Interview with Debut Author Kira Bigwood

Happy Thursday Critters! Today we have an interview with author Kira Bigwood to celebrate the release of her debut picture book, SECRET SECRET AGENT GUY, illustrated by Celia Krampien. I’m so excited about this book, which just released with Atheneum Books for Young Readers this week! Being a secret agent was always at the top of my list when I was a kid— let’s be honest should this whole book thing not work out I would totally become a secret agent (nevermind the fact that I zero skills for that). Needless to say, I’m thrilled share this book with all of you…

…so without further ado, please welcome Kira Bigwood!

Where do you live?

Just north of Chicago in idyllic Evanston, IL, home to THREE stellar independent bookstores. Shout-out to Booked, Bookends & Beginnings and Page 1!

When did you know you wanted to write picture books?

I’ve been a writer and a book lover all my life (a librarian mom will ensure that!), but I didn’t think about combining the two until my children came along (really original, right? 😆). It was seeing their reactions to different books…chatting with characters on a page, snort-laughing until they cried, asking really insightful questions…that got me thinking, “How can I do that?”

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

For me, it started in a class with Esther Hershenhorn at the Newberry here in Chicago, where I had my eyes opened wide. From there, I joined a critique group, SCBWI and the 12x12 Challenge. Then, after 6 years of reading, writing, revising, critiquing and submitting, I finally got my big break…acceptance into the RUCCL One-on-One Conference. I met Editor Alex Borbolla at the group lunch that day, where I was testing a theory, doing everything opposite of what I would normally do. So instead of retreating into my bagel and cream cheese (like any good introvert), I chatted up Alex about my spy story, and discovered…she loved spy stories! When I submitted to her afterwards, she said she was “charmed” by my manuscript, and the next thing I knew, I was signing a book deal. I couldn’t believe it (but Opposite Me could)!

Can you share a bit about your process?

Because of my background in advertising, I usually like to start with some concepting. I’ll pick a topic that interests my kids, like narwhals, or butts, or narwhal butts. Then I’ll do some brainstorming around my topic…word mapping, word association kind of stuff. Hopefully that shows me how to twist my idea and turn it into something completely unique. Once I have my concept good and tight, I’ll start the writing, editing and revising process, checking in often with my critique partners, and then towards the end with my agent. I’ve found it’s easier to revise projects that have a solid concept at the core.

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

I’m a big believer in “filling the well.” Watching movies with the hubs, reading outside my genre, enjoying a glass of wine, hiking and biking, strolling museums, rocking (or mellowing) out to some tunes, playing with my kids, definitely not playing with my kids, hanging with friends, enjoying another glass of wine…heck, even literally filling a well might “fill the well!”

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

Background music. I tend to listen to instrumentals that match the theme of whatever story I’m working on. So, for SECRET, SECRET AGENT GUY, it was a lot of Henry Mancini! Also, caffeine (again, really original, right? 😆).

Any authors and/or illustrators who inspire you?

James Marshall, if we’re throwing back. I love his brand of smart-funny. George & Martha had me hooked from the beginning. Currently, can’t get enough of Ame Dyckman and Lucy Ruth Cummins (also smart-funnies), and find myself saying, “I wish I had written that,” after I read EVERY SINGLE ONE of their books. 

Dream project to work on?

Oh gosh, to publish more books! Even just one more would be a dream! Especially one where I could partner with Illustrator Celia Krampien again! Wait until you see her visual storytelling for SECRET, SECRET AGENT GUY. Smart, funny (what can I say? I have a type), creative, a little vintage-y, and don’t even get me started on her color palette. She is downright masterful, and I would consider myself lucky to be able to collaborate with her on another project one day.

Tell us about your debut book.

It’s a spy twist on the classic, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. Your mission—should you choose to accept it—is to join Secret, Secret Agent Guy on his bedtime assignment, code name: Operation Lollipop. Equipped with night-vision goggles, a jetpack, and grappling hook, he is prepared for every eventuality...or is he? Will this 007-year-old complete his covert quest, or will he be outsmarted by an adversary he never saw coming?

Interior art from SECRE SECRET AGENT GUY written by Kira Bigwood, Illustrated by Celia Kramien

What’s up next for you?

I’m touching up some manuscripts for my agent right now, including some non-fiction science. Maybe one of them will be my next book!

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

We’ll go with the Rule of Threes on this one…Goonies, The Great Outdoors, and of course, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (“Save the neck for me, Clark!”).

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Huge thank you to Kira for stopping by Critter Lit today! Congrats on your debut! We can’t wait to see what you come out with next.

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KIRA BIGWOOD writes children’s books, TV commercials, and much to her 10-year-old’s dismay, notes for her kids’ lunchboxes. She was once edited out of a My Little Pony ad because she was missing her two front teeth (not that she’s still hanging on to that or anything). Luckily, she has all her teeth now, and a much more positive attitude toward the editing process. Kira is a graduate of the University of North Carolina (go Heels!), and lives in Chicago with her husband and three children. Secret, Secret Agent Guy is her debut picture book.

FOR MORE INFORMATION about Kira or her book, visit her website, or follow her on social media:

IG: @kirabigwood

Twitter: @KBigwood

ORDER THIS BOOK To order a copy of SECRET SECRET AGENT GUY click here.

WIN A COPY! Want to win a SIGNED copy of SECRET SECRET AGENT GUY?! Leave a COMMENT below or RETWEET this post on Twitter. One lucky winner will be announced on Thursday, May 20th! US addresses only please.

Interview with Debut Author Debra Shumaker

Happy Thursday Critters! I hope you are all doing well! Today we have an interview with author Debra Shumaker whose debut picture book, FREAKY, FUNKY FISH: ODD FACTS ABOUT FASCINATING FISH, illustrated by Claire Powell, just released this week with Running Press Kids! So exciting! I love the fun facts in this book— super interesting, illustrated with gorgeous art. A new nonfiction favorite in our house!

I’m so excited to share this book with all of you, so without further ado, please welcome Debra Shumaker!

Where do you live?

In Sterling, Virginia about 45 minutes from Washington, D.C.

When did you know you wanted to write picture books?

When my boys were little, my favorite thing to do with them was cuddle up and read books. I fell in love with picture books and decided that I wanted to learn how to write them.

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

It was a very long, bumpy road lined with sweat and and a few tears, LOL. I started by taking a course through the Institute of Children’s Literature in 2005 when I was pregnant with my third child. We had three boys in 3 1/2 years so I didn’t write much at first. But once the youngest started preschool I dug in. I studied craft and wrote and submitted. Got lots of rejections and joined challenges, studied craft more, and wrote new things. It was 2015 before I started getting champagne rejections and revise and resubmit requests. I didn’t sign with an agent until 2017 and we didn’t get an offer until January of 2019. All told, it was about my 15th “serious” manuscript that finally got an offer.

Can you share a bit about your process?

I’m always juggling projects. One book I’ll be in polishing and submitting mode, while I’ll be thick in revisions with another, and starting the research and/or drafting phase of another. When I get stuck or frustrated with one project, I jump to a different one. I frequently put projects that don’t seem to be working on the back burner, sometimes for weeks, sometimes for months or even years. At times I’ll pull out something from that proverbial drawer to see if there is any life in some older manuscripts. In fact, the idea for FREAKY, FUNKY FISH is, in part, due to a fiction manuscript I wrote way back in 2013.

I’m also in four critique groups and do lots of swapping with various writing friends. So while I may not write 8 hours a day, I seem to be constantly doing something writing related.

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

Reading - both adult and kidlit. I like to write nonfiction, so reading books, newspapers, online articles, trivia questions, etc. gives me tons of ideas. I’m constantly checking out picture books from the library to get the feel for what is out there and what’s missing. I also love Tara Lazar’s StoryStorm to kick start new ideas. But really, I have so many ideas I’ll have to live to be over 100 in order to write them all! 

Anything you can’t live without while you write?

It’s probably not in the “can’t live without” category, but 90% of the time when I’m writing, I play a “Classical for Studying Radio” station on Pandora. I don’t like complete quiet when writing, but yet I can’t have anything with words in the background. Outside words interfere with the “inside” words I’m trying to work with. But my laptop is something I can’t live without.

Any authors and/or illustrators who inspire you?

Oh my, SO many of them. For nature nonfiction authors, off the top of my head, I would say Melissa Stewart, Laura Purdie Salas, April Pulley Sayre, Maria Gianferrari. But so many authors inspire me in different types of picture books, I would need an entire page and too much time to list them all. I will say that the KidLit Community is bursting with inspirational and kind creators.

Dream project to work on?

I’m living my dream right now, writing all different styles of PB and finding an agent who loves my work and editors who have loved at least a few of them. Any current project I’m working on is my dream project at the moment.

Tell us about your debut book.

FREAKY, FUNKY FISH: ODD FACTS ABOUT FASCINATING FISH is a rhyming nonfiction picture book about the weird and wonderful ways some fish look or act to survive in the waters they live in—one kind of fish has a see-through head, another kind coats itself in a mucus cocoon at night, and some fish play dead to lure prey or avoid being eaten. Fascinating stuff! After reading this book, I hope kids are as amazed as I am by the natural world. While the main text is sparse, I do include back matter that goes into more detail about how and why these fish do the things they do.

Interior Art for FREAKY, FUNKY FISH: ODD FACTS ABOUT FASCINATING FISH by Debra Shumaker, Illustrated by Claire Powell

What’s up next for you?

