments of joy and meaningful connection.

I’m fortunate to be able to donate all my author proceeds from the book to support Alzheimer’s research. We must find a cure.

What’s up next for you?

I’m querying agents and hope that 2020 is the year I receive an offer of representation!

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

Big, from 1988, a sweet, funny Tom Hanks movie, directed by Penny Marshall. There’s a great scene where Hanks and Robert Loggia play “Chopsticks”—with their feet—on a giant keyboard at an FAO Schwarz toy store.

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Huge thank you to Paulette for joining us on Critter Lit today! Congratulations on your debut!

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PAULETTE BOCHNIG SHARKEY worked for many years as a librarian, first in her home state of Michigan, and later in Australia, Nevada, and Wisconsin. She is the author of two library reference books and dozens of articles for children’s magazines. Paulette has also worked as a recipe indexer, braille transcriber, developmental editor, proofreader, and ghostwriter. A DOLL FOR GRANDMA is her first children’s book.

FOR MORE INFORMATION on Paulette, visit her online or follow her on Twitter @PBSharkey

BUY THIS BOOK To purchase a copy of Paulette’s book, click here.

WIN A COPY! Want to win a giveaway copy of Paulette’s debut book, A DOLL FOR GRANDMA?! Leave a COMMENT below or RETWEET this post on Twitter. One lucky winner will be announced on Thursday, May 14th! US addresses only please.

Interview with Debut Author Mary Wagley Copp

Happy Thursday Critters! I hope you are all hangin’ in there with all this social distancing. Sharing new books and their creators every week definitely helps me feel some sense of normalcy. I’m happy to be with all of you and I hope these posts help a bit.

This week we have an interview with author Mary Wagley Copp. Her debut picture book, WHEREVER I GO, illustrated by Munir D. Mohammed, releases on April 21st. Please join me in welcoming Mary to Critter Lit today!

Where do you live? 

My husband and I live in Westport, Massachusetts - a rural farming community on the Westport River which leads into Buzzards Bay. We moved there a few years ago, once the kids fledged, after 30 years in the fabulous and creative city of Providence, RI. I am still adjusting to rural life! 

When did you know you wanted to write picture books?

Oh wow – about 10 years ago I got the bright idea! I waited, though, until 2015 before I took my first writing class and I was hooked! I have always loved to write – a poem here or there, journal entries, snippets about my fabulous kids, etc. But, it wasn’t until I was well into producing films that I realized I would probably prefer to share stories with children!  

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

To be honest  - and I think this was what eventually led to publication – I was putting my energy into working on the craft of writing for children much more than I was thinking about the possibility of publication. I knew that my learning curve was steep and that not only did I need one amazing manuscript, I’d need at least 3 more to show to an agent. So I flung myself into the craft and just wrote, took classes and workshops and wrote some more. Focusing on my writing allowed me to be fully receptive to feedback. When an agent at a conference gave me some very insightful and critical feedback on a manuscript, I simply went back and re-wrote it, totally re-visioned it, without really worrying if I was impressing anyone. I truly think that my caring more about that story and getting it ‘right’  allowed me to wholly accept feedback and keep my mind on revising. Eventually, I did sign with an agent and we got a deal in the first round of submissions.

Can you share a bit about your process?

It is different for each manuscript and where I am in the process with each story. It is hard for me to get started with a first draft – even if I think I have a great idea! In this case, I actually set my hour glass and I don’t stop writing  - even if it feels like nonsense – until there is no sand left in the top part of the glass. For revisions, however, whether I have received feedback from my critique group or from my agent, I get right to work – nothing gets in my way of revisions!! I LOVE the challenge of revisions.

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

I walk. I listen - to sounds in nature, to children and parents, conversations between kids. I eavesdrop at cafés. I get my mind off of writing and into observing and taking in all I can – with all my senses. And I TRY to practice patience with myself when I am not in a creative place. Also, an ice cream cone is an answer to many of my problems in life!

Anything you can’t live without while you write?

Probably a snack! And a cup of tea.

Any authors and/or illustrators who inspire you?

So many. Too many to name. Sorry, I do not mean to evade your great question. But, honestly, all authors and illustrators published or not have my deep respect. This is a journey of heart and soul and it takes great courage. I guess everyone engaged in this work inspires me.

Dream project to work on?

