Welcome back, Sharon! Thank you for returning to the KidLit Oasis as my guest—which means 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-scenes about the idea for the story, its creation, an unusual journey to publication perhaps? What stands out?

SG: Firstly, thank you Rosie for inviting me back on your blog. I am so happy to be here 😊. It has been almost two years since my first picture book BEDTIME, DADDY! was released. My second picture book GET READY, MAMA released this month, and I am very excited to see it in the world.

This book is dear to my heart because it is a companion book for BEDTIME, DADDY! and I have wanted to see it published since 2018. GET READY, MAMA! is inspired by my daughter who is a reluctant riser and at age 15 I still have to wake up every day. BEDTIME, DADDY was inspired by my son who is a reluctant going to bedder, so it is really super to have two picture books inspired by both of my children.

GET READY, MAMA’s journey to publication was an unusual one because I first sent it to my publisher, EK Books, in 2018, but although it went to acquisition it was not picked up (at that time). However, after my first book was released, I re-sent GET READY, MAMA! to EK Books and based on the sales from my first book, they agreed to publish it. Hooray! It just goes to show that you should never give up on your dreams.
 
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?

SG: The first big surprise was that although EK Books declined to publish GET READY, MAMA at first, they later agreed. Once the contract was signed it was definitely easier to bring this book into the world as I was familiar with the publication process. A debut author (and illustrator) has a lot to learn with their first book. I was able to enjoy the publication process more with GET READY, MAMA! because I knew what to expect.
 
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?
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SG: EK Book signs the author and illustrator up at the same time. So, before I even signed the contract, I knew Arielle Li would be illustrating GET READY, MAMA! They introduced me to Arielle (via email) and throughout the publishing process encouraged us to work together.

Working with Arielle on our book was fantastic and I loved her style and the energy that she bought to our project. As well as how she skillfully and artistically matched my words to her illustrations.
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The first art that I saw from Arielle was the possible characters for the story. As a team we had to decide if we wanted the characters to be human or guinea pigs. Although the guinea pigs were super adorable, we all agreed that for this book the humans would be better. I am so pleased with the choice we made. Especially when you see the mama’s facial expressions throughout the book.

EK books continued to ask for my input regarding the storyboard, cover design and book layout. It was definitely a team effort between myself, Arielle and EK books.
 
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?

SG: I hope to create quality, heartfelt and humorous picture books that bring delight and happiness to children (and parents) from all around the world. As well as publish my speculative and adventure filled early middle grade books.

A writing goal I wish to accomplish this year is to undertake a graphic novel course and write a graphic novel. I love learning about different forms of children’s literature. One day I may even develop my skills as an illustrator.

On a personal level I want to travel the world with my family, and where possible meet the publishers and illustrators of my books.  As well as the many writer friends I have ‘met’ online through the Kidlit writing community. There are so many places I want to see and people I want to meet. Maybe one day Rosie we will get to meet.
 
Q: Aw, that would be wonderful, Sharon! I certainly hope we get to meet someday soon. :) Meanwhile, 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?

SG: 2022 is going to be a very exciting year for me 😊. Starting with the release of GET READY, MAMA! and a book launch in April at my local Literature Centre.

I have signed a two-book deal with Dixi Books for my next two picture books, which are about taking a grandma shopping and a grandpa to the beach. So, once these books are published my picture book family will be complete.

I also have an early middle grade book being released through Clear Fork Publishing about an eleven-year-old girl who is given a mysterious gift, which she uses to overcome obstacles and challenges.

That's quite exciting, Sharon, congratulations again on all the success and your new projects! Thanks for stopping by--it was a pleasure chatting and celebrating your new book on KidLit Oasis! Best of luck to you with everything! :)

​Sharon Giltrow grew up in South Australia, the youngest of eight children, surrounded by pet sheep and fields of barley. She now lives in Perth, Western Australia with her husband, two children and a tiny dog. Sharon has taught for all of her career. Previously a teacher of children who are hearing impaired and Deaf-Blind, she now teaches young children with Developmental Language Disorder. Her humorous debut PB, BEDTIME DADDY! released May 2020 through EK books. Sharon’s humorous follow up PB, GET READY, MAMA! Is due to be released through EK books in April, 2022. Her third and fourth PB, LET’S GO SHOPPING, GRANDMA! And LET’S GO TO THE BEACH, GRANDPA! are due to be released through Dixi Books in 2022 and 2023. SAMARA RUBIN AND THE UTILITY BELT, book one in Sharon’s early MG series – THE UTILITY BELT, will be released in 2022 through Clear Fork Publishing.  With book two TOBY KING AND THE UTILITY BELT to follow. Sharon is also a Blogger for the Children’s Book Academy.

Hello, wonderful readers!

Today, I am excited to revisit with author Beth Anderson who's returning to the blog with some beautiful new picture book titles!

