I have the cutest book ever to share with you today. Literally! đ€Ł
Unfortunately you’ll have to wait a few weeks to read it, but you can preorder it (or reserve it at your library) now!
Title: Fluffy McWhiskers Cuteness Explosion
Written By: Stephen W. Martin
Illustrated By: Dan Tavis
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books, November 2, 2021, fiction
Suitable For Ages: 4-8
Themes/Topics: self-acceptance, friendship, humor
text copyright Stephen W. Martin 2021, illustration copyright Dan Tavis 2021, Margaret McElderry Books
Opening: “Fluffy McWhiskers was cute. Dangerously cute. Yes, Fluffy McWhiskers was so cute that if you saw her. . . you’d explode.”
Brief Synopsis: Fluffy is an adorable kitten. But she’s so adorable that anyone who sees her spontaneously explodes into balls of sparkles and fireworks! How will she ever find a friend?
text copyright Stephen W. Martin 2021, illustration copyright Dan Tavis 2021, Margaret McElderry Books
Why I Like This Book: Sometimes, a book is just plain fun, and this is one of those books. I mean, not really. It’s not really fun! It’s serious! Spontaneous explosions happen! People KABOOM into balls of sparkles and fireworks! Fluffy is dangerous! In an effort to save people, she tries to make herself less cute. But a bad haircut just makes her cuter. And wearing a bag over her head just makes her ridiculously cute. Even exiling herself to outer space doesn’t cut it. What next? I won’t tell you because you should read the book! But beneath the silliness and hilarity is a story about wanting to protect others, learning to accept yourself, and finding friendship where you least expect it, as well as the suggestion that cuteness is in the eye of the beholder. The art is bright and fun and adorable. Fluffy is SO CUTE! But you already knew that. đ Young readers will love Fluffy. How could they not?
text copyright Stephen W. Martin 2021, illustration copyright Dan Tavis 2021, Margaret McElderry Books
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog links (and any other info you feel like filling out đ) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
I don’t know about you, but I LOVE Autumn! The pleasant days and cool nights, the colorful trees and crunchy leaves, the tang of woodsmoke in the air, and the season for miniature candy bars đ What’s not to love? Although I have to say, I have NO idea how we got to September 22 so fast! Wasn’t it August like, yesterday?!
Whether or not yesterday was August, today is Would You Read It Wednesday and I’m so glad you’re here!
Let’s start of the fun by announcing the winner of Rebecca Mullin’s darling board book, ONE TOMATO! (You all remember Rebecca – she was on Tuesday Debut last week. That link will take you there if you want another look at her book đ)
And… the lucky winner of ONE TOMATO is… Bru Benson!!!
Bru, please email me or use the contact page above to email me so I can get your snail mail address and send you your book! I know you’ll love it! đ
Nothing like talking about garden vegetables and thinking about how Autumn brings miniature candy bars to make you want Something Chocolate, so how about a little indulgence? Today I’m thinking Tiger Butter, which is a creamy fudge-type candy/bark made from chocolate, white chocolate, and peanut butter. Yum! Sounds like breakfast to me! đ
The recipe website says it makes a great holiday candy, but it looks to me like it would be delicious ANY day! đ
Now then, onto today’s pitch which comes to us from Kelly who says, “I live in eastern Washington on the mighty Columbia River. I homeschooled my son and daughter, then finished my degree in Early Childhood Education. I worked with the Early Childhood Education Assistance Program before retiring and pursuing a career in childrenâs literature. I am a determined literacy activist who tutored ESL students in college. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2000 and am a passionate mental health and neurodivergent advocate.”
Here is her pitch:
Working Title: Which Newbie You Be?
Age/Genre: MG
The Pitch: The author uses weather metaphors to tell the story of resilient teen with a âcan-doâ spirit juggling the secret of her bipolar disorder as a newbie, negotiating the stigma of mental illness, middle school friendships, another newbie and parental conflict, to show hope through a life-altering move to a small town. Someone with a broken leg or diabetes does not have a stigma attached to their illness, why should a person with a brain disorder?
So what do you think? Would You Read It? YES, MAYBE or NO?
If your answer is YES, please feel free to tell us what you particularly liked and why the pitch piqued your interest. Â If your answer is MAYBE or NO, please feel free to tell us what you think could be better in the spirit of helping Kelly improve her pitch. Â Helpful examples of possible alternate wordings are welcome. Â (However I must ask that comments be constructive and respectful. Â I reserve the right not to publish comments that are mean because that is not what this is about.)
Please send YOUR pitches for the coming weeks! Â For rules and where to submit, click on this link Would You Read It or on Would You Read it in the dropdown under For Writers in the bar above. Â There are openings in November, so you have time to polish your pitch before putting it up for helpful feedback and a chance to have it read and commented on by editor Erin Molta!
Kelly is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch! Â I am looking forward to trying out that Tiger Butter recipe which looks simple enough that even I might be able to pull it off. If I fail at the recipe, Tiger Butter sounds like a good title for a picture book, so it’s all good đ
It’s Perfect Picture Book Friday once again, my friends!
And guess what? I may have finally fixed the glitch in the link list! (And by “I” I mean my far more intelligent and tech-savvy daughter đ) Fingers crossed it works right this time, after 2 weeks of wrong and more wrong!
So! To the books!
Back to school time is making friends time, and my Perfect Picture Book for today is all about friendship!
