Writing tips
Author Karen M. Greenwald on Research Sudoku- PLUS A GIVEAWAY!
Hello world!!
Welcome to my blog, Blissfully Bookish. I’m so excited to introduce my next guest who’s a personal friend of mine. We work together in our promo group PBSpree, but also, this year we share a book birthday!! Please welcome Karen M. Greenwald as she chats about her new nonfiction picture book THE MUD ANGELS: HOW STUDENTS SAVED THE CITY OF FLORENCE, illustrated by Olga Lee and published by Albert Whitman
BUT first- YAY! Karen is generously giving away a FREE critique of a picture book. To be eligible to win, please enter the Rafflecopter contest by clicking HERE. Contest ends April 19, 2024.
Please describe the journey to publication for THE MUD ANGELS: HOW STUDENTS SAVED THE CITY OF FLORENCE. I started working on this during the pandemic. My mom was an absolutely incredible teacher and art/art history lover, so the topic is in her honor. She instilled in me her love of learning and of art at a very young age. I think it took less than a year to research and write it. Albert Whitman purchased it and then, five months into edits, et al, my editor left. I was switched to Sue Tarsky, who I can’t say enough about! Her enthusiasm for the manuscript matched my own and she shared my vision for the book. It was so enjoyable working with her on it. The switch meant that a different artist had to be hired (the book release was moved from 2023 to this April). I admit, I was disappointed at first to have a date change, but Olga Lee did such a beautiful job, how could I not celebrate every step that led us to this specific book?
When did you first learn about how the Arno River flooded the city of Florence back in 1966 and what made you want to write about it? I first learned about the flood three years and two months ago! Lol! Seriously! My college roommate/cp and I were talking. I said I was looking for a topic that included all the things I am passionate about, from environmental issues to art, with a humanitarian bent. (One of my mentors was international human rights activist, Father Robert F. Drinan). She mentioned the Arno flood and from the moment I began reading about it, I was hooked!
I love how the book not only chronicles a historic event but also includes the story of how students from around the world helped save the town’s rare treasures. How did you craft the hook of your book? Writing this book was such a pleasure! I can’t explain it other than the words just came, and I typed them. The hook felt clear to me from the beginning—but I still did try a few other ways of telling the story. However, I kept going back to this version, I think because I connected with it the most. It just felt right.
Please paste a short and compelling excerpt.
Mud, mud, mud.
Slimy, sticky, stinky mud.
Everywhere.
Everything covered in mud.
How did you go about researching this topic and what were your primary sources? I have a name for my own research style—Research Sudoku. I am extremely persistent and do not give up when I find a barrier to getting information I feel is necessary to tell the story. I also love using primary resources and connecting with actual human beings, as opposed to just looking in documents and books only. However, I would caution that this doesn’t necessarily work in all cases. I have definitely had to navigate around research hurdles at times!
Please share your favorite books from 2022-3 that inspired you. Like the students in Florence from around the world who exhibited a most admirable diplomatic behavior, I am going to refrain from just one (because I honestly could fill your blog with titles). I think a good place to find inspiration is in the booklist from my marketing group, PB Spree! Such beautiful books!
What is the best piece of advice you would give to other writers? Write about things you believe in and have a passion for because hopefully you will be sharing stories about them for many years! Would you have wanted to read this book as a kid? If so, that is a great place to start!
And a bonus question just for kicks! What was your favorite book when you were a child? That’s like asking me what my favorite flavor of ice cream was growing up! Pretty much everything I read!
BIO
KAREN M. GREENWALD is an award-winning children’s author. Her book, A VOTE FOR SUSANNA, THE FIRST WOMAN MAYOR (Albert Whitman), was named a Kansas Notable Book in 2022. Kansas chose it to represent their state at the Library of Congress National Book Festival and in the Library of Congress’ Great Reads from Great Places initiative. It also took center stage at several events of the National Women’s History Museum. THE MUD ANGELS: HOW STUDENTS SAVED THE CITY OF FLORENCE (Albert Whitman) launches in April of 2024. It is currently available to purchase on pre-order. Karen holds book drives for underserved school libraries and cofounded popular kidlit contest, #SunWriteFun, which also raises money (or book donations) for under-resourced school and public libraries. Professionally, her strategic branding efforts have earned 17 international awards, including a 2023 Platinum MEA. Prior, she practiced international environmental conservation law. She is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Georgetown University and holds her JD from Georgetown University Law Center.
LINKS
Website: JenMalia.com
IG/Blueky: @karenmgreenwald
YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@karenmgreenwald
It’s my Book Birthday- PLUS A GIVEAWAY!!!
Hello world!!
YAHOO! It’s a big day!! I’m doing my happy dance today because…
My book DANCING THROUGH SPACE comes out today!!!
BUT first- YAY! I’m giving away a FREE copy of my book. To be eligible to win, please comment on this blog post. And if you mention this on social media, you’ll get bonus entries!! Contest ends April 12, 2024, US only.
I’m so excited to celebrate the release of my new STEAM picture book DANCING THROUGH SPACE: Dr. Mae Jemison Soars to New Heights illustrated by Sawyer Cloud and published by Albert Whitman.
The book features two of Dr. Mae Jemison’s passions: science and dance. It’s written as a dual narrative and as the story unfolds, the two worlds merge, illuminating how art and science are both essential parts of our world.
I started writing this book in 2014. Yes, it took TEN years to write, develop and publish. The road to publication was long and bumpy, believe me. Check out my journey below:
It was well worth the wait.
