The Reader Engagement Part of the Writing Life

Back in February, I had the pleasure of participating in World Read Aloud Day, aka, WRAD. As I've said before, one of my favorite parts of author life is connecting directly with young readers. 

One of the most fantastic things about connecting with young readers is sometimes they send written cards, letters, and pictures. Given the digital nature of book events these days, for the first time ever I received digital postcards from a classroom of readers I visited from a school in Japan. Here are some examples:

Artwork from Ms. Venn's Second Grade Class

Whenever students write to me after an author visit, I do my best to write back to them, and WRAD is no exception. Here is the letter I recently wrote to the students in Ms. Venn's second grade class at John O. Arnn Elementary School in Camp Zama, Japan:

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Dear Ms. Venn’s Class, 

Thank you for taking the time to write and illustrate beautiful digital postcards for me to enjoy. 

Each of you, including Ayce, Bobby, Kathryn, (and one additional student who did not sign their name :) thanked me for reading Lucy’s Blooms to you. You are very welcome. I’m so glad you enjoyed the story. In case you’d like to read the story again, many of my books, including Lucy’s Blooms, should be available at your local library. And, if you’d like to watch a video of me reading Lucy’s Blooms (maybe with your family at home), you can find it here.

Some of you had additional questions.  My responses are below: 

Zoey: You asked what inspired me to write books, and what made me like being an author and love writing? One reason is I like words. They are powerful. They get things done. They help people understand one another. Words give people a voice. I like when my voice is heard. I have written an entire blog post with some of the other reasons I like to write. You can find it here.

Addison: You asked how many books I have made. I have written 20 stories that have been published into books. You can learn about all of my different books here. You also asked how many books I have read to people. I haven’t kept count of that—I’ll have to start doing that! (You also shared a cute picture of a cat! I showed the picture to Pickle the Cat! Pickle says, “Meow!”)

Kalib: You asked if I enjoy reading to students. I do! It’s one of my favorite parts of being an author. You also shared a picture of a rainbow baby turtle. I hope you will write a story about that some day! 

Alek: You asked how to publish a book. There are a lot of steps in that process. It all begins with writing (and/or illustrating) a story, and then revising it until it is exactly how you want it to be. Then, you research publishers that might like your story. You send your story to publishers until you find one that likes your story enough to turn it into a book. One of my author-friends, Josh Funk, has a great website with information about how to write picture books. You might enjoy reading what he has to share. You can find it here.

Aurora: You asked what was the first book I ever made. The first book I ever made was a poetry book that I hand-wrote as a Mother’s Day gift for my mom back when I was in middle school. You also asked why I became an author. I became an author because I had stories and important ideas in my head that I wanted to share with other people. You asked what year my books came out. The first book I had published, See the Colors, came out in 2009. The most recent book I had published was Lucy’s Blooms, which came out in 2021. I also had two humorous books that were published in 2019: Where Does a Pirate Go Potty? and Where Does a Cowgirl Go Potty? You should be able to find all (or most) of my books in your local library. If you can’t find my books in your library, you can find videos of me reading them (and songs to go along with my most recent books) on the internet, here. You also asked if I ever write fairy tale books. I haven’t yet, but I have a friend who does. Lastly, you asked why I like books. I like books for many different reasons, but one reason is because reading books is one of the best ways to become a better writer. I have also written some blog posts about why I like reading. You can read about that here and here.

Eliana: You asked what is my favorite flower? I like LOTS of different kinds of flowers. I of course like dandelions, and I also especially like tulips, daffodils and nasturtiums. You can find an article I wrote that includes a photograph of some of the nasturtiums in my yard and some stories about my favorite gardening memories with my own Gram on my publisher’s website.

Holden: You asked why I like the weed. I like it because it is cheerful and beautiful and makes me smile. I wrote more about this in a blog post, here.

Thank you again for all of your notes and pictures, and thank you to Ms. Carter for inviting me to visit your school.  I hope I get to visit your school again in the future. In the meantime, if you’d like to read more about my life as a writer, you can visit this section of my blog where I talk about my writing life.

Write On!

