Katelyn Aronson's Blog, page 5

Interview with Karla Valenti

All throughout 2020, I’m celebrating brand new authors and their debut titles. Today, the spotlight is on Karla Valenti. Her first book, Marie Cure and the Power of Persistance, part of the series My Super Science Heroes, debuts from Sourcebooks Explore…TODAY! 

Welcome, Karla! And a very Happy Book Birthday to You!

As of today, your very first book is out in the world. How did Marie Cure and the Power of Persistance come to be?

This book came about in a very untraditional way. I was living in Europe at the time and was informed of an RFP for a children’s book launched by the Marie Curie Alumni Association (MCAA) – a global network of over 4,000 scientists. MCAA was hoping to partner with an author and illustrator to create children’s books as a potential stream of funds for the science association.

At first, I was hesitant to submit anything since I had never written a non-fiction manuscript. However, it was an opportunity to work with a wonderful group of people and to continue developing my writing experience. So, I came up with a proposal that combined my interest in writing fiction with the mandate of writing an informative but engaging piece about Marie Curie. The proposal was to write a series of books featuring scientists, but rather than focusing on what the scientists accomplished, we would focus on how they achieved what they did.

We realized that many children enjoy science and relate easily to STEM topics. However, many children are intimidated or feel that STEM is out of their league. With this series, we wanted to make science more accessible to those children, showing them that being a scientist isn’t just about making amazing discoveries (there are plenty of books that cover this already). Rather, being a scientist is also about exercising key traits that allow you to pursue your interests in the world around you.

Marie Curie, for example, encountered many challenges throughout her life- both personally and professionally. At every step of the way, she met with opposition and, had she given in to it, she would never have achieved what she accomplished. But Marie Curie was persistent and she never gave up. It was this persistence what allowed her to learn science and develop the skills necessary to discovery radium and polonium. In an important way, her persistence was a super power. And if she had a super power, then that surely made her a super hero ! A super hero must have an antagonist, and Marie Curie’s was the aptly named Mr. Opposition (one of the many minions working with Super Evil Nemesis).

I was delighted to have my proposal selected and began working with the MCAA folks and a very talented illustrator (Annalisa Beghelli) to launch an Indiegogo fundraising campaign. To our great surprise, by the end of the month, not only had we exceeded our goal by 20%, but Sourcebooks had approached us with an interest in acquiring the series.

This book’s journey was completely unexpected, and I couldn’t be prouder of the collaborative efforts that led to its publication. The moral of the story : you never know where your next big break will come from, so don’t turn your back on any opportunity !

You are obviously no stranger to persistence yourself, Karla! From what age did you consider yourself a writer? And what spurred you to pursue this  path professionally? 

I have always thought of myself as a writer, but I didn’t have the chance to fully work on this as a career until we moved to Europe in 2012. After my third child was born, we decided to go on an adventure. My husband and I looked for opportunities around the world and he found a job in Germany. We didn’t speak the language, nor had we ever been there. Nevertheless, we were eager for the experience. And so, we rented our house, packed up our three kids (ages 8, 5, and 1), and boarded a plane with 16 suitcases that contained everything we were bringing to start our new life.

During the six years we ended up living in Germany, the terms of my visa restricted me from working in Europe. And so, I took advantage of the opportunity to launch my career as a writer. I am so grateful for that time that enabled me to learn what I needed to learn, and to do a great deal of writing !

Now that we’re back in the U.S., I have returned to my work as an attorney. Fortunately, I had written a great deal in the six years abroad (which is work my agent is now able to submit). Miranda Paul once gave this very helpful advice (which I am paraphrasing): it’s important to be a prolific writer and not just work on one manuscript at a time. Always be working on new work (and revising your old work) because it allows you to always have new manuscripts in the pipeline. I am so grateful that I heeded her advice !

You mentioned writing non-fiction as being a little outside your comfort zone at first. What do you prefer to write about, in general? What are your favorite genres and target  audiences?

I love to play in the magical realism space, and am especially fond of exploring deep philosophical questions in pint-size packages (PBs and MG novels).

Can you describe a pivotal moment in your career? 

I will never forget the day we spoke with Kelly Barrales-Saylor at Sourcebooks and she made an offer for MARIE CURE AND THE POWER OF PERSISTENCE. I distinctly remember how everything slowed down and I thought, “this is it, this is the moment I’ve been waiting for.” My husband walked in right then and I turned to him, gave him a huge grin, muted my phone and said, “I’m going to be a published author!” It truly felt like I was standing at the peak of a mountain watching the sun rise.

What tips would you give other creatives on the journey toward publication?

One the most challenging things I’ve struggled with in developing my career as a writer is the crushing heart-break of rejection. We spend so much time working towards our goal, writing, revising, learning, connecting. We put our hearts on the line every time we send out our work. And to be rejected, time and again, is devastating. I think it’s important to talk about the fact that rejection is part of the process. Everyone gets rejected, and often. It’s misleading when we hear about people only getting a handful of rejections (or none at all). Those cases happen, but they are the outliers. Most of us suffer through dozens, if not hundreds of rejections. I stopped counting after 500 rejections.

It’s easy at some point to think that we’re just not cut out for this work, or that our work is just not good enough. The two things that have helped me the most in this pit of despair are :

(1) A phenomenal critique group that has not only bolstered me through the heart-breaking bits, but have pushed me to continue working on my stories, providing solid and critical feedback. They have educated me and inspired me and helped me become a better writer. I cannot understate the value of a good critique group.