Welcome back, Beth! Thank you for returning to the KidLit Oasis as my guest—which means you liked my hospitality the first time ☺, but it also means you have a new book coming out (or books in your case!) 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 are these two books special to you? Dear to your heart in a different way? What was the experience like, compared to previous ones? Is there an interesting behind-the-scenes about the idea for the story, its creation, an unusual journey to publication perhaps? What stands out?

BA: Thank you so much for inviting me to share REVOLUTIONARY PRUDENCE WRIGHT: LEADING THE MINUTE WOMEN IN THE FIGHT FOR INDEPENDENCE and FRANZ’S PHANTASMAGORICAL MACHINE! These are definitely two very different stories!

FRANZ’’s story, based on Franz Gsellmann and his “World Machine,” was one of my early manuscripts. It grabbed the child in me who loved to tinker, putter, and build. A celebration of curiosity, it explores the power of wonder and challenges us to put aside traditional expectations and judgements. Just as Franz’s machine faced criticism before finally finding appreciation, my creation built with words faced rejection before someone appreciated it, too. It’s funny how every story ends up ringing with personal relevance! Lots of learning happened with Franz’s story—such an important part of my writing journey. This was the manuscript that interested agent Stephanie Fretwell-Hill in my writing. She “got it.” And FRANZ opened the door.

REVOLUTIONARY PRUDENCE WRIGHT had a long journey, too. My attempts at a creative structure didn’t work. In addition, some missing details seemed to sap the strength of the story. That story waited in “the drawer” for a year while I struggled with how to write it. But in time I realized that the emotional truths were what powered Prudence’s story, and that thread didn’t depend on the missing details. I loved that her story offered a window into life behind well-known events like the Boston Tea Party, Paul Revere’s Ride, and the battles at Lexington and Concord. The uniqueness of this untold story convinced me to take a historical fiction path using the most verifiable details and find a way to tell it. If we don’t tell a story because we can’t find every detail, then there are many important stories that will never be told. Researching her story, I connected to some local historians and discovered how her story was personal and continued to inspire people today. That helped me find the “heart” and a way to tell Prudence Wright’s story.
 
Q: And to piggyback on the questions above, did anything surprise you with the books or the publisher's approach (whether it was the same publisher or a new one)? Did you learn anything new? Was it harder or easier to bring the books into the world?
 
BA: FRANZ’S PHANTASMAGORICAL MACHINE is my first book with Kids Can Press. And REVOLUTIONARY PRUDENCE WRIGHT is my fourth book with Calkins Creek. Each publisher works a little differently, and I think each book offers different challenges in the publishing process. With FRANZ, I worked with several editors, and the story stalled a bit as we sought permissions. This was my first experience with the world of permissions—the machine can be seen as art, so would be copyrighted, and the story features the Atomium, a structure that requires permission for illustrations.

PRUDENCE’s story brought new awareness when it was time to vet illustrations. When I wrote the story, I didn’t think about the potential challenges in illustrating a cast of 30 women. But when it was time to vet the art, the question of diversity came up. I was fortunate to find someone who dug into historical records and found African American and Native American families and women in the town of Pepperell.

Every story stretches you in new directions and widens your awareness and thinking for the next one!
 
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?

BA: For both books, I was consulted as editors considered who might illustrate. I’m always grateful for the editor’s skillset in choosing just the right illustrator who can bring a specialness that will enhance the text.

With FRANZ, Caroline Hamel surprised me with her whimsical style and bright palette, making a story from the past thoroughly modern. She brought a playfulness and a European look which really makes the story sing.

With PRUDENCE, Susan Reagan brought strength and beauty and a gorgeous palette. I was amazed by all the historical details and so delighted by her creative spreads that incorporated documents. And the dramatic spreads—Wow!

I think my favorite part of the publishing process is seeing the sketches for the first time and then watching the art develop. The illustrations are always more than I had imagined!
 
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?

BA: I don’t have any lofty goals. :) At this point in my life, I’m thrilled to be on this writing journey. I hope to keep on discovering ideas, people, and events to write stories that engage kids and open up their world, and also to be a positive part of the kid lit community. It’d be fun to write a middle grade novel and something really sparse and lyrical. In general, I’m looking forward to being WITH people, going on some traveling adventures, and hanging out with my grandkids. AND…I’m striving to grow a bumper crop of tomatoes!
 
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?
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BA: I’m excited about the next books in the publishing pipeline. I’m over-the-moon amazed with Jeremy Holmes’ illustrations for THOMAS JEFFERSON’S BATTLE FOR SCIENCE: BIAS, TRUTH, AND A MIGHTY MOOSE. Can’t wait to share that story! I have a couple others on the way that are unannounced so will have to stay mum on those. 

Thank you, Beth! As always, it was a pleasure chatting with you and featuring your amazing books on my blog! Wishing all the best with these titles, your upcoming projects, and all future stories you'll be bringing to life for young readers!

Connect with Beth Anderson:

Website: https://bethandersonwriter.com
Twitter: @BAndersonWriter

>>> Click in the book covers to purchase Beth's books <<<

​Hello, everyone, and happy Spring!

