Interview with Author Carole Gerber

Happy Thursday Critters! This week we are catching up with author Carole Gerber, who last stopped by CritterLit in December 2019. You can read Carole’s first interview with CritterLit here. I’m thrilled to have her with us today to chat about her writing process, inspiration, and newest picture book, P IS FOR PURR, illustrated by Susanna Covelli, published by Familius this past November.

So without further ado, please welcome back Carole Gerber!

It's great to have you back!

Thanks for interviewing me, Lindsay.

Can you tell us about your latest book, P IS FOR PURR?

I’ve been a writer for decades—I won’t reveal how many! Over the years, I’ve started and set aside many manuscripts. While doing an end-of-year review and clean out of my files, I came across a previous version of a manuscript that became P is for Purr. I can’t remember exactly why I filed this away. Most likely it was because alphabet manuscripts fall in and out of favor and it had not been accepted. I reread it, reworked some verses, and added brief back matter to “extend” the facts in each verse. I then sent it to Familius, which had published two of my previous manuscripts. The editors liked it and accepted it.

Interior art from P IS FOR PURR by Carole Gerber, Illustrated by Susanna Covelli, published by Familius

Interior art from P IS FOR PURR by Carole Gerber, Illustrated by Susanna Covelli, published by Familius

What inspired this story?

For 15+ years, my family had an amazing cat named Winston that we adopted from an animal shelter in Ohio. He was a scrawny little guy who grew into a large, fluffy and beautiful orange striped cat who was known throughout our old neighborhood. Winston was part Maine Coon and was a stealthy and amazing hunter. He didn’t eat his prey – just bit them and brought them home as a gift for our family. After he died, I kept his ashes on my desk for years. When we moved to South Carolina, I buried his ashes in my garden under the catmint plant that he loved. I found Simon through an organization here in South Carolina that finds and cares for strays, then puts them up for adoption. Simon was named by his “foster mother” who fed and housed him until I brought him home. Like Winston, he was scrawny. Now he is big and fluffy. I guess that means I’m a good “cat mom!”

Interior art from P IS FOR PURR by Carole Gerber, Illustrated by Susanna Covelli, published by Familius

Can you share a bit about your research process for this book?

I wanted to present factual information about cats in an interesting way that would appeal to three groups of readers: children, parents and teachers. Writing a two-line rhyming verse for each letter of the alphabet was a lot of fun. It was also challenging, especially for the letters X, Y and Z. (I did it, but you’ll have to read the book to see how! 😊)

You write about a wide range of topics. How do you decide what you want to write about?

I study the markets! Knowing what various publishers are looking for helps me target which manuscripts to send to various publishers. Also, as with P is for Purr, I rarely throw anything away. When I am out of new ideas, I go through my “oldies” folders and try to find something I’ve written about a topic that is currently in demand. 

Then I read it as critically as I believe an editor would, and rework it with fresh eyes. 

Do you write daily?

No, but I do check out what is being published and at least think about what I have on hand or might write that could be of interest. It generally takes two years after a manuscript is accepted before it’s published. That means editorial needs may have changed, so I try to keep up on this by reading what various publishers are seeking or currently publishing.

What does your writing process look like?

I’ve had years of experience writing for ad agencies, private companies, universities, and directly for publishers through work for hire contracts. Based on this, I try to psych out the market. Also, I look on Amazon to see what has already been published on a topic that interests me and that I think might interest a publisher.

Do you prefer fiction or nonfiction? What do you feel are the challenges of both?

I’ve written a lot of both, but find nonfiction more interesting and challenging than fiction. Because it’s based on facts, nonfiction provides a structure on which to base a picture book. Potentially, fiction provides more freedom for “flights of fancy” than nonfiction. But it must still make sense and appeal to readers.

What do you find inspiring right now?

It’s gratifying to see so many first-time picture book writers being published! I make a point of checking their books out of my local library if they are available. 

What do you find challenging with writing right now?

I’m no longer naïve and hopeful about the likelihood of my manuscripts being quickly accepted. Publishing has always been a notoriously slow business and the pandemic slowed it even further. 

Are you currently offering school visits?

No, the pandemic shut down school visits for so long that I am out of practice. However, although I haven’t sought school visits, I don’t rule out visiting the nearby school my kindergarten-age granddaughter attends or other local elementary schools in Mt. Pleasant, SC where I live. 

Any reading recommendations?