My second picture book, TELL SOMEONE, comes out on October 1st with Albert Whitman, illustrated by Tristan Yuvienco. TELL SOMEONE encourages kids to talk about things—both the good stuff and the hard stuff.

And a companion to FREAKY, FUNKY FISH is in the works! PECULIAR PRIMATES is coming to bookshelves in Fall 2022 with Running Press Kids. From funny faces and colored butts, to flossing teeth and thumping chests, discover some peculiar ways primates look and act. Thankfully Claire Powell signed on to illustrate. I just saw the sketch of the cover. It will be another super fun book!

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

When Harry Met Sally. I just rewatched it last summer and it still makes me laugh and cheer for Harry and Sally when they finally get together. That ending monologue by Billy Crystal? Um, yes. I’m a romantic at heart. :-)

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

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Debra Kempf Shumaker loves weird and fascinating facts. When she isn’t reading or writing, Debra enjoys cooking, gardening, and watching Jeopardy. She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, three sons, and two cats—who miss the days the youngest son had an aquarium full of fish.

FOR MORE INFORMATION about Debra or her book, visit her website or follow her on social media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShumakerDebra

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

ORDER THIS BOOK To order a copy of FREAKY, FUNKY FISH: ODD FACTS ABOUT FASCINATING FISH click here.

WIN A COPY! Want to win a copy of FREAKY, FUNKY FISH: ODD FACTS ABOUT FASCINATING FISH!? Leave a COMMENT below or RETWEET this post on Twitter. One lucky winner will be announced on Thursday, May 13th! US addresses only please.

Interview with Author Rebecca Kraft Rector

Happy Thursday Critters! This week we have an interview with author Rebecca Kraft Rector! Her newest picture book, SQUISH SQUASH SQUISHED, illustrated by Dana Wulfekotte just came out with Nancy Paulson Books in February. I’m thrilled to have Rebecca with us today to talk about her new book and her road to publication.

So without further ado, please welcome Rebecca Kraft Rector!

Where do you live?

I live in Tidewater Virginia. I grew up in Maryland and have also lived in Georgia and Florida.

When did you know you wanted to write picture books?

I’ve always been a voracious reader and have been writing stories and poems since I was a child. I delighted (?) my friends with stories about fleas on a dog and a girl who was a strawberry. I love horses and wrote many horse stories. It wasn't until I worked with fellow librarian and author Mary Downing Hahn that I realized that real people could have their stories published.

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

My first publications were in magazines, followed by a slush pile acceptance of my middle grade science fiction novel TRIA AND THE GREAT STAR RESCUE with Delacorte Random House. When my later novels and picture books were rejected, I started writing for educational publishers and had about 25 fiction and nonfiction leveled readers published. Finally, at a Highlights Foundation workshop, SQUISH SQUASH SQUASHED attracted the attention of Cecilia Yung who showed it to Nancy Paulsen who agreed to publish it. Nancy Paulsen Books is an imprint of Penguin Random House. I also acquired an agent as a result of the Highlights workshop and she sold my forthcoming picture book LITTLE RED WRITING HOOD to Aladdin/Simon & Schuster.

Can you share a bit about your process?

I’m trying to streamline my process, but at the moment it’s write, revise, revise, revise, let it sit, revise, revise, revise, repeat endlessly. My ideal process would be to know up front the best character, goal, and conflict, in order for the story to resonate with emotion, theme or takeaway. But for now, my writing process is also a discovery process.

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

Read, take a walk, listen to people and kids.

Anything you can’t live without while you write?

Dark chocolate chips.

Any authors and/or illustrators who inspire you?

Almost every author I read is an inspiration. Some for humor, some for heart, some for structure, and most for fun.

Dream project to work on?

It would be wonderful to interest a publisher in one of my picture book or middle grade horse stories.

Tell us about your debut picture book.

SQUISH SQUASH SQUISHED is about Max and Molly who complain about not having enough room in the back seat of their gracious-spacious automobile. Their mother invites animal friends to ride along until the kids really are squish squash squished. The book is filled with wordplay, refrains, and animal noises. I had a great time writing it and I hope it becomes a popular read-aloud to share with children.

Interior art from SQUISH SQUASH SQUISHED by Rebecca Kraft Rector, illustrated by Dana Wulfekotte

Interior art from SQUISH SQUASH SQUISHED by Rebecca Kraft Rector, illustrated by Dana Wulfekotte

What’s up next for you?

I’m working on companion stories for SQUISH SQUASH SQUISHED and LITTLE RED WRITING HOOD, as well as other picture books. I’m also on my five hundredth draft of a middle grade fantasy.

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

Back to the Future.

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Huge thank you to Rebecca for stopping by Critter Lit today! Congrats on your debut picture book! We can’t wait to read your next book!

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REBECCA KRAFT RECTOR is a retired librarian and the author of more than thirty fiction and nonfiction books for children. Her cats Ollie and Opal keep her company while she writes. When she isn’t writing and eating chocolate, she’s trying to keep deer out of her garden.

SQUISH SQUASH SQUISHED is her first picture book. Her second picture book LITTLE RED WRITING HOOD is coming from Aladdin in Spring 2022.

FOR MORE INFORMATION about Rebecca or her books, visit her online: RebeccaKraftRector.wordpress.com

Or follow her on social media:

@RebeccaKraftRector on Facebook

@RebeccaKRector on Instagram and Twitter

ORDER THIS BOOK To order a copy of SQUISH SQUASH SQUISHED click here.

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

Interview with Author Tracy C. Gold

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

Where do you live?

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

When did you know you wanted to write picture books?

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

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

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

Can you share a bit about your process?

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

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

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

Anything you can’t live without while you write?

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

Any authors and/or illustrators who inspire you?

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

Dream project to work on?

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

Tell us about your debut book.

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

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

What’s up next for you?

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

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

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

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

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

Twitter @tracycgold

Instagram

Facebook author page.

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

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

Interview with Author/Illustrator Sandra Salsbury Part 2

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

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

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

So without further ado, please welcome Sandra Salsbury!

Where do you live?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Can you share a bit about your process?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Any authors and/or illustrators who inspire you?

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

Dream project to work on?

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

Tell us about your debut book.

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

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

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

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

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

What’s up next for you?

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

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

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

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

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

Website: www.sandrasalsbury.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/sandrasalsbury

instagram: www.instagram.com/sandrasalsbury

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

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

Interview with Debut Author Sita Singh

Happy Thursday Critters! Today we have an interview with author Sita Singh. Her debut picture book, BIRDS OF A FEATHER, illustrated by Stephanie Fizer Coleman, released this week with Philomel Books. I love the message of this book and the art is fantastic! A new picture book perfect for any collection.

So without further ado, please welcome Sita Singh!

Where do you live?

I was born and raised in India and moved to the United States in 1999. I have been living in the suburbs of South Florida since then. But my dream is to someday live in a small town where everything is walkable.

When did you know you wanted to write picture books?

I was never a writer, but I was always a reader. I grew up reading illustrated stories from Panchatantra, Ramayana, and Mahabharat. These were mainly fables and mythological tales, and my favorite type of books to read as a child. Luckily, my husband also grew up reading illustrated stories in form of comic books. So when we moved to the United States, it was only natural for us to look for similar form of stories to read with our own children. While searching the libraries and book stores, we were both pleasantly surprised to have discovered the magical genre of “picture books”. Additionally, every time we went to India, we came back with stacks of illustrated stories. As a family, we enjoyed reading “stories with pictures”. I’d say the seed to becoming a picture book writer was planted early. But I didn’t take up writing until my children were much older and I felt the need to have a creative pursuit of my own. By that time, I had also discovered a lack of representation in children’s literature and was excited to explore the possibilities of writing illustrated stories. How hard can it be to write picture books? With that naïveté, I jumped into writing!

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

My road to publication wasn’t relatively long, but I wouldn’t call nine years, a short time either. As mentioned earlier, I jumped into writing without any knowledge about the craft. Initially, I was writing only in rhymes and my writing was all over the place. But once I discovered SCBWI, one thing led to another, and in 2014, I attended my first conference which left me in awe of the talent and resources the Kid Lit community had to offer. There, I also found my critique partners, and I clearly remember coming home with a zest to learn and connect. Soon, I was a participant of PiBoIdMo, 12 x12, Making Picture Book Magic, and Children’s Book Academy. And within no time, I felt confident enough to start seeking representation. Of course, I was wrong again! I got rejection after rejection, but I kept learning and revising, and in 2017, my story won the Florida SCBWI Rising Kite award. With that, I soon landed an agent, and in 2019, we sold Birds Of A Feather. 

Can you share a bit about your process?

When I have an idea, I start by studying mentor texts. As the idea brews in my head, words and lines come to me, and a story begins to take shape. I start with a synopsis. Of course, it changes through the process of writing, but a synopsis helps me stay on track. I write in long sentences and paragraphs, without any inhibition. It’s more like a story I’m telling myself. Then, with the process of elimination, I turn it into a picture book manuscript. I let it simmer for days and after a few revisions, I read it to my critique group. Their feedback helps me revise further, and once I’m happy with the story, I share it with my agent. 

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

I step away from the computer and engage myself in other things I like to do—reading a book, trying a new recipe in my kitchen, styling and taking food pictures, or simply hanging out with the family helps me shake the rust off. In terms of getting new ideas, it hasn’t been a struggle, yet. I have a long list of ideas waiting to be explored. 

