Hello and welcome back to KidLit Oasis -- the place to ​refresh your spirits, recharge your creativity, and get a literary mood boost!

We continue the Chitchat series with another awesome creative. It's my pleasure to welcome my friend and wonderful author, Melissa Berger Stoller! I can't wait to hear about Melissa's journey, her new projects, tips on revising and much more. 

Melissa is also generously giving away a picture book critique AND a copy of her new book so be sure to enter the giveaways! We will have two lucky winners with this interview!

Now, without further ado, here's Melissa. . .

Welcome, Melissa! Thank you for joining us on the blog. Please briefly describe your journey to publication.

A: First of all, thank you for welcoming me to your blog, Rosie! I’m happy to be here and enjoyed answering these thoughtful questions! :)

My journey to publication has been long and windy. The short version starts with my career as a lawyer and legal writing instructor, moves to my work as a freelance writer and editor, and also early childhood instructor, and lands on my dream job: children’s book writer. I have four books published so far. All my books were inspired by observations in my world, questions I asked, or family connections. SCARLET’S MAGIC PAINTBRUSH stemmed from a question I asked while standing in front of a Monet painting at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC (my favorite museum): What would it be like to paint with a magic paintbrush? READY, SET, GORILLA! was inspired by a billboard I observed in Times Square that said, “Ready, Set, GO!” - I imagined a little GOrilla racing a GOpher! And my chapter book, THE ENCHANTED SNOW GLOBE COLLECTION: RETURN TO CONEY ISLAND, and my latest picture book, SADIE’S SHABBT STORIES, were both inspired by family history. I have many wonderful storytellers in my family including my parents and grandmother, and these books honor the stories I cherished growing up and beyond.
 
SADIE’S SHABBAT STORIES is really the story of my heart. Lisa Goldberg’s gorgeous Chagall-like illustrations brought the characters and scenes alive in such a beautiful and moving way. The book is about Sadie, who loves hearing her Nana tell stories about their family heirlooms, relating to the candlesticks, Kiddush cup, and challah cover they use to celebrate the Jewish Shabbat. Sadie longs to find her unique voice and tell her own special stories, just like Nana. When writing, I also thought about my three girls, and I wanted to depict Sadie as a strong girl growing and using her voice. I’m so thankful to Callie Metler-Smith at Clear Fork Publishing for believing in this book, and to Mira Reisberg for her amazing editing and art direction.

Q: What do you find most challenging in this business, either on the creative or publishing side of things? What do you find most rewarding? What helps you stay motivated?
​
A: I find most challenging the waiting we all do in the publishing world. From sending out queries to agents and editors, to waiting for the finished book to appear in our hands, it’s often a long wait at every turn. But when I share a book with children at school visits, the smiles, head nods, questions, and comments remind me that it’s always worth the wait! Connecting with readers is one of the most rewarding and motivating parts of the publishing world, aside from the moment you hold a finished book in your hands for the first time. That is truly a moment to take a deep breath and celebrate!
 
 
Q: Could you share any craft tools or techniques that you find most helpful to you when working on a project? What does your revision process look like?

A: When working on a project, there are many craft techniques that are helpful. I always pay attention to pacing and page turns in picture books. Good pacing ensures that the reader will want to turn the page. I often use sticky notes on blank pages of paper and I move text around to capture the perfect page turn. Also, I write a mission statement/pitch at the top of every manuscript and also list mentor texts. I keep an eye on the mission statement to ensure my manuscript is moving in the correct direction in terms of plot and theme (and sometimes I change the mission statement if the story is moving in a different and better direction!).

When revising, I try to make sure that the story has enough heart, humor, or whatever the voice is. Heart is always at the center of every story. Of course, my critique partners are so vital to the process. They comment on big picture and small picture items, and always spark revision ideas. Sometimes during revision, I may totally change the point of view or add or subtract characters. Anything can happen! 

Q: What's coming up for you next? Please tell us about any new releases, exciting news, upcoming events or anything else you'd like to share with our readers?

A: I’m so happy that RETURN OF THE MAGIC PAINTBRUSH will be releasing in 2021. It’s the sequel to SCARLE’T MAGIC PAINTBRUSH, and it’s all about friendship and second chances. It also includes colors and nature –  both STEAM themes. The illustrations I have seen so far from artist Sandie Sonke are amazing! Also, I’m collaborating on a project with Callie Metler-Smith and Shirin Shamsi – a new picture book series. The first book is PLANTING FRIENDSHIP – PEACE, SALAAM, SHALOM. It’s about three girls from different faith traditions who find friendship while cultivating plants at school. Callie, Shirin, and I are from the same faith traditions as the girls, and we have had so much fun sharing ideas as well as our unique heritages while writing the story together. I can’t wait for this book to be out in the world as it celebrates kindness, cultures, and kids.
 
Thank you so much for chatting with me, Rosie! I can’t wait to add your latest book, SUNDAY RAIN, to my picture book collection! 

You're very welcome, Melissa! Thank you for your continuous support of my work and thank you for being my guest on KidLit Oasis! I hope you will be back to chitchat about your future releases, too. 

Readers, please support our featured authors/illustrators by following them on Twitter, requesting their book through your local library, posting reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, and of course, purchasing their books.

I hope you enjoyed this post — social media shares and boosts are greatly appreciated. Thank you!

To enter the giveaways, please leave a comment and indicate your preference of critique or a book.
 
Connect with Melissa Berger Stoller:

Website: https://www.MelissaStoller.com
Twitter: @MelissaStoller

*Click on the book cover to order a copy of Sadie's Shabbat Stories

​Melissa Stoller is the author of the chapter book series The Enchanted Snow Globe Collection - Return to Coney Island (Clear Fork Publishing, 2017); and the picture books Scarlet’s Magic Paintbrush, Ready, Set, GOrilla!, and Sadie’s Shabbat Stories (Clear Fork, 2018 and 2020). Upcoming books include Return of the Magic Paintbrush. Melissa is a Blogger and Assistant for the Children’s Book Academy, a Regional Ambassador for The Chapter Book Challenge, a Moderator for the Debut Picture Book Study Group, a volunteer with SCBWI/MetroNY, and a founding member of The Book Meshuggenahs. In other chapters of her life, Melissa has worked as a lawyer, legal writing instructor, and early childhood educator. She lives in New York City with her family, and enjoys theatre, museums, and long beach walks.