I am so honored and excited to have the amazing Rajani LaRocca visit KidLit Oasis and chat with me! I've been enjoying her spectacular journey in the kidlit world and couldn't be happier for her! Rajani is having a wild ride and I cannot wait to hear more about it! Plus, one lucky reader will win a copy of her new picture book, I'll Go and Come Back. 

Welcome, Rajani! Thank you for joining me on the blog. Congratulations on all your successes and your new release! How did it all start for you? Please briefly describe your journey to publication. 

RL: My first career is as a doctor, and I came back to writing later in my life. In 2011, I started taking online and then in person writing classes and connected with other writers. In 2013, I became more serious about trying to be traditionally published. In 2014, I finished the first draft of my first novel. I signed with my agent in late 2017 after many, many rejections. He offered representation on the basis of my middle grade novel, but I also had five picture books I thought were “ready” at the time. In 2018, we sold five books, and since then we haven’t stopped!

When I first started writing, I was worried I’d run out of ideas. Now I know that I’ll never have the time to write all the ideas I have.

I’ll Go and Come Back is the first book we ever sold, way back in March 2018…and here it is, releasing four years later! It’s been a long wait, but it was worth it. The beautiful illustrations by Sara Palacios perfectly fit this story of my heart.

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?

RL: It can be a challenge to balance writing new books, editing current ones, doing marketing, and coordinating appearances while still working at my job in medicine and having a family life.

Revising is so rewarding — it’s such a joy to shape a story into what you want it to be!
Meeting kid readers motivates me so much! Kids are wonderful and funny and wise.

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? 

RL: Revision is where the magic happens for me! With picture books, I like to think about the big picture — what I’m really trying to say — and make sure my writing serves that. I also paginate to make sure that the plot points of the story are falling in the right places, and that each spread has a unique, illustratable scene. Then I go through and get rid of any extraneous words and try to ensure the language is as vibrant as possible.

Q: What do you consider your biggest publishing career accomplishment so far? On the flip side, what are some of the things you'd like to accomplish in the next year from now?

A: I’m so incredibly honored at the recognition that some of my books have gotten — in particular, Red, White, and Whole, which has won a Newbery Honor, the Walter Dean Myers Award, the Golden Kite Award, and the New England Book Award. But in terms of things I can control, I’m proud to be writing and publishing books for different age groups, fiction and nonfiction, in prose and poetry.

In the next few years, I’d like to try writing for different formats and age groups: YA, chapter books, and maybe even graphic novels!

Q: That's wonderful! So happy for you, these are outstanding accomplishments! What is your vision for this book, I'll Go and Come Back? What kind of impact do you hope it would have on readers?

RL: Book description for I’ll Go and Come Back:
When Jyoti visits her grandmother halfway around the world, she is overwhelmed by the differences between India and home. At first, she feels lonely and out of place, but soon, despite a language barrier, she and Sita Pati are able to understand each other. They form a bond—looking at books together, making designs with colored sand, shopping at the market, playing games, eating chapatis, and sipping warm milk with saffron to bring sweet dreams. When it’s time to part, Jyoti doesn’t want to leave, but then she remembers that in Tamil, people don’t say goodbye, they say “I’ll go and come back.” Sure enough, the two reunite the next summer when Pati visits Jyoti in America, and it’s Jyoti’s turn to make her grandmother feel welcome. Can they create some special memories that will last until the next time they see each other?

I hope that anyone who has ever been separated from someone they love (we all have experience with this over the past 2 years!) resonates with this story of love that stretches across the world and the promise to come back.

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 going to be at many conferences, online and in person this year! People can find out more on my events page: https://www.rajanilarocca.com/events/

Thank you, Rajani, it was a pleasure chatting with you! Wishing you many more successes, literary joy, and never-ending inspiration! 

Rajani LaRocca was born in India, raised in Kentucky, and now lives in the Boston area, where she practices medicine and writes award-winning books for young readers, including the Newbery Honor winning middle grade novel in verse, Red, White, and Whole. She’s always been an omnivorous reader, and now is an omnivorous writer of fiction and nonfiction, novels and picture books, prose and poetry. She finds inspiration in her family, her childhood, the natural world, math, science, and just about everywhere she looks. 

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​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 three projects forthcoming, two of them have not been announced. But I am very excited about the third, in particular, because it is a manuscript that I actually wrote in 1998 while in France.

Wow, that was such a great chat, and I'm glad you shared all those resources with my readers. Thank you so much again, Lynne Marie, and I look forward to the new announcements soon too!

Readers, please support our guests in any way you could and connect with them on social media.

Happy December, everyone!
​
Let's finish the year on a high note! If you've been in the query trenches for a while and feeling a bit deflated, or if you just need to hear some success stories to inspire you, or you've been considering a new direction and could use some encouragement to start your next year strong, you're in luck. I have good news--Agent Kaitlyn Sanchez is here to lift up our spirits and offer an exclusive submission opportunity to two of my blog fans! How amazing is that?!