In my continued work in the refugee resettlement world, I dream of compiling stories from young adult refugees - in the form of essays, poems, conversations, drawings, etc. So many of them are eager to share their stories beyond their communities. I have spoken to a few of them and this is a dream for them, too. So, maybe it will happen one day soon! 

Tell us about your debut book.

Wherever I Go is a picture book, illustrated by Munir Mohammed, published by Atheneum/S&S. It comes out April 21st. 

Of all her friends, Abia has been at the Shimelba Refugee Camp the longest—seven years, four months, and sixteen days. Papa says that’s too long and they need a forever home. Until then, though, Abia has something important to do. Be a queen. Sometimes she’s a noisy queen, banging on her drum as she and Mama wait in the long line for rice to cook for dinner. Sometimes she’s a quiet queen, cuddling her baby cousin to sleep while Auntie is away collecting firewood. And sometimes, when Papa talks hopefully of their future, forever home, Abia is a little nervous. Forever homes are in strange and faraway places—will she still be a queen?

I was inspired to write this story after producing a documentary film about the refugee journey (in general and one specifically) and resettlement into a new life. We featured a family who had fled their home in Eritrea, was in a camp in Ethiopia for years and was resettled in  Providence, RI. I was so moved and inspired by their resilience, courage and eagerness to be part of their new community. I was particularly amazed and surprised at the joy, curiosity and spirit the kids in the camp had, amidst such hardship. I hope this is celebrated in Wherever I Go.

What’s up next for you?

Writing wise, I always have a few manuscripts in process – at all stages of development. Other than that, my husband and I are thinking about circumnavigating the US in an RV. I bet that would be a great way to inspire new stories!

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

ET, for sure.

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Thank you Mary for stopping by to chat with us today! Congrats on your debut book! We can’t wait to see what you write next.

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MARY WAGLEY COPP graduated from Smith College and earned an MPH from UNC - Chapel Hill. Her career has been primarily focused on strengthening non-profit, social justice organizations - both as a management consultant as well as an executive director. She has directed a rural health organization in Appalachia, worked at United Way and consulted with many community-based as well as national non-profits. Mary has also spent several years in the filmmaking world. Her films delve into issues such as refugee resettlement, the emergence of independent radio in West Africa and the importance of stories in the health care system. Her first film was the inspiration for Wherever I Go, her debut picture book (Atheneum/S&S, 2020), illustrated by Munir Mohammed. Mary lives with her husband on a farm in Westport, MA. They have 3 grown children.

FOR MORE INFORMATION on Mary, visit her website: Marywagleycopp.com or follow her on social media:

Instagram: @Marywcopp

Twitter: @Maryfkwc

Facebook: Mary Wagley Copp

BUY THIS BOOK To purchase Mary’s book, click here.

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Debut Interview with Jenn Harney

Happy Thursday Critters! It’s been a while— but it’s great to be back! I’ve had a crazy few weeks with ALA and deadlines— I’m trying to push through the rest of the summer until baby no. 3 arrives! BUT I’m so excited to be back to our interview schedule with fellow local author and illustrator Jenn Harney! I’m thrilled to be sharing Jenn’s work with you all today. Her debut, UNDERWEAR! just came out this past April with Disney/Hyperion and it is HILARIOUS— I just know you’re all going to love it!

So without further ado…please welcome Jenn Harney!

Where do you live?

Twinsburg, Ohio. I usually say “Clevelandish” because people know where Cleveland is. Twinsburg, not so much.

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

I met Tomie dePaola from a far at a Young Author’s Conference when I was, I think, in second grade. It was the first time it ever occurred to me that people could write and illustrate books as a job.

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

I was VERY VERY lucky. When I signed with my agent, Rachel Orr, she asked if I wrote. So, I started writing. My first story went nowhere. My second story was UNDERWEAR! It was picked up by Stephanie Lurie at Disney Hyperion on its first round of submissions. Right time. Right place. Right Editor. I was very lucky.

Can you share a bit about your process?

My process always starts with drawings. I love character design and that’s where I start. Just doodling characters and seeing if any of them have any merit. Then, I play with the story. I write everything on legal envelopes. Easy to throw out. Usually I thumbnail a dummy as I write. Everything is always visual with me. The words come afterwards.

