Welcome to KidLit Coffee Talk! Today, I’m thrilled to feature my friend and fellow author Ellen Leventhal. I first met Ellen in 2016 at a writing retreat. Since then, she has published two fantastic picture books. Don’t Eat the Bluebonnets (Clear Fork Publishing), co-written by Ellen Rothberg and illustrated by Joel Cook, came out in 2017. Lola Can’t Leap (Clear Fork Publishing), illustrated by Noelle Shawa, is her latest release.

Thank you for joining me, Ellen. First off, what kind of coffee (or tea) do you like to drink?

Well if I don’t care about calories or sugar, I love the vanilla flavored coffees, but when I’m being good, I just do boring decaf. It’s probably a good thing because you don’t want to see me on caffeine!

Ha ha! Can you tell me a little bit about yourself and your writing journey?

I have had a LONG writing journey. I always loved writing, and like many other writers, I’m sure, I am the one who writes all the poems for birthdays, showers, etc. When I was a teenager, I wrote angst filled poetry while sighing deeply. But as I got older, I learned that all writing doesn’t need to be soul crushing. I taught school for a very long time, and I often rewrote the curriculum to make it more interesting. While I was busy tweaking the curriculum, a friend and I also wrote the dialogue for the school musical every year. One day that same friend and I decided that we should try our hand at writing a kids’ book. We entered a contest and won a picture book deal! That was several years ago, and I’ve been writing “professionally” ever since.

How wonderful that you got started on this journey with a friend! Tell me about Lola Can’t Leap.

I have to admit that I love this little book. My amazing illustrator, Noelle Shawa, brought Lola to life so beautifully. The story is about a lamb who feels like she needs to leap fences like all the other lambs. After all, leaping sheep help babies sleep. But try as she does, she just can’t get over that fence. Happily, Lola finds her own gift and learns that there is more than one way to reach a goal.

Noelle did an amazing job with the illustrations. And I love the language you used. What was the most exciting part of the publication process? What was the hardest?

Aside from the rush of signing a contract, one of the most exciting parts for me is seeing the illustrations and marveling at how well the words and pictures mesh. The most difficult part for me is marketing the books. I could talk about books and writing in general forever, but I find it difficult to go out and say, “Please buy my book.” So, I REALLY thank you, Jenna, for helping me do this.

Of course! And I understand how you feel. It’s so much easier to gush about other people’s books than it is your own. What else are you working on?

I’m juggling several projects right now. I am finishing up revisions on a few picture books, I’m in the process of interviewing people for a biography picture book I hope will come to fruition, and I’m doing research for a middle grade historical fiction novel.

Wow, it sounds like you are busy! What is your favorite part of being a published author?

I absolutely love going into schools and talking about reading and writing. My presentations are usually pretty humorous and listening to the kids laugh is a great joy. And of course, finding out that I helped inspire a young writer is an incredible feeling. Oh, and I like that I can work in my pajamas. 😊

Reading and talking writing with kids is the best. What’s one picture book you loved when you were little, and a more recent one you love now?

This has to be a trick question! ONE?? Ok, I’ll give it a try. When I think of picture books when I was little, Caps for Sale always comes to mind. I remember laughing and acting like the monkeys in the book. You don’t hear about this book much anymore, but I watched a Youtube video of it, and I think it stands the test of time. As far as recent picture books, it depends on the day. I love SO many. The easiest way for me to answer this question is to think about what recently made my grandchildren smile. I read There Was an Old Dragon Who Swallowed a Knight by Penny Klosterman to my grandson the other night, and I still picture him giggling and yelling out “That’s not polite” (a recurring line). That’s definitely one of my favorites, but honestly, there are so many.

Great choices! What are you currently reading?

I just started Educated by Tara Westover. It is a gripping memoir that I don’t want to put down. It’s about a girl who, kept out of school, eventually leaves her survivalist family and goes on to earn a PhD from Cambridge University.

I haven’t read that one yet, but I’ve heard so many positive reviews. Now, let’s have a little fun. What is one thing that most people don’t know about you?

Hmm…not so sure that I’m that interesting. One funny thing is that although I consider myself a feminist, I entered and won a beauty contest. The thing is I was three years old. I clearly remember walking across a picnic table and being crowned Ms. Cadwalader School. I got a piece of candy AND a piece of gum for my prize. That was my claim to fame in my nursery school class.

Ha, that is a great story! Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions. I’m so excited for the release of Lola, and I hope she finds her way into the hands of countless children.

To learn more about Ellen, visit her website at http://www.ellenleventhal.com.

Connect with her on social media

Twitter – @EllenLWrites

Facebook – Ellen Leventhal Writer

Instagram – @ellenl411

Now, it’s GIVEAWAY TIME!

Ellen has generously offered to give one lucky reader a picture book manuscript critique!

To enter the giveaway, simply comment on this post. A winner will be chosen at random on Wednesday, February 13th. And don’t forget to subscribe to my blog.  Good luck!

Happy 2019! Welcome to KidLit Coffee Talk! Grab a cup of coffee (or tea) and read on to learn more about the incredible Alexandria LaFaye. I first met Alexandria when I joined the talented group of writers of Storm Literary Agency. Her latest picture book, Follow Me Down to Nicodemus Town (Albert Whitman & Co.) was released on January 1st, 2019. Follow Me Down to Nicodemus Town was illustrated by Nicole Tadgell.

First off, what kind of coffee (or tea) do you like to drink?

While I do enjoy the smell of coffee, I rather prefer to drink a good steaming hot cup of chai, preferably pumpkin with steamed milk. My favorite cup is yellow with flowers and my favorite word, “Mom” on it.

There’s nothing like drinking a hot drink out of your favorite mug. Tell me a little bit about yourself and your writing journey.

