Are you ready for this week’s list of Perfect Picture Books? I am! And I have such a sweet one to start you off with!
Title: The Little Bear
Written & Illustrated By: Nicola Killen
Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books, June 28, 2022, Fiction
Suitable For Ages: 4-8
Themes/Topics: first day of school, apprehension
Opening: “It was the night before school started and Ollie was feeling nervous. She filled her little bear backpack, ready for the morning, and had one last practice lesson on the way to bed.”
text and illustration copyright Nicola Killen 2022, Paula Wiseman Books
Brief Synopsis: [From the publisher] “The end of summer can be a bittersweet time, and Ollie isn’t sure if she’s ready to go back to school. But the night before her first day back, Ollie dreams about a magical schoolhouse in the woods full of friendly little animals who make learning an adventure. When Ollie wakes up, she can’t wait to go to school!”
text and illustration copyright Nicola Killen 2022, Paula Wiseman Books
text and illustration copyright Nicola Killen 2022, Paula Wiseman Books
Why I Like This Book: I am such a fan of Nicola Killen’s books. They are all lovely, sweet, friendly, and comforting, and this one is no exception. Ollie is excited about school, but a little nervous. The night before school begins, she dreams that she follows an owl on a magical journey into the woods, where she finds a little school house filled with friendly animals. A little bear is standing outside looking nervous. Knowing exactly how he feels, Ollie suggests they go in together. One fun activity follows another and everyone has a wonderful day. When Ollie awakens in the morning, she is excited and ready for her first day! The story makes school look so fun and friendly that any young reader who is feeling anxious about school will feel encouraged to give it a try with a positive attitude. The art is charming – so appealing! – with a little cut-out like a magical door at the beginning and end of the journey, and highlights of shiny foil here and there to add sparkle. A sweet, quiet read that will reassure anyone who is apprehensive about their first day of school.
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog links (and any other info you feel like filling out 😊) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
A fabulous list of Perfect Picture Books just in time for the weekend!
But FIRST! I’m happy to announce the randomly selected winner of last week’s giveaway, Rosanne Kurstedt’s beautiful AND I THINK ABOUT YOU!
ANDREA MACK, come on down! YOU are the lucky winner! Congratulations!!! Please email me (you can use the handy contact form in the menu above if you don’t have my email) and let me know your snail mail address so I can send you the book!
Lovely!
Onward!
Today I have a very entertaining book to share called I CANNOT DRAW A HORSE.
Now, I don’t want to brag, but I actually CAN draw a horse.
Look:
I drew that myself – a Susanna Hill original – no artistic training whatsoever!
I know. It’s a gift.
But for those of you who might need a little instruction, (not to mention a fun story) check out this book!
Title: I Cannot Draw A Horse
Written & Illustrated By: Charise Mericle Harper
Publisher: Union Square Kids, October 11, 2022, fiction
Suitable For Ages: 3-8
Themes/Topics: creativity, imagination, self-belief, art
text and illustration copyright Charise Mericle Harper 2022, Union Square Kids
Opening: “This is my shape. Hello, shape! “What am I?” asked the shape. I am a nothing shape. You are not a nothing shape. Look! I can draw a cat. I want a horse.
text and illustration copyright Charise Mericle Harper 2022, Union Square Kids
Brief Synopsis: The book has a shape. It can make the shape a cat. The cat wants a horse. The book cannot draw a horse, but it can draw lots of other things to give the cat fun and excitement. But the cat still wants a horse. Can the book find a way to supply one?
Links To Resources: the book itself is a fun art resource. The pages are like graph paper, and all of the images are made from simple, easy-to-copy shapes and lines that kids can have fun trying their hands at. Start by trying the ones from the book, then see what you can make on your own! Topic for discussion: how important is it to believe you can do something? Does believing you can do something make you able to do it? Does believing you can’t make it impossible?
text and illustration copyright Charise Mericle Harper 2022, Union Square Kids
Why I Like This Book: For starters, this book is a clever departure from standard story telling. The book itself plays an important role by creating all the images that appear. It begins with a shape that looks like a gumdrop. When the shape complains it is nothing, the book makes it into a cat. The cat demands a horse, which the book says it cannot draw, but it willingly supplies other friends – a squirrel, a beaver, a bunny, and a dog. It provides fun in the form of a pool for splashing and a skateboard for going fast. The cat, however, will not be happy until it gets a horse. So at last the book grudgingly makes an attempt. I will not give away the ending – you must read it for yourself or it will be spoiled – but it made me laugh out loud! This picture book, which is like an introduction to graphic novels, is sure to have kids giggling, and experimenting with shapes to see what they can draw!
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog links (and any other info you feel like filling out 😊) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! 😊 Practice your horse drawing 😊
Hello, everyone, and welcome to today’s edition of Tuesday Debut!
Today’s debut-ess, Katie Mazeika, is both author and illustrator, so she knows both halves of the picture book publication journey. Let’s have a look at her fascinating book, ANNETTE FEELS FREE: THE TRUE STORY OF ANNETTE KELLERMAN, WORLD-CLASS SWIMMER, FASHION PIONEER, AND REAL-LIFE MERMAID, and hear about how it got from idea to bookstore shelf!
ANNETTE FEELS FREE: THE TRUE STORY OF ANNETTE KELLERMAN, WORLD-CLASS SWIMMER, FASHION PIONEER, AND REAL-LIFE MERMAID by Katie Mazeika (author and illustrator) S&S/Beach Lane Books, Sept. 13/2022 Nonfiction PB Biography, ages 4-8
The incredible true story of “The Original Mermaid,” Annette Kellerman, a girl who wanted to dance, swim, and feel free—and who grew into a woman who fought for the right to do just that!
SUSANNA: Thank you so much for joining us today, Katie! It’s always a treat to have an author/illustrator because we get to learn about both sides of the picture book writing process. Where did the inspiration for this book come from?
KATIE: I did an illustration of Annette Kellerman in 2017 as portfolio piece. At the time I read a little bit about her, and found her story intriguing. I think I related to Annette’s disability, having lost my eye as a toddler, and so I continued researching her.
The words and images came together for ANNETTE FEELS FREE (and with my current picture book biography). Once I began researching Annette, as an illustrator, I couldn’t help but visualize her story. Certain events stood out to me, and I knew I wanted to illustrate them for the book. For example, Annette swimming in the Melbourne Aquarium as a teen (the first spread of the book) and the confrontation between Annette and the police officer on the beach.
SUSANNA: How long did it take you to write/illustrate this book?
KATIE: To get to the first polished dummy was probably 9 moths. But it was in spare time between other illustration projects. Once we sold ANNETTE and I could focus on it full time I finished the art in about 3 months.
SUSANNA: Did you go through many revisions?
KATIE: I did one giant overhaul of the dummy. After some feedback I made some major stylistic changes. Once ANNETTE sold my editor and I spent time going through the text and removing anything unnecessary or expanding where it was needed. And after the final art was turned it we did the same-fine tuning the images to make sure they read clearly and there was plenty of room for text.
SUSANNA: When and how did you submit?
KATIE: I am represented by the wonderful Sorche Fairbank at Fairbank Literary Representation. She helped me with putting together a proposal and then she submitted that, with the text and dummy to a list of editors she thought might be interested.
SUSANNA: When did you get “the call”, which these days is more likely to be “the email”? (Best moment ever! 😊)
KATIE: It was right before my birthday. I got a text from Sorche that said “call me!!” with a line of swimmer emojis. When I called her I learned that Allyn Johnston at Beach Lane wanted to acquire ANNETTE.
ANNETTE went out just after Covid hit. No one was in the office, then everyone was working from home but there were questions if publishers were acquiring. So I was unsure of what to expect.
SUSANNA: How long was it between getting your offer and getting your contract to sign?
KATIE: It was a long time between the offer and contract (4-5 months)-which I understand is typical but Covid didn’t help.
SUSANNA: How did you celebrate signing your contract?
KATIE: A special dinner with my family.
SUSANNA: Many of us are authors, so we understand the concept of text revision, but can you give us an example of how you go about making editorial illustration changes?
