Audrey Vernick's Blog

Today we welcome DUCK SOCK HOP to the world.

How should we celebrate? I have some thoughts on this. How about a free signed copy? That’s a good idea, right? And how about an interview with the uni-named duo of Janes– Kohuth (writer)  and Porter (illustrator)–the fabulously creative team behind DUCK SOCK HOP.

Let’s get quacking.

You said, “I like to look in a new way at ordinary everyday things, like socks, and make them feel extraordinary.” I see you may also have an outsized interest in ducks. Can you tell us specifically how DUCK SOCK HOP came to be?

JK: There’s something about ducks . . . . When I started sending out manuscripts, and then when I signed with an agent, I had already written a number of picture book texts. They covered a range of topics and animals. Two of them starred ducks. Both of those have now been published. I actually think that children’s publishing has more of an outsized interest in ducks than I do!

But there is something about ducks. In their physicality — their roundness, their waddling movement — they lend themselves to humor. The word “duck” is goofy. The sound “quack” is even goofier. For me, ducks were a great vehicle for creating friendly silly characters.  At some point several years ago, I envisioned a group of ducks who arrived as house guests, created havoc, and wouldn’t leave. I liked the juxtaposition of lovability and aggravation that our most cherished companions can sometimes represent for us. Those ducks became the ducks in DUCKS GO VROOM. The DUCK SOCK HOP ducks had their origins there, too, but the idea for that book came directly from some words jotted in one of my notebooks — “sock hopping/sock shopping.”

Many of my ideas come from particular words that sound fun to me, and “duck” went great with “sock.” And it seemed natural that the fun-loving, high-energy ducks in my head would be the ones to put on socks and dance.  To me, socks are the clothing equivalent of ducks — not exactly elegant, but cuddly, exuding warmth. Socks are wonderful things and I loved the idea of giving them a celebration. I don’t claim a mature sense of humor, and ducks wearing socks strikes me as hilarious.

What was your reaction when you first read the text? Could you see it? Do you have to let it sit for a while before your approach reveals itself to you?

Indian runner ducks

JP: I loved Jane’s text when I first saw it, and was really excited about illustrating it – especially as it was also my very first picture book illustration commission. It’s such a lovely rhythmic text, and works so well for reading aloud. I could immediately start seeing how the ducks might look and interact, but before I started working on the pages I spent a few days at The Wetland Centre (close to home in southwest London) drawing and observing ducks. They have a huge selection of ducks, from the Eider to the black-bellied whistling duck. But it was the Indian runner ducks that proved most characterful and deserving of socks – so the ducks in the books evolved from the drawings I did of them.

Some writers/illustrators remain strangers to each other throughout the picture book process and some become friends. Can you both discuss what it’s been like to get to know one another in the course of creating this adorable book?

Jane Kohuth’s cat

JK: When I found out that the illustrator-to-be of DUCK SOCK HOP was also named Jane, I felt it was an auspicious beginning.  It helped, of course, that I loved the art in Jane Porter’s portfolio online. Hands down the most frequent question I get asked as a picture book author is how I find illustrators, and people are always surprised that A. I don’t find an illustrator, the publisher does, B. that I don’t actually sit down with or even talk to the illustrator while we work on the book, and C. that I haven’t met any of the illustrators of my books! I was surprised myself at how international picture book creation is.

The illustrator of my book DUCKS GO VROOM, Viviana Garofoli, is from Buenos Aires. After the art was done, I dusted off my high school Spanish and wrote to her. It was wonderful to have an exchange about something we’d created together. I’ve written back and forth with Jane Porter more than with any of my books’ other illustrators. It’s a bit magical to finally “hear” the voice of the person with whom you’ve shared the rather intimate process of creating a work of art. Jane P. has been wonderful about being a partner in promoting DUCK SOCK HOP, too, even though she’s all the way in London. And what a wonderful coincidence that she was planning a trip to a town in Massachusetts only twenty minutes from where I live! I’m quite excited to meet her and do a book event together. Oh, and we have matching cats!

