Hello KidLit Oasis friends!

I am so excited to be chatting with debut author Francie Dekker and to celebrate her upcoming picture book, Our World of Dumplings, illustrated by Sarah Jung!

I hope you'll get inspired by her journey and find some takeaways that can be helpful to you on yours. :) And there's a giveaway, too!

So, let's get to it!

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

A: Everyone says publishing your first book takes a long time, and that’s the truth! I started researching and writing Our World of Dumplings back in 2017. Researching dumplings and deciding which ones to include in the book took the most time! Once I finished the original manuscript in 2018, I joined the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators to figure out how to find a publisher. SCBWI has so many resources including The Book - The Essential Guide to Publishing for Children. From there I determined that I wanted to go the traditional publishing route and started reaching out to literary agents. I eventually signed with Ariana Philips at Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency. Ariana sent out the manuscript to publishers and OUR WORLD OF DUMPLINGS was purchased by Little Bee Books in December 2020. The book will be published on September 6th, 2022, so from start to finish, it took about 5 years to publish!

Q: Would you walk us through the experience of getting the news of your publishing offer? How long after submission did it happen? Were you aware that it went to acquisitions or was it a surprise? How did you get the news from your agent (email, phone call, text) and where were you/what were you doing when that happened? What was your immediate reaction? I'm always curious about how other authors experienced this particular moment of "The News" so, please give us all the juicy details! :)

A: Great question!
​
It was about 4 months after my agent had started showing the manuscript around. We had received positive feedback but no bites. On the morning of moving to a new house, I quickly checked my email while waiting for the movers to arrive. I was shocked to see the email from Ariana with news of the offer from little bee books. My husband saw the look on my face and asked what was wrong. I was speechless at first but finally managed to shout, "I got a book deal!" I was pregnant at the time with baby number two, but he bought a nice bottle of wine to celebrate the exciting book news after the baby came. Fast forward, with two toddlers we have yet to open the bottle, haha, but maybe we'll find a quiet moment to enjoy around the book launch!

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: With my first title due out on September 6th, the thing I’m finding the most challenging lately is determining where to put my efforts during this book launch. There are so many potential things to do, and so little time. I’m very thankful for my publisher, Little Bee Books, supporting me during this process. Between book launch and two toddlers at home, the biggest challenge on the creative side of things has been finding time to write this summer. I’m constantly working to find balance between all these aspects and my goal this fall is to get back into a writing routine. ​

​Q: Can 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 love the initial idea burst and getting all my thoughts down quickly, and then slowly, refining the story. I’ve learned/am still learning the joy and value in taking my time. I’ll write a draft then come back to it a week or month later with a fresh set of eyes. I try to let wonderful feedback from my critique group marinate before making changes. I’ll read a manuscript out loud to several people to hear how it sounds. It really is pleasurable to make a little tweak here and there and shape the story overtime.

One great tool I find myself going back to often when revising a story is a webinar from Pat Zietlow Miller When Less is More: Cutting the Fluff to Find What You Really Want to Say.
 
Q: What do you consider your biggest publishing career accomplishment so far? On the flip side, what are some of the things you'd like to accomplish in the next year from now?

A: Successfully navigating the publishing industry and arriving at the launch of my first book, Our World of Dumplings, due out on September 6th.

This time next year, I’d like to have a second book under contract :)
 
Q: What is your vision for this book? What kind of impact do you hope it would have on readers?

A: I love exploring, cooking and eating cuisines from around the world. In doing so, I realized how many cultures have their own variation on a dumpling. As a child, I never appreciated my family’s Polish food traditions. I was inspired to write OUR WORLD OF DUMPLINGS as a way to connect young readers to their food heritage, as well as to expose youth to similar dishes from around the world. While we may come from different places, and speak many languages, I believe the best way to get to know someone is over a plate of something delicious.
 
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: After this book launch, I’m looking forward to working on my long list of story ideas that have been on the back burner this summer!