KATIE: These are “before” and “after” versions of the same spread:
text and illustration copyright Katie Mazeika 2022, Beach Lane
The first image is a scene I did for my first dummy for ANNETTE FEELS FREE. It was one of the 3 final spreads in the dummy. I posted this spread on Twitter in April 2019 with a pitch for DVpit. That was how my agent found me. With her insights, I strengthened the text, and then I decided to redo the artwork. My style evolved, but the composition didn’t change much. Notice the brighter color scheme in the second image. It’s much more engaging and kid-friendly. Sometimes there is a germ of a good idea in a weak piece of art or writing, and fresh eyes can make all the difference, whether it’s somebody else’s or your own, after a period away. You can see that difference here:
text and illustration copyright Katie Mazeika 2022, Beach Lane
Here are a few other images from the book:
text and illustration copyright Katie Mazeika 2022, Beach Lane
text and illustration copyright Katie Mazeika 2022, Beach Lane
text and illustration copyright Katie Mazeika 2022, Beach Lane
SUSANNA: Did you get to see advance reviews from Kirkus, SLJ, etc? What was that like?
KATIE: My first review was from Kirkus. I was a little nervous because I had heard Kirkus can be tough in reviews, They called ANNETTE “Swim-pressive”. Then I learned that ANNETTE was a Jr Library Guild Gold Standard Selection. That was a very gratifying. It also means kids everywhere will read about Annette. So I was all smiles when I got that news.
SUSANNA: How long did it take from offer to having the first copy in your hand?
KATIE: It took about 18 before I had a copy the final digital book-all put together as a PDF. It was another 3-4 months before I received my first print copy.
SUSANNA: How long was it between the time you started illustrating seriously and the time you sold your first picture book?
KATIE: I guess about 7-8 years from when I was able to focus on illustrating seriously to getting my first book published as an author/illustrator. I had several books previously as an illustrator.
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 artists?)
KATIE: Read the deals in PW Bookshelf. Look up the illustrators in those deals. Ask yourself what is in their portfolios that you are missing in your own.
SUSANNA: Very helpful! Thank you so much for taking the time to participate in this series and paying it forward to other writers, Katie! We wish you all the best of luck with this and future titles!
Now that the summer hiatus is over, we’re back to Perfect Picture Book Fridays! And not a moment too soon! I have about 47 books I wanted to share today 😊 Luckily, other PPBF participants are likely to share some of them.
Which reminds me, if you’re one of the dedicated folks who consistently posted Perfect Picture Books all summer, please feel free to add them all to today’s list. That will be wonderful for everyone!
I have a lovely book to share today, one that seems especially appropriate with school just starting. In the story, the mother is at work thinking of her child, and the child is at school thinking of their mom.
AND, as if a glimpse of this beautiful book weren’t enough, we have a giveaway! One lucky person is going to win a copy of AND I THINK ABOUT YOU! All you have to do is leave a comment in the comment section below between now and Wednesday September 14 at 9PM Eastern and you’ll be in the running to be randomly selected. I will announce the winner next Friday.
Title: And I Think About You
Written By: Rosanne L. Kurstedt
Illustrated By: Ya-Ling Huang
Publisher: Kids Can Press, September 20, 2022, Fiction
Suitable For Ages: 3-6
Themes/Topics: family love (mother/child), being apart, reassurance
Opening: “Together we eat breakfast. I drink my coffee. You scoop your milk-soaked cereal.”
Brief Synopsis: A mother bear goes through her work day describing what she’s doing while always thinking about her little one, only to come home and discover that her child has been thinking about her too.
Links To Resources:
Special treat! A craft supplied by the author! Thank you, Rosanne!
Why I Like This Book: This book lovingly shows how a mom at work does her job and simultaneously has her child in mind all day long. Though they may be apart, she is always thinking of her little one. The story flows seamlessly between what the mother is doing and thinking and what the child is doing, showing their parallel activities. As the mom reads her emails, she thinks about reading with her child, and on the page turn, her child is in school reading a story. As the mother eats lunch with a friend, she thinks about eating with her child, and on the page turn the child is eating lunch with school friends. This sweet story will reassure any child that whether mom and dad go out to work or work from home, any time they’re separated during the day they are always in their parents minds and hearts. The soft watercolor art captures the tender mood of the story perfectly. A wonderful choice for any bookshelf!
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 😊
Author Rosanne Kurstedt
Rosanne L. Kurstedt, Ph.D., has been an educator for over 20 years, supporting learners of all ages. She is the author of several books for teachers, including Teaching Writing with Picture Books as Models and a series entitled 100+ Growth Mindset Comments. Rosanne loves picture books and anything kid-lit so she volunteers as the Assistant Regional Advisor for the New Jersey chapter of the Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators. Her first book Karate Kid (Running Press Kids) was released in 2019 and her second book And I Think About You (Kids Can Press) was released in 2022.
She loves sharing her books and expertise with readers of all ages at various author events (e.g., school visits, festivals, teacher professional development, mom’s groups, etc.)
Rosanne is the founder of The Author Experience (www.TheAuthorExperience.org), a 501(c)(3) organization committed to the transformative power of sharing stories. In collaboration with students, families, and educators, TAE provides sustainable literacy-based experiences that build a culture of literacy—one that elevates connections and delivers lasting impact.
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog links (and any other info you feel like filling out 😊) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
Here we are, ready to start another school year and pick up all our writing and reading pursuits once again 😊
I’m so glad to see you all, and I thank those of you who showed up for the random summer Tuesday Debut posts to support those new authors. It was much appreciated by them and by me!
Now, somehow it’s September! How did THAT happen?
It’s been such a busy summer, the time has just flown. It feels like June 1st was five minutes ago! I got to do lots of wonderful things, including spending time with my children and grandchildren and my parents and siblings, being walked by my dogs, and taking full advantage of the coffee/maple twist creemees at Cookie Love in Vermont 😊 I hope you all had happy summers as well!
September and back-to-school always feels as much like the New Year to me as much as the actual New Year. And what better way to kick off than with today’s debut-ess, Jocelyn Watkinson, and her delightful picture book THE THREE CANADIAN PIGS: A HOCKEY STORY? (Publication is set for September 13th, so please feel free to pre-order your copies at the links provided below!)
THE THREE CANADIAN PIGS: A HOCKEY STORY Author: Jocelyn Watkinson Illustrator: Marcus Cutler Sleeping Bear Press September 13th 2022 Fiction Age Range: 6-7
In order to save their bacon, The Three Canadian Pigs face off against the big bad wolf and his team in a dramatic hockey game. In true Canadian fashion, after the pigs trounce their foes, they patch up their differences with delicious Canadian delicacies and friendship.
SUSANNA: Welcome, Jocelyn! Thank you so much for joining us today! We’re really looking forward to learning about your journey to publication. Where did the idea for this book come from?
JOCELYN: I was drawn to writing kidlit when I moved to the U.S. from Canada in 2018. Since I wasn’t working yet, I was spending a lot of time being a mom and reading non-stop to my then three-year-old son. I was working on a different fractured fairytale and was reading it to my mother over the phone who still resides in Canada, who then out of the blue suggested to put a Canadian spin on The Three Little Pigs! Once I figured out (pretty early on) that the Wolf would want to eat their “Canadian Bacon,” the puns just stared flowing! The plot took a little while to come together, had many different endings and plot twists and took even longer to put together since it is written in rhyme.
SUSANNA: How long did it take you to write this book?
JOCELYN: I started drafting this story in mid-2019. When I surprisingly won the Halloweensie 2019 contest (thanks Susanna for hosting such a super fun and challenging contest!) I was able to get an early version over to Alayne Christian at Blue Whale Press where I received very valuable feedback that helped build the stakes and the tension of the story. From there I relied on critique partners and the professional critique services of Shannon Stocker to really amp up the story, tension, perfect the meter and rhymes. It sat for a while (while the pandemic began), and then I used the manuscript to apply for the 2020 PBChat Mentorship. Again, surprisingly, I was selected by Lori Degman as a mentee and she and I massaged it until we felt it was ready for submission.
SUSANNA: Did you go through many revisions?
JOCELYN: “Many” is an understatement. I believe total, there were 47 versions of this story. Writing in rhyme and perfecting meter takes a lot of effort and re-writes to get correct, and then of course there are all the times I didn’t get the arc correct or the ending! With the help of some amazing CPs, mentors and my editor Sarah Rockett, we finally got the story that everyone was happy with.
SUSANNA: When did you know your manuscript was ready for submission?
JOCELYN: I thought it was ready many times and every time I thought it was ready, someone would find a way to elevate it or correct a plot hole of some kind. But I think that is how it is for your first book, you really think it is ready so many times before it is. Even after so many wonderful CPs and professionals looked at this manuscript with me, it took until I was working with my wonderful editor to get the ending and twist just right!
SUSANNA: When and how did you submit?
JOCELYN: My submission process was very unique. As I was a mentee in the PBChat 2020 Mentorship program, the end of our mentorship ended in a showcase where editors and agents were invited to preview the available manuscripts. On the very last day, Sarah Rockett from Sleeping Bear Press, reached out to inquire about reading the entire manuscript.