To all your authors, DON’T give up! If you feel strongly about one of your stories, keep at it.
I’d like to thank my rock star agent Miranda Paul, as well as the phenomenal illustrator Sawyer Cloyd and my awesome team at Albert Whitman.
Thank you, too, to Alli!
Here’s her bio in case you need professional editing:
Alli Brydon is a children’s book editor, author, and publisher with two decades of experience in the children’s book industry across the US and UK. She is available to work as an editor and project manager with picture book and middle grade authors and illustrators, especially those who are looking to self-publish or who wish to polish up a manuscript for submission. She is also a picture book coach, and has helped countless authors attain their dream of finishing and publishing a children’s book.
Find out more at https://www.allibrydoncreative.com.
Note: The book synopsis was featured by Twinkl in their article ‘Magical Books for Kids to Beat the Summer Reading Slide’: https://www.twinkl.ca/blog/magical-books-for-kids-to-beat-the-summer-reading-slide
BIO
Lydia Lukidis is the author of 50+ trade and educational books for children. Her titles include DANCING THROUGH SPACE: Dr. Mae Jemison Soars to New Heights (Albert Whitman, 2024), DEEP, DEEP, DOWN: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench (Capstone, 2023) which was shortlisted for a Silver Birch Express (Forest of Reading) award, THE BROKEN BEES’ NEST(Kane Press, 2019) which was nominated for a Cybils Award, and NO BEARS ALLOWED (Clear Fork Media, 2019). A science enthusiast from a young age, she now incorporates her studies in science and her everlasting curiosity into her books.
Social Media Links:
Web: http://www.lydialukidis.com/
Purchase links: https://www.albertwhitman.com/book/dancing-through-space/
Blog: https://lydialukidis.wordpress.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LydiaLukidis
FB: https://www.facebook.com/LydiaLukidis/
Author Jen Malia on Neurodivergence- PLUS A GIVEAWAY!
Hello world!!
Welcome to my blog, Blissfully Bookish. I’m a big chapter book fan, and I know these are a hard sell. Please welcome Jen Malia as she chats about her new chapter book Connor and the Taekwondo Tournament (This is Book 3 from The Infinity Rainbow Club series), illustrated by Peter Francis and published by Beaming Books.
BUT first- YAY! Jen 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 March 22, 2024, US only.
Please describe the journey to publication for Connor and the Taekwondo Tournament.
Connor and the Taekwondo Tournament is the third book in the Infinity Rainbow Club series, a children’s chapter book or lower middle grade series. My agent negotiated the 3-book deal. The first two books are Nick and the Brick Builder Challenge and Violet and the Jurassic Land Exhibit. The series was acquired by the same editor that I worked with for my debut picture book, Too Sticky! Sensory Issues with Autism.
As a neurodivergent author with 3 neurodivergent children, I’m sure you have a personal connection to the struggles of ADHD. How did you experiences inform your story?
I was diagnosed with ASD in my late thirties, and I’m self-diagnosed with ADHD and OCD. My family of five, including my husband and three kids, are all neurodivergent. We have different combinations of ASD, ADHD, OCD, dyslexia, and dysgraphia. For the Infinity Rainbow Club series, I draw on my own and my kids’ experiences with neurodivergence. Each book is told from a different point of view and centers the voices of neurodivergent kids. In Connor and the Taekwondo Tournament, I also draw on my experiences as a Taekwondo black belt.
What is your writing process and does it vary depending on the project?
My writing process is similar for each book project. I often use notecards on a bulletin board to storyboard. It’s an iterative process where I remove, add, or change the notecards depending on how the story comes together. This helps me see the structure of the story in one place. It’s especially useful for novels, but I also use this method with picture books. As a professor of English, I teach storyboarding in my creative writing courses, including courses that focus on writing for children and young adults.
Chapter books are a tough sell. How did you make yours stand out?
I don’t know of any other chapter book series that centers neurodivergent kids. 1 in 5 kids are neurodivergent. And yet very few books have kids with different brains who are the heroes and heroines of stories. I wrote the series I wish I had, but didn’t know I needed, growing up as an undiagnosed autistic girl.
Please paste a short and compelling excerpt.
Focus on this match, Connor told himself. Naeryeo-chagi to the head is my best shot. An axe kick to the head was worth three points. And he wanted to go for the win.
The round was almost over. It’s now or never, thought Connor. He sucked in air. Sweat beaded up on his forehead. He was just about to strike Wyatt with an axe kick to the head. But out of the corner of his eye, Connor saw Wyatt’s foot come up toward the side of his head.
Protect your head, Master Park always said. Connor’s fists were already up near his head. His left forearm was right where it needed to be to knock Wyatt’s foot away.
Connor started to throw up his arm in a high block to protect his head.
“KYA!” Wyatt yelled.
But Connor was too late.
Thunk!
Please share your favorite chapter books that inspired you.
The adventures the kids go on in the Magic Treehouse series inspired me. The main comparable series for the Infinity Rainbow Club is the lower middle grade Bat series, which has an autistic boy as the main character. The Questioneers series is also similar to my own in that each book is told from a different point of view character.
What is the best piece of advice you would give to other writers?
My main character in Connor and the Taekwondo Tournament faces many challenges at school and in the dojang. I think his advice works really well for writing. Perseverance, thought Connor. To not give up even when it is hard to keep going.
And a bonus question just for kicks! What was your favorite book when you were a child?
I loved Nancy Drew mysteries and the Babysitter Club books.
