Happy New Year!

Welcome back, dear readers! We are starting 2021 with a delightful double interview in the Chitchat series! So, get comfy and cozy, and get ready to read because you are undoubtedly getting a double dose of literary mood boost! 

Lauren and Evelyn, take it away!

LHK: Captain Green is a perfect balance of being kid-like and a thoughtful hero kids can aspire to be. What writing techniques did you use to capture his voice and develop his personality?
 
EB: Thanks so much Lauren. First and foremost, it was important for me that the story entertain children and not be didactic, and that readers would feel inspired to do their bit to look after our planet, just like Captain Green and the children in the story.
 
In order to keep it light and fun, I looked for opportunities to show Captain Green as a lovable little guy with a good heart. I made use of lots of superhero language, powerful verbs and portrayed Captain Green as someone who is so eager to help animals but doesn't always go about it the best way, because he is still learning. When the story opens, Captain Green is happily working away, building a superhero invention, but he isn't quite sure what he will use it for. Then he is called to save one animal after another whose trees have been destroyed. Captain Green decides to use his invention to plant trees in a super-duper fast way (which ends in disaster!). I wanted to show that the main character doesn't have to know everything to make a difference, that it is ok to fail at first, and that we learn from our mistakes.
 
EB: Lauren, I'd love to ask about your adorable main character Calvin. From the very first spread, the emotion just jumps off the page and I felt myself rooting for this sweet but troubled boy. What techniques did you use to show readers what Calvin was going through?
 
LHK: First, I just love your answer. It is so important to show children that you don’t have to know everything or do things perfectly to make a difference. Learning from our mistakes is so important. Thank you for your kind words about Calvin. His story is a story from my therapist heart. I really forced myself to dig as deeply as possible into the work I did with children in the day treatment center preschool program I ran. I honed in on the juxtaposition so many of the children experienced—they wanted to be wanted, but also felt unworthy and untrusting as a result of past rejection. I wanted Calvin to be as authentic as possible so that readers would root for him. I’m so glad you did.
 
LHK: There is so much compassion and beauty built into your book. I particularly love the spreads where Captain Green rescues Orangutan. The art and the text are fabulous. What is your favorite spread in the book? 
 
EB: Thanks so much Lauren. Danny Deeptown is an incredible illustrator and a joy to work with. He has done a truly outstanding job of portraying Captain Green's emotions towards the animals that are in danger. Danny's love of nature and wildlife shines through in the way he has illustrated both of the Captain Green books. I adore all of the illustrations, but my favorite is a double page spread where Captain Green has rescued all of the animals and they are safe again among some stunning rainforest. The character's emotions are shown so tenderly.

LHK: Yes! I couldn’t agree more. He really is so talented!
 
EB: Natalia Moore's illustrations in HOME FOR A WHILE are especially gorgeous. She's created a cozy, safe world for Calvin, and Maggie is the most wonderful foster parent. The love that grows between the two characters shines out in the art. I was struck by the very first image where Calvin, full of apprehension, climbs the stairs to a waiting Maggie. The separation between the two characters speaks to the distance in the relationship that eventually melts away as they get to know each other. Do you have a favorite illustration?
 

​
LHK: Thank you! Natalia truly brought this welcoming and inviting home to life. You know, it is so interesting to read your question. I never consciously thought about the ways in which Natalia shows the distance between them in that opening spread. I can’t believe I didn’t think about it that way, but I didn’t and that is why it works so incredibly well. My favorite spread is the one in which Calvin and Maggie are holding hands on a walk. The scene is so soothing and serene. I just love the feeling Natalia was able to evoke with her illustration. It matches the emotional transition Calvin is making so beautifully.
 
EB: Aw, that is such a lovely moment in the story and depicted so tenderly by Natalia.

LHK: I loved the first book in the Captain Green series as well. Both Captain Green and the Plastic Scene and Captain Green and the Tree Machine highlight the positive and negative ways we can/do impact our Earth. You provide such helpful strategies and ideas for all of us as we navigate repairing our world. What specific challenges did you face in writing a sequel? What were the positives associated with writing a sequel?
 