Title: Chirp!: Chipmunk Sings For A Friend
Written By: Jamie A. Swenson
Illustrated By: Scott Magoon
Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books, July 13, 2021
Opening: “Chipmunk lived on a rock. Most days she sat on her rock, chirping from dawn. . . until the stars shone down.”
text copyright Jamie A. Swenson 2021, illustration copyright Scott Magoon 2021, Paula Wiseman Books
Brief Synopsis: Chipmunk spends her days sitting on her rock and singing the songs in her heart, but sometimes she wishes for a friend who could sing with her.
text copyright Jamie A. Swenson 2021, illustration copyright Scott Magoon 2021, Paula Wiseman Books
Why I Like This Book: This is such a sweet story about finding friends! All on her own, Chipmunk sings to Rock, and then to Pinecone and Rock, but though they are excellent listeners, they’re not quite the kind of friends she is hoping for. Eventually, her singing brings Raccoon along and a friendship begins (unnoticed!) as she and Chipmunk try to move Log to where Rock and Pinecone are (Chipmunk thinking that Log might be a friend.) But Log is too heavy even for Chipmunk and Raccoon together, so they sing about their frustration…and that brings Moose along. Once again, friendship begins unnoticed as Moose listens and then offers to help. Finally, Rock and Pinecone and Log, and Chipmunk and Raccoon and Moose are all together in the same place. Rock and Pinecone and Log do what they do best – listen! – while Chipmunk and Raccoon and Moose sing together, a true friendship having formed through their cooperation. The story is simple and sweet, with little notes of humor (favorite line: “âLike a rock, a pinecone, and a log in a pod,â said Moose. đ) The art is delightful. I especially like how every time Chipmunk sets out to find another friend she literally dashes off the page đ A lovely story about finding what matters.
text copyright Jamie A. Swenson 2021, illustration copyright Scott Magoon 2021, Paula Wiseman Books
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog links (and any other info you feel like filling out đ) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
How’s the first week of school going for everyone? Hopefully your school buses are showing up!
Things are busy in my neck of the woods, but I got a surprise visit from my sister, so that was amazing! (Too short, but I guess every visit is. We should live closer!)
Also, in my quest to discover that which is nonessential but endlessly entertaining, I found out that Violet’s DNA test claims she is a mix of 24 breeds including 9% Chihuahua, which is why even though she looks like this:
she still clearly thinks she’s a lap dog đ
It’s all in how you see yourself, right? đ I’m pretty sure there are a whole lot of good picture book ideas in that!
I don’t know about you, but I see myself having a little Something Chocolate right about now. Chocolate Oreo Cheesecake Chocolate Cake anyone? Why yes, thank you, don’t mind if I do! đ
Now then, onto today’s pitch which comes to us from Hannah who says, “Hello, there! Iâm Hannah, an army wife, mother to three boys, and children’s writer. I love writing for kids because it brings out the kid in me đ”
The Pitch: All Wolfington wants is to be included, but when he goes into town, grandmothers hide, pigs squeal, and sheep faint. Fed up with the big bad wolf stereotype, Wolfington sets out to prove that his heart is bigger than his stomach.
So what do you think? Would You Read It? YES, MAYBE or NO?
If your answer is YES, please feel free to tell us what you particularly liked and why the pitch piqued your interest. If your answer is MAYBE or NO, please feel free to tell us what you think could be better in the spirit of helping Hannah improve her pitch. Helpful examples of possible alternate wordings are welcome. (However I must ask that comments be constructive and respectful. I reserve the right not to publish comments that are mean because that is not what this is about.)
Please send YOUR pitches for the coming weeks! Â For rules and where to submit, click on this link Would You Read It or on Would You Read it in the dropdown under For Writers in the bar above. Â There are openings in October, so you could get your pitch up pretty soon for helpful feedback and a chance to have it read and commented on by editor Erin Molta!
Hannah is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch! Â I am looking forward to reading the pile of picture books on my desk – some new, some just new to me – but all of them look good!
Today’s installment of Tuesday Debut will be of special interest to those of you who want to write for youngest audiences. Although we usually feature picture books, today’s debut is a board book. I thought we might all learn a thing or two from debut-ess Rebecca Mullin about first-time publishing in this fun and wonderful format.
Rebecca has generously provided a copy of her book as a giveaway, so one lucky commenter will be randomly chosen to win the book! Please comment on this post by Sunday September 19 at 9PM Eastern to qualify for the random drawing!
And now, without further ado, please join me in welcoming Rebecca Mullin as she kindly shares her journey to publication of ONE TOMATO – a book she wrote for her daughter and which was illustrated by her niece!
One Tomato Written by Rebecca Mullin Illustrated by Anna Mullin Rubber Ducky Press, May 1, 2021 Counting board book for 2-6 year olds
Count the vegetables as you harvest the garden beginning with one ripe tomato! Ants, moles, bees and other garden friends join in the fun. Watch for the sneaky yellow dandelion. Learn about growing healthy foods while counting to ten in One Tomato!Â
SUSANNA: Welcome, Rebecca! Thank you so much for joining us today. We’re all excited to hear about publishing a board book. Where did the idea for this book come from?
REBECCA: One night while cooking dinner I asked my daughter to pick a zucchini from our garden. She came back with a cucumber! We needed some help with vegetable identification! So, I contacted my niece, Anna Mullin, to make a poster of the vegetables we grew in our garden. At the time, Anna was a senior biology major at Earlham College and had a side-hustle doing commission artwork from her website, ANNAEM.com. She created several beautiful posters which I hung in my kitchen. Now that would be the end of the story except that my mom, who owns Kids Ink Childrenâs Bookstores in Indianapolis saw the posters and said âthat looks like a board book.âÂ
SUSANNA: How long did it take you to write this book? And how long was it between the time you started writing seriously and the time you sold your book?
REBECCA: The initial writing of One Tomato took a couple of weeks. But in reality I spent my whole life working on One Tomato. Iâve been an avid gardener and reader my whole life. I began working in my momâs bookstore in 8th grade and have since logged thousands of hours buying books for the store, selling books to customers, reading at storytimes, hosting author events, writing book reviews, and of course packing, unpacking, and lifting lots and lots of boxes of books (not sure how the manual labor piece helped in writing – but I sure do remember the back aches!)
SUSANNA: When did you know your manuscript was ready for submission?
REBECCA: Honestly, I never thought it was truly ready for submission. At some point I just couldnât see how to make any improvements so decided Iâd just give it a try!
SUSANNA: When and how did you submit?
REBECCA: I submitted directly to Rubber Ducky Press without an agent or query.Â
SUSANNA: How long after you found out about your book going to acquisitions (if you did) orafter you submitted were you told it was a âyesâ? When did you get “the call”, which these days is more likely to be âthe emailâ? đ
REBECCA: The âyesâ came slowly. I submitted by email and got a reply within days that the publisher was âinterested.â We spoke on the phone a few weeks later at which point I understood that my book needed some significant changes to fit within the Rubber Ducky brand. I submitted a revised edition several months later and was subsequently invited to visit the publishing house. (Covid delayed this visit by 3 months.) The âyesâ came when I met with the publisher, distributor, editor, sales manager and probably a few others…it was such an exciting blur!Â
The book launch
SUSANNA: How long was it between getting your offer and getting your contract to sign?