SUSANNA: 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”?
JOCELYN: I was told within a few minutes of sending it to Sarah that it would be previewed by the larger acquisitions team and then was offered just over a month after that! I considered this quite a quick turnaround because the this was over the winter holiday season.
SUSANNA: When did you get “the call”, which these days is more likely to be “the email”? (Best moment ever! 😊)
JOCELYN: About a month after I submitted it to Sarah, I was told they had interest in buying the manuscript! And yes! Best day ever!! And I do think it was relatively quick. Because of the unique submission process this manuscript went to, it was sort of an exclusive to any of the professionals that were invited to the PBChat Showcase.
SUSANNA: How long was it between getting your offer and getting your contract to sign?
JOCELYN: There wasn’t too long of wait here either. I think it was only about a month between getting the “email” and receiving the contract.
SUSANNA: How did you celebrate signing your contract?
JOCELYN: My husband surprised me with champagne and mint chocolate chip ice cream cake! My wonderful writer friend surprised me with a lovely flower arrangement too!
SUSANNA: Can you tell us a little about the editorial process?
JOCELYN: I absolutely loved working with Sarah Rockett from Sleeping Bear. Originally, the story had the Wolf being invited to move in with the pigs which was a bit unearned since he hadn’t really redeemed himself. So, we agreed to have them just share a meal together and watch some hockey, basically, apologize and make amends, become friends! Her outside perspective was so helpful because as writers we are so in the weeds with our projects, especially with rhyme, that it is hard to see the forest through the trees. I am so so so happy with the final product. 😊
SUSANNA: What was your experience of the illustration process like?
JOCELYN: I was very happy with the illustration process. It was important to me that a Canadian illustrator was used so that a lot of Canadian detail would get into the illustrations. Since the story is about a lot of Canadian silliness, Marcus was able to incorporate a lot of Canadian inside jokes into the art. Additionally, I learned that Marcus is a BIG hockey fan which I’m sure helped.
SUSANNA: How long did it take from offer to having the first copy in your hand?
JOCELYN: Offer came in on January 8, 2021 and first copy in hand was August 1, 2022
SUSANNA: Describe any marketing/promotion you did for this book.
JOCELYN: I discovered CANVA and made my own book trailer as a teaser at first.
SUSANNA: How long was it between the time you started writing seriously and the time you sold your first picture book?
JOCELYN: I know I am one of the lucky ones. I started writing seriously in February 2019 and the offer to purchase this picture book was offered in January 2021.
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?)
JOCELYN: You don’t have to have every piece of your story figured out, and by that, I mean, pagination, illustrations, page turns etc. There is a much bigger team behind the scenes who are experts. Rather than spending time on where a page turn should happen or what the illustrations should be, work on upping the language in your story, make us fall in love with your characters or coming up with fun plot twists for your endings that make us want to open the book immediately and read it again. The author, while typically out front, is only one part of the puzzle; illustrator, designer, editor, etc. It’s a team effort!
SUSANNA: Thank you so much for taking the time to visit with us today, Jocelyn, and for sharing your publication experience. It is so helpful! Wishing you all the best with this and future titles!
In this world of supply chain delays, many a book is arriving at its publication date… only for there to be NO BOOKS! Such is the case with today’s debut. So frustrating for author, illustrator, and publisher! Especially with a debut! But no reason not to jump right over to your favorite bookstore and pre-order a copy. The latest update promises they’ll be in stock in a week or two. There are links to the book at Amazon, and Barnes & Noble (Indiebound not available) at the bottom of this interview so you can be sure to get your copy the moment it’s available. 😊
But now, I am thrilled to introduce you to John Bray, debut picture book author of THE END!
The End Written By: John Bray Illustrated By: Josh Cleland Starry Forest Books, August 30, 2022 Fiction, Ages 3-7 (and adults, too!)
Perfect for fans of B.J. Novak’s The Book With No Pictures, this picture book is bound to entertain young readers who love to ask questions, read funny stories, build blanket forts, and complicate the passage of time. With vibrant illustrations by artist Josh Cleland, The End is just the beginning of a re-read!
SUSANNA: Welcome, John! Thank you so much for joining us today! We are all very excited to learn about your journey to publication with THE END. Where did the idea for this book come from?
JOHN: My main inspiration was Semisonic’s late 90s “Closing Time” (written by Semisonic frontman, Dan Wilson). Specifically, this line: “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” I know it’s a Seneca quote, but reading philosophy is certainly how I picked up on it as a teenager.
My life went through a host of big endings and beginnings in 2015 and that lyric was in my head the whole time. So, I owe a lot to Wilson’s excellent songwriting. The idea was mostly fully formed from the start. My final manuscript remains closely tied to my original draft. In fact, the beginning and the end are almost verbatim.
SUSANNA: How long did it take you to write this book?
JOHN: When I sat to draft it, everything came out on the page in just a couple hours. But the total process, including revising and revising and revising, took a couple years. I was fitting it in around client projects (and probably procrastinating far too much) but kept coming back to it with fresh eyes until it reached its final form.
SUSANNA: Did you go through many revisions?
JOHN: Yes, I revise multiple times. The End saw more revisions than I can count, but probably about 3 major revisions before I decided it was ready for submission. The first draft, for example, was about 3 times longer than its final form, so a couple revisions were me ruthlessly cutting to reveal the core of the story. That’s been a constant practice for me. I tend to overwrite, so learning to cut is important.
SUSANNA: When did you know your manuscript was ready for submission?
JOHN: When it was 90% ready and a good friend said, “ship it.” I’ve come to accept that I’ll never think they’re truly ready, but when I think they’re almost ready and they’re grammatically polished, they’re probably ready to go. Sometimes you just need to believe in your effort or you’ll be revising forever.
SUSANNA: When and how did you submit?
JOHN: I’m currently un-agented and seeking representation and, while querying, I pitched The End for #PitMad on Twitter. Unfortunately, #PitMad ended about a year after my book made its way to Starry Forest Books, but I think there are similar initiatives in place. I tweeted my pitch in September of 2020, Allison Hunter Hill (my editor at the time) “liked” it, and I sent her the manuscript. So, The End is a #PitMad success story.
SUSANNA: 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”?
JOHN: From me first sending in my manuscript to receiving a publishing contract was about four months. That included a set of heavy revisions (one last rewrite to edit middle) and a lot of waiting because publishing is a busy world.
SUSANNA: When did you get “the call”, which these days is more likely to be “the email”? (Best moment ever! 😊)
JOHN: Yes, it was an email (I probably would have let a call go to voicemail), and it came in two days before Christmas 2020. I looked at the email in my inbox for a few hours before I even let myself open it. I think I still have a screenshot of the unread email saved on my phone. It had been about 6 weeks since I sent the revisions and, as December drew on and holidays approached, I told myself I probably wouldn’t hear until the new year, if at all. Then there it was, landing in my email on a Wednesday afternoon.
SUSANNA: How long was it between getting your offer and getting your contract to sign?
JOHN: I can’t remember exactly, but I remember this being a quick process. A week or two maybe?
SUSANNA: How did you celebrate signing your contract?
JOHN: In all honesty, I didn’t really. Historically, I haven’t been great about celebrating accomplishments because I’m always looking on to the next thing. I’m getting better at that. Slowly.
SUSANNA: Was the contract what you expected in terms of advance, royalty percentage, publication timeline, author copies etc.?
JOHN: Yes and no. But I only say that because I didn’t entirely know what to expect. The advance was lower than many of the highly publicized advanced you hear all about, of course, but it felt fair. Royalties were very new to me but, with a bit of research and a second set of eyes from a friend who worked in publishing (sales), they seemed fair as well. However, I think it’s always okay to negotiate, and that’s exactly what I did. As a result, the advance and author copies increased along with some of the royalties. Author copies were important to me because I’m very actively marketing The End and author copies are helpful with outreach.
SUSANNA: Can you tell us a little about the editorial process?
JOHN: The process was straightforward. The biggest revision came because of feedback from my wonderful editor. That revision involved completely rewriting the middle 6-8 pages or so. That’s not what she asked for, but after spending time trying to rework the existing writing without any real progress, I deleted everything on those pages and started fresh. That’s what I should have done to begin with. I think having the old writing in front of me hindered my ability to see new ideas and help them take shape.
After that edit, the remaining revisions were small in scale (punctuation, word usage, and sentence placement on a given spread) but always up for discussion. And very, very detailed. Allison was great about talking through things. We even have an email thread that explored the etymology of the word “boredom.”