I always read CritterLit, of course! It introduces me to the work of many new and talented writers. I also never miss Kathy Carroll’s “Celebrate Picture Books” blog. Like CritterLit, she gets to the heart of each picture book she reviews, which motivates me to buy or check out the books she recommends. l also love Vivian Kirkfield's "Will Write for Cookies" column which features interviews with authors of  some lovely, new children's books.

What's up next for you?

I will have a new picture book out in 2024 from Familius titled A Tree for Me. It’s about a little boy who takes a walk in the woods with his father. The art is gorgeous!  It’s told in first person verse from the point of view of the child. 

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Huge thank you to Carole for stopping by CritterLit today! Congrats on your new book! We can’t wait to see A Tree for Me in 2024!

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Carole Gerber has written 18 picture books, three chapter books, and more than one hundred elementary science and reading texts for major publishers. Her picture book, A Band of Babies , was named a Best Book for Children by Amazon editors. She holds a BS in English education and an MA in journalism from Ohio State, and has taught middle school and high school English as well as college news writing and factual writing at OSU. She lives in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Learn more at www.carolegerber.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION about Carole, visit her online at carolegerber.com.

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

WIN A COPY! Want to win a giveaway copy of P IS FOR PURR?! Leave a COMMENT below or RETWEET this post on Twitter. One lucky winner will be announced on Thursday, January 26th! US addresses only please.

Interview with Author Carole Gerber

Happy Thursday Critters! I’m so excited to be back— it’s been a while! Apologies for the time off, but I’ve been on maternity leave with baby number three so things have been a little hectic around our house. I’m thrilled to be back sharing interviews with lots of fabulously talented authors and illustrators with all of you. So let’s kick off December with author Carole Gerber and her new book THE GIFTS OF ANIMALS, beautifully illustrated by Yumi Shimokawara. Carole is an incredibly accomplished children’s book author with over eighteen picture books and many, many other publications under her belt. I’m happy to have her with us today to share her experience in the industry and tell you about her lovely new book.

So without further ado…please welcome CAROLE GERBER!

Where do you live?

I was born, raised and educated in Ohio. In August 2019, my husband and I became full-time residents of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, a suburb of Charleston. We live just a few miles from our younger daughter, Jess; her husband, Ben, and (the main attraction), our three-year-old granddaughter, Joanna.

How many years have you been in publishing?

My first book, The Golden Christmas Tree, was published in 1994 by Willowisp Press. The company is now out of business, but it was based in Columbus and put out many titles.

How did you first get published?

I graduated from Princeton High School in Cincinnati, where I had a wonderful creative writing teacher named John Engle. Through him, I (and other students) submitted poems and stories to various publications. My first poem was published in a weekly paper, The Millcreek Valley News. With my teacher’s help in placing my work, I continued to be published (and paid!) 

Do you write full-time?

I now write, or engage in writing-related research and emails, nearly every weekday. But I no longer put in the hours I did during the years when clients paid me to write. After earning an M.A. in journalism from OSU, I worked full-time for an ad agency, as a magazine editor, and then as a marketing director. After those in-house jobs I began freelancing for businesses, and gradually moved into writing elementary science and reading books for McGraw-Hill (for whom I had first free-lanced textbook ad copy) and other educational publishers. This winding path led me to write picture books.

What inspires you to create picture books?

Children love picture books! Unlike adults, they want to hear or read the same stories over and over again. And they love the authors who write them. I am sure you have experienced how excited kids are to meet you when you visit schools. “Are you the ARTHUR?” always cracks me up!  

What surprised you the most working as an author?

I continue to be shocked at how slow the process is. It usually takes a long time to even hear back on submissions, even though I have an agent. If a manuscript is eventually accepted, it usually takes two years before it is illustrated and published. 

What is your favorite thing about being an author?

I enjoy the creative process of coming up with and following through with an idea or a subject. Even if it doesn’t ultimately work out, there is a flow to this process that is satisfying. 

What do you find difficult working as an author?

It can be a lonely job in a field where rejections are far more common than acceptances. Unlike my previous writing jobs, I am not out and about interviewing people and gathering facts. I may send emails or talk on the phone, but it is all from my desk. I would love to swap and critique manuscripts with others who have my approximate level of experience, but most seem to already belong to established groups.  

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

I put aside manuscripts that aren’t working. I print them and keep them in a folder and weeks or months later, I look at them with fresh eyes. I also continually read books written by others. This gives me fresh perspectives and often influences my own writing of choices of what I’ll write.