Anything you can’t live without while you write?

A water bottle, and a window.

I’m always armed with a water bottle and I have to be sitting by a window, when I write. 

Any authors and/or illustrators who inspire you?

This one is hard. There are so many! But if I had to pick, I’m inspired by the works of Jacqueline Woodson, Amy Krouse Rosenthal, and Beth Ferry.  

Tell us about your debut book.

Birds of a Feather is the story of Mo, a colorless peacock who learns to love himself in a jungle full of color. It is a story about finding strength in the things that make us different, and beauty in all its forms. 

Interior art from BIRDS OF A FEATHER written by Sita Singh, illustrated by Stephanie Fizer Coleman

Interior art from BIRDS OF A FEATHER written by Sita Singh, illustrated by Stephanie Fizer Coleman

What’s up next for you?

I have two picture books on submission and I’m working on a few more manuscripts.

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

When Harry Met Sally.

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

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SITA SINGH was born and raised in India, and moved to the United States in 1999. She currently lives in South Florida with her husband, three children, and an immensely cute and curious dog. An architect in the past, Sita now enjoys writing heartwarming picture books with a South Asian backdrop. When Sita isn’t reading or writing, she can be found trying new recipes in the kitchen, experimenting with food photography, walking with the dog, or movie-marathoning with the family. Her debut picture book, BIRDS OF A FEATHER, illustrated by Stephanie Fizer Coleman, will be published on March 2nd, 2021 by Philomel Books. Find out more about Sita on www.singhsita.com and connect with her on Instagram and Twitter @sitawrites.

ORDER THIS BOOK To order a copy of BIRDS OF A FEATHER, click here.

WIN A COPY! Want to win a copy of BIRDS OF A FEATHER?! Leave a COMMENT below or RETWEET this post on Twitter. One lucky winner will be announced on Thursday, March 11th! US addresses only please.

Interview with Debut Author Hayley Diep

Happy Thursday Critters! Today we have a debut author who just self-published her first picture book AND she also happens to live in my hometown, San Jose, California! I’m thrilled to be featuring her work and share her publishing story with you all today.

So without further ado, please welcome Hayley Diep!

Where do you live?

I live in San Jose, California.

 When did you know you wanted to write picture books?

 It started maybe two or three years ago. At first I wanted to write a picture book about my parents’ journey to America. 

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

 My husband was the first real fan of this book. He pushed for me to self-publish it after I shared it with him, saying that it had a great message for girls in the world.

I resisted at first because I wasn’t sure if the book was good enough. I, unfortunately, had and still have a major case of imposter syndrome. But the book wouldn’t leave me alone. I’d find myself revisiting it, re-reading it every few months, and daydreaming about the illustrations, so I decided to just take the plunge and self-publish it. 

I researched different distributors and learned that if I published through IngramSpark, they would distribute my books to bookstores and other retailers. I wouldn’t have to worry about selling the book myself if I didn’t want to so I decided to go with IngramSpark. 

After that, I had to figure out how to find and hire an illustrator, write a contract, set up a website, build my social media, market my book, sell my book, and everything else that self-publishing entails. It has been a JOURNEY, and I honestly could not have done it without my very talented illustrator, Braden Hallett. He did such an incredible job bringing this book to life. 

Can you share a bit about your process?

My writing process is to sit down with a hot cup of water, write, write, write whatever comes to mind, revise, share it with critique partners and as many people as possible for feedback, revise again, solicit feedback again, and then revise it again. I usually let the manuscript sit for a few months after the final revision before revisiting it and making more revisions.

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

I read books or go outside for a bike ride or hike.

Anything you can’t live without while you write?

Hot water, I am always drinking hot water while I write. Sometimes I drink chamomile tea as well. 

Any authors and/or illustrators who inspire you?

I love Lesa Cline-Ransome’s work. She is a phenomenal children’s book author. Her book Before She Was Harriet is one of my favorite books of all time. I love her word choice, writing style, everything. I wish I could write like her.

Dream project to work on?

If I could work on a Star Wars related book, it would be a total dream come true. I love Star Wars.

Tell us about your debut book.

If You Give a Girl a Bike features an Asian main character and her two friends mountain biking, skateboarding, rock climbing, and surfing. This book is so important to me because I didn’t grow up seeing people like me in picture books, and even though there has been a huge influx of Asian characters in picture books, a lot of them still revolve around culture. 

Interior art from IF YOU GIVE A GIRL A BIKE by Hayley Diep, Illustrated by Braden Hallett

These topics are obviously extremely important, but I honestly identify more as a female outdoor enthusiast or amateur athlete than anything else, and I wanted to see people like me represented in books where the focus wasn't necessarily on culture or race. I just wanted people to see that girls like me can have fun outdoors and kick butt at male dominated sports, too. This book does that. 

Interior art from IF YOU GIVE A GIRL A BIKE by Hayley Diep, Illustrated by Braden Hallett

It is written to inspire young girls, specifically young girls of color, to get outside and try these sports that are mostly dominated by White men. It is written in a circular story style and includes vocabulary from each sport. 

What’s up next for you?

I am working on a few picture book biographies and a middle grade book. I’m just having fun and seeing where these projects go. 

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

The Little Mermaid. Honestly, I googled a list of 80s movies and picked my favorite from that list :)

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

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HAYLEY DIEP writes and teaches in the Bay Area. When she isn't doing either, you can usually find her reading a book, mountain biking, rock climbing, or riding her longboard with her husband and friends.

FOR MORE INFORMATION about Hayley or her book, visit her online: www.hayleydiep.com

Or follow her on social media:

Instagram: hayleydiepwrites

Facebook and Twitter: hayleyrdiep

ORDER THIS BOOK To order a copy of IF YOU GIVE A GIRL A BIKE, click here.

WIN A COPY! Want to win a copy of IF YOU GIVE A GIRL A BIKE?! Leave a COMMENT below or RETWEET this post on Twitter. One lucky winner will be announced on Thursday, March 4th! 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 Saira Mir

Happy Thursday Critters! I hope this post finds you all healthy and well as we head into the holiday season! Today, I’m thrilled to have debut author and doctor, Saira Mir, stop by Critter Lit! Her debut book MUSLIM GIRLS RISE: INSPIRATIONAL CHAMPIONS OF OUR TIME, illustrated by Aaliya Jaleel, features a collection of 19 Muslim women who’ve made history. These stories are inspiring, incredible, and share some of the amazing contributions that Muslim women have made.

So without further ado, please welcome Saira Mir!

Where do you live?

I'm a Florida native transplanted in the DC Metro Area. I enjoy living a stone's throw away from museums and national landmarks.

When did you know you wanted to write books for children?

My older sister and I dreamt of writing a book together when we were college students. She would write, I would illustrate. Fast forward 10 years, I finally did it, but solo. My sister is still my biggest cheerleader and critique partner. 

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

I sought out Muslim female biographies to inspire and build my young daughters' self-confidence, but there was little available. I knew this had to change and began researching how to fill this gap.

Can you share a bit about your process?

My first step was brainstorming the book's structure and a list of my personal heroes. Once I had a preliminary draft, I queried agents and connected with Saba Sulaiman at Talcott Notch. I couldn’t wish for a more supportive agent. She helped push the manuscript further. In the process, I interviewed women I've looked up to my whole life! It was surreal! Once the manuscript was polished and on submission, we received offers within weeks. My daughter needed these women's stories and my experience with publication showed that the world did too. 

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

I tap into the things that bring me joy: science, South Asian culture, family, social issues, food, and art. I also think about how I want my children to grow. There's such a huge need for social justice kidlit. I'm thrilled to see more books focused on teaching future generations about self-love and equity.   

Anything you can’t live without while you write?

Snacks, Spotify, and solitude. With pandemic parenting, I don't think I'll have the luxury of solitude anytime soon. I write in fits and starts between tiny elbow pokes and baby spit-up. It's unglamorous, but my hope is that my kids are watching me push through it all and they’ll grow to do the same. 

Any authors and/or illustrators who inspire you?

I'm honored to be in a wonderful debut picture book group, The Soaring 20s. I’ve learned so much from this talented crew. We created a beautiful bookish gift guide for the holidays! You can find it on our website. I’m also a member of a published Muslim kidlit group founded by Saadia Faruqi, Jamilah Thompson-Bigelow, Reem Faruqi, and Aya Khalil. Its membership has grown in the past months, which is a heartening reflection of publishing. Both groups are special because they offer support and inspiration that extends beyond writing. 

Dream project to work on?

I’d love to couple my background in women’s health with kidlit. I’m an OBGYN by training and provide grade school sexual health education. I love challenging antiquated societal norms so that children can live healthy, happy, empowered lives.

Tell us about your debut book.

Muslim Girls Rise introduces young readers to the diverse and important contributions of modern-day Muslim women. Through short, information-rich biographies and vibrant illustrations, readers discover role models whose childhood events shaped who they are today. These are women readers may not have known, but whose stories they will never forget.

Interior art from MUSLIM GIRLS RISE: INSPIRATIONAL CHAMPIONS OF OUR TIME by Saira Mir, illustrated by Aaliya Jaleel

Interior art from MUSLIM GIRLS RISE: INSPIRATIONAL CHAMPIONS OF OUR TIME by Saira Mir, illustrated by Aaliya Jaleel

Interior art from MUSLIM GIRLS RISE: INSPIRATIONAL CHAMPIONS OF OUR TIME by Saira Mir, illustrated by Aaliya Jaleel

What’s up next for you?

