Christine Alemshah's Blog, page 2

Protected: #GrowYourWriting Creator Interview: Author, Stacey Bartlett

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#GrowYourWriting Creator Interview: Author, Andrew Hacket

Welcome to the #GrowYourWriting Creator Interviews blog series in 2024. I’m thrilled to feature talented kidlit creators this year and spotlight their beautiful work and inspiring journeys.  Today, I welcome Author, Andrew Hacket who welcomes not one but three picture books into the world in 2024! You can connect with Andrew on X/Twitter, Instagram, and his website. Stay tuned to the end of the interview for your chance to win a 30 Minute Zoom “Ask Me Anything” or brainstorming session with Andrew. 1 – What inspired you to pursue a career in children’s literature, and when did you start creating? Connecting with children has always been a strength of mine. It is something that comes naturally to me and the main reason I became an elementary school teacher. Through my time working with students I have read thousands of books. I love how a book can captivate and transport a child. The desire to be able to do this myself was one of the main reasons I decided to pursue children’s literature. Another motivating factor for me was to be an inspiration to my children and my students. Writing is hard and getting published is harder. This goal had no guarantee of success and plenty of lows along the way. I wanted my kids to see all of those and the hard work that went into accomplishing the end goal. If they can be even the tiniest bit motivated to strive for their own personal goals as a result of my example, then mission accomplished! While I had the dream of becoming a picture book author for most of my life, I only began taking steps towards learning the craft and actively creating in 2020. 2 – Can you share your kidlit journey thus far with our readers?  What writing/illustrating credentials, awards, contest wins, or other recognition would you like to share? I am extremely fortunate to have 3 titles releasing this year. Ollie, the Acorn, and the Mighty Idea just released from Pagestreet Kids on April 9 with illustrations by Kaz Windness. Coming up next I have Curlilocks & the Three Hares releasing on May 1 from The Little Press with illustrations by Jan Dolby. After that, on May 28 I have Hope and the Sea releasing from WorthyKids with illustrations by Svetla Radivoeva. If that wasn’t enough, my haunted, middle-grade short story, The Tunnel, was selected for inclusion in the SCBWI and Henry Holt anthology, The Haunted States of America, which releases in July. 3 – What part of the process, from the first draft to submissions, do you find the most challenging, and how do you overcome that? First drafts are always the hardest part of the process for me. I like to revise as I go and that can make letting the words flow really challenging. Fast drafting events like Mindy Alyse Weiss’ critique train and Hollie Wolverton’s First Draft Fridays have helped me in the past. Similarly, I will go through periods of time where I make a focused effort to write for 10-15 minutes daily. My PB Rising Stars pal, Trenise Ferreira’s success with this strategy is what prompted me to give it a try, although I am nowhere near as consistent as she was. 4 – Can you tell our readers more about your journey from ideas to publication? Each book has had its own unique path to publication, but for the purpose of this question I will focus on Ollie, the Acorn, and the Mighty Idea. Ollie was inspired by summer conversations with my children about the implications of swallowing a watermelon seed. My imagination then led me to wonder what would happen if you swallowed a different type of seed? Perhaps and acorn! This idea merged with a preexisting idea about a small boy named Twig and all of the marvelous things he COULD do because of his size. Drafting for this story went smoothly except for the ending. I tried very hard to not have Ollie eat his bully. Yes, I said it, he eats his bully. My alternatives felt forced and eventually my wife set me straight and said, “You know what needs to happen” which is how I ended up with the current version. The publisher, Pagestreet Kids, and editor, Kayla Tostevin, showed an early interest in the story and asked for an R&R. We went back and forth a handful of times until all parties involved were satisfied. This included character name changes and a massive brainstorm list of titles. I was pleasantly surprised when I was asked my input on illustrators. After seeing some of her work online, I suggested Kaz. I was delighted when I was told Kaz had signed on for the project. Kaz’ work is phenomenal and she brought this manuscript to life in a way I could never have imagined. 5 – What overall advice would you like to give aspiring kidlit creators to grow their writing? My first advice is always to find their people. The highs and lows of this journey are always made better by having a crew of creators in your corner. Not only do they help you elevate your writing but they are there for emotional support and celebration, too! I also love kidlit contests as a means to experiment and push our craft. The small word count is the ideal place to try a different style or to go outside of your comfort zone in a bite-size piece. This is also a great place to make connections with other creators and begin building that support network I mentioned above. 6 – What’s next for you as a creator? For now my focus is on promoting these three releases! I have blog features, bookstore events, and school visits lined up into the summer and am so excited to see these books in the hands of children. Looking further ahead, I hope that there are more books on the horizon, but we will just have to wait and see what the publishing companies have to say about that. Are you participating in the #GrowYourWriting Challenge this year? Andrew has some advice to share on how to earn your CULTIVATE CONNECTIONS badge. As I mentioned earlier, kidlit contests are a great way to build your network, especially if you are new to the community. Very often you can trade critiques with other participants. These can lead to long-term critique partners and groups. Also, read through the entries and engage with the participants in the comments. You never know who you will meet and you never know how those relationships will impact future you. Guess What? It’s giveaway time! Andrew has graciously offered to giveaway a 30 Minute Zoom “Ask Me Anything” or brainstorming session. To enter, leave a comment on this blog post below! The entry period closes on April 26 2024, at 12 am PST. One Winner will be announced on April 27, 2024. 1 Bonus entry is available for anyone who shares this post on X/Twitter, follows, and tags @AndrewCHacket and @C_Alemshah on X/Twitter.