Well, I'm super excited to be providing this opportunity to KidLit Oasis followers, and I am thrilled to be chatting with Kaitlyn!

Welcome, Kaitlyn! It's such a pleasure having you on my blog--thank you for being a KidLit Oasis special guest! I am quite excited for our chat today, and I'm extra excited for the kidlit community because this interview is not only packed with invaluable insight and super valuable details, but also an opportunity to submit to you! Some lucky stars are about to shine over those winners! Details on that later, but for now, let's dive in. I had a bunch of questions for you, so again, thank you so much for taking the time to answer them all for my readers!

Let's start from the beginning... How did you become an agent? Did you have any mentors who helped you along the way? Please also tell us about your agency, including its mission.

Thank you for asking! I feel like this part of my life was meant to be because so many things just came together. I was in a lot of picture book critique groups because I just loved reading and helping edit picture books, and at the same time, I had accidentally stumbled into hosting picture book blog contests, where my favorite part was connecting people. I quickly realized that's what agents do: they get to read, edit, and connect people.

My critique partners, James McGowan and Andrea Walker, were both agent interns at the time, and they both helped me a ton! I'm so grateful to them always, and to the wonderful Anna Olswanger who gave me my first internship filled with so much knowledge. Red Fox who taught me a ton in such a short amount of time, and so much thanks to my amazing team at Context Literary Agency who have helped me grow the most with their knowledge and support; I couldn't ask for a better team. But the biggest thanks of course goes to my clients who took a chance on me and believed that, though I was new, I was meant for this. Also, fun fact, Liza Dawson has also always been meant to connect people. She was the one who suggested I check out Context because she thought Tamar and I would work well together. Isn't this industry full of just amazing and giving people?

It is, indeed! The support in the kidlit community is amazing for sure and so awesome to have! It really is essential on this journey, I'm sure my peers would agree. Okay, here's my next question: What is your favorite part of the job and what is your least favorite part? What brings you joy in your position day in and day out?

Oh my, there's SO many things that are my favorite, from reading a client's work and feeling the awesomeness jump off the page, to thinking of the best editors the story will connect with to chatting with editors - so much fun - to our weekly Context Literary Agency meetings, but the best part has to be sharing with a client that their book is going to be published! There are definitely hard parts too, as in all things, we need balance, right? One of my least favorite things is getting passes, but they're definitely part of the job, and finding that perfect editor and publisher is always worth it in the end!

You're right--passes are hard for everyone, but they are part of the process and in order to find the right home for a project, it inevitably goes through some rough patches and discovers the non-matches on its way, too. 

So, what is a typical workday for you? If there's no "typical" what are some of the tasks that have priority in any given workday?

Haha, definitely no typical for me, but often you'll find me pulling out my phone in bed at 5 am to answer emails, check in on submissions, read Publishers Marketplace deals and news. Of course, there's also reading client work and sending feedback, reading queries, creating submissions lists, creating submission letters, and checking in with clients.

You are currently closed to submissions... Do you plan to re-open soon? What's on your wishlist, if it has changed lately? What is something you've seen too much of or just isn't for you?

When agents close to submissions it's often because they're focusing on their current clients and/or have many queries to catch up on. I'm definitely focusing on my amazing clients and as I participate in many events where writers and illustrators can submit to me through those events, I actually have a steady stream of submission still, so I'm not sure when I will re-open.

Great! I'm glad to hear there are still opportunities for writers to be considered by you. Speaking of submissions, how much time do you usually spend reading a submission? Do you read the query first or the manuscript?

I always go to the manuscripts first. I want the story to speak for itself, then if I like it, I go back to the query to get more info. :) The time spent depends completely on the submission.

How do you evaluate submissions? What marks does a manuscript need to hit to prompt you to request more work from the author?

I'm still trying to pinpoint this exactly, but honestly, it's a lot on instinct. There's some spark about writers and illustrators whose talent just explodes off the page when I'm reading. Often if I feel that but there are plot issues or the opening or closing need more umph or the character more developed, I'll request an R&R.

What happens next if a project appealed to you? For example, if a picture book submission grabbed you, how many additional manuscripts do you request? Do you expect to see more within the same category as the original submission or a range? Could you walk us through the process from submission to representation offer?

Great question! I ask for their three other favorite stories beyond the one they sent (and I really enjoy when there are MG or YA in the mix as well). I actually expect the other stories not to be the same but to have the same storytelling quality that I read in the first and the unique creativeness that shows me this creator can keep creating because I want to represent their career. Then, if those stories speak to me as well, I'll email the potential client and set up a call where I get to just gush about what I love, share what it's like to be on Team Sanchez, have the creator ask questions and finally, I'll suggest which Team Sanchez clients they should talk to to get insight in working with me and provide the potential client with their contact info. Then I try super duper hard not to think about it until I get an email or a call with the answer because when we offer to a potential client, we're super excited and want to work with them too!