Jane Porter’s cat

JP: Jane and I didn’t actually get to know each other until after the book was finished – and we still haven’t met in person! But we have been getting to know each other by email and will meet when I visit the US in August this year (in fact we are doing a bookshop visit together). It’s been great getting to know more about Jane and I am really looking forward to meeting her. We both have matching black cats.

Did you have a favorite children’s book growing up? What children’s book character do you wish had lived next door to young Jane?

JK: I had a number of favorites growing up. As I got older and read more, more books joined my personal canon. My very favorite picture books were probably the Frances books by Russell Hoban. There’s a famous story in my family about my preschool interview. My mom took me, at about two and half, to meet the preschool director, and brought along my infant sister, Emily.  When asked my name, however, I introduced myself as Frances and my sister as Gloria. I don’t have my own memory of this, but I do remember that I spent a lot of time when I was small in long, involved role-playing games, and I must have so identified with Frances that I was being her that day.

What character would I have liked to live next door to? Hmmm. I’m tempted to say Pippi Longstocking, but I remember dressing up as her, and, like Frances, I likely wanted to be her more than know her. I think perhaps Meg Murry and the Murry clan of A WRINKLE IN TIME and its sequels. Meg would have been just the kind of friend I liked — smart, unusual, creative — and with the advantage of being able to involve me in intense otherworldly adventures.

JP: One of my favourite books growing up was UNCLE by J.P. Martin, illustrated by Quentin Blake. Uncle is a slightly pompous wealthy elephant who lives in an endless cluster of very exciting buildings — so I would have certainly been interested to live next door to that. Each chapter he would visit a distant tower — there’s a lovely one which is a huge waterfall covered in watercress, with a stubborn lion at the top who willfully makes himself heavy so he can’t be moved. And the arch enemies, the Badfort Crowd, are a creation of comic genius!

What are you working on now?

JK: I am finishing the author’s note for an early reader biography of Anne Frank, which focuses on Anne’s growing love of nature while in hiding and her attachment to the chestnut tree, which she could see from the attic window of the Secret Annex.  This will be my first nonfiction book, and was a huge challenge in terms of the research and the need to write a beautiful text within the strict parameters of a a Step Into Reading early reader. I am also revising several picture book manuscripts!

JP: I am currently working on a range of new book proposals, as well as some royal drawings for Kensington Palace and a map on a handkerchief which will be a guide to Spitalfields in East London. I have two books coming out next spring in the UK with Hodder: PAWS AND CLAWS and FINS AND FLIPPERS.

Thank you both for taking the time to stop by and happy publication day!

Okay, dear reader. All you have to do is leave a comment and you’ll be entered to win a copy of the really and truly adorable DUCK SOCK HOP.

Winner will be chosen on May 16.

Why am I surprised each time I (re)discover that I am a total research nerd? Maybe I don’t think it matches who I am. If you look up OPPOSITE OF METICULOUS, which is admittedly not simple to do, you’ll see my smiling, disorganized-looking face looking back at you. For me, research equals something careful, scrupulous, thorough.

Those are not words that describe me.

But the promise of a new subject—the irresistible allure of a person never before written about in a children’s book—it just makes me giddy!

For the record, I submit this irrefutable evidence of my research nerdiness. I just arranged for copies of some primary sources to be sent to my house and (wait for it), I literally got chills when reading my credit card number aloud. Hardcore excitement elicited by the mere act of paying for copying and shipping charges.

In a related (in my mind) story, I would never call myself an optimist (yes, this is the blog of a sloppy pessimist). However, I am endlessly surprised by my hopefulness, EVERY SINGLE NIGHT when I go to sleep, that THIS will be the night I no longer suffer from the repeated wakings that have made me chronically sleep-deprived (and a wee bit cranky).

