Tuesday Debut – Presenting Karen Koepcke Morgan! PLUS A Giveaway!

Hello, my friends!

It’s time for another installment of Tuesday Debut! And who could blame you for taking a moment to educate yourself instead of vacuuming, mopping, dusting, cleaning the bathrooms, prepping side dishes, baking desserts, ironing tablecloths and whatever else you’re doing in preparation for Thanksgiving which is only 2 days away?

Wait, what?

Only 2 days?

Gee whiz, I have a lot to do! No more chatting! Let’s get right to our Tuesday Debut! Chop, chop!

Oh, except first, we have a giveaway winner to announce!

The winner of last week’s giveaway, winner’s choice of a book, a picture book critique, a half hour ask me anything, or a virtual school visit where she can read her book and answer kids questions [probably 15-20 minutes] kindly offered by author Kelly Conroy is. . .

PAM ADAMS!!!

Congratulations, Pam! Start thinking about what your choice will be and email me so I can organize getting you your giveaway!

And second, guess what? We have another awesome giveaway this week! Our debut-ess, Karen Morgan, is kindly offering a signed copy of ARE YOU STRONGER THAN AN ANT? (US addresses only, please). To qualify to be in the running to be the randomly selected winner, please leave a comment below by Monday December 2nd at 3 PM Eastern! (Whoa! December???!!!)

Okay! NOW we can get right to meeting our Tuesday Debut! Allow me to introduce the one and only Karen Koepcke Morgan and her beautiful (and very interesting-looking!) ARE YOU STRONGER THAN AN ANT? Fun Facts About Extraordinary Animals!

Title: Are You Stronger Than an Ant? Fun Facts about Extraordinary Animals
Author: Karen Koepcke Morgan
Illustrator: Nelke Roose
Publishing House: Clavis
Date of Publication: November 12th, 2024
Fiction or Nonfiction: Nonfiction
age range of your book: 6-9

Embark on an extraordinary journey into the captivating world of nature, where animals from around the globe showcase remarkable abilities that leave humans in awe. Readers will delight in learning as each page invites them to ponder the question, “Could you?” followed by interesting and informative facts about animals who do.

SUSANNA: Welcome, Karen! Thank you so much for coming to talk with us today. We are so looking forward to hearing about your book journey! Where did the idea for this book come from?

KAREN: One day when I was researching something about a specific animal, I was amazed at the uniqueness of different animals abilities that help them adapt and live in their habitats. I thought it would be fun for kids to think about their abilities in comparison.

SUSANNA: How long did it take you to write this book?

KAREN: Early 2022 is when I wrote my first draft. I do some of my best thinking when I walk in nature, so when I’d think of things there I’d type them into my phone’s notes to revisit once I got back home.

SUSANNA: Did you go through many revisions for this book?

KAREN: I always find things to tweak every time I reread what I’ve written. After many of these go-throughs, I brought it to my critique group. They are really a MG/YA group, but very open to anything members have to share. After taking their comments to heart, the manuscript changed again (for the better).

Karen’s workspace

SUSANNA: When did you know your manuscript was ready for submission?

KAREN: After I brought it to a large group connect & critique through SCBWI and had many positive comments – one where someone came up to me afterwards and told me they thought it was ready for publication.

Funny story: I had just started with my smaller critique group when I got the “yes”, so I thought “Wow! there really is something to these critique groups!”

SUSANNA: When and how did you submit?

KAREN: I had an agent at one time (for a middle grade manuscript) but that ended due to covid. I was in the stage of “not wanting to query agents” again and decided to submit directly to publishers for this picture book. As you know, many publishers do not allow submissions directly from authors. I read about Clavis in a Children’s Book Insider post and referenced it against the PAL (published and listed) list that SCBWI has on their website. One of the reasons I sent to Clavis is because they mentioned that they get back to you one way or another within three months.

SUSANNA: That’s nice! Definitely a perk! How long after you found out about your book going to acquisitions (if you did) or after you submitted were you told it was a “yes”?

KAREN: At about four months I happened to look in my junk folder and saw an email from the editor at Clavis. Fortunately, it was only a couple days after it was sent. The email said they were interested in “Could You? Some Do” (my working title), but wondered if I could come up with more facts to make it a series (Could You? Some Do is the series title now). Of course I answered back “Yes!” and the editor and I had a Zoom meeting a few days later. Then it took from the August 2022 verbal to March of 2023 to get the contract. We had started on choosing of the illustrator and edits before I even got the contract.

SUSANNA: When did you get “the call”, which these days is more likely to be “the email”?  (Best moment ever! 😊) and how did you celebrate (if you care to share 😊)

KAREN: Basically that first email was it. I did a happy dance inside and couldn’t stop smiling. My daughter wanted to have a party immediately. I told her I’d rather celebrate after the book comes out. She, and my son and husband are throwing me a party after a book signing in our town on December 7th. I think that’s when I’ll finally celebrate properly.

SUSANNA: How long was it between getting your offer and getting your contract to sign?