Wonderful--thank you for the details and specifics in your answer! I know that this will be very helpful to all who plan to query you down the road. Writers, take notice of that!

Do you reply to all submissions and what is your timeframe? Or is no reply considered a pass?

I try to respond to all submissions, but I also remind people that they can check in after a certain amount of time too. You wouldn't believe how much goes on in the background of making books, so sometimes, it's nice to get a reminder about queries.

Are you currently taking submissions from illustrators?

I'm always on the lookout for amazing artists!

What is the one thing people should avoid in submissions to you?

People should definitely make sure to read submission guidelines.

How do you handle submissions to editors in concern to your clients? To be more specific, do you share your list with your client? Are you open to taking their input and suggestions, brainstorm together where the work might be sent? Also, do you forward the rejections to your clients?

Yes to all of these. I'm very open with my clients because we're a team. I'm a very curious person, so I always think about what I'd want to know as a writer and do that for my clients as well. And I'm super lucky that my team is very involved in the writing community, so I'm always up for their awesome suggestions - they even send me editor tweets sometimes so I don't miss them - go Team Sanchez! We also have a Facebook group where everyone can share opportunities and ask for help or critiques.

Oh, that sounds wonderful! Let's hear more about Team Sanchez! What are some projects you're excited about and why? Any upcoming titles you could share with us?

This is my favorite! Our first Team Sanchez books are coming out next year! AHH! We just did cover reveals for OLD FRIENDS, HATTIE HATES HUGS, and MUSHROOM RAIN! I can't wait for kids and adults alike to get their hands on these amazing, unique, and inspiring stories. For more Team Sanchez info, check here.

Fantastic! Thank you, Kaitlyn! It was a pleasure chatting with you, and I know my blog readers were thrilled to learn more about you and about Team Sanchez! Please come back to visit again any time. 

Please support Kaitlyn and Team Sanchez in any way you can. Check out the submission opportunity that Kaitlyn has generously provided for my readers! Find the details on how to enter the giveaway below. 

About Kaitlyn Sanchez
​
Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez is a mom, wife, agent with Context Literary Agency, middle school math teacher, and picture book author. She's also the proud co-creator and co-host of the Spring Fling Kidlit Contest and Kidlit Zombie Week as well as creator and co-host of the Kidlit Fall Writing Frenzy Contest. In her free time, she loves to play soccer, binge-watch TV shows, and, of course, read, especially when she's all cozied up with her husband and daughter reading together.

Connect with Kaitlyn:
 
Website: https://kaitlynleannsanchez.com/
Twitter: @KaitlynLeann17
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaitlynLeann17
Please follow my clients on social media: https://kaitlynleannsanchez.com/literary-clients/ 
​Agency website: https://www.contextlit.com/

​​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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Thank you, Nikki, for being my guest. That mosaic looks amazing, and I loved learning about your journey. Wishing you the best of success with LILA LOU'S LITTLE LIBRARY and all future projects as well!

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. 

Connect with Nikki:
Website: www.nikkibergstresser.com
Twitter: @NBergstresser
IG: @nikkibergstresser
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                                             Click on the book cover to order a copy

Nikki Bergstresser is an educator and children’s author of Seasons for Stones (illustrated by Kelly O’Neill) and Lila Lou’s Little Library (illustrated by Sejung Kim) releasing Oct.1/21. When not writing, she teaches online book clubs and writing classes to learners in grades 3-7.  Nikki makes her home on the west coast of British Columbia, Canada with her husband and two teen daughters. Nikki’s best day has her lost in nature, coffee in hand and a good story to share. ​

Welcome back, KidLit Oasis fans (and future fans)!

I am so excited to chat with a wonderful author today--Charlotte Offsay is in the house, and I cannot wait to hear about her journey, her amazing books, and what advice she has for writers! (Spoiler alert: Charlotte shares a fantastic revision checklist you don't want to miss.) Plus, she's generously giving away a copy of her new picture book, HOW TO RETURN A MONSTER. Find out how to enter for a chance to win this adorable book at the end of the interview. 

Besides being an amazing author and a lovely person, Charlotte is also a passionate supporter of the kidlit community, highlighting picture books on her Instagram account @pictirebookrecommendations so make sure you follow her there.

Okay, let's hear it from my awesome guest...

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

A: I have always had a passion for books and creative writing, but becoming a published author always felt like a far-fetched dream and was something I fantasized about but never actually took any steps toward. That all changed after my children were born. I love reading to them and after an afternoon of baking with them I began writing a rhyming how-to story for them based on our weekly challah baking tradition. I loved the entire process of writing that story for them, and when an instructor of a parenting group I was in at the time encouraged each of us to sign up for a class or spend some time doing something that was just for us – something outside the responsibilities of our families – I jumped at the excuse to sign up for my very first writing class. I took an online introduction to writing picture book class through UCLA extension, and fell head over heels for all things picture book. The more I learned the more obsessed I became. I spent the next few years taking classes and attending conferences. I joined various kidlit groups such as SCBWI, 12x12 and Inked voices and met my very first critique partners and felt at home in the kidlit community.