Hello everyone! 

It's another terrific Tuesday and you're back at KidLit Oasis. Thank you for visiting! As you know, this is the place to refresh your spirits, recharge your creativity, and get a literary mood boost. 

Are you comfy and cozy? Are you ready to welcome this week's guest? The multi-talented Author and Librarian, Kena Sosa is here to share some wisdom, insight, and inspiration with us! 

Welcome, Kena! Thank you for joining us on the blog. Please briefly describe your journey to publication.

A: It’s strange how the most healing practice in my life is writing and my most major writing accomplishments seem to partner with downturns, like writing was there for me during my harshest trials. I discovered how easily words took me out of my pain as a teenager. I was grounded and thought I would literally die of boredom. I found a typewriter and let it free me. In publishing I started out writing travel pieces and articles as well as reviewing children’s books. I wrote and wrote and wrote, for myself mostly but after moving to Dallas and attending SCBWI, I thickened up my skin and started submitting.

There were rejections, as there are in life. I kept trying. My first book was released by 4RV Publishing in 2015. It was such a victory, and then months later, my household tore apart. It was painful to meet people and force a smile, but I knew this was my chance to prove that I could be an author. I am immensely thankful to the authors I met during that first year who shared their expertise, their techniques and their stories with me. Their kindness and friendship kept me from giving up. I wrote my second book based on what I learned during a travel and research grant, but many found the subject matter a bit controversial for a picture book. 4RV took it on, but had me rewrite it as a chapter book, a new challenge for my squirrel-like attention span. How right they were! That book, Kindertransport-a child’s journey, earned my first award as an author, a Children’s Literary Classics Award in historical fiction in 2018. Soon after my third book, The Unhuggables, emerged after my son asked me what would happen if you hugged a porcupine. That book, under River Road Press, won an award as well, The Enchanted Page Book Award in 2019. With each heartbreak, a victory, and with these experiences I can say, it has been a life worth writing about. 

​Q: What do you find most challenging in this business, either on the creative or publishing side of things? What do you find most rewarding? What helps you stay motivated?

A: I think one measures challenges in the same way one measures success, through the lens of perspective. I have always struggled the most with the gaps between projects. Like Tom Petty sang, “the waiting is the hardest part.” You are filled with anticipation, excitement, or anxiety simply waiting for an acceptance or rejection, waiting to see a finished product, waiting to find out how your creation will be received.
​
Coming in at a close second is editing. It is so necessary like going to the dentist, but never something one looks forward to as a writer. To get through it, I try to make the journey of editing like a mental puzzle, to challenge myself to make it better by arranging the pieces in ways they work better.

Q: Could you share any craft tools or techniques that you find most helpful to you when working on a project? What does your revision process look like?

A: As far as my writing process goes, I always keep a scrappy notebook. Whenever a little spark flickers at me, whether it is a name I like, a phrase or a plot twist, I jot it down before I forget. I don’t typically sit down to write an entire story from conception to birth in one sitting. It needs time to grow and develop. So, I let those snippets sit in the notebook until they find each other organically and weave themselves into a story I can tell. That’s when I take a seat and let the story tell itself from start to finish. I give it a day or two to settle, and then from the scrappy notebook, where the story may be written in the margins, backwards or upside-down, however it decided to be, and type it up. I edit mostly during this stage. Once it is in the e-world, I employ tools to help me polish it up.
​
I just learned recently that Word will do a readability check for you which tells you the reading level of your manuscript, including incidents of passive voice and counts the number of words per sentence. My inner child may write through me; however, she writes too mature for her age. This tool helps me figure out how to rewrite and adjust my voice to the right audience before it is ever seen by an editor. There is also a citation checker built in. I am a firm believer in working smarter, not harder so any trick to get things moving is a plus in my book.

Q: What's coming up for you next? Please tell us about any new releases, exciting news, upcoming events or anything else you'd like to share with our readers?

A: Although many aspects of life have slowed, I am still coming down off the thrill of winning the Enchanted Page Book Award in 2019 for The Unhuggables.

Considering current events, most of us have not held in-person events and have turned to technology to pursue our dreams as authors. I have been learning to adapt like the rest. I worked on improving my website and updating my social media presence as well as opening my mind to more unconventional opportunities.

Meanwhile, these days appear to be the perfect time to speak less and read more. I can help with that. I am happy to announce that I am anticipating a new release in 2022! I can’t wait for you to read it!

Thank you, Kena -- I can't wait to read your new book! It was a pleasure having you on the blog! I wish you all the best on your journey and many more successes! 

Readers, please support our featured authors/illustrators by following them on Twitter, requesting their book through your local library, posting reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, and of course, purchasing their books.

I hope you enjoyed this post — comments and shares are appreciated. Thank you!

Connect with Kena Sosa:

Website: www.kenasosa.com
Twitter: : @sk_kso

School librarian by day and writer by night, Kena Sosa adores words. She also loves playing the drums. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Our Lady of the Lake University and her master’s degree in bilingual education from Southern Methodist University. Her first children’s book, Rey Antonio and Rey Feo, was born of the celebration of her childhood in San Antonio. Her second book, Kindertransport: A Child’s Journey, is about the escape of children on the Kindertransport train just before the outbreak of World War II. Kena Sosa has lived in Japan and Mexico, but sharing stories with her two sons and other eager readers has been her favorite adventure yet!

Piles of multi-colored leaves, rainy, chilly days, warm drinks and cozy sweaters. . . Are you enjoying fall? What have you been reading? 

Well, just in time for Halloween, I am pleased to introduce to you a new picture book and interview its author!

So, once again dear readers, welcome to the KidLit Oasis ― the place to refresh your spirits, recharge your creativity, and get a literary mood boost! It's great to have you here!

Now, stretch your smiles wide and get comfy and cozy for an awfully fun and sweet chitchat with children's author Sandra Sutter who is here to share some wisdom, insight, and inspiration with us!

Plus, check out the giveaway at the end of this interview. 

Welcome, Sandra! Thank you for joining us on the blog. Please briefly describe your journey to publication.