For folks interested in attending the Our World of Dumplings book launch event, feel free to sign up for my newsletter or follow me on Instagram @franciedekker

​Francie Dekker is a children’s book author based in Southeastern Wisconsin. As contributing writer for Edible Milwaukee magazine, she wrote a quarterly “Kids Table” column that explored how gardening, food, culture, and youth intersect. In 2016, she received a Food Writing Fellowship from the Culinary Trust. Our World of Dumplings is her debut picture book. Franciedekkerbooks.com

Hello, everyone!
​
I am so excited to host this wonderful author, joining me on the Chitchat series!

​Welcome, June! Thank you for being my quest on KidLit Oasis! Please briefly describe your journey to publication. 

JS: The road feels like it passed in a blink, but it was long and winding. I started writing seriously in 2013. That is when I said, “Someday I’ll make money from this and see my books on shelves.” I joined SCBWI and slowly entered the realm of writers.
 
In about a year I sold my first book, but that publisher was purchased by another company and the book was never published. It wasn’t until late 2017 that I had interest from another editor on a new manuscript. In the year that followed I sold my debut book, ODD ANIMAL ABC’S, two educational work-for-hires, and the second trade book SHE LEADS: THE ELEPHANT MATRIARCH.
 
And of course, now I’m introducing my latest book HE LEADS: MOUNTAIN GORILLA, THE GENTLE GIANT.
 
Q: I can't wait to read that one! 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?

JS: Publishing is static. You may have radio silence for six months, you may get three contracts in the next six months. It isn’t like a 9-5 job that is predictable and constant.
 
I stay motivated because I have to daydream, I can’t function without it. Those ideas in my head are sometimes crap, but every now and again one is shiny and rough. You can see the potential! You have to see where it goes. 
 
Plus, nothing is more rewarding than doing author visits and seeing kids get excited about your books, the topics you discuss together, and the ideas they come up with thanks, in part, to you as an artist. We are building readers and thinkers and artists and that is pretty cool.
 
Q: It certainly is, I absolutely agree there! 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?

JS: When I finally stopped trying to get a story perfect on the first try, I became a better writer. 

Sometimes I have to take one idea and write it from a different character’s POV, or go from humorous and goofy to lyrical and serious, or play with the structure itself. It is a lot more work, but I get to know my story better this way. 
 
I look back at what I kept in every version. That is the heart of my story. Once I figure that out I can focus better during the revisions.
 
Q: What do you consider your biggest publishing career accomplishment so far? On the flip side, what are some of the things you'd like to accomplish in the next year from now? 

JS: I think getting a Kirkus starred review and going into a second printing before my pub date with SHE LEADS was a huge accomplishment. And SHE LEADS becoming a series was amazing.

For the next year, I’m hoping to find an agent who gets my work, both sweet and lyrical, and pun-filled goofiness. I’m looking for the long haul and want a solid partner along the way.
 
Q: That is impressive indeed! Congratulations! And I'm rooting for you finding that perfect partner soon. What is your vision for your new book? What kind of impact do you hope it would have on readers?

JS: For HE LEADS: MOUNTAIN GORILLA, THE GENTLE GIANT and the whole LEADS series, I hope they help make kids curious about amazing animals, makes them want to help and protect endangered animals, and most importantly, I want them to think about what makes a good leader.

The silverback gorilla is strong enough to flip a car, but he’ll play gently with the young. He has canine teeth as long as your finger, but he’ll fade into the forest with his troop to avoid confrontation.
​
It isn’t just the biggest and toughest. It is the smart, patient, protective, calm, caring that helps keep their groups or family safe, healthy, and happy. I want us to learn from nature.

                                                       Interior spread, art by Yumi Shimokawara

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?

JS: HEAR THEM ROAR is a novelty sound book about endangered animals from around the world. You’ll be able to hear the real chirps, booms, songs, cries, howls, and of course, roars of each animal highlighted.
 
THEY LEAD will follow the gray wolf breeding pair (aka alphas) and shows how teamwork makes a pack successful. 

I cannot stress enough how important teamwork is! What a strong message!