EB: Thanks Lauren! There were indeed challenges. I wanted to show that the main character, Captain Green had grown since his first eco adventure, but was still the same, lovable superhero who tries his best but often needs others to help him figure out the best path. I found it a challenge to decide what Captain Green's next eco mission should be. I had drafted a story focused on climate change, set in the Arctic. I batted with it for a long time, and then one day, decided to take elements from it (like Captain Green's FREEZE MACHINE) and use them in a new story about deforestation (now with a TREE MACHINE!). It is said that nothing is wasted in writing! The initial draft seemed to just write itself, and it felt right and more the story I wanted to tell.
 
I think there are a lot of positives to writing a sequel. I knew who Captain Green was and what he sounded like. I knew what he looked like. Having worked with Danny before, I could visualize his style of art while I wrote, and that helped me build scenes in my head. I knew that I wanted the book to have similarities to the first but to be able to stand on its own too, and for it not to be important whether or not readers had read the first one. So, there were a lot of elements to think about, but overall, it was very positive.
 
Would you say the same with writing your very fun series, ROSIE THE DRAGON AND CHARLIE? Was it more positive than, say, 'challenging'?
 
LHK: Yes! I agree with what you said, nothing is wasted, even in writing. I pulled from the many sequels I’d begun to draft and played around with the strongest scenes. The fact that I could visualize Nate Wragg’s art style helped me so much as well! I really felt like I could imagine what he might do with scenes, which helped with the writing. It was fun to spend time with Rosie and Charlie again, especially since I knew them so well. If I were to ever write a sequel to Calvin’s story (which I hadn’t thought about until now), I feel like I would really know how he might react in different situations in a deeper way. I think my knowledge of him would enhance the sequel for sure.
 
LHK: I’d love to hear about what inspired you to write a story about deforestation.
 
EB: Trees and forests have always been special places for me. I played for hours in the trees at the back on our house growing up in Ireland. Thirty years ago, my father decided to grow a forest that is now maturing nicely. I love to visit it when I return home and learn about the different trees, plants and animals living within it. I am proud of this little green ‘lung’ that has been nurtured by my family. While living in Asia for 10 years, where I worked as an international school teacher, I had the opportunity to visit Borneo and other parts of Indonesia and witness some of the intense deforestation of ancient rainforest, often to make way for palm tree plantations or farm land. I experienced weeks of intense air pollution in Singapore when the burning of rainforest in the region prevented people from safely leaving their homes. So many aspects of my childhood and travels have fed into this story. Trees are vital to our survival and I hope this story will inspire more trees to be planted and protected. The back matter presents some simple facts on the topic and real ways that families can help.
 
EB: Lauren, I’d love to hear more about your inspiration for HOME FOR A WHILE and how your background as a social worker may have inspired it.
 
LHK: First, what a wonderful relationship you’ve had with trees. You’ve seen and experienced so much around the world. I love that your family has created their own beautiful green ‘lung.’ Thank you for asking that question. Children inspire me. They are resilient, strong, incredible beings. I worry that we as grownups spend too much time focusing on challenges, rather than reinforcing strengths. I wanted to pay homage to all of the children who let me walk beside them for a while. I have so  many children with whom I’ve worked who will live in my heart forever. I also wanted to offer a story about the power of focusing on strengths. When we look through a strength-based lens and help others do the same, we can change their lives forever.
 
EB: That is a beautiful message Lauren and it shines through in HOME FOR A WHILE. In the story, Calvin learns to calm his thoughts and feelings through breathing. As a Special Educational Needs teacher, I encourage children to do the same. Is this a technique you have used with children as a social worker or as a parent?
 
LHK: I use so many strategies with children both as a parent and as a social worker. I try to match the intensity of emotion to the intensity of a strategy. Breathing is a wonderful way to decrease intensity, but it is only the beginning. I love how Maggie shifts Calvin’s attempts to manage his emotion into strategies that are more effective and adaptive. I would imagine you work with many students around emotion regulation in your work too. Captain Green also has to manage his emotions in order to find a solution. His line, “It seems easier to ruin a forest, than to grow one” is so poignant. What qualities do you see in Captain Green that help him be so resilient?
 
EB: Wow! What a super question Lauren. I would say that mostly it’s his passion for protecting our beautiful planet that inspires him to push through, no matter what.
 
EB: HOME FOR A WHILE ends with a beautiful scene as Calvin accepts his new home, and asks to be hugged. It is such a satisfying and heartfelt ending. I would love to know more about your decision to end the story showing Calvin settled, at last, but with his foster parent rather than reunited with his own mother, who we see in Calvin's drawing.
 