REBECCA: Three weeks.Â
SUSANNA: Was the contract what you expected in terms of advance, royalty percentage,publication timeline, author copies etc.?
REBECCA: Standard royalty contract and 10 copies of the book included.Â
SUSANNA: Can you tell us a little about the editorial process?
REBECCA: After signing the contract I thought the book was finishedâŠ.rookie mistake! The editor asked for several major changes that required re-writing and re-illustrating. Honestly I thought the changes were outrageous. You want to substitute corn for spinach? You want pumpkins instead of dandelions? But once the changes were made it undeniably made the book better.
SUSANNA: What was your experience of the illustration process like?
REBECCA: Of course, my experience with the illustration process was unusual because I worked with my niece! We met several times and layed out all the pages of the book across a table to see the flow of the story. Anna sees color and composition in an entirely different way, I learned so much working with her!
SUSANNA: How long did it take from offer to having the first copy in your hand?
REBECCA: The initial interest in the book was in December 2019 and the publication date of One Tomato was May 1, 2021. However, the book was delayed by shipping and customs issues and did not arrive until the end of July! Boy was that an agonizingly long wait! The print run was 3,000.
SUSANNA: What kind of marketing and promotion has your publisher done for this book?
REBECCA: Rubber Ducky Press has an incredible sales team and marketing staff. One Tomato is now available in bookstores, libraries, Ingram warehouses, and Amazon.Â
SUSANNA: Describe any marketing/promotion you did for this book.
REBECCA: Iâve found some great gardening items to promote One Tomato! I had custom tomato seed packets printed and paired these with a child sized watering can with a One Tomato image to use as a giveaway at the book launch. Also, Iâve printed stickers and postcards for promotional purposes and my publisher produced a really nice sell sheet for gardening and book stores. Additionally, Iâve reached out to gardening centers and seed catalogs as another avenue to sell One Tomato.
Watering an and seed packet promotion
SUSANNA: What is the most important/helpful thing you learned on your way to publication?
REBECCA: Read everything available in the genre and age range for which you are writing.Â
SUSANNA: Thank you so much for taking the time to share your knowledge and expertise in board book publishing with us today, Rebecca! We so appreciate the opportunity to learn from your experience! I know I speak for everyone when I wish you every success with this and future titles!
Readers, if you have questions for Rebecca, please post them in the comments below and if she has time I’m sure she’ll respond! And don’t forget to comment on this post by Sunday September 19 at 9PM Eastern to qualify for the random drawing! Someone will win a copy of this cute book!
You may purchase Rebecca’s book at: (all links below are book-specific)
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 đ
Missed any previous Tuesday Debuts? Check them out!
The perfect time to make a list of books and then hustle off to the library after school to set yourself up for a weekend of great reads!
The book I chose for today is one that I think fits perfectly with heading back to school where it’s so important to both be yourself and be part of the community!
Title: Pokko And The Drum
Written & Illustrated By: Matthew Forsythe
Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books, October 2019, fiction
Opening: “The biggest mistake Pokko’s parents ever made was giving her a drum. They had made mistakes before. Like the slingshot. And the llama. And the balloon.”
text and illustration copyright Matthew Forsythe 2019, Paula Wiseman Books
Brief Synopsis: Pokko’s parents give her a drum but quickly realize that might not have been such a great idea! Wanting a break from the noise, Pokko’s dad sends her outside. Before long, Pokko has inspired an instrument-playing following, and what started out as banging has become such a joyful noise that even her father has to admit it turned out well after all.
text and illustration copyright Matthew Forsythe 2019, Paula Wiseman Books
Links To Resources: get some friends together and make your own band – what different things can you use as an instrument? Draw a picture or write a story or poem about something that makes you who you are – do you play the drum like Pokko? do you dance or sing or play soccer? For a drum-related snack, make cupcakes for the drum and pretzel stick halves with mini marshmallows dipped in chocolate for the drumsticks!
Why I Like This Book: I love Pokko! Such a confident, poised little character! She plays her drum through the emerald forest gathering followers in a Pied Piper-esque way and plays her drum with such joy that her father goes from “Weâre just a little frog family that lives in a mushroom, and we donât like drawing attention to ourselves” to “And you know what?âŠI think she’s pretty good!” đ There is plenty of humor. Her mother is comically engrossed in reading a book throughout the whole story no matter what else is going on – even when she’s being swept away by the crowd! And a small mishap causes Pokko to tell the Wolf, “No more eating band members or you’re out of the band.” Pokko asserts her own individuality while also bringing the community together. Such a delightful book!
text and illustration copyright Matthew Forsythe 2019, Paula Wiseman Books
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog links (and any other info you feel like filling out đ) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week! I hope it works right this week… something is hinky!
Happy First Day of School! (for those of us who didn’t start in August đ)
And in the spirit of getting back to things we love, welcome back to the one and only Would You Read It Wednesday!
I know that now that you’ve gotten your little munchkins up and out of bed, dressed in most if not all of their clothing (who really needs socks AND shoes?), fortified with at least a few mouthfuls of healthy breakfast (poptart anyone?), and onto the school bus with a solid percentage of the stuff they’re supposed to have with them – let’s face it, you are the epitome of parenting excellence! – there is nothing you want more than to join in the Would You Read It fun! (And not only because of the Something Chocolate you’ve been craving all summer!)
Before we jump into today’s pitch, I want to let you all know that I have open dates for both Would You Read It and Tuesday Debut. If you’d like to share a pitch and get helpful feedback from our wonderful readers, or if you’re an author or author/illustrator with your very first ever picture book debuting, please use the contact page to give me a holler and let me know!