Anything you are habitual about when it comes to creativity?

Ha! Yes! It’s an expensive habit, but every morning I feel the need for a Starbucks chai latte to sip when I sit down at my desk. When feeling unmotivated, I buy a grande; otherwise, a tall is enough of a stimulus (or more precisely, stimulant.) I have been doing this for 15 years and shudder to think what it adds up to!

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

Kid Lit writers are usually kind, generous and helpful. I met two picture book writers I bonded with at a conference in 2015 and, across the miles, we continue to offer one another encouragement and support.  

Recommended reading?

Critter Lit, of course! And Celebrate Picture Books, as well as Writing and Illustrating, Picture Books Heal, Will Write for Cookies, Perfect Picture Book Friday, and other blogs and sites for writers. There are also many books about story structure and other basics. To see what’s available, I suggest using “writing picture books” as a search term on Amazon. Check the reader reviews and choose based on how useful the books have been to others. 

What has been the highlight of your career thus far? 

I was selected for inclusion last year in a reference called Something About the Author, a print and digital resource published by Gale/Cengage Learning. Each entry includes a personal/career overview (hometown, education, family, awards, hobbies, professional background) and a bibliography. The editors “follow” my career and will update it annually with reviews of my new books.

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

Don’t take it personally! Manuscripts are rejected for many reasons, many of which writers can’t control. Editors may have one on a similar topic in production. Or it may be something as simple as they don’t like the subject. I had one rejected by an editor who commented, “This is sweet but I don’t like cats.” Another editor who had published one of my books, rejected the next one submitted because she didn’t like stories about fairies. And then there are the cases where editors championed my manuscript but the acquisitions committee rejected it.

Can you tell us about your newest book?

The idea for The Gifts of the Animals came to me after I stumbled over a reference to a 12th Latin hymn (translated into French and later into English) called “The Animal Carol.” Another title was “The Friendly Beasts.”  Here are a couple of the verses:

Jesus, our brother, kind and good, was humbly born in a stable rude;
and the friendly beasts around Him stood. Jesus, our brother, kind and good.

"I," said the Cow, all white and red, "I gave Him my manger for His bed;
I gave Him my hay to pillow His head." I," said the Cow, all white and red.

"I," said the Sheep, with the curly horn, "I gave Him my wool for His blanket warm;
He wore my coat on Christmas morn. "I," said the Sheep, with the curly horn.

My story sounds nothing like this (thank goodness!), but does feature some of the same animals. 

This is one of my favorite books because the illustrations are incredible! Illustrator Yumi Shimokawara lives in Japan and was discovered two years ago by the art director for my book at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair. He worked with her through a translator and there were some funny miscommunications. For example, her first baby Jesus had fair skin and blonde hair. She quickly corrected this and a few other small issues, and the book is spectacular! I am hoping an illustrator’s agent in the U.S. will want to represent her. She was named “Illustrator of the Year” in 2016 by the Japan Illustrators’ Association. 

Spread from THE GIFTS OF ANIMALS by Carole Gerber, Illustrated by Yumi Shimokawara

Spread from THE GIFTS OF ANIMALS by Carole Gerber, Illustrated by Yumi Shimokawara

Spread from THE GIFTS OF ANIMALS by Carole Gerber, Illustrated by Yumi Shimokawara

What’s up next for you?

My agent recently sold a manuscript very dear to my heart titled, How You Came to Be. It’s about a mother’s love for her unborn child and the sweet, funny month-by-month overview about how the child developed in her womb.  

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

Publishing is a tough business run by very nice people. Don’t give up!

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

ET. He is the cutest Extra Terrestrial ever!

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Thanks for stopping by Critter Lit today Carole! We are so excited about your new book and look forward to the next! Congrats!

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CAROLE GERBER has written 18 picture books, three chapter books, and more than one hundred elementary science and reading texts for major publishers. Her most picture recent book, A Band of Babies, was named a 2017 Best Book for Children by Amazon editors. She holds a BS in English education and an MA in journalism from Ohio State, and has taught middle school and high school English as well as college newswriting and factual writing at OSU. Learn more at www.carolegerber.com.

BOOK GIVEAWAY!

Want a chance to win a copy of THE GIFTS OF ANIMALS?! Comment on this post or share it on Twitter. One lucky winner will be selected Thursday, December 12th. US addresses only please.