SUSANNA: What was your experience of the illustration process like?
JOHN: It was a great experience. My input was welcome when discussing the overall feel for the book as we thought about potential illustrators, and I was looped in throughout the process after Josh Cleland came on board. I saw early sketches and spreads and passed feedback to Josh through my editor. However, it’s worth mentioning that most of the feedback was very minor. It was a bit of a nerve-wracking process knowing that my manuscript — a story that has lived only in my head for so long — would be read and visualized by someone I’d not met or spoken with, but Josh did a phenomenal job bringing The End to life.
text copyright John Bray 2022, illustration copyright Josh Cleland 2022, Starry Forest Books
text copyright John Bray 2022, illustration copyright Josh Cleland 2022, Starry Forest Books
SUSANNA: Did you get to see advance reviews from Kirkus, SLJ, etc?
JOHN: Yes! Kirkus gave a starred review!
SUSANNA: Congratulations! That is a real accomplishment! How long did it take from offer to having the first copy in your hand?
JOHN: From offer to first F&G was about 18 months. But I also had the opportunity to see a final, hardcover copy when I attended the American Library Association Annual Conference in Washington D.C. in June 2022. I spent a lot of time flipping through the pages, admiring the colors, etc. It’s beautiful.
SUSANNA: What kind of marketing and promotion has your publisher done for this book?
JOHN: Starry Forest Books arranged for me to attend ALA for a book signing, sent copies for reviews, and continues to do a lot of outreach to influencers (social media and otherwise). They’ve also created bookmarks, assembled classrooms packs, made countless social graphics, and designed activity sheets. It’s been a real team effort, constantly tossing ideas back and forth with Kirsten Drew and Amy Dixon (in marketing at Starry Forest Books). They’ve both been incredibly helpful, and they’re always interested in hearing and supporting my many ideas for possible marketing opportunities.
SUSANNA: Describe any marketing/promotion you did for this book.
JOHN: A good friend of mine, Sue Campbell at Pages & Platforms, helped steer many of my own efforts and has helped some of my ideas take shape, as well. On my end, I continue to engage in outreach to bloggers, podcasters, social media influencers, and others to try and spread the word and get The End into as many hands as possible. I’ve created stickers and an activity book, have reading events planned locally, and am working with librarians and teachers in more far-flung places to schedule events (virtual and in-person). A local bakery (Tiny Kitchen, also owned by a friend of mine; launching a book takes a community!) will also be making custom cookies for some of my upcoming events.
SUSANNA: Wow! So many great ideas! How long was it between the time you started writing seriously and the time you sold your first picture book?
JOHN: A good 10 years. Part of that is because I wasn’t actively trying to sell for the first several, but it was still a long, long road. I have a big pile of rejections.
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?)
JOHN: Sit, write, repeat and remember one thing: Rejection does not mean you’ve done something wrong; it means you’re in the game. It’s part of the process. The only guaranteed way to avoid it is by not putting yourself out there. Knowing that might not soften the blow of a rejection, but it does help you move forward. A stack of rejections means you’re putting in the work.
SUSANNA: Anything else you’d like to share about your book’s journey from inspiration to publication?
JOHN: Everyone will approach The End differently. That’s the nature of books. It might be the best part about them. But I think it’s worth nothing that The End wasn’t written to teach kids about endings and beginnings. It wasn’t meant to be a lesson. It was meant to be an exploration of the concept, maybe a conversation starter, but, above all else, a fun story to read aloud.
Author John Bray
Website: johnbraybooks.com Newsletter (with a free book — a creative collaboration with a friend of mine from several year ago — at sign-up!): johnbraybooks.com/newsletter Twitter: @jhnrbry Instagram: @jhnrbry
SUSANNA: Thank you so much for taking the time to participate in this series and paying it forward to other writers, John! We all so appreciate this opportunity to learn from you and wish you all the best with this and future titles!
Readers, if you have questions for John, please post them in the comments below and if he has time I’m sure he’ll respond!
You may purchase John’s book at: (all links below are book-specific)
I hope you’re all well and enjoying everything summer has to offer!
It’s been quite a while since we had a Tuesday Debut, but, HURRAY! We have one today!
I’m thrilled to introduce Rebecca Gardyn Levington, a graduate of Making Picture Book Magic and a frequent participant in the writing contests on this blog over the years, here today with her debut picture book, BRAINSTORM!, which I just love the whole concept of and I think you will, too!
Title: BRAINSTORM! Author: Rebecca Gardyn Levington Illustrator: Kate Kronreif Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press Date of publication: August 3, 2022 Fiction, Age 4-8
BRAINSTORM! is a rhyming concept picture book that begins with a girl sitting at her desk at school, frustrated because she can’t think of anything to write about. As the girl stares at the storm brewing outside – kerplink! – a tiny thought falls from the sky. Soon the girl finds herself surrounded by a whirlwind of words, pictures, and ideas swirling all around her, and eventually gets caught in a happy downpour of her own creativity.
SUSANNA: Welcome, Rebecca! Thank you so much for joining us today! We can’t wait to hear all about how Brainstorm! came to be! Where did the idea for this book come from?
REBECCA: First of all, Susanna, Thank YOU so much for having me on the Tuesday Debut! I have been following this blog for YEARS and it’s such an honor to share my story with you and your readers. Thank you for all you do to help inspire and encourage us!
As for where the idea for BRAINSTORM! came from….One rainy late October day in 2019, much like the little girl in my story, I had a terrible case of writer’s block. I was doing my best to keep my Butt In Chair, but my brain felt like the weather — cloudy, gloomy and gray. Instead of staring at the blank page, I found myself staring at the rain outside my window when I felt the drop of an idea…
What if…IDEAS poured down from the sky?… Like a…rain storm?…No! Wait! Like a….
BRAINstorm!
I immediately began writing what I originally thought would remain a short little poem.
SUSANNA: How long did it take you to write this book?
REBECCA: It honestly didn’t take long. Once I had the idea, the main core of the poem just poured out of me (pun intended!) It took a few more months of tinkering before it became a “real” picture book draft.
SUSANNA: Did you go through many revisions?
REBECCA: As I said, BRAINSTORM! began as a poem. A pretty short poem– Just six couplets. I really thought that’s all it would be. It sat on my computer for a couple of months, but it kept calling to me, so I began tinkering. I wondered: what if it wasn’t just IDEAS that fell from the sky, but WORDS, like VERBS and NOUNS, and PHRASES and SENTENCES and CHARACTERS and PLOTS…. Suddenly, I found myself deluged in this amazing world where stories drizzled down and swirled all around us. I loved watching my MC play in the puddles! In the end, I saved 15 drafts of this story, so it definitely changed and grew over the months, but those initial six couplets (with some minor tweaks) are all still in the final version.
Rebecca’s work space
SUSANNA: When did you know your manuscript was ready for submission?
REBECCA: I have several critique groups and partners. I generally send a manuscript to one group at time, make changes, then send it to the next group and repeat. Once all my critique partners had seen it and no one had any major changes or suggestions, I felt it was ready.
SUSANNA: When and how did you submit?
REBECCA: In summer 2019, Lori Degman chose me as one of her three #PBChat Mentees. Lori is an all-around amazing person (now good friend) and at the end of the 3-month-long mentorship she very generously offered to ask a few of the editors with whom she’d worked if they’d be willing to look at a submission from me. One of those editors was Sarah Rockett at Sleeping Bear Press.
So, in December, with Lori’s blessing and encouragement, I sent off my favorite manuscript at the time (not this one). Sarah ultimately passed, but said: “It’s really well done and I love your writing and rhythm…if you have anything else that is submission-ready, please feel free to send it my way.” I immediately sent her two more manuscripts (not this one) and heard NOTHING for months. Meanwhile, I had just polished up BRAINSTORM! and felt it was pretty strong. I wasn’t sure if I should send her a third manuscript, but I wasn’t agented at the time so my opportunities to submit were few and far between. I knew Sarah liked my writing, so I said “what the heck?!”
On March 6, 2020 (yup, just one week before we all went into quarantine!) I sent her an email, following up on the two previous manuscripts I’d sent and added, “Oh, by the way, I also have this new one called BRAINSTORM!…” I attached it. And waited.
SUSANNA: 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”?
REBECCA: So, as I mentioned, I sent BRAINSTORM! to Sleeping Bear in March 2020, just a week before the world shut down, so I didn’t expect to hear back for a while…and I didn’t. Two months later, in May, I followed up again and Sarah kindly responded that, thanks to the quarantine, Sleeping Bear had fallen behind with everything. However, she did chat with her editorial team and they were, unfortunately, passing on the two other manuscripts I’d sent. (whomp. whomp). BUT, she added, she loved BRAINSTORM! and wanted to bring it to their next acquisitions meeting. (WHOOHOO!)