A: Stan’s Frightful Halloween was one of the first stories I wrote when I began my (serious) writing journey in 2017. But after a few critiques with my newly-formed critique group, it sat untouched in my computer while I worked on other projects. Meanwhile, my debut picture book, The Real Farmer in the Dell, was picked up by Mira Reisberg and Callie Metler at Spork, an imprint of Clear Fork Publishing. I got to know Callie through that process, and when I saw she didn’t have a Halloween-themed story on her list, I showed her my manuscript. Callie loved clumsy werewolf Stan as much as I did, and now he and his story can be shared with everyone!
 
Q: What do you find most challenging in this business, either on the creative or publishing side of things? What do you find most rewarding? What helps you stay motivated?

A: There are a lot of challenging aspects of the Kidlit publishing world. The biggest challenge is staying motivated in the face of rejection and long waits. There are a lot of both! But being a part of the community – building friendships, learning, giving back – and sharing stories and information with children are incredibly motivating rewards. And, for me, the creative process isn’t optional. The need to do it IS motivation.
 
Q: Could you share any craft tools or techniques that you find most helpful to you when working on a project? What does your revision process look like?

A: My brain generates a lot of ideas, often at random times when I can’t get around to working on them (on a mountain bike, at the grocery store, in the shower, while driving). So, I email myself when an idea takes root and tuck it away in a special computer file. When I’m ready, I revisit the idea. I’ve found it helpful to add details – to note the word, image, or memory that prompted the idea – so when I circle back to it, the spark is still there.

My revision process always begins with sending the work to my critique partners. I need feedback! It doesn’t matter if I agree or disagree, the feedback itself is incredibly valuable and I trust my critique partners always have my best interest at heart. Sometimes I set the work aside for a while to allow things to sink in. Other times, I revise right away because I am too excited about making the story better. I really, really love the feeling that a “missing piece” has been found and my manuscript “puzzle” is almost complete.

Q: What's coming up for you next? Please tell us about any new releases, exciting news, upcoming events or anything else you'd like to share with our readers?

A: I’m incredibly excited about the release of Stan’s Frightful Halloween and sharing this loveable character with the world. Stan has a lot going on for such a young werewolf, so you might get to see more of him in the future.

Due to COVID and remote-schooling two young kids, my time devoted to writing has been … limited. But, I do have some exciting plans in the works which I hope to announce soon. You can follow me on Twitter or visit my website for more information, and please stop by the Wonder of Words blog, which I run with five amazing critique partners. Every three months I host the PITCH IT TO ME CHALLENGE, where an author pitches a story idea and a “celebrity” guest and I craft our own and put it to a vote. It’s always fun and a great way to see multiple pitch ideas.

Thank you, Rosie, for having me here today. It’s been a pleasure to share a bit about my journey and creativity with your readers. 

You're very welcome -- that was wonderful, Sandra, and I can't wait to hear more about the exciting plans you'll be announcing! Wishing you all the best on your journey and many more literary successes! 

Readers, please support our featured authors/illustrators by following them on Twitter, requesting their book through your local library, posting reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, and of course, purchasing their books.

I hope you enjoyed this post — comments and shares are greatly appreciated. Let's spread the word! Thank you!

Connect with Sandra Sutter:
Website: www.sdsutter.com
Twitter: @sandradsutter
                                                                                    (click on the book cover to order a copy)

​​Sandra is the author of THE REAL FARMER IN THE DELL (Clear Fork Publishing, 2019), a modern, gender-bending take on the popular children's song, and STAN’S FRIGHTFUL HALLOWEEN, a spookily fun story of a clumsy, but determined young werewolf. She is a member of SCBWI and an assistant with the Children’s Book Academy. When not writing, Sandra is a mountain-biking mom and jewelry-making hobbyist with a knack for finding life's silver linings. Connect with her at www.sdsutter.com, or on Twitter @sandrasdutter. 

Welcome, Maria! It's a pleasure having you at KidLit Oasis and I am super excited about our chitchat! I can't wait to get the scoop, the behind the scene at Cardinal Rule Press, and a peek at your upcoming list! I know our readers are eager to know more about all of that, too, so let's dive in.
​
Q: Please tell us about your mission at Cardinal Rule Press and the big picture goal of your publishing house. Your website states that you focus on picture books that "empower children through meaningful stories." Could you tell us a bit more about that?

A: Here at Cardinal Rule Press, we are dedicated to producing children’s realistic fiction that reflects modern day diversity. We think stories that are timeless but allow children to see themselves within the pages of the book are needed and we are responding to help fill that void. We are a beautiful, colorful society and children should be able to experience that in books.

​Q: I know you're about to open up to unsolicited submissions (November 1st, 2020 ― February 1st, 2021) and I'm sure a lot of writers are planning to submit to Cardinal Rule Press, just waiting for the "gates" to open. Naturally, for those submitting, doing their research and following the guidelines is very important. It's also important for writers to know the publishing model of the company they are submitting to in order to make an informed decision when sending their work out. In that regard, many authors would want to know the answer to this question when it comes to smaller presses: Do you pay your authors advances against royalties or is it royalties only?

A: We do pay our authors an advance upon signing and the remainder once the manuscript is edited with our team. We also pay royalties and report twice a year on earnings to our authors.
 
Q: And speaking of submissions, just to clarify, do you accept agented submissions year-round or only within your annual submission window?

A: We accept unsolicited and agented submissions during our annual submission window. We set up our acquisitions model in this way in order to be strategic and successful in our campaign efforts. Our team has created a timeline that has allowed us to be super efficient with industry deadlines, marketing our new releases, acquiring new work and educating our new team of authors on strengthening their brands as well as hosting quarterly masterclasses with speakers for past and current authors.
 
Q: I am really impressed with Cardinal Rule Press' social media presence and the different ways you connect with the community! I'd like to go a bit deeper behind the scenes though and learn more about your marketing strategies and distribution channels? How do you support your authors and illustrators and how do you promote your titles?