BIO
Jen is the author of the children’s chapter book series The Infinity Rainbow Club and the picture book Too Sticky! Sensory Issues with Autism. She is a professor of English and the creative writing coordinator at Norfolk State University. She has written for or appeared on the New York Times, the Washington Post, NPR, Parents, Glamour, Woman’s Day, and others. She has a PhD in English from the University of Southern California and is pursuing an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults at the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Originally from Pittsburgh, she currently lives in Virginia Beach. Diagnosed with ASD in her late thirties, she has three neurodivergent kids with different combinations of ASD, ADHD, OCD, dyslexia, and dysgraphia. You can find her on her website at JenMalia.com.
LINKS
Website: JenMalia.com
Instagram: @jenmaliabooks
Twitter/X: @jenmaliabooks
Facebook: @momwithautism
Linked In: @jenmaliabooks
Beaming Books: https://www.beamingbooks.com/store/product/9781506496528/Connor-and-the-Taekwondo-Tournament
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Connor-Taekwondo-Tournament-Infinity-Rainbow/dp/1506496520/
Author Shruthi Rao on Getting into the Zone- PLUS A GIVEAWAY!
Hello world!!
Welcome to my blog, Blissfully Bookish. I’m so excited because I got to interview one of my STEAM TEAM sisters! Please welcome Shruthi Rao as she chats about her new fictional picture book KADOOBOO! A Silly South Indian Folktale, illustrated by Darshika Varma and published by Page Street Kids.
BUT first- YAY! Shruthi is generously giving away a non-rhyming PB critique – either fiction (<600 words) or nonfiction (<1000 words). To be eligible to win, please enter the Rafflecopter contest by clicking HERE. Contest ends March 8, 2024.
Please describe the journey to publication for KADOOBOO! A Silly South Indian Folktale.
When I started querying, I was focusing on nonfiction, but I had a couple of fiction stories in my submission package too. This was one of them. We went out on submission with it a couple of months after we signed. Two publishing houses were immediately interested, and asked for an R&R. I loved Page Street’s vision and editor Kayla Tostevin’s editorial notes, and I reworked the story. They liked the revision and acquired it! This was in early 2022. Shortly after, illustrator Darshika Varma signed on. It’s been a lovely journey from signing through publication, and even beyond, with Jane Horovitz of the marketing team doing such a great job.
Where did you draw the book’s inspiration?
It’s based on a folktale I heard growing up. It always made me giggle!
What is your writing process and does it vary depending on the project?
I write fiction and nonfiction for various ages, and while the initial preparation varies greatly according to the project and the genre, the actual writing is more or less the same. I love getting into “the zone”, and few things in life are better than when a draft comes together for the first time! Another part of the process I enjoy is revising and editing it until something clicks and I just “know” this is the version that’s going to work.
Please paste a short and compelling excerpt from your book.
Sizzle, hiss, pop! Something’s cooking!
Hot oil and dough. Coconut and cardamom.
“Smells yummy!” says Kabir.
“Appa’s making kadooboo!” says Anya.
Please share your favorite books from 2022-3 that inspired you.
This is a hard one! My answers always vary depending on when I’m asked this question, but I’ll try. And I’ll stick to picture books, to make things easy.
The Desert Queen – Jyoti Rajan Gopal and Svabhu Kohli
The Fire of Stars – Kirsten W.Larson and Katherine Roy
I’m an American – Darshana Khiani and Laura Freeman
That Flag – Tameka Fryer Brown and Nikkolas Smith
A River of Dust – Jilanne Hoffman and Eugenia Mello
What is the best piece of advice you would give to other writers?
Practice equanimity, especially in your writer life. Just write, edit, submit, promote, market – do everything that is in your control, and do it well. And then let it go. Beyond that, you cease to be in control, and once you recognize that fact, you’ll be more at peace. 😊
And a bonus question just for kicks! What was your favorite book when you were a child?
Not one book, but I absolutely adored the Amar Chitra Katha books growing up in India. Also, anything by Enid Blyton. Even though I recognize the problematic aspects of her work, picking up one of her books today gives me the same rush of excitement I got as a kid.
BIO
Shruthi Rao (she/her) got a master’s degree in energy engineering and worked in IT until her daughter lured out the writer lurking inside her. In the Indian market, Shruthi has published 16 books for children, featuring curious and feisty children, libraries, STEM and incredible women. Kadooboo!: A Silly South Indian Folktale is her US debut. Originally from Bangalore, India, Shruthi now lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, and loves books, trees, benches, desserts, science, and long walks.
LINKS
http://shruthi-rao.com
Twitter/X and Bluesky: @shrurao
Insta: @shrutree
FB: /shruthi.rao.writes
Author Melissa Stewart on Writing from Experience
Hello world!!
Welcome to my blog, Blissfully Bookish. First of all, Happy Valentine’s Day! Today I’m super excited because I get to interview one of my mentors, the Queen of nonfiction herself, Melissa Stewart. As usual, she found a way to make expository scientific information engaging and accessible to kids. Here she is, discussing her new nonfiction picture book, SHAPE SEARCH, published by Reycraft Books.
When did you start writing SHAPE SEARCH and how many drafts were there?
I often spend 5 or more years writing a manuscript, but this one came more quickly. I got the idea in February 2021 and had a solid first draft by mid-April. This is partially because I was writing from experience rather than research. And partially because I knew the structure immediately. The biggest hurdle was finding the right ending.
I took it to my critique group in May, and they helped me see a few things that needed work. I didn’t have an immediate solution, so I set the manuscript aside.