(2) Remembering that this is an incredibly subjective industry. An agent or an editor may absolutely love your work and still not be able to acquire it. There’s so much that goes in to the decision to publish a story. Of course, part of it is whether the story is written well (which is why it is very important to learn the craft of writing and either take courses or get professional critiques to help you hone those skills). However, a big part of it is what the agent / editor currently have on their list, their target demographic, the current market or appetite for certain themes, the timeliness of your story, etc. Which is to say, being rejected is not always about your work (and it’s never going to be about you). It’s important to keep that front and center, so we don’t get buried by our dismay.

Great advice. And now, your dream of publishing your very first book has come true! What’s next? What do  you still hope to accomplish in the future?

I still can’t believe this has happened ! We spend so much time working towards this dream, never knowing if it will come true… and when it does, it inevitably takes us by surprise. At the moment, I have five books coming out in the next couple of years : two PB books with Sourcebooks, part of the My Super Science Heroes series (2020, 2021), a PB book with Chronicle (2022), and two MG novels with Knopf/Penguin (2021, 2022). I also have a few additional manuscripts soon going out on submission, so I am hopeful they will lead to new opportunities.

Anything else we should know about you, Karla?

I love writing, but I also love critiquing (this is my legal side putting on its writing hat). As a result, I offer professional critiques. I also created a Course on Picture Book Writing and Revising which draws from a great many tips and writing techniques I’ve acquired over years.

Wonderful. Where can we go to find out more about your books and resources? 

Website : www.karlavalenti.com

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/KarlaValentiAuthor

Twitter : https://twitter.com/KV_Writes

Thanks for chatting with me today, Karla. Here’s wishing you all the success!

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Preorders are vital to a debut author’s career! To support Karla Valenti and her new release, preorder Marie Curie and The Power of Persistance  through any of the following retailers.*

*A portion of your purchase goes to support the work being done by the Marie Curie Alumni Association, a non- profit global association of researchers dedicated to the promotion of research and curiosity, and to enhancing professional scientific collaboration.

Indie Bound
Barnes&Noble
Amazon

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Writing Endearing Picture Book Protagonists

If you write character-driven fiction like me, you know that sometimes, a brand new character will appear in your mind, suddenly “born” into your imagination out of nowhere. And the next thing you know? They’re demanding their own story.

Eureka! You have been entrusted with a make-believe life! Your task is now to fashion it into an endearing, larger-than-make-believe character that will spring off the page for your readers. But in the case of picture books, how does one create that kind of protagonist in the space of several spreads? 

Remember the good fairies in Sleeping Beauty, who bless the infant princess with special qualities just after her birth? You, too, have things to bestow upon your new character if they are to become an appealing, strong, and memorable protagonist worthy of a story. So wave your wand and repeat after me,

“To my brand new picture book character, I give the gift of…”

Plenty of personality. Will your new character be wickedly funny or devilishly mischievous or inspiringly brave, or all three? Whatever the case, your main character should NOT “fit in.” Your MC (main character) must stand out. They must be quirky. Even downright weird. If you suspect that your MC needs a personality-injection, try choosing one of the following and exaggerate it: the character’s voice (i.e. all the ways they express themselves), their humor, their spunk, their personal preferences, their idiosyncrasies, their beliefs, their flaws, their fears, their secret talents.
A kid-like dimension: Kids need to be able to identify with your MC. Often in picture books, this comes down to physical smallness and/or “cuteness.” But beyond the physical aspect, the MC should have child-relatable concerns. Maybe it’s wanting to be bigger, a fear of the dark, or loneliness. Maybe it’s the feeling of being left out or left behind. In CLOVIS, my MC seems anything but childlike. He’s a huge, tough, former football-playing bull! But even as someone big and strong, Clovis has to deal with bullying…and there lies his child-relatable struggle.
A true-to-life trait. By “true-to-life” traits, I mean qualities that can just as easily be flaws. My character Piglette, for example, is a perfectionist. Her perfectionism is not really good or bad. It is both good and bad. It is what drives her toward new pursuits, but it is also what impedes her happiness (especially in book 2, coming in 2021). 
A relationship. It isn’t easy to make a lone character endearing or relatable (unless his/her main problem is loneliness, in which case the goal will be to bridge that loneliness and find connection). We are social beings, and if there is a real connection between the MC of a story and at least one other character, we have the relational dimension we crave. If your story is lacking “heart,” consider examining and developing your MC’s relationship to another/other character(s).
A want or a need. Identify what your character wants early on in the story, and set them off on pursuing it.
Frustration. Now, get in your character’s way. Just like in real life, frustration is key to the development of character (not to mention of your story). Frustrate your protagonist’s want or need, and allow them to react to that frustration in a way that is consistent with all the personality traits you’ve given them. Being too easy on your character, or sparing them from conflict, stunts their growth and makes for a boring story. So allow your character to confront obstacles and therefore to grow, to change, to evolve. There are exceptions, but usually, your character should not be the same at the end of the story as they were at the beginning of it. 
Internal monologue. Not a long monologue. But sprinkle in a few of your MC’s private thoughts, so the reader can get to know them, and understand how they feel about things. Otherwise, you only give a surface-view of events and their superficial effect on your character. So let your reader see beneath the surface a bit, particularly if your story is written in 3rd person, which fiction picture books often are.