A: Thank you! We are proud of the community we have built and we appreciate your kind words. Our new authors go through a six week mentorship, where we empower them with knowledge and skills to prepare their brand for a successful launch. Our team of authors with backlist titles are invited to quarterly masterclasses where we hire speakers outside of our organization to educate our team on current trends in the book industry and how we can get behind those trends to help our own brand succeed. We also create a customized marketing campaign for each author that is unique to their title. It tells them exactly what our team will be doing each month, six months leading up top their book release. It gives them suggestions on what we think they can do each month leading up to the launch as well. We try to be very clear on expectations and clear up any gray areas.

Q: How do you find and select the illustrators for your projects? Do you ask your authors for input? Once you've signed the illustrator for the book, how involved is the author throughout the illustration process? Do they see initial sketches or the finished art or something in between?
​
A: We have stopped accepting illustrator submissions and work with agencies like Advocate Art and Astound to find our creative artists. We ask authors to describe their main character and ask for input on the initial character sketch. The author also sees the artwork laid out and is asked for feedback before it goes to print. 

Q: During one of your agent interviews on your Cardinal Rules Press Facebook Page you shared that you have an assistant who filters the submissions for you to weed out the ones that don't follow the guidelines--like the fact that you only publish stories with human characters. So after the rest of the submissions -- or the ones with the strongest potential―get to you, how do you evaluate them for your list? Any more specifics on what kind of projects you look for? When you read a submission, do you know immediately if it's one you want to acquire? What grabs you in a manuscript? Any pet peeves?

A: Yes, we have a team to help with the process. There are two of us who read through and narrow down titles. We keep a spread sheet with comments. It is important for publishers and editors to be up to date on titles that are out there so we are not duplicating stories that are already out there. That is a pet peeve of mine, reading stories that have already been done. I expect writers to research their theme and title before submitting. The cover letter (inquiries) are more important than you think. We read those before opening up the manuscript. We want to hear about your experience of writing, whether or not you have a platform and why you think the book would be successful in the world. Near the end of our selection process, we share the top 6-10 stories with a BETA team of readers that give us their opinions. This team of five is made up of an editor, parent, children and a teacher.
 
Q: Could you tell us about some new or upcoming projects that you're particularly excited about and why?

A: We are in the illustration process of our Fall 2021 title and the character is a Latinx child who has a love of books! Our Spring 2021 title is at the printers and is filled with kindness, empathy and community! 

Q: Where do you see Cardinal Rule Press in five years?
 
A: I would love to bring on team members as full time staff once their children are a bit older (we have a lot of work from home mothers on our team) and in five years I would like to see us taking on more titles per year. We believe slow and steady wins the race and we have been in no hurry to increase our list just yet. Getting your standard operating procedures nailed down in a business is key, as well as timelines and workflows for marketing campaigns. I am proud of the pace we have chosen, even when sales have surpassed our predictions, we remain steady with our processes.
 
Thank you so much for your time, Maria, and for chatting with me! This was wonderful and very informative, and I am really happy that you shared all that insight with me and my readers. I'd like to wish Cardinal Rule Press the best of success and I look forward to your upcoming titles! You have our support here at KidLit Oasis and I hope you'll be visiting again in the future!

Hello readers and welcome back!

Once again, you are at KidLit Oasis ― the place to refresh your spirits, recharge your creativity, and get a literary mood boost!

Now, stretch your smiles wide and get comfy and cozy for a lovely chitchat because today we have another awesome creative on the Chitchat series... Children's author Laurel Neme is here to share some wisdom, insight, and inspiration with us! Plus, check out the DOUBLE giveaway at the end of this interview!

Welcome, Laurel! Thank you for joining us on the blog. Please briefly describe your journey to publication.

A: It IS a journey—and a long one at that—which is why seeing THE ELEPHANT’S NEW SHOE in print is so exciting for me. I started writing this manuscript in 2014—three years after I first met Nick Marx, the rescuer in this story. After many revisions and critiques, in late 2016 my agent submitted it. While Scholastic was interested, the manuscript itself didn’t connect– probably because I had gotten so bogged down in the details.

Thankfully, the editor provided me with a few examples, and that felt like an “AHA” moment for me. I ended up completely rewriting it, and this time, it DID connect.  By August 2017, we had a contract, with the wonderful Ariel Landy on board as illustrator. After that, there were some edits—first to expand the story, and later, after the illustrations came in, to fit it better on the page—which all helped to make it a better book. I’m thrilled with the final result and so happy with the folks at Scholastic, who have been a dream to work with.
 
Q: What do you find most challenging in this business, either on the creative or publishing side of things? What do you find most rewarding? What helps you stay motivated?

A: For me, the biggest challenges stem from the long time period that everything seems to take. It’s hard to wait six months or a year to get feedback on a manuscript. But any frustration or impatience disappears when a child reads my book and it connects. That’s the reward that keeps me motivated.
 
Q: Could you share any craft tools or techniques that you find most helpful to you when working on a project? What does your revision process look like?

A:  When I’m writing, I find it helpful to page out the text. Some people do this by making dummy samples, but I tend to do it in the text itself. Basically, I start the story on pages 4-5 (page 1 is the title page and 2-3 are the copyright and dedication), and then write in two-page chunks. In this way, I can get an overview of the book. I can see and compare spreads, identify where there are too many or too few words on a page, check that there’s something different to illustrate, and ensure that the action flows. It is a technique I learned from Jane Yolen at her Picture Book Boot Camp that I’ve found enormously helpful. 

As to my revision process, it’s always a long one. I often let a manuscript sit for a while and then go back to it with fresh eyes. I also always share it with several different critique groups before sending it to my agent. Then, from there, there are always more revisions!
 
Q: What's coming up for you next? Please tell us about any new releases, exciting news, upcoming events or anything else you'd like to share with our readers?

A: Virtual school visits!  While we all prefer to be in person, I love sharing stories with kids and I’m planning to do a number of virtual visits with schools and individual classrooms. Thanks to some amazing help from Kate Messner and her intensive workshop on Reimagining Virtual Visits, I’ve been reworking how I approach school visits to adapt what I do to the virtual world—hopefully in ways that take advantage of the medium and allow me to share some things that I couldn’t if I was in person.

For instance, Chhouk the elephant in my book had to be trained to allow Nick to put on and take off his boot without any anesthesia. To illustrate that process, I’m planning to show kids how I trained my dog—a super smart German shepherd—using the same techniques. Our dog loves to clean up his toys and do laundry—so, who knows?!? Maybe he’ll inspire kids to do the same.

