 Happy National Plant a Flower Day, everyone! Celebrating that, oh, do I have a treat for you today! I can't think of a better day to talk about a brand-new picture book titled JUST FLOWERS, and what a joy to get to chat with both the author and the illustrator! Here's the insight they share with my followers and a special giveaway... My questions for Erin Dealey, the author: R.J.P.: How did the idea for this book come? What inspired the story? E.D.: First of all, thank you for having us on your blog, Rosie, and for helping to spread the word about JUST FLOWERS. As for your question, I get ideas from everywhere, but this one came from an Instagram thread about #ayearinflowers. Not only were the flowers that people posted gorgeous, but many included their Latin names and I found myself very entertained by those. I mean, I can’t say Ranunculus out loud without smiling. Can you? Or Galunthus? All I could think about was how fun these words would be in a read-aloud. Like I said ideas are everywhere. R.J.P.: That's fascinating, I'm glad you took that opportunity to create a wonderful story with such fun-to-pronounce Latin flower names, indeed! Please share the journey from writing your first draft to the polished manuscript going out on submission to getting the offer... Did you do many revisions? Were there any challenges along the way? How long did it take to find a publishing home for this book and how did you get the news? E.D.: This manuscript had at least five revisions, some of which I took to my critique group, The PBJs. Shout out to my CPs Patirica Newman, Bitsy Kemper, and Lori Mortensen. Before they saw it, however, the first challenge was figuring out how to incorporate the Latin names (and which ones to choose) without seeming didactic. Then there’s the fact that I am NOT a Botanist— or close to it. Do not ask me to name all the wildflowers on a hike. But the topic intrigued me, and it was fun to dig in. (Pardon the pun.) R.J.P.: Love the pun! And reading the story, you could've fooled me for sure... I definitely thought you at least had a green thumb if not a full-blown botany passion. So, after the book was acquired, did you go through additional rounds of revisions with your editor? If so, how did the story change? E.D.: Yes, there were definitely revisions once Sleeping Bear acquired it. We narrowed the seasonal focus to almost Spring/early summer, so that meant changing a few plants & flowers to fit the growing season. And the main character had several different names in early drafts before we settled on IZZY. Also, in early drafts a local TV news team showed up. Switching to the Green Thumb Award (no spoilers) was my editor, Sarah Rockett’s suggestion. R.J.P.: What was your reaction when you found that that you’ve been paired with #1 NYT bestselling illustrator Kate Cosgrove? E.D.: Oh, my goodness, I saw Kate’s early illustrations and was blown away by Kate’s style and palette before her book A DAY WITH NO WORDS (written by Tiffany Hammond / Wheat Penny Press) hit the NYT Bestseller list—and deservedly so. Seriously, my jaw dropped when I saw the spread of Izzy and Mom.  R.J.P.: It's beautiful! I learned from your interview with Kate on your blog what her favorite spread to illustrate in the book was and her personal inspiration behind it. I’d love to know what your favorite spread of art is and why? E.D.: I’m serious when I say that each spread is absolutely magical, from the palette to the details she chose. But the one with Izzy’s mom took my breath away. And knowing that her memories of her grandma were the inspiration for that scene really explains why you feel so much love on that page. It’s truly palpable. R.J.P.: Yes, I can see that, too! What do you hope kids get away from your story after reading JUST FLOWERS? E.D.: It would be super cool if Izzy inspires others to share random acts of kindness. I’d also love to hear that Izzy’s love of all things botanical has inspired others, and perhaps there are a few more Monarch migration stations in the world. Last but not least, I hope it’s a fun read-aloud, and receives endless “read-it-again” requests. R.J.P.: And my final question is, what’s next for you? Are you working on any new projects you can share with us? Any upcoming books in the pipeline? What are you looking forward to? I recently signed a new contract that’s one of those can’t-talk-about-it-yet things right now. You know what I mean. This one began during the pandemic and went through so many revisions, it’s barely recognizable from the first drafts. (Never give up, friends!) I’ve worked with the wonderful illustrator on several other books (That’s a clue!) so I’m very thrilled to be moving forward with this. Ooh, how intriguing! I can't wait to find out more. And yes, I totally get both the "can't-talk-about-it-yet" and the "so many revisions" scenario to the point where the manuscript is barely recognizable. Thank you, Erin, for being a returning guest and for giving my readers a behind-the-scenes look at JUST FLOWERS. I wish you all the best with the book, your upcoming project, and all future ones, too! My questions for Kate Cosgrove, the illustrator: R.J.P.: Kate, what made you jump