I'm working on a book that has yet to be announced. It’s a story close to my heart, a celebration of family love that endures through loss. I hope it brings caregivers and children comfort during difficult times. 

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

Labyrinth. It’s 80’s perfection: fantasy, pop music, David Bowie, elaborate costumes, and goblins. I vividly remember watching it on videodisc at my friend’s sleepover. Now I’m going to jam to the soundtrack! Thanks for the nostalgia!

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Huge thank you to Saira for stopping by Critter Lit today! Congratulations on your fantastic book! We can’t wait to see what you do next!

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SAIRA MIR is a southern-born, Pakistani-American Muslim author and physician. She’s always on the hunt for sunny reading spots and former Top Chef contestant restaurants. She has four beautiful children and hopes to add a cat into the mix soon. Her picture book, MUSLIM GIRLS RISE, is an anthology of modern-day Muslim women's biographies.

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

Twitter, IG, FB: @sairamirbooks

ORDER THIS BOOK To order a copy of MUSLIM GIRLS RISE, click here.

WIN A COPY! Want to win a copy of MUSLIM GIRLS RISE?! Leave a COMMENT below or RETWEET this post on Twitter. One lucky winner will be announced on Wednesday, November 25th! US addresses only please.

Interview with Author Gianna Ruggiero

Happy Thursday Critters! One of my favorite things is picture books that center around food. I love to cook and bake and I always enjoy a good food driven story. Today I’m sharing a new picture book that celebrates the joy of food: EVERY NIGHT IS PIZZA NIGHT, which released in September, written by New York TImes Bestselling chef J. Kenji Lopez-Alt and illustrated by Gianna Ruggiero. I’m thrilled to have Gianna join us today to talk about her debut picture book and road to publication.

So without further ado, please welcome Gianna Ruggiero!

Where do you live?

I currently live in Oakland, California, but originally hail from South Philadelphia. Proud of you, Philly. 

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

I have always liked telling stories, and in college I remember doing a mock children’s book idea for a class. It was really fun and I experimented with photos and digital illustration. I knew then that this would be something I would like to pursue, but didn’t really know how. From that moment my career has mostly been in feature animation and video games. Children’s book illustration has always been on the back burner. In the past few years, I had finally started to pursue illustration more seriously by attending SCBWI events, networking with agents and publishers, and talking to published illustrators about their journey. That hard work seemed to pay off as it helped land me a spot with a literary agency. 

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

Man, I wish I could be a little bit more inspiring and helpful, but it was pure luck and a backlog of portfolio work. I lost my job a couple years ago and tweeted out to the world wide webs sharing that I lost my job and was looking for work. Somehow that tweet landed on Kenji’s timeline and he took interest in me and my work. He later reached out to me asking if I would collaborate on a children’s book with him. I was optimistic, but I wasn’t aware of who Kenji was at the time, so to me he was a random stranger on the internet, thus it led me to be a bit hesitant. A lot of times internet strangers will email you asking for you to help do work on a screenplay they are writing, or their 5,000 page novel, and it goes nowhere. It’s a total crapshoot. But for me, I was lucky. Kenji not only turned out to be a famous chef, but a wonderful, talented, kind-hearted human that valued me and my work. I owe him many thanks. 

Can you share a bit about your process?

My process usually starts out with a large amount of panicking, and what I can only describe as me flailing wildly around in circles, drawing things that somehow amount to an idea. Then I develop those half-baked ideas into a final concept.

Oh, boy. I feel like my process is always evolving. For some reason it is easier for me to conform to a style that is given to me from an art director than to form a style that I need to adhere to myself. For Every Night Is Pizza Night, it started out with a lot of reference gathering. Gathering styles from other illustrators I like, and photos of people I wanted to draw. From there it is a lot of scrappy sketching on paper or in the computer. I try to think a lot about the scope of the project, what kind of style I can commit to in a given time, what makes me happy, what the mood of the project is, things along that line that help inform how the final illustration will look.

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

Ever since I was a kid, I walked a lot. I walked to school, I walked to friends houses, the bus. Wherever I walked it was usually accompanied by a CD player. I found myself lost in daydreams. Whatever I would listen to would conjure up a mood, a style, characters, scenarios, and stories. I would visualize little snippets between characters or come up with story arcs. Still to this day, I do that mostly walking my dog or commuting to work. The only thing that has changed is the CD player. 

That was a very long-winded way of saying: Music. Music gets me in a creative mood.

Another thing I do is get rid of my shame and turn off the judgemental side of my brain. When I am sketching and trying to enjoy whatever it is I am creating on paper, I try not to judge it or shame it. I just enjoy it and see where my brain takes me in that moment.

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

The internet.

Any authors and/or illustrators who inspire you?

So many to name. I am a big fan of Emily Carroll and her short story horror comics. Big fan of Emily Hughes, John Bond, Amélie Fléchais, Joe Todd-Stanton, and Christian Robinson. 

Dream project to work on?

I would love to work on a strange silly adventure, or some sort of fantasy book. I really like books that feature animal characters meeting strange characters. I loved “The Phantom Tollbooth” as a kid, and I just loved the strange and creative worlds; ones that have never been explored or thought up before. 

Tell us about your debut book.

Every Night is Pizza Night is about a young girl named Pipo who believes pizza is the best food in the world, that is until her parents tell her to go investigate. Pipo takes that as a scientific challenge, and goes on a journey in her neighborhood tasting different foods from different cultures. Pipo tries a whole range of foods from bibimbap to rice and beans. It is a book that celebrates different cultures, and diversity. It inspires kids and families to be adventurous, and try different foods while understanding that food can hold different traditions and meanings to us. 

The book is light-hearted and funny. It also features pages that are explosive and whimsical whenever Pipo takes a bite of a new food she has never tried. It even features a pizza recipe in the back of the book for parents and kids to make together. 

What’s up next for you?

Kenji and I are taking a much-needed break for right now, but I expect that sometime next year we might begin exploring a new book idea. Currently, I am enjoying just sketching and learning how to get better at roller skating. I am also coming up with a video game idea that I might pitch to my studio. So nothing too exciting, but that is fine for me.

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

The Thing! It is the best!

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

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Gianna Ruggiero is a concept artist, video game developer, and illustrator. Every Night Is Pizza Night is her debut children’s book. She lives in Oakland, California.

FOR MORE INFORMATION about Gianna or her work, visit her online: www.giannaruggiero.com or follow her on social media:

Instagram/Twitter @immagigi

ORDER THIS BOOK To order a copy of EVERY NIGHT IS PIZZA NIGHT click here.

WIN A COPY! Want to win a SIGNED copy of EVERY NIGHT IS PIZZA NIGHT?! Leave a COMMENT below or RETWEET this post on Twitter. One lucky winner will be announced on Thursday, November 19th! US addresses only please.

Interview with Author Erin Silver

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

So without further ado, please welcome Erin Silver!

Where do you live?

I live in Toronto, Canada.

When did you know you wanted to write?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Spread from WHAT KIDS DID by Erin Silver

Spread from WHAT KIDS DID by Erin Silver

Can you share a bit about your process?

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

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

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

Anything you can’t live without while you write?

Coffee!

Any authors and/or illustrators who inspire you?

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

Dream project to work on?

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

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

Tell us about your debut book.

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

What’s up next for you?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

www.facebook.com/erin.dym

ca.linkedin.com/in/silvererin

twitter.com/1ErinSilver

www.instagram.com/erinsilver1/

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

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

Interview with Debut Author and Illustrator Julie Rowan-Zoch

Happy Thursday Critters! Today we have an interview with Julie Rowan-Zoch, whose illustration debut, LOUIS, written by Tom Lichtenheld, is receiving rave reviews! I adore this book and I’m so excited to introduce you all to Julie’s work.

So without further ado, please welcome Julie Rowan-Zoch!

Where do you live?

In sunny northern Colorado! If I sound excited about the sun, it's because winter in CO has many sunny days, and especially this winter it will really come in handy for sanity!

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

I talked about it a lot when my kids were small, but finally put serious effort into it upon joining Julie Hedlund's 12x12 Picture Book Challenge in its inaugural year, 2012.

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

When I started out I naively assumed my drawing talents were good enough, so I set about learning how to write, first by reading (100 PBs/wk for 3 yrs!), then writing, then critiquing - I formed a crit-group locally, but I also used to belong to an online group. Very soon I realized how overconfident I was about my own illustration skills! That's about the time I started the practice of drawing daily. All elements were vital - especially the naiveté!! No joke! I started submitting to multiple agents, but my agent actually found me!

Can you share a bit about your process?

I try to start every day with a warm-up sketch which I post with birthday greetings for facebook friends. It allows me to draw with blithe abandon at least once every day, and almost all of my characters have developed directly from that exercise. All my illustration work is now done digitally, thanks to advice I got during a portfolio critique from illustrator Michael Garland in 2013. Never looked back! I use the Procreate app on an iPad for all the work, from sketches to finished art. Even some revisions for art on LOUIS were done in a hospital waiting room on the iPad.

Doll sketches by Julie Rowan-Zoch

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

Last month I actually wrote a short article about just that HERE, but it's the daily practice of drawing every day that really helps keep juices flowing. I post just about all of them on Instagram.