This is no recipe written in stone, but I do believe these tips can help you form a protagonist that is worthy of a story. If an editor eventually “adopts” your character as their own, it will be time to find the right illustrator to bring your MC to life. Only an illustrator can bestow the final gift upon your character: the right “skin” for them to live in! And for me, watching this particular step in the publication process has been the most magical part of the journey yet.

Writing Endearing Picture Book Characters

If you tend to write character-driven fiction like me, you know that sometimes, a brand new character will appear in your mind, suddenly "born" into your imagination out of nowhere. And the next thing you know? They're demanding their own story.

Eureka! You have been entrusted with a make-believe life! Your task is now to fashion it into an endearing, larger-than-make-believe character that will spring off the page for your readers. But in the case of picture books, how does one create that kind of protagonist in the space of several spreads? 

Remember the good fairies in Sleeping Beauty, who bless the infant princess with special qualities just after her birth? You, too, have things to bestow upon your new character if they are to become an appealing, strong, and memorable protagonist worthy of a story. So wave your wand and repeat after me,

"To my brand new picture book character, I give the gift of..."

Plenty of personality. Will your new character be wickedly funny or devilishly mischievous or inspiringly brave, or all three? Whatever the case, your main character should NOT "fit in." Your MC must stand out. They must be quirky. Even downright weird. If you suspect that your MC needs a personality-injection, try choosing one of the following and exaggerate it: the character’s voice (i.e. all the ways they express themselves), their humor, their spunk, their personal preferences, their idiosyncrasies, their beliefs, their flaws, their fears, their secret talents.
A kid-like dimension: Kids need to be able to identify with your MC. Often in picture books, this comes down to physical smallness and/or "cuteness." But beyond the physical aspect, the MC should have child-relatable concerns. Maybe it's wanting to be bigger, a fear of the dark, or loneliness. Maybe it's the feeling of being left out or left behind. In CLOVIS, my MC seems anything but childlike. He's a huge, tough, former football-playing bull! But even as someone big and strong, Clovis has to deal with bullying...and there lies his child-relatable struggle.
A true-to-life trait. By "true-to-life" traits, I mean qualities that can just as easily be flaws. My character Piglette, for example, is a perfectionist. Her perfectionism is not really good or bad. It is both good and bad. It is what drives her toward new pursuits, but it is also what impedes her happiness (especially in book 2, coming in 2021). 
A want or a need. Identify what your character wants early on in the story, and set them off on pursuing it.
Frustration. Now, get in your character's way. Just like in real life, frustration is key to the development of character (not to mention of your story). Frustrate your protagonist's want or need, and allow them to react to that frustration in a way that is consistent with all the personality traits you've given them. 

This is no recipe written in stone, but I do believe these tips can help you form a protagonist that is worthy of a story. When an editor eventually "adopts" your character as their own, it will be time to find the right illustrator. Only an illustrator can bestow the final gift upon your character: the right "skin" for them to live in! And for me, watching this particular step in the publication process has been the most magical part of the journey yet.

Interview with Elizabeth Gilbert-Bedia

Throughout 2020, I’m interviewing the new authors of Perfect 2020 PBs. Today, the spotlight is on Elizabeth Gilbert-Bedia. Her first picture book, Bess The Barn Stands Strong , illustrated by Katie Hickey, debuts from Page Street Kids on September 8th, 2020. 

Welcome, Liz!

Congratulations on your upcoming debut! What can you tell us about your journey to publication? How long have you been pursuing this  dream?

My dream started over a decade ago. I worked as a researcher, an elementary school teacher and an audiologist, prior to staying at home to raise my kids. I had always loved writing and creating stories, but one day in 2007 I sat down and wrote my first children’s story. It was terrible, but I was hooked. I spent the next decade learning as much as I could about writing for children – reading books on craft, reading oodles of PBs, as well as MG/YAs, joining SCBWI and groups such as 12×12 and StoryStorm, attending conferences, and of course, writing.

Now you have not one, but two books in the pipeline. Can you describe the moment that you first knew your dreams of publication were about to come true?

I had been sending BESS out to a few editors who were open to unsolicited/unagented manuscripts and whose interests I’d been keeping an eye on. At that time, I had been receiving my fair share of rejections with BESS and with other manuscripts. I was probably at the lowest point in my writing journey– I felt completely discouraged. I had been actively working on my writing and submitting for about 6 years, and started to question whether I should be writing. I believed in BESS’s story, but it wasn’t striking a chord with editors…until Monday, October 15 th, 2018. I was standing in Panera Bread waiting for a to-go order when my phone buzzed. It was an email from Page Street Kids. I sighed and thought – Well, might as well get this over. I assumed it was a “thanks, but no thanks” email. Then, I opened it…

“Dear  Elizabeth, Thanks so much for sending your manuscript, CELEBRATION BESS, to  Page Street Kids….Reading BESS felt like home to me…”

It continued and was far from a “thanks, but no thanks” email. It was an offer to acquire and publish my story! I couldn’t even finish reading the email as the tears fell too fast. I had worked so hard to get to this moment – when it happened I was overwhelmed with emotion. So much so, I walked straight out of Panera without picking up my order. I didn’t realize I had forgotten it until I was starting to pull out of the parking lot. Needless to say, I was flabbergasted by the moment and the amazing opportunity that had just been offered to me.

Ha! Another case of “acceptance euphoria”–love it! Now, let’s back up a bit. From what age did you consider yourself a writer? What made you choose to pursue writing professionally?