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

I’ve learned that if I’m having a bad drawing day to walk away from it. It’ll pass. If I force it, nothing looks good. I’ll get more done in a good drawing day than if I try to force it on a bad one. The Colour Collective weekly drawing challenge is a huge part of the rust shaking, too. Just a great group of illustrators. Just follow the #colour_collective tag on Fridays around 2:30 EST, and you’ll see what I mean.

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

Something to listen to. Not music. Usually has to be an audiobook, or episodes of MST3K or RuPaul’s Drag Race. Have to have talking in the background.

Any authors and/or illustrators who inspire you?

So many! Bill Watterson, Paul Coker Jr., Tomie DePaola, Tom Yohe, Steven Kellogg, P.D.Eastman, Richard Scarry, David McKee, Alan Tiegreen....I could keep going.

Dream project to work on?

Little Golden Books. I’ve always wanted to do a Little Golden Book.

Tell us about your debut book.

UNDERWEAR! Started with a Colour Collective piece I did. The story worked itself out on a walk with my ever stubborn corgi lodged under a bush and my ever loud self yelling “Get out from under there.” And he looked up at me like “Under where?” and it clicked. Steve went on an extra long walk that day as I looked like a crazy person tapping out syllables and talking out loud about underwear.

UNDERWEAR! Is pretty much autobiographical. I am the frazzled parent who just wants to get their kid out of the tub, into PJs and off to bed. My daughter is said kid who finds ENDLESS ways to keep herself out of bed. I think every parent has been on both sides of this story. And, stories about underwear are never not going to be funny. It’s just a fun word to say.

What’s up next for you?

My second book SWIM, SWIM, SINK is slated for launch in early 2020. Fingers crossed I can just keep working along.

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

Amadeus or Empire Strikes Back or Time Bandits. Don’t make me choose. (Oooo...Sophie’s Choice is good too!)

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Huge thank you to Jenn for stopping by Critter Lit today! We are so excited for you and your fantastically funny debut! Congrats!

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JENN HARNEY has illustrated several picture books, including Todd Tarpley’s HOW TO BECOME A KNIGHT (Sterling), NEVER CRUMPET WITH A TRUMPET (Boyd Mills Press), SMELLY KELLY (Boyd’s Mills Press). She has
also illustrated the covers and interiors for Jennifer Hamburg’s Hazy Bloom series (FSG), and Susan Lurie’s Wanda Seasongood series (Disney-Hyperion).

Jenn made her author-illustrator debut with UNDERWEAR (Disney-Hyperion) to be followed up by SWIM, SWIM, SINK in 2020 (Disney-Hyperion). She enjoys working at break-neck pace at her desk while binge watching old episodes of “Mystery Science Theater 3000” and “RuPaul’s Drag Race”. Jenn lives in Cleveland, Ohio, with her husband, her daughter, a dog named Steve and the ghost of the oldest living goldfish in North America.

FOR MORE INFORMATION about Jenn visit her online at jkharney.blogspot.com or follow her on social media:

Instagram + Twitter: @jennharknee

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

BOOK GIVEAWAY!

Want a chance to win a SIGNED copy of UNDERWEAR?! Comment on this post or share it on Twitter. One lucky winner will be selected Thursday, July 18th! US addresses only please.

What's up on deck? Tune in next week for an interview with author/illustrator Debbie Ridpath Ohi!

Interview with Debut Author Sheri Dillard

Happy Thursday Critters! Today we have an interview with debut author Sheri Dillard! Her picture book, COWHIDE-AND-SEEK (how cute is that title??!), illustrated by Jess Pauwels, just came out this past Tuesday. (Congrats Sheri!) We are thrilled to have her with us on Critter Lit today!

So without further ado…please welcome Sheri Dillard!

Where do you live?

Atlanta, GA

When did you know you wanted to write picture books?

When my three sons were picture book age, we lived in Lewisburg, a small, central Pennsylvania town. Our friendly borough was surrounded by rolling hills of farmland, and it was almost like living in the pages of a picture book. 

It was during this time that I created COWHIDE-AND-SEEK. I wasn’t even writing yet, but I woke up one night around 2am with the idea of a cow character who accidentally leaves her farm and (unknowingly) creates chaos wherever she goes. I loved it so much that I jumped out of bed and quickly wrote it down so I wouldn’t forget. I'm not sure why I wanted to remember it, exactly. Maybe I just wanted to share my dream with my husband and kids? But the next day, I started writing. 

