Rosie J. Pova Children's Author
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Write Away

Chitchat with Author/Illustrator Janee Trasler

4/7/2020

21 Comments

 
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Hello, quarantined-but-unstoppable readers!

Once again, you have arrived at the Oasis! Thank you for visiting. I hope you find it to be a 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 double delight of a chitchat because today we have another awesome creative on the KidLit Oasis series... Children's author and illustrator Janee Trasler is here to share some wisdom, insight, and inspiration with us! Plus, check out the giveaway at the end of this interview.

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

A: I started out as an illustrator. I enjoyed illustrating other people’s words, but I kept feeling that I wanted to tell more of the story myself. I wrote some truly awful first manuscripts before I decided to take a writing workshop and learn how the heck it was supposed to be done.

In 2006, I had a freakishly quick sale on my first two books (series), and thought “Wow! This is easy!”

Five (long) years later, I finally sold another book (thank you Jamie).
Books 13, 14, and 15 come out this year.
 
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’m my own worst enemy sometimes. I have TONS of ideas. My brain spits them out constantly. It’s sitting down and shaping them that can trip me up. If it feels difficult, I start doubting the merit or the viability of the idea.

But, oh, when it comes together…

THAT’S what keeps me motivated—that awesome feeling when the idea, the words, the structure, the pacing, and the images all marry together into a satisfying story.
 
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 big on the planning stage of things. I want to know exactly where I’m going before I dig into the actual writing or illustrating. I need a solid storyboard. With a board book, picture book, or early reader, I like to number a blank piece of paper with the number of spreads. Then I usually jot down my idea of where I think the various plot points happen on those spreads for that particular story (intro, action 1, action 2, action 3, climax, resolution). Then I fill in the blanks.

I’ll probably revise this written storyboard six to seven times before I start writing.

I’m working on some longer format ideas now. I’m using more of an outline than a storyboard, but the same elements are all still there.

On the illustration side of things, I work completely digitally. My latest books were done on the iPad (and under the influence of many cappuccinos).
 
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 excited! I feel very fortunate to be publishing a series of three emergent readers with Scholastic Acorn this year. Acorn is the younger sibling of the successful Branches imprint.

These three books follow the exploits of Frog, Frog, Frog, and Dog.

With our current world situation, we’ll all have to stay tuned about upcoming events. I hope to have a book launch in May for the first two books FROG MEETS DOG and GOAT IN A BOAT at my local library.

Thank you, Janee, it was a pleasure chatting with you! Best of success with the new releases and keep them coming -- your books are adorable and fun! Hope to see you again soon at a North Texas event.

Dear readers, please support our featured authors/illustrators by following them on Twitter, IG, requesting their book through your local library, posting reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, and of course, purchasing their books while supporting your local indie bookstores.


I hope you enjoyed this post... But wait, there's more! janee is generously donating a critique (board book or picture book or early reader) to one lucky winner! Simply comment below to be entered. And don't forget to share this post on your social media to help Janee spread the word of her new releases. Thank you!
 
Connect with Janee Trasler:
Website: www.trasler.com
Twitter: @janeetrasler
IG: https://www.instagram.com/janeetrasler/

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​Janee Trasler is the author-illustrator of fifteen books for children, including the popular Chickies series from HarperCollins and the upcoming Frog and Dog series from Scholastic/Acorn. She also enjoys bringing other people’s books to life with pictures. Even when she’s not writing and illustrating books, she can still be found telling stories through music and puppets.
 
Janee is represented by Jamie Weiss Chilton at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency.
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Click on the book cover to order a copy from your Indie Bookstore!
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If you'd like to support my work, consider pre-ordering a copy of
Sunday Rain (Lantana Publishing/Lerner, 2021)
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The giveaway winners of Boats Will Float are...
Aubrey and Ishita!
Congratulations!

You will both receive a copy of the book, mailed to you after quarantine. 
21 Comments
Jan Peck link
4/7/2020 10:22:09 am

Janee is an amazing author/illustrator that has great insights into the child's mind and what will reach them. I love her new easy to read (hard to write) series and look forward to seeing more of her fantastic creations. Thank you both for this lovely interview into Janee Trasler's process!

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Rosie Pova link
4/13/2020 10:09:20 am

Thanks for stopping by, Jan :)

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Janee
4/16/2020 01:28:08 pm

Thanks, Jan!

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Melissa Ross link
4/7/2020 12:07:11 pm

Great interview and helpful information too! Looks like I will be ordering some books for my grandkids!

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Rosie Pova link
4/13/2020 10:11:24 am

Yay, thanks for your support, Melissa! Lucky grandkids :)

Reply
Janee
4/16/2020 01:28:39 pm

Thanks, Melissa!

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Erika Lynne Jones link
4/7/2020 07:49:56 pm

I loved this inspiring interview! I did not know one could be under the influence of cappuccinos :)

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Rosie Pova link
4/13/2020 10:15:03 am

I'm glad you liked the interview, Erika, and now you know about this powerful cappuccino influence, too! ;)

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Janee
4/16/2020 01:29:22 pm

Cappuccinos and writing go hand in hand! :-)

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Erika Lynne Jones link
4/7/2020 07:51:00 pm

Thanks for sharing this inspiring interview. I did not know one could be under the influence of cappuccinos :)

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Claire Noland link
4/13/2020 12:13:25 pm

Thanks for this fun interview. I'm like you, Janee, with tons of ideas.
Your new emergent reader books look wonderful. Good luck to you during this crazy time. I hope you can have your events in May.

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Janee
4/16/2020 01:30:08 pm

Claire, we are so lucky to have a wealth of ideas!!

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Kim D
4/13/2020 01:15:32 pm

What a great interview. Love getting a behind the scenes look at your process

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Janee
4/16/2020 01:30:30 pm

Thanks, Kim!

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Roman Yasiejko link
4/13/2020 04:18:46 pm

Loved the interview! Thanks for sharing your process.

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Janee
4/16/2020 01:30:49 pm

Thank you, Roman!

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Pippa-Chorley link
4/13/2020 05:50:08 pm

Wonderful interview. I loved hearing about your writing process and story boarding. I’ll definitely be trying that.

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Janee
4/16/2020 01:31:21 pm

Thanks, Pippa! I look forward to connecting with you!

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Evelyn Bookless link
4/14/2020 12:01:27 pm

Hi Janee,
Congrats on all your success! I have to say planning a story out in depth sounds like a very sensible approach indeed. I need to be more sensible. Thanks for sharing your insight! Evelyn

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Janee
4/16/2020 01:32:23 pm

Thanks, Evelyn! I love knowing exactly where I'm going with a story.

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Diane link
4/17/2020 04:50:39 pm

Janee, I see so much talent in you that it's hard to even express it. I love you work, your ideas, your art, your music, and your wonderful fun in everything you illustrate. I stand in awe. My puppet RICKY RACCOON send his love to your puppets. LOL

Xx, Diane Roberts

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    About Rosie J. Pova

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    ​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
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