Sincerely, 

Dawn Babb Prochovnic (and Pickle) 

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If you missed World Read Aloud Day, but would still like to connect, I offer Virtual Author Visits year round anywhere in the world. I've also compiled a comprehensive collection of free remote resources for Self-Guided Virtual Author Visits here. It's not quite the same as a personalized virtual visit (or an in-person visit), but these resources do allow young readers to connect with an author in some fashion. And here's a fun fact: I also write back to classrooms of students who visit me virtually via a Self-Guided Virtual Author visit. 

Write On!  

Birth Stories for Books: HE LEADS: MOUNTAIN GORILLA, THE GENTLE GIANT, by June Smalls

Hello readers! I'm delighted to share another insightful and informative Birth Stories for Books interview. Today's guest is June Smalls, author of HE LEADS: MOUNTAIN GORILLA, THE GENTLE GIANT (illustrated by Yumi Shimokawara, Familius, March, 2022). 

by June Smalls and Yumi Shimokawara

Dawn Prochovnic: Welcome to the blog, June. I’m really looking forward to the upcoming release of your latest picture book, HE LEADS: MOUNTAIN GORILLA, THE GENTLE GIANT.

In a recent article on the Familius blog you shared the inspiration behind your earlier book, SHE LEADS: The Elephant Matriarch. I’d love to hear how the idea for this new book, HE LEADS: MOUNTAIN GORILLA, THE GENTLE GIANT, came to be. 

June Smalls: After writing SHE LEADS, it was easy to start thinking of he, she, and they. It took me a while to land on just the right animal to focus on. I wanted this to be more than just a series of animal facts. I wanted this to be a series about leadership and what that means. These natural leaders in the animal kingdom that are successful are smart, strong, protective of those that are younger and weaker, and they are selfless.

When looking up how silverbacks could be shy, gentle, and patient in addition to their awesome power and athleticism, I knew I’d found a great feature.

THEY LEAD will be the third in the series and focuses on the teamwork of the gray wolf breeding pair (what most people know as the alpha pair).

DP: What a compelling description of this new book (and the series). 

I’d also like to hear more about the process and timeframe between your initial idea for this new book and the manuscript that was formulated fully enough to submit to your editor. For SHE LEADS, it sounds like you had conducted so much prior research on elephants, that the actual writing process for the book was fairly smooth once you formulated a book structure. How did the process compare with this new book, given there was a completely new animal to research and write about?

JS: This timeframe will seem unbelievable, but I pitched the idea in March of 2020. Familius said they’d be open to seeing it. I sent the manuscript in April and had a contract in May.

DP. Youza! Yes, that timeframe DOES seem unbelievable! 

JS: You don’t want to put too much into a sequel if the publisher may have zero interest. Though again, I did a good amount of research and had a very loose draft before even pitching the idea to see if it was feasible. So, I had a rough idea of what I’d pull from and where to find it.

It went very quickly since I already had a framework that I’d follow to keep it in line with SHE LEADS in tone, style, and pacing. This was the hardest of the series to write. I had to find the balance of staying with the framework without it just being a cut and paste, swapping out elephants for gorillas.

Interior Image: HE LEADS

Don’t think they all come this easy though. They did reject a separate pitch for this series.

DP: You win some, you lose some, as they say, right? Thick skin is definitely a big part of this business. 

Back to HE LEADS, when you compare one of your earliest drafts of this story to the version in the published book, what stands out for you in terms of what is most different? Likewise, is there anything in particular that stands out that was included in your earliest drafts and survived the revision process?

JS: Not a ton changed. Interestingly enough, we changed a number of things and then changed them back to the original text. Most changes were to add more information about the females of the troop rather than solely focusing on the male.

DP: Reflecting on the journey from idea to published book, is there any one moment along the way that you credit with opening the door for this particular story to find its way to publication? At what point did the idea for a series (SHE LEADS, HE LEADS, and next up, THEY LEAD: The Wolf Pack) materialize?

JS: This series started because of a fun fact about elephants shared on International Woman’s Day on twitter and it grew from there.

I’d done elephant research for another manuscript, so I was ready when that inspiration hit. Everything after that was organic growth. I don’t know that there was any one “ah ha” moment for the series. Just a hopeful, “Hey since SHE LEADS seems to be coming together so well, I have this idea about a silverback...”