on board to illustrate this story? What did you think when you first read the manuscript? What grabbed you? K.C.: They totally had me hooked at “Sleeping Bear Press wants you to illustrate a book.” I’m from Michigan and have loved Sleeping Bear books since I was a kid. Then I received the manuscript…I had a HUGE immediate crush on the story. Izzy is such a sweet character, and the way they spread love and inclusion through discarded wildflowers is so beautiful. And just so we don’t get too sappy, the big ol’ grump of a neighbor balances everything out in very funny way. R.J.P.: Did you have any communication with Erin during the process of creating the art? K.C.: Erin connected with me a little on social media, but we didn’t discuss our book until after the editors and art directors approved everything. R.J.P.: What is your favorite sentence from the book and why? K.C.: I love the very first sentence and the way it hooks you right in the brain…That very specific sensation of being chilled by winter, bored in a way only a kid can be, and the excitement of suddenly having the monotony broken by a new neighbor to spy on… not that I would EVER be that nosy… “One blustery brr day, in a dreary dull town, a new neighbor moved in next door.” R.J.P.: Would you share your research process, if any, in preparation to illustrate all the flowers? What was your favorite flower to illustrate in the book? K.C.: This story has specific flower breeds by scientific name, so I researched all of them carefully. I did a ton of drawing just flowers (ha!) before I even got to the sketching stage. The roses were so fun to draw… And smash the different colors on top of each other to show their folds and petals. I still find myself doodling roses for fun, even after the completion of the art. R.J.P.: I love that! What do you hope the takeaway from the book is when kids read it? K.C." It would be amazing if it helped nature compete a little with screentime… encouraging kids to go outside, poke around in the dirt, smell the flowers, and notice butterflies in our world. R.J.P.: I totally agree! Please share two things that are on your bucket list, either personally or professionally. K.C.: I dream of being invited to participate in the Bath Children's Literature Festival, but even just to attend would be so cool! I love scary movies… and would love to illustrate a creepy kidlit story. R.J.P.: I hope you get to do that in the near future, Kate! Okay, so what’s next for you? Any projects in the pipeline that you can share about? What are you excited about and looking forward to? I’m working on a couple more nonfiction science books for kids through Holliday House. A Tree Is A Community by David L. Harrison releases this fall. Thank you both, Erin and Kate! It was wonderful to chat about your book and get the scoop on the journey of this story. Wishing you the best of success and looking forward to what's next.  Erin Dealey is a screenwriter, playwright, blogger, and award-winning children’s author of 20+ picture books & board books (so far), including the newest, JUST FLOWERS (Illus. Kate Cosgrove /Sleeping Bear), the award-winning DEAR EARTH…From Your Friends in Room 5 (Harper Collins/ Illus. Luisa Uribe), SNOW GLOBE WISHES (Illus. Claire Shorrock / Sleeping Bear—an Anna Dewdney Read Together honor book; and silly PETER EASTER FROG (Simon & Schuster, Caitlyn Dlouhy Books/ Illus. G. Brian Karas). Dealey's original career goal was Olympic Gold Medal tetherball player. When that didn't pan out, she became a teacher, theater director, actor, mom, and author--and welcomes any opportunity to visit schools around the world. She lives in northern California with her husband. You can find her online at erindealey.com and on TwitterX @ErinDealey & Instagram @ErinDealey. Connect with Erin: Web site: http://erindealey.com/ Blog: Book Birthdays, Kidlit Interviews, Classroom Blog Takeovers http://erindealey.com/blog/ Insta: @erindealey https://www.instagram.com/erindealey/ TwitterX: @ErinDealey https://twitter.com/ErinDealey Pinterest: @erindealey https://www.pinterest.com/erindealey/ FB: Erin Dealey https://www.facebook.com/erin.dealey  Kate Cosgrove is the #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator of A Day With No Words by Tiffany Hammond. This book juried into The Original Art 43rd Annual Exhibition in NYC. Cosgrove’s other notable picture books include And the Bullfrogs Sing: A Life Cycle, a Bank Street Best Book of the Year, and a Maryland Blue Crab Young Reader Award Honors book. The Dirt Book, Poems About Animals that Live Beneath Our Feet, which juried into The Original Art 41st Annual Exhibition in NYC, and is a 2024 Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee. She’s usually hiding in her probably-haunted studio, with pencil- smudged fingers and a smelly dog named Stanley. Connect with Kate: www.katecosgrove.com Instagram @k8cosgrove Twitter @k8_cosgrove Bluesky @k8cosgrove.bsky.social Order your copy of JUST FLOWERS here.  G I V E A W A Y! ! ! Comment for a chance to win your choice of either a signed copy of the book (U.S. only) or a picture book critique by Erin Dealey. And the winner is . . . Lori Tecler! Congratulations!!!
