Debbie Ridpath Ohi's Blog, page 3
January 8, 2021
Ghosts, Rootwork, and Fostering Empathy from an Early Age: Eden Royce Discusses Her Debut MG Novel ROOT MAGIC
How do you teach children about intolerance? How do you teach them about death? How do you introduce to them a culture with which they may not be familiar? You turn to books like Root Magic, the MG debut of author Eden Royce.
Hailed as "spellbinding", "necessary", and a "must-read", Root Magic is set in 1963 in South Carolina and follows Jezebel Turner and her twin brother, Jay, as they grapple with some big changes: their grandmother has passed away, a local police deputy is harrassing their family, and school integration is on the horizon. On their eleventh birthday, their uncle, Doc, says he is going to teach them rootwork, a family legacy, which opens up a world of magic and the supernatural. Root Magic launched from HarperCollins/Walden Pond Press on January 5th, 2021 and is widely available to order (with an educator's guide available online).
Eden Royce grew up in Charleston, South Carolina, and is a member of the Gullah Gechee nation. She is the author of many short stories and the recipient of the Speculative Literature Foundation's Diverse Worlds grant. You can find out more about Eden on her website, Twitter, and Instagram.
Q. A huge congratulations on your MG debut, Root Magic! The supernatural plays a central role in the novel. Have you always been drawn to stories involving the supernatural? Did ghost stories play a role in your childhood?
A. Thank you so much! It’s been quite the journey. Yes, the supernatural is a part of me and has been since childhood. I’m from Charleston, South Carolina, a city of ghosts and spirits. I’m also a Gullah Geechee and culturally, we are a people who have strong connections to our ancestors and speak of such things openly.
Q. What is your preferred writing environment (silence versus music, with others around versus an empty room, etc.)?
A. At my desk alone is where I prefer to write. I don’t listen to music; I prefer ambient sounds like the house settling or thunderstorms or crackling fireplaces. If I don’t have any of those naturally, I have a playlist I can use.
Q. You have written an impressive number of short stories aimed at adults. What inspired you to write for a middle grade audience?
A. Is it impressive? Wow, thanks! I wanted to write for a middle grade audience because I felt it was a way to help kids learn early about people and cultures outside of their own, hopefully fostering empathy and acceptance for other peoples’ beliefs. Note I didn’t say understanding. I think there’s too much focus on the need to understand the point of view of others in order to value them as humans. People are valuable even if you don’t understand their beliefs or ways of life.
Q. I love that the novel’s main characters are young twins. How would you describe the relationship between Jezebel and Jay?
A. Jezebel and Jay have an incredibly close relationship even though they disagree occasionally. They love and trust each other so they believe it’s important to discuss things between themselves, sometimes even before going to the adults. They do many things together, but Jez and Jay have interests and hobbies besides each other, which is healthy. While they were taught to look out for each other when they’re away from home, they’d do it anyway.
Q. When they turn eleven, Jezebel and Jay’s uncle, Doc, tells them that he is going to train them in rootwork. Would you speak a bit about what it means to be a rootworker?
A. A rootworker is a person who practices rootwork, sometimes called conjure or hoodoo, an African-American traditional healing medicine and spiritual practice. When African people were enslaved and brought to the United States, they were not given medications or allowed to practice their spiritual beliefs. Rootworkers managed to not only hold on to those traditions rooted in West and West Central Africa, they also learned from Native peoples how to use local plants and herbs to heal and protect themselves.
While being a rootworker is a position of respect in some communities, in others it’s seen as an evil practice, and people seek to diminish, destroy, or remove the African-American heritage of rootwork. I love my family and friends who are rootworkers and it saddens me to know there are people who still have such a negative view of a practice that has helped our people endure for generations. So I wrote Root Magic to show rootworking as the healing, uplifting tradition I know it to be.
Q. The novel incorporates a remarkable number of elements into its story – coming of age, the death of a loved one, harassment from law enforcement, school integration, secret magical powers in the family, impending supernatural evil! Would you share any methods you have of organizing your plot lines and/or character arcs?