Likewise, I am surprised and tickled that I head into each book project with optimism, despite the fact that many a beloved text remains unpublished on my hard drive. Some of my favorite manuscripts—ones I consider my best work—never saw their way past editors’ desks. And yet I still enter into these early stages of a new project filled only with hope. There’s nary a naysayer in my head right now, at least regarding this project  (you should hear them go on about the state of my office).

The material should arrive next week. And I’m also hoping to hear from the subject herself, or one of her relatives. She’s in her twilight years—some might say that at 100, she’s beyond them—but I send out a wish each day that she’ll let me, a total stranger, visit her and interview her.

I get downright goofy just thinking about it.

Please come back tomorrow, when writer Jane Kohuth and illustrator Jane Porter will be my guests.

One year ago yesterday I wrote a Mother’s Day post in honor of To Mama With Love.

One year ago today, I reached the high point on my blog–the greatest number of hits in a single day.

I came to blogging semi-reluctantly and 13 months later, I still have reservations. I frequently consider stopping, but a recent long hiatus notwithstanding, I’m still here.

I sometimes look back at that Mother’s Day post for clues–it was so different from most of the writing I do here.

It felt good to write it, to sort of nod at the sadness that’s behind some of my writing-related achievements. But there’s a part of me that feels all this should really be private. I suspect it’s right next to the part of me that would feel enormously relieved if someone demanded that I stop blogging. (That I picture that someone as the illustration from my childhood edition of JACK AND THE BEANSTALK is probably something best saved for another day.)

But as I have said before, I enjoy getting to know the authors and illustrators behind the books I admire. And the readers I’ve met here. That’s the best thing about blogging, without a doubt.

And there’s good stuff in the pipeline: a writer/illustrator team that shares a first name and an adorable book, an illustrator making his debut as an author and leaving the artwork to someone else, and a very creative nonfiction writer who found success by moving WAY beyond her comfort zone.

So stay tuned. I’m still here. For now.

Welcome back, boys and girls.

Today's efficiently-first-named guests, Ame and Dan, are children's book newbie and veteran, respectively. This is Ame's DEBUT, everyone! And Dan's seven hundred twenty-fifth book, or something close to that.

I haven't yet had the pleasure of meeting Dan, but I met Ame almost a year ago and she might be the happiest person I've ever encountered. But I still really liked her!

The book, Boy + Bot, is absolutely adorable. Just look at this trailer!

Without further ado, Ame Dyckman and Dan Yaccarino.

Where did BOY + BOT come from?

Ame: Sorry?  I was watching Voltron.  What's the question again?

(laughing) Yes, for me, there's definitely an inspiration nod due to the great 80s mecha toons of my youth.  Also to all the fabulous buddy stories I grew up with: Frog and Toad, George and Martha, etc.  Like Boy, as a kid I collected many a pile of pine cones (without really knowing what I was going to do with them), and no

(The previously unspoken motto of Literary Friendships: Whenever possible, use a picture of George and Martha. Well played, Ame.)

matter what neighborhood we lived in, there'd always be one house that looked like it could possibly belong to an inventor. There's a bit of my favorite childhood movie, The Wizard of Oz, in Boy + Bot, too. (I haven't found my metal pal in the woods yet.  But I bet he's still out there.)

And from first draft on, lots of wonderful people lent their inspired minds to the Boy + Bot project as well:  my family, my NJ SCBWI critique buddies, Super Agent Scott, Michele and Sarah and Elizabeth and the whole gang at Knopf, and of course, the absolute genius (and heck of a nice guy), Dan Yaccarino.

DAN: IT CAME FROM BOTH OF US, BUT THE BRILLIANT AME STARTED IT AND I FINISHED IT AND IT BECAME MORE THAN THE SUM OF ITS PARTS. MY EDITOR KNEW I HAD A GREAT LOVE OF ROBOTS (FROM JUST KNOWING ME, BUT ALSO SEEING A PRESENTATION I DID FOR THE NY SCBWI ON MY CAREER) AND THOUGHT OF ME WHEN RANDOM HOUSE ACQUIRED AME'S MANUSCRIPT. I INSTANTLY SAID YES!