Protected: #GrowYourWriting Creator Interview: Author, Andrew Hackett

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#GrowYourWriting Creator Interview: Author, Jenny Lynn Pease

Welcome to the #GrowYourWriting Creator Interviews blog series in 2024. I’m thrilled to feature talented kidlit creators this year and spotlight their beautiful work and inspiring journeys.  Today, I’d like to welcome Author Jenny Lynn Pease. Her picture book I LOVE HARRIET KIPPLEY debuts with Free Spirit Books on April 2, 2024, in just a few short weeks! I LOVE HARRIET KIPPLY is filled with fun, vibrant illustrations and serves as a great conversation starter for kids to build self-confidence. You can connect with Jenny on X/Twitter, Instagram, and Threads. Stay tuned to the end of the interview for your chance to win a fiction or non-rhyming, nonfiction, or fiction picture book critique of 1000 words or less from Jenny. 1 – What inspired you to pursue a career in children’s literature, and when did you start creating? I’ve loved writing my whole life, but it was about ten years ago that I stumbled onto a picture book class. I immediately fell in love with picture books and the art of creating them. There’s something so magical about being able to create a story for a young child in one thousand words or less. 2 – Can you share your kidlit journey thus far with our readers?  What writing/illustrating credentials, awards, contest wins, or other recognition would you like to share? As every writer knows, the journey to publication is rough with many bumps along the road. It hasn’t always been easy, but I’m thankful I stuck with it. Now, my debut book is coming out next year! I Love Harriet Kippley received a like during a pitch event, and that’s how my partnership with Free Spirit Publishing began. Everyone’s path to publication is different and I always encourage other writers to do what feels right for them. And most importantly, make sure that writing is fun and something you truly love to do. That will make the path to publication easier to bear. When I’m not working on my own stories, I stay busy helping other writers succeed at their craft. I run my own full time critique business for picture book writers. I’m also the host of #KidLitCritiqueDay and #ChatWithThePBLady on social media. 3 – What part of the process, from the first draft to submissions, do you find the most challenging, and how do you overcome that? I have a huge mental block when it comes to writing query letters! They feel too much to me like a cover letter for a job, which was my least favorite part of applying to jobs. I felt the resume should speak for itself, as the manuscript should. However, I have come to realize that the query can provide more information about the manuscript. The agent/editor is not in my head, so sometimes, you need to connect the dots. The query letter allows you to explain the subtext of the manuscript, any themes that may not readily be apparent, as well as show your seriousness in pursuing this business. I try to not overthink them, and just write as if I’m talking to the editor/agent in person. 4 – I love the thoughtful take on query letters! Can you tell our readers more about your journey from ideas to publication? I tend to write stories from my life and my family. I have never been much good at making things up! And am always impressed with people who can write completely different characters and worlds. My stories tend to center on family, nature and culture. I get the ideas from experiences that I have. I like my stories to take readers on an experience. As a kid, we didn’t really go anywhere or do anything. I think that is why I loved reading. I could go a million places in a book and be whoever I wanted to be. So that is what I write. 5 – What overall advice would you like to give aspiring kidlit creators to grow their writing? Keep working on your craft. Write because you enjoy it, and eventually someone else will enjoy it too. 6 – What’s next for you as a creator? I’m going to continue to write and pursue finding an agent! Having gone through the publishing process without an agent, I now see the value of one! The process wasn’t difficult, per se, but ultimately the editor/publisher don’t work for you, they have their own interests. But an agent, is your advocate, they work for you, and are on your side. Not to mention they do the not fun task of negotiating contracts and making sure you get paid. Guess What? It’s giveaway time! Jenny has graciously offered to giveaway one fiction or non-rhyming, nonfiction or fiction picture book critique of 1000 words or less. To enter, leave a comment on this blog post below! Entry period closes April 3rd at 12am PST. One Winner will be announced April 4th. 1 Bonus entry is available for anyone who shares this post on X/Twitter, follows, and tags @kidlitjenny and @C_Alemshah on X/Twitter.

