Interview with Author Emma Pearl Part 2

Happy Thursdays Critters! I’m thrilled to share another interview with author Emma Pearl today! You can read her first interview with us here. She is back with us today to talk about her new book, SAVING THE SUN, which just released this month with Page Street Kids.

So without further ado, please welcome Emma Pearl!

It’s great to have you back!

 Thank you for having me again!

 Tell us about your latest book.

Saving the Sun features the same characters as my debut Mending the Moon, Luna and Poppa, as they work to avert another natural disaster. This time, while they’re on vacation on a tropical island, the sweltering sun falls into the sea and they must work together with the island animals and sea creatures to get it back into the sky and set it alight again.

Interior art from SAVING THE SUN by Emma Pearl, illustrated by Sara Ugolotti, published by Page Street Kids

Interior art from SAVING THE SUN by Emma Pearl, illustrated by Sara Ugolotti, published by Page Street Kids

Last we spoke you had released your debut book. Can you share some of your experiences since your first book came out. How are things different? How are they the same?

 Releasing my debut was a huge milestone and the achievement of a lifelong dream, but it’s also a time of great stress and anxiety that I’m sure every author is familiar with – will anyone read it? Buy it? Like it? It’s quite terrifying in many ways because you put your heart out there and you have absolutely no control over what happens once you release it into the world. It’s no longer yours.

 I’ve had some wonderful experiences interacting with children and parents online and in person at school and library events. It’s a huge thrill when children connect with the story, when you see their eyes and imagination light up. That’s what it’s all about.

 My day-to-day life hasn’t really changed at all – there are still not enough hours in the day to get all the writing done!

 What do you find inspiring right now?

I’ve always found inspiration in nature, and right now (for the sake of my mental health) I’m trying very hard to focus on the beautiful landscape around me rather than the chaos in the wider world. I love my local, snow-capped mountain, rivers, waterfalls, oceans, trees, flowers – all these help to ground me as well as inspiring my writing.

 What is your favorite thing about being an author?

Being immersed in storytelling, books and my own fictional worlds. And being a part of helping children to discover that magic too – it’s such a privilege.

 What do you find difficult working as an author?

The most difficult thing for me is the torturously slow pace of the whole industry. I’m not patient by nature and each part of the process (Every. Single. Thing!) takes about a thousand times longer than I would like! I’m learning to focus on my own productivity rather than fixate on waiting for responses from other people or stress about things that are outside my control, but it’s not easy!

 Anything you are habitual about when it comes to creativity?

Not so much habitual as doggedly persevering! I just try to do as much as I can whenever I can, even if it only means squeezing in five minutes here and there. I am definitely more productive if I can get myself into a routine – the ideal would be 2-3 hours every morning and the same again every afternoon and evening. But mostly life gets in the way and doesn’t allow anything like that much time.

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

The Kid Lit community is honestly the best, kindest, most welcoming and supportive community there is. I’ve had so many positive experiences – support, advice and encouragement from other writers at every stage. I’ve been lucky enough to be both a mentee and a mentor through the WriteMentor program, both of which have been highlights. All my critique partners past and present have been a godsend. And now I belong to the promo group Kids Book Crew – 13 authors all releasing books in the next year or so supporting one another, and it’s a delight to be a part of!

Recommended reading?

Ah, don’t get me started! I could go for hours… I’ll try to keep it short(ish). Some adult fiction I’ve read recently and loved – The Ferryman by Justin Cronin, Good Girls Die Last by Natali Simmonds, The Memory of Animals by Claire Fuller and Blue Ticket by Sophie Mackintosh.

And picture books –The Last Rainbow Bird by Nora Brech, Sleepy Sheepy by Lucy Ruth Cummins and Pete Oswald, Floof by Heidi McKinnon, Mother of Sharks by Melissa Cristina Márquez and Devin Elle Kurtz, The Wishing Flower by A.J. Irving and Kip Alizadeh.

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

You can become a published author but you also need to earn a living (they are quite separate things!).

What’s up next for you?

I have a few projects out on submission at the moment so I’m hoping some good news will arrive in the not too distant future! In the meantime, as always, I have about a million works in progress – a variety of picture books, middle grade and young adult novels.

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

Keep on creating – what you do is so important. But take care of yourself too. It’s a brutal industry and it’s okay to step away if you need to. Try to set goals that are within your control (i.e. ‘finish the manuscript’, not ‘sign with an agent’), and find your tribe – support from other writers is invaluable.

And last, but not least, favorite book character?

Matilda (loves books, fearless and triumphant underdog, strong female, can move objects with her mind – what a hero!)

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Huge thank you to Emma for stopping by Critter Lit again! Congrats on your new book!

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EMMA PEARL’S debut picture book Mending the Moon, illustrated by Sara Ugolotti, was published by Page Street Kids in 2022. Saving the Sun is her second book. Emma lives in New Zealand and writes fiction for young people of all ages from picture books to young adults. She is represented by Sera Rivers at Speilburg Literary.