A. Notebooks, always. I have tons of them to jot down ideas the moment they occur to me. Writing things down helps me remember them better than typing them so I write a short outline of what I want to happen in each chapter. Although it might change, it’s a roadmap to follow. I also use a spreadsheet to keep track of details I’ve already worked out so I don’t have to remember everything.
For character arcs, I try to know my characters as well as I can before I start writing. It usually makes writing about them and imagining how they will react in situations easier. (Although not always!) There are character sheets online to help you interrogate each of your characters to get to know them better.
Q. Finally, do you have any advice for young writers?
A. Listen to people who tell great stories. If you don’t have people who are amazing storytellers in your life, then read as much as you possibly can. Read across lots of different genres, styles, cultures, and eras. What made an impact on you – what kept you entertained? Is it description? Is it the way the characters speak? Is it humor? Remember how you felt listening to those stories (or reading them) and let those feelings inspire you when you start to write.
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Sara Truuvert completed her MLitt in Creative Writing at the University of St Andrews. She also holds a Certificate in Creative Writing from the Humber School for Writers and a BA in English, Drama, and the History and Philosophy of Science from the University of Toronto. Her work has appeared in the Literary Review of Canada among other publications.
For more interviews, see the Inkygirl Interview Archive. Also see Advice For Young Writers and Illustrators, a compilation of tips generously offered by children's book creators Inkygirl.com has interviewed over the years.
January 1, 2021
Happy New Year! Chance for a fresh start....
Happy New Year, all! Not making any New Year's Resolutions. Things went VERY wonky last year, but I'm heading into this fresh, shiny new year with cautious optimism. How about you?
December 24, 2020
Humor in children's books, animated GIFs for you to use, Happy Holidays!
(Note: feel free to use my GIPHY animations in your blog posts, too!)
I find that I always hesitate a bit whenever I hear the phrase, "How are you doing?" There's part of me that feels like answering, "Pandemic-fine." Because like many others out there, I have behind-the-scenes stresses going on that are directly or indirectly related to what's been going on the world these past ten months. I have elders in lockdown at senior homes, friends who are going through especially challenging times, uncertainty in the publishing world, etc.
Through it all, I remind myself to be grateful for what I do have, and the friends and family in my life.
One of my work-related challenges this past year has been trying to get into the headspace of launching/promoting a book that isn't about "serious" issues. I wasn't the only kitlit book creator who felt this way, and as a result of coversations about this topic, I wrote an article for the Nerdy Book Club called "Humor Books - Why Readers Need Them More Than Ever."
Like many others, I also found it difficult to focus on creative projects earlier in the pandemic. What I was able to do: dig out my sewing machine and brush off my beginner skills to learn how to sew masks. I also threw myself into learning new tech skills, including live streaming and learning more about Adobe Premiere Pro and video editing.
Here is one of the very first videos I made during the pandemic, back in March:
Can't tell how stressed I am, can you? Heh.
You can browse the other videos I've been working on via my YouTube channel. Still feels weird to say "my YouTube channel" - if I could tell my younger self that I'd eventually VOLUNTARILY be posting videos of myself for public viewing, I would never have believed it.
What I've learned: it's good to regularly force yourself to step a bit out of your comfort zone. Yes, you may fail spectacularly (which I have, on many occasions). But every time you succeed, then your comfort zone gets a wee bit bigger.
I've also just recently discovered the world of animated GIFs! I've always enjoyed doodling on my iPad with my Apple Pencil in Procreate, and have experimented with the Animation-Assist feature. I've never had the time or energy to create longer animations, but animated GIFs suit me perfectly and are not only fun for me to create but often therapeutic.
Anyway, feel free to check out (and use) my stickers and GIFs on my GIPHY page.
Have a safe and peaceful holiday season, all!
