Sissy Goes Tiny – Interview with co-author Rebecca Flansburg
Please welcome Rebecca Flansburg, co-author of Sissy Goes Tiny, the latest picture book releasing from Audrey Press this July!
ABOUT THE BOOK: Eight-year-old Sissy loves her life. She loves her toys, her Big house, and her Big backyard. But when Sissy’s parents decide they are going to live in a Tiny House on wheels and travel around the U.S., Sissy isn’t sure that she will like the idea of “living tiny.” But as she and her mommy and daddy learn about downsizing, re-purposing, and how “stuff is just stuff” in a positive way, Sissy soon understands that living Tiny has BIG possibilities; possibilities for all sorts of adventures and learning.
Q: What was it like to co-author a book?
Writing Sissy Goes Tiny was kind of a happy accident! Even though I have worked for years in the children’s publishing industry, I was never motivated to write a children’s book myself until B.A. and I created the story-line for our book. B.A. is not a parent, but she brings such a level of authenticity and accuracy about tiny house living to this book via her insight, wisdom and personal experience. She was an amazing co-author and will always be a great friend.
Q: What one word would you use to describe Sissy Goes Tiny?
Timely! I think people are really starting to gain awareness that we are living in a very “stuff orientated” world and how much we own will not make us happy. Meaningful experiences will trump “stuff” every time.
Q: The illustrations for this book were partially paid for with an artist’s grant; can you tell us more about that?
We are lucky enough to have The Five Wings Arts Council (FWAC) in our area. Five Wings is a non-profit that encourages and promotes arts creation, appreciation, and education through grant programs and technical assistance. FWAC believes that everyone should have access to take part in the arts. They have an annual Individual Artist Grant that B.A. and I applied for to help with illustration costs. A quality illustrator can be a costly part of creating a picture book but also completely worth it. The staff at FWAC was wonderful to work with and B.A. and I were awarded a $2250 grant!
Q: Your co-author, B.A. Norrgard, lives in a tiny house … have you ever thought about doing the same?
I’ve always told B.A. she is a braver soul than me! I’ve been in her tiny house many times and it is truly tiny (around 78 square feet). I would gladly live in a tiny home if it was more around the 250-300 square foot range. And my kids and pets would have to live in their own home because I’m not sharing… 