I grew up in a small Wisconsin town with an elementary school just large enough to get lost in and discovered about 60 seconds after my arrival that I was a complete and total geek! Now, I’m taller.  I constantly told stories—while playing, while making art, while waiting in line at the bathroom—to talk to people, I didn’t really have to go. The folks in my school weren’t ready for my brand of weird, so they shunned me. I thought, “Well, they don’t to be friends because they don’t truly know me, but what could I do to make them want to get to know me?” My big plan at the time was to become famous.  When I learned that a six year old had published a book, I thought, hey, if she can do it, so can I. I didn’t count on it taking me twenty years to accomplish that, but you know what they say about good things and waiting. Of course, I did a lot of reading and writing and revising during that wait. Since I just tried to spell “wait” as “weight,” I should probably point out that I have dyslexia so reading and writing were a challenge for me in school. And what do I do for a living? I’m an author who is also an English professor.  I LOVE irony! Don’t you?

I’ve been writing since I was a child, so I’ve been on this writer’s journey for decades. And if I were to describe it briefly, I would say that it’s all about reading as a writer, committing to continual growth, networking, and never giving up. I’ve published 15 books so far and I hope to, at least, double that before I’m done. (Pst! Secretly, I’d like to publish 99 books.)

Wow, in your life you are truly immersed in reading and writing. Tell me about your newest book, Follow Me Down to Nicodemus Town.

I’m a huge fan of history as a writer and a studier of the past and the stories for history that inspire me the most are the ones about people who faced great odds and succeeded. I’m also committed to increasing public awareness of elements of history that have often been overlooked, hidden, or underrepresented. As a huge supporter of equity, social justice, and diversity, I want every voice to be heard, every work of art seen, and every story told.  Follow Me Down to Nicodemus Town is the story of a fictional family within the real historical community of African American homesteaders, known as Exodusters, who established the frontier community of Nicodemus, KS.  I wanted to share this story because so few people know the stories of the Exodusters.

I love picture books that focus on overlooked moments in history. What was the most exciting part of the publication process? What was the hardest?

That would be hard to winnow down to one thing, but when it comes to picture books, I’d have to say it’s probably the illustrations.  It’s so exciting to see the artist’s rendition of your work, but it’s also very hard because the artwork is an expression of their interpretation of your story, and there’s no guarantee they will see it in a way that complements your view of the story. With my last two picture books, I’ve been incredibly lucky to work with two amazing artists who had very similar views of the stories and they both expanded on them in ways that truly improved the whole storytelling experience. Eglatine Ceuleman’s interepretation of the life and school experiences of Bartholomew Botts in No Frogs in School (Sterling, 2018) is so zany, full, and comical, I pouring over and delighting in the details of that book.  Nicole Tadgell’s interpretation of Dede, the main character of Follow Me Down to Nicodemus Town, is so wonderfully radiant, strong, and empowering. Ms. Tadgell also did a truly wonderful job of bringing life on the praire alive, recognizing the amazing role the skyscape plays in that world. Her historical accuracy in depicting the town of Nicodemus as it was when it first began is also wonderful.

I absolutely agree – the illustrations in both of your latest picture books are gorgeous. What else are you working on?

My next book is a collaboration with the wonderful author-artist Lea Lyon and the illustrator Jessica Gibson. Ready to Fly (HarperCollins, 2020) is based on the amazing life of Sylvia Townsend, an amazing African American ballerina who was denied access into ballet classes as a child, so she taught herself how to dance ballet from books she loaned out of the bookmobile. She went on to open her own dance studio which is still open today. You could say, I favor stories about unsung heroes.

That sounds wonderful! I can’t wait to read it! What is your favorite part of being a published author?

Hearing from people who have been touched by the books I’ve written in positive and empowering ways. I also LOVE to do school visits to remind kids that they should never overlook or ostracize members of their class because everyone is born to be an amazing person and we should all work together to help all members of our community realize their dreams.

What’s one picture book you loved when you were little and a more recent one you love now?

One of my favorites was a classic by the time I read it and you hardly even see the book anymore. It’s Robert Bright’s Georgie and it’s about a friendly ghost.  Now adays, it’s so hard to pick just one, but I have to say, I’m a HUGE fan of Beekle, that bus-driver wannabe pigeon, and a British picture book about a misidentified escaped bear Silly Doggy.

Beekle is one of my favorites, too. What are you currently reading?

I’m slogging my way through Map of Days because I’ve read the others. The concept behind these books is great, but I must say that I wish they had an equal about of artistry in the writing and depth of character development.

I always love to hear what other writer friends are reading. Last question, what is one thing most people don’t know about you?

Oh, but I can’t tell you, it’s a secret.

Ha ha! Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions!

To learn more about Alexandria, visit her website at https://www.alafaye.com

Connect with her on social media

Facebook – @alafayeauthor

Twitter – @Sylvanocity

Now, it’s GIVEAWAY TIME!

Alexandria has generously offered to give one lucky reader the opportunity to win a prize of their choice:

• an autographed copy of Follow Me Down to Nicodemus Town
• a classroom Skype visit
• a picture book manuscript critique

To enter the giveaway, simply comment on this post. A winner will be chosen at random on Tuesday, January 15th. And don’t forget to subscribe to my blog.  Good luck!

Happy October! Grab a cup of coffee and join me for KidLit Coffee Talk. Today, I’m thrilled to be joined by author/illustrator Sarah Momo Romero. Sarah and I are Clear Fork Publishing sisters, and her debut picture book, Wake Up, Little Bat!  (Clear Fork Publishing) enters the world today! It’s an endearing story about a little bat who just can’t stay awake at night. Sarah was kind enough to answer some questions about her publication process and life as an author/illustrator.

First off, what kind of coffee (or tea) do you like to drink?

I love to drink all kinds of tea, black and green, but I think Earl Grey is my favorite. Too much caffeine makes me jittery, but I love to have a nice hot cup of coffee and almond milk with breakfast (preferably pancakes!) on the weekends.