DP: Way to take the LEAD on the new idea and turn it into another book deal!

When you compare the path to publication for this book to one of your other books outside this series (i.e. ODD ANIMAL ABC’s or THIS CAT LOVES THAT), what are some of the key similarities and differences in terms of the publication journeys for each? 

JS: HE LEADS was easier. For ODD ANIMAL ABC’S many folks wouldn’t even read the manuscript. ABC and other concept books can be a hard sell. I think I subbed that for a year or more before I received serious interest.

THIS CAT LOVES THAT was a work for hire book. It was difficult, not in the sales, since they sought me out, but in the guidelines that I had follow. Since they wanted it to be a book to help learning readers it needed certain sight words, I couldn’t use large vocabulary words, and we had to make sure that photos could be found that went with the text.

It was wonderful and fun challenge and looking at cat photos is never a hardship. Though I couldn’t have all the fun I may have with words and imagery if it had been my own idea.

DP: What a great recap of these different experiences. Thanks for that.

If you could go back in time, what would you tell your pre-published self? Or, said another way, what do you know now, that you wished you would have known a bit earlier?

JS: I always say I wish I knew how slow publishing is, but I’m also glad I didn’t really understand since it can be disheartening to know you have a great idea that you won’t be able to share with the world for YEARS even if it is already sold.

Patience is a must in the industry.

DP: Indeed!

Is there something you wish someone would ask you about your path to publication for HE LEADS that you haven’t had the opportunity to share yet? 

JS: I know some wonder about selling a series. The LEADS series was not a series from the initial idea, but a wonderful addition after the first book was created.

Many fun facts that I couldn’t use in the book are still stored for when I get to do school visits. Like how gassy the great beasts are from their diet of dense vegetation. 

DP: Speaking from the perspective of an official potty-humorist, I assure you, fun facts of that nature will be a big hit! 

Do you have anything you’d like to tell us about what you’re currently working on? 

JS: I am working on a fourth book in the series, though the series is evolving a bit. This book is about the honeybee and how hard they work as individuals rather than focusing on the queen.

There is a novelty sound book coming out in 2023 with Familius Publishing, HEAR THEM ROAR. Readers will get to learn about endangered animals from around the world and actually hear their calls, cries, songs, and roars.

DP: Those sound like very fun projects. I look forward to seeing them.

Thanks so much for sharing your Birth Story for HE LEADS: MOUNTAIN GORILLA, THE GENTLE GIANT  with us, June!

Dear readers, I hope you will consider heading on over to Bookshop or your favorite local indie and getting yourself a copy of this beautiful book. Can't add another book to your own collection? Ask your local library (and/or your local Zoo) to include HE LEADS: MOUNTAIN GORILLA, THE GENTLE GIANT in their collection and/or share this post with a friend. 

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June Smalls is a children’s author of fiction and nonfiction including Odd Animal ABC’s and She Leads: The Elephant Matriarch. 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 hubby, The Kid, and an ever-growing assortment of animals. 

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Birth Stories for Books is an occasional feature of Dawn Babb Prochovnic's blog. Dawn is the author of multiple picture books including, Lucy's Blooms, Where Does a Cowgirl Go Potty?, Where Does a Pirate Go Potty?, and 16 books in the Story Time With Signs & Rhymes series. Dawn is a contributing author to the award-winning book, Oregon Reads Aloud, and a frequent presenter at schools, libraries, and educational conferences. Contact Dawn using the form at the left, or learn more at www.dawnprochovnic.com.  

Birth Stories for Books: EMET'S BOX, by Jeni Chen

Hello readers! Settle in for an encouraging and inspiring path to publication story in today's edition of Birth Stories for Books. My guest is Jeni Chen, author and illustrator of EMET'S BOX (Little Press, April, 2022). 

Written and Illustrated by Jeni Chen

Dawn Prochovnic: Welcome to the blog, Jeni. I’ve enjoyed reading about your publishing journey for your debut picture book, EMET’S BOX, on your blog, and I’m delighted to be able ask some specific questions about your experience here. 

You’ve mentioned that you wrote EMET’S BOX because as a mom and school visitor you’ve witnessed that kids are naturally creative but sometimes they “try to hide themselves to conform to what the adults want.” Can you share more details about any specific interactions with / observations of kids and/or experiences in your own life that sparked the idea for EMET’S BOX and motivated you to move the idea forward to fruition?