When I was young, I loved creating fictional stories about the world around me. It wasn’t until after I had both of

my children did I find my way back to it. As I mentioned earlier, I worked as a researcher, elementary school teacher, and audiologist. I have publications in scientific journals – but of course, the writing for those manuscripts was dry and had to be “just the facts.” Writing for children is A LOT more fun and imaginative!

Today, what do you like to write about, in general? What are your preferred genres/target

audiences?

My sweet spot is picture books from lyrical, thoughtful ones to humorous, quirky ones. But truly, I love writing anything and everything for children, because an idea can literally come from anywhere. I love listening to children because their imaginations and dreams are limitless and provide such great ideas. I do have a middle grade novel that I need to dust off and look at again, but for now – picture books have me hooked and I can’t get enough of them.

What does a typical day in your life look like?

My day starts around 5 :00AM. I try to get a bit of work done before my daughter gets up at 6 :00AM to study before school. I run my two dogs after she heads off to school. Most days, I try to work from 10AM to 2PM but volunteering and running kids from activity to activity take priority some days. Evenings are busy with more activities and keeping my daughter on task with her homework. Later in the evening, when all is quiet – I read. I usually have several books going at once.

What feeds your creativity as an artist? Or helps you out of a creative “funk”? 

I run with my dogs every morning. If I am trying to work out a problematic part in a story I am working on – I tend to run faster and longer on that morning or I go out and run again during the day to clear my head. Chocolate is always a good plan B for me.

What tips do you have for other creatives?

I would say carve out time every day to let your creative juices flow. It doesn’t mean finishing a manuscript. It doesn’t even mean finessing that line that has been bugging you. It may simply mean taking 5 minutes to meditate, taking 5 minutes to read, or taking 5 minutes to doodle on a page. I think there is a lot of pressure to finish or have a finished

product in hand. In reality, finishing takes a lot of time, reflection, and revision. Sometimes, stories need to steep just like a good cup of tea. Be kind to yourself and your story will come together. I, also, saw a wonderful quote from Max Lucado that is a great tip for creatives working on their craft, especially picture book writers. He said, “Make every word earn its place on the page. Not just once or twice, but many times. Sentences can be like just-caught fish, spunky

today and stinky tomorrow. Re-read until you’ve thrown out all the stinkers. Write. Re-write. Repeat.”

Great insights! Now, back to your debut, with that burning question: How did the idea of Bess The Barn Stands Strong come to you? Do you remember your lightbulb moment?

When I was a child, I lived in the rural Midwest where barns dotted the landscape. When I became an adult, I lived in a few cities and now, I live in a suburban area. I have loved all the places I have lived, but my heart remains with the rural landscape. When we moved to our current home there was a mix of farmland and suburban homes. Among all the

houses along a street I drove up and down several times a day, there was a beautiful old barn. It had my heart from the first time I saw it. It was like seeing an old friend every day. It seemed strong and steadfast amongst all the change and modernization going on around it. Until, one day it was torn down. My heart broke, my old friend was gone. I began to think about the « what ifs ». What if, it hadn’t been tore down in the name of urban sprawl ? What if it had shown how strong and steadfast it was ? What if that it showed it was still very much alive and willing to be a part of the community ? That is how BESS THE BARN STANDS STRONG came to be.

A beautiful homage to that old barn. And now, your dream of publishing your very first picture book is about to come true! What’s next? What do you still hope to accomplish in the future?

My second picture book, ARTHUR WANTS A BALLOON, comes out on October 22nd! I am so thrilled for the opportunity. It will be published simultaneously the UK and the US from Upside Down Books/Trigger Publishing UK. Upside Down Books focuses their publications on the mental health and wellness of children. ARTHUR WANTS A BALLOON touches on a topic I am passionate about – emotional intelligence of children. It is a story about a young boy, Arthur, who wants a balloon because they make him smile, but his gloomy dad always says no. The story follows Arthur as he tries to understand why his dad is so sad and tries in his own way to help his dad find his smile again. Looking toward plans for the future, I would love one day to complete and polish a few middle grade stories I have, but for now, I am having the time of my life creating picture book stories!

ARTHUR sounds like a such an important and uplifting book! Looking ahead, will there be any promotional events readers where readers can meet you in the near future, Liz?

Currently, I have a few local book launches scheduled and a few local school visits. I hope to schedule more speaking events in the future.

Wonderful! We wish you all the best in your new career!

Thank you, Katelyn!

Readers can Keep up-to-date on Elizabeth Gilbert-Bedia, her books, author visits, and resources by visiting her website and following her social media accounts:

Website: https://elizabethgilbertbedia.com

Twitter: @lizbedia

Instagram: lizbedia

Facebook: Elizabeth Gilbert Bedia

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Preorders are vital to a debut author’s career. To support Elizabeth Gilbert-Bedia and her new release, preorder Bess The Barn Stands Strong  through any of the following retailers:

Indie Bound
Barnes&Noble
Amazon

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Interview with Bonnie Clark

All through 2020, I’m interviewing the new authors of Perfect 2020 PBs. Today, the spotlight is on Bonnie Clark. Her first picture book, Taste Your Words , illustrated by Todd Bright, debuts with Worthy Kids (a division of Hachette Book Group) on April 7th, 2020. 

Welcome, Bonnie!

Tell us about your debut book. The title Taste Your Words is so intriguing!