A year later, I felt ready to take a hatchet to the trouble spots and rebuild them. About a month later, I sent the sixth draft to Reycraft as an exclusive submission. I loved the photo selection and design of Footprints Across the Planet by Jennifer Swanson and Whooo Knew?, Woof!, and Scurry! by Annette Whipple, so I thought Reycraft would be the perfect home for Shape Search. They accepted it about 6 weeks later.
I love the hook with associating shapes, a universal children’s concept, with nature. How did you come up with it? I never imagined seeing a circle on a flower or a rectangle in a rock!
This book was inspired by a Twitter conversation with authors Linda Sue Park and the late April Pulley Sayre.
It led me to start thinking about shapes in the natural world, and a couple of weeks later, the basic concept underlying Shape Search popped into my mind. I envisioned it as a lyrical invitation to notice and hunt for shapes in nature. I hoped it would spark the curiosity of young readers and encourage them to see the world in a whole new way.
Please paste a short and compelling excerpt from your book.
Here are two spreads from the book. You can see it’s a very simple text with additional information in the backmatter.
Can tell us about any hands-on field research you do for your nonfiction books?
I’m lucky to have taken many amazing trips throughout my career, to places like East Africa, the Galapagos Islands, Hawaii, the American Southwest, Botanical Beach on Vancouver Island, and more. I record my experiences in nature journals, and then I can refer back to these notes later as I write books. Recollecting my raw experiences in the field brings a richness, a vibrancy to my text, which makes it more engaging.
Right now, I’m working on a manuscript that draws heavily on journal entries recording observations close to my home in Massachusetts. I think we’re even going to include sample pages from my journals in the backmatter.
Please share your favorite top five nonfiction books of all time.
Oh my goodness! I’m not sure that’s even possible. I will say that The Beak of the Finch: A Story of Evolution in Our Time by Jonathan Wiener is the book that made me believe I could write a book of my own. I read it in the mid-1990s, and my first book, Life Without Light: A Journey to Earth’s Dark Ecosystems was published in 1998.
What is the best piece of advice you would give to other writers about how to make expository texts more engaging?
Oh boy, that’s another tough question! Rich language and text scaffolding are both important, but I think a strong, unique text structure is really the most critical element. So I guess my advice would be to dig deep to find just the right structure. Don’t rush it. Take your time. Be patient and persistent.
And a bonus question just for kicks! What was your favorite book when you were a child? Was it nonfiction?
I wasn’t much of a reader as a child. I spent most of my time outdoors, romping around in the woods. I like to think that the books I write now would fascinate the child and inspire her to read under the covers late into the night.
BIO
Melissa Stewart has written more than 200 science books for children, including the Sibert Medal Honoree Summertime Sleepers: Animals that Estivate, illustrated by Sarah S. Brannen. She co-wrote 5 Kinds of Nonfiction: Enriching Reading and Writing Instruction with Children’s Books and edited the anthology Nonfiction Writers Dig Deep: 50 Award-winning Authors Share the Secret of Engaging Writing. Melissa’s highly-regarded website features a rich array of nonfiction reading and writing resources.
LINKS
Website: https://www.melissa-stewart.com/
Blog: http://celebratescience.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @mstewartscience
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissa.stewart.33865
Instagram: @melissastewartscience
Bluesky: mstewartscience.bsky.social
Author-Illustrator Kim-Hoa Ung on Using Personal Experience – PLUS A GIVEAWAY!
Hello world!!
Welcome to my blog, Blissfully Bookish. I’m so excited because I got to interview one of my agency sisters and one of the friendliest people in the kidlit community! Please welcome Kim-Hoa Ung as she chats about her new picture book that she both wrote and illustrated, the first being A GIFT FOR NAI NAI published by Macmillan – Feiwel & Friends. It’s also exciting because this is yet another success story from the Fall Writing Frenzy competition I co-host with Kaitlyn Sanchez!
BUT first- YAY! Kim-Hoa is generously giving away a FREE free book, a giant crocheted pencil plushie, OR a non-rhyming PB critique. To be eligible to win, please enter the Rafflecopter contest by clicking HERE. Contest ends Feb 2, 2024.
Please describe the journey to publication for A GIFT FOR NAI NAI.
The Fall Writing Frenzy competition co-hosted by Kaitlyn Sanchez and Lydia Lukidis in 2021 helped me in getting a book deal for A GIFT FOR NAI NAI. My prize was a critique with an editor at Macmillan who saw potential in my story. After a few revisions, she took my dummy to her acquisition team and they were willing to pick up my story. At the same time, I participated in PBPitch hosted by Debra Shumaker and PJ McIlvaine and was offered representation by Miranda Paul of Erin Murphy Literary Agency. Things just fell into place at the right time for me. I’m grateful for all the love and support I’ve received for A GIFT FOR NAI NAI.
I know you love crochet and I appreciate how you weaved that into your book. It’s also about the love of a grandmother. Is the narrative inspired by your life in any way?
Yes, the story was inspired by my grandma, mom, and daughter. I am grateful to have crocheted hats for my grandma and I loved the bond that my mom and daughter shared. So I combined all those elements into my book. I also had not seen any picture books about crochet at the time so I was motivated to write one.
What is your writing process and does it vary depending on the project?
Whenever I have a story idea, I would write down a little summary or a pitch for it. Then I would write a first draft or any important lines or dialogue that I’d want to include in the story. I also like to sketch out the scenes. I create a dummy so that it helps me see the text and illustrations together. Then I keep on revising and exchanging it with critique partners. Critique partners have been so helpful because they let me know what they think works and how I can elevate the story or adjust the pacing.