Jeni Chen: I love working with children because they always surprise and delight me with their awesome creations. In my workshops, I try to give them some directions but not too much so they can find their own creative expressions. It is so much fun to see kids making art that were totally outside of my expectations. But sometimes, I see parents telling their kids how to draw something “correctly.” I once saw a lively boy just clammed up when his artwork was being compared to that of his older sibling’s. I am not saying that I am a perfect parent. Maybe Emet’s Box is a reminder to myself that kids are so brilliant that if we encourage them to be themselves, to try different things and not afraid of making mistakes, that there are more possibilities than what we could’ve imagined for them.

DP: That's a really beautiful perspective. 

Can you share with us the process and timeframe between your initial idea for the book and the manuscript and/or picture book dummy that was formulated fully enough to submit to an editor?  

JC: I first had the idea for Emet’s Box in 2016 when my son was 5-year-old. It started out as a little message to my son when I realized that kids have this magical light radiating from them and if I allow this creative curiosity in my son to grow without smothering it, it is going to become something amazing. A few months later, I woke up around 4am in the morning with this story in my head and I couldn’t fall back asleep. I wrote down the idea in the dark on pieces of scrap papers and kept it in my bedside table. Two years later, in 2018, I took a picture book illustration class and decided to work on the story. I joined SCBWI and went to my first SCBWI conference in 2019, found my publisher through #PBPitch in 2020 and finished the illustrations in 2021. The book will be released on April 1st, 2022.

DP:  Wow! That's quite a journey! 

When you compare one of your earliest drafts of this story to the version in the published book, what stands out for you in terms of what is most different? Likewise, is there anything in particular that stands out that was included in your earliest drafts and survived the revision process?

JC: In my mind, I consider the notes that I scribbled at 4am in the morning my first draft. But I had a version zero that was more like notes to myself and a message to my son. The first draft went through many critique groups and I had many versions after that but in the end, I came back to this original flash of inspiration at the break of dawn. There’s a quote by Rumi that says, “The breezes at dawn have secrets to tell you. Don’t go back to sleep!” It made me believe that there’s something greater out there guiding us and that children instinctively know how to listen to it (if the adults were not trying to shout over this voice). I just realized that the story of Emet’s Box came from the breezes at dawn and that the main message of Emet’s Box is to listen to this breeze at dawn and your name is Dawn!

DP: And this Dawn loves Rumi's work, too! (and I absolutely agree with the sentiment of that quote.) 

You are the author and the illustrator of this book. Do you have an equal affinity for both aspects of the picture book making process, or is there one side of the equation that you prefer/lean into more naturally? 

JC: Sometimes I ask myself this question: Am I an artist or a writer?

I think I am more of an artist because I’ve always love to draw since I was a little girl. When I got older, I started writing and making up stories to entertain my friends. English is my second language so I know I have to work on it. On the other hand, I thought illustrating would be easy. I thought I could make the dummy book for Emet’s Box in a few weeks but it took me half a year. And I learned that it is A LOT OF WORK to illustrate a picture book!

Interior Image from Emet's Box by Jeni Chen

DP: Reflecting on the journey from idea to published book, is there any one moment along the way that you credit with opening the door for this particular story to find its way to publication? 

JC: Can I list a few? 

DP: Absolutely! 

JC: I would have to say taking a picture book illustrating class helped me understand the basics and that led me to joining SCBWI and meeting all the wonderful kid lit creators who helped me and encouraged me along the way. One of my kidlit critique groups suggested #PBPitch where I connected with my publisher. 

DP: Another #PBPitch success story. Whoo-hoo! 

EMET’S BOX portrays Asian characters and customs while taking readers on Emet’s journey of self-exploration. Can you share some of what it means to you (as an artist, as a parent, as a human being), to be able to bring an authentic, #OwnVoices story into the marketplace? 