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

Quiet. Once I am in later stages of drawing, I do like to run a movie I have already seen just so that I might look up now and again. but for writing I would even prefer to be alone in the room - VERY quiet.

Any authors and/or illustrators who inspire you?

So many! And my taste varies widely. I keep a list of illustrators I like on my website, with links to theirs, but it's really just a drop in the bucket! Some of the picture book authors I admire off the top of my head are William Steig, Russell Hoban, Arnold Lobel, Janet and Allen Ahlberg, Julie Fogliano, Fannie Britt, Suzy Lee, and Michael Rosen.

Dream project to work on?

I would love to create a book for young people experiencing the hospital, as a patient or a visitor, that communicates the pain and sadness along with a BIG dose of humor and art. 

 Tell us about your debut book as an illustrator:

Louis the bear has had enough. From day one, life has been one indignity after another. If he's not being used as a hankie, he's being hung out to dry—literally. (No one likes clothespins used on their ears!)

Early sketch for dedication/title page for LOUIS, written by Tom Lichtenheld, illustrated by Julie Rowan-Zoch

Dummy page from LOUIS by Tom Lichtenheld, illustrated by Julie Rowan-Zoch

This teddy is sneaking away just as soon as he can. Then again, no use running off in the rain . . .or during a show-and-tell routine. Maybe Louis has something to lose, after all.

Character studies from LOUIS by Tom Lichtenheld, illustrated by Julie Rowan-Zoch

What’s up next for you?

My author-illustrator debut is with HMH, I'M A HARE, SO THERE!, and releases in March 2021, and have hopefully completed all final revisions for the art. I will soon get to work on coloring/activity sheets and other graphics for social media for it. Otherwise, revising more stories to submit!

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

An Angel at My Table or Brazil or Room with a View? Sorry! Can't decide!

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

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Author, illustrator, bookseller, and activist: JULIE ROWAN-ZOCH grew up collecting freckles and chasing hermit crabs in NY, and spent years slicing rich breads in Germany before waking up to 300 days of blue Colorado skies. If she doesn’t answer the door, look in the garden!

FOR MORE INFORMATION visit Julie online or follow her on social media:

Twitter @JulieRowanZoch

ORDER THIS BOOK To order a copy of LOUIS, click here.

WIN A COPY! Want to win a copy of LOUIS?! Leave a COMMENT below or RETWEET this post on Twitter. One lucky winner will be announced on Thursday, October 15th! 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 Melanie Ellsworth

Happy Thursday Critters! Today on Critter Lit we have an interview with Melanie Ellsworth whose debut picture book, CLARINET AND TRUMPET, illustrated by John Herzog, comes out March 2021 with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Originally slated to come out this week, the release date has been changed to next year. So please make sure to preorder a copy and support Melanie’s debut book!

I love a punny book and this one is full of them! It also features a music-making shaker built into the book for an interactive component. You can join the orchestra too! How fun is that?!

So without further ado, please welcome Melanie Ellsworth to Critter Lit!

Where do you live?

In mid-coast Maine in an old house with an old barn attached.

When did you know you wanted to write picture books?

I’ve always loved picture books at every age and stage of my life. During my teen years, I toted a bag of favorite picture books with me to every babysitting gig, and later I shared them while teaching ESOL and doing literacy coaching. Just for fun, while traveling through Kenya in my twenties, I wrote (and a friend illustrated) a picture book inspired by our time spent in the Kakamega Rainforest. When my daughter was born years later, I got inspired to finally follow that dream of writing picture books, and I wrote after work and during my daughter’s naps.

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

When I first started seriously writing in 2012, I joined SCBWI and quickly found a wonderful local critique group. For a time, I was actually in three critique groups! That got to be a bit much, so now I’m part of two groups. I attended the New England SCBWI conference and found a community of writers there as well, and I followed several writers on-line. There are so many brilliant blogs out there about the industry and the craft of writing. In February 2017, I was fortunate enough to get a three-month mentorship with picture book author Beth Ferry through the “Writing with the Stars” contest, and that experience gave me confidence to keep querying agents and editors. Then in September 2017, at the “Agents Editors Writers” conference in Belgrade Lakes, Maine, an editor from HMH expressed enthusiasm for my picture book Clarinet & Trumpet when it was read anonymously during the slush-pile panel. I sent the book to that editor after the conference, got a revision request, revised and re-sent it, and got a contract in June 2018! From there, I signed with my agent, and sold a second picture book to HMH. Those books are coming out in August 2020 and February 2021, and we have several more books on submission now.

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

For me, I think the most effective thing to do is just to keep writing. When I’m not working on something new, I don’t feel as energized. Ideas come to me at any time of day, often in the form of silly titles involving puns. Some of them work better than others when I try to turn them into picture books!

Tell us about your debut book:

My debut book, Clarinet & Trumpet, illustrated by John Herzog, is somewhat autobiographical. I played the clarinet in bands and orchestras for many years and noticed a friendly rivalry between the woodwinds and brass. My book is about a friendship between Clarinet and Trumpet that falls flat when they divide into factions but reignites when they realize that every instrument and every section must come together to make the music amazing. I had a blast putting lots of musical puns into this book. I hope readers enjoy the friendship story while also learning about the different instruments and sections in an orchestra. John Herzog really made the characters come alive with his vibrant illustrations!

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

It’s a tie between Stand By Me and Back to the Future. (As a Mainer, I have to lean towards Stand By Me since it’s based on a story written by Stephen King!)

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

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Melanie Ellsworth dreams and writes in lovely mid-coast Maine, where her family (especially the dog), provides daily inspiration for her picture books. Her debut book, Clarinet & Trumpet, illustrated by John Herzog, comes out with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in March 2021, followed by Hip, Hip…Beret!, illustrated by Morena Forza. 

WANT TO KNOW MORE about Melanie or her books, visit her online at www.MelanieEllsworth.com or follow her on social media:

Twitter (@melanieells)

Instagram (@melaniebellsworth)

BUY THIS BOOK To order a copy of Melanie’s new picture book, CLARINET AND TRUMPET, illustrated by John Herzog, click here.

WIN A COPY! Want to win a copy of CLARINET AND TRUMPET?! Leave a COMMENT below or RETWEET this post on Twitter. One lucky winner will be announced on Thursday, September 3rd! US addresses only please.

Interview with Debut Author Carrie Finison

Happy Thursday Critters! Today we have an interview with Carrie Finison, whose debut picture book is one I’ve been excited about all year, DOZENS OF DOUGHNUTS, illustrated by Brianne Farley! It’s got math, it’s got animals, it’s got rhyme, AND it’s got DOUGHNUTS— one of my absolute favorite treats (seriously, they were the favors at my wedding, that’s how much I love them)! What more could you ask for?! I’m thrilled to have her stop by Critter Lit today to talk about her road to publication, process, and upcoming books. So without further ado, please welcome Carrie Finison!

Where do you live?

I live in Arlington, Massachusetts. The town’s former name is Menotomy, which the teenagers snarkily call Monotony. But it’s actually a fun and interesting town filled with fun and interesting people. Especially the teenagers.

When did you know you wanted to write picture books?

I think I always thought writing picture books would be a really cool thing to do, but kind of in the same way that you think of climbing Mount Everest or going to the moon as a really cool thing to do. It was probably around 2010 that I started to think I could actually try to write picture books and maybe even get one published. I was already writing for children on a work-for-hire basis for educational publishers at that point, and I was reading TONS of picture books with my own two kids. I think the combination of those two factors made it feel slightly possible — or at least slightly *more* possible than climbing Everest or going to the moon.

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

It’s been a long and bumpy road. I took my first picture book writing class in 2010. I had been doing work-for-hire writing as I mentioned above, and also had some success getting acceptances with children’s magazines so it felt like a natural next step. I joined a few writing groups including SCBWI, and took more classes like Susanna Hill’s Making Picture Book Magic. I started going to conferences. I joined several critique groups. I kept writing, sending a few manuscripts to editors, but set my sights on landing an agent. I was honored to win the Barbara Karlin Work-in-Progress grant from SCBWI in 2014. I thought for sure that manuscript would sell and, while it came very close at several houses, it didn’t. It wasn’t until 2017 that my agent was able to sell the first manuscript — one that I never thought would be my debut — and DOZENS OF DOUGHNUTS was on its way to publication.

Can you share a bit about your process?

I tend to write in spurts, so once I have an idea I’m off to the races with a rough draft. Then I share with my critique groups for feedback, revise, share again, and so on. At some point I usually get stuck and then it goes in a drawer for anywhere from 2-6 months so I can look at it with fresh eyes later.

Also, even though I’m a writer-only, I always make a dummy book by folding together half-sheets of paper and taping my cut-up manuscript to them. Sometimes I draw little stick-figure pictures on each page, or just pencil in a written description of what I think could appear there. I carry this little mini-book around with me for several weeks so that whenever I’m sitting around at a kid’s soccer game or dentist appointment, I can take it out and page through it, making edits to the text as they occur to me.

Since I often write in rhyme, a big part of my process involved staring off into space trying to come up with different ways to say the same thing, and combing through Rhymezone.com and other rhyming dictionaries to come up with interesting rhymes. I also ask other people to read the manuscript aloud to me so I can hear it in someone else’s voice. My family is very patient!

