​​Welcome, Annemarie! Thank you for choosing to do your cover reveal on KidLit Oasis -- it's a pleasure to host this important milestone. Let's talk about your beautiful book before we get to to your beautiful cover...

What was the journey from idea to publication for this book?
 
Long story short, my (former) agent sent one of my manuscripts over to Little Simon (ABC, Rise Up and Be!); the editor had it for a few weeks when an offer of publication came through with a different publisher. When my agent reached out to tell the editor at Simon of the offer, the editor stepped aside as it was too similar to something they had just acquired. The editor asked my agent to keep her in mind if I had any other books for consideration- most specifically board books. I had a book titled the Wheels on the Hearse completed. It was a Halloween take on the Wheels on the Bus. I asked my agent if she would send that to Simon, and she did on July 27, 2020. In October, my agent followed up with the editor, and the editor asked for a revise and resubmit. She wanted to change the storyline from characters riding on a hearse-shaped bus to characters flying around on a broom. My agent and I worked on the manuscript with the revision notes and sent it back a week later. By now, the holiday season was happening, and things had pretty much come to a halt. In January, the editor reached out to say we were on the right track but that she had to work on format pricing because she had a creative idea for the book. It took a few more months for her to get things squared away. In March, she sent a verbal offer, and the contract took another eight weeks to arrive. I signed in May 2021.  So, from idea to contract, it took ten months.
 
How did you react when you got the news of the offer, and how did you celebrate?

I have always dreamed of publishing with a big five. I told my agent (at the time of signing with her) that my dream was to work with Simon & Schuster. Never in a million years did I think that dream would come to fruition. When I was told that Simon was signing me, I ugly cried. I called my whole family. I even emailed my boss! I messaged coworkers and friends. They probably all thought I was crazy. No one understands (unless you're a writer) how incredibly difficult it is to get in with a big publisher. After all the calls, texts, and emails, I went out for a celebratory dinner with my family. It was one of the best days of my life.
 
Can you share a fun or surprising fact about the process--whether in the writing, editing, or the illustration process?

One surprising fact is that the illustrator, Shauna Panczyszyn, also specializes in hand-lettering. She did both the illustration and the font for Monsters on the Broom.  If you notice, the story title has a pair of spooky eyes in it. I absolutely love what she's done with this book.
 
Do you have a favorite line that you could share?

The Vampire on the broom shrieks, "Voo ha ha, Voo ha ha, Voo ha ha."
The Vampire on the broom shrieks "Voo ha ha," all through the town.

The illustrations for each character are top-notch! 

Thank you, Annemarie! Wishing you many more books and "ugly cry" happy moments on your publishing journey!

And now for the big moment...

                                               TA-DA!
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Welcome, Annemarie! Thank you for joining us on the blog. Please briefly describe your journey to publication.
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A: Thanks for having me! My road to publication began in April 2016 when I decided to write my first-ever children's book. Little did I know that my attempt would quickly become my first published work. I was teaching first grade at the time, and I was having a bit of difficulty finding lesser-known folktales to read aloud to my students. Every time I pulled out a book, I was met with, "We read that last year." So, in my quest to find new material, I poured over anthologies from the early 1900s that contained dozens of folktales and fairytales (my aunt handed down her collection to me). As I was thumbing through them, I came across the original version of How the Finch Got Her Colors and decided to put my spin on it. That was how my book How the Finch Got His Colors was born.
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After I wrote it, I joined SCBWI, and that is where I met my dear friend Sarah who graciously mentored me through the whole publishing process. Sarah helped me edit Finch, craft my query letter and marketing plan, and get everything ready for submission.
After everything was set, I began to research houses that were open to unsolicited manuscripts (I did not have an agent at the time). I scoured the internet and the SCBWI PAL list and wrote down all the publishers I felt would be a good fit for my story. I started out small by sending Finch to just six houses. I wanted to see the kind of feedback I would receive before subbing more widely.  To my surprise, by June 16th, just two months after I subbed it, I received four offers of publication! Since I did not have an agent at the time, I hired a lawyer to go through each contract with me. We ended up signing with Familius, and the rest is history! My story is not the norm―lightning in a bottle, really. I know that people spend many years in the trenches. I feel really blessed.
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Yes, my first shot was a lucky one. I know that. But that’s not to say my path has not had its challenges, too. I have had my fair share of rejections. I have had my first agent quit the business. I have made it all the way to acquisitions several times, only to be turned down at the last minute. But you can't let the bumps along the way deter you. If we choose to give up and not persevere, our books will never make it out there.  So, keep on striving. The world needs to hear your story.

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 thing about this business is the wait time. It can take months (up to a year) to hear back on a submission you’ve made. I think the other thing about this business that can be a challenge is when you don’t hear back at all. That can be disheartening.
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The flip side to this question is the reward that you get when you do hear that YES. There is nothing like knowing that your written word will be out in the world, touching the hearts and minds of young children. It’s a pretty amazing feeling, and that is what keeps me motivated. It never gets old.

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? 
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A: This may sound very basic, but when I used to teach writing (former elementary teacher), I always had my students fill out a story map prior to crafting their stories. The story map is a simple sheet of paper where one plans out the characters, setting, problem, plot events, and resolution parts of a story.  I have a similar template on my computer and use that to jot notes for each picture book. Once I have that set, I begin to craft my story. I will say, though, even with that structure in place, my writing doesn’t always go according to plan.  This is why it’s crucial to have critique partners. Sometimes I get so focused on creating a solid beginning and ending that my plot falls entirely flat. My critique partners are vital in helping me to identify the weak spots in my story and tighten them up.
 
In terms of the revision process, sometimes it is easy―a tweak here or there, and sometimes it’s a beast. I have one story sitting in my WIP box that has been there for almost two years! I just can’t seem to get it right, and that’s ok. It will happen when the time is right. With stories that work off the bat, I take notes from my critique partners, agent, editor, etc., and let their words soak in. If they resonate, I make the necessary changes. It really depends on the feedback that I receive. 

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?
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A: I have so many forthcoming projects. I have 6 books releasing in the next 3 years, and I hope even more than that!

Forthcoming:

1. Thundermaestro (Familius, Spring 2022)
2. Finding Mr. Trunks (Familius, Fall 2022)
3. A deal that I can’t announce just yet… LOL (Coming Summer 2022)
4. 123 Counting on Community (Familius, 2023)
5. Monsters Hide and Seek (Familius, 2024)
6. Turn on the Night (Hurn Pub Kids, 2024)
 
And many more projects in various stages in publishing. 

Wow! Congratulations on all your success, Annemarie, I'm so happy for you and glad that we're on this journey together! I can't wait for all of your upcoming books, and I know there will be many, many more! 

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