Thanks, Katelyn. Taste Your Words tells the story of Amera, who’s having a bad day. Her best friend ruined her cupcake and they both said mean things. When Amera brings her bad mood home with her, her mom tells her to

“taste her words.” Amera’s mean words taste like rotten eggs, spoiled milk, and lemons! As Amera realizes that her mean words make her feel bad and others feel worse, she starts saying the kindest, sweetest words she can find.

I like that this story engages a child’s senses while evoking frustrations we all experience.  What can you tell us about its journey to publication?  Can you describe “The Call ”or “The Email”–that moment you knew that your dreams were about to come true?

My journey to publication was a little unconventional. There were starts and stops along the way but eventually my manuscript for Taste Your Words paired with the illustrations (by my stepbrother!) got some attention by a few agents and publishing houses through a Twitter pitch party. I had a phone call with agent Adria Goetz who had been on my radar for some time. I had critique partners tell me that they thought we would be a good fit, but I had submitted to

her in the past and received a (kind) rejection. When she showed interest in Taste Your Words I was thrilled and signing with her has been a dream come true.

Sounds like a Happily Ever After! How long have you been pursuing this  dream?

I have always enjoyed writing, but I’ve been actively writing for children for about 5 years. I fell in love with picture books when my kids were much smaller. We would go to the library and bring home a big bag of books to read. It’s such a magical moment to share a book with a child. I wanted to be a part of that magic for other families.

From what age did you consider yourself a writer? What spurred you to pursue this path professionally? What other fields do you work in (professionally or otherwise)?

I have a business degree from Georgia Tech, but the only classes I remember enjoying were my English/writing classes and one on Shakespeare. I guess I didn’t pursue writing professionally because I didn’t think that was an adequate profession. So, I was an over-educated and under-prepared for the toughest job of my life- stay at home mother to three kids (ages 3 and under!). I can remember a pivotal moment for me when I began calling myself a writer. I had joined a kid lit critique group and was actively pursuing writing for children. I took my kids to see our favorite picture book author/illustrator Mo Willems at the art museum in Atlanta. We stood in a long line to get his signature in his latest Elephant and Piggie book and my son was especially excited to see him in person because he loves to draw. When we finally reached Mo, my son said to him, “I want to be an artist when I grow up.” I will never forget Mo looking directly at my son and saying, “You already are an artist.” The moment that was intended for my son, became the permission I needed to start calling myself a writer. Thanks Mo!!

Aw, that’s wonderful. Sometimes we do need “permission” to accept a calling. So, now that you *are* a writer (even an author!), what do you like to write about in general? What are your preferred genres/target audiences?

I prefer to write about social/emotional topics where kids can see themselves, recognize the emotions that the story evokes and remember the lesson as they get older and when they need it most.

What does a typical day in your life look like?

A typical day for me starts early at 5:15. I like to get up before I wake my kids up so that I can enjoy my coffee, read and meditate (spiritual exercise). Once the kids are off to school I head to the gym (physical exercise). And when I get back home I write (mental exercise). I take breaks to throw in a load of laundry or clean, and before long the school bus is pulling up to the house. Afternoons are full of piano lessons, gymnastics, theater & jiu-jitsu and then I start dinner. We try to have dinner together as a family around the table as often as possible. Once the kids are in bed I make a cup of tea and read for hours until I’m sleepy.

What feeds your creativity as an artist? Or helps you out of that “funk”?

Reading always feeds my creativity as an author- it doesn’t even matter what genre I’m reading! I also love to do hand-lettering. I enjoy making words beautiful (literally and figuratively) and it satisfying to see an idea through to completion on a page. Drawing & hand-lettering are very therapeutic. I drink coffee all day and switch to tea at night.

What tips do you have for other creatives?

Be creative! If you love to write, write! If for no one else but you. I heard a quote once that I love by Earl Nightingale, “Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.” Keep writing, keep creating art, no time is wasted creating things you love.

So true. Now, back to your debut, with that burning question: How did the idea of (title) come to you? Do you remember your lightbulb moment?

The idea for Taste Your Words originated with myself and my children when they were much smaller and learning how to use their words to communicate. Inspired by Proverbs 16:24, I would tell them to taste their words before they let them out of their mouth. I also remember when I verbalized the idea to my critique group at a SCBWI Conference and they loved it ! I came home from that conference and wrote the first draft. The original title was The Yucky

Words, but after some time editing the manuscript, my agent suggested changing the title to Taste Your Words, which I agreed was more appealing and marketable.

Your dream of publishing your very first picture book is about to come true! What’s next? What do  you still hope to accomplish in the future?

I have been waiting for 2020 for so long and I am beyond excited about the release of my debut Taste Your Words in the Spring! I am also thrilled that I have a second picture book coming out in August of this year as well entitled Catching Thoughts.

Any promotional events we can look forward to meeting you at?

I will be attending the SCBWI WIK 2020 conference in March where I will be a participant in the writer’s intensive with the one and only Jane Yolen! I am also excited to (hopefully) be signing copies of TYW! I also have a book launch at my local bookstore FoxTale Book Shoppe in Woodstock, GA on April 4th.

You can find out more about me, my books, author visits & resources on my website and social media accounts:

www.bonnieclarkbooks.com

IG: @bonnieclarkbooks

Twitter: @bonclark

FB: Bonnie Clark Author

Wonderful, Bonnie. Congratulations, and here’s to a long and fruitful career!