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

There’s an exercise that Ann Whitford Paul mentions in her book Writing Picture Books, that I do quite often. Her recommendation is to type out the text of an already-published picture book in order to study the page turns, how much text is on each page, and so on. I find it valuable for that kind of study, but also to ease myself into the writing mood — just the act of typing sentences written by someone else gets my ear, voice, and fingers ready to do my own writing.

Anything you can’t live without while you write?

Rhymezone.com for sure, if I’m writing in rhyme! 

I also like to make myself a cup of decaf coffee or tea, take a few sips, and then let it go stone cold while I get absorbed in what I’m doing. Then I reheat it in the microwave, but forget that I have done so and rediscover it around dinner time. It’s all part of the process.

Any authors and/or illustrators who inspire you?

There are so many! 

Picture book authors: I love Ame Dyckman’s work. It’s always clever and unexpected. Pat Zietlow Miller gets heart on every page. Laura Gehl is an incredible writer with great language, and her humor really appeals to me.

Illustrators: Oge Mora is my favorite author/illustrator at the moment. I loved Saturday and Thank You, Omu, and her illustrations for Rita Lorraine Hubbard’s The Oldest Student were brilliant. Ekua Holmes’s work in The Stuff of Stars by Marion Dane Bauer blew me away, and I was equally starry-eyed over Diana Sudyka’s illustrations in Hayley Barrett’s gorgeous book, What Miss Mitchell Saw.

All genres: I always look for anything new by Grace Lin, in any genre. I also love Kelly Starling Lyons’s work. Linda Sue Park blew me away equally with her picture book Xander’s Panda Party (rhyme I can aspire to) and the middle-grade A Long Walk to Water. Cece Bell cracks me up, always.

SOMEBODY STOP ME!!! Really, I could go on all day.

Dream project to work on?

I don’t know that I’ve dreamed it up yet! I tend to get very enthusiastic about whatever I’m working on currently, which actually makes the inevitable rejections that roll in a little easier to take. My advice to picture book writers is, always be so in love with your current project that rejections on your older projects don’t sting so badly. That’s been true for me so far.

Interior spread from DOZENS OF DOUGHNUTS written by Carrie Finison, illustrated by Brianne Farley

Tell us about your debut book.

My debut is called DOZENS OF DOUGHNUTS. It’s about a bear named LouAnn whose getting ready for hibernation by making herself a giant batch of doughnuts (as one does). However, her neighbors begin to drop by and she ends up dividing all her doughnuts between them and forgetting to save any for herself. Then she runs out of ingredients. LouAnn expresses her feelings about this rather loudly, scaring her friends. But (surprise!) they come back with an apology, and pitch in to make a giant doughnut party with plenty for everyone. So it’s about sharing, friendship, math (as each batch of 12 doughnuts is divided by the factors of 12 – 2, 3, 4, and then 6) and of course DOUGHNUTS! And, the illustration by Brianne Farley are absolutely delectable. Fair warning – if you read it, you will want a doughnut!

What’s up next for you?

My second book, DON’T HUG DOUG, comes out in January, 2021, from Putnam. It’s about a boy who says “no, thanks!” to hugs, and is meant to (humorously) spark conversations about consent and bodily autonomy with children. Daniel Wiseman is the illustrator and his child characters are colorful and full of fun.

After that, HURRY, LITTLE TORTOISE will hit the shelves in 2022 from Random House. It’s about a little tortoise who has grand illusions of herself as speedy. She tries her hardest to get to school on time, but keeps getting passed by her classmates. There’s a funny twist at the end that I hope will bring a smile to readers faces. Erin Balzer is illustrating the story. She recently posted some hint on Instagram that she’s beginning the illustration work and I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE IT. Also, I love it when illustrators do that.

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

Pretty tough to pick just one! But if I had to, I think I’d say Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Ohhhh YEAH!

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Huge thank you to Carrie for stopping by Critter Lit today! Congrats on your debut and all your upcoming books! We can’t wait to read them all!

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CARRIE FINISON began her literary career at the age of seven with an idea, a box of markers, and her father’s typewriter. She has been writing off and on ever since, though she has (somewhat regretfully) traded in the typewriter for a laptop. Her debut picture book is DOZENS OF DOUGHNUTS (July, 2020), and a second picture book, DON’T HUG DOUG, will follow in January, 2021. She also writes for children's magazines including Babybug, Ladybug, High Five, and Highlights. When she’s not writing, Carrie enjoys reading mystery novels, trying new recipes, and curling up on the couch for family movie nights. She lives outside Boston with her husband, son, daughter, and two cats who permit her to write in their cozy attic office. Find her online at www.carriefinison.com or follow her on social media:

Website: https://www.carriefinison.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carrie.finison

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CarrieFinison

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

BUY THIS BOOK To order a copy of Carrie’s debut picture book, DOZENS OF DOUGHNUTS, click here.

WIN A COPY! Want to win a copy of DOZENS OF DOUGHNUTS?! Leave a COMMENT below or RETWEET this post on Twitter. One lucky winner will be announced on Thursday, August 20th! 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 and Illustrator Abi Cushman

Happy Thursday Critters! I’ve been so excited to share today’s debut author interview for a while now, as Abi Cushman’s new picture book, SOAKED, is one I’ve been anticipating the release of for quite some time now. SOAKED officially released this past Tuesday with Viking Books for Young Readers and has received glowing reviews all around.

So without further ado, please welcome Abi Cushman to Critter Lit today!

Where do you live? I live in the same town I grew up in -- Niantic, CT. Seventeen-year-old Abi did not see that one coming.

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

I remember trying to draw Huckle Cat and Officer Flossy from the Richard Scarry books when I was in elementary school. But it took me thirty more years to nail down my own voice and get my characters and storylines to fit into the unique format that is a picture book.

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

My road to publication, in some ways, has been relatively short. It took me three years to get a book deal after I decided to make a serious effort at becoming a published author-illustrator. In 2015, I was a new mom reading lots and lots of board books and picture books to my daughter. I had an idea for a story, so I created a dummy and joined a local critique group. Nine months later, I landed an agent with that story. In 2017, I won the PEN New England Susan P. Bloom Discovery Award for the second dummy I wrote, as well as the Tassy Walden New Voices Award (for CT unpublished authors). I thought this was IT. That this was the story that would sell, because it had won those awards and got editor interest immediately after my agent sent it on submission. But things never lined up for that story, and I was crushed. Luckily, I used those feelings of dejection in a new story called SOAKED! which featured a very glum bear stuck in the rain, and I ended up selling it in 2018!

I should note too that throughout my publication journey, I’ve found the support of the kidlit community to be absolutely wonderful. The friendships I’ve made online and in-person have bolstered me up when I most needed it. This is something I’ll always treasure.

Can you share a bit about your process?

When I’m creating a story, I do a lot of rough sketches first and then piece everything together like a puzzle. I’ll draw thumbnails and then a rough mini dummy to figure out page turns and pacing.

After getting feedback, I make a larger dummy with more polished sketches. Once everything is approved, I create the final art by first drawing the characters with a mechanical pencil on computer paper. I scan those into Adobe Photoshop and adjust the levels to make the outlines nice and dark.

Then I apply the color with a Wacom Cintiq tablet. I keep most of the characters on their own layer/group in Photoshop so that I can move them around if necessary. And after drawing in the background and building up the colors and details, I arrive at the final art!

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

I write ideas or snippets of text down in my ugly sketchbook [https://taralazar.com/2020/01/04/storystorm-2020-day-4/] along with rough drawings of characters and scenes. When I’m in between projects, I go back through my sketchbook and see if anything catches my interest. And if so, I do more sketches to try to develop the idea further and see if it has legs.

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

If I’m doing final art, I need a mechanical pencil with a good eraser. I definitely don’t get things right the first time for the most part. I also prefer peace and quiet while I work.

Any authors and/or illustrators who inspire you?

I am inspired by so many authors and illustrators, but to name a few who not only excel on a technical level but also stand out for their perseverance, resilience and drive:

Maral Sassouni (illustrator of The Green Umbrella)

• Maral Sassouni (illustrator of The Green Umbrella)

• Ken Lamug (author-illustrator of the upcoming graphic novel Mischief and Mayhem)

• Arree Chung (author-illustrator of Mixed, founder of StorytellerAcademy.com)

• Rebekah Lowell (author-illustrator of the upcoming MG novel in verse The Road to After]

• The Soaring 20s crew (2020 debut picture book authors and illustrators)

Dream project to work on?

One thing I love about being an author-illustrator is the ability to create my own projects. True these projects have to be pitched by my agent and then accepted by an editor (and the editorial team, and the sales & marketing team, and the publisher), but at least I’m not waiting for something awesome to just land in my lap. I’m out there making something out of nothing. So usually my dream project is the one I’m working on now! That said, if an art director or editor had a manuscript they thought would be a perfect fit, I would love the opportunity to illustrate it.

Tell us about your debut book.

Soaked! is about a bear caught in a rainstorm- his ice cream cone is soggy, his cashmere sweater has shrunk, and he definitely does not want to try hula-hooping with a hula-hooping moose. But his trio of friends help him see that having fun isn't dependent on sunshine and clear skies.

What’s up next for you?

I am wrapping up final art for my second book with Viking, Animals Go Vroom! It challenges readers to guess what goes roar, hiss, or honk and has little peekaboo windows. I think it’s a fun read-aloud, and I’m really excited to share it with everyone next summer.