Available Would You Read It dates are: September 29 October 6, 13, 20, and 27 November (10?), 17, and 24 December 1
Available Tuesday Debut Dates are: September 21 and 28 October 26 November (9?), 16, 23, and 30
November 9th and 10th are question marks because of the Halloweensie Contest. . . which is another question. Do you guys want to have it again this year? Let me know in the comments if you’re for or against! đ
All that planning has put me in the mood for Something Chocolate! How about you? I think Cookies ‘n’ Cream Sandwich Cookies sound just right for back to school đ
I mean, is there any way to go wrong with Chocolate Chip Cookies baked into Oreos? I don’t think so! Grab a glass of milk (almond, cashew, soy, oat, or cow – whatever floats your boat… or your cookie sandwich) and enjoy!
Now that we’re properly fortified, let’s have a look at today’s pitch which comes to us from Elizabeth who says, “I am a retired teacher and was writing for the magazine market before trying my hand at picture books. I have two adult children, one being a published writer. Was she inspired by hearing the typewriter click, click, clicking as a child? đ I wrote this story with tongue in cheek when I imagined how such a creature might look. I’m a midwesterner who grew up loving fairy tales, horse stories and mysteries. As a child I always had my nose in a book. That’s a habit I can somewhat indulge in my retirement.”
I bet youâve never met a chick-a-gator. Neither had the hens in the chicken coop. When one hatches from an egg, pandemonium breaks out. None of the hens accept him; they make him sleep outside the fence;They run whenever he comes near; his rooster father disowns him. But thereâs more to Chick-a-gator than they know. One night he performs an heroic act that changes their opinion of him. He is hailed as a hero. Heâs half chicken and half gator with a mighty roar. Heâs the Chick-a-gator!
So what do you think? Would You Read It? YES, MAYBE or NO?
If your answer is YES, please feel free to tell us what you particularly liked and why the pitch piqued your interest. If your answer is MAYBE or NO, please feel free to tell us what you think could be better in the spirit of helping Elizabeth improve her pitch. Helpful examples of possible alternate wordings are welcome. (However I must ask that comments be constructive and respectful. I reserve the right not to publish comments that are mean because that is not what this is about
Please send YOUR pitches for the coming weeks! Â For rules and where to submit, click on this link Would You Read It or on Would You Read it in the dropdown under For Writers in the bar above. Â There are openings (as listed above!), so you could get your pitch up pretty soon for helpful feedback from our readers and a chance to have it read and commented on by editor Erin Molta!
Elizabeth is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch! Â I am looking forward to everything back-to-school! It feels like New Year’s, doesn’t it? Which I guess, if you celebrated Rosh Hashanah yesterday, it IS! đ
Don’t forget to give me a shout if you want a WYRI or Tuesday Debut date, and let me know if you want to have Halloweensie this year!
I know we’ve seen each other on and off over the summer for Tuesday Debuts, but it’s great to be back to the regular routine. I hope everyone had a wonderful summer and is filled with enthusiasm for the coming school year and inspiration for lots of new stories!
I’m starting off the school year with a book I think everyone – kids, teachers, and parents – will find helpful and enjoyable as they’re settling into their new routines.
Title: Listen
Written By: Gabi Snyder
Illustrated By: Stephanie Graegin
Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books, July 13, 2021
Suitable For Ages: 4-8
Themes/Topics: listening, attention, empathy
Opening: “When you step out into the big, wild world, sometimes all you hear is. . . NOISE!”
text copyright Gabi Snyder 2021, illustration copyright Stephanie Graegin 2021, Paula Wiseman Books
Brief Synopsis: The world is a noisy place, but what happens if you just stop, close your eyes, and listen?
Links To Resources: the book has a nice section of back matter that tells about the sense of hearing, and different kinds of listening; stop what you’re doing, close you eyes, and listen – what do you hear?; go for a walk and pay attention to the sounds around you – what do you hear?; talk about sounds you like and sounds you don’t like, times when you like noise and times when you like quiet.
text copyright Gabi Snyder 2021, illustration copyright Stephanie Graegin 2021, Paula Wiseman Books
Why I Like This Book: This lovely quiet book encourages children to pause, take a breath, stop the constant busy-ness of the world around them, and listen. Filter out the noise – literal and figurative – and focus on what matters. It helps them understand the importance of mindfulness and attention in the context of daily life. In the course of the story, the child goes from hearing the cacophony of noises in a busy street, to separating them out, to hearing “words of joy” and “words that sting” when a classmates feelings are hurt, to hearing the voice inside her, and the “hush and whispers” of nighttime. The art is perfect for the story, soft and appealing with lots of lovely details. A book every child will enjoy!
text copyright Gabi Snyder 2021, illustration copyright Stephanie Graegin 2021, Paula Wiseman Books
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog links (and any other info you feel like filling out đ) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week! And if you posted books over the summer, please feel free to add them here as well!And my apologies – I did something wrong and the links aren’t showing up, so I copied and pasted them below and will try to fix the problem for next week!
I’m really excited to share today’s post with you. For anyone who is interested in self-publishing, who has maybe played around with the idea but not really known where to start, or who thinks they might be interested in giving it a try at some point, I think you’ll today’s post extremely informative. I certainly learned a lot!
Please join me in welcoming Karen Wyle, who has generously shared her knowledge and experience with the process of self-publishing her first picture book, YOU CAN’T KISS A BUBBLE!
You Canât Kiss A Bubble Written by Karen A. Wyle Illustrated by Siski Kalla Published by Oblique Angles Press (Karen Wyle’s Imprint) Publication date July 23, 2021 Fiction/Nonfiction/neither?/both? See description Age 3+
What can and canât you do with a bubble? Using simple words, and a mixture of silly imagined scenes and more realistic ones, this book looks at both the charm and the transitory nature of bubbles, and helps its young audience appreciate how we can take joy even in the impermanent.
SUSANNA: Welcome, Karen, and thank you so much for joining us today! We’re excited to hear about how you brought this story to life. Where did the idea for this book come from?
KAREN: I wish I could remember where the idea for this book came from. I donât, in fact, remember the origins of most of my (not yet published) picture books — but I do remember the first. I was sitting on my front deck, pregnant with my older daughter, enjoying the oak trees in the front yard and scouting around my chair for acorns. The eventual title sums up where that moment led: Mommy Calls Me Acorn.
I would guess that another of my books, Catching Mommyâs Shadow, came from walks I took with one of my daughters.