​Thank you, June, that was a great insight and I hope readers are inspired by your journey. I encourage everyone to check out your books and also other titles from Familius as they are a wonderful publisher! 

June Smalls is a children’s author of fiction and nonfiction including Odd Animal ABC’s and He Leads: Mountain Gorilla, the Gentle Giant. She is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and a lover of literature. She resides in northern Virginia with her family and an ever-growing assortment of animals.

Welcome back, Sharon! Thank you for returning to the KidLit Oasis as my guest—which means you liked my hospitality the first time ☺, but it also means you have a new book coming out that you'll be sharing with our readers! Congratulations!

So, first, let me ask you this: I know that every book is special to its author in a particular way— how is this book special to you? Dear to your heart in a different way? What was the experience like, compared to the previous one? Is there an interesting behind-the-scenes about the idea for the story, its creation, an unusual journey to publication perhaps? What stands out?

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

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

GET READY, MAMA’s journey to publication was an unusual one because I first sent it to my publisher, EK Books, in 2018, but although it went to acquisition it was not picked up (at that time). However, after my first book was released, I re-sent GET READY, MAMA! to EK Books and based on the sales from my first book, they agreed to publish it. Hooray! It just goes to show that you should never give up on your dreams.
 
Q: And to piggyback on the questions above, did anything surprise you with this book or the publisher's approach to it (whether it was the same publisher or a new one)? Did you learn anything new? Was it harder or easier to bring it into the world?

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

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

EK books continued to ask for my input regarding the storyboard, cover design and book layout. It was definitely a team effort between myself, Arielle and EK books.
 
Q: What do you hope to accomplish within the next 2-3 years? Any specific goals or aspirations—personal or writing related—that you could share with us?

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

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

On a personal level I want to travel the world with my family, and where possible meet the publishers and illustrators of my books.  As well as the many writer friends I have ‘met’ online through the Kidlit writing community. There are so many places I want to see and people I want to meet. Maybe one day Rosie we will get to meet.
 
Q: Aw, that would be wonderful, Sharon! I certainly hope we get to meet someday soon. :) Meanwhile, what's coming up for you next? Please tell us about any other exciting news, upcoming events or anything else you'd like to share with our readers?

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

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

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

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

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

Hello, wonderful readers!

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

Welcome back, Beth! Thank you for returning to the KidLit Oasis as my guest—which means you liked my hospitality the first time ☺, but it also means you have a new book coming out (or books in your case!) that you'll be sharing with our readers! Congratulations!

So, first, let me ask you this: I know that every book is special to its author in a particular way—how are these two books special to you? Dear to your heart in a different way? What was the experience like, compared to previous ones? Is there an interesting behind-the-scenes about the idea for the story, its creation, an unusual journey to publication perhaps? What stands out?

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

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

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

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

Every story stretches you in new directions and widens your awareness and thinking for the next one!
 
Q: When did you find out who the illustrator was for the project and were you asked for an input? What was it like working with the illustrator for this book? When did you first see the art and what was your reaction?

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

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

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

I think my favorite part of the publishing process is seeing the sketches for the first time and then watching the art develop. The illustrations are always more than I had imagined!
 
Q: What do you hope to accomplish within the next 2-3 years? Any specific goals or aspirations—personal or writing related—that you could share with us?

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

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

Connect with Beth Anderson:

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

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

​Hello, everyone, and happy Spring!

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

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

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

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

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

Q: What do you find most challenging in this business, either on the creative or publishing side of things? What do you find most rewarding? What helps you stay motivated?

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

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

Q: Could you share any craft tools or techniques that you find most helpful to you when working on a project? What does your revision process look like? 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Q: What's coming up for you next? Please tell us about any new releases, exciting news, upcoming events, or anything else you'd like to share with our readers?

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

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

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

​
​Q: What's coming up for you next? Please tell us about any new releases, exciting news, upcoming events or anything else you'd like to share with our readers?

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

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

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

​Hello, Kidlit Oasis fans and new visitors!