Thanks to the ongoing pandemic — yada, yada, yada — that meeting didn’t happen until August and then finally, on August 27, 2020, I got the email that Sleeping Bear wanted to acquire it for their 2022 list! (So, to answer your question, it was about 6 months after submission, and 3 months after being told it was going to acquisitions, before I got the official “yes”!)
SUSANNA: When did you get “the call”, which these days is more likely to be “the email”? (Best moment ever! ☺)
REBECCA: Oops, sorry. I think I answered this in the previous question! I got the email on August 27, 2020! I remember standing in my kitchen with my phone in my hand and I just went mute and started shaking. My kids were at the table, obliviously eating lunch, and I think my husband asked me something, but I couldn’t hear him. I couldn’t stop staring at the email! Finally, one of my kids asked: “Mom, are you okay?” And I told them the news! I just couldn’t believe one of my stories was FINALLY going to be a book!
SUSANNA: Such an amazing feeling! How long was it between getting your offer and getting your contract to sign?
REBECCA: Exactly one month. I was at a Highlights retreat with one of my critique buddies, Kelly Conroy, and I had been complaining all weekend how long it was taking for them to send the contract. Turns out, it had been sitting in my SPAM folder for an entire day! Since I was unagented at the time, I hired a lawyer to help me look through it. After a very brief negotiation, I received my final executed contract another month later, at the end of October. It seemed like it took forever to get the contract, but now that I’ve sold more books, I realize that two months from offer to executed contract is actually LIGHTNING FAST!
SUSANNA: How did you celebrate signing your contract?
REBECCA: I don’t remember celebrating signing the contract. I think by the time I’d signed it, I had already finished off all the champagne! 😊
SUSANNA: Was the contract what you expected in terms of advance, royalty percentage, publication timeline, author copies etc.?
REBECCA: My advance was lower than I’d expected, but because this was my first sale and because I didn’t have an agent at the time (and because I HATE confrontation) I was terrified of pushing back. The only thing I asked for was more author copies and a few changes to some of the wording. There was a part of me that believed that if I asked for too much the publisher would change their mind about the offer. Now that I’ve sold more books, I realize that was ridiculous. By the time you receive an offer, it has had to jump through SO many hoops that the publisher isn’t about to say “Oh, never mind then” if you respectfully ask for a little more. Publishers EXPECT to negotiate. I’ve learned now that it never hurts to ask. The absolutely WORST that will happen is that they will say “no” to that specific term. Since signing this contract, I’ve gotten a lot more comfortable with negotiation. (Although I definitely prefer having my agent do it for me!)
Oh, and one quick thing about royalties that may be helpful. I didn’t know this at the time, but some publishers pay royalties based upon the “suggested retail price” of the book and others pay based upon “net receipts,” so read your contract carefully! A 5% royalty is standard but ONLY if it’s based on “suggested retail price.” If you are getting royalties based on “net receipts” you want to be sure your royalties are much higher, or around 10%. Also, if you are unagented, I HIGHLY recommend all the incredible information available for FREE at The Author’s Guild. They have a “model contract” you can look at that is extremely helpful for understanding what is “normal” and what is a “red flag:” https://www.authorsguild.org/member-services/legal-services/model-book-contract/
SUSANNA: Can you tell us a little about the editorial process?
REBECCA: Amazingly, there were very, very few changes to my original text. I think the biggest edit was changing the word “boots” to “shoes” because we weren’t sure what type of footwear the illustrator would choose for the MC. Ultimately Kate did end up having the MC wear boots, so we changed it back! There might have been another word or two that changed, but that was all.
SUSANNA: What was your experience of the illustration process like?
REBECCA: I was thrilled when I heard that Kate Kronreif would be illustrating! I was sent initial character sketches for review and my editor, Sarah, and I had a Zoom call to discuss the initial black and white sketches, as well as the color sketches once they were available. Sarah asked for my feedback on the cover as well. I felt very included in the process and that my opinion mattered, and Sarah was always open and willing to answer all my questions along the way. Now that I see the final product, I realize how difficult this story must’ve been to illustrate! I mean, how does someone illustrate “An easy breeze becomes a blast/of funny phrases flying past?” Thank goodness both Sarah and Kate totally understood my vision and took it to the next level!
text copyright Rebecca Gardyn Levington 2022, illustration copyright Kate Kronreif 2022, Sleeping Bear Press
text copyright Rebecca Gardyn Levington 2022, illustration copyright Kate Kronreif 2022, Sleeping Bear Press
I didn’t include any art notes in this manuscript, but I had a few ideas in my head about how I thought an illustrator might interpret this story. For instance, I was imagining a sort of “Wizard of Oz” scenario – where things started off super gloomy and gray and ended up in a whirlwind of color. So, I was a little surprised initially when I saw all the color Kate put into the book from the very first spread. BUT, it is PERFECT! And I absolutely LOVE everything she did and now I can’t imagine it any other way! The book is vibrant, exciting and playful, which is exact want kids to feel when they are stomping around in their idea puddles! The only part of the illustration process that I was directly involved with was, at Sarah’s request, providing Kate with lists of nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, titles, sentences, “funny phrases,” “wacky plots,” etc. that she could use as inspiration and to weave throughout the illustrations.
SUSANNA: Did you get to see advance reviews from Kirkus, SLJ, etc? What was that like?
“…The metaphor nicely captures the creative process—from the frustration of waiting for inspiration to the anticipation of something gathering in the distance to the sought-after deluge of ideas […] Entertaining reassurance and lighthearted encouragement for those tough first moments of putting pencil to paper.”
SUSANNA: How long did it take from offer to having the first copy in your hand?
REBECCA: I still haven’t received my author copies! Unfortunately, due to supply chain issues, my book birthday was bumped from July 15th to August 3rd! I was told I’ll be getting my copies at the same time as everyone else, so if that’s true, it will be almost exactly 2 years from book offer book in hand!
SUSANNA: What kind of marketing and promotion has your publisher done for this book?
REBECCA: My publisher sent a digital F&G of the book to all the major advanced reviewers and put it up on Edelweiss. They also organized a pre-order campaign with a local bookstore and designed a bookmark for me to use, as well as activity sheets and a teacher’s guide. They also created an adorable trailer that they posted on social media. I also discovered that the Association of School Librarians in my state (NJ) is holding a conference in December and they agreed to cover a good portion of my costs to attend.
SUSANNA: Describe any marketing/promotion you did for this book.
REBECCA: I reached out to a bunch of podcasters and bloggers (like you!) about a year in advance to set up my #BrainstormBlogTour (I realize now, I started a bit too early – I probably only needed to start about 3-ish months in advance!) Once I received the digital review copy, I sent it to fellow authors to post early reviews on GoodReads and Barnes & Noble (Amazon doesn’t allow reviews to be posted until the release date). I also applied to have a table at several in-person book festivals in my area this fall, and I have been hosting giveaways on social media.
In addition, I hired a professional web designer to re-vamp my website, RebeccaGardynLevington.com. I used Jenny Medford at WebsyDaisy and she did an INCREDIBLE job. I can’t recommend her enough.
Lastly, I am part of a wonderful debut group called KidLit Caravan (www.kidlitcaravan.com). We are 13 picture book authors and author/illustrators who support each other’s journey, promoting cover reveals, pre-order announcements, and book birthdays/launches on social media. We review each other’s books and request that our local libraries order them. One of our members, Carrie Tillotson (author of the adorable Counting To Bananas), is a whiz when it comes to graphic design and I hired her to create a “sell sheet” for BRAINSTORM! that I could take with me to bookstores and libraries when I introduce myself so that they can have all the relevant information at hand and (hopefully!) place an order for the book.
SUSANNA: How long was it between the time you started writing seriously and the time you sold your first picture book?
REBECCA: About four years. In my life B.C. (“Before Kids”) I was a magazine editor and then a freelance journalist so I’d already had hundreds of articles published in various magazines and newspapers. I stopped writing once I started having kids but, after almost a decade of full time Mommy-ing, I realized how much I missed playing with words. I discovered SCBWI and attended my first regional NJ conference in the summer of 2016. I was blown away. I finally felt at home. I knew writing picture books and poems for kids was what I was meant to do.
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?)