Nothing is better than coffee and pancakes. Tell me a little bit about yourself and your writing journey.

I am a Japanese Peruvian American artist and writer living in Los Angeles. I’ve always loved to paint and draw, but kept my writing more to myself in journals. I work as a graphic designer, and it wasn’t until a story I’ve had bouncing around in my head for years finally pushed me to take a writing class, and I discovered how much I love to write picture books.

Tell me about Wake Up, Little Bat!

The story for Wake Up, Little Bat! started off as a little owl with a red plaid hat who couldn’t stay up at night when he was supposed to. Many, many sketches and failed attempts at a story later, the little owl transformed into the Little Bat with the same red plaid hat and my debut picture book! I learned so much through writing the drafts of this picture book, but illustrating it really pushed me to my limits.

I love that Little Bat wears a plaid hat. What was the most exciting part of the publication process? What was the hardest?

There have been so many exciting milestones along this journey, but the top two so far are receiving the contract from Callie at Clear Fork Publishing, and receiving my first copy of Wake Up, Little Bat! in the mail. This whole experience has been a bit surreal, and both of these moments made me feel like this was all really happening.

The hardest part of the publication process was the day-to-day grind of illustrating the picture book. Don’t get me wrong, I’m incredibly grateful Callie believed in my artwork and gave me the opportunity of writing and illustrating my story. But I also work a full-time job, so all the illustrating for Little Bat happened after work, late into the night, on the weekends, and sometimes even on the train ride to work. It was a tough few months of really hard work, but all of that definitely feels worth the incredible feeling of having my first published picture book in my hands. I can’t wait to share it with everyone!

All your hard work paid off because the illustrations are adorable! What else are you working on?

I hope to continue publishing picture books for kids, so I’m always working on new manuscripts. I am especially interested in stories that will introduce readers to more diverse characters and little known cultural traditions. Hopefully, more of those stories will get out into the world!

When I’m not writing, I’m trying to improve on my illustration style, and I’m focusing on drawing kids and people (something I’ve never felt too comfortable with.) And one day, I hope to work on the middle grade novel idea I’ve kept in my back pocket for the past year. No matter what, I want to continue on this creative journey, whether it’s writing or illustrating for children’s books, or both!

The world is certainly in need of more diverse characters in picture books. How has life changed for you since becoming a published author?

I think the biggest change in my life hasn’t been since becoming a published author, but it has been since I first dedicated my creative energy towards want to becoming a children’s book writer. Before this, my creative side felt stifled, but I didn’t really know what to do to feed the craving for creating art. I felt lost and didn’t know what to do about it. But now that I’ve discovered this new passion, I’ve been to incredibly inspiring conferences, I’ve met so many writers to share ideas and experiences with, and have connected on a creative level with my husband. He’s a natural storyteller, and it’s been really fun to bounce ideas off of him and get his feedback on what I’m currently working on. He can be brutally honest, but he has helped toughen me up and push myself to get better at my craft.

Ha ha, my husband is my toughest critic, too. What’s one picture book you loved when you were little and a more recent one you love now?

My favorite book from childhood is If You Give a Mouse a Cookie written by Laura Numeroff and illustrated by Felicia Bond. I had a favorite little plush mouse as a little girl, and I wouldn’t go anywhere without it. This book had me imagining what it would be like if my little mouse was a real-life friend. I still have my original tattered copy on my bookshelf.

I have so many favorite picture books now, but at the top of my list is Journey by Aaron Becker, and the other books in this trilogy. It was the first wordless picture book I discovered on my writing journey, and it felt so magical to get lost in a story of beautiful illustrations without a single word on the page.

I haven’t read that one yet, but now I can’t wait to check it out of the library. What are you currently reading?

The Last Equation of Isaac Severy by Nova Jacobs. I’ve been pretty busy these past few weeks, so it’s getting a little dusty on my nightstand, but I love that it’s a mystery that takes place in the city I live in and love, Los Angeles. I will also be reading The Dry by Jane Harper with my ladies book club for October. I love reading, and I always have a few books and audiobooks on rotation.

Sounds great. What is one thing most people don’t know about you?

I love Halloween and have always been drawn to the mysterious, paranormal and sometimes dark aspects of life. Think more Tim Burton and Guillermo del Toro, less gory and unnecessary violence and blood. I get a thrill out of going to creepy Halloween events and watching suspenseful horror movies, even though they can give me nightmares. There’s something about the darkness and unknown that is really fascinating to me. Maybe one day it will translate into a slightly creepy but mostly fun picture book!

Thank you so much, Sarah, for chatting with me, and congratulations on the publication of your debut picture book!

To learn more about Sarah, visit her website at http://www.sarahmomoromero.com

Connect with Sarah on social media!

Twitter – @sarahmomoromero

Instagram – @sarahmomoromero

Now it’s giveaway time!

Sarah has generously offered to giveaway a copy of Wake Up, Little Bat! for one lucky KidLit Coffee Talk reader! To be eligible, all you have to do is a leave a comment on this post. I will choose a winner at random next Friday, October 12th. Good luck, and thanks for stopping by!

Welcome to KidLit Coffee Talk! Grab a cup of coffee and read on. Between purchasing and furnishing a second home on Cape Cod, KidLit Coffee Talk took a backseat. I’m so excited to be back and to have author Rachel Kolar with me today. Rachel and I are agency sisters at Storm Literary Agency and her debut picture book, Mother Ghost: Nursery Rhymes for Little Monsters (Sleeping Bear Press) was released last month. Mother Ghost: Nursery Rhymes for Little Monsters was illustrated by Roland Garrigue.

First off, what kind of coffee do you like to drink?

Pumpkin spice latte. It’s a cliché choice, but it tastes like fall to me. And if other people don’t want to drink it, that leaves more for the rest of us!

Ha ha! I think I’ll stick to my iced coffee. Tell me a little bit about yourself and your writing journey.