Please paste a short and compelling excerpt from your book.
“Always remember that small things become great when done with love.”
Please share your favorite books from 2022-3 that inspired you.
There were so many favorite books that inspired me. Here is a list of some:
JACK THE LIBRARY CAT by Marietta Apollonio
REGGIE: KID PENGUIN by Jen de Oliveira
MY STRANGE SHRINKING PARENTS by Zeno Sworder
SPICY SPICY HOT! by Lenny Wen
LOST IN TAIWAN by Mark Crilley
THE BLUR by Minh Le and Dan Santat
ANZU THE GREAT KAIJU and ANZU THE GREAT LISTENER by Benson Shum
What is the best piece of advice you would give to other writers?
Keep everything you write even if you don’t think it will work. Sometimes an idea from one of these sparks an even better story.
And a bonus question just for kicks! What was your favorite book when you were a child?
My favorite book when I was a child was YEH-SHEN by Ai-Ling Louie and Ed Young.
BIO
Kim-Hoa Ungis a Chinese American author-illustrator and amigurumi artist. When she is not creating stories, you can find her crocheting pieces for art shows, sending snail mail, and making arts and crafts with her kids. She lives with her family in Southern California. A GIFT FOR NAI NAI is her debut picture book.
LINKS
Webpage: www.kimhoaung.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AutumnLeaflet
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/AutumnLeaflet
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AutumnLeaflet/
Link to purchase: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250871596/agiftfornainai
Author-Illustrator Tara J. Hannon on Creating Graphic Novels – PLUS A GIVEAWAY!
Hello world!!
Welcome to my blog, Blissfully Bookish. My first Q & A for 2024 sure is special because I got to interview my friend and colleague Tara J. Hannon. We met when she illustrated my picture book NO BEARS ALLOWED years ago and we remained close ever since! Please welcome her as she chats about her new graphic novels that she both wrote and illustrated, the first being BIRTLE AND THE PURPLE TURTLES published by AMP Kids. By the way, she got a two book deal the first time she ever went to acquisitions, so there’s hope out there!
BUT first- YAY! Tara is generously giving away a FREE signed copy of her book. To be eligible to win, please enter the Rafflecopter contest by clicking HERE. Contest ends Jan 19, 20243, US only.
My agent submitted BIRTLE to 16 houses. We received enthusiastic responses right off the bat, which felt great. Erinn Pascal from AMP Kids responded pretty quickly that she loved the story, but was wondering if I would be willing to try a different color palette. (The original BIRTLE palette was not limited and mostly primary colors.) I created three new color pallet samples for them to consider and a few days after sending them over we got the ‘we are taking this to acquisitions’ email. (This was my first time going to acquisitions!)
Please describe the journey to publication for BIRTLE AND THE PURPLE TURTLES.
Before BIRTLE I had been on sub five times with no success. So news of my first acquisitions meeting was tremendously exciting! I held my breath and refreshed my email repeatedly until the news came that AMP Kids wanted to invest in the first two books in the series. It was a good day. A very good day.
Where did you draw the book’s inspiration?
BIRTLE’s title came to me first. I was on a walk with my daughter and my mom and we were having fun with a little wordplay by asking each other things like: ‘What would you call a hippo and a rhinoceros?’ ‘A hippocerus’. We combined all sorts of animals, and when we combined a bird and a turtle, Birtle was born. I started writing Birtle as a picture book but it felt like I wanted more space to tell the story. So I gave myself permission to write it without word count limitation. When I was done, it was long, but kind of lovely. So I tried Birtle as a graphic novel, and it felt great!
Did you start out as an illustrator exclusively and if so, how did you make the jump to writing too? How do you straddle both worlds?
Yes! I knew I wanted to be a children’s book illustrator since elementary school. I didn’t consider the possibility that I could write until much later because I was not a confident writer. But when my daughter was born, I was inspired by her and the books we were reading, so I gave it a try.
I wrote dozens of terrible manuscripts, watched countless webinars, found some good critique partners, and slowly learned the craft. I am still learning.
Straddling both art and text is fun! Although, my manuscripts have an unnerving amount of art notes because I see the story, the humor, and the pacing as it unfolds. Luckily, I can dummy it out before it goes on sub so only my crit partners and agent know my mind’s messing inner workings while I write.
Please paste a short and compelling excerpt from your book.
Teeny: Ugh! I will never get rid of these fuzzy things!
Tootie: So let’s love them instead!
Tootie: Hello, fuzzy things! You are looking perfectly fluffy and fuzzy today!
Teeny: We don’t love the fuzzy things Tootie. Turtles aren’t supposed to have fuzz on their butts!
Tootie: But you could be the first fuzzy-butted turtle EVER! We could call you a Turzzle…or a Fuzzle!
Teeny: The fuzzy things have got to go.
Please share your favorite graphic novels that inspired you.
I used Jonathan Stutzman and Heather Fox’s book series Fitz and Cleo as a road map while I created Birtle. I really admire the pacing and humor of that series. And the characters are really sweet and lovable.
What is the best piece of advice you would give to other writers?
Find your kidlit people. The act of writing can be a solitary act, but storytelling shouldn’t be. Good critique partners provide honest feedback, new perspectives, fresh ideas, and a sense of community in an otherwise quiet craft.
And a bonus question just for kicks! What was your favorite book when you were a child?
I loved Shel Silverstein’s Where The Sidewalk Ends series. I thought those poems were hilarious. I memorized so many of his poems and re-drew his illustrations countless times.