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

Those kids of mine that I mention above? The picture book aged ones? They are now in college and beyond, so that gives you an idea of the length of my road!  But it all worked out pretty well, actually. Now in my first year as an empty-nester, I have my debut book to focus on. And its release date is just before my twin sons come home from their first year of college, so they can help me celebrate. Great timing!

A few months after I first started writing, I discovered SCBWI. It's such a helpful and supportive community, and I always mention it to anyone interested in writing for children. And it was through SCBWI that I connected with my two critique groups. (Hi Crumpled Paper and Critcasters!) Both the experiences of getting critiques and giving critiques helped me grow as a writer. (And still do!)

I spent years writing, revising, critiquing, and then repeating with more writing, revising, and critiquing. I went to conferences. Sent submissions to editors and agents. Eventually, my form letters improved to personal letters and finally to revision requests. And I came really close a couple times.

But my big break came during a Twitter pitch party. (Which is such a surprise because I am still learning how all this social-media stuff works! LOL) The event was called #PBPitch and it eventually led to me signing with my agent Liza Fleissig. We haven't sold the manuscript that she signed me for - (yet!) - but I love that COWHIDE-AND-SEEK will be my first book. And I love that this story found a home at Running Press Kids. Julie Matysik and her team at RPK are wonderful!    

Can you share a bit about your process?

I love to revise. It feels like working on a puzzle, and it is so satisfying when everything starts to fit together. And I love working on manuscripts that I haven't read in a while because I'm seeing them not only with "fresh eyes" but also with the eyes of a more experienced writer.

An important part of my revision process is to read the manuscript out loud. It really helps me see (and hear!) what needs adjusting. I'm a librarian at a preschool, and I have regular weekly storytimes in all the classes. (Love it!) Sometimes, when I'm at home working on a new story, I'll read it out loud and imagine that I'm reading it to one of the classes. It soon becomes clear where I might lose the kids' interest or where things might be confusing. And also where things might be funny or exciting. And that very last page, right before I say, "the end," needs to be satisfying, in some way. 

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

Ideas usually come to me when I'm not paying attention, LOL. I've gotten several ideas when I'm out for a run, and as I'm running, I'll record the ideas on my phone. The combination of my southern accent and the huffing and puffing (from my run) makes for interesting notes, and sometimes that will spark another idea! 

Captain

Anything you can’t live without while you write?

Laptop. Coffee. And I love having my writing companion, Captain, nearby. (He's great at reminding me to take writing-breaks with a nice walk around the neighborhood.)

Any authors and/or illustrators who inspire you?

Ooh, that will be hard to narrow down. I love fun and silly picture books, so I'll say Tammi Sauer, Doreen Cronin, Jan Thomas, and Chris Haughton. One of my all-time favorite picture books to give as a gift is BARK, GEORGE by Jules Feiffer. 

Dream project to work on?

Actually, I like to think that my dream already came true. Literally! That story idea that woke me up at 2am is the idea that started my writing career and will be my very first picture book. Pretty dreamy, I'd say.

Tell us about your debut book.

COWHIDE-AND-SEEK is about a cow, Bessie, who hears her farmer counting and mistakenly thinks he's starting a game of hide-and-seek. She hurries off to hide and accidentally leaves the farm. Now, the farmer really IS looking for her, but it's not because he's playing the game-- it's because his cow is missing! 

And since Bessie has left the farm, her hiding spots are in places where you typically wouldn't see a cow. Poor thing, it's hard to stay hidden when people keep pointing at you and saying things like, "I see a cow!" Each time, Bessie patiently tries to explain how important it is to stay quiet while hiding, but no one understands "moo." So she has to mooove on...

I love Bessie's earnest efforts to find the perfect hiding spot and her joy in simply playing the game. (The illustration on the very last page is my favorite. :)

What’s up next for you?

As I write this, I'm preparing for my book launch party at my favorite children's bookstore, Little Shop of Stories in Decatur, GA. And on the book's release date, May 7th, I'll be celebrating with some of my favorite people (kids and adults!) at the preschool where I work. It will be a special storytime for me because I'll be sharing my very own book with everyone. (And rumor has it that my preschool director plans to dress up as a cow that day and "hide" around the school. So fun!)

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

Oh my goodness-- I just checked the release dates for my three favorite movies, and they were all made in the 80s! Moonstruck, When Harry Met Sally, and Raising Arizona.

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Huge thank you to Sheri for stopping by Critter Lit today! We are so excited for your debut! Congrats!