#GrowYourWriting Creator Interview: Author and Former Elementary Librarian, Lisa Rogers

Welcome to the #GrowYourWriting Creator Interviews blog series in 2024. I’m thrilled to feature talented kidlit creators this year and spotlight their beautiful work and inspiring journeys.  Today, I welcome Author and Former Elementary Librarian Lisa Rogers. She welcomed two new books into the world in 2023: BEAUTIFUL NOISE: THE MUSIC OF JOHN CAGE (Random House Kids/Anne Schwartz Books), beautifully illustrated by Il Sung Na, and a Little Golden Book Biography of Ronald Reagan, and has several more forthcoming titles in 2024 and beyond! You can connect with Lisa on X/Twitter, Instagram, and her website. Stay tuned to the end of the interview for your chance to win a Non-rhyming picture book critique (less than 700 words) from Lisa! 1 – What inspired you to pursue a career in children’s literature, and when did you start creating? I love sharing books with children, and that’s what I was privileged to do during my career as an elementary school librarian. Kids are so smart about books, so perceptive, and so willing to share their thinking. I learned a lot from them, and from the excellent, beautiful, wonderfully sophisticated books available. I long had wanted to be a writer, and sharing books with kids inspired me to try writing them. Though I’d read a ton and had been a journalist, learning to write for children was challenging. It took seven years of false starts before 2016, when I earned a spot with my agent with the manuscript for my debut, and she sold it almost immediately. 2 – Can you share your kidlit journey thus far with our readers?  What writing/illustrating credentials, awards, contest wins, or other recognition would you like to share? It was a long road from my first manuscripts to publication, but my debut, 16 WORDS: WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS AND “THE RED WHEELBARROW,” received starred reviews from Kirkus and Publishers Weekly, was reviewed in the New York Times, was a Crystal Kite Award finalist, won the Boston Authors Club Julia Ward Howe Award, and received several other honors. After persevering for so long, I was thrilled that this book was able to stand out among many other fantastic works. For Beautiful Noise: The Music of John Cage, which released in 2023,  it took me years of research and revisions to get to what this manuscript needed to be–something as different as Cage’s music and worthy of mine and his own high expectations. It’s brilliantly illustrated by Il Sung Na–check out the endpapers to take in his incredible visual glossary of 60 sounds! This book has garnered three starred reviews, is a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, and most amazing of all, is an SCBWI Golden Kite Award Finalist! 3 – What part of the process, from the first draft to submissions, do you find the most challenging, and how do you overcome that? When I get the tone, structure, and emotion right in my first draft, that sets me up for success. But when I don’t, no amount of tweaking will fix my manuscript. I need to shake things loose, by setting it aside. Before I get back to work, I meditate on the heart of the story. When I’m ready to say something new, I write without looking at my earlier versions. I write by hand to keep myself in touch with the flow of my