I signed with my agent, Nicole Geiger of Full Circle Literary in early 2019. Nicole is fantastic - she is my biggest advocate, she pushes me, she questions me, she guides me, believes in me and makes me a better writer. Together we have sold three picture books including How to Return a Monster which I am excited to be sharing more about today here on this blog!

How to Return a Monster is a humorous how-to story about a girl who can't believe it when her parents bring home a fussy, stinky, attention-stealing monster. She hatches a plan to send it back to where it came from, with hilarious results . . . and along the way, she learns that maybe monsters--and baby siblings--aren't so bad after all.
It is illustrated by Rea Zhai and publishes with Beaming Books on September 7, 2021.
 
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 the most challenging part of this business for me is the waiting. I am not a naturally patient person and there is a lot of waiting - from waiting to hear back on queries, to waiting to hear back from editors, waiting for your book to be announced/illustrated/published etc. I decided long ago that in order for me to handle the waiting I needed to celebrate every step, even the small ones. Staying positive and celebrating the steps along the way helps me to keep creating even in those extremely quiet periods that I find so difficult.

The most rewarding part of this business is definitely the writing community. The kidlit community is such a wonderfully warm and welcoming place. From the very beginning strangers went out of their way to help me learn the ropes, figure out which classes to take, which blogs to read, which mentor texts to get my hands on – all because of our shared passion for picture books. I have made some of my closest friends through the kidlit world, they understand me and support me and I am so grateful for how full they make my life.

I am fortunate to have an incredible support network to help me stay motivated. There is a lot of rejection in this business and it takes a thick skin to keep going. My critique partners, my children and my husband are my biggest cheerleaders and supporters and I wouldn’t be where I am without them. 

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 first began writing I used to pour over the pages of craft books such as Ann Whitford Paul’s Writing Picture Books. I used those craft books and picture book classes I was taking at the time to create a picture book evaluation form which I utilized as a revision tool. Here are a few of the categories as an example:

• Main Character:
  • Will the reader care about them?
  • Does the MC solve their own problem?
  • Is the MC active in their own story?
  • Are the MC actions believable?
• Dialogue:
  • Is it believable? 
  • Does what the characters say help flesh out the story?
  • Is it simple?
  • Does it move the story forward and reveal character?

• Plot:
  • What happens?
  • Do any of the characters change?
  • Is there tension?
  • Does the story start before it needs to?
  • Are scenes included that are unnecessary and don’t move the story forward?
  • Is the ending satisfying? Logical? Predictable? Is there a twist?

 
I didn’t need to check every box on this revision sheet, but I found it helpful to think about and be purposeful about each of these areas as I revised.

These revision questions have become engrained in my head and while I no longer pull out my self-made handout every time I revise I often find myself thinking about these questions whenever I create a new manuscript or critique someone else’s.

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 am excited to share that my next picture book, A Grandma’s Magic, illustrated by Asa Gilland publishes on March 1, 2022 from Doubleday Books for Young Readers/Penguin Random House.
 
Description from my publisher:
 
"When a child is born, a grandma is born too. Grandmas aren't like regular grown-ups. Grandmas are filled with magic."

In this charming picture book tribute to grandmas, a grandma's magic bursts through the door as soon as she comes to visit and can be seen in every wonderful thing she does: playing, exploring, baking, gardening, and in all the many ways a grandma and grandchild connect.

Filled with adorable scenes featuring a diversity of grandmas and their grandkids, this is a book that will families can enjoy together. Grandmas will love snuggling with their grandchildren as they share their love and "magic" through cuddles, kisses, and many repeat readings.

Congratulations on all your success, Charlotte! It was a pleasure chatting with you! Thank you for being my guest, and I hope that you'll return to KidLit Oasis with your future books. I'm so happy to support your work and look forward to your upcoming titles as well.

Connect with Charlotte Offsay:

Website: www.charlotteoffsay.com
Twitter: @coffsay
IG: @picturebookrecommendations

CHARLOTTE OFFSAY was born in England, grew up in Boston, and currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two small children. Through her work, Charlotte hopes to make children laugh, to inspire curiosity, and to create a magical world her readers can lose themselves in time and time again.

Charlotte is the author of The Big Beach Cleanup, illustrated by Kate Rewse (Albert Whitman, 2021), How to Return a Monster, illustrated by Rea Zhai (Beaming Books, September 2021), and A Grandma’s Magic, illustrated by Asa Gilland (Doubleday Books for Young Readers, March 2022).

Welcome back to KidLit Oasis, everyone!

I hope you all had a great summer and that you're excited about fall. I have so many fabulous guests lined up and giveaways planned for you, I cannot wait to spread all the excitement!