December 9, 2020
Author Shelli R. Johannes, with Co-Author Kimberly Derting and Illustrator Joelle Murray, on LIBBY LOVES SCIENCE: MIX AND MEASURE
"My daughter said she wasn't going to science camp because 'science was for boys.'"
Shelli R. Johannes had never written a picture book when she heard her daughter's stance on science, but it sparked the idea that she, with co-author and friend Kimberly Derting, would turn into the Loves Science series.
Libby Loves Science: Mix and Measure is the latest instalment in the series and shows young readers that science is for everyone. Libby is throwing a puppy party and wants to bake cupcakes - but she is missing an important ingredient! With the help of her friend Rosa and little brother, Libby uses science to solve the problem. Libby Loves Science: Mix and Measure releases on January 5th, 2021 from HarperCollins/Greenwillow and is available for preorder.
In addition to co-authoring the six Loves Science books, Shelli R. Johannes writes critically-acclaimed teen novels and thrillers. You can find her on her website, Twitter, and Instagram.
Kimberly Derting is a co-author of the Loves Science series. She is also the author of the award-winning young adult The Body Finder series, The Pledge trilogy, and The Taking trilogy. The Body Finder and The Pledge were selections for YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults. You can find her on her website, blog, Twitter, and Instagram.
Illustrator Joelle Murray is an artist, character designer, animator, and dancer. She is currently illustrating in-app early learning books on the Khan Academy Kids app. You can find Joelle on her website, Instagram, and Twitter.
Q for Shelli: Libby Loves Science: Mix and Measure is the latest title in the Loves Science series – congratulations! I understand that this book aims to teach some basics of chemistry to children. As a child, how enthusiastic about science were you?
Shelli: Kim and I have always talked about how much we both love science. Even when I was little, I always loved science! I had pet sea monkeys, made mud pies (chemistry), loved animals (zoology), and spent a lot of time at the ocean because I lived by a beach town (oceanology). I have done a lot of conservation work with animals, and my husband has a PhD in Topography, so when we had kids, especially a girl, we both felt science was important. And I’m going to take a risk and say I think MOST kids love some kind of science as well, whether it be animals, rocks, flowers, baking, space, or gardening. Kids just tend to think of science as always being taught in school and forget that science is all around them. Everywhere. It’s almost impossible not to love at least one science.
Q for Shelli: You co-wrote this book and the Loves Science series with Kimberly Derting. Would you walk me through how the collaboration process works?
Shelli: First, Kim and I are best friends and have been critique partners of each other’s thrillers for over 10 years. We talk almost everyday… mostly about NOTHING!
As far as our writing process, Kim and I focus on STEM books together. So we usually brainstorm an idea first over Skype, until we get a sense of the overall story. Usually, we jot down a high level story in a bullet form. Then, we move it into a picture book template of 16 spreads/32 pages. Once we have a solid strawman of the story, we talk through the story in more detail over Skype or FaceTime and start building it out on a shared screen. I usually type as we talk and try to throw in too many jokes, while she keeps us on track, reading it for flow and overall story. My goal tends to be about including bad jokes, while Kim’s goal is definitely more about getting down a solid story. We obviously spend a lot of time on Skype. :) Once we have a solid draft, we email the draft back and forth, each making our own edits in tracked changes. Then once we have a good solid manuscript, both of our agents (who are with the same agency!) get to review it and tear it up until we get it right. It’s a 4-person posse.
If Kim and I ever disagree, we just try to work through it together. In the beginning, when we discussed writing together, we made a pact before we ever started to put our friendship first. We always make sure that we both agreed with and love every decision we make together. Our motto has kind of become, "Us over Me.” That goes for any creative or business decision we have to make as a team.
We always choose “US” first, over our agents, and over our editors. Our friendship comes first over everything else. If one of us feels strongly about one thing, then we agree to do something else until we are both on the same page. We have always heard horror stories about some co-authors fighting and losing their friendship - so this was the safest way we could feel good about working together. We know we can always count on each other. No matter what.
Q for Kimberly: Would you speak a bit about the collaboration process with Shelli?