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SHERI DILLARD is a children's author and preschool teacher/librarian. She lives in Atlanta, GA, with her husband Mark, three sons, and a 100-pound puppy named Captain, who is not so good at hiding. Cowhide-and-Seek is her first book.

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

Twitter: @sheridillard

Instagram: @sheridillard

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

BOOK GIVEAWAY!

Want a chance to win a copy of COWHIDE-AND-SEEK?! Comment on this post or share it on Twitter. One lucky winner will be selected Thursday, May 16th! US addresses only please.

What's up on deck? Tune in next week for an interview with author Gail C. Krause!

Interview with Debut Author Cathy Ballou Mealey

Happy Thursday Critters! Today we have an interview with author Cathy Ballou Mealey! Her debut picture book, WHEN A TREE GROWS, illustrated by Kasia Nowowiejska, just released this month with Sterling Children’s Books. I’m so excited to share this brand new book with you all today! Here’s a sneak peek:

When Moose sees the inviting tree where Squirrel has built his nest, he rubs his itchy antlers against the trunk—and sets in motion a chain of comic catastrophes. The tree falls and wakes Bear, who stumbles into Moose, who causes a truck driver to swerve off the road. But then Squirrel jumps onto that truck and ends up in the city, all alone. Who will help him get home? And how will Squirrel thank them? Kids will love this adorable picture book, with its irresistible animal characters and rhythmic text that’s made for reading out loud.

So without further ado…please welcome Cathy Ballou Mealey!

Where do you live?

I have lived in Massachusetts all my life. I grew up just below the Vermont/New Hampshire border, and went to college in Metrowest. After a decade in Cambridge, I’m currently on the fabulous North Shore.

When did you know you wanted to write picture books?

I wrote my first picture book in 2010 to enter the Cheerios “Spoonful of Stories” contest. Even though “Ozzie the Oyster” was definitely not ready for publication, my prize was discovering a passion for the craft of picture book writing. After attending conferences, classes and workshops, I joined SCBWI, the 2012 12X12 Challenge and two critique groups. I have been writing, revising and studying ever since.

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

Drafting TREE took roughly 6 weeks before I had a preliminary version to share with critique partners. I used multiple revision tactics to trim text and tighten the storyline. I plastered sticky notes on my door to rearrange the scene sequence. I pasted sentence strips into a book dummy loaded with stick-critter sketches. When friends urged me to send out the revised TREE, I started to query agents. In May 2015 I signed with Liza Fleissig of Liza Royce Agency and by December TREE was putting down roots at Sterling Books for Children.

Can you share a bit about your process?

Scribble my idea into a notebook and mull it over. Develop a pitch. Research some related non-fiction titles from the library about moose, squirrels, bears, etc. Mull some more. Write a long, rambling draft. Chew on word choices. Revise, re-write. Plunk text into a word cloud generator like WordItOut or Wordle, draft a few rhyming lines, make a dummy with stick figures. Revise until it is ready for critique group. Mull over feedback. Revise, rinse, and repeat until ready!

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

Go for a long walk outdoors. Visit a museum. Browse the greeting card section of my favorite stationery store. Bring my son to a playground and eavesdrop on the kid chatter!

Anything you can’t live without while you write?

A window. Natural light. Being able to gaze at the sky or trees. I watched a lot of squirrel activity while writing When A Tree Grows, and kept my camera close at hand.

Any authors and/or illustrators who inspire you?

Every up-and-coming writer yet to be published inspires me. Making book dreams come true is tough, especially when balancing the demands of career, family life, and community responsibilities. Those who consistently carve out time to nurture that writing spark inspire me to work harder, write better, persevere.

I have so little drawing ability that I am floored by almost every illustrator’s work in one fashion or another. Particular favorites to pore over include Catherine Rayner, Hadley Hooper, and Melissa Sweet. I’m so grateful to Kasia Nowowiejska for her dedicated efforts to make WHEN A TREE GROWS the very best book it could be.

Dream project to work on?

This is such an interesting question! I can’t name a specific dream project. However, there are certainly manuscripts that I’ve pored blood, sweat and tears into that I would love to see become real, live books one day.

Interior Spread - WHEN A TREE GROWS

Tell us about your debut book.