I am happy to be back as the new blog season is finally here, and we're kicking it off with a fun celebration. My guest, Author Henry Herz, is stopping by to talk about his latest picture book release, I AM SMOKE. Today is extra special, too, because it's the book's birthday! Hooray! Congratulations, Henry!

Okay, I can't wait to hear what Henry has to share with us and I'm ready to get the scoop on this book which is already making a splash. 

So, let's get started...

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

A: Years ago, I wanted to share my love of fantasy with my young sons. They were too little for watching most of the fantasy movies. Struck by inspiration one day, I came up with a way to share the joy of entering the magical realms of fantasy. I would write a fantasy book for them. That decision had two unintended consequences.

First, I did not anticipate was that my boys would give me feedback on the story.  They devised some of the character and creature names, and made plot line suggestions.  And who better to help make the story appealing to kids than other kids?  So, the goal of interesting my sons in fantasy transformed into also encouraging them to write.

Second, I discovered how much I loved writing for kids. We ended up self-publishing that book. I was hooked. I joined SCBWI, joined a critique group, and kept honing my writing until I sold my first picture book, MONSTER GOOSE NURSERY RHYMES to a traditional publisher, Pelican. I kept at at and continue working on my writing skills. I AM SMOKE will be my tenth traditionally published picture book. In the last couple of years, I have written two middle-grade novels (on submission) and a number of adult short stories in the fantasy, science fiction, and even horror genres.

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 suppose it's a tie between the pain of waiting and the agony of rejection. Those of you who are not authors may not be aware that authors endure a potentially soul-crushing amount of rejections. Even short stories and books eventually bought by a publisher may suffer multiple rejections from other publishers first. Authors must develop a thick skin and recognize that a rejection is not necessarily a critique of their writing. A publisher may decline a manuscript because they already have something like it, or the topic is not suitable for their current needs, or they don't feel there's sufficient market potential.

Waiting to hear back is another challenge of being a writer. Whether you're submitting directly to a publisher, or querying an agent, you can be facing a wait of weeks, months, or even years. Yes, I once got a rejection years later, after I'd already sold that manuscript (and a second one) to another publisher. Waiting is an unavoidable part of the game. The trick is to distract yourself by staying busy—write more stories or novels in the mean time.

As for what is most rewarding, it's a three-way tie—this time between the thrill of getting a signed contract from a publisher, seeing a illustrator bring my story to life, and receiving artwork drawn by young children inspired by my book. We don't do this for fame and fortune. We do this to bring smiles to kids' faces and to inspire them.

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: For writing novels, there are two resources I really find helpful. SAVE THE CAT WRITES A NOVEL by Jess Brody is a novel-centric adaptation of the screenplay-focused original, SAVE THE CAT by Blake Snyder. Jess analyzed how the beats of successful novels are organized. Her book provides a template, a starting point, which was invaluable when I had never before written a novel. It helps you create an engaging story arc, with good pacing and tension.

Another excellent resource for writers is WRITING THE BREAKOUT NOVEL HANDBOOK by Donald Maass. It asks the author a number of questions to help you flesh out and better understand your own characters.

My revision process is straightforward. I share my first draft with a critique group, consider their feedback, and update my manuscript based on which advice I choose to take. Once the manuscript has been run through the “meat grinder” of one or two critique groups, then I share it with beta readers to get their perspectives. Outside pairs of eyes are so valuable, because the author unavoidably has blinds spots. What is clear to us may not be obvious to most readers. What is funny to us may not work for readers. The process is akin to sculpting. We go over our manuscript again and again, striving to create an engaging story arc featuring characters who feel real and fully fleshed out. The dialog, thoughts, and actions of the characters as they face challenges and transform in a meaningful way must evoke emotion that drives the reader to keep turning pages.

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 creative nonfiction picture book from Tilbury House, I AM SMOKE, launched September 14, 2021. Upcoming events and book launches include:

-Moderating a DragonCon panel with actors from Netflix's Norsemen series.

-Launching my contemporary magical realism early chapter book, THE MAGIC SPATULA from Month9 Books.

-The middle-grade #ownvoices anthology from Albert Whitman & Co., COMING OF AGE: 13 B'NAI MITZVAH STORIES, will feature my sci-fi/humor short story, Bar Mitzvah on Planet Latke.

-The adult horror anthology from the Denver Horror Collective, THE JEWISH BOOK OF HORROR, will feature my short story, Demon Hunter Vashti.

-The young adult horror anthology from Blackstone Publishing, THE HITHERTO SECRET EXPERIMENTS OF MARIE CURIE, will feature my short story, Cheating Death.

-Highlights for Children has purchased two of my stories, but I don't know when those will come out. See topic of patience above.

Thank you so much, Henry -- it was a pleasure to have you as my guest! Best of luck on your journey, congrats again on all of your success,  and I look forward to your future projects!