SUSANNA: How long did it take you to write this book?
KAREN: Itâs been some years since I first wrote the text, but I believe it came quickly. This may also be the text for which the original draft is closest — very close — to the final version. I suspect those two facts may be related.
More often, I reread a picture book manuscript at intervals of anything from weeks to years, tweaking a word here and line order there. I try to remember to save multiple versions, so itâs easier to compare the latest changes with what had contented me the time before. I sometimes revert to an earlier version.
SUSANNA: When did you know your manuscript was ready for publication?
KAREN: I havenât used professional critiques or editorial services. I did have an agent for my picture books many years ago, and discussed which books had most promise and what edits might be needed. For my novels, I typically recruit beta readers, and send them a list of questions as well as soliciting miscellaneous comments. I may do this for future picture books. For this book, I more or less held my breath and jumped into talking to illustrators. I felt somewhat more confident when all three illustrators from whom I requested (paid) samples had nice things to say about the text.
SUSANNA: At what point did you decide to self-publish rather than submit to traditional publishers? Did you try traditional first? Or did you have specific reasons for wanting to self-publish?
KAREN: As I mentioned above, I did try the agent route for my picture books, with no result. By the time I started writing novels in 2010, I spent most of the year between rough draft and publication researching agents, publishers, and the traditional publishing process. By the end of that time, I had decided self-publishing offered me more: control over every aspect of the process, shorter pre-publication times, and more flexibility. (The fact that Iâve published novels in three different genres, short stories in two, and now am publishing picture books demonstrates that flexibility.)
I waited to publish a picture book until I thought the technology available to indie authors at reasonable cost had become suitable for that purpose.
SUSANNA: How did you find an illustrator?
KAREN: I joined several Facebook groups for childrenâs book authors and/or illustrators, and looked through the many portfolios and Instagram accounts listed in response to other authorsâ posts there. I also looked through portfolios on Behance (and possibly another site whose name Iâve forgotten). I had so much fun immersing myself in all that creativity!
Then I contacted a few illustrators to ask whether they would provide paid samples, and if so, what theyâd charge. I paid three illustrators for samples: I sent them the text and asked them to pick a line to illustrate, one that would give me a feel for how the bubble(s) and the child would look. Of those three, I decided Siski Kallaâs style was just right for this book. (I hired one of the others, Barbara Dessi, to illustrate the picture book I plan to publish next, When Itâs Winter.)
FOLLOW-UP FROM SUSANNA: I asked Karen if she would be kind enough to share the FB groups that had been helpful to her and she replied:
KAREN: I spend the most time in “Children’s Book Authors and Illustrators: Publishing, Marketing and Selling.” The other I visit frequently is “Children’s Book Illustrators.” I am also a member of “Children’s Book Author Community” and “Children’s Book Author Social Media Marketing.”
SUSANNA: Did you and the illustrator have a contract of any kind? What types of items did it address (if you can share a little â doesnât have to be too specific, but in terms of what people might want to think about if they were to do it.)
KAREN: Siski and I do have a contract. She sent me her standard contract, and I asked questions and suggested a few tweaks. The contract covers which rights Siski transferred to me and which rights she retained; the number of illustrations; the price per illustration and total price; the illustration schedule; the payment schedule; a consultation and approval process; and cancelation provisions.
SUSANNA:Â Are you able to give a ballpark figure of any kind (or a specific one if youâre so inclined âș) about the cost of the illustrator?
KAREN: For twelve double-page spreads and one cover illustration, I paid 2,050 euros.
SUSANNA: What was the illustration process like since you were directing it? Any particular challenges? Anything you particularly enjoyed?
KAREN: It would oversimplify matters to say I âdirectedâ the illustration process. My only previous collaborations had been with cover designers, where that description would apply — but a picture bookâs illustrations are, I believe, at least as important as its text, and the process must allow for both contributorsâ creative vision. (There were times I needed a gentle reminder of this principle.)
Siski was very patient with my many questions and requests. Iâm embarrassed, looking back with the completed book in hand, at just how many.
Some of my lines were abstract enough that settling on the right illustration involved some back-and-forth. It was an absolute joy to see my words so richly and imaginatively realized and extended.
illustration copyright Siski Kalla 2021
SUSANNA: How did you format your book for publication?
KAREN: I had already chosen a book format (8.5âx8.5â) before hiring Siski. I did some online research about cover designers, including asking other members of the Facebook groups for suggestions, and hired Jacob Dunaway to do the interior text and turn Siskiâs cover illustration into a complete cover. Jacob and I discussed title placement, title font, and interior font. He did mockups of the interior with two different fonts he recommended, and I picked one. Jacob then worked with the various printersâ cover templates.
FOLLOW-UP FROM SUSANNA: I asked Karen if she could define and detail what Jacob did for her a little further and she replied:
KAREN: I would call Jacob Dunaway a book designer. He did the text and page formatting, as well as the cover, for all three editions (hardcover, paperback, Kindle) of the book. I believe the cost of hiring him depends on the details of a particular job — and in fact, as this job evolved, I volunteered to pay more than his very reasonable initial fee. I don’t know whether he has a website.
SUSANNA:Â How did you select a printing service?
KAREN: I was already familiar with Amazon/KDP and IngramSpark. I used KDP for a Kindle and a paperback edition, and IngramSpark for paperback and hardcover editions. I wanted to find a printer that offered quantity discounts for paperbacks and/or hardcovers, and I didnât want to have dealings with companies in China, so I did some research about US printers, sent emails to some and submitted quote requests to others, and ended up going with Formax Printing for additional hardcover copies. They were very helpful throughout the process of getting the book properly formatted for their purposes
FOLLOW-UP FROM SUSANNA: I asked Karen if she could kindly share a little more information about her printer research and IngramSpark and she replied:
KAREN: US printers have requirements as far as minimum page count, minimum order size, etc. – too much to go into here, but just so readers know to check that. With that caveat, I investigated (in no particular order): Emprint/Moran Printing, based in Louisiana; Smith Printing Co., based in Minnesota; Bookmobile, also based in Minnesota; Bang Printing, also based in Minnesota; AlphaGraphics Carmel, based in Indiana; Bridgeport National Bindery, based in Massachusetts; Braintree Printing, also based in Massachusetts; Signature Book Printing, based in Maryland; Snowfall Press (base of operations not recorded); Dekker Bookbinding, based in Michigan; Versa Press, based in Illinois; and BookBaby, based in New Jersey (consulted only about printing, not their other services). (More than the “couple” of names I now see you asked for . . . .)