WHEN A TREE GROWS is a rollicking read-aloud that follows a zany chain of events triggered by a broken tree, a cranky Bear, a nut-loving Squirrel and his loyal friend Moose. Kirkus gave it a lovely review, saying “Laugh along as a story about a tree in the forest comes full circle, bringing three creatures along for a bumpy but fun ride.”

What’s up next for you?

Next up for me is a still-secret picture book with an amazing publisher in Canada. A sloth and a squirrel team up for a special mission. Look for an announcement soon, and a book sometime in 2021!

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

An 80’s movie set in 1963 - Dirty Dancing.

RIP Patrick Swayze.

“Nobody puts Baby in a corner.”

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

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CATHY BALLOU MEALEY lives with her family north of Boston, where she delights in watching silly squirrel antics and is waiting patiently for a moose to appear. Her favorite nut is the hazelnut and her favorite cupcake is cardamom crème.

Her debut book, WHEN A TREE GROWS, is a rollicking read-aloud that follows a zany chain of events triggered by a broken tree, a cranky Bear, a nut-loving Squirrel and his loyal friend Moose.

FOR MORE INFORMATION about Cathy and her work, visit her online here or follow her on social media:

Twitter: @CatBallouMealey

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cathy.mealey

Instagram: @catballoumealey

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

BOOK GIVEAWAY!

Want a chance to win a copy of WHEN A TREE GROWS?! Comment on this post or share it on Twitter. One lucky winner will be selected Thursday, April 18th! US addresses only please.

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

Interview with Debut Author Jonathan Stutzman

Happy Thursday Critters! This week we have an interview with debut author Jonathan Stutzman. I’m so excited to share his work with you all— his debut picture book, TINY T. REX AND THE IMPOSSIBLE HUG, illustrated by Jay Fleck, is already a favorite in our household and has become a regular request at bedtime.

So without further ado…please welcome Jonathan Stutzman!

Where do you live?

I live right outside of Hershey, Pennsylvania (the land of chocolate!).

When did you know you wanted to write picture books?

I love telling stories, I think I always have, and I’ve been tinkering with different ways of doing that since I was a child. I wrote my first comic book when I was 9 or 10 and my first picture book when I was 11. I tried making one with a friend again while I was in film school, but it wasn’t until I met my fiancée (illustrator Heather Fox) that I really dove into picture books. I worked on a school project with her (which we self-published) and it was SO MUCH FUN. I started spending a lot of time in the kids section at my local library and the bookstore, reading a bunch of the classics as well as popular current titles. I connected with them instantly. The mix of words and images, the page turns, it reminded me a lot of filmmaking, which I studied in college and grad school. The visual storytelling of picture books held a similar power and poetry for me.

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

So my first published writing was actually some “Tiny stories” I wrote for Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s Tiny Book of Tiny Stories Vol 1-3. I submitted to his collaborative online company Hitrecord, they liked them, and a handful ended up in all three volumes of the series. It was such a fun experience collaborating with people I never met. And then finding those books at bookstores, seeing my words on the page, it lit a fire in me. It’s mind blowing and humbling to know that strangers all around the world are reading something you wrote. There is magic to it, a reminder that we are all connected, and it only deepened my love of storytelling.

A year or two later I met Heather. As I mentioned before we self-published a book together on a whim, and we had such a blast doing it we thought, why don’t we try to find an agent and do this full time? So we spent many many hours researching, both the nuances of picture book storytelling as well as the publishing industry. I will always repeat this to anyone who dreams of being published: we had no idea what we were doing. We just made it up as we went. It’s ok if you are as lost and naive as we were. 

I’m very passionate about things I like. So when I fell for picture books I fell hard. I wanted to know everything. I read STACKS of books. I bought too many. I acquired library fines. I began writing a bunch of stories from the ideas building up. Of course, I thought the ones I wrote were absolutely terrible, but thankfully Heather was there to encourage me and push me to just maybe… take a chance and submit queries. We worked together to tighten up our WIP (Butts Are Everywhere), Heather made adorable illustrations to go with it, and I compiled a list of the top agents to query (which I found just looking online). I kept tinkering away at the story and would probably still be doing that to this day if not for Heather, who with a swift and firm “Send it NOW, Jonathan”, pushed me to hit send.

Can you share a bit about your process?