It’s funny—I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was eight, but I never thought I’d write picture books. I love science fiction, fantasy, and horror, and I always assumed that I’d write adult fiction in those genres. I’ve published a few short stories for adults, and I still enjoy writing them, but I kept flaming out whenever I tried my hand at novels. Then, my husband pointed out that I loved Buffy the Vampire Slayer and CW superhero shows; had I considered writing YA? It was a revelation. I love stories with big, epic feelings, and YA tends to be much less embarrassed about wearing its heart on its sleeve. I managed to complete a manuscript for a YA paranormal novel, which I’d never done with any of my adult novels. That was my first foray into kidlit. By that time, I had children of my own, and I’d started coming up with picture book ideas for them now that I no longer thought of myself as an adult writer.

Wow, it sounds like it’s been quite a journey! Tell me about Mother Ghost: Nursery Rhymes for Little Monsters.

Mother Ghost started about four or five years ago, when my son was a toddler. He was in love with his Mother Goose book and would run around reciting random bits and pieces of the rhymes. He also loved Halloween—I’m one of those people who gets way too excited about the season, as evidenced by my taste in coffee, and I passed it on to my kids. Just to be silly, I started inventing Halloween-themed nursery rhymes to make him laugh (I think “Mary, Mary, Tall and Scary” was the first). They were a lot of fun, so I kept going with them.

Even though it’s only thirteen rhymes, it took me about two years to write, because rhyming well is hard. I have several rough drafts for poems that never made it into the book because I couldn’t get the rhymes to work, or because I couldn’t come up with something that was similar enough to the original rhyme to be recognizable, but different enough to be clever. I made it halfway through a variation on “The Queen of Hearts” before realizing that I hadn’t done much beyond replacing “hearts” and “tarts” with “ghosts” and “toast.” That one didn’t get off the cutting room floor.

Also, for anyone else writing a spooky rhyming picture book, let me save you some trouble: nothing rhymes with monster.

I love that this book started out as silly poems to make your son laugh. I find so many of my ideas are inspired by my children. What was the most exciting part of the publication process? What was the hardest?

Other than getting the acceptance letter from Sleeping Bear Press, the most exciting part was seeing Roland Garrigue’s illustrations for the first time. They’re perfect—spooky without being scary, and filled with funny little details and Easter eggs. I laughed out loud the first time I saw the “Zombie Miss Muffet” picture.

The hardest part, surprisingly, is the publicity scheduling. Mother Ghost is a Halloween-themed picture book, so the best times for readings and other events are Saturdays in October. The trouble is that, as I mentioned, Halloween is a huge deal for my kids and me, and hayrides, haunted trains, and fall festivals also tend to be on Saturdays in October. We’ll make it work, but I still feel like I’m a character in a Hallmark movie, juggling work and family at a magical time of year and getting ready to learn a Very Special Lesson.

What else are you working on?

I’m putting the final revisions on that YA paranormal novel, which is essentially Friday Night Lights with werewolves. I’m also finishing up a draft of a YA horror novel about changelings, bullying, and pig farming. The research has been interesting on that one.

For picture books, I recently finished a book about sensory processing disorder. I’m a special needs mom, and I have yet to find a book about neurodivergence that my kids truly love. I’m sure that it’s out there somewhere, but in the meantime, I wanted to write something that would teach them about themselves and make them giggle at the same time.

I’m intrigued by your YA horror novel and can’t wait to see how you tie changelings, bullying, and pigs together. How has life changed for you (if at all) since becoming a published author?

My work ethic has gotten so much better! Before, I felt like a stay-at-home mom who occasionally wrote for fun. Now I’m a writer, and I have a book to prove it. That means I actually have to put my rear end in the chair and write.

Yes, the famous BIC (Butt in Chair). It can certainly be hard sometimes. What’s one picture book you loved when you were little and a more recent one you love now?

I adored the Amelia Bedelia books, and my favorite was Amelia Bedelia Helps Out. It doesn’t stand out too much from the others in the beginning—but at the end, she makes both a regular cake and a “tea cake” out of actual loose-leaf tea. In any other Amelia Bedelia book, the tea cake would be inedible, but the normal cake would be yummy enough to make up for her various mix-ups. In this one, the normal cake was fine, but the tea cake was delicious! I was delighted to have my expectations flipped like that.

My favorite recent picture book is a bit unorthodox. Little Cow, one of Chronicle’s little finger puppet board books, does more in fewer words than any other book I’ve read. The conflict, resolution, character arc, and rhymes are as basic as you get—but they only take eighty words. I’ve seen other books squeeze in a narrative at that length, but I’ve never seen one that managed it in rhyme.

Eighty words?? That’s crazy! I’ll have to check that one out. Right now, I’m reading On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King. What are you currently reading?

 The Mabinogion, a book of medieval Welsh mythology and fairy tales, as research for the changeling novel. I was worried that it would be dry—Celtic mythology can be episodic and meandering, and in the hands of a bad translator, it comes across as a random jumble of unconnected events. But Sioned Davies is the translator for this edition, and she does a lovely job of making it readable.

Just for fun, what is one thing most people don’t know about you?

I love Halloween, but I’m terrified of spiders.

Rachel, thank you so much for joining me today, and congratulations on the publication of your debut picture book!

To learn more about Rachel Kolar, visit her website at https://rachelkolar.com.

Connect with Rachel on social media.

Twitter – @KolarRachel

Facebook – RachelKolarspecfic

Good morning, kidlit friends! Welcome to another edition of KidLit Coffee Talk. I’m thrilled to feature PB and MG author Rosie Pova on my blog today. Rosie and I met through our publisher, Clear Fork/Spork. Not only is she an active member of the kidlit community, she also runs writing contests for children, including KWEST and Haiku Hype. Her latest book, Sarah’s Song (Spork 2017), was illustrated by Emma Allen.

First off, what kind of coffee (or tea) do you like to drink?

 Coffee, black.