I first learned about IngramSpark a number of years ago. They’re the “other” POD (Print On Demand) printer, competing with Amazon’s KDP — although they apparently do some of KDP’s printing as well. They provide hardcover as well as paperback books, which KDP doesn’t (so far). They distribute to quite a few retailers, including Barnes & Noble. Their distribution arm, Ingram Group, is well known and respected enough to give additional credibility to indie authors trying to get books into bricks-and-mortar bookstores. They allow authors to select a wholesale discount of (something like) 30% to their recommended 55%, and to allow returns. Without such a discount and return policy, it’s not likely a bookstore will purchase books. For You Can’t Kiss A Bubble, I chose the 30% discount rather than 55%, as the higher discount would have required me to price the hardcover edition too high.
SUSANNA: Did you do a print run so youâd have inventory, or is your book print-on-demand? (And where is your book available â online bookstores? brick and mortar bookstores?)
KAREN: IngramSparkâs prices for the paperback were low enough that I could order inventory for direct sales, while I relied on Formax for hardcover inventory. The book is available on Amazon and on Barnes & Noble. IngramSpark also makes the book available to many retailers and to libraries. If anyone wants to pick up a copy at a brick-and-mortar bookstore, they should be able to ask the bookstore to order it.
SUSANNA:Â How long was the process from writing through publication of your book?
KAREN: After all the years where the book sat in an electronic âshelf,â the journey from first deciding to publish it until its actual release took seven months.
SUSANNA:Â Were you able to get your book reviewed by Kirkus, SLJ, Hornbook, Booklist etc?
KAREN: I havenât tried for reviews from any of those you listed. I have approached a long list of childrenâs book bloggers, requesting reviews or other mentions — with some success. đ
SUSANNA: Describe any marketing/promotion you did for this book.
KAREN: Rupamanjari Majumder, author of Magic in Wonderland, is the woman behind the Comfy Corner podcast. She is a member of one of the Facebook groups I joined, and she told me she was starting to make videos in which she reads picture books. She offered to make one for this book, and I jumped at the chance. In the end, she decided that her four-year-old daughter should be the one reading. I love the charming result. (She also got an animator to add drifting bubbles.)
Iâve printed up flyers to pass around the neighborhood, mentioning a âneighbor discount.â Iâve also designed a bookmark and some stickers, and purchased some small bottles of bubble solution. When I find events to do, Iâll pass out some or all of these extras.
Iâve also posted advance peeks at a few illustrations on my blog (âLooking Aroundâ), and then posted the links to the blog entries on Facebook and Twitter. On release day, I posted about the book in a few different Goodreads groups.
SUSANNA: Anything else youâd like to share about your bookâs journey from inspiration to publication?
KAREN: Itâs been an immensely educational process — and Iâm eager to do it again!
SUSANNA: I always ask contributors to Tuesday Debut to share photos of their work space and writing buddies if they’d like to, and Karen said:
[KAREN: Alas, my work space is a pile of clutter with a desk and PC inserted in it. I share it with my husband, which I guess makes him my work buddy, but Iâll let him remain anonymous.]
SUSANNA: Hahaha! I guess we’ll just have to use our imaginations to picture it đ
SUSANNA: Thank you so much for taking the time to participate in this series and paying it forward to other writers, Karen! It is wonderfully inspiring to hear about how you took charge of your own writing and created this beautiful book! I know I speak for everyone when I wish you all the best with this and future titles!
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!
You may purchase Karen’s book at: (all links below are book-specific)
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 đ
Missed any previous Tuesday Debuts? Check them out!
I hope you’re all enjoying it from your shady hammocks with a glass of lemonade or iced tea! If you happen to be at the beach, keep your eyes peeled for sharkbots đ because today’s debut-ess is the one and only Jenna Waldman who has kindly come to tell us all about how her SHARKBOT SHALOM wound up at your local bookstore! đ
SHARKBOT SHALOM Written by Jenna Waldman Illustrated by Sharon Davey Apples & Honey Press August 1, 2021 Fiction, Ages 2-5.
Time is running out before Shabbat, and so is Sharkbotâs charge. Heâs already at charge level TEN . . . NINE . . . EIGHT. . . . Count down with this cheerful shark robot as he sets the table, stirs the seaweed soup, and braids kelp into challah loaves. A Shabbat recharge is just what Sharkbot needs. But will he be ready in time?
SUSANNA: Hi, Jenna! So great to have you with us today!
JENNA: Hi, Susanna, Itâs fantastic to be visiting with you!
SUSANNA: Let’s start at the beginning. Where did the idea for this book come from?
JENNA: The idea for Sharkbot Shalom came from my pun loving mind one morning while herding my two boys in the car for school. âShabbat shalomâ is the typical Shabbat greeting (itâs also a song), but my kids loved sharks and robotsâso the title was born. And yes, I did sing it to them, much to their dismay⊠I torture them with a lot of silly songs, it helps me brainstorm ideas!
I recently looked back at the original brainstorm I had for the book. I had Sharkbot rushing back home for Shabbat from a space adventure before his charge ran out. But I prefered the idea of Sharkbot preparing the meal himself, and using other ocean imagery and charactersâit felt more natural.
SUSANNA: How long did it take you to write this book?
JENNA: After coming up with the concept, it came together pretty quickly! I wrote a brief plot at the top of the document to keep me focused, and made a long list of ocean words for reference. I knew I had to move the countdown from 10-1, and conclude with the Shabbat meal. So, I wrote out the numbers (10-1) and paired them with potential rhymes. Then I filled in the couplets while making sure the story moved along. In the end, I didnât want every couplet to end with the number, so I used the numbers to refer to things other than his charge: âThe starfish waves five arms, âhelloââ, âTwo candlesticks of coral pinkâ, etc. For this book, it really helped to create a âskeletonâ and fill in the âmeatâ.