What is it like to have your debut greeted with three starred reviews (and more likely to come)?

Ame: Thanks, Audrey!  The reviews (to date, stars from Kirkus, Publishers' Weekly, and Booklist, and a "…sure to fly off the picture-book shelves" from School Library Journal) have us turning cartwheels!  Everyone's so happy that that the first big people to see it love it.  Now, we're crossing our fingers that the little people and robots we made our book for love it, too!

DAN: THIS WILL BE MY 54TH BOOK AND IT CONTINUES TO THRILL ME WHEN I GET STARRED REVIEWS. I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW EXCITED AME MUST BE. NO, WAIT A MINUTE, I DO KNOW. SHE EMAILS ME A LOT.

What books did you love as a young reader? What children's book character do you wish had lived next door to young you?

Ame: I loved every book I could get my little hands on!  Hugo the Hippo and Barbapapa's New House (which forever shaped my concept of ideal architecture) were two of my early favorites that I recently tracked down and added to my collection.  (Yay, Alibris!)  But my very favorite was (and still is) Where the Wild Things Are.  To this day, I'm most definitely a Max.  (I still make mischief, get in trouble, wander off inside my head… but always return for supper.)  And yes, I've often wished the Wild Things lived nearby.  (Just not upstairs—those big feet look loud!)

DAN: CURIOUS GEORGE. I WISH HE LIVED NEXT DOOR. WHO WOULDN'T WANT A MONKEY NEXT DOOR? I WISH HE LIVED NEXT DOOR TO ME NOW.

What are you working on now?

Ame: I'm eagerly awaiting the uber-talented Keith Campbell's sketches for my next book, TEA PARTY RULES (Viking, 2013), and trying hard not to shout some fantastic news that, for now—alas!—must remain a secret.

DAN: I'M FINISHING UP THE ILLUSTRATIONS FOR A PICTURE BOOK I'VE WRITTEN ABOUT A ROBOT (A VERY DIFFERENT KIND, OR COURSE). I'M ALSO WRITING A CHAPTER BOOK FOR MACMILLAN ABOUT PIZZA.

Thank you both for stopping by.

You can learn more about Ame by visiting her website and–you may have guessed this, because you're super smart–you can learn more about Dan by visiting his website. And be sure to get their book. It's great and you won't be disappointed.

Wait. What? You'd rather get one for free? Okay.

Leave a comment and you'll be entered to win a copy of Boy + Bot.

Winner will be announced on April 16.

Usually, by the time opening day rolls around, I feel the shoulders-finally-leaving-ear-territory relief that comes with having survived another east coast winter. This year, with a total of maybe two inches at the deepest measuring point, it feels a little unearned, but I'll take it.

I'm ready to go. My fantasy teams look promising. My walking-the-dogs-while-listening-to-the-game radio is batteried up (and this year a puppy joins our bittersweetly named Rookie, who just turned 11). Above all, my baseball-book-cup runneth over.

BROTHERS AT BAT: THE TRUE STORY OF AN AMAZING ALL-BROTHER BASEBALL TEAM officially hit the shelves yesterday, though it had been showing up early in many places. The book is gorgeously illustrated by Steven Salerno (whom I met for the first time this weekend–what a treat!). It has received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and School Library Journal, was praised as "a remarkable story" by the Wall Street Journal, and I'm told the New York Times has some very kind words this Sunday. Holy cow.

Cal Ripken and Cal Ripken, father and son

I'm still reeling from the fact that Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. himself praised the book. ("I was lucky to play in the big leagues with my brother as a teammate and my dad as our manager. It was a very special time. The story of the Acerra brothers brought those memories back. It is a wonderful illustration of what a great game baseball is and how it brings families together on many different levels. BROTHERS AT BAT is a story any baseball fan will enjoy and one that we all should know.")

D'oh!

Rereeading this post has made me squirmingly aware of how self-promotional it is. For what it's worth (31 cents?) I mean it more in the way a seven-year-old would: CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS??