Kimberly: When Shelli first approached me about the idea of co-writing together, I was skeptical - writing is such a personal process, and collaborating at that level had the potential to go wrong on so many levels. But we had been friends for years and were already critiquing each other’s work, so there was a built-in level of trust. We had a long discussion about what co-writing would look like for us and how we would handle differences in opinion, because we were bound to have them!
Surprisingly, it’s been pretty smooth sailing. We’ve learned to respect, and even embrace, our differences. Shelli has a sillier sense of humor than I do. She’s great on first drafts and will take the book in directions I might not have considered. I’m better at detail and steering us back on course. It’s great synergy. Plus, we love the process and crack ourselves up, so working together never really feels like work.
Q for Joelle: Would you tell me a bit about your illustration process for Libby Loves Science: Mix and Measure?
Joelle: I wanted to make sure the baking and measuring came across as fun and dynamic in the illustrations, even though the majority of the book takes place in one location: the kitchen. I felt the character poses and expressions were really going to sell that and were important to get right. It’s also my favorite part of the process! Libby, Leo, and Rosa clearly love baking and being together, so I wanted their joy to jump off of the pages!
So I kept that in mind when I began the illustrations and made sure to integrate it even more as I went along. The rest of the process is pretty much how I go about illustrating most things, be it a book, or a one-off illustration. I read through it first, and then I did very quick sketches of what I saw in my head as I read the story. Generally, when I’m reading something, I can picture the shots, angles, poses, and expressions I want, so I try my best to translate that in the drawings. After I did the quick initial sketches, I went in and made the sketches a bit more solid, to give me a nice, clear base for the colours. I made sure to choose fun colours, and colours reminiscent of desserts, to tie back into the baking aspect, and the fun aspect that I mentioned earlier. The colour takes the longest, but is very rewarding once it’s complete!
Q for Shelli: How does writing a STEM-focused series differ from a standalone book? Do you find your writing process is different?
Shelli: My process doesn't really differ for my own picture books, except that I don’t ever disagree with myself (unless it’s my agent). :) Well actually, that’s not true. I do argue with myself, but that’s a whole different story. But in general, it's just Me, Myself, and I on my own projects.
But I develop my picture books the same way because it’s worked so well for Kim and me. I get an idea, come up with the story, bullet it out in a PB template, and develop it from there. Of course my agent has to love it too.
I actually do have two standalone picture books coming in 2021: Theo Thesaurus (The Dinosaur Who Loved Big Words) (Philomel, May 18th, 2021) and Shine Like a Unicorn (How to Love Your YOU-nique Self) (Harper Children’s, September, 2021)
Q for Shelli: What was your journey to getting the contract for the Loves Science series? Do you have any advice for writers hoping to break into STEM-focused books for young readers?
Shelli: Kim and I had never written picture books, nor did we ever think we would. We are thriller writers at heart. But one day, my daughter said she wasn’t going to science camp because “science was for boys.” That disturbed me as a mom. I suddenly got an idea to do a Fancy Nancy for Science. I called Kim and told/complained/whined to her about my daughter and about the book idea. Oddly enough, her daughter had said something very similar about science, so we agreed it was an issue. Since Kim had studied biology, we eventually decided to write the book together, and the Loves Science series was born. The book went through many iterations with agents and the editorial process. We got rejections but eventually got a PREempt from our editor (Virginia Duncan) at Greenwillow. And strangely, her daughter had said the same thing about science! So I guess in the very end, it came down to the stars aligning at the right time, in the right way, with the right editor/house.
Q for Shelli: What advice do you have for new writers (particularly those who want to write for an elementary school audience)?
Shelli: When you are picking a topic for picture books, be sure to keep the 5-8 year old in mind. Is it something they deal with (i.e. baby sister, new pet, playdates, crayons)? You have to write the issues for them that connect with their age group experience. I think sometimes, as authors, we forget who we are writing for. Also, I think the sweet spot in fiction picture books that are character-driven is somewhere between 400-800 words. If your picture book is 1500 words (excluding nonfiction), then make sure it’s tight enough. I also want to say that writing picture books is much harder than I thought it would be. It’s not easy to tell a story that keeps the attention of a kid in just 600 words.