BIO
Tara J. Hannon is the author-illustrator of the early graphic novel series, BIRTLE (AMP Kids). Book one of the series, BIRTLE AND THE PURPLE TURTLES released Jan 2024, and book two, BIRTLE AND THE (VERY) UNINVITED GARRY will be released May 2024. Tara is also the author-illustrator of the chapter book series, THE ONLY GHOST IN TOWN (Penguin Workshop) coming in 2025. She has also illustrated the board books, PLANES USA! (’20) & GOD IS THERE WHEREVER YOU GO (’21).
Tara enjoys honest books, heavy with heart and humor. When not writing or illustrating she can be found being so uncool it’s almost cool, with her daughters and husband and jogging. She can rarely be found sleeping and she is okay with that.
LINKS
Portfolio/Website: www.tarajhannon.com
INSTAGRAM: Tarajhannonillustration
TWITTER (X): @TaraJHannon Blue Sky: @tarajhannon.bsky.social
Happy 1st Year Book Anniversary & GIVEAWAY!
Hello world!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!! I wish you health, joy, compassion, and of course, love.
January is a big month for me. Last year on January 1, I released my STEM book DEEP, DEEP, DOWN: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench illustrated by Juan Calle and published by Capstone Editions, a Capstone imprint. This book was a labor of love and combines my two biggest passions: science and poetry.
Here’s a summary: Deep, deep down, at the very bottom of the ocean, lies a secret world. Through lyrical narration, this spare-text STEM picture book takes readers on a journey to a place very few humans have ever been–the Mariana Trench. The imagined voyage debunks scary myths about this mysterious place with surprising and beautiful truths about life at Earth’s deepest point. DEEP, DEEP, DOWN: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench shows a vibrant world far below, and teaches readers how interconnected our lives are to every place on the planet.
I’m kicking 2024 off with an awesome giveaway! See the Rafflecopter link at the end of this post.
The past twelve months have flown by and its been a wild ride. I’ve had so many memorable moments so I wanted to share some highlights:
DEEP, DEEP, DOWN: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench earned (my first) orange best seller banner on Amazon!
Babar Books supported me by buying a slew of my books early on, which I signed with love.
Then I hosted a book launch with Babar Books! It was a magical experience.
In May, a massive dream came true. For years I wondered how and if one of my books would ever get an end cap display at a bookstore…and the moment had finally come!!! My book DEEP, DEEP DOWN had its very own end cap display at the wonderful Paragraphe Books in Montreal.
I also got to work with Ecole Montréalaise (https://ecolemontrealaise.info/), an awesome organization that supports underprivileged schools in Montreal. They also bought FOUR HUNDRED copies of my book Deep, Deep Down so every student I meet during the presentations was gifted a copy! I’ve never been able to do that before and it was an unbelievable experience. Thank you to Nancy Saltarelli!
Then in June, I experienced a huge milestone in my career. The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington DC invited me to join their World Ocean Day festivities! It was an unbelievable experience as I got to chat with patrons of all ages about the magic of the Mariana Trench and about the importance of ocean conservation.
The adventure continued as I headed over to the famous Prose & Politics independent bookstore to sign my book and then concluded when I got to work with An Open Foundation, an organization that promotes literacy in disadvantaged schools. They bought each student in my workshop a copy of Deep, Deep Down which I got to sign. I will never forget this whirlwind of an experience! I feel utterly grateful and humbled.
And to end the year off, my book was shortlisted and nominated for several awards!
-Shortlisted for Silver Birch Express Award (Forest of Reading)
-Voted as “Best Books for Kids & Teens- 2023” by The Canadian Children’s Book Centre
-Nominated for a Cybils Award, Children’s and Young Adult Book Lovers’ Literary Awards for elementary nonfiction
-Selected as “Book of the Month” and nominated for Best Book of 2023 by LASR, Long and Short Reviews
-Nominated in “35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids” by blogger Melissa Taylor for Imagination Soup Reviews
Click HERE for the Rafflecopter giveaway to win a free signed copy of my book along with magnets, bookmarks and stickers! Contest ends Jan 27, US & Canada only.
Thank you to everyone for their support, it definitely takes a village. I’ll be back in a few days for my regular Q & A posts with giveaways!
Love & Light,
Lydia
Author Jennifer Raudenbush on Poetry & Nature – PLUS A GIVEAWAY!
Hello world!!
Welcome to my blog, Blissfully Bookish! Please welcome author Jennifer Raudenbush who’s here to chat about her new fictional picture book IN THE PALM OF MY HAND illustrated by Isabella Conti and published by Running Press Kids. I love that the book is inspired by poetry!
BUT first- YAY! Jennifer is generously giving away a FREE signed copy of her book. To be eligible to win, please enter the Rafflecopter contest by clicking HERE. Contest ends Dec 1, 2023, US only.
Please describe the journey to publication for IN THE PALM OF MY HAND.
I wrote the draft pretty quickly, over two days. With the help of my critique group and a professional critique I revised four versions. At that point, it was centered on the water cycle. I submitted it for an editor critique at the eastern PA SCBWI virtual conference. The editor thought I should scrap the emphasis on the water cycle, the back matter, and the epigraph, so I did and made a second version, revising that one six times.
I signed with an agent who suggested removing an overarching art note and adding page numbers. She sent it on submission to six editors. Three months later we received an offer from Running Press Kids. They chose Isabella Conti as the illustrator, and I fell in love with her beautiful art.
I love the notion that every little detail in nature contains infinite potential. Where did you draw this inspiration?