I am so excited to welcome Beaming Books Editor, Naomi Krueger, to the Chitchat Series! What a pleasure to talk to Naomi--she kindly answered my questions and gives us an incredible insight into her acquisitions process, wishlist, Beaming Books mission and marketing, the behind the scenes of her work day, upcoming titles AND..... there's a giveaway, too!

Let's dive in, I can't wait to share this interview with all of you!

Welcome, Naomi! So, how did you become an editor? Did you have any mentors who helped you along the way? And please tell us about Beaming Books as a publisher -- what are the company's values, goals, and mission?

I started out as a journalism major with the intention of making writing my career. After graduating college I volunteered with AmeriCorps VISTA at a nonprofit that resettled refugees, working in their communications department. During that time, I had the opportunity to help finish a book of refugee stories that was underway and I helped the organization to self-publish it. That was a really remarkable experience for many reasons—one of which was it introduced me to the editorial and publishing process for books. I hadn’t seriously considered going into publishing before that, but it lit a fire in me. I realized that writing nonprofit newsletters and social media posts wasn’t going to be a good fit for me long-term. After that I was a reporter at a local community newspaper, while doing some freelance writing and editorial work on the side. I found a job opening at Sparkhouse for a Sunday school curriculum developer position. I worked with teams of writers, designers, animators, and illustrators to develop spiritual formation content for churches to use with children. I especially enjoyed developing three different Bibles for children and teens. Sparkhouse is part of a larger nonprofit publisher, 1517 Media, which is the publishing house of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). This is a large, progressive protestant denomination. 1517 Media has several imprints that publish for the church, the academy, and the general trade markets. In 2015 the company decided to branch out into children’s books and started a new imprint called Sparkhouse Family. I was very eager to work on books again, so when a Development Editor position opened, I leapt at the opportunity. Soon after, this imprint rebranded as Beaming Books. All told, I’ve been with 1517 Media for just over nine years, six of those with Beaming Books. I had several different supervisors and colleagues along the way, all whom I learned different things from as my job grew and changed and as our company grew and changed. It has been a “learn-as-you-go” kind of experience.

Beaming Books publishes books that help kids thrive in every part of who they are—emotionally, socially, and spiritually, primarily for kids ages 0-12. The bulk of our list is picture books, but we also publish middle grade nonfiction and some select YA nonfiction. While our company’s roots are in the Lutheran tradition, our books are not all religious and aren’t all Christian either. In fact, as our list has grown and our team has grown, we tend to acquire about 25% faith-based titles and 75% general-market titles that meet our mission of helping kids thrive holistically. We value books that come from open-minded, diverse perspectives and want the kids who read our books to see themselves, their families, and their communities in the stories. Books with strong social-emotional learning themes and books that speak to challenges and lived-experiences of children are strong sellers for us.

What is your favorite part of the job and what is your least favorite part? What brings you joy in your position day in and day out?

I love working with authors on manuscript edits and revisions. I also really love briefing the art and collaborating with the illustrator on the visual storytelling. It’s hard to choose a “favorite part” because I truly love my job. I get a thrill when someone accepts my offer to acquire their book. It is extremely satisfying to see the final book, printed and bound, in my hands and reading it out loud to my own children. That’s pretty special.

My job also involves a lot of administrative tasks, which aren’t as exciting. Like writing keywords for metadata, looking up sales for competitive titles in the acquisitions process, or responding to dozens of emails every single day. Recently I developed a detailed proposal for changing our team folder structure. Those kinds of tasks sometimes take most of my day, which can feel like a drag. It is extremely rare that I would have a whole day just for giving feedback on a manuscript or reviewing submissions. That sounds dreamy.

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

​                                                                Naomi's office

I have been working from home full time since March of 2020, like so many others in publishing. So my typical day starts after my kids are at daycare (thank God for daycare). I push the toys and crafts my kids have left on my desk out of the way, and then turn on my computer, which I hardly ever fully shut down to be honest. All of those little tabs on my browser, all the documents and book layout pdfs, all the open email messages are just waiting where I left them yesterday. I usually start by responding to email and then I check our scheduling tool to see if I have any project-related deadlines (like reviewing art or sending feedback to an author). I also have a running to-do list on a notebook that helps me stay focused.