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

emmapearlauthor.com

Twitter: @emmspearl

Instagram: @emmspearl

BUY THIS BOOK To purchase Emma’s books, click here.

WIN A COPY! Want to win a giveaway copy of SAVING THE SUN?! Leave a COMMENT below or RETWEET this post on Twitter. One lucky winner will be announced on Thursday, October 5th.

Interview with Author Emma Pearl

Happy Friday Critters! Today we have an interview with author Emma Pearl who is with us today all the way from New Zealand! I’m thrilled to have Emma with us today to talk about her writing process, start in publishing, and new book, MENDING THE MOON, illustrated by Sara Ugolotti, which came out with Page Street Kids this past November.

So without further ado, please welcome Emma Pearl!

Where do you live?

New Zealand – in a tiny rural community in Taranaki (in the west of the North Island), but I grew up in England and have spent most of my adult life either traveling or ping-ponging between the UK and NZ.

When did you know you wanted to write picture books?

I’ve always written stories. Roald Dahl was my great uncle (and dedicated The Twits to me when I was 7 years old!), so I had plenty of inspiration to become an author! I worked in children’s publishing for a while in my twenties and that reinforced my love of children’s literature, but it wasn’t until I had my own kids that I really began to focus on writing it. I also write middle grade and young adult novels – it just happened that a picture book text was the first one to be picked up by a publisher.

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

I began writing seriously in 2017, learning the craft and connecting with a wonderful online writing community. I started out writing a YA novel and then an MG, with a smattering of picture book manuscripts in between. I was selected as a WriteMentor mentee in 2020 for my MG novel and that was a huge confidence boost as well as a great learning experience. In October 2020, I entered #PBPitch and got a like for one of my picture books from Kayla Tostevin at Page Street Kids. We did a few rounds of revisions before I received an official book deal. It was all very exciting and unexpected, and I was so humbled and grateful. But it also felt a bit back-to-front – a book deal before I found an agent? I wasn’t sure how to deal with that and imposter syndrome was very real! But I kept plugging away – I focused on picture books in 2021, wrote many more texts and got a second book deal with the same publisher. I was also a WriteMentor mentor in 2021 and 2022 – a joyous experience where I learnt just as much being on the other end of the process. I wrote another YA novel towards the end of 2021 and signed with my agent in June 22. The novel is about to go out on submission!

 Can you share a bit about your process?

I write as often as I can, and I manage to squeeze in at least a couple of hours most days, although it’s not always writing per se – there’s so much peripheral stuff to do and never enough time! I have many different projects on the go at any one time, but when I’m in novel-writing mode I try to focus on that one thing until the first draft is completed.

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

I already have far too many ideas to turn into stories in one lifetime, thanks to many years of collecting them. I also have many projects that I’ve started but not finished, so if ever I feel rusty or lacking in inspiration I just read through my files until something shouts WRITE ME! If you’re struggling to generate new ideas, I recommend Tara Lazar’s Storystorm – it really helps to tune your mind into seeing story ideas everywhere.

 Anything you can’t live without while you write?

A keyboard. I often write notes by hand but the actual drafting has to be done on a computer of some kind. When I’m ‘in the zone’, the words flow from my fingers almost automatically, but that doesn’t happen when I’m writing by hand.

 Any authors and/or illustrators who inspire you?

Pat Zietlow Miller is a masterclass of picture book writing – I’ve learnt so much just by reading her texts. I also love Joanna Ho’s writing, Tom Percival’s books, Deborah Marcero and the O’Hara sisters.

 Tell us about your debut book.

Mending the Moon is the story of a little girl called Luna who sees the moon fall out of the sky one night. She drags her grandfather Poppa out of bed and they go out into the mountain forest where shattered pieces of the moon are glowing in the dark. They try to fix it together, but they need help from the animals before they can repair the moon and get it back into the sky. It’s beautifully illustrated by Sara Ugolotti, who has given it a truly magical setting and atmosphere.

Interior art from MENDING THE MOON by Emma Pearl, Illustrated by Sara Ugolotti published by Page Street Kids

Interior art from MENDING THE MOON by Emma Pearl, Illustrated by Sara Ugolotti published by Page Street Kids

Interior art from MENDING THE MOON by Emma Pearl, Illustrated by Sara Ugolotti published by Page Street Kids

 What’s up next for you?

Another story with the same characters will be published in September. In Saving the Sun, Luna, Poppa and the animals on the tropical island where they’re on vacation have to rescue the sun after it gets too hot and decides to go for a dip in the ocean. Sara’s illustrations are stunning again, with the warm summery vibes perfectly complementing the cold wintery mood of Mending the Moon. I’m so thrilled with how it’s turned out and can’t wait to share it!