Q for Joelle: Do you have any advice for young illustrators?
Joelle: My advice for young illustrators is to always keep drawing! Every day you draw, paint, or sketch, you get better, and it really does show after a time. Always carry a sketchbook with you and draw or record what you see and what inspires you. Also, draw and paint from life as much as possible. Having a grasp on real life anatomy, color, and light, for example, makes your illustrations much more authentic and rich. There also may be some days where you feel burnt out and don’t feel like doing any art at all, and that’s okay too! Sometimes your mind just needs to rest, and that is also a valid part of the creative process.
Q for Shelli: What’s one thing you hope a young reader takes away from Libby Loves Science: Mix and Measure?
Shelli: Now you can read and do science - together! Also that science is everywhere. You don’t have to wait for an experiment in school - you can find your own experiment at home (making rainbow pancakes) or outside (making a rock garden) and bring in your imagination. It’s fun!
Q for Shelli: Finally, what kind of cupcakes would you bake for your own dogs, if you threw them a puppy party?
Shelli: I would say beef or chicken, but that’s gross. So maybe sweet potatoes? Though my dogs would eat almost anything, unless it’s vegetables or fruit, and then they would never touch it. Kind of like me. :)
To continue the series, we have a third character, Vivi Loves Science, coming in Summer 2021, which explores the fun topic of oceanology and investigates the ecosystems of tide pools.
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Sara Truuvert completed her MLitt in Creative Writing at the University of St Andrews. She also holds a Certificate in Creative Writing from the Humber School for Writers and a BA in English, Drama, and the History and Philosophy of Science from the University of Toronto. Her work has appeared in the Literary Review of Canada among other publications.
For more interviews, see the Inkygirl Interview Archive. Also see Advice For Young Writers and Illustrators, a compilation of tips generously offered by children's book creators Inkygirl.com has interviewed over the years.
November 25, 2020
Self-Doubt, Advice for Young Writers, and the Surprising Link Between Science and Art: Christina Li on Her Debut MG Novel, CLUES TO THE UNIVERSE
Christina Li likes to keep herself busy. At just 14, she began querying literary agents and at 15 pitched live to her current agent. Now, Christina is making her literary debut with Clues to the Universe, an MG novel she wrote and sold all before beginning her junior year at Standford University. And she is just getting started.
Clues to the Universe follows Rosalind Ling Geraghty, an outspoken aspiring rocket scientist coping with the recent death of her father, and Benjamin Burns, an introverted artist who is convinced that his long-lost dad created his favourite comic books series. Ro and Benji become an unlikely pair who help each other through loss, bullies, rocket-building, and a search not only for Benji's father but for clues to some of the universe's biggest questions.
It releases January 12, 2021 with Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins and is available for preorder. You can find out more about Christina on her website, Twitter, and Instagram.
Q. On your blog, you discussed how you woke up early to sneak in some writing before work and revised your manuscript between college semesters at Stanford and summer internships. I’m curious – what were some of your summer jobs/internships? Did they influence your writing?
A. I've definitely fit a lot of my writing work in between school -- I've been doing that since I've started seriously writing, and I'm always looking for ways to make the school/writing balance work! I study economics at Stanford with a focus on healthcare economics, and I've done summer internships in government agencies and companies with a healthcare focus. There isn't much overlap between my academic studies and my writing, but I'm the type of person who likes working on a bunch of different things at a time because it's always fun to switch from one working mindset to another, so this works for me!
Q. You also discussed how, when you began Clues to the Universe, you promised yourself that you would only write it if the story brought you joy. How did you push through difficult days where there was some writers’ block?