SUSANNA: Did you go through many revisions?
JENNA: Sharkbot Shalom was unusual in that it didnât take many revisions. But! Itâs also not a typical PB structure, the plot is simple, and it relies heavily on the counting hook. So, while there are many layers, it was fairly fully formed early on. Larryâs Latkes, on the other hand, took A LOT of revisions!
Speaking of revisions, I am forever grateful for my CPâs helpâhaving your CPâs eyes on your work is invaluable. Iâm also a member of Poetâs Garage, a group of incredibly talented poets. If you rhyme, working with people who do it better than you helps you to grow, and makes your work stronger.
SUSANNA: When did you know your manuscript was ready for submission?
JENNA: Remember those CPâs I mentioned? They will often let you know when your manuscript is ready! I also had a gut feeling, and felt like the hooks helped make it a solid, and marketable piece.
But sometimes, your CPâs and gut will tell you your manuscript is ready, and you still get rejections! It can take a lot of revisions and submissions until the right pair of eyes reads your workâkeep chocolate handy (for the rejections…and maybe your gut is just telling you youâre hungry!)
SUSANNA: Really there is no moment when chocolate isn’t helpful for something đ When and how did you submit?
JENNA: I sent it to Apples & Honey Press, who had recently bought Larryâs Latkes. I sent them Sharkbot Shalom in January, and received the offer in February. This is an unusually fast turnaround! Originally, Larryâs Latkes was going to be my debut, but Sharkbot stole its spot. (I hope theyâre still friends!) Larryâs Latkes had done a lot of the work for Sharkbot. I had the connection to editors at Apples & Honey Press already, and thatâs why I decided to send it to them firstâand you know the rest!
I didnât have an agent when I sold Larryâs Latkes or Sharkbot Shalom. I was a very reluctant query-er! It felt overwhelming to make a spreadsheet (shudder) and I kept feeling like my best work was still yet to come, and I should wait. True storyâwhen I finally put together a spreadsheet of agents/publishers, I was approached by my now agent (Joyce Sweeney) through my participation in the #PBChat Mentorship Showcase. So maybe, just maybe, tackling that spreadsheet let the universe know I was ready.
SUSANNA: Maybe so! It sounds very possible to me. When did you get “the call”? (Best moment ever! đ)
JENNA: It went like this: manuscript sent, 1/12/20; received email with interest, 2/20/20; phone call with offer, 2/26/20; contract signed, 3/15/20. Again, it was super fast, and super unusual. Larryâs Latkes went through more of the typical publishing acrobatics, and then had its debut glory stolen!
SUSANNA: How did you celebrate signing your contract?
JENNA: Well, we all remember what was happening in the beginning of 2020? Two days before I signed the contract for Sharkbot, my boysâ schools were shut down. To be honest, I donât remember celebrating. We were too deep in survival mode. I looked back at the emails my editor and I exchanged at the time, and we were checking in with each other, and asking about family. There were a lot of mixed emotions, thatâs for sure. But if you look back at all the chocolate and cookies I ate during 2020, maybe I was celebrating all year! (Oy vey…) Iâll be making up for the missed celebration on Sharkbotâs Book Birthday with a day at the beach, and a nice meal.
SUSANNA: Was the contract what you expected in terms of advance, royalty percentage, publication timeline, author copies etc.?
JENNA: The contract was the same terms as Larryâs Latkes, so it wasnât much of a surprise. My editor also shared the terms when we had the phone call, so I knew what to expect. I had my husband, who is an attorney, review the contracts. He made some suggested changes, but luckily, they were minor.
Apples & Honey Press is a small publisher, so I wasnât expecting a large advance, and they have the typical 5% royalties. The contract included 10 author copies, but I wish I had asked for more. I have a third book coming out in â23 and I asked for 20 author copies, which they approved. You can always ask!
The final âworkâ deadline was written in the contract as well, but my editor has always been flexible with deadlines on edits when itâs been necessary (ie Iâm going out of town, or another conflict) although I usually end up finishing edits early. Itâs a good idea to have open communication with your editor, and ask if you need something, theyâre people too!
SUSANNA: Can you tell us a little about the editorial process?
JENNA: I adore my editor at Apples & Honey Press! Itâs been a lot of fun to work with her on our (now three) books. There were several rounds of revisions for Sharkbot. The story stayed the same, but there wording was refined. For exampleâhow did I not realize I said âoceanâ in the first two stanzas?! Thank you, editor, for catching that!
The Shabbat meal included wine, and I was wondering if they would ask me to change it to, I dunno, underwater-grape juice? But thankfully we were in agreement that Sharkbot and his buddies were most definitely of legal drinking age.
SUSANNA: What was your experience of the illustration process like?
JENNA: I feel lucky that Apples & Honey shared illustrations with me at several different stages. They shared the illustratorâs name before signing her (although Iâm unsure what would have happened if I had said ânoââluckily, I loved her work!). I was able to share any comments I had with my editor, but there werenât many.
The vision I had of sharkbot was nothing like Sharon Daveyâs interpretation. (Herâs is FAR better!) I had visualized him as an upright robot (for Dr Who fans, think âdalekâ, but not a diabolical murdering machine). Sharon also made the most gorgeous home for her endearing sharkbot character and his friends. I love the color palette, and his eyebrows!
text copyright Jenna Waldman 2021, illustration copyright Sharon Davey 2021, Apples & Honey Press
Sharon lives in the UK, and we did not communicate directly about our book. We worked with the editors as our go-between. But weâve connected on social media, and she is lovely.
I really didnât have any artnotes for this manuscript, other than that Sharkbotâs charge visibly decreases with each number (10-1). I was very curious about how Sharon was going to illustrate this, and she resolved it really well.
text copyright Jenna Waldman 2021, illustration copyright Sharon Davey 2021, Apples & Honey Press
In my two other Apples & Honey books, I was actually asked for more art notes so they had a better sense of my vision. After everything Iâve heard, this really surprised me. I donât know if the notes were shared with the illustrator, or if the editors merely passed my thoughts along verballyâor not at all.