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These days, preorders are vital to a debut author’s career. To support Bonnie Clark and her new release, preorder Taste Your Words  through any of the following retailers:

Indie Bound
Barnes&Noble
Amazon

Interview with LaRonda Gardner Middlemiss

Happy New Year to one and all! 

All through 2020, I’ll be interviewing the new authors of Perfect 2020 PBs. Today, the spotlight is on LaRonda Gardner Middlemiss. Her first picture book,  I Love Me!, illustrated by Beth Hughes, debuts with Beaming Books on April 21st, 2020. 

Welcome, LaRonda! 

Tell us a bit about I Love Me! ?

First, I want to thank you for this interview. I appreciate you taking the time.

I Love Me! is a fun, self-affirming, book that encourages children to love and appreciate their bodies. The art is wonderfully inclusive, sharing a diverse group of characters, expressing how they love themselves.

What a great theme for a brand new year! Now, let’s back up: What got you writing in the first place?And what has the journey to publication been like? 

I was introduced to picture books as a mom. My son really loved story time and I saw how engaged he was and how he’d request (my husband) or myself to read books again and again. I loved finding new books to share with him and that really opened my eyes to the vast landscape of picture books. Still, writing picture books wasn’t something I was pursuing, it was something that just presented itself to me out of the blue. I was busy cleaning the house and thinking about my son and his bi-racial identity, and out of nowhere the words of a book popped into my head. It was such an exciting moment. And that was the beginning for me, the first spark, back in early 2015.

Incredible–a surprise “calling.” And you’ve come quite far in only 5 years! What other fields have you worked in?

Yes, I’m an incredibly late bloomer to the craft. I could have never imagined being a creative writer. My educational background is Industrial Engineering. So today, my non-literary career involves program management with elements of my degree woven in. I will say, since coming into the creative writing world, I’ve come to realize that being an engineer also requires a fair amount of creativity when designing processes and creating solutions to solve problems. That’s another form of creativity, so I already had that ability, now I’m exploring it through writing. I would not have made that connection in the past, though.

At what point did you realize that your writing career was taking off? How did your first offer of publication come about?

I participated in a Twitter pitch event called #DVPIT, aimed at amplifying diverse voices and stories to agents and publishers. During that event I pitched several manuscripts and two of them got hearts. Beaming books liked my I Love Me! pitch and an agent liked a different pitch. Hearts don’t come easily during Twitter pitch events, so it was both surprising and exciting rolled into one. I then did some research and moved forward with submitting the full manuscript to each, respectively. The agent replied quickly to my submission and asked for a ‘revise and resubmit’ for that story (she wanted me to increase the word count a bit). And while that was underway, I got an offer of publication on the I Love Me! manuscript from Beaming!

And now your dream of publishing your very first picture book is about to come true! What’s next? What  do you still hope to accomplish in the future?

I know, it’s so exciting! First, I hope that I Love Me! is embraced by children, parents…everyone. Not just in terms of my book, but as a mantra to know and realize that they are enough. Each of us have something positive to contribute to this world, and once we embrace who we are as we are…we can get to a place where that positivity radiates and helps make this world a better place.

Beyond that, my agent has other manuscripts on submission, so I am hoping for good news there. And I continue writing and creating art, hoping to someday be published as an author/illustrator.

So you like writing and illustrating! And what do you prefer to write/illustrate about, in general?

Picture books are my primary focus. The ability to empower, enlighten and entertain a child in 32 pages is just so appealing. I’ll also share that early in my journey I connected with an amazing Author/Illustrator who encouraged me to explore my drawing. I always wanted to draw when I was a kid, but didn’t quite have the confidence to pursue it. I was doing that awful thing of comparing my drawing to others. Never do that. That’s another lesson I’ve learned in this journey. It’s okay to get inspiration, but don’t compare. Getting back to my point, I followed her advice, embraced her guidance and have been working on art ever since.

What is it then, that feeds your creativity? Or helps you out of that “funk”? 

Observing kids in real-life or in print. Or people and things in general, I would say. I’m an observer by nature. Sometimes just imagining a scenario playing out either differently or beyond where it ended at that point in time. Letting my imagination extend it to a different possibility. I let things roll around in my head long before I put pen to paper, and that really helps me keep my creativity sharp.

What does a typical day in your life look like?

I returned to working outside the home this past May, so my days are mostly filled with that professional work, being a mom and wife. I am still adjusting to the balance of writing and creating art while working full-time, so unfortunately, I don’t have a nice buttoned up routine to share. I wish I did!

Nothing wrong with that! In the midst of that daily juggle, what advice do you have other creatives?

My humble opinion is to know why you’re doing it. That will be your motivation to keep moving forward. Oh, and don’t compare. Being inspired by another’s work is fine, but know that only you can tell the stories you are meant to tell and create the art that you are meant to create.

Great advice, which brings us back to theme of your debut book. How exactly did the idea of I Love Me! come to you? Do  you remember your “lightbulb” moment?

Yes, it was inspired by my son, Ryan. I was teaching him to say and sign (ASL), I love you. And he would always say “I love me.” And those three simple, powerful words really stuck with me. Then the rhyming stanzas began filling my head. It became a sing-song that I did with him as I was teaching him various parts of his body. And working toward a picture book was mixed in there as well. I can’t say the events were sequential, I believe it was more a parallel journey.

A true labor of love. Congratulations on your debut, LaRonda! May I Love Me!, find a wide and loving audience. Can we look forward to meeting you at any promotional events in 2020?