A. To tell the truth, I doubted every word I wrote in Clues when I first drafted it! I remember first sending it to some critique partners and having truly no idea whether any of it was good or not. But also the process as a whole was super rewarding and joyful, and it was wonderful to see my skills grow as a writer as I explored writing my first middle grade novel. On the days I had writer's block or was struggling with a scene, one of the things that helped me push through or overcome the block was thinking about the emotional truth of the scene -- essentially, what emotions the plot was driving towards in that particular scene. Was the scene ultimately about dealing with the grief from losing a loved one? The fear of going beyond one's comfort zone? Figuring out that key emotional motivator of the scene really helped unlock the motivation for me, the writer, to push through that block.
Q. It’s okay if the answer is no, but is there a song or even a movie that captures the feeling of Clues to the Universe?
A. That's a great question! Zara Larsson's song "Symphony" really was the song that inspired CLUES for me. I know it's supposed to be a love song, but when I heard the lyrics "and now your song is on repeat / and I'm dancing on to your heartbeat", the character of a girl scientist trying to logically piece together the aftermath of her father's death came to me and became Ro. To me, the song represents missing a loved one and wanting them to come back. So every time I hear "Symphony", I think of my book :)
Q. The book sounds like it includes an exploration of both arts and science – we have Ro, a young rocket scientist and Benji, a quiet artist. What inspired that pairing?
A. I once attended an author event in which the author said, "science and art are the same in that they both draw patterns out of chaos". That line has stuck with me ever since. I've always loved reading stories in which characters who are total opposites find surprising and unlikely commonalities between them, and so for me, exploring the friendship between Ro, a super ambitious scientist who isn't afraid to speak up or do what she puts her mind to, and Benji, a go-with-the-flow, introverted artist, was a really fun process, and I got to find things they bonded over, or the inexplicable ways in which they understood each other given their vastly different backgrounds.
Q. Could you talk a bit about your experience “breaking into” the publishing industry? I understand you got your first agent when you were quite young.
A. I started querying when I was 14, which in retrospect I don't regret, but definitely wished I could have allowed myself to be patient with my craft. I actually wrote a YA novel, which I revised and started querying, and live pitched to Jess Regel at a writing conference when I was 15 (I was such a nervous wreck, but thankfully Jess was so patient and kind and requested my manuscript!) I signed with her a year later, after I'd pulled my manuscript to revise some more and finally submitted it to her. The YA manuscript didn't sell, but ultimately, the summer after my high school graduation, I started thinking of the inkling of an idea that would become CLUES, drafted it for two years, and sold it the summer before my junior year of college! It's been a wild ride, but I'm so very fortunate to have such an incredible and supportive agent by my side, and a fantastic publishing team for CLUES.
Q. In that vein, what advice do you have for young writers?
A. My advice would be to be take your time! I think as a young writer I was for some reason obsessed with the idea of "making it" as a young writer or a teen writer, but the thing is, writing is one of those magical careers that never has an expiration date! You can always write for a while, take time off, and come back and write again--writing is always there for you to come back to. If I could give advice to young writers, I'd tell them to be patient, to read a lot, and to just live life in general--it provides great inspiration!
Q. I see you’re a Pitch Wars 2020 writing mentor with fellow middle grade author Reese Eschmann. Can you speak a bit about that experience so far (and I have to know – how did you come up with the name Team Hedgehog Supreme)?
A. YES I love that there's a #TeamHedgehogSupreme question! Reese and I met through our #the21nders debut group for kidlit authors debuting in 2021, and decided to be co-mentors for Pitch Wars 2020, which has been SUCH an exciting experience so far! We came up with the name because hedgehogs are one of my favorite animals (they're secretly soft! and so very cute! And there are Google images of hedgehogs posed with mini camping gear or flower crowns that will make your heart melt!), and there are some hedgehog ~hijinks~ in Reese's debut novel, Etta Invincible (which comes out May 11 -- check it out!)
Q. What’s next for you (besides graduating from college!)?
A. That's a great question! I'm trying to figure it out myself, LOL. For now, I'm working on my second novel, finishing up school, and looking forward to whatever comes next!