LHK: I am so happy to hear you found the ending satisfying and heartfelt. I must admit: I couldn’t read this book out loud without crying the first twenty or so times. I knew if I teared up, I’d hopefully achieved the level of resonance I wanted. I felt very strongly that I wanted Calvin’s emotional arc to be centered around Maggie and living in her house. I wanted him to learn to trust her in ways he hadn’t been able to before. In order to do this, I needed him to remain in this setting. Although reunification is always incredibly important, I felt the safety and security Maggie provided needed to be front and center. I felt the open-ended nature of this final spread was authentic and hopefully provided a satisfying resolution to Calvin’s emotional arc.
 
LHK: I have one final question for you, Evelyn. Captain Green offers such important ways to make a difference in the world. I would imagine this might spark wonderful classroom conversations (either in person or via video). As a teacher yourself, in what ways do you imagine a teacher might use this book in their classroom with their students?
 
EB: Thanks Lauren. I wanted the tips for saving forests to be things that classes or families could easily achieve in their day-to-day lives. As with the first Captain Green story (about ocean pollution), teachers can use this story as a fun introduction to a conservation topic. It’s a light-hearted ‘way in’ to the problem that should not overwhelm and offers a happy ending and positive solutions. I hope that classes will have lots of share with each other afterwards. I always love to look at the little faces in front of me as I read Captain Green to groups and watch the genuine concern as children follow along. They are usually buzzing with information to share on their own experiences afterwards. In the words of Jane Goodall, I believe that, “Children can change the world.”
 
LHK: YES! Children can most certainly change the world! Calvin and Captain Green are each superheroes in their own way! I love it! I think they’d most certainly be wonderful friends! Thank you for putting such wonderful books into the world!
 
EB: Two sweet boys with big hearts! Fantastic!
This has been fun Lauren. Thanks for the fantastic questions, sharing your thoughts so brilliantly, and for your wonderful stories.
 
LHK: And thank you, Evelyn! I’ve learned so much and had a wonderful time interviewing each other! 

RJP: Lauren and Evelyn, thank you both -- what an amazing interview! It was a pleasure having you on KidLit Oasis and I hope you'll be back to share more of your wonderful books in the future!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           >>>Click on the book covers to order your copies of Lauren's and Evelyn's books!<<<

Evelyn Bookless grew up on a farm in the west of Ireland where she loved to make forts and play in the trees with her siblings. She is a nature lover, mum, teacher and writer. Evelyn spent ten wonderful years living in Asia but was saddened to see beautiful rainforests cut down during her travels around the region. She recently moved to the Netherlands, where she enjoys cycling her blue bike, Betty. 

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/evelynbookless
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/evelynbookless
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/evelynbooklessauthor
Website: http://www.evelynbookless.com

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, 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, 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

Hello, wonderful readers!

Welcome back to the Oasis ― it's great to have you visit again (or for the first time)! This is the place to refresh your spirits, recharge your creativity, and get a literary mood boost, and I hope you'll keep coming back.

Now, 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 Katelyn Aronson is here to share some wisdom, insight, and inspiration with us! Plus, check out the giveaway and my FREE webinar offer at the end of this interview. 

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

A: Thank you, Rosie, for having me!

After “dabbling” in writing off and on most of my life, I finally got serious about becoming a children’s author 5 years ago. 2015 marked a time of relative calm in my life, and I felt ready to pursue that old dream, finally giving it the focus it demanded. During that first year, I wrote a few stories, paid for some professional critiques, and tried querying a couple of publishing houses on my own. When that didn’t work, I started looking around for other solutions.

I’m indebted to the “brain children” of two great ladies of the children’s book industry: picture book authors Tara Lazar and Julie Hedlund. First, I participated in Tara Lazar’s “PiBoIdMo” in November of 2015 (now called Storystorm), and filled a notebook full of ideas. A few months after that, I stumbled upon Julie Hedlund’s “12x12 Picture Book Challenge” in January of 2016 and enrolled, with all those brand new ideas ready to be fleshed out. I threw myself into the 12x12 program, finishing one new manuscript per month, sharing my stories on the community forum, and giving and getting peer feedback. By May of that year, I had already signed with agent Christa Heschke of McIntosh & Otis, the second-oldest literary agency in New York.