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 Welcome to KidLit Oasis! I am excited to chat with the talented Erin Dealey and find out more about her author journey, books, and her best writing tips! Join me for this inspiring conversation and enter the double giveaway at the end! Welcome, Erin! Thank you for being my quest on the blog. Please briefly describe your journey to publication. A: First of all, thank you for inviting me to be on your blog, Rosie. As for my journey, it has come full circle with the recent release of PETER EASTER FROG, Illus. by G.Brian Karas. Caitlyn Dlouhy, my editor, is the same amazing human who pulled my very first manuscript, GOLDIE LOCKS HAS CHICKEN POX, out of the slush pile 22 years ago. LITTLE BO PEEP CAN’T GET TO SLEEP (both Atheneum / Illus. Hanako Wakiyama) followed soon after. I am so thrilled that PETER EASTER FROG has found a home with Caitlyn Dlouhy Books / Atheneum/ Simon & Schuster, where she is now VP/ Publisher of her own imprint. And yes, there were many years in between where I submitted manuscripts to Caitlyn that were not quite right for her list. Fast forward to the moment when Caitlyn said, “Yes!” to PETER EASTER FROG, and we all did a happy dance! I love this book SO MUCH. That thing about writing #kidlit and never giving up? It’s real. 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 waiting is the hardest part. I always tell students that if they want to know what their grade is the second they turn in their assignment, waiting is 100x harder when you submit a manuscript. That’s not to say that I haven’t had some quick YESes (and NOs…) but for the most part, we wait. A lot. Right? PETER EASTER FROG is my 16th book and the waiting still happens. I try to remind myself that there are many other hoops that little manuscript has to jump through, and in the long run, the YESes are always worth the wait. Having young readers find themselves –or a giggle or a hug or possibly some eco-friendly motivation—in my books is the BEST. Getting to put the stories from my heart on paper and see some of them become books is such an honor. Seriously, aren’t we lucky? 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 “technique” starts with paper and pencil—or possibly a pen. If my idea book isn’t handy, I write my first drafts out on a legal pad or in a regular old notebook. I feel like this connects more with the crazy world in my brain than typing. I know some who go straight to their computer keyboards, but to me—and I’ve said this before-- that’s like Michelangelo heading to the scaffold in the Sistine Chapel without sketching things first. Your story will change and evolve, but the initial ideas flow much more freely on paper. Writing is our art form. The first draft is your sketch. 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: Next? Yikes! PETER EASTER FROG hopped onto shelves on January 19th, barely a month after DEAR EARTH…From Your Friends in Room 5 (Illus. Luisa Uribe/ Harper Collins / an Indie Next/ Kids’ Pick) so I think next up is some time to catch my breath--haha. No, really, there are certain manuscripts currently out on submission, whose titles shall not be named at present—one which involves a big switch in genres, so send good thoughts, please friends! Thank you, Erin -- this was fun and so insightful! Congrats on all your success! 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. D O U B L E G I V E A W A Y! Comment on this post and share it on social media for a chance to win a PB critique or a copy of PETER EASTER FROG. Two winners will be announced next week. (US address for the book please.) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Connect with Erin Dealey: erindealey.com @ErinDealey  Erin Dealey's original career goal was Olympic Gold Medal tetherball player. When that didn't pan out, she became a teacher, theater director, actor, mom, and author--and welcomes any opportunity to visit schools (or zoom) around the world. She lives in northern California with her husband and a very energetic Golden Retriever. Now go read (or write!) a book. : ) ..................................................................................................... Order Peter Easter Frog HERE     And the winners are. . .
Danielle Hammelef won the PB critique and Eloise Freeman won a copy of Erin's book!!! Congratulations, Danielle and Erin!!! |
About Rosie J. Pova
Rosie J. Pova is a multi-published, award-winning children's author and kid lit Writing Coach. She's the creator of Picture Book Mastery System™ that is proven to help emerging children's writers advance their career and get closer to their publishing goals.
Rosie's latest picture book, Sunday Rain, was featured in The New York Times and recommended by Parents magazine. Her upcoming picture book, The School of Failure: A Story About Success will be released in the spring of 2022 in both China and the USA. Rosie also loves to visit schools and her interactive workshops empower students to unleash their creativity and grow in confidence through reading, writing, and creating. Teachers and librarians love Rosie for her bubbly, upbeat personality which captures students' attention, encourages them to think creatively, and motivates them to pursue big dreams. She has been featured on TV, radio, podcasts, and print media, and also speaks on women's and moms’ topics, sharing her journey from a Bulgarian immigrant to a published author. Find out more about Rosie's online courses, mentorships, and her work by visiting her website: RosieJPova.com Check out her Critique Services here, her Workshops here, and her school visits page here. Rosie is represented by Jackie Kruzie of Focused Artists. Twitter: @RosiePOV 
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