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

The Princess Bride. But I didn’t watch it until the 90s when a teacher put it on at the end of a field day to pass the time before dismissal. We only watched the beginning and I remember thinking, “WOW. What is this?? It’s absolutely awful. The color and scenery look so fake!” But then slowly but surely, I came to realize it was the greatest movie I’d ever seen.

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Huge thank you to Abi for stopping by Critter Lit today! Congrats on all your success! We can’t wait to see ANIMALS GO VROOM! when it comes out next summer!

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ABI CUSHMAN is an award-winning children’s book author and illustrator. She has also worked as a web designer for over 15 years, creating websites for libraries, towns, and local businesses. She runs two popular websites of her own: My House Rabbit, a pet rabbit care resource, and Animal Fact Guide , which was named a Great Website for Kids by the American Library Association. In her spare time, Abi enjoys running, playing tennis, and eating nachos. (Yes, at the same time.) She lives on the Connecticut shoreline with her husband and two kids.

For more information about Abi, visit her online or follow her on social media:

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

Sign-up for Abi’s newsletter here for totally top secret sneak peeks and giveaways!

BUY THIS BOOK To order a copy of Abi’s debut picture book, click here.

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

Interview with Debut Author Frank Tupta

Happy Thursday Critters! Today is a very exciting day! TODAY I’m interviewing my husband, Frank Tupta. Most of you know Frank as the other half of Critter Lit. He helps me handle all the critiques we get and run the site. But today we are celebrating his new book!

His debut picture book, HOW TO BUILD A HAUNTED HOUSE, illustrated by Kyle Beckett, comes out with Two Lions this month. I love this book so much. And I say that not as Frank’s wife, but as the mom of three boys, who this book is tailor made for. It’s funny, silly, and oh so clever. Kyle’s art truly brings the story to life— I’m not sure which spread is my favorite!

As you know, this is a really tough business to break into and survive in. I have worked in publishing for the last ten years, and let me tell you, it is completely different to watch someone you love go through the trials and tribulations of this business with a full understanding of what it all means. To say I’m proud of Frank and his debut book would be an understatement. We work together on nearly every manuscript, going back and forth and helping edit each other’s work. I wouldn’t be the writer I am today without him. I’m thrilled his debut book is finally coming out and I can’t wait for all of you to see how fantastic it is! Okay, I’m done gushing now….

Without further ado, please welcome Frank Tupta!

Where do you live?
I am snuggled in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Peninsula, Ohio.

When did you know you wanted to write picture books?
I never actually wanted to do children’s books. My first foray into writing started in the medical business as an EMT. It was then followed by the appraisal business, assessing personal property. I wrote my first novel series in a month in downtime between jobs. Since then, I’ve been trying to break in wherever I could. After eight novels and zero interest, I decided to try my hand at a kid’s story. I thought about what I would’ve wanted to see as a kid. Then I realized that may’ve been a little too psychotic (child of the ’80s— that was a different time). So I tapered back some and thought more of what my kids would like to see and found a happy medium. And that’s how I came up with How to Build A Haunted House.

Tell us about your road to publication, what did that involve for you?
It has been a bumpy road, and that road continues. Never a dull moment, with the exception of the down time trying to figure out new ideas. There are constant ups and downs. Phases of grieving post rejection and finding a way to get after it again. I will say those initial phases where you have to thicken your skin are the toughest. Being sensitive about your work is something I would think everyone struggles with, myself included. Being angry after a bad review or a rejection is comforting but only for so long. Eventually, you just move on to the next one. I think that’s when you know you’re battle-hardened, and it’s something more people should face. You don’t know who you are until someone crushes you and you get back up.

Can you share a bit about your process?
Oh, the process. I wish I could say it was always the same. The one thing I can say is a constant for me is listening. Listening is the best way to hear what is going on in the world around you. Some like to talk; I like to listen. Listen to kids, listen to adults, listen to politicians (okay, maybe don’t listen to politicians). I was told once, let no man be your enemy, and let every man be your teacher. Hearing the bounce and melody in people’s voices is key to finding your own rhythm and voice. Another thing for me is music is key. Music is something I’ve always loved. If you can sing, I have nothing but praise for you. My mom was a singer; it could be where I get my rhythm in my rhyming pattern.

What do you do to shake the rust off or get new ideas?
The key to shaking off rust is never stopping. If you fight through terrible writing, then rust is an edit or a delete away. This writing will be terrible. It will make you question your choices in life, but you can always learn something from it. How to Build A Haunted House came on the heel of a crime fiction novel series I was working on. That’s just how it happens sometimes. New ideas come from anywhere and anything. Architecture, nature, farms, the grocery store, the old man in a hat doing 25 in a 50. You don’t know when that sledgehammer of creative exuberance is going to smash you right over the head, and you have the next great idea.

Anything you can’t live without while you write?
Music and headphones. If there is any other kind of noise, I can’t write anything. Some people can do radio or books on tape— no, not me, never. There’s a time to listen, and there’s a time to go into autopilot.

Anything you are habitual about when it comes to creativity?
Early wake-ups, a priming routine of pull-ups, pushups, and sit-ups. And Most recently, I’ve made a switch from coffee to tea. This was mind-blowing for my friends. But I also didn’t start drinking coffee until I was 30.

Any authors and/or illustrators who inspire you?
I grew up with Syd Hoff, Steven Kellogg, and Maurice Sendak. For me, they are the greatest. In the current market, I don’t think you can beat Julie Fogliano. Honestly though, I get most of my inspiration from film and music. Oh, and children under the age of 5. They have the best ideas, the smallest filter, and they are relentless.

Dream project to work on?
My dream project would be a middle-grade thriller/adventure/mystery graphic novel. Think Goonies. I know— I try to think of it all the time.

Tell us about your debut book.
My debut picture book titled HOW TO BUILD A HAUNTED HOUSE brings the world of classic horror movie monsters into the real world. Well, maybe not the real world, but they have real-world jobs. They are owner/operators of their own contracting businesses, and when a Vampire Family is chased out of their house by zombie garlic plants, the town monsters work together to build them a new house. It’s trucks, it’s monsters, it’s chainsaws and tools, and a shrunken head wind chime. It rhymes, and it’s awesome. Shout out to Kyle Beckett for an outstanding job illustrating my text.

What’s up next for you?
As anyone who’s got one book knows, you’re only as good as the second one, and then the third one and then the fourth one, and so on, and so on. Right now, I’m working on a graphic novel series idea with my wife.

Anything else you’d like to share with aspiring authors and illustrators?
Never join the pity party when you’re down and never smell the perfume when you’re up.

And last, but not least, favorite 80s movie?
This is by far the hardest question you have asked. There’s a massive part of me that wants to drop Tango and Cash right here, right now, but I won’t. There’s also Predator which I could watch any day at any time. But I’m going to have to say Beetlejuice. Judge how you will.

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Huge thank you to Frank for sharing with us on Critter Lit today! Congrats on your wonderful book!

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FRANK TUPTA (TUP like UP) grew up in a haunted house in Cleveland. His favorite holiday is Halloween. He still dresses up every year. He currently lives in Peninsula, Ohio surrounded by the Cuyahoga Valley National Park with his wife, children's book author + illustrator Lindsay Ward, their three boys, and Sally, a rambunctious pit-bull\lab mix who keeps things interesting by chasing coyotes in their backyard.

If you'd like to know more about small Frank and the kind of shenanigans he used to get into, read BROBARIANS by his wife, Lindsay. The character Otto is based on him.

Most days you can find Frank writing, walking Sally with his family, driving around on his tractor, or co-running www.critterlit.com with his wife, a website offering free critiques and advice for up-and-coming authors and illustrators.

For more information about Frank, visit him online at www.uptasomething.com or follow him on social media:

Twitter: @FTupta

BUY THIS BOOK To pre-order a copy of Frank’s debut picture book, click here.

WIN A COPY! Want to win a SIGNED copy of HOW TO BUILD A HAUNTED HOUSE?! Leave a COMMENT below or RETWEET this post on Twitter. One lucky winner will be announced on Thursday, July 16th! US addresses only please.

Interview with Author Rajani LaRocca

Happy Thursday Critters! I hope you are all doing well— staying healthy and safe. Today we have an interview with debut picture book author Rajani LaRocca! Although this is Rajani’s first picture book, her debut book, a middle grade novel, MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM, came out last summer and received rave reviews, a starred Kirkus review, and was on many ‘best of 2019’ lists! Rajani’s debut picture book, SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS: A TALE OF MUSIC AND MATH, illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan, comes out with Lee & Low Books on October 20, 2020! Make sure to pre-order this one!

Here is the description of the book:

In this clever, convivial picture book, an Indian boy untangles a mathematical conundrum to win a place at the Rajah's court.

In ancient India, a boy named Bhagat travels to the Rajah's city, hoping to ensure his family's prosperity by winning a place at court as a singer. Bhagat carries his family's entire fortune--a single coin and a chain of seven golden rings--to pay for his lodging. But when the innkeeper demands one ring per night, and every link snipped costs one coin, how can Bhagat both break the chain and avoid overpaying? His inventive solution points the way to an unexpected triumph, and offers readers a friendly lesson in binary numbers--the root of all computing.

How wonderful does this book sound?! The story and art are fantastic! I’m so excited to be sharing Rajani’s work with you all today.

So without further ado, please welcome Rajani Larocca!