I expected my career to take off from there, but it didn’t. Things took time. It isn’t always easy for a newbie to get their work noticed. The industry is cyclical and the wheel is always turning. Picture book biographies were selling like crazy at the time. Then, non-fiction in general seemed to take over. Unfortunately for me, I was writing mostly character-driven fiction. Should I have switched genres? Maybe. But I knew that by the time I’d created some worthy non-fiction pieces, the market would have changed yet again! So I stuck to what I loved best. The waiting part was arduous, and I was tempted to give up on many occasions. Oh, was I glad I hadn’t when 2019 rolled around! My first offer came from Viking of Penguin Random House, for my debut Piglette, releasing this year (only a year after signing it over). Incredibly, four other offers followed within the same calendar year. Words cannot communicate what it means to see a life-long dream coming true at last. Only happy tears can.

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: No newsflash here: The most challenging thing in this business is all the waiting! I produce a steady stream of new manuscripts, and it’s hard to wait for each of these projects to be subbed/read/replied to in due course. My only coping mechanism is to “distract” myself by jumping into a new writing project.
If my motivation is running low, it helps to re-read a bunch of my favorite picture books. That makes me fall in love with the genre all over again, and sometimes even sparks new ideas.
​
The most rewarding moment for me is seeing my story come to life through an illustrator’s talent. I get a bit misty-eyed the first time I see my manuscript illustrated. Then there are those three magical moments when the book is finally born: 1) receiving your box of author copies in the mail, 2) seeing your book in an actual bookstore and 3) seeing your book in a child’s hands. At every stage, you realize all over again: it’s real!

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’m a visual person, so I either storyboard my stories (actually sketching them out) or at the very least, I make a dummy to work out pacing and page turns.

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 had a couple of Piglette launch events scheduled for Paris this month, but everything has been postponed due to the pandemic! So I’ll be doing virtual events through indie bookstores in the US, and some in-person events in Switzerland. My first event scheduled is a virtual story time at “Mystery to Me” Bookstore in Madison, Wisconsin on Saturday, July 11th at 10:30 a.m. I’ll publish more details across social media soon!

Thank you so much for being my guest, Katelyn, and for your keeping-it-real answers! I appreciate the honest insight and I know our readers will, too. The ups and downs in this business can be quite contrasting and drastic indeed, and the waiting in between, truly excruciating, I agree. 

Readers, please support our featured authors/illustrators by following them on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, requesting their books 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 Katelyn Aronson:

​Website: www.katelynaronson.com
Twitter: @MademoiselleK8
Instagram: @AuthorKatelyn
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katelyn.aronson 

​Do you have a story idea for a children's book? Have you wondered about how to become a children's author? You might think writing a picture book is easy, but you may be surprised.
​
So how do you turn your idea into a good story by today's publishing standards? Do you know the current market and audience, and how to develop your idea into a publishable story? How do you even get started in children's publishing -- mistakes to avoid, the most important steps to take, what you need to know about writing for children. 
​
This seminar will answer all of these questions and introduce you to the craft and business of children's writing.

Hello, dear readers!

Once again, the Kitlit Oasis has summoned you because  it's the place to refresh your spirits, recharge your creativity, and get a literary mood boost!

Now, as you're getting ready to enjoy our next interview, 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 Sharon Giltrow is here to share some wisdom, insight, and inspiration with us! Plus, check out the giveaway and my new workshop with Random House Editor, Frances Gilbert,  at the end of this interview. 

Welcome, Sharon, and Happy Book Birthday! Thank you for joining us on the blog. Please briefly describe your journey to publication.
​
A: My debut picture book BEDTIME DADDY’s, book birthday is today. Yay!

Thank you, Rosie, for interviewing me on this very special day!
​
BEDTIME DADDY’S road to publication was quite long. The ideawas sparked through Tara Lazar’s writing challenge – Storystorm. In June 2017, I took that idea and wrote my first draft of BEDTIME DADDY. Then with the help of my fantastic critique groups, I revised the story. In November 2017 I started submitting BEDTIME DADDY. After receiving a number of rejections, I decided that the story wasn’t quite ready. So, with more help from my critique groups and a publisher’s critique I started submitting again. In June 2018, I submitted it to EK Books and two weeks later,I received ‘the email’. I signed the publishing deal with EK Books in August 2018.
 
