Cover Reveal of The Monsters on the Broom

Happy Halloween, everyone!

This is a special Chitchat edition for an awesome cover reveal -- just in time for the holiday! How wickedly sweet is that?

Okay, no tricks here, I do have a cute, spooky book to introduce to you today, and I also have the author, Annemarie Riley Guertin, here to share some delicious insights with us. 

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​​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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Pre-order your copy HERE

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Annemarie Riley Guertin is a wife, mother, teacher, and author of several books for children. As a middle child, she found her love for writing very early on, crafting everything from notes about running away to poetry. It wasn't until 2016 that she began her career as a professional children's writer. Annemarie holds both a bachelor's and master's degree in education (summa cum laude) from Wheelock College and Fitchburg State University. She teaches Early Childhood Education at Methuen High School in Massachusetts, where she lives with her husband Michael and their two children.

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