Because I can't.

I'm mini-blog-touring this week. There's a lovely piece here, on a website all teachers, librarians, and parents should know about. And I'll be appearing here tomorrow, (there will be a tremendous giveaway you won't want to miss).

I'll be back with interviews next week (Ame Dyckman and Dan Yaccarino!).

But for now, enjoy opening day. I can't get enough of this video–

Play ball.

After a (thankfully) nearly nonexistent winter, we're on the cups of spring with a buzz of activity. Some great literary friendship interviews are coming up, but today's a catching-up day.

If you feel a need to hear me drone on (DRONE!), you can catch me over on Alison Formento's blog, talking bee-talk about my 2012 releases, SO YOU WANT TO BE A ROCK STAR and BROTHERS AT BAT: THE TRUE STORY OF AN AMAZING ALL-BROTHER BASEBALL TEAM.

BROTHERS AT BAT was shining with pride last week as School Library Journal and Booklist both bestowed stars upon it, as Publishers Weekly had done previously. You can read the reviews here.

BROTHERS AT BAT is starting to show up in bookstores and I'll have my first in-store appearance–the only one scheduled with illustrator Steven Salerno–at Books of Wonder on Saturday, March 31 from noon to 2 pm. We'll participate in a baseball books panel discussion along with the great Matt Tavares, Diane deGroat and Shelley Rotner.

You still have time to enter to win one of two give-away copies of BROTHERS AT BAT through the goodreads giveaway. And today's the last day to enter the ROCK STAR PALOOZA giveaway being hosted on Kami Kinard's Nerdy Chicks Rule blog.

The groundhog was so wrong. Spring came in February and it's nearly summer. Today's forecast here in NJ: 70.

Is anyone holding that rodent accountable?

I don’t know when I first met Alison Formento, but I know we’ve been seated next to each other at more than one New Jersey conference/festival because we are both New Jersey folk. She’s an excellent person to sit next to; Alison knows stuff! And her books have awesome covers, which means you wouldn’t mind staring at them all day long. When we first sat next to each other, Alison had one book out, THIS TREE COUNTS! Now there are two, with a third on the way.

Did you have any sense of the Trees and Bees cottage industry you were tapping into when you signed your first contract for THIS TREE COUNTS!?

I wish I had foresight to sense publishing trends, but nature has always been a big part of my writing—and life. I once wrote a story about a family of trees for a writing assignment in elementary school. THIS TREE COUNTS! was created from a 10-line poem I’d written about a glorious old tree I often hike past in a local nature preserve. My editor at Albert Whitman had rejected two earlier stories I’d sent her, but encouraged me to submit again and mentioned they were looking for environmentally themed stories for the very young. I expanded that short tree poem into story, which became THIS TREE COUNTS!

A scoop of honey-vanilla ice cream inspired me to write THESE BEES COUNT! even before Sarah Snow had been chosen to illustrate my tree book. The ice cream shop was promoting honey ice cream to help bees, which were and still are disappearing due to Colony Collapse Disorder. It might have been brain freeze from eating ice cream, but I definitely had a light-bulb moment and jotted down notes for my bee book idea while enjoying that honey cone.

Since that first book, you’ve had a board book and a sequel. Are more titles on the way?

I’m hard at work (and enjoying every saltwater moment) on THESE SEAS COUNT!, which features the same characters from my earlier books and will be out in 2013. This time Mr. Tate and his students are at the beach. As with the earlier titles, I’m thrilled that Sarah Snow will be illustrating this one, too.

What has your experience working with a smaller publisher like Albert Whitman been like?

Great! That’s the short and truthful answer. Their support and guidance has been immeasurable from editing the book to publicity and marketing—it’s comfortable and hands on, right down to introducing me to booksellers and librarians.

What were some of your favorite books as a young reader? What literary character would you have liked for your own friend?