KAREN: Eight months. This was delayed because the assistant editor was on mummy time (maternity leave :😊)

SUSANNA: Was the contract what you expected in terms of advance, royalty percentage, publication timeline, author copies etc.?

KAREN: My contract did not include an advance and I think the royalties are a bit higher – after splitting with the illustrator- than usual. I also get a higher royalty if the book sells more than 3,000 copies. I decided to hire a contract lawyer that another author had given me the name of and had him make sure it was okay. We pushed the author copies from 5 to 10 and asked for a copy of the Dutch version (see next question) and they gave me extras. I also get a percentage of any rights sales to other countries. Hiring a lawyer cost a few hundred dollars, but I felt it was a fair investment.

SUSANNA: Can you tell us a little about the editorial process?

KAREN: Clavis is a Publishing company in Belgium with New York offices as well. They print the book first in Dutch and then in English. The first book in the series (as well as the second one) have already come out in Dutch. There were not too many changes to the story. The editor suggested that I add in facts about plants as well, so in book two there is some of that as well as sea creatures, reptiles, insects and other animals. Being that it was published in Dutch first…I had to use a translation program to see if things were being presented like I’d wanted. Some changes the editors made helped the content, so I made those changes to the English version too. It was a good collaboration.

SUSANNA: What was your experience of the illustration process like?

KAREN: I was given input from the start. They mentioned Nelke Roose as a possibity and gave me a link to her portfolio. They asked if I would give my opinion on her work or suggest other illustrators if I wanted. I liked what I saw on her website, so I gave my approval. I did not provide illustrator notes on the manuscript. When Nelke creates the art or sketches, she shares them with both the editor and myself to get our input. I’ve enjoyed Nelke’s vision and only had a couple minor comments having to do with animal facts or sizes. Nelke and I received galleys to approve before printing. The experience has been great.

text copyright Karen Koepcke Morgan 2024, illustration copyright Nelke Roose 2024, Clavis Publishing

SUSANNA: How long did it take from offer to having the first copy in your hand?

KAREN: One year and two months for the first book in Dutch and just over two years to hold the English version of the first book in my hands. I think the first printing in Dutch wasn’t a huge print run, but it sold out within a few months and went into a second printing. I think the print run size was 1,000 in Dutch.

SUSANNA: What kind of marketing and promotion has your publisher done for this book?

KAREN: They send out catalogs to their mailing list and have advance copy galleys to send to book sellers. They go to major book fairs and have a team that promotes selling to other international audiences.

SUSANNA: Describe any marketing/promotion you did for this book.

KAREN: I have set up a couple of book signing events, sent out flyers to my library district to see if they’d carry my book (they will!), sent a flyer to our local zoo (haven’t heard back), and have made coloring pages, bookmarks, and stickers. Everyone, I’ve found, is very interested in helping any way they can. Case in point – Susanna and her giving back to, and supporting, authors 😊

SUSANNA: That is entirely my pleasure, Karen! And I appreciate all the authors who come here to share their experiences so everyone can learn and be encouraged! How long was it between the time you started writing seriously and the time you sold your first picture book?

KAREN: I started writing children’s books, and joined SCBWI in 2016 and sold this picture book in 2022…so six years.

SUSANNA: What is the most important/helpful thing you learned on your way to publication? (Or what is your most helpful piece of advice for up and coming writers?)

KAREN: I’ve learned that this business is a roller coaster ride. There are lots of ups and downs. I’ve gotten just enough “ups” to keep going. My personal goal is to always have something out there. I choose to have at least ten queries out to agents, or editors, at all times. They may be for different works. When I get a rejection, I need to put another one out there. I figure that you already have a “no” when you don’t put yourself out there, so why not try. It’s like fishing. No fisherman catches a fish every time they throw a line out. Maybe they get one fish for every hundred casts…maybe not. But if they never try, they won’t ever catch that fish.

SUSANNA: That is so true! If you don’t submit, you won’t get published! Thank you so much for taking the time to participate in this series and paying it forward to other writers, Karen! We so appreciate getting to hear everything you have to share! Here’s wishing you all the best with this and future titles, in the Could You? Some Do! series and beyond!

Readers, if you have questions for Karen, please post them in the comments below and if she has time I’m sure she’ll respond! Remember, you comment puts you in the running to be the randomly selected winner of Karen’s giveaway of a signed copy of ARE YOU STRONGER THAN AN ANT? if you leave it by 3 PM Eastern on Monday December 2nd! (US addresses only, please.)

Author Karen Koepcke Morgan, whose favorite snack is anything chocolate! 😊

You may purchase Karen’s book at:
(all links below are book-specific)

Indiebound/Bookshop.org
Amazon
Barnes&Noble

We can help our debut authors successfully launch their careers by:

– purchasing their books

– recommending their books to friends and family

– recommending their books to our children’s teachers and librarians

– recommending their books to our local libraries and bookstores

– suggesting them as visiting authors at our children’s schools and our local libraries

– sharing their books on social media

– reviewing their books on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes&Noble, and other sites where people go to learn about books.