Well I think being inspired is always first, and there are many ways to be inspired. For me they often come when I’m reading or watching a movie or listening to music. Something will trigger a new idea or a character or a title. I’m weird, I often think of titles first and then dive into characters. Do other people do that? Once I have the idea I write out the story. Spend time reworking it, reading it out loud over and over, trying to feel out the page turns and momentum of the story. Often I’m writing multiple at one time. I jump from idea to idea. Whatever is feeling exciting at the moment. For me I have to feel something about the story in order to put my time and energy in it.

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

This again goes back to being inspired. I rarely “take a break” because I find writing and storytelling to be incredibly fun and so woven into the fabric of who I am. Sure I go hang out with my friends, watch movies, have adventures, and enjoy the world, but the entire time I’m also thinking about stories. Reworking them in my head, piecing things together. I think most writers or creative people work that way. If you are finding joy and life in the people and the world around you, creative inspiration will be hitting you from all sides. 

Anything you can’t live without while you write?

Coffee. Also, I love being surrounded by books while I work.

Any authors and/or illustrators who inspire you?

There are so many. I’m constantly amazed at the writers and illustrators working today and all the amazing books being made. Not to mention all the brilliance of the past. Neil Gaiman is my favorite author, and Jacqueline Woodson is magic at everything she does. I love comic strips, so Schultz’ Peanuts, Larson’s The Far Side, Watterson’s Calvin and Hobbes really inspire me. For kid lit, there are too many to name them all, but here are a few creators working today that inspire me: Isabelle Arsenault, Dan Santat, The Fan Brothers, Corinna Luyken, Kazu Kibuishi, Ame Dyckman, Christian Robinson, Carson Ellis. And Heather! She’s my creative partner in crime and she inspires me daily. I feel so lucky to make such silly and fun books with her!

Dream project to work on?

Every project feels like a dream project. That sounds cheesy, but it’s true. I can’t believe I get to write stories that get made into books, let alone having a chance to work with incredible illustrators that create beautiful, adorable art for my words. I work with Heather every day on so many fun books. I have a series with Jay Fleck. A book coming out with Joseph Kuefler. And one with Dan Santat. Like I said, every one is a dream project. It still doesn’t seem real to be able to be making books with such talented creators.

Tell us about your debut book.

TINY T. REX AND THE IMPOSSIBLE HUG is the first book in a picture book series with Chronicle Books. It follows the diminutive, but plucky Tiny T. Rex who is determined to find a way to cheer up his best friend, Pointy. Tiny decides hugging is the way to go, even though his tiny arms (as is the t-rex way) make hugging very difficult. Tiny asks his family for advice and overcomes many obstacles to show that the biggest hugs come from the biggest hearts. I wanted a character that kids could cheer for, but also encouraged them to remember their own agency. That they too can make a difference in the world, and in someone’s life, no matter the odds stacked against them.

What’s up next for you?

I have so many exciting projects coming up, a few I mentioned before. The next twp picture books are with Heather, Llama Destroys the World (May 7th, Macmillan), and Don’t Feed the Coos (January 2020). Book 2 of the Tiny T. Rex series comes out next spring, as does another silly picture book with Heather, Butts Are Everywhere (Putnam/Penguin).

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

OH That is difficult. There are so many great ones. I guess I’d have to Empire Strikes Back or E.T. Extra Terrestrial, which are two of my favorite movies ever.

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Thanks so much for stopping by Critter Lit today Jonathan! We can’t wait to see all your amazing books. Huge congrats on all your success!

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Jonathan Stutzman is an award-winning filmmaker and writer. His short films have screened at film festivals all over the world and on television. He lives outside Hershey, Pennsylvania.

FOR MORE INFORMATION about Jonathan and his work visit him online here or follow him on Twitter @dustdancestoo or Instagram @thedustdancestoo.

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

BOOK GIVEAWAY!

Want a chance to win a copy of TINY T. REX AND THE IMPOSSIBLE HUG?! Comment on this post or share it on Twitter. One lucky winner will be selected Thursday, April 4th! US addresses only please.

What's up on deck? Tune in next week for an interview with debut author and illustrator and husband and wife team Megan + Jorge Lacera!

Interview with Debut Author B.J. Lee

Happy Thursday Critters! I’m thrilled to be interviewing debut author B.J. Lee today! Her debut picture book THERE WAS AN OLD GATOR WHO SWALLOWED A MOTH, illustrated by David Opie, was just released on February first of this year!