My Publisherthen matched my story with the amazing illustrator Katrin Dreiling. EK Books, shared the entire publishing process with me and Katrin, and were very open to any suggestions, changes or ideas that we had. Twenty-one months after signing the contract BEDTIME DADDY was 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: The biggest challenge for me was at the beginning, when I was trying to think of myself as a ‘writer’. However, once I started calling myself a writer and telling my family and friends that I was a writer, it became easier. Not surprisingly, after this I also became more serious about being a writer. Although, it wasn’t until I signed the publishing deal for BEDTIME DADDY that I started calling myself an author. One of my most rewarding moment was when my family and friends started calling me this too.

Another challenge I found was marketing. This was something that I had to learn but with the help of my debut group 2020 Debut Crew, I learnt these new skills and fast 😊.  My most rewarding marketing moment was when my daughter and I produced the book trailer for BEDTIME DADDY.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOLMyE5TXnc
 
My next challenge will be getting book number two published. I have a number of picture book manuscripts that I am currently submitting. I hope I will have some more good news soon.
​
As all writers do, sometimes I question why I am putting in all this hard work, especially after I receive rejections. But, for me it is impossible not to write. I have an inner desire to write stories for children, which can’t be ignored. My greatest reward is seeing BEDTIME DADDY being read and enjoyed by children and adults 😊.

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: The most helpful thing for me as a writer, is being a member of a critique group. BEDTIME DADDY would not have been published without the help of my critique partners. They helped me to take a very rough first draft and through many, many, many revisions turn it into a polished manuscript.
​
Here is how, with their help, the beginning of BEDTIME DADDY changed from version one to the final version ten.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 debut picture book BEDTIME DADDY is releasing worldwide TODAY! Available through EK Books and all good ONLINE bookstores.

I have a blog tour happening in May. This blog is part of the tour.
​
Finally, as many schools around the world are now closed due to the Corona virus, I would like to share the links to BEDTIME DADDY’S teaching notes, for parents and educators. They can be found on EK Books and SCBWI – Australia West websites. In the near future I will also be recording and sharing short videos of some of these activities.

Great chatting with you, Sharon! Thanks for sharing your journey with us and the behind-the-scene of how your manuscript changed from its first draft to published book -- that's very helpful and I think writers will appreciate this example.  

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 Sharon Giltrow:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sharongiltrowwriter/
Twitter: @sharon_giltrow

Hello, marvelous readers!

Thank you for visiting the Oasis ― it's great to have you here! This is still 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 great creative on the KidLit Oasis series... Children's author Lauren Heller Kerstein is here to share some wisdom, insight, and inspiration with us! Plus, check out the giveaways, promo gifts, and other offers at the end of this interview.

Check out the double giveaway at this end of the interview, and if you missed my latest announcement, find it at the bottom of this post! 

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

A: In 1980, I wrote and … well… illustrated my first picture book. I used wallpaper as the book cover, and it still sits on my desk today. (Thank you, Mom, for saving it!) I’ve always loved writing and reading, but I quickly realized illustrating may not be my strength.
Fast forward… I took writing classes in high school and college. I wrote when I could while juggling a very full career as a child and family psychotherapist. My publication debuts were actually professional books in my field, and I never stopped working on my fiction.
But… I wanted more. More time for fiction. More time for writing. More time for studying the craft.

So… about 6 years ago, I signed a contract that two of my closest friends wrote out for me on a napkin at dinner. I agreed to drop one of my consulting positions so that I could write more.

And then, I dug in. I joined SCBWI, carved out Wacky Writing Wednesday time, studied craft, joined Julie Hedlund’s 12x12, and began submitting.

*BRAKE SCREECH!*

We sold Rosie and Charlie!

And from there… well… I revised, revised, revised until ROSIE THE DRAGON AND CHARLIE MAKE WAVES swam to shelves June 1, 2019.
​
I have learned that this industry is 100% sheer will, determination, education, and persistence, and 40% luck and timing. (Please ignore the fact that the math doesn’t work at all!) It is a roller coaster ride, for sure. But, if you hang on tightly and keep on keeping on over and over and over again, you never know what magic may happen!
 
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 the waiting most challenging. I try to focus on the fact that we have control over our craft. We have control over making our work THE best it can be. We have very little control over the rest.

I find the connections I’ve made with other kidlit writers to be incredibly rewarding. My critique partners are INCREDIBLE! The authors in my debut group are AMAZING! I also love the contact and interactions I’ve had with children (virtually and in-person). I write for children! It is thrilling to watch them enjoy Rosie and Charlie.
 