Thank you, Laurel! This was quite interesting and it was great to learn about your path to publication, writing process, and also get some tips and insight, too! 

Dear readers, please support our featured authors/illustrators by following them on Twitter, requesting their book through your local library, posting reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, and of course, purchasing their books.

I hope you enjoyed this post! Social media shares are much appreciated. Thank you!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Connect with Laurel Neme:
Website: www.LaurelNeme.com
Twitter: @LaurelNeme

​Laurel Neme always dreamed of helping animals. At first, she wanted to be a large animal veterinarian. Later she planned to be an animal scientist like Jane Goodall. Eventually, she decided to help animals in her own way—by telling their stories. She’s the author of ANIMAL INVESTIGATORS: How the World's First Wildlife Forensics Lab is Solving Crimes and Saving Endangered Species, ORANGUTAN HOUDINI, and THE ELEPHANT’S NEW SHOE, about an elephant with a prosthetic foot and the rescuer who saves him. She also contributes regularly to National Geographic and Mongabay.com. 

* * *
If you'd like to support my work, please consider
pre-ordering Sunday Rain 
Thank you in advance for your support! 
Pre-orders are very important for a successful book launch
​and your help is greatly appreciated :)

Hello, lovely readers!

Thank you for visiting KidLit Oasis! This is the place to refresh your spirits, recharge your creativity, and get a literary mood boost!

Now, stretch your smiles wide and get comfy and cozy for a lovely chitchat because today we have another awesome creative on the Chitchat series... Children's author Keila V. Dawson is here to share some wisdom, insight, and inspiration with us!

Plus, check out the giveaway at the end of this interview. 

Welcome, Keila! Thank you for joining us on the blog. Please briefly describe your journey to publication.

A: My road to publication was a sprint. After a friend challenged me to tick “writing a children’s book” off my bucket list, I wrote the first draft of my debut picture book, THE KING CAKE BABY, illustrated by Vernon Smith (Pelican Publishing 2015). I was fortunate to find an active local SCBWI chapter where I live who helped me revise the manuscript, encourage me to submit, and the book published two years later. As a newbie in the industry, I had no idea what I didn’t know. In retrospect, had I known what I know now about networking and book promotion, it may have been better to be the tortoise in the race. While playing catch up on creating a social media presence, taking writing craft classes, and networking with the kidlit community, I wish I would have written more stories. I submitted a companion story that passed acquisitions that is still unpublished so there’s never a guarantee even when you think you’ve jumped the highest hurdle.
 
A highlight of my journey as a writer has been working collaboratively for the past two years with Lindsay Metcalf and Jeanette Bradley on NO VOICE TOO SMALL: FOURTEEN YOUNG AMERICANS MAKING HISTORY. I am so proud of this project, especially since there were so many moving parts. And I think the support from our editor Karen Boss and the team at Charlesbridge deserve credit, too, for believing in this project and dedicating the time and resources to make it shine.
 
Having learned my lesson, I kept writing new drafts while working on NO VOICE TOO SMALL.

​Q: What do you find most challenging in this business, either on the creative or publishing side of things? What do you find most rewarding? What helps you stay motivated?
​
A: The most challenging part of book publication is the juggle. I am constantly trying to balance writing new stories with research, revision work, contributing to the kidlit community, studying the craft, and keeping up with new releases while creating content for marketing. And figuring out where to target my energy and what promotion isn’t worth the investment of time or money. Promotion works, it’s just time-consuming.
​
What keeps me motivated is uncovering stories - especially untold stories – that add to narratives often left out of history books and school curriculum. I love research, and I lean toward nonfiction. And I can easily fall down a rabbit hole because I enjoy learning about other cultures, re-learning history and discovering different perspectives on stories outside of my lived experiences. Sometimes a story grabs onto me and it won’t let go. Those are the stories I feel compelled to dedicate time to research and write. I am working on a manuscript now with the help of others outside of the U.S. and we are all committed to it because it will hopefully inspire children to consider conflict resolution without resorting to violence. 

Q: Could you share any craft tools or techniques that you find most helpful to you when working on a project? What does your revision process look like?

A: Something I learned in genealogical research is to research widely. After choosing a topic or subject, I search for academic publications and contact experts in the field to help me figure out different perspectives. With perspective, I can start thinking about the story arc and find those gems hidden in history that would resonate with kids.
​
For revision, I rely on trusted critiquers who give me their honest opinions. Again, for me, it’s all about perspective. Who’s story am I telling, why does it matter, and what do I want my readers to know?
 
Q: What's coming up for you next? Please tell us about any new releases, exciting news, upcoming events or anything else you'd like to share with our readers?
 
A: I will take part in San Francisco Public Library’s Kidquake 2020 on October 16th. And I’ll be at the virtual Buckeye Book Fair in November. Jeanette, Lindsay and I have one more virtual book launch event planned in Ohio where I live on November 14 at 11 am/EST with Cover to Cover bookstore. And it’s time to start promoting my next book, OPENING THE ROAD: Victor Hugo Green and His Green Book, illustrated by Alleanna Harris (Beaming Books, January 26, 2021).

Lindsay, Jeanette and are already engaging with kids and schools with NO VOICE TOO SMALL. We are offering access on-demand (asynchronous) and live (synchronous) visits, suitable for classroom or at-home use. There’s an Activity Guide to use with the book I created using ELA Common Core Standards and other relevant content standards. Here’s a page with links to our collection of resources including “Young Activists Speak” videos, mini writing workshops, art class with Jeanette Bradley, and the No Voice Too Small pledge and more. We’re excited that the No Voice Too Small Book Club is featured in Flipgrid’s Discovery Library.

I’ll have more book news to share soon, and I’m excited about my work in progress.

Thank you, Keila! Wishing you all the best on your journey and I look forward to your future projects.

Readers, please support our featured authors/illustrators by following them on social media, requesting their book through your local library, posting reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, and of course, purchasing their books.

I hope you enjoyed this post — comments and shares are appreciated. Thank you!

Connect with Keila V. Dawson

Website: www.keiladawson.com
Twitter: @keila_dawson
Instagram: @keilavdawson
Pinterest: pinterest.com/keiladawson/

            Keila V. Dawson                        Lindsay H. Metcalf                        Jeanette Bradley            

​Welcome to KidLit Oasis the Chitchat series -- a ​place to refresh your spirits, recharge your creativity, and get a literary mood boost!