Where do you live?

I live in the beautiful (and literary) town of Concord, MA.

 When did you know you wanted to write picture books?

When I started writing a few years ago, I didn’t intend to write picture books. I saw myself as a novelist. But then I took a workshop on different types of children’s literature at Grub Street, a creative writing center in Boston, where the instructor showed us some mind-blowing picture books, including The Jupiter Stone by Owen Paul Lewis. That book, and the intersection of words and pictures, blew my mind, and inspired me to write my very first picture book. I went on to write many more, and each one has brought its own special joy…including my debut picture book, SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS.

 Tell us about your road to publication. What did that involve for you?

I’ve always loved books but spent a very long time away from writing while I went to medical school, residency, and started working as a physician. A few years ago, when my children were in school and I was established in my medical practice, I started taking writing classes online and in person. In about 2013, I got more serious about pursuing publication. After writing four to five picture books I thought were “ready,” I first started querying agents in 2015. I had some close calls but no offers, and in the meantime, I revised a middle grade novel and started querying it in 2017. When I received offers of representation, I also shared five picture books with the agents and got their feedback. I signed with my wonderful agent, Brent Taylor of Triada US, in November 2017. The past couple of years have been incredible, and I now have five picture books coming between 2020-2022!

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

I feel like ideas are all around me if I allow myself to be open to them. Participating in Storystorm is super helpful to generate new ideas, and I sometimes jot notes in my phone when inspiration strikes. The idea for a book may come in the form of an image, a title, or a memory. I’m always inspired by my children and our sweet little dog. In fact, taking a walk in nature, especially with my dog, often gets the creative juices flowing.

 Tell us about your debut book.

SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS is set in ancient India and tells the story of a boy named Bhagat who wants to save his family from poverty by earning a place at the Rajah’s court as a singer. He travels to the Rajah’s city with all the wealth he and his mother have left in the world: a single coin and seven tiny golden rings. But when he gets to an inn, and the innkeeper demands one ring per night and breaking a ring costs one coin, Bhagat must figure out a way to stay in the city while not wasting any of the rings. Bhagat succeeds in solving this mathematical conundrum, and the story introduces the concept of binary numbers—the basis of how computers work—in a fun and accessible way.

Interior Art from SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS: A TALE OF MUSIC AND MATH, written by Rajani Larocca!, illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan

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

THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK!

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Huge thank you to Rajani for stopping by Critter Lit today! Congrats on all your success! We can’t wait to see what story you share with us next.

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RAJANI LAROCCA was born in India, raised in Kentucky, and now lives in the Boston area with her wonderful family and impossibly cute dog. After graduating from Harvard College and Harvard Medical School, she spends her time writing novels and picture books, practicing medicine, and baking too many sweet treats. Her middle grade debut, Midsummer’s Mayhem (Yellow Jacket/Little Bee Books 2019), is an Indian-American middle grade mashup of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and competitive baking. Her debut picture book, Seven Golden Rings (Lee & Low, 2020) introduces binary numbers through a story set in ancient India. She is also the author of Bracelets for Brothers (Charlesbridge, 2021), I’ll Go and Come Back (Candlewick, 2022), Where Three Oceans Meet (Abrams, 2022), and other forthcoming books.

For more information on Rajani, visit her online at www.rajanilarocca.com or follow her on social media:

Twitter and IG: @rajanilarocca, Facebook

BUY THIS BOOK To pre-order a copy of Rajani’s debut picture book, click here.

WIN A COPY! Want to win a copy of SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS: A TALE OF MUSIC AND MATH?! Leave a COMMENT below or RETWEET this post on Twitter. One lucky winner will be announced on Thursday, July 9th! US addresses only please.

Interview with Illustrator Elaheh Taherian

Happy Thursday Critters! Today I’m thrilled to be sharing the work of illustrator Elaheh Taherian, whose debut picture book in the US is written by my lovely and talented friend, Tricia Springstubb. I always love sharing another illustrator’s work— especially one as immensely talented as Elaheh. Her work is filled with rich textures, patterns, and colors— which remind me of Matisse. There is such a playful sensibility in her design and shapes that I love too.

So without further ado, please welcome Elaheh Taherian!

Where do you live? 

I live in Brooklyn, New York 

When did you know you wanted to illustrate picture books? 

When I was a kid I was more interested in illustrations in the picture books than the story. I would read the story several times, look at the pictures over and over again and I would draw next to them to tell my story. I grew up knowing that I love art and drawing and to be an artist. My father really supported me to go to art school. I studied visual art/painting for my undergrad and at some point during this time I remembered how much I loved illustration and storytelling that I’ve forgot about during years. 

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

I decided to study illustration for my master’s degree. I grew up in Iran and over there in order to get to either grad school and undergrad there is a national wide entry exam. It is so competitive and after you accept in the first round which is the theory exam, there is the second round for drawing and illustration skill tests. I got accepted in one of the top art schools in 2006. in my second semester, I got my first book illustration deal through an art director who was familiar with my work. It was like a dream for me. I was lucky to get to work on an actual project while studying. Also, we had art director critiques visiting the school and I was lucky to meet a great art director who was interested in my works and asked me to meet him. First, he hired me to illustrate for a very great children’s magazine and after several months I had a book contract with the publishing company that he was the art director. This first book with him was so successful and the book “ The Giant Snowman” published in 3 different languages with very great publishers in France, Switzerland, and South Korea. Long story short within 4 years until left Iran in 2010, I already had illustrated 7 children’s books.
After I moved here I did not know anything about publishing here nor I knew anybody. I tried to connect with some people, I did not have much luck. I decided to go to grad school again to build my confidence again probably and learn about the industry here and get to know people. I studied MFA Illustration at the School of Visual Arts. I got to know great people and I received great feedback from teachers and critique guests. After my graduation from SVA, it took me 3 more years to get my first book deal with Candlewick Press and I was lucky to get to illustrate this beautiful story written by great Tricia Springstubb, Khalil & Mr. Hagerty and the Backyard Treasures. A story about love and friendship. When I received the offer email I was literally jumping up and down all over my apartment. I also signed my second book deal a month ago with Little Bigfoot. 

Can you share a bit about your process? 

I usually start with doodles, character study, and so many sketches— that is the most challenging part for me. It might take me days of not working, but focusing on what I really want and thinking and getting inspired.
After I come up with the right sketch, and I am happy with the characters and compositions, I start working on the color palette and the techniques I wanted to use. I usually know what technique I want to use when I read the story but it can change depending on the sketches. After I pass this part, it gets easier and I just enjoy working with colors and the characters. 

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

There are some times in our life that we feel our mind is blocked and there is no way we can get anything done or we just keep repeating ourselves. At these times, if I’m having trouble with a specific project, I stop it and I start drawing something unrelated to the project— something that I have total freedom in and most of the time through that I get back on track and I come up with my best ideas. Because you think that you don’t think about the project while in your unconscious you are still thinking and reviewing and looking for solutions. Sometimes looking at my old drawing archive helps me to come up with new ideas. Sometimes doing nothing and looking at people through the window or taking a walk can help. Also libraries, art galleries and museums are the best places to be when you need inspiration. To get new ideas sometimes you need a pause and come back fresh. 

Anything you can’t live without while you draw? 

Freedom of imagination, my plants, and at least 10 cups of Black Tea. 

Any authors and/or illustrators who inspire you? 

Marc Chagall’s beautiful works and colors was my first source of inspiration in my art. He is a great story teller and knowing his art changed my view and direction in my work. He also was an illustrator. There are so many great artists and authors who inspire me and it’s hard to put all the names down but I can name some great author and illustrators that I always looked up to like Peter Sis who was my Thesis Advisor in grad school (I feel so lucky), Eric Carle, Tomie DePaola (who we sadly lost last month), and so many more... 

Tell us about your new book. 

Khalil & Mr. Hagerty and the Backyard Treasures written by the great Tricia Springstubb.
I was so lucky to get to illustrate her story. The story is about building a friendship full of love and surprises! The book released on May 26th, 2020. I am so excited about it. It’s my first book in the USA and I am looking forward to sharing it with the world. 

What’s up next for you? 

My next illustration project is a book I will be working with Little Bigfoot. The story is called Baba’s Gift and is written by two sisters, Ariana and Christina Amini. This book is scheduled for Spring 2022. I am also working on writing and illustrating a new story. Next, is just keep working and getting inspired. 

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Congrats on your debut book in the US Elaheh! We are thrilled you could join us on Critter Lit today!

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ELAHEH TAHERIAN graduated from MFA Illustration as Visual Essay program from School of Visual Arts in New York City with the Paula Rhodes honor award for exceptional achievement in illustration in 2015. Prior to this, she received an MFA degree from Art University in Tehran, Iran 2009. She has illustrated several children’s books and her works have been published in several magazines and featured in many exhibits. Elaheh lives and works in Brooklyn, New York. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION about Elaheh, visit her online at www.elahehtaherian.com.

BUY THIS BOOK To purchase a copy of KHALIL AND MR. HAGERTY AND THE BACKYARD TREASURES, click here.

WIN A COPY! Want to win a giveaway copy of Elaheh’s debut book, KHALIL AND MR. HAGERTY AND THE BACKYARD TREASURES, written by Tricia Springstubb?! Leave a COMMENT below or RETWEET this post on Twitter. One lucky winner will be announced on Thursday, June 4th! US addresses only please.