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 write a lot of craft tools in my Quick-Read Crafty Tips, for my critique business, and in my #ReVISIONweek posts. I also have templates on my website.
The craft tools and techniques I use are generally different for each story, but the tools I consistently use for all manuscripts are:

• I love using a planning template (which is on my website) to help me ground myself in the manuscript, character, arc, comps, and any research I need to do.
• I listen to music on YouTube that is either “study music” or “positive thinking” music. The instrumental music really helps me get my brain going. When I write novels, though, I love listening to popular music.
• I use a sand-timer to clock uninterrupted writing time. This is a bit more challenging with everyone at home right now, but it really works, and it helps me focus. (Thank you Claudia Mills for this fabulous idea).
• I also devote Wednesdays to actual creation. I try to work on revising or drafting other days of the week, but administrative tasks (including keeping up with social media, marketing, author visits, my critique business, etc. etc.) often take precedence over actual creating. On Wednesdays, I devote the majority of the day to revision, creation, and planning new manuscripts.

My revision process includes:
​

• Lots of feedback from critique partners. (Critique partners make the world go round.)
• Printing out a copy of the manuscript and using different colored pens to add everyone’s feedback in one place.
• Sitting in different places (away from my computer) as I ponder revisions.
• Examining key components to make sure they are working, i.e., emotional arc/resonance, pacing, page-turns, motivation, narrative arc, and making sure I’ve threaded all of the layers and seeds through from start to finish.
• I also force myself to step away for a period of time before I re-read or send it back out. This period of time varies from manuscript to manuscript, but is never less than 24 hours.
• I make a dummy or lay the spreads out around the table to make sure the manuscript is working.
• Lastly, I challenge myself to dig deeper. Did I make the manuscript as intriguing and unique as it could be? Did I stretch as far as I can stretch? Did I craft a story/ character/ story problem in such a way that it has a chance in today’s market?

 
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: The second Rosie and Charlie book will hit shelves on September 1, 2020. It is called ROSIE THE DRAGON AND CHARLIE SAY GOOD NIGHT (Two Lions). Nate Wragg illustrated again, which is terrific! He’s so talented. I’m excited to share this book with the world! Let me tell you, helping a dragon settle for bed is an interesting and fun challenge!

I also have a book called, HOME FOR A WHILE (Magination Press), coming out in February 2021. Natalia Moore is the illustrator. This is a book from my heart. HOME FOR A WHILE is about a boy in foster care. It provides children and their caregivers the opportunity to explore and highlight the beauty of their unique characteristics. It is my hope that Calvin’s resilience and courage will help children as they find their way through their own struggles.

In addition, I have a number of picture books (fiction, non-fiction, humorous, and more serious) out to editors, so please cross your fingers, legs, and toes for me! I’m working on a few new PBs, revising a YA (slowly), and an adult novel that I began years ago has been screaming at me to pay it some attention. We shall see where that leads.

Thank you so much for having me, Rosie! I have enjoyed sharing this writing journey with you, and look forward to all of your future successes! I can’t wait to hold SUNDAY RAIN in my hands.

Aw, that is so sweet, thank you, Lauren! Fingers, legs, and toes crossed for your projects on submission! And thank you so much for being a guest, and for sharing such great insight and a wealth of resources and tips with the blog readers! I know everyone who reads this interview will be inspired by your journey. 

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 — shares are appreciated. Thank you!

Connect with Lauren:

Website: www.LaurenKerstein.net

Twitter: @LaurenKerstein

Hello, dear readers!

Here, at the Oasis, the inspiration keeps going. And as always, it's great to have you visit! This is still the place to refresh your spirits, recharge your creativity, and get a literary mood boost!

Now, stretch your smiles wide once again and get comfy and cozy for a lovely chitchat because today we have another spectacular creative on the KidLit Oasis series... Children's author Nell Cross Beckerman is here to share some wisdom, insight, and inspiration with us!

Plus, check out the DOUBLE giveaway and my announcement of an epic all-day, in-person workshop with Random House Editor, Frances Gilbert, at the end of this interview!
 
Welcome, Nell! Thank you for joining us on the blog. Please briefly describe your journey to publication.