We have another amazing author interview with great insight, plus a GIVEAWAY! 

Welcome back, Beth! Thank you for returning to the KidLit Oasis as my guest, which tells me you liked my hospitality the first time ☺, but it also means you have a new book coming out that you'll be sharing with our readers! Congratulations!

So, first, let me ask you this: I know that every book is special to its author in a particular way—how is this book special to you? Dear to your heart in a different way? What was the experience like, compared to the previous one? Is there an interesting behind-the-scene about the idea for the story, its creation, an unusual journey to publication perhaps? What stands out?

A: Thanks so much, Rosie, for inviting me back!

Maybe it was growing up in the country, or maybe it was just normal kid curiosity, but city sidewalk grates always caught my attention. What’s down there?
When I read an article about James “Smelly” Kelly, I had some answers to that childhood wondering.  And he had such quirky experiences—comical, dangerous, bizarre! I was smitten! But with only a few anecdotes about his life, pulling together a story was a huge challenge.

After trying out a few angles, I examined his story through the “hero” lens. I had worked through ideas about heroes with Lizzie Demands a Seat and how we all need to step out of the “silence.” “Smelly” Kelly was a different kind of hero—an everyday hero. As I dug deeper asking myself questions about heroism and considered his “super” senses, I found my “heart” thread. The story became about finding our own specialness and where we fit in our world; about what makes a hero a hero; about the idea that we all have unique talents to offer. Those ideas, which I believe strongly and want to share with every child, make this story near and dear to my heart.
 
Q: And to piggyback on the questions above, did anything surprise you with this book or the publisher's approach to it (whether it was the same publisher or a new one)?Did you learn anything new? Was it harder or easier to bring it into the world?

A: Carolyn Yoder at Calkins Creek was the editor for both Lizzie Demands a Seat and “Smelly” Kelly and His Super Senses. While the process is the same and both deal with concepts about heroes, the stories are very different. The biggest contrast in going from manuscript to book was with illustrations. E.B. Lewis and Jenn Harney work very differently, and it was fascinating for me to learn about their processes and see the books come to life. I am so intrigued by how the editor and art director identify the perfect illustrator and proceed to marry text to art. I would love to be a fly on the wall and watch it all!

E.B. Lewis, who works in watercolors, says in his art note in Lizzie Demands a Seat that he used colors he had never used before. Clearly, we both pushed past our comfort zones with that book. Jenn Harney, who works digitally, also taught me about palettes. With her process, changes and tweaks were easy to make. We both had a lot of fun with “Smelly” Kelly and His Super Senses. I relished sneaking in superhero references, and she infused joy into all the action. I learn more with every book!
 
Q: When did you find out who the illustrator was for the project and were you asked for an input? What was it like working with the illustrator for this book? When did you first see the art and what was your reaction?

A: The editor and I shared ideas about illustrators. When she suggested Jenn Harney, I immediately explored her website and found glorious detail, unique characters, and scenes bursting with life. I was an instant fan! Jenn was wonderful to work with—always happy to revise and tweak as we worked through a few challenging pages. It turns out she loved her first adventure into researching for illustrations, too. She surprised me with the two palettes for above and below ground, fascinating detail, and creative ways to show the action that involved drips and leaks hidden behind walls or underground. The first tunnel scene took my breath away. The power of the palette! And the last page was so perfect—better than anything I’d imagined. I enjoy learning about illustration and all the aspects of it beyond the ability to draw.
 
Q: What do you hope to accomplish within the next 2-3 years? Any specific goals or aspirations—personal or writing related—that you could share with us?

A: I look forward to sharing my books with kids and sparking curiosity, creative thinking, and opening up their world. Hopefully, I can continue to chance upon stories that beg to be told that will help kids see the humanity in history and connect it to their own lives, as well as explore fun and thought provoking topics. I’m thrilled to stay on this path, and I welcome any opportunities that might come my way.
 
Q: What's coming up for you next? Please tell us about any other exciting news, upcoming events or anything else you'd like to share with our readers?

A: I’m looking forward to the virtual launch of “Smelly” Kelly and His Super Senses at Second Star to the Right Bookstore in Denver on Oct. 17 at 4pm MDT. Please join in!

The New York Transit Museum is doing a virtual family program on “Smelly” Kelly and His Super Senses soon (date TBA). I’ll be helping with a couple presentations. If you’re interested in upcoming virtual events like this, please check my website.

And recently I was contacted by the Long Island Museum about a program they’re developing for schools on Elizabeth Jennings using Lizzie Demands a Seat. If you’re in a school and interested in the virtual program, please contact the museum.

I’m very excited about Tad Lincoln’s Restless Wriggle which releases in fall 2021. It’s such a tender father and son story, full of energy and joy! Tad reminds me of all those students I had that couldn’t sit still, whose minds popped with ideas—kids who were challenged as learners for various reasons, and who pushed me to be a better teacher. Another story dear to my heart!

Thank you, Beth. What an interesting insight! I can't wait to read "Smelly" Kelly's story.

Readers, to support our featured authors/illustrators by following them on Twitter, requesting their book through your local library, posting reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, and of course, purchasing their books.

I hope you enjoyed this post — shares are greatly appreciated. Thank you!

                                    G I V E A W A Y!
For a chance to win a copy of "Smelly" Kelly and His Super Senses simply comment on this post and you will be entered. (Continental US only, please.)

Connect with Beth Anderson:
Website: www.bethandersonwriter.com
Twitter: @BAndersonWriter
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​Beth Anderson, a former English as a Second Language teacher, has always marveled at the power of books. Armed with linguistics and reading degrees, a fascination with language, and penchant for untold tales, she strives for accidental learning in the midst of a great story. Beth lives in Loveland, Colorado where she laughs, wonders, thinks, and questions; and hopes to inspire kids to do the same. Author of AN INCONVENIENT ALPHABET(S&S 2018), LIZZIE DEMANDS A SEAT! (Calkins Creek, 2020), and “SMELLY” KELLY AND HIS SUPER SENSES (Calkins Creek, Oct. 2020), Beth has more historical gems on the way.