 I also have a YA novel about to go out on submission, so will be tightly crossing my fingers and toes for that.

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

I think it has to be Matilda. I’ve always felt a great affinity with her for many reasons (not least that I think my great uncle may have based Miss Trunchbull loosely on one of my teachers!). Matilda is such an inspirational, strong female character – she’s clever, kind and brave. And of course, she’s a bookworm, which may be the reason for her extraordinariness and also makes her very relatable (to me anyway!).

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Huge thank you to Emma for stopping by Critter Lit today! Congrats on your debut! We can’t wait to see SAVING THE SUN!

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EMMA PEARL has written stories for as long as she can remember. She grew up in the UK, traveled the world and now lives with her family in New Zealand. Mending the Moon (illustrated by Sara Ugolotti, published by Page Street Kids) is her debut picture book. The sequel Saving the Sun will be published in September 2023. Emma also writes middle grade and young adult, is a WriteMentor picture book mentor, freelance editorial consultant, and is represented by Sera Rivers at Speilburg Literary. 

 FOR MORE INFORMATION follow Emma online:

Website: emmapearlauthor.com

Twitter: @emmspearl

Instagram: emmspearl

Mastodon: @emmspearl@mastodon.nz

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

WIN A COPY! Want to win a giveaway copy of MENDING THE MOON?! Leave a COMMENT below or RETWEET this post on Twitter. One lucky winner will be announced on Thursday, February 9th! US addresses only please.

Interview with Author Kimberly Wilson

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

So without further ado, please welcome Kimberly Wilson!

Where do you live?

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

When did you know you wanted to write picture books?

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

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

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

Can you share a bit about your process?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Anything you can’t live without while you write?

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

Any authors and/or illustrators who inspire you?

I could go on all day answering this question! 

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

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

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

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

Dream project to work on?

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

Tell us about your debut book.

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

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

What’s up next for you?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Website: www.kimberlywilsonwrites.com

Twitter: @authorkimwilson

Instagram: @kimberlywilsonwrites

Goodreads: @kimberlywilsonwrites

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

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

Interview with Author Tina Athaide

Happy Thursday Critters! Today we have a fantastic interview with the incredibly talented Tina Athaide! I’m thrilled to have her with us today to share her experience writing both middle grade novels and picture books, road to publication, and creative process.

So without further ado, please welcome Tina Athaide!

Where do you live

I'm in Southern California right now, but grew up between London and Canada.

When did you know you wanted to write picture books?

As a child, l loved keeping a journal, so there's always been that part of me that likes storytelling. I was motivated to write stories when I started teaching and noticed that the books in my classroom and in the curriculum didn't represent the students in my classroom.

So, my first books were leveled readers with South Asian characters involved in everyday activities, similar to those experienced by my students.

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

It has been like riding the Colossus roller coaster at Six Flags, full of twists and turns. My debut middle grade book, Orange for the Sunsets, about the expulsion of Asian Indians from Uganda was rejected thirty times before it was accepted for publication. It morphed from a picture book into a middle grade book with at least five different versions in between.

The whole process took me ten years, but during that time, I attended SCBWI conferences, joined critique groups, and kept reading and writing.

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

When I'm working on a new story or in the middle of revisions, here are my top five go to things to keep the momentum flowing.

1. Brew a cup of tea and nibble on something sweet.

2. Yoga (A few stretches and the quiet do wonders to clear the mind)

3. I grab my black lab, Butler, and we go for a walk.

4. Pull a book from my "To be read pile" and read.

5. Draw (I draw the scene or a character or doodle)

Anything you can't live without while you write?

I must have a kettle to boil hot water for tea and a journal for those inspirational ideas that may strike at any time.

Any authors and/or illustrators who inspire you?

As a child, I loved the Narnia series by C.S.Lewis and Nancy Drew Mysteries. Uma Krishnaswami inspires me because she broke boundaries and published stories with diverse characters. Her book, Book Uncle and Me, is a favorite of mine and I share it with my students.

Dream project to work on?

This is completely a dream project, but I would love to work with a producer/director to bring the story of Asha and Yesofu from Orange for the Sunsets, to the big screen. I even have a few selected directors...yes this is my dream.

Tell us about your debut book?

Meena's Mindful Moment, my picture book, debuts early November 2021 and is close to my heart for two reasons. Firstly, the main character is full of exuberance, which sometimes causes problems. She represents some of my students, who similar to Meena, find themselves getting in trouble at school. I wanted them to know that they weren't alone. Meena was just like them and that it is okay. Secondly, the story takes place in India and the places that Meena goes with her grandfather are the same places my own grandfather took me when I'd visited as a child.

What's up next for you?

I'm working on another picture book also set in Goa, India and a middle grade book set in the early 1970s.

My favorite 80s movie.

