Author Kelly Rice Schmitt on POV – PLUS A GIVEAWAY!

Hello world!!

Welcome to my blog, Blissfully Bookish! I’m so excited to introduce my next guest who just recently became my agency and agent sister! Please welcome Kelly Rice Schmitt as she chats about her informational fiction picture book I Ship: A Container Ship’s Colossal Journey Around the World published by Lerner Books and illustrated by Jam Dong.

BUT first- YAY! Kelly is generously giving away a FREE copy of of a copy of I SHIP, a 30-minute virtual school visit, or a non-rhyming PB critique for an MS up to 800 words. To be eligible to win, please enter the Rafflecopter contest by clicking HERE. Contest ends Nov 3, 2023, US only for the book.

Please describe the journey to publication for I Ship: A Container Ship’s Colossal Journey Around the World.

My editor, Carol Hinz at Lerner, and I connected in an amazing SCBWI Ohio North remote conference called the Triple Scoop Retreat, which included live editor feedback on your manuscript. You then had the chance to do a written critique follow up with your editor. (I highly recommend this conference if it’s ever done again!) Carol loved my initial idea of a container ship book told in the first person, but felt that my initial story of the ship that got stuck in the Suez Canal was too narrow. After an R&R, Carol was very excited about my revision and took it to acquisitions where the team bought it and also what will be the second book in the series in a 2-book deal! It was a dream come true.

Where did you draw the book’s inspiration?

I have been inspired to write about shipping since my very first job, which included tracking energy ships around the world to predict US fuel imports. Watching the maps to track trade flows gave me a peek into the shipping world, and I knew kids would love it.In 2015 I wrote the idea “Eric Carle’s 10 Rubber Ducks process focused on a cargo ship.” In 2019 I wrote down “Ox Cart Man meets container shipping industry.” Despite the fact that I SHIP has a lot in common with those ideas, at the time, I couldn’t make those work! It wasn’t until a friend and I were discussing the 2021 Suez Crisis and she suggested I consider that for an angle that I finally had a way into what would become I SHIP. What better drama than a ship getting stuck and holding up global trade?

Please paste a short and compelling excerpt from your book.

I rev, churn,
chilly brine on my bow.
Winds providing,
currents guiding,
the sea is finally on our side!
Soon I’m gleaming, gliding
making up lost time.

I love writing in the first person for NF. How did you decide that for this book? How do you make a “object” subject come alive?

The first person voice in I SHIP was both exciting and a challenge. The unique approach allowed it to be brief and stand out in a crowded market, but it also meant that this book would be informational fiction which is a fun, but complicated. My initial drafts personified the ship much more than in the finished book because I wanted to use the first person experience to add emotion. But once I began working with my editor, Carol Hinz at Lerner/Millbrook, she felt that keeping the text as close to nonfiction as possible would honor the hard work of all those in the industry. Going on container ship journey was exciting enough for children! Instead, she suggested I try to show emotion through the actions of the crew of the ship. First person ended up being a way to allow the readers to feel like they are going on the journey with the narrator and the crew. It has been interesting to experience the book with children during my first school visits. For younger readers, I act as the captain and have the kids be the crew. If we talk about who the main character is, younger children often said “you!” because, as the reader of the book saying “I”, they were a bit confused. It’s been a good way to explain use of first person early on, and based on the kids reactions, I think they enjoyed taking the journey with Ship!

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

With most of my stories, I must let ideas work in my brain for a long time before I put pen to paper. I jot down ideas and little lines will come to me. I usually try to work stories out in my head before I write too much, and often use storyboards to layout spreads and scenes in advance. Page turns are very important to me as a picture book writer, and when I do write, I almost always write in spreads from the beginning. When I let the stories brew in my subconscious for a long time before drafting, it allows me to get to a decent draft fairly quickly. I guess all this means I’m a plotter (and not much of a pantser). Also worth noting– I really don’t like writing first drafts. It’s difficult for me and I don’t look forward to it. It probably explains why I like to figure out the story in advance – so I can make the first draft process as quick as possible.

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

Some 2022 favorites:
Luli and the Language of Tea written by Andrea Wang, illustrated by Hyewon Yum
Endlessly Ever After written by Laurel Snyder, illustrated by Dan Santat
Old Friends written by Margart Aitken, illustrated by Lenny Wen
The Whale Who Swam Through Time by Alex Boersma  and Nick Pyenson

How to Say Hello to a Worm by Kari Percival
Together We Ride written by Vallerie Bolling, illustrated by Kaylani Juanita
Friends Are Friends, Forever written by Dane Liu, illustrated by Lynn Scurfield
Bodies Are Cool by Tyler Feder
A History of Underwear written by Hannah Holt, illustrated by Korwin Briggs
Nigel and the Moon by Antwan Eady, illustrated by Gracey Zhang
The Gardener of Alcatraz: A True Story written by Emma Bland Smith, illustrated by Jenn Ely

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

Everyone’s path is different, but I would say for me, this was helpful advice. Have patience in the learning process and don’t rush to query or submit. Build up your portfolio to have 4-6 (or more) solid polished stories. If someone has interest in your style or story, but must pass because it’s too close to something else on their list, for example, you’ll have other pieces ready to send immediately. It also shows your determination and preparation to make a career out of creating.

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?

I’d rather forget the ending for sure. I don’t think I could handle not being allowed to reread— especially a great picture book!

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BIO

Kelly Rice Schmitt is a mom in STEAM writing for curious kids of all ages! She loves getting little humans excited about BIG ideas and believes that children are often far more capable than grown-ups assume. A former energy trader, Kelly is an advocate for girls in STEM and business. Combining a love of writing with her STEAM background, Kelly creates books to inspire the next generation of leaders and innovators.

Kelly studied Finance, Chinese, and English at the University of Notre Dame (Go Irish!) where she also sang and performed in musicals. Kelly lives in North Carolina with her family and many piles of books, and can be found on social media at @krschmittwrites. I SHIP is her debut picture book.

LINKS

Website: www.kellyriceschmitt.com
X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/krschmittwrites
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/krschmittwrites
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/krschmittwrites/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/krschmittwrites/kids/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/krschmittwrites.bsky.social
Buy link: https://bookshop.org/p/books/i-ship-a-container-ship-s-colossal-journey-kelly-rice-schmitt/19571828?ean=9781728476827

The book’s back matter includes more on international trade, the history of container shipping, and the science of buoyancy, a glossary, selected jobs in the shipping and trade, and selected video resources. A great jumping off point for discussing with older children why countries trade, where our stuff comes from, and supply chains. (This is the focus of my 4th-5th grade school visits!)

Free I SHIP Teaching and Activity Guide which includes activities, experiments, worksheets, discussion questions, and coloring pages for the classroom or at home.

Here’s the plain link: https://lernerbooks.com/teaching_guides/804