Hello, amazing readers!

Welcome back to KidLit Oasis ― it's always great to have you visit! This is the place to refresh your spirits, recharge your creativity, and get a literary mood boost!

Now, stretch your smiles wide and get comfy and cozy for a lovely chitchat because today we have another awesome creative on the Chitchat series... Children's author Deb Gruelle is here to share some wisdom, insight, and inspiration with us! Plus, she's giving away a copy of her new book, Sleepy Time Colors!
 
Welcome, Deb! Thank you for joining us on the blog. Please briefly describe your journey to publication. 

A: I never thought of being a writer. I always thought being a writer was far beyond my grasp, but I’ve always loved reading and loved words. My mom took us to the library often. I was a voracious reader. And when I learned words, they just stuck in my mind.
 
But the seeds of writing may have been planted by reading Raggedy Ann and Andy stories and knowing I was related to Johnny Gruelle, the author of those stories.
 
I grew up in Silicon Valley, and eventually started working as a technical writer there. This helped give me the confidence to write magazine articles and my first book on infertility and miscarriage. My first book was traditionally published way back in the era before social media.
 
When I became a parent, I saw how stories affected my children in such positive ways.
 
When my youngest son was just about to turn one, and my dad died. We flew from Colorado to California to stay at my Mom’s with other extended family for the funeral. As I connected the longings of losing my dad, what I wanted to pass on to my kids, and one small practical way to pass that on, the idea for a picture book came to me. I wrote it, edited it, then tried to sell it to a couple of publishers. It was rejected with some nice comments, but I couldn’t figure out how to fix it. So I put it away in a drawer.
 
Sixteen years later, I went to a writers conference and submitted this children’s book manuscript. A large publisher bought it. Because Ten Little Night Stars did so well, the publisher had room for my second book, Sleepy Time Colors, which just released.
 
Q: What do you find most challenging in this business, either on the creative or publishing side of things? What do you find most rewarding? What helps you stay motivated?

A: I live with chronic health issues, so I find I need to pay for help for many of the business aspects of writing. So, that’s one of my biggest challenges.

What helps me stay motivated are the reader responses. I received an email last week from Grace, a grandma who said, “I babysat my one-year-old granddaughter last week. I read and reread and reread your book to her because she loves it so much. Thanks for investing in the lives of little people.”

I love that my book became a tool that helped strengthen the bond between this grandma and her granddaughter. That’s motivating to me.
 
Q: Could you share any craft tools or techniques that you find most helpful to you when working on a project? What does your revision process look like?

A: Reading the words out loud helps me hear uneven rhythms. Having someone else read the story’s words out loud catches even more problems.
 
Q: What's coming up for you next? Please tell us about any new releases, exciting news, upcoming events or anything else you'd like to share with our readers?

A: My second children’s book, Sleepy Time Colors, just released!

Thank you, Deb, and all the best on your journey!

If you'd like to support our featured authors/illustrators you can do so by following them on Twitter, requesting their book through your local library, posting reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, and of course, purchasing their books.

I hope you enjoyed this post — comments and shares are appreciated. Thank you!

Connect with ​Deb:
Website: DebGruelle.com
Twitter: @debgruelleauth

Deb Gruelle is a bestselling and award winning, author who loves writing children’s booksto help little ones transition to sleep. As the great-grand-niece of Johnny Gruelle, the creator of Raggedy Ann and Andy, she grew up on his whimsical stories and enjoys being a third-generation children’s writer.
 
Children’s Books:
Sleepy Time Colors (Zonderkidz/HarperCollins, 2020)--playful rhymes allow parents to snuggle their little one in their favorite jammies as they lift the flaps to learn their colors.
 
Ten Little Night Stars--follow cuddly animals through their bedtime routine to prepare children to transition to sleep as they learn to count to ten.

Hello, summer readers!

After a series of summertime siestas and soaking in the sun, I am back to welcome you to KidLit Oasis. As you might remember, this is the place to refresh your spirits, recharge your creativity, and get a literary mood boost!

Now once again, stretch your smiles wide and get comfy and cozy for a lovely chitchat because today we are kicking off the new season with author Kirsti Call! She will share some wisdom, insight, and inspiration with us! Plus, there's a giveaway, too!

Welcome, Kirsti Call! Thank you for joining us on the blog. Please briefly describe your journey to publication.

A: My first book,THE RAINDROP WHO COULDN’T FALL, came out in 2013, very soon after I started writing picture books. It was a miracle that I’ve been grateful for ever since---especially because I had a 5 year gap full of submissions and rejections and more rejections. Finally I signed with Emma Sector at Prospect agency 2 years ago and now I have 3 books coming out.  MOOTILDA’S BAD MOOD is releasing almost exactly 7 years after my raindrop book. 

Q: What do you find most challenging in this business, either on the creative or publishing side of things? What do you find most rewarding? What helps you stay motivated?

A: Rejections are the worst.  But rejections are what make the process of actually making a book sooooo special. I love watching how kids react to my book—a laugh from a kid reader is priceless! And because I adore words and creating stories, I stay motivated—it’s all about loving the journey!

Q: Could you share any craft tools or techniques that you find most helpful to you when working on a project? What does your revision process look like?

A:I revise my stories a gazillion times.  I write, re-write, send to critique partners, quibble over words, send to other critique partners, re-write, send to my agent, then re-write again.  Mentor texts are super helpful for me as I’m working on a project—when I find a book that conveys the feeling I want to convey, I try to understand how that book accomplished it, and infuse that into my writing.

Q: What's coming up for you next? Please tell us about any new releases, exciting news, upcoming events or anything else you'd like to share with our readers?

A: I have two more books coming out into the world!  COW SAYS MEOW releases with HMH on March 16, 2021, and COLD TURKEY releases with Little Brown in the Fall of 2021.  Also, Kim Chaffee and I have started a podcast called Picture Book Look.  Interviewing authors and illustrators has been an incredible adventure---and each episode is only 15 minutes, so it’s short and sweet.

Thank you, Kirsti!

Dear readers, please support our featured authors/illustrators by following them on Twitter, requesting their book through your local library, posting reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, and of course, purchasing their books.