I drew inspiration both from nature and poetry. I live on a hill surrounded by a forest, where my Westie pup, Mazy, and I walk daily.
I also love poetry, and the book was inspired by the opening lines of William Blake’s poem “Auguries of Innocence”:
To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour.
I imagined how a child might understand this concept and started the story with a child simply holding an acorn in his hand. That builds into a forest and then into wider concepts of connectivity in nature. Over time, a vast forest may spring from a single acorn. By extension, the child realizes the universe of possibilities growing inside him. I hope this understanding provides a natural entryway into discussions about children’s own passions and dreams, their own potential.
When I talk with kids about the book, I always end with “Reach for the stars,” a phrase that ties into the final few illustrations. I also sign the phrase next to my name and hope they reflect on how they can reach for the stars themselves!
What is your writing process and does it vary depending on the project?
I keep idea notebooks for both picture books and middle grade. Brainstorming ideas and how to use my ideas is my favorite part of the process. I emphasize play in the drafting stage and typically spend a lot of time in revision and polishing—which I love! I always get critiques from my critique groups. Then, head back to revising, as needed.
Please paste a short and compelling excerpt from your book.
“In the palm of my hand, I hold a raindrop, cool and wet.
It has journeyed from the depths of the sea.
The wild ocean pushes and pulls, pushes and pulls toward land.
Its waves, salty and foaming, tumble their treasures onto the shore.”
Please share your favorite books from 2022 that inspired you.
2022: Knight Owl by Christopher Denise, Dark on Light by Dianne White and Felicita Sala, Big and Small and In-Between by Carter Higgins and Daniel Miyares.
2023: Beneath by Cori Doerrfeld, Hopefully the Scarecrow by Michelle Houts and Sara Palacios, The Fire of Stars by Kirsten W. Larson and Katherine Roy.
What is the best piece of advice you would give to other writers?
Embrace the power of play! From brainstorming ideas to polishing a manuscript, play unleashes creativity and breathes life and joy into writing.
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?
That is the most difficult question you’ve asked! I only re-read books I love. It would be awful not to re-read those gems. However, to forget the ending of every book would be complete torture! I’ll have to go with never re-reading books and hope my memory is tight.
BIO
Jennifer Raudenbush feels most alive when she’s creating stories, especially picture books, poetry, and middle grade novels. Jen lives with her husband and teenage son in eastern Pennsylvania, where its natural beauty provides endless inspiration. She leads weekly write-ins as a volunteer with Inked Voices and biweekly write-ins with the eastern PA SCBWI. She has been published in Cricket children’s magazine and Little Thoughts Press, the 10.10 Poetry Anthology and Two Truths and a Fib Poetry Anthology. IN THE PALM OF MY HAND, illustrated by Isabella Conti, Running Press Kids (Hachette), is Jen’s first picture book.
Connect with Jen at her website jenraudenbush.com , or on her Linktree, Twitter, Instagram, Bluesky and Goodreads.
IN THE PALM OF MY HAND can be purchased from this link on my website or online wherever books are sold. Readers can get a free download of the Educational Guide, containing many activities, on my website HERE.
Author Melissa Stewart on Strong Hooks – PLUS A GIVEAWAY!
Hello world!!
Welcome to my blog, Blissfully Bookish! I’m so excited to introduce my next guest who’s the pioneer of nonfiction and also incredibly generous with her knowledge. Please welcome Melissa Stewart, who’s here to chat about her new nonfiction picture book Thank You, Moon: Celebrating Nature’s Nightlight illustrated by Jessica Lanan and published by Knopf Books for Young Readers.
BUT first- YAY! Melissa 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 Nov 24, 2023, US only.
Please describe the journey to publication for Thank You, Moon.
This book has an unusual origin story. It’s the brainchild of editor Katherine Harrison. In February 2020, she tagged me on Twitter, alerting me to a conversation about how animals respond to the Moon’s cycle, and asked “Is this something you’d potentially be interested in writing? I just can’t get enough of the moon these days, and I feel like you could bring something special to it.” She also included a beautiful, eerie, mysterious image of the Moon partially obscured by clouds. It was an irresistible invitation.
Not only was it a fascinating topic that had never been written about in a children’s book before, I immediately knew how I’d end the book. I could draw inspiration from a special moment I’d shared with my nieces, Caroline and Claire, about 15 years ago.
As I discuss in this video, when Caroline was in kindergarten and Claire was in second grade, I did an author visit at their school in Maine. They wanted to ride to school with me rather than take the bus, and on the way, I spotted the Moon.
“Oh, look, there’s the Moon,” I said, pointing out the passenger-side window.
Claire, who was on that side of the car, could easily see it. “Oh yeah. Cool,” she replied.
But Caroline couldn’t see it. She squirmed wildly in her car seat. “Where? Where?” she yelled. As her frustration grew, she exclaimed, “I’ve never seen the Moon in the day in my whole long life!”
So I pulled the car over, and we all got out to admire that lovely, surprising daytime Moon. I’ll never forget Caroline’s joy and astonishment in that moment. She was discovering something new and exciting about how nature works.
Even as an adult, spotting the Moon in the day is still a special treat. It feels a tiny bit magical because you aren’t expecting it. I wanted to capture that emotion at the end of the book, and it felt simpatico with the image Katherine had sent me.
But even though I started off with a topic that was fresh and fascinating plus a great idea for the ending, I still had a long way to go. First, I needed to make sure there was enough information to fill a whole book. Could I find a dozen really stellar examples?
After a couple of weeks of digging, I was confident that there were, indeed, plenty of good animal examples from many different animal families that lived all over the world.