thoughts. Somehow that frees my creativity,. If it works for me, it might work for you! 4 – Can you tell our readers more about your journey from ideas to publication? Because I basically lived in a fabulous library, I had so many wonderful books at my fingertips. It was simple to find mentor texts and study the best of the best, because I’d already curated a collection. But what genre to write in? I took part in Tara Lazar’s inaugural PiBoIdMo challenge (now Storystorm), came up with 30 ideas, and started writing. I tried funny, I tried silly, I tried fractured fairy tales, I tried rhyming. I joined the 12 x 12 Challenge (and am still a participant) and submitted work I thought was ready, but…it wasn’t. I needed to get my stories to a higher level. I almost gave up, but rededicated myself to my goal of becoming traditionally published. That’s when I did a mentor text study to really understand how the pros did it. I knew that I loved certain books, but I didn’t understand how the authors actually achieved what they did. I noticed how carefully crafted these books were, though they seemed to flow so naturally. I paid attention to rhythm, repetition, word choice, tense, and more. Something about that exercise helped me become more aware of why I was writing and what I was writing. I wrote my debut carefully, with the foundation of all that I’d learned. I kept emotion top of mind, and wrote with purpose. That made all the difference. 5 – What overall advice would you like to give aspiring kidlit creators to grow their writing? A close study of books you admire is an excellent way to form a deep understanding of what it takes to get your work to the next level. You’re not copying; you’re simply noticing how the author draws the reader in, develops an idea, infuses the work with emotion, comes up with that satisfying ending, and creates a book that children will connect with, enjoy, and read again and again. Taking notes on what makes each book successful, you’ll begin to imagine possibilities of how you can grow your own writing! 6 – What’s next for you as a creator? Besides BEAUTIFUL NOISE: THE MUSIC OF JOHN CAGE, 2023 saw the release of my first Little Golden Book!  RONALD REAGAN: A LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK BIOGRAPHY (Random House Children’s Books), came out on Election Day. I’m thrilled that in 2024, ELVIS PRESLEY: A LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK BIOGRAPHY, will rock ‘n’ roll nto the world!  In 2025, expect two new picture book bios, including WOODY’S WORDS: WOODROW WILSON RAWLS AND “WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS” (Astra/Calkins Creek). I’m fortunate to have a poem selected for Irene Latham and Charles Waters’ anthology, IF I COULD CHOOSE A BEST DAY (Candlewick, 2025) and for The Writers’ Loft Press’s GNOMES & UNGNOMES: POEMS OF HIDDEN CREATURES (December, 2023) Plus, there are more picture book biographies to come! Guess What? It’s giveaway time! Lisa has graciously offered to giveaway a Non-rhyming picture book critique (less than 700 words) To enter, leave a comment on this blog post below! The entry period closes on March 3, 2024, at 12 am PST. One Winner will be announced on March 4, 2024. 1 Bonus entry is available for anyone who shares this post on X/Twitter, follows, and tags @LisaLJRogers and @C_Alemshah on X/Twitter.