BIG. It's the story of a boy who wakes up and finds himself in an adult body after wishing to be bigger at a magic wish machine at a fair. As a child, I wondered what it would be like to be in an adult body, but these days, I wish I could live in my nine and ten year old body for a day.

Tell us about your debut picture book?

Meena's Mindful Moment, my picture book, illustrated by Asa Gilland, debuts early November 2021 and is close to my heart for two reasons. Firstly, the main character is full of exuberance, which sometimes causes problems. She represents some of my students, who similar to Meena, find themselves getting in trouble at school. I wanted them to know that they weren't alone. Meena was just like them and that it is okay. Secondly, the story takes place in India and the places that Meena goes with her grandfather are the same places my own grandfather took me when I'd visited as a child.

Book Case from MEENA’S MINDFUL MOMENT by Tina Athaide, illustrated by Asa Gilland

Interior art from MEENA’S MINDFUL MOMENT by Tina Athaide, illustrated by Asa Gilland published by Page Street Kids

What's up next for you?

I'm working on another picture book also set in Goa, India and a middle grade book set in the early 1970s.

My favorite 80s movie.

BIG. It's the story of a boy who wakes up and finds himself in an adult body after wishing to be bigger at a magic wish machine at a fair. As a child, I wondered what it would be like to be in an adult body, but these days, I wish I could live in my nine and ten year old body for a day.

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Huge thank you to Tina for stopping by Critter Lit today! Congrats on your debut picture book, it’s lovely!

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TINA ATHAIDE was born in Uganda and grew up in London and Canada. While her family left Entebbe just prior to the expulsion, she has memories of refugee family and friends staying with them in their London home. The stories and conversations she listened to through the years became the inspiration for her book Orange for the Sunsets. Tina now lives in California with her husband, Ron, and their daughter, Isabella.

FOR MORE INFO about Tina, visit her online or follow her on social media:

Website: tinaathaide.com

Twitter: @tathaide

Instagram: tinaathaide

Facebook: tinaathaide

BUY THIS BOOK To order a copy of Tina’s books, click here.

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

Interview with Author Brooke Hartman

Happy Thursday Critters! Today we have an interview with author Brooke Hartman, whose second picture book just released this past October. I’m thrilled to have Brooke with us today and I can’t wait for you all to see her new incredibly beautiful book, Lotte’s Magical Paper Puppets: The Woman Behind the First Animated Feature Film, illustrated by Kathryn Carr, with Page Street Kids.

As an illustrator working in cut paper, I’m completely head over heels for this book— the art is absolutely stunning and the text is lovely and lyrical. It takes the idea of a picture book biography to a whole new level. When I first came across the book I had no idea that Brooke and I were repped by the same agent— a lovely coincidence! This book is magical— opening it you’ll feel as though you’ve been transported into Lotte’s world. It’s truly incredible.

So without further ado, please welcome Brooke Hartman!

Where do you live?

Chugiak, Alaska

How many years have you been in publishing?

My first book came out in 2019, but I’ve been writing as a “serious hobby” since 2002!

How did you first get published?

Like so many published books out there, my first picture book had a vastly different path to publication than my others. Though I’ve been working on various manuscripts for over a decade, including YA Fantasy, Science Fiction, and of course picture books, my first contract took me by surprise. I was introduced to Alaskan artist Evon Zerbetz (www.EvonZerbetz.com) who works in linocut art and has done a myriad of work throughout Alaska and elsewhere. I thought one of her public art installations reminded me a lot of a poem that I’d written as a “side of a side” project years before, so I showed the poem to her. She did some mock-up sketches of what the illustrations for this poem might look like, I revised some of the stanzas, we submitted them to a publisher… and the rest is history! Dream Flights on Arctic Nights was released in February 2019 through West Margin Press. I have to be careful telling this story to folks looking to have their picture book published, though, because as you probably know, it is NOT typical to collaborate with an illustrator beforehand. This publication was entirely serendipitous.

Do you write full-time?

I mom full time, lol, though I also have a part-time job as the community education director for a behavioral health treatment center (TMS Center of Alaska).

What inspires you to create picture books?

My kids, and my wacky imagination. I was that teenager who was petrified to try drugs because, if my brain could think of stuff this weird when I wasn’t high, I was afraid of what might happen if I ever was!

What surprised you the most working as an author?

Edits. SO. MANY. EDITS. To anyone who thinks that when you sign with an editor your manuscript is done, I have bad news for you. I’ve only worked with an editor on four picture book texts so far, but each of them had at least a dozen edits on top of the already two dozen you’ve done just to get to that point. And these are picture book texts! We’re talking less than 600 words, to begin with.

What is your favorite thing about being an author?

There’s something so completely satisfying about seeing your story rewritten and perfected and then paired with amazing illustrations until it becomes this beautiful thing you can’t even believe you helped create.

What do you find difficult working as an author?