Gators and panthers and crabs, oh my! The classic cumulative tale There Was an Old Lady gets a Floridian flourish in this charming adaptation. Down in the southern swamps a hungry gator accidentally swallows a moth. Of course, he swallows a crab to get the moth! What will he swallow next? The gator predictably continues swallowing bigger and bigger creatures until the unexpected happens―all over the page! Along the way to its hilarious ending, the story―strengthened by the delightful illustrations―introduces readers of all ages to the many critters, both big and small, of the Florida swamp. With a familiar use of repetition and an abundance of rhythm, this silly story is perfect for read-aloud experiences.

So without further ado, please welcome B.J. Lee!

Where do you live?

I currently live in Florida, though I’m originally from the Northeast.

When did you know you wanted to write picture books?

Writing picture books and poetry for children happened purely by accident. I had been an aspiring novelist when I had an accident and had to have shoulder surgery. After the surgery I had severe bicep tendinitis for two years. I couldn’t even hold a pencil. I realized I would have to write something shorter if I was to write it all. I started studying children’s picture books and poetry and discovered I could write the stuff. That’s how it all began.

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

My road to publication started with a poem published in the SCBWI Bulletin in 2010. Three years later I had my first poem published in a children’s poetry anthology, and three years after that I had my first picture book acceptance. I have had poetry published in 25 poetry anthologies to date. This is my first picture book.

Interior illustration from THERE WAS AN OLD GATOR WHO SWALLOWED A MOTH

Can you share a bit about your process?

I live and breathe writing, I work at my office computer and also have an area set up in the living room with a comfy chair, bookshelves on either side, and a reading stand so I can have materials at eye level. I generally start in a journal and then transfer to a word doc on my computer.

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

I don’t have any trouble generating ideas. If anything, I have too many ideas and tend to overwork. To recharge, I do chores, enjoy nature or play in my swim spa.

Anything you can’t live without while you write? 

I love my Peter Pauper Press journals and my Kimberly 2B graphite drawing pencil. I also can’t live without my pooch, Bijoux, who is always happy to help.

Any authors and/or illustrators who inspire you? 

Both poets and lyrical picture book writers (fiction and nonfiction) inspire me. Joyce Sidman was an early influence. Both Lee Bennett Hopkins and J. Patrick Lewis have been mentors. My favorite illustrator is Pamela Zagarinsky who is simply wondrous! I also think Calef Brown is quite magical.

Dream project to work on? 

I’d love for Joan Rankin to illustrate one of my dryly humorous poetry collections for McElderry Books, my dream poetry publisher.

Tell us about your debut book. 

THERE WAS AN OLD GATOR WHO SWALLOWED A MOTH is based on the popular cumulative rhyme, There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly. Gator lives in a Florida lagoon, where he encounters many Florida animals and can’t help but…well…swallow them! Gator is a larger-than-life character with universal appeal. Radio personality, PatZi Gil, called this book “evergreen” on her program Joy on Paper.

What’s up next for you? 

Interior illustration from THERE WAS AN OLD GATOR WHO SWALLOWED A MOTH

I’m working on fiction and nonfiction picture books and poetry collections as well as a verse novel.

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

High Fidelity – wait, that’s 90’s – I guess I’d have to say Out of Africa.

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B.J. Lee is a former college music librarian turned full-time author and poet. Her debut picture book, There Was an Old Gator Who Swallowed a Moth, released on February 1, 2019 from Pelican Publishing. Additionally, she is an award-winning children’s poet with over 100 poems and stories published/forthcoming in major anthologies by such publishers as Little, Brown, National Geographic, Bloomsbury and Wordsong. Magazine credits include Spider, Highlights, and The School Magazine. She lives in Florida with her husband, poet Malcolm Deeley, and toy poodle Bijoux. 

B.J. Lee is available for school visits including assemblies and writing and poetry workshops with a musical component. She can be reached at bjlee@childrensauthorbjlee.com. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION about B.J. and her work visit her website or follow her on Twitter @bjlee_writer and Instagram @b.j.lee

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

FOR COLORING PAGES from THERE WAS AN OLD GATOR WHO SWALLOWED A MOTH click here.

BOOK GIVEAWAY!

Want a chance to win a copy of THERE WAS AN OLD GATOR WHO SWALLOWED A MOTH?! Comment on this post or share it on Twitter. One lucky winner will be selected Thursday, March 14th! US addresses only please.

What's up on deck? Tune in next week for an interview with debut author Jamie L.B. Deenihan!

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