I usually have at least 2 video meetings per day in addition to reviewing page layouts, reading submissions, writing acquisitions proposals, negotiating book deals, and taking care of administrative tasks. I also take breaks to post and interact on Twitter, which helps me feel connected to the bigger world while working by myself at home. I also have met amazing authors, illustrators, and agents on Twitter! One big perk of working from home is eating lunch with my husband who also works from home. We go outside for walks after lunch if the weather cooperates too. It is very different from my old routine of taking a bus into downtown Minneapolis to work at the office with 70 other people every day! I will work in our Minneapolis office part time again, but it will never be every day.

Are you actively acquiring new books at this time? What are some of the stories you're looking for? What appeals to you?

Yes, but not urgently. I have acquired a lot of exciting new books lately for Fall 2023 and Spring 2024, so I’m getting more and more particular about the kinds of submissions I’m interested in taking on. I am only able to accept agented submissions unless I’ve requested a submission directly from an unagented author. I try to participate in Twitter Pitch events to connect with unagented authors or other kinds of writing contests for new authors.

I love submissions with beautiful, lyrical language and strong emotional pull. I’m really drawn to stories about nature and the environment and stories that feature children or groups that don’t have a lot of representation in children’s literature. I’m especially interested in submissions from BIPOC creators. I love acquiring nonfiction, picture book biographies, or stories inspired by true events. I also am regularly looking for faith-based picture books that present a faith concept in unexpected, fresh ways from a progressive point of view. For example, I acquired a book coming out in March called Mother God which features feminine imagery for God found in the Bible. It is written by Teresa Kim Pecinovsky and illustrated by Khoa Le. It is gorgeous.

I would love to acquire more books from author-illustrators and I’d also like to see more humor in my inbox (so long as it also connects to our mission of helping kids thrive!)

How much time do you usually spend reading a submission? Do you read the query first or the manuscript?

I mostly review submissions from agents and how the submission is packaged varies. I like a little summary of the book and the author’s bio in the body of the email, with the manuscript attached. If there is a robust proposal along with it, that includes more about the author’s platform or how they would support the marketing of the book, I read that part last. I’m most interested in the manuscript and I can usually tell with one quick read whether it’s a good fit or not.

How do you evaluate submissions? What marks does a manuscript need to hit to be considered for acquisitions?

I don’t work from a checklist, but here’s a list of some of the things I consider:

• Do I love it? Does it connect with my interests? Do I like the storytelling? Is there something compelling about the subject matter? Is this a story I want to spend 2 years in?
• Does it meet our mission of helping kids thrive socially, emotionally, or spiritually?
• How does it fit with the other books we’ve slotted in upcoming lists? Is it too similar to what we’ve already acquired? Does it fill a gap?
• Does the text leave room for illustrations to help tell the story?
• And other intangibles, which I’m not sure how to articulate!

 
What happens next? How is the acquisition process handled? Could you walk us through the process from submission to contract offer?

Here are the steps, generally, if I think a manuscript is worthy of consideration:

1. Take it to my editorial colleagues. There are 3 other Beaming Books editors and we review each other’s submissions and give feedback in a meeting. If everyone (or enough of us) like it too, we take it to the next step. Sometimes in this conversation, we mutually agree that a submission isn’t a good fit after all. Or we decide that it needs to be a revise and resubmit.
   
   
2. Marketing review – a few representatives from our marketing and sales team review the submissions and the editors talk about why we love them. We also share information about the author, their platform, and what they would bring to the process. Their previous publishing track is also discussed, if applicable. But we acquire debut authors all the time, so having previously published books is not a requirement.
   