Back to that whole “edits” thing. 90% of the time, I agree with what an editor is suggesting, or at least the idea they’re suggesting if not the actual execution of it. But occasionally there’s some dichotomy on what you envision vs. what the editor envisions, and that can be frustrating. The biggest advice I try to give myself when this happens is to take a “brush my teeth” moment on it. Let those comments simmer. If I still don’t agree with them a day or two later, formulate an alternate solution that might serve as a compromise, or compose a firm-but-kind way to explain why you think the text is stronger as is.

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

I honestly have never had to look for new ideas. I have so many picture book and novel ideas stacked up at any given moment, it’s all I can do to carve out enough time just to put a handful of them to paper. Are all of those ideas awesome and should be a book? Nope! But at least they’re ideas.

Anything you are habitual about when it comes to creativity?

I like alone time without kids to write, which usually means seeking out a coffee shop. Some people can tune out household hustle and bustle while they write, but I’m 100% the default parent for my kids, which makes it hard for me to just ignore everything going on around me. Plus, when I’m home, I’m constantly making someone a meal or snack. I swear my kids have tapeworms.

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

I owe every last bit of me being published to the KidLit community. I went to my first SCBWI Conference (SCBWI Western Washington) in 2011, which was mind-blowing. Then I attended a local conference in 2012, where I met my critique group that’s still going strong to this day. The group has lost a few due members to attrition over the years, but there are still five of us, and we meet every single Monday night!

Recommended reading?

Anything in the genre you’re trying to publish in. For me, that’s picture books and YA Fantasy. Just within those two genres, my recommendations could go for days. But here are just a few:

YA Fantasy: Anything by Maggie Stiefvater, Neal Shusterman, or Melissa Meyer.

Picture Books: Anything by Mo Willems, Josh Funk, or Ryan T. Higgins

What has been the highlight of your career thus far?

My first book received a starred review from Kirkus, which was a fun surprise. Since then, the highlights have been stumbling over random mentions of your book on sites or YouTube channels you never knew about. Or hearing from someone that their child / grandchild / friend’s child absolutely LOVES your book and has to have it read to them every single night. Those are the best.

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

Join SCBWI this very second.

Can you tell us about your newest book?

My newest book was another surprise for me. I was on Facebook one day and stumbled across a short but lovely YouTube biography on Lotte Reiniger, the woman who pioneered shadow puppet cinematography and created the first full length feature film over a decade before anyone even heard of Walt Disney. I was blown away. Her work was not only groundbreaking, it was gorgeous! I was absolutely smitten with this lesser-known hero of cinema history. My brain drummed up this stanza:

Long before a cartoon mouse,

Or Snow White swept a little house,

There was a girl named Charlotte.

Everyone called her Lotte.

Interior art from LOTTE’S MAGICAL PAPER PUPPETS: THE WOMAN BEHIND THE FIRST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM by Brooke Hartman, illustrated by Kathryn Carr, published by Page Street Kids

That stanza began my picture book biography on Lotte Reiniger. I was agentless at the time, but PitchWars came up, and I pitched it. Editor Courtney Burke of Page Street Kids liked my tweet. She’d been a film major in college, and even she had never heard of Lotte Reiniger! Courtney worked her magic on my text with many more revisions (all the edits!) and found the most perfect illustrator anyone could imagine for this project, Kathryn Carr, who works solely in shadow puppet illustration (www.GoCarrGo.com). The result was Lotte’s Magical Paper Puppets, the Woman Behind the First Animated Feature Film, which released this October from Page Street Kids.

Interior art from LOTTE’S MAGICAL PAPER PUPPETS: THE WOMAN BEHIND THE FIRST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM by Brooke Hartman, illustrated by Kathryn Carr, published by Page Street Kids

What’s up next for you?

I have more contracted projects with Page Street Kids, West Margin Press, and Innovation Press, all picture books. My amazing agent, Clelia Gore of Martin Literary Management, has a couple other picture books out on sub right now, with a few others we’re polishing in the meantime.

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

Read a TON in your genre. Get a critique group, find beta readers, and go to conferences—either in person or online! Soak up all that info and feedback, but then force yourself to actually write and submit.

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

Oh man, this is a tough one. But I think it’s a hard tie between Labyrinth and The Last Unicorn.

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Huge thank you to Brooke for stopping by Critter Lit today! Congrats on your wonderful books— we can’t wait to see what you come out with next!

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BROOKE HARTMAN is an Alaskan mom and award winning author of silly, serious, and sometimes strange stories for children and young adults. Forthcoming titles include Klyde the Kraken Wants a Friend (2020, Innovation Press), Pega Sisters! (2022, Page Street Kids), and The Littlest Airplane (2022, WestMargin Press). When she isn’t writing, you can find her fishing, flying, and having fun with her family, enjoying all the magic Alaska life has to offer.