REBECCA: Two things:
1) Put yourself and your work out into the world as much as you can. Enter ALL the contests (Like Susanna’s amazing Halloweensie, Valentiny, and Holiday contests, Vivian Kirkfield’s #50PreciousWords, Madness!Poetry, etc.), enter ALL the mentorships (like the #PBChat Mentorship Program), do ALL the Twitter parties (like #PBPitch, #PitMad and #PBParty), go to as many conferences and webinars as you can and join ALL the groups. Take advantage of professional critiques, if possible. If you don’t have an agent and have an opportunity to send your work to an editor, DO IT! (I sold my second book to HarperCollins via a submission opportunity after a conference and that helped me land my agent as well!). Be as active as you can in the KidLit community and always, ALWAYS be kind, respectful and supportive. The connections you make along the way will lead you to opportunities you can’t even imagine!
2) While you should, of course, write stories that come from your heart, it is crucial to remember that children’s book publishing is a BUSINESS. An editor may think your story is “cute” or “funny” or “heartfelt,” but before she can acquire it, she has to prove to all the financial and marketing people that your story will SELL. So you MUST think about “hooks.” Who is buying your book and WHY? Can your book be sold during a holiday? Can teachers use your book in a classroom (if so, consider adding back matter!). Does it have social-emotional themes that make it easy to explain a difficult subject matter? Etc. One thing I always do now is, once I’ve created my first draft, I stop everything, write my pitch and logline and research comp titles. As I continue to revise, I have a very clear idea of what the book is really about, what the hooks are, and how I will sell the idea to an editor.
SUSANNA: Anything else you’d like to share about your book’s journey from inspiration to publication?
REBECCA: So, this may sound completely counterintuitive to what I just said about “hooks” and marketability, BUT… When you have an idea that you feel you need to write about, do not pass go, do not collect $200, just GO WITH IT! Don’t stop to think too hard about marketability and hooks (yet!). Write what is in your heart. Get it down. BRAINSTORM! came to me in what felt like a rush of creativity. I couldn’t stop it. I had to write it! At the time I didn’t think at all about marketability. I was just having fun writing a poem. It wasn’t until after that I went back and said: “You know…I think if I add more of X,Y,Z, I bet teachers could use this in their classrooms….” Once I realized that not only was this a FUN book for kids to read, but that it also had an educational “hook,” I knew I was on to something.
Author Rebecca Gardyn Levington (photo credit Joy Yagid)
SUSANNA: Thank you so much for joining us today, Rebecca, and for sharing your journey and answering our questions and giving us so much to think about! We so appreciate it! I know I speak for everyone when I wish you the best of luck 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!
So… I’m a little behind today… Let’s just pretend it’s Friday morning, shall we? 😊
Welcome to Perfect Picture Book Friday (where it is not 8:33 PM 😊)!
First off, I am thrilled and excited to announce the winner of the Starry Forest giveaway last week!
Congratulations to Andi Chitty! You get to have a 20 minute Zoom meeting with Robert Agis, the president of the publishing company, to ask anything you want about publishing and even have a chance to share some of your own pitches! Thank you so much to Starry Forest Books, Robert Agis, and Amy Dixon for visiting us last week and offering such a wonderful opportunity!
And now, I have such a beautiful book to show you!
Title: How You Came To Be
Written By: Carole Gerber
Illustrated By: Sawsan Chalabi
Publisher: Rise x Penguin Workshop, an imprint of Penguin Random House, nonfiction
Suitable For Ages: 2-4 years
Themes/Topics: prenatal development, nonfiction
Opening: “Before you were born, a wiggly little cell from another joined with a little round cell from me. That’s how you came to be.
Together, these two tiny cells formed one brand-new cell that would become YOU.”
Brief Synopsis: From the publisher: “A mother lovingly describes the sizes and stages of her baby’s month-by-month development inside the womb, and the amazement of experiencing it from the outside.”
text copyright Carole Gerber, 2022, illustration copyright Sawsan Chalabi, 2022, Rise x Penguin Workshop
Links To Resources: there is some very nice back matter in the book with “Helpful Words To Know”, “What Unborn Babies Do”, and “How Babies Are Born”, as well as a Selected Bibliography. The book itself is a wonderful resource.
text copyright Carole Gerber, 2022, illustration copyright Sawsan Chalabi, 2022, Rise x Penguin Workshop
Why I Like This Book: I love this book. It is so beautifully and lovingly written, in a way that is so perfectly accessible to young readers. Instead of focusing on any of the mechanics of conception, which I think would be pretty hard to make appropriate for very young readers, it shows children, in concrete images they can easily envision, how big they were at 1 month, 2 months, etc. By personalizing growth and development, almost in the form of a love letter to the child, it feels immediate and relatable. “Every day you doubled in size. Soon, you were as big as a pea. Your heart began to develop and to beat very quickly.“ Children will be captivated by imagining themselves that small, and if they have a sibling on the way, it may help them to feel their soon-to-be-brother-or-sister is more real. If you’re looking for a book that will answer questions about babies without going into the kinds of details you’d like to hold off on until your children are a little older, or if you just want a lovely book that explains a lot about babies in simple, highly appropriate, easy-to-understand words and pictures, this is the perfect choice!
text copyright Carole Gerber, 2022, illustration copyright Sawsan Chalabi, 2022, Rise x Penguin Workshop
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog links (and any other info you feel like filling out 😊) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
My goodness! It’s been some time since we had a Tuesday Debut, hasn’t it?!
I have missed getting to showcase new authors! Please remember (and spread the word) that if you have a debut picture book coming out I’d be delighted to feature you. Just email me (contact form in the menu bar) and we’ll choose a date!
Today I am thrilled to introduce a talented writer whose early publication was as an essayist, but who recently came to picture book writing. I had the opportunity to read this book before it was even submitted and I loved it from the beginning, so I encourage all of you to get your hands on a copy and enjoy it! In fact, one of you could win a copy from Patrice! Leave a comment below by Sunday June 19 at 9PM Eastern and you will be entered in a random drawing for your very own copy! (USA addresses only, sorry!) Please join me in welcoming Patrice Gopo as she shares her journey to publication with her lovely picture book, ALL THE PLACES WE CALL HOME!
Title: All the Places We Call Home Author: Patrice Gopo Illustrator: Jenin Mohammed Publishing House: WorthyKids/Hachette Book Group Date of Publication: 14 June 2022 Fiction or Nonfiction: Fiction Age Range: 4-8
In her first picture book, author Patrice Gopo illuminates how family stories help shape children, help form their identity, and help connect them with the broader world. Her lyrical language, paired with Jenin Mohammed’s richly textured artwork, creates a beautiful, stirring portrait of a child’s deep ties to cultures and communities beyond where she lays her head to sleep.
SUSANNA: Welcome, Patrice! Thank you so much for joining us today! We’re very excited to hear all about your journey to publication with this beautiful, lyrical book! Where did the idea come from?
PATRICE: Years ago, my oldest daughter took a nap on her great-grandmother’s bed in rural Zimbabwe. That day I remembered a childhood nap I had once taken on my grandmother’s bed in rural Jamaica. I recognized how my daughter’s story would, in many ways, mirror my story: a child who lives in one place but has cultural ties to other parts of the world.
I shaped that experience into an essay called “Before” (part of my first collection of essays, All the Colors We Will See). One day, as a friend was telling me about her picture book project, I had one of those moments when a lucid idea showed up, saying, “Here I am. Pay attention to me.” The idea: the essay “Before” would make a great picture book!
Honestly, I love how this idea came into being. There is so much space for us to re-imagine our creative pursuits in other forms such that new creations spring forth.
SUSANNA: How long did it take you to write this book?
PATRICE: This idea to turn the essay into a picture book manuscript came to me in the summer of 2019. The challenge for me, though, was that beyond having read tons and tons of picture books to my children, I didn’t know much about the craft of writing picture books. I knew quite a bit about the craft of writing, but not specifically picture books. So, I needed to learn. I began studying craft books and eventually signing up for Susanna’s MAKING PICTURE BOOK MAGIC course.
I came to the page with a desire to illuminate how family stories of far-off lands help shape children, help form their identity, and help connect them with their broader world. However, up until taking Susanna’s course, I was struggling with how to use the ideas from my essay and transform that into a picture book. Susanna’s daily lessons gave me tools and empowered me with ways to bring forth a gorgeous manuscript! After several rounds of revisions, I completed my manuscript in the summer of 2020.
No matter how long we’ve been writing, I think there is always space to learn something more!
SUSANNA: Did you go through many revisions?