   
3. If marketing sees potential, we take it to “acquisitions” which is the last step. I put together a proposal document that includes a lot of information, including key selling points, information about the author’s background, primary audiences, competitor information, and so on. I also put together a P&L – profit and loss—worksheet which calculates an estimate for profit margin. I put in my proposed budget for author and illustrator advances, royalties, any other related production costs, manufacturing estimates, etc. And then our sales and marketing teams put in their marketing budget numbers and estimated sales for the first 5 years. We are a nonprofit publisher, but we still need to make sure there is a return on our investment for every book we publish.
   
   
4. At acquisitions, we talk about the business side of things in addition to why we love this particular submission, how it fits on upcoming lists, etc. There are a few different people who make the final decision about whether or not we can make an offer.
   
   
5. Then I draft an offer letter and deal memo, which typically goes to the agent. But sometimes it goes to directly to an author if I’m working with someone who is not represented. The agent (or author) reviews the offer and then we negotiate from there.
   
   
6. After the terms are agreed, I submit the deal memo to our contracts department who creates the contract and sends it to the author and agent for their review and signature.

Are you currently taking submissions from illustrators—direct or agented?

I am accepting agented submissions from author-illustrators, but not submissions from illustrators who just want to submit a portfolio. We work with a lot of different illustration agencies and literary agents who represent illustrators and prefer to find them that way. I also love to follow illustrators on Twitter and Instagram, so please find me there! I have hired unagented illustrators and I find them on social media and through their personal websites. Please keep your online portfolios updated with the style of art you want to create and make it easy for editors to contact you! It can be incredibly frustrating to find an illustrator I love and no way to contact them.

How does Beaming Books support its authors after the acquisition process and post-publication? Would you highlight some of the marketing, promotion, and distribution support your titles receive?

We have a robust marketing and sales team, with in-house sales managers and external sales reps that we contract with, an in-house publicity team, and dedicated marketing managers that work with authors to position their books for success. Books are regularly pitched to major distributors and booksellers and can be ordered anywhere books are sold. Our marketing team works with authors on individualized plans to help launch their books, with a combination of video meetings and email correspondence to resource and equip them. Our books are regularly submitted for awards and to trade book review publications, such as Booklist and Kirkus. It truly is a collaboration between our team and the author. I’m not heavily involved in this part of things, but I do catch glimpses. This is a part of our business that has grown leaps and bounds in the last couple of years and it’s really exciting to see what they have accomplished.

What projects are you working on right now for your list? What are you excited about and why? Any upcoming titles you could share with us?

 For upcoming lists, I’m managing 5-6 titles per season. Our seasons are “Spring” and “Fall” with about 16-18 books per list total. This is up from 2020 and 2021 when we downsized our lists due to pandemic uncertainty. It’s exciting to see our publishing program growing and thriving.

Fall 2022 is in production right now, which means the art is being created and we’re reviewing page layouts at different stages to give feedback on the art and design. It’s a really strong list. I will call out three that represent my acquisitions interests really well:

Rosalind Looked Closer is a picture book biography of Rosalind Franklin, who took the famous Photo 51 of the molecular structure of DNA, confirming it was a double helix. She didn’t receive credit for that photo initially, but contributed tremendously to molecular science and virology when she went on to study the structure of plant and human viruses. It’s a fascinating account of a Jewish woman scientist written by Lisa Gerin, illustrated by Chiara Fedele.

Simon the Hugger is a really fun story about an adorable sloth who loves to hug everybody and everything—and feels rejected when friends say they don’t want to be hugged. He learns a lesson about the importance of asking first before extending physical affection to others. It’s funny and full of endearing jungle animals. A perfect combo of humor and heart. What’s not to like? Written by Stacy B. Davids and illustrated by Ana Sebastián.

The Story of Us written by Mitali Perkins and illustrated by Kevin and Kristen Howdshell, is a poetic exploration of the relationship between humans, the natural elements, and the divine. It’s gorgeously told and the illustrations are stunning. A really sophisticated, unique take on the biblical redemption story.

You can pre-order our Fall 2022 list now from your favorite book retailer!