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Sara Truuvert completed her MLitt in Creative Writing at the University of St Andrews. She also holds a Certificate in Creative Writing from the Humber School for Writers and a BA in English, Drama, and the History and Philosophy of Science from the University of Toronto. Her work has appeared in the Literary Review of Canada among other publications.
For more interviews, see the Inkygirl Interview Archive. Also see Advice For Young Writers and Illustrators, a compilation of tips generously offered by children's book creators Inkygirl.com has interviewed over the years.
November 22, 2020
For those who are doing NaNoWriMo this year (and for those who aren't)
If you are doing NaNoWriMo this year, good luck! Though chances are good you don't have the time to read this blog post.
If you attempted NaNoWriMo and gave up partway through, or avoided doing it at all because you knew you wouldn't have the time, don't abandon all hope! Consider doing a more flexible and forgiving challenge, if you are looking for daily motivation.
Even 100 words a day is better than none! Check out my Daily Writing challenge for those looking for more flexibility in writing and revision.
October 23, 2020
Nosy Pencil Sharpeners, Making Time To Write and More: Three Questions With Erin Dealey (DEAR EARTH...FROM YOUR FRIENDS IN ROOM 5)
Erin Dealey grew up in Oakland, California, where she often did her homework on the roof of her garage. She has written over a dozen children’s books and dearly hopes her Dear Earth...From Your Friends in Room 5 will find its way to Earth Heroes everywhere. You can find her online at www.erindealey.com and on Twitter at @ErinDealey. I love her positive energy online! And I also love how supportive she is of her fellow kidlit book creators.
Launching December 1st, 2020 from HarperCollins:
DEAR EARTH....From Your Friends In Room Five, written by Erin Dealey and illustrated by Luisa Uribe (HarperCollins, Dec. 1st, 2020). Synopsis: "When the kids in Room 5 write to Earth asking what they can do to help save our planet, they are delighted to get a letter back. This beautiful picture book is a celebration of every child’s ability to connect with the environment and make a positive impact."
Launching Jan 2021 from Simon & Schuster Children's:
PETER EASTER FROG, written by Erin Dealey and illustrated by G. Brian Karas (Caitlyn Dlouhy Books/Simon & Schuster Children's). Peter Easter Frog loves, loves, LOVES Easter, and sharing is caring, AND he’s just as good a hopper as any ol’ rabbit, so he decides to pass out some of his own Easter eggs. Why should Bunny have all the fun, anyway? Turtle, Cow, Dog, and Chipmunk all agree. But what happens when the Easter Bunny finds out?
Q. Could you please take a photo of something in your office and tell us the story behind it?
Here's a pic of my favorite pencil sharpener. Yes, it's a nose. Yes, you put the pencil in the nostril. I gave them to my teacher pals at the fine arts camp where I head the Theater Dept. each summer. Of course I kept one because everyone needs a reminder to smile, right? It's also a reminder that teaching isn't just about content. Teaching is creativity and hope and communication. Kudos to every single educator who steps up to provide meaningful experiences to their students--no matter what school looks like. And YAY for the students who are learning how to be open to new experiences, & organized and focused. The big take away from virtual camp last summer was that the ARTS help us through tough times. So does school.
The READING IS POWER sticker slid into the picture with the nose... Sneaky, huh? Think of it as a subliminal message. Thank you dear TEACHERS and LIBRARIANS for all you do. STUDENTS--give yourselves a huge pat on the back. Cheers to reading and writing and art!
Q. What advice do you have for young writers?
No one expected me to write books someday--especially not my teachers or me--and I have the journal to prove it. My 6th grade journal is full of entries like, "It's the same thing today and I don't know what to write. The end." Honestly, that was because I thought writing had to be perfect. My friends were the writers. I liked recess and math (because I knew how to get the right answers.). But I also loved jokes and puns and song lyrics and WORDS. In my senior year of high school, we had to take an English elective so I took Theater while my friends took Creative Writing. It turns out theater is like writing picture books or chapters for a novel. And words can make people laugh or cry or think about the world. Writing is not like Math. There are skills to learn, yes, but Writing is NOT right or wrong. It doesn't need correcting. It needs polishing so that your stories shine, and others can enjoy them too.