We are working on putting some events together as we speak. I will post information on my website and social media as soon as it becomes available.

Website: Iscribeisketch.com

Instagram: @iamlgmiss

Twitter: @IamLGMISS

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These days, preorders are vital to a debut author’s career. To support LaRonda Gardner Middlemiss and her new release, preorder I Love Me! through any of the following retailers:

Indie Bound
Barnes&Noble
Amazon

Interview with Joy Nelkin Wieder

For my final post of 2019, and in honor of Jewish Book Month, I’m happy to bring you this interview with Perfect 2020 PBs member Joy Nelkin Wieder. Her picture book, The Passover Mouse, illustrated by Shahar Kober, releases from Doubleday (Random House) on January 28th, 2020.

Welcome, Joy! 

Tell us a bit about your story, The Passover Mouse.

The Passover Mouse is a rollicking, funny, and ultimately inspiring story that weaves together the themes of community, kindness, charity, and forgiveness. In this charming Passover story, a little mouse disrupts a town’s preparations for the holiday when it steals a piece of leavened bread–or chometz–just as all the houses have been swept clean in time for the holiday. On the morning before the start of Passover, all the villagers have swept their homes clean of leavened bread, in keeping with the traditions of the holiday. Suddenly, a small mouse steals a piece of bread and tears through the town, spoiling everyone’s hard work. But just when it seems as if the townsfolk will never be ready for their Seder, the little mouse’s actions unwittingly bring everyone together, to work as a group to save the holiday.

Sounds like a lot of fun! This is your very first picture book, and it will be out in a little over a month.  What can you tell us about the journey to publication? How long have you been pursuing this dream?

I have been pursuing this dream most of my life, and I can’t believe it’s finally coming true! This particular book’s journey took 18 years from concept to publication. While I had several chapter books published previously, this is my first picture book and I couldn’t be more thrilled.

How did the idea for The Passover Mouse come to you?

I was inspired to write the story while I was doing research for another book in 2002 and came across an interesting passage in the Talmud, which is a collection of Jewish laws with commentaries by ancient rabbis. It won Best Picture Book Text at the Jewish Children’s Bookfest Writing Contest in 2004 and was considered for publication by two Jewish publishers and two mainstream publishers at that time. When they all turned it down, I was crushed. I put the files away in a plastic bin in the basement where it stayed for many years. It wasn’t until the story won another award for the SCBWI/PJ Library Jewish Stories in 2018 that it got traction and it will finally become a published book on 1/28/20!

Gasp! I guess your book’s time had finally come! How great that you didn’t give up on it completely! Describe for us that magic moment when you found out The Passover Mouse would be published at last?

I was doing an errand and pulled into a parking lot. I decided to check my phone and saw an email from PJ Library. When I read that my story won Honorable Mention, I burst into tears! I knew that this was the break I had been waiting for all those years, because having the stamp of approval from both PJ Library and SCBWI would finally open all the doors that had been closed previously. With award in hand, I sent my manuscript off to an agency and landed my wonderful agent Barbara Krasner at Olswanger Literary. Now, we could submit to publishers who only accept agented work and it was accepted by the fabulous Frances Gilbert, Editor-in-Chief at Doubleday Books for Young Readers. It couldn’t have been in better hands!

From what age did you consider yourself a writer? What spurred you to pursue this path professionally? What other fields do you work in (professionally or otherwise)?

I’ve always been creative and wanted to write and illustrate books since I was young, but I didn’t have the confidence to pursue it until I had my own children. I studied graphic design in college and had a flourishing freelance design business for many years. Now I design custom wedding invitations in my small business called Joyously Yours Custom Invitations. I’m also a freelance copy writer, and I write articles for the local newspaper, quarterly newsletters and monthly blog posts for my clients. Additionally, I teach creative writing in a before-school enrichment program at my local elementary school, which is a lot of fun.

In terms of your art, what are your preferred media and techniques?

I’m a watercolor painter, and I love to paint landscapes as well as children’s illustrations. I’ve taken several plein air workshops in beautiful locations such as Maine, Italy and France—including Monet’s Garden and Lake Como! Being outdoors and painting in watercolor is a pure pleasure for me, and it hones my skills as a watercolorist for my children’s book illustrations. I’ve recently started playing around with digital illustration on my iPad Pro and I’m working on a board book dummy in Procreate.

What does a typical day in your life look like?

Being a freelance artist, I don’t really have a typical day. But I often start the day with a water aerobics class at my health club. It’s great exercise, and I frequently work out story problems either as I exercise or on the way home. It’s a great way to clear your mind and be open to creative solutions! When I get home, I have to attend to whatever job has the most pressing deadline. If I don’t have an invitation to design or copy to write, I can work on my own stories and illustrations!

What feeds your creativity? Or helps you out of that “funk”?

I already mentioned exercising and painting outdoors as ways of refreshing my creative energies. I also love to take baths in my whirlpool tub—another place to work out story problems or get new inspirations. I attend closely to my nightly dreams, which is a way to tap into our intuition and unconscious selves. I keep a dream journal and meet with a dream circle every other week to discuss our dreams. I often get ideas for stories from my dreams!

That’s fascinating! What other advice would you have for fellow creatives?

Don’t give up on your dreams! While most creative people need to have a day job, it’s important to make time to pursue your creative interests and continue to “fill the well” so your creative energy doesn’t dry up. Journaling is one great way to do both—keep your dreams alive and keep the well full at the same time.