Tell me a little bit about yourself and your writing journey.

 I immigrated to Canada from Bulgaria in 1998 as an adult, and a few years after that my family and I came to the United States. I am a mom to three wonderful children and currently a full time writer.

My journey as a writer was long and filled with failures…uh, I mean opportunities to learn. And so I did learn a lot over many years and kept trying and trying to break through. I persisted because I was really passionate about writing for children and committed to realizing my dream.

At times, when the rejections piled up and things looked very discouraging, I thought about quitting, but that didn’t work out. So I learned how to enjoy the process, nourish my creativity and continue the pursuit, no matter what.

Those are truly some words of wisdom. Persistence is key if you want to succeed in children’s publishing. Speaking of which, 2017 was a busy year for you, with 3 books published! Tell me about your newest picture book, Sarah’s Song.

 Sarah’s Song is a very special book to me. I dedicated it to my grandparents, who are no longer here, but they were a big part of my childhood and I loved them dearly.

I’m happy to see that the book is doing well. Just last month it was featured in Kirkus Reviews as the Indie Editors’ pick so that was a great surprise. The book and the book trailer were also included on a list of the 100 Must-have Books for the Elementary Classroom, created by Kate Narita who is a teacher, writer and a blogger.

I hope more young readers will discover Sarah’s Song and share it with their grandparents. I know kids have a very special bond with their grandparents and the story will help them celebrate that bond, even when things change with the aging of Grandma and Grandpa.

I’m a big fan of Sarah’s Song. It is certainly a special book. What was the most exciting part of the publication process? What was the hardest?

 The most exciting part was that my book was becoming real. I loved seeing my characters in the illustrations and how that transformation took place, bringing them to life.

The hardest part was letting  go of revisions and tweaking over and over before I called it a final version. This was new to me and a bit scary―it seemed like there could always be room for improvement when I woke up the next day.

That’s so true – as writers, it can be hard to let go of the manuscript and trust that it’s the best it can be. What else are you working on?

 As usual, I am juggling multiple projects at once. It’s my new normal now and I enjoy it. It’s never boring in my world!

I am super excited about a few stories in particular. Two of them are currently on submission and I can’t wait for the other two to go out next. They are my newest polished manuscripts that I wrote in 12 x12 and when I sent them to my agent, she said “they are both kind of brilliant :)” which was wonderful to hear. I hope these stories find a publishing home soon and I look forward to sharing them with readers, but I can’t tell you more at this time.

I can’t wait to see what comes next for you. How has life changed since becoming a published author?

 Life as a published author has changed a lot. I am busier now because besides writing and revising at home, I need to actively promote my new book babies in any way I can and make sure they adjust well in the world. This includes leaving the house once in a while ;).

I try to go places where I meet my readers like school visits and book fairs which requires planning, preparation and time. I love inspiring kids and having my books in their home and school libraries is such an honor.

Interacting with young readers is certainly one of the best parts of being an author. What’s one picture book you loved when you were little and a more recent one you love now?

 We didn’t have many choices when I was growing up in Bulgaria―mainly fairy tales and my favorite was Cinderella.

A recent book that I love . . . There are many, do I have to pick just one? I love 7 Ate 9 by Tara Lazar, illustrated by Ross MacDonald.  It’s so clever and funny!

I love that one, too. Tara Lazar is hilarious. What are you currently reading?

 I’m reading a lot of picture books for research. There are a few new releases that I want to check out, too. I also read some middle grade and young adult books, occasionally, and I always have a self-development book on my nightstand.

What is one thing most people don’t know about you?

 I get that question a lot for interviews and I’m running out of shareable things people don’t know about me haha. But I’d like to share something new that I have in the works and I’d like more people to know about. It’s my poetry contest for kids called Haiku Hype. It’s a nationwide competition in April intended to inspire kids to write and get in touch with their creativity. I am giving away a Kindle for kids e-reader plus other amazing prizes and it will be great to get many students to participate.

The contest will run from April 9th-27th for poetry month and more information can be found on my blog at www.rosiejpova.com/blog

Thank you, Jenna, for having me. It was a pleasure to talk with you.

Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to chat with me. I’m looking forward to checking out the wonderful poetry the students are sure to create!

To learn more about Rosie, visit her website at https://www.rosiejpova.com

Connect with her on social media!

Twitter – @RosiePOV

Facebook – @RosieWrites

Now it’s giveaway time!

Rosie has generously offered a fiction, non-rhyming picture book manuscript critique (up to 700 words) for one lucky KidLit Coffee Talk reader! To be eligible, all you have to do is a leave a comment on this post. I will choose a winner at random next Friday, May 4th. Good luck, and thanks for stopping by!

Welcome to KidLit Coffee Talk! I’m so excited to welcome Artemis Roehrig to the blog. Not only is she an incredible author, she’s also a scientist who researches invasive insects at the Elkinton Lab in Massachusetts. I first met Artemis at the NESCBWI Spring Conference. Her latest picture book, Do Doodle Bugs Doodle? (Persnickety Press), was just released on March 27, 2018. Do Doodlebugs Doodle? was cowritten by Artemis and her mother, Corrine Demas, and was illustrated by Ellen Shi.

First off, what kind of coffee (or tea) do you like to drink?

I secretly hate coffee, however, I sporadically may be found drinking chocolate mint green tea.

A writer who hates coffee? Ha ha! Tell me a little bit about yourself and your writing journey.

Despite always loving writing, I grew up with a mother who is a writer, so I defiantly became a biology major in college. This, of course, ended up with me falling in love with the sciences too, and despite my mother hinting I should apply to a MFA program I ended up going on to study science in graduate school as well. I always wrote some on the side, and, in fact, the first draft of my book Does A Fiddler Crab Fiddle? came about when I was working as an environmental educator during my summer break from college and was always looking for more books to read to kids that were factual but also fun to read out loud. Writing a scientific article is very similar to writing a picture book. In both cases you take a complicated concept and years of research and boil it down into as few words as possible that still gets the point across.

