Author Angela H. Dale on the Power of Editing- PLUS a GIVEAWAY!

Hello world!!

Welcome to my blog, Blissfully Bookish and my second Q & A for 2023! My first guest is Angela H. Dale, please welcome her as she discusses her book journey for Bus Stop, a fictional picture book illustrated by Lala Watkins and published by Abrams.

BUT first- YAY! Angela is generously giving away a FREE copy of her book. To be eligible to win, please enter the Rafflecopter contest by clicking HERE. Contest ends Feb 17, 2023, US only.

Please describe the journey to publication for Bus Stop.

From its first draft in 2016, Bus Stop went through years of revisions and refinement – shout out to my critique group friends and partners – until it was submission ready. Post-contract, my editor had more thoughts on finetuning the manuscript, and the text ended up getting further distilled from about 200 words to less than 100, with tweaks right up to through the final art process, including character name and action changes to better complement Lala Watkin’s amazing art.

Where did you draw the book’s inspiration?

Bus Stop started when I drove past a new bus stop down the street that was thronging with lively, laughing children. That took me right back to my own memories of waiting for the bus as a child, and the bottom of the best sledding hill in the neighborhood. I wanted to capture that sense of anticipation and joy that a bustling school morning and the season’s first snow can bring.

What is your writing process and does it vary depending on the project?

My writing process varies by the project, by the day, by the mood. A lot of my drafting and editing happens in my head, but when I start to transcribe, I’ll write in notebooks and legal pads, on bits of paper and backs of envelopes. Sometimes I text myself or dictate into my phone. Even after a draft or revisions are committed to a computer document, I will use a printout for further  brainstorming and line-editing. At all times, a purple pen is a must.

Please paste a short and compelling excerpt from your book.

Hannah stomps.
Isaiah romps.
Joelle waltzes.
Kartik wonders:

           Where’s the bus?

I see you also have a passion for poetry. Do you have any plans to write lyrical picture books?

My next book, not yet announced, is a rhyming picture book. In addition to rhyme, free verse is very suited to the picture book format, and I have more in both styles that I hope will land on bookshelves soon.

Please share your favorite books from 2022 that have inspired you.

Besides all of the wonderful books from my fellow debut creators in Kidlit Caravan, two favorites from this past year are:

When Molly Ate the Stars, written and illustrated by Joyce Hesselberth – this gorgeous, whimsical story will make you feel “warm and bright, inside and out.”

Donut, the Unicorn Who Wants to Fly, story by Laura Gehl and art by Andrea Zuill – 28 words of drama and hilarity in rhyme and glorious unicorn color.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to other writers?

The kidlit community is so kind, supportive and smart. Find your people – together you will share ups and downs, resources and insights, but above all the joy to the journey.

And a bonus question just for kicks! Would you rather forget the ending of every book shortly after reading it OR not be able to re-read a book ever again?

These days it’s 50/50 that I’ll forget the end of a book anyway, and that seems to be working out okay, so I’d rather be able to re-read any book I want. I don’t do it often with novels, but there are some favorites I’d be sad to never go back to. And of course, one of the things I love most about picture books is that they’re meant to be read over and over and the experience just seems to expand each time.

Thank you so much for these fun questions, Lydia. It was great sharing with you and your Blissfully Bookish friends.

BIO

Angela H. Dale writes picture books for children, former children and children at heart. BUS STOP, illustrated by Lala Watkins, is her debut picture book. Her next picture book is scheduled for Summer 2024. Angela lives in Maryland with her family and Harry the cat.

LINKS

twitter and Instagram: @angelahdale

website: www.angelahdale.com

You can purchase Bus Stop from your favorite local independent book store – check out https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781951836474 for locations – or wherever books are sold.