Don't forget to leave a comment so you can be entered in the giveaway for a chance to win an ARC of Mootilda's Bad Mood! 

Connect with Kirsti Call:
Website: www.kirsticall.com/
Twitter: @kirsticall

Hello, amazing readers!

It's a pleasure to have you at the Oasis -- thanks for visiting! This is the place to refresh your spirits, recharge your creativity, and get a literary mood boost!

And with this post, I will be wrapping up the series for the season and taking a break for the summer, but the Chitchat will resume at the end of August. So . . .

Get ready to enjoy this interview! Stretch your smiles wide, and get comfy and cozy for a lovely chitchat because today we have another awesome creative on the KidLit Oasis series... Children's author Lindsay Leslie is here to share some wisdom, insight, and inspiration with us! Plus, check out the DOUBLE giveaway, and other offers at the end of this interview. 

Welcome, Lindsay Leslie ! Thank you for joining us on the blog. Please briefly describe your journey to publication.

A: Thank you so much for having me, Rosie! I wasn't one of those folks who dreamed of becoming an author, but I was one of those folks who could write. It was something I did to manage my emotions (lots of diary and journal writing), to stay busy and focused (on my high school newspaper; journalism major), and to secure myself a job (my career as a public relations exec). And we've all heard this before: it took me having my own children to fall back in love with picture books, but as a storyteller and not just a reader. I dove into craft and leaned on all the resources--SCBWI Austin, Julie Hedlund's 12X12, Picture Book Summit, The Writing Barn--and I also chased every avenue to get feedback and exposure to agents and editors--#PBParty, #PBPitch, #PitMad, and so on. I've met so many fantastic and talented authors and illustrators who inspired me to push on and keep at it.

​I never wanted to throw in the towel, but I often wondered if I could ever break through. And then my break came from a pitch during #PitMad for THIS BOOK IS SPINELESS. That's how I connected with Page Street Kids and my editor at the time, Charlotte Wenger. They not only offered on THIS BOOK IS SPINELESS (illustrated by Alice Brereton), but then two subsequent manuscripts of mine, NOVA THE STAR EATER (illustrated by John Taesoo Kim) and the picture book that just released, DUSK EXPLORERS (illustrated by Ellen Rooney). The text for DUSK EXPLORERS came to me from one of the presentations by Julie Hedlund called "The Verse Curse". The story poured out of me and really didn't require much editing. I was so in the moment when I wrote it. I was transported back to my childhood street of Fieldwood Drive in Richardson, Texas. Right now, I'm wishing another story would come to me like DUSK EXPLORERS did. I think a lot of it is being open to the memories, the experiences, and the observations, and being mindful when they cross the transom.

I think my biggest uphill battle with getting into this industry was the very beginning. I was coming out of a depression due to massive panic attacks, and I once again leaned toward writing to give me courage and to pull me out of the pain. What came of that was my debut, THIS BOOK IS SPINELESS. It was very autobiographical. I wasn't ready to share the story about how the book came about until recently. I wrote about it here.

I then had another big health scare in 2017 when I contracted Tick Borne Relapsing Fever, which landed me in the hospital. During my sickness, I had the wherewithal to post my pitches to #PitMad, which led to my first book deal. When I think about these health battles, the trials and tribulations of the creative process and publishing industry don't get to me as much as they would have had I not been knocked down a couple of times. I've built some amazing armor over the years and I'm full-on using it. I've always said, "It's always a 'no' if you don't put yourself out there."
 
Q: What do you find most challenging in this business, either on the creative or publishing side of things? What do you find most rewarding? What helps you stay motivated?

A: Besides the waiting? OK, seriously, I think it is the feeling that you are just one creator among a sea of so many talented people. Your manuscript has got to shine and shine brightly. Often times I write a story and I love it. I'm head over heels, yet other folks read it and don't get what I'm trying to do. I'm often too conceptual, but I love working in that space and leaving parts of the story up for interpretation. What I find rewarding is when I connect. First I have to connect with my agent, then an editor, and then I get to connect to the readers and to the parents, teachers, and librarians. When they all get it and get the feelings I'm trying to express, nothing is greater. That's what keeps me motivated.

Q: Could you share any craft tools or techniques that you find most helpful to you when working on a project? What does your revision process look like?

A: I feel I'm one of the worst people to ask about process. I'm so willy nilly, but, hey, that's a process, right? I let my manuscript lead me. But in the end, I always ALWAYS put my manuscripts through the ringer with at least a couple of critique groups. I read them aloud to my husband (a novelist) and children (seriously wonderful editors), and, wow, are they honest with their feedback. (Brutal!) I almost always dummy my stories. I would share the dummies for one of my three published books, but I threw them out. Now, why would I do that? Ugh. I won't do that in the future. Sorry folks! My dummies are 8 pieces of 8 1/2 X 11 pieces of paper folded in half. I write each word in with pencil, so that I think about each word. I often read it out loud as I am writing, so I catch words I've doubled up on or those words that just don't lend themselves to the story. I also use the drawer or the file folder and let the story sit for a while. I need space from my story to be able to really see it again for the editing process.
 
Q: What's coming up for you next? Please tell us about any new releases, exciting news, upcoming events or anything else you'd like to share with our readers?

A: I have the type of exciting news I can't talk about. So, CLIFFHANGER! Also, I'm thrilled that DUSK EXPLORERS earned a starred review from Kirkus, Ellen Rooney and I were interviewed for the June issue of Kirkus (pinchable moment), and Amazon's editors picked it as one of the best books of June 2020 for ages 3-5 (jaw drop). I will be doing a live reading of DUSK EXPLORERS and answering questions over on Books & Books Instagram page (@booksandbooks) on July 4 at 11 a.m. ET. Swing on by! 

Wow, what an amazing journey! Congrats on all your success, Lindsay, and I can't wait to hear more about the exciting news you can't talk about now (what a cliffhanger indeed!). It was a pleasure having you and I hope you'll be back to share your next book with us, too!

Readers, please support our featured authors/illustrators by following them on Twitter, requesting their book through your local library, posting reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, and of course, purchasing their books.

I hope you enjoyed this post — comments and shares are appreciated. Thank you!

Connect with Lindsay Leslie:
Website: lindsayleslie.com
Twitter: @lleslie