Writing picture books seems like the perfect way to combine your two passions. Tell me about your newest book, Do Doodlebugs Doodle?

Like, Does A Fiddler Crab Fiddle?, Do Doodlebugs Doodle? Amazing Insect Facts is all about getting kids excited about science. Insects are such an accessible science topic, since you can find them whether you live on a farm or in an apartment building. And there are so many cool insects that kids might not even know about. I also wanted to write a book that would be of interest to multiple age groups. A toddler can have fun yelling “NO!” along with the book, while a much older child or teacher can find out lots of interesting facts, and read the extensive authors’ note in the back to get a more detailed overview of the insects that appear in the book. My hope is that as well as appealing to insect fans, it will also get kids who don’t naturally gravitate towards nonfiction to become more interested in STEM topics!

What is it like writing books with your mother?

Working in the sciences means that collaborating with others is just second nature for me. Two heads are definitely better than one. And, although you may write a book draft alone, no book is published without input from editors and the production team. It’s especially great working with someone who has a different background from me, because we are able to bring different things to the manuscript and create something even better, and sometimes more quickly. For a rhyming book like Are Pirates Polite? it was helpful working as a team because we could read out loud and listen to what worked best rhythmically. I think the two of us work really well together since we know each other so well. However, we probably bicker a little more than other writing teams!

Ha ha! What was the most exciting part of the publication process? What was the hardest?

The most exciting part was signing the contract. The hardest part was the wait between signing the contract and actually holding the finished book.

What else are you working on?

I have two books due out next year, both coauthored with Corinne Demas (my mom). Do Jellyfish Like Jelly? Amazing Sea Creature Facts will be published by Persnickety Press, and we have another rhyming pirate book called The Grumpy Pirate with Scholastic which is being illustrated by Ashlyn Anstee. I have several other picture book manuscripts out on submission. In my spare time I am working on my first YA novel, which I hope to have submission-ready by the end of this year—we’ll see how that goes!

Wow, you are on fire! What is your favorite part of being a published author?

It’s allowed me to meet a lot of new people! It’s been especially fun connecting with other writers like you, Jenna!

What’s one picture book you loved when you were little and a more recent one you love now?

My favorite picture book as a kid was The Philharmonic Gets Dressed by Karla Kuskin, illustrated by Marc Simont. I have two kids so I read a ton of picture books these days, so it is difficult for me to choose a favorite! The NEWEST book I love is A Bear Sat On My Porch Today by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Rilla Alexander, which I was lucky enough to bring my kids to a reading of with both the author and illustrator!

That must have been an amazing event. Right now, I’m reading a great YA, Assassin of Truths, by Brenda Drake. What are you currently reading?

I’m in a combination dance class/book club and we are reading the short story collection Difficult Women by Roxane Gay. Besides that, I’m usually in the middle of several books at once, so I’m currently reading the YA novel What Girls Are Made Of (Elana Arnold), and just started The Gypsy Moth Summer (Julia Fierro). I left Hidden Figures (Margot Lee Shetterly) in my car at the beginning of the year to read when I am early to preschool pickup, but it turns out I’m always late, so although the book is wonderful, it is taking me forever to finish!

I’ve never heard of a combination dance class/book club, but it sounds like a lot of fun. What is one thing most people don’t know about you?

I have four pet tarantulas.

Thank you so much for joining me and taking time out of your busy schedule to answer my questions!

To learn more about Artemis, visit her website at https://artemisroehrig.com

Or, connect with her on Twitter @ArtemisRoehrig

Now it’s giveaway time!

You have the chance to win a copy of Artemis’s book, Do Doodlebugs Doodle? To enter this giveaway, simply comment on this post. A winner will be chosen at random on Monday, April 9th. And don’t forget to subscribe to my blog.  Good luck!

Good morning, and welcome to KidLit Coffee Talk! Today, I’m so excited to be chatting with the amazing Karlin Gray. Karlin first caught my attention in 2016 when her debut picture book, Nadia: The Girl Who Couldn’t Sit Still was published. As a former gymnast and huge fan of Nadia Comaneci, I just knew I had to get to know this author! Karlin’s second picture book, An Extraordinary Ordinary Moth is set to be released later this week, and she was gracious enough to answer some of my questions. An Extraordinary Ordinary Moth will be published on March 15th, 2018 with Sleeping Bear Press and was illustrated by Steliyana Doneva.

Thank you so much for joining me, Karlin! First off, what kind of coffee do you like to drink?

French Roast lattes. A few years ago, my husband gave me an espresso/latte maker. Maybe the best gift ever! Everyone benefits when I have two cups—the first while I’m making breakfast and packing my son’s lunch; the second after my son and husband are out the door.

I think I need one of those! Tell me a little bit about yourself and your writing journey.

I guess my writing journey started in college where I majored in English/Creative Writing and then continued through my career in book publishing and as a freelance copywriter. But it wasn’t until I became a mom that I started to write children’s stories. After working on manuscripts (again and again) at a local writing center, I submitted work to every publisher that reviewed unsolicited manuscripts. I wish I had kept all the rejection letters so I could show kids that big pile next to my first book—Nadia: The Girl Who Couldn’t Sit Still (now in its fourth printing!).

Wow, its fourth printing! That’s wonderful! Tell me about your newest book, An Extraordinary Ordinary Moth.

When my son was three, he declared, “The moth’s my favorite bug.” My response: “Ew, really?” His sad expression made me take a closer look at his “favorite.” When I did, I learned several things about the little creature (like moths are insects not bugs) and was inspired to write An Extraordinary Ordinary Moth.

I love that story. My son is a constant source of inspiration for me, as well. What was the most exciting part of the publication process? What was the hardest?

The most exciting part—seeing Steliyana Doneva’s first sketches of all the pages. It’s amazing to see the artist’s vision coming together and my story coming to life. The hardest part is waiting for publication!