I’m also working on several books for Spring 2023, but those are just early stages. We are briefing covers right now and working on manuscript revisions with authors. I’m acquiring for Fall 2023, Spring 2024, and beyond. I can never remember what year it is right now since I am working on projects slotted for various years at the same time.

Thank you so much for being my KidLit Oasis guest, Naomi! This was an amazing chat, and I truly appreciate your time! Wishing you all the best, and I look forward to reading all the new titles you mentioned. 

Connect with Naomi Krueger and Beaming Books:

Publisher website: https://www.beamingbooks.com/
Publisher Twitter handle: https://twitter.com/BeamingBooksMN
Your Twitter handle: @NaomiJKrueger https://twitter.com/NaomiJKrueger
Instagram: @naomi.j.krueger https://www.instagram.com/naomi.j.krueger/

About Naomi Krueger


​Naomi Krueger is an acquisitions editor at Beaming Books, a nonprofit children’s book publisher based in Minneapolis. She lives in Saint Paul with her husband and two energetic little boys who love picture books almost as much as she does. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Are you currently taking submissions from illustrators?

I'm always on the lookout for amazing artists!

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

People should definitely make sure to read submission guidelines.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

​​Welcome, Annemarie! Thank you for choosing to do your cover reveal on KidLit Oasis -- it's a pleasure to host this important milestone. Let's talk about your beautiful book before we get to to your beautiful cover...

What was the journey from idea to publication for this book?
 
Long story short, my (former) agent sent one of my manuscripts over to Little Simon (ABC, Rise Up and Be!); the editor had it for a few weeks when an offer of publication came through with a different publisher. When my agent reached out to tell the editor at Simon of the offer, the editor stepped aside as it was too similar to something they had just acquired. The editor asked my agent to keep her in mind if I had any other books for consideration- most specifically board books. I had a book titled the Wheels on the Hearse completed. It was a Halloween take on the Wheels on the Bus. I asked my agent if she would send that to Simon, and she did on July 27, 2020. In October, my agent followed up with the editor, and the editor asked for a revise and resubmit. She wanted to change the storyline from characters riding on a hearse-shaped bus to characters flying around on a broom. My agent and I worked on the manuscript with the revision notes and sent it back a week later. By now, the holiday season was happening, and things had pretty much come to a halt. In January, the editor reached out to say we were on the right track but that she had to work on format pricing because she had a creative idea for the book. It took a few more months for her to get things squared away. In March, she sent a verbal offer, and the contract took another eight weeks to arrive. I signed in May 2021.  So, from idea to contract, it took ten months.
 
How did you react when you got the news of the offer, and how did you celebrate?

I have always dreamed of publishing with a big five. I told my agent (at the time of signing with her) that my dream was to work with Simon & Schuster. Never in a million years did I think that dream would come to fruition. When I was told that Simon was signing me, I ugly cried. I called my whole family. I even emailed my boss! I messaged coworkers and friends. They probably all thought I was crazy. No one understands (unless you're a writer) how incredibly difficult it is to get in with a big publisher. After all the calls, texts, and emails, I went out for a celebratory dinner with my family. It was one of the best days of my life.
 
Can you share a fun or surprising fact about the process--whether in the writing, editing, or the illustration process?

One surprising fact is that the illustrator, Shauna Panczyszyn, also specializes in hand-lettering. She did both the illustration and the font for Monsters on the Broom.  If you notice, the story title has a pair of spooky eyes in it. I absolutely love what she's done with this book.
 
Do you have a favorite line that you could share?

The Vampire on the broom shrieks, "Voo ha ha, Voo ha ha, Voo ha ha."
The Vampire on the broom shrieks "Voo ha ha," all through the town.

The illustrations for each character are top-notch! 

Thank you, Annemarie! Wishing you many more books and "ugly cry" happy moments on your publishing journey!

And now for the big moment...

                                               TA-DA!
​

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

Readers, please support our featured authors/illustrators by following them on Twitter, requesting their book through your local library, posting reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, and of course, purchasing their books. 

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

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