Protected: #GrowYourWriting Creator Interview: Author, Jenny Lynn Pease

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#GrowYourWriting Creator Interview: Author and Aspiring Illustrator, Bridgitte Rodguez

Welcome to #GrowYourWriting Creator Interviews blog series in 2024. I’m thrilled to feature talented kidlit creators this year and shine a spotlight on their beautiful work and inspiring journeys. Today I’d like to welcome Author and Aspiring Illustrator, Bridgitte Rodguez. Her picture book A WALK THROUGH THE REDWOODS was published by Reycraft Books in 2023 and is a delightful stroll through the vivid imagery of the giant world of redwood trees. You can connect with Bridgitte on X/Twitter, Instagram, and her website. Stay tuned all the way to the end of the interview for your chance to win a copy of Bridgitte’s book, A WALK THROUGH THE REDWOODS. 1 – What inspired you to pursue a career in children’s literature, and when did you start creating? In early 2020, before the pandemic, the idea to write for kids popped into my head. I can’t remember exactly what was the catalyst for kidlit, as I’d been toying with wanting to be a writer for the better part of a decade, but really didn’t know what type of writing to pursue or even how to go about it. Then something clicked. And I thought, Hey I can write for kids! I like kids, the stories are short, and they can be about anything. I immediately began research on how to write for kids, which led me to join SCBWI. And then I went from there. Learning and writing. 2 – Can you share your kidlit journey thus far with our readers?  What writing/illustrating credentials, awards, contest wins, or other recognition would you like to share? I started querying way too soon! I wouldn’t call it a mistake, it got me to jump into the deep end, and not be afraid to send my work out there. I received form rejections, of course, and some more personal ones that the story idea was good, but the writing needed some work. I kept at it. I had decided that I didn’t want an agent. So I sent various manuscripts to publishers that didn’t require agents. I joined many groups to grow a network and gain further insight into the kidlit business including: Storyteller Academy, 12×12, and The Writing Barns Courage to Create. I also took classes with The Writing Barn and the Highlights Foundation. And I read and read lots and lots of kidlit! It is almost all I read now. But there are so many great stories out there, it is super fun research. In May of 2021, I sent out a manuscript to Reycraft Books and promptly forgot about it. Then in October 2021, I received an email from Winsome Bingham at Reycraft, asking if I would like to speak with her about the manuscript I sent in. Of course, I said yes. When we spoke she told me that she loved my story, but that it read too much like a magazine article, and the other three editors, didn’t see a vision for it. But Winsome did. She championed my story. We worked on it together. And then they offered me a contract a few months later. That book, my debut picture book, A Walk Through the Redwoods, illustrated by Natalia Bruno and published by Reycraft Books, released September 12, 2023. 3 – What part of the process, from the first draft to submissions, do you find the most challenging, and how do you overcome that? I have a huge mental block when it comes to writing query letters! They feel too much to me like a cover letter for a job, which was my least favorite part of applying to jobs. I felt the resume should speak for itself, as the manuscript should. However, I have come to realize that the query can provide more information about the manuscript. The agent/editor is not in my head, so sometimes, you need to connect the dots. The query letter allows you to explain the subtext of the manuscript, any themes that may not readily be apparent, as well as show your seriousness in pursuing this business. I try to not overthink them, and just write as if I’m talking to the editor/agent in person. 4 – I love the thoughtful way you considered structure for your story! That gives me so many ideas which brings me to our next question. Can you tell our readers more about your journey from ideas to publication? I tend to write stories from my life and my family. I have never been much good at making things up! And am always impressed with people who can write completely different characters and worlds. My stories tend to center on family, nature and culture. I get the ideas from experiences that I have. I like my stories to take readers on an experience. As a kid, we didn’t really go anywhere or do anything. I think that is why I loved reading. I could go a million places in a book and be whoever I wanted to be. So that is what I write. 5 – What overall advice would you like to give aspiring kidlit creators to grow their writing? Keep working on your craft. Write because you enjoy it, and eventually someone else will enjoy it too. 6 – What’s next for you as a creator? I’m going to continue to write and pursue finding an agent! Having gone through the publishing process without an agent, I now see the value of one! The process wasn’t difficult, per se, but ultimately the editor/publisher don’t work for you, they have their own interests. But an agent, is your advocate, they work for you, and are on your side. Not to mention they do the not fun task of negotiating contracts and making sure you get paid. Guess What? It’s giveaway time! Bridgitte has graciously offered to giveaway one copy of her book, A WALK THROUGH THE REDWOODS. To enter, leave a comment on this blog post below! Entry period closes on Jan 28, 2024 at 12am PST. One Winner will be announced January 29, 2024. 1 Bonus entry is available for anyone who shares this post on twitter, follows, and tags  @kidsbookwriting  and @C_Alemshah on X/Twitter.

Protected: #GrowYourWriting Creator Interview: Author and Aspiring Illustrator, Bridgitte Rodguez

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#GrowYourWriting Creator Interview: Author, Susan Johnston Taylor

