Rosie J. Pova Children's Author
  • Home
  • About
    • Bio
    • Resources
    • PB Critique Services
  • Books
  • News & Events
    • Media
    • Workshops
  • Teachers & Librarians
  • School Visits & Presentations
  • Contact
  • Blog

Write Away

Chitchat with Author Nell Cross Beckerman

4/30/2020

8 Comments

 
Picture
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.  ​
Picture

​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.
Picture


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 
Nell Cross Beckerman writes picture books for children, inspired by the magic of nature and the human spirit. She has produced, written, and directed shows for VH1, MTV, MSNBC, and the Discovery Channel. Her dad is a retired biologist and her mom was a YA librarian in the Bronx in the '70s. She lives in Venice Beach with her husband and two daughters. 

G I V E A W A Y ! ! !
Comment on this post for a chance to win either a picture book critique by Nell or a copy of  DOWN UNDER THE PIER. (Let me know which one you'd prefer.)
Shares on your social media are greatly appreciated! Thank you.

Picture
A full-day, in-person workshop with Random House Editor Frances Gilbert!
 
Does your picture book have a strong "hook"? Why does your work get rejected? What goes on behind the scenes of a "Big Five" publishing house? Frances Gilbert, Editor at Random House, will share invaluable insight into the publishing process, discuss what grabs her attention, offer a different perspective on some "rules" and address common fears writers have. Plus, a limited number of written critiques will be available as an add-on for those who act fast. All that and much more!

Catch the early bird registration and sign up to reserve your spot before the seats sell out! More details here.

Picture
The winner of Kelly Jordan's picture book critique is . . .
Wendy Passantino! Congrats, Wendy!
​Look for an email from me to connect you with Kelly for your prize.
8 Comments
Susan Johnston Taylor link
5/1/2020 12:22:12 pm

Thanks for the opportunity! I'd love a critique.

Reply
Rosie Pova link
5/8/2020 07:09:14 pm

Thanks for stopping by, Susan.

Reply
Krista Grasser
5/1/2020 03:44:21 pm

Thank you so much for this amazing opportunity! I spent all of my summers in OCNJ and loved playing under the boardwalk.

Reply
Rosie Pova link
5/8/2020 07:09:53 pm

Aw, that sounds fun, Krista!

Reply
Myrna Foster
5/1/2020 04:36:25 pm

Carter Higgins just mentioned Nell and gave us a brief glimpse of a few spreads in a Storyteller Academy session today. I’d be happy with either option, but I’ going to choose the critique. Thank you!

I also love The Artist’s Way.

Reply
Rosie Pova link
5/8/2020 07:11:34 pm

Thanks for visiting the Oasis, Myrna :)

Reply
Anneliese Schultz link
5/7/2020 09:42:23 pm

Funny how many places we find that magic - for me, it was summers in Maine :)
I know just the great-nephew with a coming birthday to get "Down Under the Pier" for!
I would love a critique. Thanks, both Rosie and Nell.

Reply
Rosie Pova link
5/8/2020 07:14:55 pm

You're welcome, Anneliese. How exciting that your great-nephew will be getting a copy of DOWN UNDER THE PIER. Happy birthday!

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

      Keep up with new posts
      and updates!

    Subscribe to Newsletter

    About Rosie J. Pova

    Picture
    ​Rosie J. Pova is a 
    multi-published,
    ​award-winning children's author, speaker, and writing coach on a mission to inspire children not only to read and write more, but to use their creativity, follow their passions, dream big and believe in themselves.
     
    Rosie visits schools and shares her inspirational journey as an immigrant from Bulgaria and how she became a published author, encouraging kids to persist, push through rejections, and hold a high vision for themselves.

    Rosie's upcoming picture book, Sunday Rain, will be released in March 2021. It's a story that celebrates imagination, the love of books, and new friendships.

    Check out her Critique Services here, her Workshops here, and her school visits page here.

    Rosie is represented by Jessica Schmeilder of Golden Wheat Literary.

    ​Twitter: @RosiePOV
    Facebook Author Page
    Picture

    Archives

    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    October 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017

    Categories

    All
    #2020visionpbs
    Andria Warmflash Rosenbaum
    Author/Illustrator
    Author Interview
    Beth Anderson
    Cardinal Rule Press
    Children's Authors
    Children's Book
    Christy Mihaly
    Claire Annette Noland
    Classroom Activities
    Contest
    Craft
    Creative Writing
    Deb Gruelle
    Della Ross Ferreri
    Editor Interview
    Gabrielle Snyder
    Gift
    Giveaway
    Haiku Hype
    Heather Macht Children's Author
    Holiday
    Jaimie Whitbread
    Janee Trasler
    Jennifer Cole Judd
    Kataneh Vahdani
    Katelyn Aronson
    Keila V. Dawson
    Kelly Jordan
    Kena Sosa
    #kidlit
    Kids Writing Contest
    Kindness
    Kirsti Call
    KWEST Contest
    Librarians
    Lindsay Leslie
    Marcie Wessels
    Maria Dismondy
    Melissa Berger Stoller
    #MissionJoyGiveaway
    Nancy Churnin
    Nell Cross Beckerman
    #NonfictionPictureBooks
    Picture Book Structure
    Poetry Month
    Publisher
    Raven Howell
    Rosie J. Pova Children's Author
    Sandra Sutter
    Sharon Giltrow
    Teachers
    Traditional Picture Book Structure
    Vivian Kirkfield
    Writing

  • Home
  • About
    • Bio
    • Resources
    • PB Critique Services
  • Books
  • News & Events
    • Media
    • Workshops
  • Teachers & Librarians
  • School Visits & Presentations
  • Contact
  • Blog