Thank you all for stopping by to read today!  Have a lovely, inspiration-filled Tuesday!  Maybe today is the day you’ll write your debut picture book 😊

Missed any previous Tuesday Debuts?  Check them out HERE!

61 thoughts on “Tuesday Debut – Presenting Karen Koepcke Morgan! PLUS A Giveaway!”

  1. seahorsecoffeeelektra79018 says:
    Reply
    seahorsecoffeeelektra79018's avatar

    Karen, i’m thrilled to hear you were published by a Dutch company! That is so neat. I never realized there were opportunities to publish outside of the U.S. Your book sounds fascinating. Good luck to you! Thanks for sharing your writing journey

    1

    • Susanna Leonard Hill says:
      Reply
      Susanna Leonard Hill's avatar

      Karen is the second person recently who was published first outside the US – I’ll have to look back and see who the other one was – but I also had a book published in Dutch by Veltman Uitgevers, so it seems there may be multiple options for this. I got mine because my illustrator for NOT YET, ROSE was Dutch, and she had a possibility for a book with Veltman Uitgevers based on her art, but needed a story, so I wrote one and she translated it into Dutch.

  3. robdonart123 says:
    Reply
    robdonart123's avatar

    Hello Karen,

    Congratulations! Your title is the perfect “hook” and I am hooked! Now for my questions. Who proofreads your manuscript before you send it out? Do you have more than two sets of eyes?
    How is your query process set up? I understand it can be very time consuming. How long did it take to get your system in place? I see a giant paintbrush and paints in your work area. Are you also an illustrator?

    Thank you for sharing your journey and hopefully answering my questions.♥️

    • Karen Morgan says:
      Reply
      Karen Morgan's avatar

      I have two great SCBWI critique groups that I’m a part of that I get feedback from. They are my extra set of eyes and they don’t mind looking at my work multiple times. I would suggest Ground Crew Editorial if you’d like a professional edit (I’m fortunate to have them in my area). As far as querying, there is no easy way to streamline the process. It is very time consuming. You need to research agents (Manuscript wishlist, Querytracker, with follow-up on individual agency websites) to see if they are looking for work like yours and tailor each query to the person you’re sending to. I do art and design as well, but have not done art for picture books (I’ve been working on illustrated art for my middle grade projects). Good luck on your own author/illustrator journey!

  8. Deborah Buschman says:
    Reply
    Deborah Buschman's avatar

    Thanks for sharing your experience. You never know when you’ll get a bite. I am looking forward to reading your story.

  10. Sharon Korzelius says:
    Reply
    Sharon Korzelius's avatar

    Congratulations on your fabulous debut, Karen! I’ve heard many good things about Clovis. Thank you for sharing your story and helping other kidlit authors. I cannot wait to read the books in this series!

  11. kathalsey says:
    Reply
    kathalsey's avatar

    Congrats, Karen. Love the fisherman/fisherwoman analogy! Keep on querying! The book looks delightful! Wow, it is now a series? Did you expect or envision/write it as a series? I’d love to win this!

  12. Karen Morgan says:
    Reply
    Karen Morgan's avatar

    Thanks!

    I queried it as a stand alone and Clavis asked me if I could make it into a series. I think the promotion is not much different for one book versus two or three. The second book (in English) will be out in April 2025.

  13. Diana Delosh says:
    Reply
    Diana Delosh's avatar

    Congratulations, Karen. Thanks for sharing your publishing journey. I’ve heard good things about Clavis. Also love your challenge to always have 10 things out on submission (could be the same or different projects) to agents/editors.

  14. Angie says:
    Reply
    Angie's avatar

    I love it! Animals are fascinating and uniquely gifted with special skills and strengths. I can’t wait to read this! Congratulations, Karen! Oh, I also like your goal of having 10 queries out at a time. Awesome tip!

  17. Kim A Larson says:
    Reply
    Kim A Larson's avatar

    Congratulations, Karen! Thanks for sharing about your book’s journey. I signed a contract with Clavis this year, so I’m happy to hear your experience has been positive. So far, mine has been too : ) I look forward to reading your book!

  20. marty bellis says:
    Reply
    marty bellis's avatar

    Congrats, Karen! Your book sounds fascinating (I’m always amazed at what ants can drag/carry) and I love your fisherman analogy! It’s a great way to think about the querying/submitting process. Look forward to seeing more of your work soon.

  21. Danielle Hammelef says:
    Reply
    Danielle Hammelef's avatar

    Congratulations! Thank you for sharing your journey to publication and the candid time line and financial aspects of a contract. I’m excited to read your series as nature never cease to amaze me.

  25. Donna Gwinnell Lambo-Weidner says:
    Reply
    Donna Gwinnell Lambo-Weidner's avatar

    Congratulations on your debut, Karen…and what fun illustrations, Nelke! I am definitely not stronger than an ant, nor can I spend longer than an hour in water. But I am looking forward to reading all about what I might have in common with the other animals in your book, even though I’m sure it’s only that we eat, sleep, and…you know 🙂

Leave a comment