Welcome back to the ‘#GrowYourWriting Creator Interviews’ blog series in 2024. I’m thrilled to feature talented kidlit creators this year and shine a spotlight on their beautiful work and inspiring journeys. Today I’d like to welcome Author, Susan Johnston Taylor. Her nonfiction picture book ANIMALS IN SURPRISING SHADES was published by Gnome Road Publishing in 2023 and is a delightful mix of STEAM and poetry. I’m so excited to chat with Susan about her book and writing journey! You can connect with Susan on X/Twitter, Instagram, and her website. Stay tuned all the way to the end of the interview for your chance to win a signed hardcover of Susan’s book, ANIMALS IN SURPRISING SHADES. (US addresses only) 1 – What inspired you to pursue a career in children’s literature, and when did you start creating? For much of my career, I’ve written about personal finance and small business for adults. But after awhile, writing about mortgages and insurance lost its luster, so back in 2016, I decided to try something completely different and write for kids! 2 – Can you share your kidlit journey thus far with our readers?  What writing/illustrating credentials, awards, contest wins, or other recognition would you like to share? I drafted my first picture book manuscript in 2016. I doubt it’ll ever get published, but it sparked that initial interest in kidlit. I started studying at the Writing Barn that fall, kept writing, and in 2020, I was a finalist for the Cynthia Leitich Smith Mentorship Award with the Austin chapter of SCBWI. The following year, I sold my debut picture book, ANIMALS IN SURPRISING SHADES: POEMS ABOUT EARTH’S COLORFUL CREATURES, to Gnome Road Publishing! 3 – What part of the process, from the first draft to submissions, do you find the most challenging, and how do you overcome that? Finding the right structure is the most challenging part for me, and that takes a lot of time and experimentation. For my debut picture book, ANIMALS IN SURPRISING SHADES: POEMS ABOUT EARTH’S COLORFUL CREATURES, I let it marinate and eventually thought, “what if the poems followed a rainbow structure?” It starts with a red poison dart frog, then an orange newt. This works well in read-alouds because by the time I get to the third animal (a yellow ghost crab), I ask kids to predict what color comes next and they love that interactive element. 4 – I love the thoughtful way you considered structure for your story! That gives me so many ideas which brings me to our next question. Can you tell our readers more about your journey from ideas to publication? I came up with the idea for ANIMALS IN SURPRISING SHADES in January 2020 after reading about the Malabar Giant Squirrels in India. I drafted the poetry collection over the next several months and shared it with my critique group. Then I started sending it out. That summer, I received a revise and resubmit from an agent, so I stopped submitting it and spent the next several months revising. By late fall 2020, I sent my revision back to the agent. No response, so I started sending it other agents. My critique group insisted that this HAD to be a book, so I decided if I didn’t get an offer of rep by the end of 2020, I’d start sending it to editors on my own. By March 2021, I had an offer from Gnome Road Publishing, and working with them has been a great debut author experience. 5 – What overall advice would you like to give aspiring kidlit creators to grow their writing? Don’t underestimate the importance of community! Critique groups have been an important part of my journey, not just for feedback on my work but also for support and commiseration. I’m still part of several critique groups, and now that my book is published, I’ve joined several marketing groups that help support each other’s books. 6 – What’s next for you as a creator? I plan to continue promoting ANIMALS IN SURPRISING SHADES: POEMS ABOUT EARTH’S COLORFUL CREATURES and my school visit program. I also have another project under contract, but it’s not announced yet. Bonus Badge tie-in: What tips do you have have for our readers and Grow Your Writing Challenge participants who are interested in pursuing their revision retreat badge? I have a whole presentation on points of view in picture books, but as part of the revision process, I think it’s helpful to try writing in a different POV. Most picture book authors tend to default to third person (he, she, they, etc.), because that’s most traditional, but trying a version in first person might help you understand your protagonist better. Maybe you’ll decide to keep in first person or go back to third person and bring some of those more personal details with you. The second person you is trickier, but there are picture books written entirely in second person and it could also be worthwhile to try that, too. Or try writing from the point of view of a different character and see if that unlocks any new discoveries. Guess What? It’s giveaway time! Susan has graciously offered to giveaway one hardcover copy of her book, ANIMALS IN SURPRISING SHADES. To enter, leave a comment on this blog post below! Entry period closes on Jan 16, 2024 at 12am PST. One Winner will be announced January 17, 2024. 1 Bonus entry is available for anyone who shares this post on twitter, follows, and tags @UrbanMuseWriter and @C_Alemshah. 

FREE Badge Tracker and 30 Days of Writing prompts with newsletter sign up

I’m so excited to embark on year two of the Grow Your Writing Challenge in 2024! Check out these two awesome freebies for email newsletter subscribers! Grow Your Writing 2024 Badge Tracker and 30 Days of Writing Prompts Hop on over to the Grow Your Writing Challenge 2024 page to learn more about how to participate in our fun, low-pressure, self-paced, and FREE challenge to # grow your writing skills, snag a free water bottle sticker and social media badges, sign the pledge, and grow in your journey as a kidlit creator! Shine On,