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

Twitter: @BrookesBooksAK

ORDER THIS BOOK To order a copy of LOTTE’S MAGICAL PAPER PUPPETS: THE WOMAN BEHIND THE FIRST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM, click here.

WIN A COPY! Want to win a copy of LOTTE’S MAGICAL PAPER PUPPETS: THE WOMAN BEHIND THE FIRST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM?! Leave a COMMENT below or RETWEET this post on Twitter. One lucky winner will be announced on Thursday, December 17th! US addresses only please.

Interview with Debut Author and Illustrator Rob Justus

Happy Thursday Critters! We are officially back for 2020 and I can’t wait to share all the fantastic interviews we have scheduled this year. So let’s kick things off with the first debut interview of the year…

Please welcome Rob Justus!

Where do you live? 

I live in the capital of Canada, Ottawa. In fact I’m fortunate enough to actually just live a few blocks away from the Parliament buildings, which to me, is pretty nerdy-cool!

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

Growing up all I wanted to do was draw comic books. It was all I read, and all I drew was superheroes. Fast forward almost twenty years, I started writing and drawing simple, very bad, stories for my sister’s children. I shared them with some friends and their children, and they all seemed to enjoy them, so I thought I’d take a serious stab at doing this professionally. 

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

I feel like my journey to publication started before I even knew I wanted to work in children's books.

Like many people, I wasn’t happy with where I was in life - I just didn’t know what it was that I wanted. Then I started drawing again...and I remembered how much I loved it! 

Life took several very difficult turns for me, but at the same time I felt it pushed me more and more towards a creative lifestyle. I had played it safe, and that hadn’t worked for me. So I thought I’d take a chance seriously pursue writing and illustration as a career. I went to SCBWI conferences, landed an awesome agent, Molly O’Neill, and started sending out submissions. I had a lot of rejection, but tried to learn from every pass that I got.

Then I took a shower...and during that magical shower I came up with what would eventually become Kid Coach. I shared it with my agent and several dozen revisions later we had something to share with publishers. 

Soon after, I was fortunate enough to be able to sit down and have lunch with Kristen Nobles of Page Street Kids. I drove five hours to have a GREAT two hour lunch only to turn around and drive five hours back home. It was the best decision I had ever made. A few days later, hours after a tornado or two had ripped through the city where I live - leaving me without electricity for a few days. I received a call from my agent saying that Page Street Kids would like to offer me a two book deal! Oddly enough, all my friends and family were out of town that weekend so I celebrated my long journey to publication alone and in the dark. It was the best.

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

I step back for a day or two. Get out and see friends. 

Most new ideas come to me when I’m not really thinking about writing or in places where you zone out, like when I’m running. These ideas are either just an image of a character in a certain setting, or a turn of phrase, or bouncy line, but from that stories blossom and snowball.

Tell us about your debut book.

Kid Coach is a slamtastic book about a son who is determined to change his dad from a couch potato to a champion. Of course the only way to do this is by signing Dad up for WRESTLE-RUMBLE-MANIA-KINGDOM TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS!!! Surprisingly, Dad is really good at wrestling, but not so good at sportsmanship. It’s up to Kid Coach to help Dad become a better winner and right his wrongs, and hopefully make some friends along the way.

Kid Coach is a fun, action packed, read-out-loud book with colours and colourful characters that pop right off the page! Not gonna lie, I’m really proud of this book.

Illustration from KID COACH by Rob Justus

Illustration from KID COACH by Rob Justus

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

Does it have to be just one? The 80s were a pretty good time for sci-fi ...So if I have to pick just one it’d be...Aliens. No wait. It’d be Back to the Future. Wait! It’s definitely Ghostbusters...Or is it E.T? Actually you want to know what? When it doubt, you gotta go with the bacon...Kevin Bacon that is, and the best movie of all time: Footloose. 

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Huge thank you to Rob for stopping by Critter Lit to chat with us today. Congrats on your debut book! We can’t wait to see what you’ll create next!

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ROB JUSTUS chopped his way out of a career in market research and slammed into the publishing ring with his jammin’ debut book, KID COACH! Wrestling words and art as the Screaming Scribbler, Rob has wrangled many big guys, bad guys and bald guys with his signature move: THE DOUBLE-DARE DOODLE DEVASTATOR! Rob trains to be a true champion in Ottawa, Canada. He’s rep’d by Molly O’Neill at Root Literary.

FOR MORE INFORMATION on Rob, visit him online at www.robjustus.com or follow him on Instagram: @robjustus

BUY THIS BOOK To purchase a copy of Rob’s debut book, KID COACH, click here.

BOOK GIVEAWAY!

Want a chance to win a copy of KID COACH?! Comment on this post or share it on Twitter. One lucky winner will be selected Thursday, February 13th. US addresses only please.