What else are you working on?

I’m working with Page Street Kids on my next picture book biography about Serena Williams—Serena: The Littlest Sister—and writing more fiction and nonfiction manuscripts…but only after I’ve savored my two lattes.

Ha ha! What is your favorite part of being a published author?

When I hear, from a kid or parent, that my book is well-loved in their home. That’s the mic-drop.

For sure. What’s one picture book you loved when you were little and a more recent one you love now?

Of course I remember Where the Wild Things Are and Goodnight Moon but the book that meant the most to me was Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein. Some of my favorite poems in that book are “Magic,” “The Googies are Coming,” and “Enter this Deserted House.” Today, I love Art by Patrick McDonnell. (I bet Shel Silverstein would like that book, too.) Every time I see Art, it reminds me of being snuggled up with my son for story time.

That’s awesome. I still know “Sick” by heart, and every time my children tell me they don’t want to go to school, that poem immediately pops into my head. What are you currently reading?

Right now I’m reading Mary’s Monster by Lita Judge. It makes me want to throw a huge tantrum—“It’s not fair! How come she gets to be a writer AND an illustrator? Not fair! Not fair!”

This book is stunning and I love everything about it—the writing, the artwork, the subject matter. Everything except…not fair!

You’re the second person in the past week who has mentioned this book to me! I think I need to pick up a copy. What is one thing most people don’t know about you?

Most people don’t know that I was a “brat”—not a kid who threw tantrums but a kid who moved every year or two because of my dad’s job with the military. Going to three different high schools (one in Japan) wasn’t easy. But looking back, I can see that it gave me a childhood rich with stories and characters. Who knows? Maybe they’ll be in a book one day…

Thank you so much for chatting with me, Karlin! 

To learn more about Karlin, visit her website at http://www.karlingray.com

Or, connect with her on Twitter @KarlinGray

Now it’s giveaway time!

You have the chance to win a copy of Karlin’s book, An Extraordinary Ordinary Moth. I already have my copy of this book, and I can assure you it’s amazing! You want to add this one to your collection. To enter this giveaway, simply comment on this post. A winner will be chosen at random on Sunday, March 18th. And don’t forget to subscribe to my blog.  Good luck!

I’m so excited for today’s edition of KidLit Coffee Talk! With me today is the prolific Leslie Bulion, author of children’s fiction and science poetry. I first met Leslie back in 2015, when she was doing an author visit at my children’s school. She helped propel me on my writing journey, as she was the first person to tell me about SCBWI. Now, three years later, I’m lucky enough to be chatting with her about her newest poetry book, Leaf Litter Critters. Leaf Litter Critters was released on March 1st, 2018 with Peachtree Publishers and was illustrated by Robert Meganck.

Thank you for joining me, Leslie! What kind of coffee do you like to drink?

Thanks for this lovely opportunity to chat over coffee, Jenna! I have my cuppa right here *sip*. As a critter-lover, I opt for organic, fair-trade and shade-grown coffee with notes of smooth chocolate and flowing manuscript. I drink herbal tea all afternoon—ginger, especially.

Tell me a little bit about yourself and your writing journey.

This could be a very long answer! The short(er) of it is that I didn’t always know I wanted to be a writer, but I have loved studying science and nature as long as I can remember and I’ve been writing poetry since the fourth grade. Beyond that, my educational and professional experiences have taken some random twists and turns that, in light of what I do now, seem almost purposeful.

Your love of nature certainly shines through in your poetry. Tell me about your newest poetry book, Leaf Litter Critters.

Leaf Litter Critters is a whole ecosystem hidden inside funny science poetry collection. I take readers in for a closer look at the “brown food web” – the decomposers and recyclers (most are very tiny!) that return nutrients locked in dead plants and animals back to the soil, making the nutrients available to green plants—the primary producers in the green food web. The fun is magnified a thousand-fold with Robert Meganck’s brilliantly humorous illustrations.

What was the most exciting part of the publication process? What was the hardest?

For this particular collection, the most exciting and the hardest part of this book was creating the relative size chart in the back matter. I met retired school library media specialist Terry Young at NCTE a while back, where Peachtree Publishers was sharing a taped-together printout of Leaf Litter Critters. Terry advised adding visuals to my textual size descriptions, to give readers a better idea of the relative sizes of these mostly unfamiliar critters. Making this happen months later involved 11^th hour, back-and-forth flying pdfs with Robert Meganck during an all-day bus ride because I’d been unavailable, out of the country on a research trip. The bus’s wifi cut out and I hit “send” minutes before my phone’s battery died. I was thrilled to see that element highlighted by the Kirkus reviewer.

Wow, that sounds stressful! And congratulations on the starred review in Kirkus! What else are you working on?

I’m working with my editor on final tweaks while Robert M. finishes up the illustrations (can’t wait to see the cover!) for my next funny science poetry collection, Superlative Birds (Peachtree: March 1, 2019). I’m also putting the final touches on a new manuscript about amphibians, planning a bunch of school visits, and getting ready for my Leaf Litter Critters book launch party at the Durham Library on March 14^th—games, critter cookies, a sing-along—come on down! I have two more science poetry manuscripts in the pipeline as well.

Critter cookies? Sounds yummy! What is your favorite part of being a published author?

I always let students know that “favorites” are the hardest questions for me! Let’s see…visiting with students and seeing how deeply they care for our incredible planet Earth is a huge favorite…reaching out to scientists who love to share their work is super-fun…the hands-on field work I do…playing with words and ideas—I feel so fortunate for the opportunity to do all of this.

What’s one picture book you loved when you were little and a more recent one you love now?

I’m sure A.A. Milne’s poetry collections: When We Were Very Young and Now We Are Six have had a tremendous influence on my work. I love so many books now that I can’t pick just one—you know—favorites are so difficult!

Yes, they are! What are you currently reading?