A: I first started out writing middle grade. I actually wrote a book and got an agent, but then found myself completely blocked for revisions and quit writing for 10 years (and had kids.) I felt like a failure. As my kids started to get older, I realized that I was their role model, and if I wanted them to be brave and live big, I had to as well. Finding the book, THE ARTIST’S WAY, by Julia Cameron, helped me understand my creative blocks and how to nurture my inner artist. Everything fell into place after that—I was definitely my own worst enemy!

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 thing that feels the most challenging, that we hear time and time again, is that all the agents and editors are totally subjective. You only need ONE yes. So you can doubt yourself if the “nos” pile up, but you just need that one person to connect with your work. This has happened on every project with me. It’s funny to see my first book coming out, getting nice reviews, and to look back at all the rejections it got early on. But it just had to find that right home. This is the biggest challenge we writers have to wrap our heads around.

The most rewarding for me so far is finding my critique group and being part of the kid lit community. My group is incredibly special—we are super supportive but we also challenge each other. Most importantly, we keep each other going. During these pandemic times, they are my group chat. And I love going to conferences and meeting more writers, agents, and authors.  ​

​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 creative foundation is from THE ARTIST’S WAY. Morning pages, writing freely for three pages first thing in the morning, always helps if I’m feeling stuck. Then also: going on an “artist date”—this is doing something alone, just for fun. For me that might look like going to get a huge cookie and a big glass of milk at a bakery and just reading a book, it might be going on a hike and turning off my phone, it might be doing something totally unusual like trying to watercolor a dummy of the story I’m working on (I’m not an illustrator!). I’ve tried to dummy in different ways and it has helped me with revisions and tickled my brain in a different way. For one project I used Keynote slides and just pulled images off the internet to convey the visuals I was looking for. It helped and was fun!  I also work with a freelance editor and check in with my critique group, and then finally my agent, Lara Perkins at Andrea Brown Literary Agency, who has incredibly savvy thoughts and knows how to pull the best out of me. One last exercise—I’ll go to the library and find a bunch of mentor texts and retype them. I’ll read them aloud over and over and try to get their brilliance into my bones.

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: DOWN UNDER THE PIER released April 7 from Cameron Kids, illustrated by the fabulous Rachell Sumpter. It is inspired by the Santa Monica Pier and all the time I spent there with my kids—everyone knows how to have fun on top of the pier at the amusement park, but it is down under the pier, at low tide, where the real magic happens. I plan to do a series called “Demystifying the Debut” where I retrace all my steps and share my experience and advice in having my debut published. Please join my mailing list at www.NellCrossBeckerman.com if you want to get those sent to you!  You can also see the book’s trailer here.

In 2021 I’m looking forward to my second book, WHEN THE SKY GLOWS, coming from Beach Lane Books/S&S with the fantastically talented David Litchfield illustrating. That will be a non-fiction book celebrating all the different ways that nature makes the sky glow, and the bonds formed by those witnessing it.

My agent is just now sealing the deal on my third book, which I’m completely thrilled about—it’s another lyrical nature-themed story. And I have a really special picture book out on sub now, that I wrote in collaboration with a TV personality that I’m very excited about, fingers crossed on that one!

Thank you, Nell -- it was a pleasure having you and chatting with you! All the best with your projects and your journey! I hope you'll be back to visit again.

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. 

Connect with Nell Cross Beckerman:
Website: www.nellcrossbeckerman.com
Twitter: @NellBeckerman
​IG: @NellCrossBeckerman 

Hello, dear readers!

Yay, you're back at the Oasis ― it's great to have you here! 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 fabulous creative on the KidLit Oasis series... Children's author Heather Macht is here to share some wisdom, insight, and inspiration with us! Plus, there's a double giveaway, too! 

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

A: Thanks so much for having me, Rosie! Wow, I’ve been interested in publication ever since I was a young girl. But my interest really peaked when I was 18 and graduating high school. I told my teachers and classmates that I was going to be a children’s picture book author. I knew there was nothing else I wanted to do. I spent years in libraries looking through the bookshelves, writing, querying, and yes, even receiving boatloads of rejections (and I mean BIG boatloads). However, after years of perseverance, I finally received my first YES. That was almost 13 years later after my journey started! My first book, You May Just Be a Dinosaur, was published in 2015. It was worth the wait. 😉
 
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: You know, I was under the impression once I had my first, second, or even third book published that things would get easier. Yeah, I was wrong. It’s equally as difficult to get a book published the fourth or fifth time around. And it makes sense, too. The writing community is so talented! Publishers are constantly getting swamped with incredible manuscripts. You must keep studying and working on your craft. And, you must keep up to date on what’s getting published. This helps you make sure you have a fresh take and put a fresh spin on what you’re writing, so you can offer publishers something new (not something they’ve seen over and over).