PS to Educators: When teachers tell me at school visits, "I'd like to write a book someday," my answer is always the same: Don't wait for that cabin in the woods and endless, uninterrupted writing time. It will never happen! Teacher friends--we tell our Ss & our own children to follow their dreams. Every. Day. It's time to take your own advice. Walk the walk. Think of yourself as their role model. This mindset will help you make writing a priority in your already busy life. Someday is NOW. (Plus, it's FUN!)
Q. What are you excited about right now?
I'm excited to be on this wonderful blog. (Thanks, Debbie!) I'm excited about DEAR EARTH...From Your Friends in Room 5, illustrated by the fabulous Luisa Uribe (Harper Collins/ Dec. 2020). I'm excited that the book jacket reverses to become a poster about How to Be an Earth Hero all year long. It's so cool! I'm excited that the book is told in letters between Earth and Room 5.
I'm also excited about PETER EASTER FROG (Caitlyn Dlouhy Books/ Illus. G.Brian Karas / Jan. 2021) and you guys--I might be close to submitting my middle grade novel. WHAT?????
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For more interviews, see my Inkygirl Interview Archive. Also see Advice For Young Writers and Illustrators, a compilation of tips generously offered by children's book creators I've interviewed over the years.
October 20, 2020
Three Tips For Those Interested In Illustrating Children's Picture Books
I took this photo during the SCBWI Portfolio Showcase
From time to time, I answer a question on Quora about children's book illustration. I do this partly because I like to pay it forward but also because I find it a good writing exercise, summarizing my thoughts and process this way.
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Q: "How do you become an illustrator or artist for children's books?"
My answer on Quora (tweaked a bit):
As the others who have answered this question so far have pointed out, there is no one right route to becoming a children’s book illustrator.
My own journey, briefly summarized: I have no formal art training (my first job was a computer programmer/analyst, my degree is a B.Sc. in computer science) BUT I have immersed myself in the world of children’s books since early on because I have always wanted to write middle grade novels. After years of rejections (despite having an excellent agent), I realized I needed to get out and network with others in the kidlit community. I started attending SCBWI conferences. A friend convinced me to enter the Portfolio Showcase at their NYC annual conference - I resisted since I had no portfolio, but she helped me put my first together. I ended up winning two awards and being offered a book contract by Simon & Schuster (publisher/editor was one of the judges). My career took off since then. I have since worked with not just S&S but also Random House, HarperCollins and other publishers.
Though I have no formal art training, I have always loved to draw. My main style is simple (some would describe it as “cartoon-y”), not realistic, but I do have multiple illustration styles and am now trying to branch out.
If I was going to give my younger self some basic advice about how to break into children’s book illustration, it would be this:
Read a LOT of picture books, especially those published in the past 5–10 years. Look closely at how to text and art interact. Illustrating picture books does NOT mean just illustrating what’s in the text. If you can't afford to buy, go to the library.
Practice a LOT. Be able to show that you can draw the same character consistently in a story sequence, from different camera angles. I see so many portfolios which are basically a collection of one-offs (a beautiful image with a character that never appears in any other image in the portfolio). It’s much more of a challenge to be able to draw the same character in a story sequence and have that character be identifiable as the same character throughout. You can find other tips for children's book illustrators on KidLitArtists.com.
Network. Join SCBWI (Society Of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) - they have chapters all over the world. If you’re in Canada, join CANSCAIP. Get to know others in the community, exchange info, support each other. Find a critique group - try to find a group in which members have at least as much or more experience as you do. Talent is not enough. So much is about being discovered by the right person at the right time.
One more bonus piece of advice: DON'T assume that it's easy to write or illustrate picture books (that people will want to read).
You can find out more info in my FAQ and my Creating Picture Books resource.