I just finished a brilliant YA graphic novel in verse about the life of Frankenstein’s creator, Mary Shelley entitled Mary’s Monster, written and illustrated by Lita Judge. I’m now reading Three Floors Up by Eshkol Nevo, written for adults.

What is one thing most people don’t know about you?

Even though I studied oceanography for years, love to be in and on the ocean, and SCUBA dive every chance I get, I am VERY prone to seasickness!

Thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to chat with me!

Great chatting with you here, Jenna!

To learn more about Leslie, visit her website at https://www.lesliebulion.com

Or, connect with her on Twitter @LeslieBulion

Now it’s giveaway time!

You have the chance to win a copy of Leslie’s book, Leaf Litter Critters. To enter this giveaway, simply comment on this post. A winner will be chosen at random on Sunday, March 11th. And don’t forget to subscribe to my blog.  Good luck!

Thanks so much for joining me for another edition of KidLit Coffee Talk! Today, I’m excited to share my interview with the fabulous Katey Howes. I first met Katey at the 2016 NESCBWI conference, and we’ve remained friends ever since. Katey is a force in the kidlit community and is incredibly supportive of other authors. She was kind enough to share a virtual cup of coffee with me and chat about her latest picture book, Magnolia Mudd and the Super Jumptastic Launcher Deluxe. Magnolia Mudd and the Super Jumptastic Launcher Deluxe was released on January 2, 2018 with Sterling Children’s Books and was illustrated by Valerio Fabbretti.

First off, what kind of coffee do you like to drink?

I’m generally happiest with a French Roast coffee, brewed at home, no cream or sugar. If I start getting too wired from the caffeine, I’ll switch to water, or a decaf Irish Breakfast Tea.

Tell me a little bit about yourself and your writing journey.

I co-wrote my first book – Poems by Young People – at the age of nine with my friend Rejane. We did our own illustrations and hand wrote copies with 4 poems in each. I had completely forgotten about it until my mom brought me a box of papers and drawings from my childhood! The same year, I also wrote a memoir entitled “Katey Marcinkowski, The Story of My Life (So Far.)” It was largely ignored by mainstream literary review journals. Here’s the “about the author” page I included:

After that, I seem to have entered the “elusive reclusive author” stage, because I didn’t publish anything else for many years! The fame had clearly become too much for me.

I returned to writing with the goal of traditional publication in 2014, the same year I started my blog about raising kids who love to read. Since then, I’ve been immersing myself in the children’s literature community through SCBWI conferences and online groups like 12×12 Challenge.

Ha ha, I love it! That may be the best “About the Author” I’ve ever seen! Tell me about Magnolia Mudd and the Super Jumptastic Launcher Deluxe, which I absolutely love, by the way.

Magnolia Mudd knows what she likes and is true to herself. Her pink hair, knee socks, and lab coat tell you all you need to know about her personal style.  Inventing and engineering are Magnolia’s passions – and her rocket scientist Uncle Jamie is her favorite inventing partner. When he announces his engagement to the oh-so-fancy Miss Emily, Magnolia is taken aback. She’s jealous of the time Uncle Jamie will spend with his new wife – instead of cooking up new inventions – and she jumps to conclusions about Miss Emily based on her “girly-girl” style. She also can’t stand the idea of wearing a frilly dress and tossing flowers in the wedding.

Magnolia undertakes a mission to invent a new, MUDD-Powered way to be part of the special day. And along the way she discovers that there’s more to her soon-to-be Aunt Emily than meets the eye.

What was the most exciting part of the publication process? What was the hardest?

Hearing that an editor wants to take your manuscript to acquisitions is both the most exciting and the most nauseating part of the process. There’s so much hope and so much fear in that same moment. Publishing is not for the faint of heart.

That is certainly true. What else are you working on?

I have a few picture book things in the pipeline I can’t discuss quite yet, and I’m making time this year to rework a picture book concept I love into a chapter book. I’m keeping busy scheduling STEM story times at libraries, bookshops, and science festivals. It’s a lot of fun to pair a read aloud with a stomp rocket!

I can imagine story times with you must be a blast! How has life changed for you since becoming a published author?

Well, sometimes I get to sign books for people I love, and that’s pretty amazing. And now some of the time I used to spend quiet and alone, writing away, is instead spent in classrooms and auditoriums, TALKING about writing. It’s very rewarding to share my journey and my books with kids – but it can also be stressful and tiring for an introvert like me. I’m getting used to balancing the different aspects of being a published writer, and making time for the things that are important to me, and to my career.

 One of the best things about this past year is the community of debut authors that came together as Picture the Books. The support and friendship and guidance this group provided has been amazing.

What’s one picture book you loved when you were little and a more recent one you love now?

I always loved HOME FOR A BUNNY by Margaret Wise Brown – it’s hypnotically gentle and rhythmic and illustrated so beautifully. I still feel a sense of calm every time I read it. I have A LOT of recent favorites, but I’d say THE STORYTELLER by Evan Turk is one that made a permanent home in my heart.

I just finished reading another January 2, 2018 release, Everless by Sara Holland. What are you currently reading?

I’m never reading just one book! Right now I’m reading THE TWELVE LIVES OF SAMUEL HAWLEY by Hannah Tinti just for me, plus ECHO by Pam Munoz Ryan and A WRINKLE IN TIME by Madleine L’Engle aloud with my girls.

Reading aloud with my kiddos is one of my favorite things, too. What is one thing most people don’t know about you?

Most people don’t know that I used to run hurdles – which is why I now groan and complain about my hip every time I have to get up off the floor.

Ha ha, I know the feeling! I ran hurdles in high school, too. Thank you so much for joining me, Katey. It is always a pleasure.

To learn more about Katey Howes, visit her website at https://kateyhowes.com

Connect with Katey on social media:

Twitter – @Kateywrites

Instagram – @kidlitlove

Facebook – Katey Howes