Early on, my favorite books were THUMBELINA and WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE. I thought Thumbelina and Max would be great friends if they could meet. And I so wanted a tiny Thumbelina to keep close and carry around, like some kids keep a frog in their pocket. I also read and reread all of the Laura Ingalls Wilder books, especially THE LONG WINTER. I imagined spending a summer with Laura at her family’s home. I love Laura!

What are you working on now?

I’m working on endnotes for THESE SEAS COUNT! and several new picture book ideas. I’m also revising a young adult novel. I enjoy writing different genres, which is sometimes a challenge, but it keeps my writing life fun and interesting.

Alison loves sharing her books at schools, libraries, bookstores, and festivals. Visit her website to learn more about Alison, her books, and to see a buzzing book trailer for her new book THESE BEES COUNT!

I don't know when I first met Alison Formento, but I know we've been seated next to each other at more than one New Jersey conference/festival because we are both New Jersey folk. She's an excellent person to sit next to; Alison knows stuff! And her books have awesome covers, which means you wouldn't mind staring at them all day long. When we first sat next to each other, Alison had one book out, THIS TREE COUNTS! Now there are two, with a third on the way.

Did you have any sense of the Trees and Bees cottage industry you were tapping into when you signed your first contract for THIS TREE COUNTS!?

I wish I had foresight to sense publishing trends, but nature has always been a big part of my writing—and life. I once wrote a story about a family of trees for a writing assignment in elementary school. THIS TREE COUNTS! was created from a 10-line poem I'd written about a glorious old tree I often hike past in a local nature preserve. My editor at Albert Whitman had rejected two earlier stories I'd sent her, but encouraged me to submit again and mentioned they were looking for environmentally themed stories for the very young. I expanded that short tree poem into story, which became THIS TREE COUNTS!

A scoop of honey-vanilla ice cream inspired me to write THESE BEES COUNT! even before Sarah Snow had been chosen to illustrate my tree book. The ice cream shop was promoting honey ice cream to help bees, which were and still are disappearing due to Colony Collapse Disorder. It might have been brain freeze from eating ice cream, but I definitely had a light-bulb moment and jotted down notes for my bee book idea while enjoying that honey cone.

Since that first book, you've had a board book and a sequel. Are more titles on the way?

I'm hard at work (and enjoying every saltwater moment) on THESE SEAS COUNT!, which features the same characters from my earlier books and will be out in 2013. This time Mr. Tate and his students are at the beach. As with the earlier titles, I'm thrilled that Sarah Snow will be illustrating this one, too.

What has your experience working with a smaller publisher like Albert Whitman been like?

Great! That's the short and truthful answer. Their support and guidance has been immeasurable from editing the book to publicity and marketing—it's comfortable and hands on, right down to introducing me to booksellers and librarians.

What were some of your favorite books as a young reader? What literary character would you have liked for your own friend?

Early on, my favorite books were THUMBELINA and WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE. I thought Thumbelina and Max would be great friends if they could meet. And I so wanted a tiny Thumbelina to keep close and carry around, like some kids keep a frog in their pocket. I also read and reread all of the Laura Ingalls Wilder books, especially THE LONG WINTER. I imagined spending a summer with Laura at her family's home. I love Laura!

What are you working on now?

I'm working on endnotes for THESE SEAS COUNT! and several new picture book ideas. I'm also revising a young adult novel. I enjoy writing different genres, which is sometimes a challenge, but it keeps my writing life fun and interesting.

Alison loves sharing her books at schools, libraries, bookstores, and festivals. Visit her website to learn more about Alison, her books, and to see a buzzing book trailer for her new book THESE BEES COUNT!

Instead of introducing Tammi Sauer as a writer of whom I am insanely jealous, might it sound better to say: Introducing Tammi Sauer, a writer whose many books and achievements I celebrate joyously when in public?

I'll keep working on it, and I'm open to suggestions.

The truth is, there's a lot to celebrate. Among other jealous-making things, Tammi's latest book, ME WANT PET!, is illustrated by just about my favorite-of-all-time writer/illustrators, Bob Shea. (Bob's Literary Friendships interview is here.) The book comes out tomorrow (March 6), and she's kicking off her blog tour (see schedule below) with a stop here at Literary Friendships.