What’s most rewarding and what helps me stay motivated actually share the same answer: I love reading to kids. My favorite type of events are school visits where I get to read and inspire students, and hopefully make them laugh (which I thankfully usually do). This is always a reminder of why I keep trying and trudging through rejections. It’s worth seeing their faces light up and making a connection with them! Added bonus: I have at least a handful of students tell me they want to be a writer, too, after my presentation. That makes my heart melt every time.
 
Q: Could you share any craft tools or techniques that you find most helpful to you when working on a project?
​
A: Yes, I have three techniques I swear by. Hopefully some of these will help other writers, too.

1. Are you stuck on a part of your manuscript? Do you have writer’s block? Take a break and read! Reading something else seems to help me relax, get inspired, and pick right back up with a new perspective.
2. Does something just not feel right with your manuscript? Open a new word document and retype/restart your story (without looking at your first version). It’s almost like a factory reset! Sometimes we become so stuck on our project we feel hesitant to make any changes. This gives you a fresh start and can unlock new wording and new inspiration!
3. Do you think your manuscript is ready to be sent off? Don’t hit send just yet. Before you query a publisher or agent, or before you send your manuscript to your critique partners, print it out! Read through a hard copy. Just seeing it in a different format can help you pick out any typos or errors. 

 
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 next book, Rex the…We-Don’t-Know, is coming out April 6th! It was the most difficult book I’ve written, probably because it means so much to me. Since Rex is a blend of all the animals I had growing up, I knew I had a special duty (to them) to make it extra heartfelt. 😉 Needless to say, I’m SO excited to have this book released into the world! I’m currently planning blog tours, book readings, school visits, and more so stay tuned for updates!

Thank you, Heather! It's always a pleasure chatting with you. All the best with Rex the…We-Don’t-Know and 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 post and will be back for our next chitchat. Shares this post with writer friends, teachers, librarians and parents. Thank you!

Comment on this post for a chance to win a copy of 
Rex the…We-Don’t-Know AND a picture book critique! 
(One winner for both; US only; prize will be mailed after quarantine)

Connect with Heather:
Website: www.heathermacht.com
Twitter: @AuthorHMacht 

​The wait is finally over and we have the results! Yes, it's time to announce the winners.

But before I do, I'd like to thank every child who wrote a story and participated ― you are brave, creative, and you took action! You should be proud of yourself. It might seem like a small step, but it's a really important one because "Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try." ―Gail Devers

The judges and I had a great time reading each and every story! We all pulled for our favorites, arranged and rearranged our choices, discussed and reconsidered the submissions according to the evaluation criteria.

As a reminder, the stories were judged based on the following: connection to the theme (Pets), originality, twist, use of literary devices, creativity and overall appeal of the story/writing.

We saw strong writing, imaginative plots, and we really loved the twists! So picking the winners was not an easy task, but we had to stick to the rules. (We still couldn't help it and threw in some extra recognition in the end.)

Once again, thank you all for entering the KWEST Contest and a special thank you to all the teachers and librarians who assisted the students in sending their submissions. We hope you'll participate again next year when we'll make the competition even bigger and better!

I know you're all impatient to find out who the winners are. Just one more announcement before I reveal the results.
​
In April, which is poetry month, I am opening a poetry contest called Haiku Hype. I'll be giving away a kids Kindle e-reader plus a bunch of other cool prizes! Teachers will have a chance to win something, too. So stay tuned for guidelines when I announce the opening of the contest and be ready to jump in. It'll be fun!

​Note to the teachers and librarians from the winning schools: Please have children who placed in 1st through 3rd place pick their choice of prize from the appropriate box in the prizes chart (find it here) and send me their preference, i.e. Amazon or Toys R Us gift card, choice of book etc. Also, please send me your school's mailing address and name of teacher/librarian recipient. If I don't hear from you in the next three days, I'll just pick for the students and mail the prizes.
​
Prizes and special certificates will be on their way to the winners soon!

Thank you all again! A huge shout out to the wonderful judges for their time and contribution.

Kids, keep writing, reading, and creating!