PATRICE: I did go through multiple revisions. Probably 6-8 before my agent sent my manuscript out on submission. And then a few more revisions with my editor. As I mentioned earlier, I’m a personal essayist as well. When I write essays, one of my favorite parts is revision. I find the generation process/the blank page a little frightening at times. But with revision, you already have the words there.
A technique I love to use in the revision process is cutting the essay apart into paragraphs so that I can physically rearrange as I sit on the floor. I brought that revision technique to revising All the Places We Call Home (and additional manuscripts I’ve written since then). There is something wonderful about cutting apart paper, moving sections around, and seeing what that will do to your story.
Ultimately, each round of revision gets us closer to what a story wants to be.
Patrice’s office
SUSANNA: When did you know your manuscript was ready for submission?
PATRICE: My agent told me that it was ready for us to go out on submission. Honestly, I wasn’t sure myself, so I appreciated the outside opinion. As writers, we can get so caught up in the number of times we’ve read a manuscript, and it can be helpful to receive input from someone with more distance. I should mention that I had a pre-existing agent because of my work for adults, my essay collection, etc.
SUSANNA: When and how did you submit?
PATRICE: My agent submitted my manuscript to a handful of editors.
SUSANNA: 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”?
PATRICE: I actually didn’t find out that my book was going to acquisitions. My agent did let me know that we had interest in the manuscript. And about five weeks later, I received an offer. That was an excruciating time of waiting, knowing that someone was interested and then not knowing.
SUSANNA: When did you get “the call”, which these days is more likely to be “the email”? (Best moment ever! 😊)
PATRICE: I did have to wait a bit as I mentioned above. However, I know this manuscript was picked up quickly when I compare to other stories I’ve heard.
SUSANNA: How long was it between getting your offer and getting your contract to sign?
PATRICE: This did take a while. About 5-6 months (this included several rounds of contract revision before I received the version to sign)
SUSANNA: How did you celebrate signing your contract?
PATRICE: Ice cream!!!
SUSANNA: Was the contract what you expected in terms of advance, royalty percentage, publication timeline, author copies etc.?
PATRICE: I found Hannah Holt’s “Writing Picture Books: A Look at the Numbers” blog post extremely helpful (hannahholt.com/blog/2017/9/25/writing-picture-books-a-look-at-the-number-part-2). WorthyKids is an imprint of Hachette Book Group, so a large press. According to Hannah’s statistics, my advance fit right within the average and aligned with what I expected. Same with the royalty rates. I will mention that I asked for additional author copies beyond what the initial contract offered. I think that’s a wonderful place to negotiate, particularly if you plan to use copies of the book in your marketing and promotion efforts.
SUSANNA: I agree, that can be ver helpful! Great tip! Can you tell us a little about the editorial process?
PATRICE: I decided to sign with my editor because she had both a passion for the story and a sense of what else it needed. We went through a couple of rounds of revisions, and I was thrilled to consider her input. One of the big elements I added was a third moment of “travel” in the book. Originally there were two, and that just felt incomplete (hello, rule of 3!!).
SUSANNA: What was your experience of the illustration process like?
PATRICE: I have been so pleased with the illustration process!!! Jenin Mohammed is fabulous. While I did not have much input about the actual art (and I didn’t expect to have input), my editor and the art director cared about matching the right illustrator with this project. Since this book is based on a personal story rooted in my cultural experience, the editor and the art director were committed to choosing an illustrator who also had some connection to the story. Jenin Mohammed was the perfect choice. And her illustrations brought this story to life in ways I could have never imagined. I had an opportunity to see sketches along the way; those were such special moments, seeing your words become something more. The first time my editor showed me an image of the mother and daughter, I started to cry.
I don’t think Jenin’s vision departed from mine. Instead, I think Jenin could imagine so much more than I could. I just love the sense of color and movement I see in the spreads. I could never have dreamed of that, but they are exquisite.
I didn’t include any art notes. One thing, though, is that I asked for my contract to include a specification that the illustrations would be of a Black mother and daughter.
SUSANNA: Did you get to see advance reviews from Kirkus, SLJ, etc? What was that like?
PATRICE: At this point, I have not seen any advance reviews.
SUSANNA: How long did it take from offer to having the first copy in your hand?
PATRICE: The offer came in July 2020, and my editor sent me an early printed copy in February 2022. Such a special moment, opening that copy, sitting with my daughters, and reading this story to them!!
SUSANNA: What kind of marketing and promotion has your publisher done for this book?
PATRICE: My marketing team has been amazing. I’ll share some of what they’ve been doing, but I know that they’ve been doing even more that I’m not even aware of. (If you want to know more about marketing, I watched this great SCBWI webinar that was so helpful: www.scbwi.org/digital-workshops-video-archive/ | the video for April 21st | I believe you need to be a member to watch)
Some things they have done:
Creating shareable graphics (and a timeline for when I should share)
Sending out targeted email blasts
Placing targeted ads for the book (along with other titles from their catalogue)
Creating an Amazon keyword ad campaign
Working with a publicist to pitch the book, etc.
Creating gifts for the pre-order campaign
Giving away influencer copies of the book
Developing an educator guide for the book
Just being kind, friendly, wonderful, supportive and clearly loving this book!! I’m so grateful for my marketing team!!
SUSANNA: Describe any marketing/promotion you did for this book.
PATRICE: I’ve also been working hard promoting this book. Many of these ideas came from either my marketing team’s suggestions or what I did when I promoted my previously published essay collection.
Reaching out to podcasts I’ve previously been on and pitching me/the book as a return guest
Writing guest blog posts for places I have connections
Reaching out to my network and letting them know about the book, encouraging pre-orders, etc. (I primarily utilize my newsletter for this, but I also post on Facebook)
Reaching out to indie bookstores where I have connections (and some where I don’t) to let them know about the book
Asking my network to suggest that their library system purchase the book
Teaching classes
Regularly posting about the book on Facebook
Booking several local events
Booking a couple of summer camp visits
Ordering stickers to distribute during events
Developing a downloadable simple activity for children (separate from the educator’s guide)
I know stepping into marketing can have its challenges for us authors who might feel more comfortable writing the stories. However, I believe that our words can impact a child’s life. Participating in marketing and promotion is one of the beautiful ways of connecting our stories with children.
SUSANNA: How long was it between the time you started writing seriously and the time you sold your first picture book?
PATRICE: 11 years (I started writing in 2009 and sold my first PB in 2020; however, it is important to note that I didn’t seriously start writing picture books until 2019)
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?)
PATRICE: Know yourself and know the story you are meant to tell/trying to tell. Over the past couple of years, I’ve received helpful feedback on this manuscript and other manuscripts. One thing, however, that stands out to me is the truth that people have subjective opinions. What someone doesn’t like, another person might love. Honestly, I find this somewhat confusing as I process feedback. Because of this, I think it matters that we have a deep sense of what the story is that we’re trying to tell. This deep knowing will help us weed through feedback, particularly if someone suggests a complete overhaul of our story. Of course, this doesn’t mean that a complete overhaul might not be the right thing at some point. However, I think if we know the purpose for why we are writing a story, we are better able to sift through feedback and determine what we let stick and what we should release.
SUSANNA: That is very good advice. Anything else you’d like to share about your book’s journey from inspiration to publication?
PATRICE: Recently, I came across a note I had jotted down many years ago—back when I was pregnant with my first child and before I knew that I would one day become a writer. I had written, “Write a children’s book about my child exploring their cultural background.”
I didn’t stick this note in a prominent place to guide my goals and return to, letting the idea imprint deeply upon my brain. Instead, a couple of scrawled words, almost throwaway words, and certainly long-forgotten words. However, I know All the Places We Call Home truly began as far back as there—and maybe even earlier. Whether or not my conscious mind knew this book would come to pass, something deep within was always aware.
I believe the stories we want to tell are within, taking root, waiting for just the right time to join the world!
SUSANNA:Thank you so much for taking the time to participate in this series and paying it forward to other writers! We so appreciate your time and expertise, and wish you all the best with this and future titles!
PATRICE: Thank you so much for inviting me to take part, Susanna. It’s been a real privilege sharing a bit of my journey. Thank you for all the ways you support picture book writers!!
Break out the fancy coffee mugs and some celebratory chocolate cake for breakfast, my friends! We have a very special edition of Perfect Picture Books today!
In lieu of a book, I have an interview with a publisher who is actively looking to acquire picture books. This is a unique opportunity to get an inside look at a publisher you might not have known about, along with insight into what they’re looking for. In addition, one lucky winner will get to have a 20-minute Zoom call with Robert Agis, President of Starry Forest Books, where you can talk to him about anything in publishing! This is an amazing opportunity to get some insider info on all the things you’ve been wondering about in the publishing world. And don’t forget to practice your pitches, because he’ll definitely ask to hear about what you write and what you’re working on! This giveaway starts today and runs through Wednesday, June 15th! (Details and entry info at the bottom of this post!)