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 interview — join in the celebration and leave us a comment.  Social media shares are greatly appreciated. Thank you!
​-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Connect with Henry Herz:

Website: https://www.henryherz.com 
Twitter: @HenryLHerz 
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                                               To purchase IAM SMOKE click on the book cover

Henry authored 11 traditionally published books for children: MONSTER GOOSE NURSERY RHYMES, WHEN YOU GIVE AN IMP A PENNY, MABEL & THE QUEEN OF DREAMS, LITTLE RED CUTTLEFISH, CAP'N REX & HIS CLEVER CREW, HOW THE SQUID GOT TWO LONG ARMS, ALICE'S MAGIC GARDEN, GOOD EGG AND BAD APPLE, 2 PIRATES + 1 ROBOT, THE MAGIC SPATULA, and I AM SMOKE.
​
Henry Herz authored over 25 traditionally published short stories, including for Daily Science Fiction, Blackstone Publishing, Albert Whitman & Co., Highlights for Children, and Ladybug Magazine. He edited three anthologies: BEYOND THE PALE, COMING OF AGE (Albert Whitman & Co., MG #ownvoices), and THE HITHERTO SECRET EXPERIMENTS OF MARIE CURIE (Blackstone Publishing, YA horror).

PART 2: The Interview

Hello, dear readers, and welcome back!

As promised, I have Author Kathleen M. Blasi as my guest this week for Part 2, the continuation from last week's post in which I  I reviewed Kathleen's latest picture book, Milo's Moonlight Mission (if you missed Part 1, find it here). 

So, let's get to know Kathleen better and hear what she has to share with us!

Welcome, Kathleen, and happy book birthday! Milo's Moonlight Mission releases today -- how exciting!

​I'd love to find out what the backstory is that led to this moment. Please briefly describe your journey to publication, leading up to this book. When and how did you first get started writing for children and what was the path for you in becoming an author?

I fell in love with picture books when my children were young. It made me remember the picture books I loved as a child—those stories stuck with me, well into adulthood. Books like Ferdinand, The Snowy Day, Make Way for Ducklings, and Blueberries for Sal. I read them over and over.

I had always loved to write and set out to create stories that children (and parents) would want to read again and again. What was the trick? I studied the craft, took some classes, and connected with other children’s writers. My first published book, A NAME OF HONOR, began as a picture book, mainly because I made two false assumptions: 1: that picture books are short, so therefore easy to write (Ha!), and 2: that I was not capable of writing a novel. I learned both lessons, and A NAME OF HONOR was published as a middle-grade historical fiction book in the educational market. That was 2006. Shortly after that, my nonfiction book about youth sports came out. Then…many years of writing, submitting, revising, critiquing, revising, and most importantly…learning. Learning to improve my writing, learning to be both patient and persistent. In 2020, HOSEA PLAYS ON, illustrated by Shane Evans, was published with Sterling Children’s Books. I’m so pleased that my second published picture book will be out in the world on June 15th! MILO’S MOONLIGHT MISSION, illustrated by Petronela Dostalova, published by Yeehoo Press, is a joy to see come to fruition.
 
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?

On the creative side, showing up is difficult when self-doubt tells you that you are not worthy of doing so. In the face of the required patience and inevitable rejection that accompanies putting yourself out there, it’s sometimes hard to keep going. But I firmly believe that hard work and opportunity will eventually intersect. I just have to remind myself of that every now and then.

There are two things that I find most rewarding—obviously, seeing a manuscript come take the form of a real book is very rewarding. But also rewarding is finishing a project I’ve put so much into. When I discover nuggets for a story in the research process—I think my heart actually skips a beat. It’s thrilling to see a story come together, when in the beginning it feels like a big mess. Where do I begin? What do I include? What do I need to take out for the sake of telling this story in the best way possible? Sharing my works-in-progress with my critique partners and being lifted by their encouragement is phenomenally rewarding. Meeting readers through author visits, seeing how my journey can contribute to their seeing themselves as writers is a true gift.

I stay motivated by recognizing all the little things along the way. I can’t let publication be the measure of my success. I need to pause and recognize that revision is an accomplishment. Submitting polished work to editors or agents is an accomplishment. And validating my choice to stay in the game by investing in my writing career—by attending workshops and conferences—is an accomplishment. Staying connected with my writing peers, to share both the joys and the disappointments, helps keep me motivated, too. It’s important to know I’m not alone.
 
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?

For all of my projects, big, unlined paper is a necessity for brainstorming. It feels unrestrictive and non-judgmental. Let it rip! Write big, write small, make crooked lines and messy arrows. I love it. Makes me more open to the possibilities. I also love to storyboard for picture books, in all stages.
 
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?
I am having a book launch for MILO on June 19th, in a park near my home. A local indie is co-hosting with me. Other projects in the works – both new pieces and old-to-be-revisited. There’s always room for improvement!

Thank you, Kathleen -- it was a pleasure having you at KidLit Oasis! Best of luck with the launch and many more successes to you!