Tammi's books are all charming and funny. And so is she. I celebrate that joyously when in public.

How did you discover Cave Boy and how soon did you know what his quest would be?

I knew what Cave Boy's quest was before I even knew Cave Boy. I had always wanted to write a pet book. (I blame the children and the endless parade of pets that have made their way into my home.) But there was a problem. Most publishing houses already had pet books. I knew if I wanted any chance of getting a pet book published, my book had to be different. It had to have a twist. So I brainstormed. For weeks. For months. For over a year. Then one day I was in the PetSmart parking lot (oh, the irony!) when it came to me. I wasn't going to write about a typical kid in pursuit of a typical pet. I was going to write about a Cave Boy who's in pursuit of the perfect prehistoric pet. OOGA!

Ooga! You have been publishing picture books at an enviable rate and your books are illustrated by such talented artists! What has this run been like for you?

I am honored to work with such a fleet of talent:  Mike Reed, Dan Santat, Scott Magoon, Jeff Mack, Bob Shea, Dan Krall, Joe Berger, Michael Slack, and Lynn Munsinger. If anyone would have told me ten years ago that my name was going to be associated with even one of those people, I would've been very what-chu-talkin'-'bout-Willis? These people make good things great.

What was one of your favorite books as a young reader?

When I was in first grade, my teacher Miss Rome would take my class to the library every Tuesday. We were allowed to check out one book. Well, on one of those Tuesdays, I found THE GOLDEN EGG BOOK. I thought it was the most beautiful book I had ever seen. It had a fancy egg, flowers, a ribbon, a butterfly. It had a bunny. I proceeded to check out that book every week for the rest of the school year. So, if you went to Victoria Elementary School in 1979 and wanted THE GOLDEN EGG BOOK, fat chance. It was mine.

What are you working on now?

Mostly, my time is devoted to trying not to panic. I have five books coming out in 2012. One sold in 2007, one in 2008, two in 2009, and one in 2010. If you are interested in cave boys/chickens/chipmunks/princesses/the state of Oklahoma, then I very well may have the book for you.

Tammi Sauer has sold eleven picture books to a number of major publishing houses. In addition to winning numerous awards, her books have gone on to do great things. COWBOY CAMP was developed into a musical by the Katy Visual & Performing Arts Center in Katy, Texas. MOSTLY MONSTERLY was selected for the 2012 Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories® program. And CHICKEN DANCE was recently released in French which makes her feel extra fancy.

Tammi's latest book is ME WANT PET! , illustrated by Bob Shea. OOGA!

BAWK AND ROLL , illustrated by Dan Santat, will be available at a bookstore, library, or barnyard near you on April 3, 2012.

You can learn more by visiting her website.

Follow Tammi's tour:

Tuesday, March 6: Writing for Kids (While Raising Them)

Wednesday, March 7: Random Thoughts

Thursday, March 8: Banana Peelin'

Friday, March 9: Jama's Alphabet Soup

And Tammi has an excellent give-away to be found here.

OOGA!

I went low tech in choosing today's winner. It looked a little like this:

Me: Hey Anna, pick a number from one to eighteen.

Anna, wiping sleep from her eyes: Thirteen.

(And she didn't even realize, when she said it, that it's the age she turns tomorrow.)

The winner of the ROCK STAR PALOOZA SWAG is  the thirteenth comment leaver, Monica Carnesi. Which is all kinds of crazy, because I don't know Monica but when sitting in a waiting room with my random-number generator, Anna, I read all about her awesome-sounding book, LITTLE DOG LOST, and became maybe a tiny bit obsessed with it.

But thanks to all of you for visiting this blog and leaving comments of encouragement. And now might be a good time to mention that there's another ROCK STAR giveaway (and an interview with me) over on Kami Kinard's nerdy chicks blog.

Rock on, good people.