(Also, the Perfect Picture Book List for this week will be down at the bottom as usual, too. I may not be sharing an actual book today, but everyone else is!)
I want to thank Amy Dixon, Editor at Starry Forest books, for taking the time to join us today and give us this wonderful glimpse into an up-and-coming publisher! Thank you, Amy! In addition, she was able to get some responses from the other two acquiring editors, so you get to hear from all three!
First, some general info about Starry Forest Books!
Tell us a little bit about Starry Forest Books and how it came to be.
In 2016, Robert Agis, then an editor at Union Square & Co., collaborated with Barnes & Noble buyers to develop new series and title ideas. Starry Forest Books was a boutique publisher commissioned with actualizing these ideas for Sterling and Barnes & Noble. With creative direction from Robert Agis, Starry Forest developed several series including Baby’s Big World and Classic Stories which immediately proved successful.
Inspired by Starry Forest’s potential, and with the vision to create distinctive children’s books and media, Robert took over Starry Forest in 2019. He negotiated worldwide distribution through Ingram, started a foreign rights business that includes growing sales in China, Russia, Spain, and elsewhere, and expanded the Starry Forest creative team and support roles to a team of ten. From three modest series sold through one retailer in 2019, the company has expanded to worldwide sales with more than 120 titles published or in development.
Looking at your website, we can see you’ve done a lot of board book series and classics in the past. What does the trajectory of Starry Forest look like moving forward?
Our vision statement is “Make Something Beautiful” and we plan to continue pursuing that vision with the 20-30 titles we’ll publish each year. This includes the development and growth of our existing brands, like our Baby’s Classics and Gamer Baby series, as well as stand-alone picture books. We will also be expanding into categories such as chapter books and eventually, middle grade fiction! We’re thrilled that our first two stand-alone picture books will be entering the world in August, and we’ll be sharing more about them below!
For the next few questions, we asked the Starry Forest Editorial Team to chime in and give some inside scoop! They are Allison Hunter Hill, Anna Lazowski, and Amy Dixon—ALL both published authors and acquiring editors at Starry Forest Books.
You are here on Perfect Picture Book Friday! We’d love to hear what you look for when evaluating a picture book manuscript.
Anna Lazowski:
A fresh concept, or unique take on something familiar will always make a manuscript stand out. So many manuscripts start out strong but falter partway through. I love it when I get pulled in by the opening lines and the author is able to hold me there as the narrative unfolds. I also look for authors who know how to use emotion to connect with the reader, and understand that half of their story will, ultimately, be told by illustrations.
Can you tell us about a Perfect Picture Book on your list? What drew you to this story?
Allison Hunter-Hill:
Being an editor is a little like being a parent– I can’t pick a favorite book-child! But I can tell you what I look for in picture books and what drew me to this one. Perfect Picture Books have a “spark” in them that sets them apart. It could be dialogue that makes you giggle and begs to be read out loud like “Not A Book About Bunnies” by Amanda Henke (coming in 2023!). Or a clever text that turns your world upside-down like “The End” by John Bray. Or maybe it’s an old tale that suddenly feels new again, like Valerie Tripp’s lushly re-imagined Greek myths, “Goddesses and Gardens.”
What drew me to Judy Roth’s “Cadence and Kittenfish” was the character of Cadence, herself– a bright, spunky little mermaid who does dance class with dolphins, Tai Chi with the lighthouse keeper, and wants a kitten SO BADLY that she can’t see what’s right under her adorable nose. Judy writes with such a unique, lyrical understanding. Her words are always fresh, surprising, and just begging to be read out loud! As a former librarian, I’m always on the lookout for a great storytime pick!
Illustrations play such a big role in creating a Perfect Picture Book, and there is so much talent to choose from! What did you love about this illustrator, and what made her right for this project?
Allison Hunter-Hill:
Jaclyn Sinquett is such a dream! I had three big requirements in mind when I started looking through illustrator portfolios: enchanting underwater scenes (no flat blues, please!), charming, lifelike girl characters, and the most absolutely irresistible kittens.
I knew Jaclyn was perfect for Cadence when I saw her art for “Sincerely, Emerson” by Emerson Webber. I could just tell that Jaclyn remembered what it was like to be an 8 or 9-year-old little girl– wistful, optimistic, and real. Top that off with her warm, painterly style and delicate detail work, and I was confident she would knock it out of the park. And she did!
The word that comes to mind when I think of Jaclyn is “generous.” Whatever you give her, she multiplies and gives back in abundance. I asked for a rough idea on a color scheme and she pitched a palette based on seaside blown glass and salt-water taffy. I sent her a boring copyright page and she draped it in delicate doodles of sea fronds. I mentioned it would be neat to see Cadence’s room, and what came back was something out of an enchanted mermaid dream: driftwood and coral bunkbeds with sea sponge pillows, a found-anchor nightstand, a delicate seashell tea set, and a literal Saltwater Guitar.
Follow Jaclyn Sinquett @jsinquett on Instagram for close-ups, art process videos and more!
To me, a Perfect Picture Book illustrator is one who loves the story just as much as you do. Remember being a kid and finding a friend who would 1000% commit to pretending that the floor was molten lava? Or that your lego castle was under seige by giant Barbies? Or that you were both majestic horses with elaborate names like “Moonfire” or “Chestnut Lighting” or “Princess Starhorn”? (Someone please say yes. I’m begging you.) Finding a perfect illustrator is like finding that friend. They aren’t just willing to immerse themselves in a new world with you… they really want to play, too!
What kind of experience can an author or illustrator expect to have with Starry Forest Books?
Amy Dixon:
As a creator myself, I can say that I’ve been quite impressed by the sincere desire that the Starry Forest Team has to connect authentically with creators. Often, when there is interest in a manuscript, we have a Zoom call with creators, agents, editors, and our president, to meet and chat about the story. These have been some of the most enjoyable conversations, because they are about so much more than just a sale. We get to learn about the creators; where they are from, and what inspired them to write this story. We get to hear about what other projects they are working on. We become invested in the creator’s journey and get to explore the potential for us to be part of their growth, both with the existing project, and their overall craft. And we get to see if there’s chemistry—we have a positive culture at Starry Forest and want that positivity to extend to the creators, and then pour out from our books to the consumer too. The hope is that everyone who crosses paths with Starry Forest Books is better for it. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that a creator that chooses to work with Starry Forest will feel seen, heard, and valued. The passion that our company has to “Make Something Beautiful” is not just about producing a gorgeous book, but also about creating a beautiful experience for the writers and artists we work with.
Do you have a wish list you can share with us? What types of stories are you looking to publish next?
Amy Dixon:
Right now, I am EAGERLY reading submissions! Hint, hint, it’s a great time to submit to me! My team will tell you that I am really loving creative non-fiction right now—teach me something without making me feel like you’re teaching me something! I adore stories about real events that inspire me to be a better human, especially ones featuring kick-ass women. I also would love to see more manuscripts that make me laugh, and where the illustrations tell a whole part of the story that isn’t in the text. You can see more about the things I love and our submission guidelines on my manuscript wish list.
Anna Lazowski:
I absolutely love reading submissions, because when you find a gem in your inbox, it’s a truly incredible feeling. I’m always looking for a diversity of voices and experiences, and stories that help us understand each other. I love things that are a bit quirky, am a big fan of a well-placed surprise, and have a soft spot for creative use of language. You can find out more about what I’m looking for and check out our submission guidelines on my manuscript wish list.
We are giving away a 20-minute Zoom call with Robert Agis, President of Starry Forest Books, where you can talk to him about anything in publishing! This is an amazing opportunity to get some insider info on all the things you’ve been wondering about in the publishing world. And don’t forget to practice your pitches, because he’ll definitely ask to hear about what you write and what you’re working on! This giveaway starts today and runs through Wednesday, June 15th!
Enter the Starry Forest Books Giveaway Here! Use the link to follow @starryforestbks on Twitter and Instagram, retweet the “Giveaway Time” tweet, and tag a fellow Picture Book Enthusiast by commenting on the “Giveaway Time” Instagram post. (You can find links to these posts at linktr.ee/starryforestbks)
Thank you again, Amy, for all this wonderful information and for taking the time to visit with us today! We all so appreciate it!
And now back to our regularly scheduled programming. . . 😊
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog links (and any other info you feel like filling out 😊) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
Susanna Leonard Hill 
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