Interview with Debut Author Lindsay Leslie

Happy Thursday Critters! Welcome back! It’s 2019 and I am so excited about all the interviews we have lined up on Critter Lit this year. We are kicking off the year with a debut author whose book, which comes out next month, has the best title of the year…I’m callin’ it! I can’t wait for you all to check out THIS BOOK IS SPINELESS (great title right? Told ya!)

So without further ado…please welcome Lindsay Leslie!

Where do you live?

I live in the great city of Austin, Texas! Trying to keep it weird over here. (The city’s motto is Keep Austin Weird, in case you all don’t know.)

When did you know you wanted to write picture books?

Not too long ago. I can be a bit slow about understanding what should be my path, and what works for my personality and my talents, but I get there in a very roundabout way. It was toward the end of 2014 when I connected the dots between my ability and love of writing, my love for being creative in some form or fashion, and my adoration of children and how they see the world. The idea smacked me in the face one evening when I was riffing a.k.a. making up a story on the fly to my son. After I said “the end,” I picked up a picture book off his floor and that’s when the smack happened. Helllooooo, Lindsay! You should write for children!!!

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

It involved study of the form and finding out where I needed to be in terms of children’s literature. I started out writing chapter books. I have a series I created based on the stories I made up and told my kids at their nightly bedtime tuck-ins. I have since put those in my electronic drawer to simmer. I moved on to picture books and felt that I connected with the challenge and the focus of creating a story that packs a punch but in very few words. I became obsessed with finding the right words and playing with rhythm and pacing. I also tried out a middle grade novel and became a bit exhausted. It was a lot. I haven’t given up, but for now, it’s in my electronic drawer of goodies.

So, I kept my mind focused on picture books. I wrote and created as much as I could and I learned from those before me. The amount of fantastic knowledge and how it’s given so willingly has always been overwhelming to me. I often think about how I can pay that forward. Anyway, I soaked in all I could and read so many picture books. I also joined supportive children’s literature groups with vaults of knowledge, including SCBWI Austin and 12x12. Also, I found a bunch of wonderful writers who wanted to form a writing group. We lean on each other for everything.

When I was ready to find an agent, I turned to querying traditionally and was a BIG FAN of all the various contests and pitch events on Twitter that seek to connect writers and illustrators with agents and editors. It’s a great way to get immediate feedback on queries and concepts. Back in March 2017, I decided to participate in #pitmad on Twitter, which is a huge pitch event covering all genres--everything and anything. I’ve participated in #pitmad a couple of times, and I’ve always wondered whether picture books get lost in the scrolling madness of YA and adult novels. I’m glad I didn’t give up. I pitched four of my picture book manuscripts, and I only got one “favorite” that day. But, it was the only one I needed. That favorite came from Kristen Nobles, children’s publisher with Page Street Kids. A month and a half later, I received an email from Associate Editor Charlotte Wenger at Page Street requesting an R&R (revise and resubmit). I worked with Charlotte back and forth for the next month and a half to see if I could shape THIS BOOK IS SPINELESS into a picture book Page Street Kids would want to publish. And it worked! I received an offer directly from Page Street.

With an offer in hand, I was referred to Red Fox Literary via a literary connection and connected to Stephanie Fretwell-Hill, who offered representation. 

Can you share a bit about your process?

Oh, it’s a silly process without much science behind it, but it works for me! And, isn’t that what it comes down to? What works for you. So, I wait for my muse. I wait for an idea to pole vault into my noggin’ and if I’m paying attention, I’ll stop in my tracks and have to write down the idea. I’ve got a long running list of those ideas in my phone. Then I pay attention (there’s a lot of that) to the idea that keeps marching in a very belligerent manner through my mind. The idea that just won’t give up. If an idea is doing that, I know I have to explore it on the page. 

Next, I write the horrible first draft, or at least I try to allow myself to do that. Sometimes I can be such an over-editor at the beginning. I let that horrible first draft, or how ever many words I’m able to get down, sit. And, I let it sit for as long as it needs … until it calls me back. Then I go back to it and rewrite or complete the draft. I’d say I do this over and over again until I feel it’s ready for extra eyeballs, and those would be the eyeballs of my trusted critique partners. I make sure to run my work by quite a few people and see what the common pain points are—what’s working, what’s not. I edit and edit and edit, and then I pass it on to my agent. Then I edit and edit and edit. This line of business and creative works takes a lot of patience. By that, I mean patience for yourself.

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

I don’t have one prescribed thing I do besides give myself time. I don’t berate myself for not being at the keyboard knocking out new stories all the time or editing, editing, editing every day. I do cheer myself on when I am able to do the work, when I am inspired by an idea, and when I make any forward progress. I acknowledged and keep chugging forward. It takes a lot of listening to yourself and a lot of patience. 

But when I really throw a brain cell at what I’m doing during those idea-creating moments, I can nail down two ways I come up with ideas: creating associations and active sensing.