Hereâs a little secret fact in the Sharkbot illustration: Sharkbot lives at â55 Sandy Driveâ. My childhood home was number 55. A little shout out to my youth!
SUSANNA: I love that little personal touch! So fun! Did you get to see advance reviews from Kirkus, SLJ, etc? What was that like?
JENNA: So far, Iâve only seen a review from Kirkus, andâI still donât understand what they are saying. Not that I argue they made a misjudgment, I just didnât understand: âA guidebook for those who believe âthink like a Jewish robotic sharkâ is good advice.â But it probably makes as much sense as a robotic shark celebrating Shabbat with his ocean friends! Iâll just shrug and keep on writing.
SUSANNA: How long did it take from offer to having the first copy in your hand?
JENNA: Oh goodness! Well, 2/20/20 was the phone call offer, and on 4/8/21 I received an early copy my editor sent me. (See my stop motion video on Twitter showing the opening of the package). But I didnât receive my author copies until this July.
I donât know the print run from Apples & Honey, I should ask! But PJ Library will be sending out 30,400 copies of Sharkbot this Fall, Iâm so excited!
PJ Library sends children, ages 0-9, free age appropriate books that speak to Jewish values, and traditions. Weâve received PJ Library books since my youngest was in preschool, about 6 years. Apples & Honey Press submits all of their picture books for consideration to PJ Library. I am so honored that they decided to include both Sharkbot Shalom and Larryâs Latkes in their program. Both books will be sent to five year olds this fall. The acceptance to the program happened before the initial print run at Apples & Honey Press. I actually had sent Larryâs Latkes directly to PJ Library (they are open for unsolicited submissions) at the same time I had sent it to Apples & Honey. They initially rejected it, but A&H said that they will often change their minds once they see it come together with the artâIâm so happy they did!Â
SUSANNA: That is really fabulous! How wonderful that your books will go out to so many kids this fall! What kind of marketing and promotion has your publisher done for this book?
JENNA: Again, itâs a small publisher, and they donât do a lot of marketing/publicity. But they submit books for reviews, and advertise via their own website and social media, and get the book situated on Amazon and in local indies. They offered to host a virtual event, but I donât have anything planned with them as of yet. They also send bookmarks and bookplates.
SUSANNA: Describe any marketing/promotion you did for this book.
JENNA: Iâm in a fantastic promo group called Picture Book Playground. Itâs a group of 22 picture book creators, and their support has been invaluable! From helping to publicize our books on social media, to advice on a variety of topics, to emotional support for the ups and downs of publishingâI really appreciate them.
I have also created promotional stop motion videos for Sharkbot. You can find them on Twitter: @SarafinaDesign (my handle is a remnant of my old greeting card business). They were so much fun to make! I invited kids to draw what they imagined a âsharkbotâ to look like, and it culminated in the cover reveal.
On August 1st with the PJ Library of Silicon Valley, weâll be meeting at Natural Bridges Beach in Santa Cruz for songs, playing in the sun, learning about tidepools, andâŠ.the debut reading of Sharkbot Shalom! For the event Iâve made Sharkbot party hats, and little swag bags. Before I even signed my first book contract I was already looking up swag!
Along with more blog visits, I also have some bookstore visits in the future.
SUSANNA: How long was it between the time you started writing seriously and the time you sold your first picture book?
JENNA: When I was pregnant with my first son, I used to meet a friend in coffee shops and weâd work on our own projects. Sheâs an amazing fantasy writer, and I was working on my greeting cards. In 2016, I was no longer feeling invested in my greeting card business (by then I had a second kid and no time). I wanted to focus on writing, and I asked my friend for advice in finding a writerâs group. On her recommendation, I joined Inked Voices for a while, and that led to 12×12 in 2017. I signed Larryâs Latkes around Thanksgiving in 2019, so it took almost exactly 3 years.
But, one of my dreams is to write AND illustrate a book…weâll see how many years that takes…
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?)
JENNA: Oh hey, remember those CPâs I mentioned back in question 3 and 4, get yourself some of those! Iâve met them through 12×12, Twitter, my promo group, my agency, and more. They are out there, find them.
Iâve also said this on other occasions: spend time with kids! They are not only idea factories, and unfiltered commentators, but they are your target market. Well, parents are doing the buying, but are parents as much fun as a room full of 5 year olds?!
SUSANNA: Anything else you’d like to share about your book’s journey from inspiration to publication?
JENNA: It is most certainly a collaboration! From the author, to illustrator, editors, copyeditors, book designers, there are so many moving parts that work in the book making machine. Since I had an art background, it was a practice in relinquishing control, and making room for the other parts to turn. This doesnât mean that you canât comment on something that doesnât feel right to you! But, perhaps, by stepping back and making spaceâyou will end up with something amazing you never would have created on your own. For example, my editor is the one who suggested a relaxation exercise for the end of Sharkbot. It hadnât even crossed my mindâbut I love how it complements the book.
Also, I was motivated to write Sharkbot after selling Larryâs Latkes, and having the attention of Apples & Honey Press. I wouldnât have written Larryâs Latkes if it werenât for Susunna Hillâs Holiday contest in 2018. Contests are a fantastic way to find prompts and motivation (gotta love deadlines!), connect with the community, and another way to…find those CPâs I keep talking about ; D
Author Jenna Waldman
Jenna Waldman is the author of the forthcoming picture books, LARRY’S LATKES and SHARKBOT SHALOM. They will both be released in 2021 byApples & Honey Press. Jenna is originally from Rhode Island, but now lives in the SF Bay Area. She shares her home with her husband, their two boys, and two felines. Jenna is represented by Joyce Sweeney ofThe Seymour Agency.
JENNA: Thank you SO much Susanna!!! I wouldnât be here without you, literally!
SUSANNA: Aw, shucks, Jenna! You’re kind to say so, but I’m quite sure your talent and dedication would have won out with or without me! đ Thank you so much for taking the time to participate in this series and paying it forward to other writers! We so appreciate it, and wish you all the best of luck with this and future titles!
Readers, if you have questions for Jenna, please post them in the comments below and if she has time I’m sure she’ll respond!
You may purchase Jenna’s book at: (all links below are book-specific)
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 đ
Missed any previous Tuesday Debuts? Check them out!
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