Next, I needed a strong hook—a unique lens that would spark the reader’s curiosity and encourage them to think about the topic in a new way.
When a book has a strong hook, it’s often built right into the title, so brainstorming titles is one way to discover the great hook. It can really help to toss around ideas with a friend, so one Saturday, I asked my husband to help me think of possible titles while we cleaned the house. The ideas could be good or bad, silly or serious, anything at all. Any unique way of thinking about “our closest companion in space.” I liked the sound of that phrase, so I wrote it down to get us started.
A few hours later, the dust bunnies were gone, the bathroom sparkled, and we’d filled a notebook page with ideas. The next day, I typed them into a computer file along with all the adjectives I could think of to describe the Moon photo Katherine had sent me. My goal was to create a manuscript that evoked that image.
It didn’t take long for the title Thank You, Moon and the lens of gratitude to rise to the top. After all, life on Earth—including us—couldn’t exist without the Moon to regulate Earth’s seasons.
I also thought it would be possible to use the phrase repetitively to craft the kind of lyrical voice I wanted for the book.
But it still wasn’t time to start writing until I’d settled on a text structure.
I used to start writing without this, and, as I describe in this video, it led to lots and lots and lots of rewriting. Seriously, it could take me years and years.
More recently, I’ve realized that writing can be much more efficient if I do a lot of thinking before I do any writing. This might seem like another form of procrastination, but it’s not. It’s about working smarter and letting my unconscious mind work things out behind the scenes while I’m focused on something else.
Before I started writing Thank You, Moon, I experimented with arranging the animals by the phases of the Moon (didn’t work), then the seasons of the year (didn’t work). Then I had the idea to present the animals in linked pairs, focusing on what they need to do to survive—find food, avoid predators, raise a family. This led to a list book with a compare and contrast text structure.
Finally, it was time to start writing.
Of course, Katherine hadn’t made any commitment to acquire the manuscript. But luckily, when I sent her a draft that had gone though many revisions and critiques by my two writing groups, she liked it well enough to purchase it. I was, er, over the Moon.
After another revision and copy editor review, the manuscript was ready for illustrator Jessica Lanan. I couldn’t be happier with her art and feel so lucky to have been paired with her.
Here’s a sneak peek at one of her early sketches.
This is a later sketch.
And here’s final art. Isn’t it just so gorgeous?
In general, how many books do you work on at once? How do you know which ones are the most marketable?
That’s a tricky question to answer because there are so many different stages in the process. Why don’t I count up what I have in the works right now.
Books with editor: 4
Books with illustrator: 3
Books at printer: 1
Books on submission: 3
Books ready for submission: 1
Books I’m actively revising: 1
Books with a critique partner: 1
Books I’m researching: 1
Looks like that’s 15 in all, which is more than I thought. I would have guessed 8-10.
Please share a few of your favorite nonfiction books from 2023.
Oh wow, there are so many great nonfiction books coming out. 2023 is a banner year! Here are ten I think everyone should read.
Accountable: The True Story if a Racist Social Media Account and the Teenagers Whose Lives It Changed by Dashka Slater
The Book of Turtles Sy Montgomery and Matt Patterson
The Fire of Stars: The Life and Brilliance of the woman Who Discovered What Stars Are Made Of by Kirsten Larson and Katherine Roy
How Do You Spell Unfair? MacNolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee by Carole Boston Weatherford and Frank Morrison
Impossible Escape: A True Story of Survival and Heroism in Nazi Europe by Steve Sheinkin
Jumper: A Day in the Life e of a backyard Jumping Spider by Jessica Lanan
Mysterious Glowing Mammals: An Unexpected Discovery Sparks a Scientific Investigation by Maria Parrott-Ryan
Nature Is a Sculptor: Weathering and Erosion by Heather Ferranti Kinser
Superpod: Saving the Endangered Orcas of the Pacific Northwest by Nora Nickum
To Boldly Go: How Nichelle Nichols and Star Trek Helped Advance Civil Rights by Angela Dalton and Lauren Semmer
One book that I’m dying to read is The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, a Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity by Nicolas Day. I’ve heard so many good things about it.
What is the best piece of advice you would give to other writers in terms of finding the right text structure in nonfiction?
Don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Can you come up with a unique text structure that fits your topic perfectly? One of my favorite books of all time is Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature by Joyce Sidman because the structure spirals. Sidman starts with small tightly coiled examples. As we read, the examples grown and unfurl all the way to the size of a galaxy. Then they shrink and tighten again. Ingenius!
And a bonus question just for kicks! What did you want to be when you were a little girl?
A scientist. I’m so lucky that now I get to explore the wide world of science and share what I learn with other people.
BIO
Melissa Stewart has written more than 200 science-themed nonfiction books for children, including the Sibert Medal Honoree Summertime Sleepers: Animals that Estivate, illustrated by Sarah S. Brannen. She co-wrote 5 Kinds of Nonfiction: Enriching Reading and Writing Instruction with Children’s Books, edited the anthologyNonfiction Writers Dig Deep: 50 Award-winning Authors Share the Secret of Engaging Writing, and maintains the award-winning blog Celebrate Nonfiction. Melissa’s highly-regarded website features a rich array of nonfiction reading and writing resources.
LINKS
Website: https://www.melissa-stewart.com/
Blog: http://celebratescience.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @mstewartscience
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissa.stewart.33865
Instagram: @melissastewartscience
Bluesky: @mstewartscience.bsky.social
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Lydia Lukidis 