Now, back to your debut. You mentioned coming across an interesting passage in the Talmud that originally inspired The Passover Mouse. Can you give us the details?

While reading the tractate in the Talmud discussing all the laws and rituals of Passover, I came across a discussion by the rabbis about the possibility of a mouse bringing bread into a house that had already been searched for chometz, leavened food, which is prohibited during Passover. They wondered if the house would have to be searched again and came up with several scenarios – what if a mouse with a piece of bread went into a house, but a different mouse came out of the house carrying a piece of bread? Is the second mouse carrying the same piece of bread or a different piece? The rabbis went around and around the issue, but in the end, they never made a decision. I was in shock! How could the rabbis take so much time to discuss an issue and then leave the question unanswered? I knew I had to come up with an answer, and I immediately imagined this troublesome mouse running amok through a Jewish village just before Passover.

Ha! Love it. Flash forward to today, and your dream of publishing your first picture book is about to come true!

Yes, and I’m thrilled to report that The Passover Mouse received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews, indicating a book of exceptional merit. The Kirkus Reviews star is one of the most prestigious designations in the publishing industry. Kirkus Reviews says: “A book that fits moving scenes, puzzles, and mice into the same story is an excellent addition to the Jewish tradition. (glossary) (Picture book. 4-7)” Read full book review here.

Congratulations! That’s wonderful news! What’s next? What do you still hope to accomplish in the future?

There are several projects in the works. The last time I went to New York City, I had the pleasure of meeting my editor at the Random House headquarters. She mentioned that she would love to have another book set in the same world as The Passover Mouse, so I’m working on a Purim story set in the same village with the same characters. My agent has submitted two picture book manuscripts and a board book manuscript to several publishers, so keep your fingers crossed for me!

We wish you plenty of future success, Joy! Are there any upcoming events where we can look forward to meeting you?

Yes, the Launch Party for The Passover Mouse will be held on Sunday, February 9 at the Concord Bookshop in Concord, MA. The first Sunday after publication, Feb. 2, is Super Bowl Sunday, and we couldn’t take the chance that the New England Patriots would be in the Super Bowl and then no one would show up to the launch! I will also be doing Story Time at Brookline Booksmith in Brookline, MA on March 29 and Barnes & Noble in Framingham, MA on April 5. I’m really looking forward to reading my book to kids!

Readers can also connect with me on the following social media sites:

My website: www.jnwieder.com

Perfect2020PBs: https://perfect2020pbs.weebly.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoyWieder

Facebook: fb.me/joynelkinwieder

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

Wonderful, Joy. Thanks for being with us today and sharing all your debut news! 

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These days, preorders are vital to a debut author’s career. To support Joy Nelkin Wieder and her new release, preorder The Passover Mouse through any of the following retailers:

Random House Children’s Books
Indie Bound
Barnes&Noble
Amazon

Interview with Sharon Giltrow

Happy Thanksgiving Eve, Everyone! Today, I’m thankful to be chatting with 2020 Debut Crew-member  Sharon Giltrow. Her very first book,  Bedtime Daddy, (illustrated by Katrin Dreiling) debuts with EK Books on May 12th, 2020. 

Welcome, Sharon!

And congratulations on your first picture book! Tell us a little about Bedtime Daddy.

Putting a daddy to bed can be hard work, but it can be loads of fun too. This hilarious book shows how a child…

wrestles their daddy into his pyjamas
reads just one more bedtime story
battles endless excuses….
frightens away monsters with monster spray

to finally get their daddy to bed.

Ha! Sounds like the perfect Father’s Day gift, since Bedtime Daddy will release in plenty of time for that holiday.

Now, let’s back up a bit.  The road to publication is so often “long and winding.” Was that the case for you?

Well I was practicing my writing and honing my skills for eleven years before writing BEDTIME DADDY in June 2017. Then I revised it with help from my fantastic critique group. Started submitting it in November 2017, which was too soon. I revised it again with more help from my critique group and a publisher’s critique and submitted it to EK Books in June 2018. I Received the email two weeks later and signed the contract two months later. Twenty-one months after signing the contract BEDTME DADDY will be released.

Do you remember the exact moment when you found out you were going to be published for the first time?

The email from EK Books the publisher of my debut PB BEDTIME DADDY came through July 2018 when I was on a road trip with my family to the picturesque Denmark in Western Australia. I checked my emails while my husband was driving and I saw the email from EK books saying that they were interested and was the manuscript still available. “YES, YES!” I screamed. I re-read the email three times and then read it aloud to my family. Then I tried to act calm, replied to the email and continued on my holiday. I checked that email over and over until I was convinced it was real. At that point I knew my dream of becoming a published author was about to come true.

Wonderful. And have you always been a “writer”? What other fields have you worked in, and what made you want to write professionally?

From the time I learnt how to write as a child, I was either copying text from my favourite books or making books myself. I lived on a farm and loved having little projects to do. I even turned my bedroom into a library and made library cards for my books, which I borrowed out. Then I grew up and because I wanted to surround myself with playing, books and children, so I became an early childhood teacher. It wasn’t until my first child was born in 2006 that I thought, “Hey, I should write my own children’s book.” My first manuscript was called Noises at Night based on all the household noises I heard when I was awake in the middle of the night feeding my daughter. That manuscript hasn’t been published (yet) but it set me on my path as a professional author. Now I get to be a teacher and a writer at the same time