1. Creating associations: I let my mind wander and investigate topics I love and that intrigue me. I love asking what-if questions and I make sure I don’t edit my mind and direct its creative investigation. I just keep letting it think and go, even if it goes in a weird direction. And it almost always does. THIS BOOK IS SPINELESS was definitely born from one of those associative moments—an idea that came forward from stepping on my son’s picture book and the ideas that sprang forward from my childhood experiences with anxiety.

2. Active sensing: I say active sensing, but it’s a living-in-the-moment-and-being-present thing. I actively observe with all of my senses. The two senses I lean on most: listening and looking. Yes, really listen to your kids when they talk about Pokemon, because it may give you an idea that ends up in a book deal (a.k.a. my next picture book NOVA THE STAR EATER). Yes, do some people watching. I get so much quality material watching people go about their daily lives. One of the best places for material, the school cafeteria. Watching how the children interact with each other and hearing some of their conversations. It’s a creative gold mine!

Anything you can’t live without while you write?

Not really, no. OK, I’m kind of lying. I do love to break for a snack or lunch. It’s kind of something I look forward to. I love food. Oh, I do. But while I’m writing? Hmmm...I need my desktop computer or laptop. But I can be anywhere. I don’t have to be at a certain place or have a certain desk or chair. When I’m focused, I’m way focused. Maybe too much. I can have background noise, music, or not. Kids screaming around me or not. I’m very laid back and flexible that way. What I can’t be without is a great idea that takes me to that story in my mind where I can’t be distracted and I want to stay and play.

Any authors and/or illustrators who inspire you?

How long is this blog? I could go for days on this. I’ve been inspired by so many. I’ll stick with the authors who shaped me as a kiddo … Judy Blume, Roald Dahl, Beverly Cleary. The trifecta. These authors were my childhood. Hands down. I feel they are a combo of relatable and quirky. That’s where I like to be with my writing. 

Dream project to work on?

Each project I’ve done has been a dream, so don’t wake me up. And, it’s been dreamy to work hand-in-hand with my editor, Charlotte Wenger at Page Street Kids. I trust her feedback implicitly. We seem to really get each other and have a fantastic creative/working relationship. 

Someday, I would like to finish that middle grade novel. That’s my carrot I’m chasing. It’s an odd, quirky thing, and a hard one to write. I was told it would be really difficult to do, but to me that sounds like a challenge, and I love a challenge. One way to get me to accomplish a goal is to tell me I can’t do it. 

Tell us about your debut book.

Oh, THIS BOOK IS SPINELESS …  and wary … and absolutely unadventurous, and is freaking out about what story might be on its pages. The book takes the reader on a journey of its fears, navigating the book’s possible contents together. With each page turn, the book becomes a bit braver. The book is multi-layered and incorporates the five senses, multiple literary genres, and various book parts. Ultimately, the relationship between book and reader brings everything together.

I’m so glad it’s my debut picture book. I’ve battled with anxiety for the majority of my life, so I’m well-versed in what anxiety feels like and how these emotions can get the best of us. This sweet, anxious book mimics what we all feel when anxiety comes rushing in. That heightened state and then the slow realization that we aren’t in immediate danger and we aren’t alone, so the calming begins. 

What’s up next for you?

Lots! THIS BOOK IS SPINELESS hits the shelves on Feb. 19, and I’m looking forward to the book launch at BookPeople in Austin on Feb. 23 (at 2 p.m.!) and celebrating with everyone. On May 21, I will usher in my next book, NOVA THE STAR EATER (Page Street Kids), illustrated by John Taesoo Kim. Then, in summer 2020, WANTED: DUSK RAIDERS (Page Street Kids) will release. In the meantime, I keep creating and having a blast connecting with the wonderful folks of the kidlit world! Also, keep an eye out for the debut picture book authors and author/illustrators of New In Nineteen. There’s so much unbelievable talent in that group. Check out the website at www.newin19.weebly.com. 

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

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun! 

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Thanks so much for stopping by Critter Lit today Lindsay! We can’t wait to see your fantastic books out in the world!

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A diary keeper, a journalism major, a public relations executive, a children’s author—Lindsay Leslie has always operated in a world of written words. Her debut picture book, THIS BOOK IS SPINELESS (Page Street Kids/illustrated by Alice Brereton), releases on Feb. 19, 2019. Her blog A Book and a Pie reviews picture books and pairs them with fitting pie recipes. Lindsay lives with her husband, two young boys, and two fur-beasts in Austin.

FOR MORE INFORMATION about Lindsay and her work visit her website: lindsayleslie.com or follow her on Twitter @lleslie | Instagram @lindsaylesliewrites

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

BOOK GIVEAWAY!

Want a chance to win a copy of THIS BOOK IS SPINELESS?! Comment on this post or share it on Twitter. One lucky winner will be selected Thursday, January 24th! US addresses only please.

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