JC: I have to thank my publisher Michele McAvoy of The Little Press for bringing up the topic of representation. At first, I just wanted to use all sorts of colors for my characters’ hair (and clothes) but incorporating elements of my culture into the illustrations has made the story even more meaningful to me. Actually, when I was working on my draft, Emet was wearing shoes inside the house. When my son saw that he told me no shoes were allowed inside the house and asked me to change it. I think kids do pick up on the details like that and I appreciate the opportunity to bring forth a story with Asian characters that were not just about Asian cultures.

DP: I suspect you will be telling that story about your son at author visits for many years to come! 

In addition to writing and illustrating picture books, you engage in a practice called Art Journaling (a term I’d not heard before), and you have a webcomic series about family life with your school-aged son. Are there ways in which these different creative practices/outlets contribute to your work as a picture book author/illustrator? 

JC: Art journaling combines drawing and writing, kind of like a picture book. It also reminds me of what Michael Crichton mentioned in his biography Travels that if you usually write, try drawing; if you usually draw, try writing. I think it’s a way to stimulate our brains and to try different things. Emet’s Box is also about encouraging kids to try different things and to find what makes you feel alive. I used to draw comics when I was a kid but stopped for a long time. Drawing comics again about my son makes me feel happy and alive. I hope kids can remember what made them happy when they were young. Even if they forgot (like me) that’s ok, as long as we look for it again. 

DP: That's an encouraging reminder.  

If you could go back in time, what would you tell your pre-published self? Or, said another way, what do you know now, that you wished you would have known a bit earlier?

JC: I would not tell my pre-published self anything. I think making this #OwnVoice picture book made me look back at my life. I may have wondered what if I had made different choices at different points in my life. But I realized that whatever happened, they happened for a reason and all those choices made me who I am today. I would not tell my pre-published self anything because she can learn and forge her own way. I love what Joseph Campbell said about the Knights in search of the Holy Grail that “Each entered the forest at a point that he himself had chosen, where it was darkest and there was no path. If there is a path it is someone else's path and you are not on the adventure.”

DP: That's such a freeing perspective, Jeni. Thanks. 

Is there something you wish someone would ask you about your path to publication for EMET’S BOX that you haven’t had the opportunity to share yet? 

JC: I want to share that just before Emet’s Box was picked up for publication, it was the beginning of the pandemic and we were in lock down. I remember very clearly that I was sitting on the sofa, reading a book, with my son and my husband sitting nearby. Somehow, at that moment, I felt this genuine contentment and that there was nothing more I could ask for. Somehow, I think this feeling of contentment has something to do with me getting the publishing contract. So I try to remind myself to appreciate whatever I have in my life right now.

DP: Do you have anything you’d like to tell us about what you’re currently working on? 

JC: I am working on some public art projects, visiting schools to teach the kids about the immune system through art. I am looking forward to doing school visits for Emet’s Box. I do have an idea for my next picture book but it is still in the marinating-in-my-brain stage. I am listening to my breezes at dawn for that flash of inspiration.

Image Source: Jeni Chen

DP: May the breezes be seasoned with sweet inspiration, indeed!

Thanks so much for sharing your Birth Story for EMET’S BOX with us, Jeni!

Friends, the best way to thank an author whose insights have been helpful and/or intriguing to you is to support their work. Buy their books. Request them from your library. Read and share them with others.  EMET'S BOX is available everywhere books are sold. Here are some pre-order links:

https://shop.twjbookshop.com/products/emets-box-by-jeni-chen-hardcover-pre-order

https://shop.twjbookshop.com/products/copy-of-emets-box-by-jeni-chen-paperback-pre-order

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Jeni Chen was born in Taiwan and moved to Canada with her family when she was a teenager. As a kid, Jeni loved to draw but stopped when she decided to pursue a more “practical” career in science. After the birth of her son, Jeni started drawing comics about the funny things her son said or did. Jeni returned to school and obtained a Fine Art Certificate from Emily Carr University of Art + Design. Since then, Jeni has been selected for numerous public art projects and has been invited to lead various art workshops in her community. 

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Birth Stories for Books is an occasional feature of Dawn Babb Prochovnic's blog. Dawn is the author of multiple picture books including, Lucy's Blooms, Where Does a Cowgirl Go Potty?, Where Does a Pirate Go Potty?, and 16 books in the Story Time With Signs & Rhymes series. Dawn is a contributing author to the award-winning book, Oregon Reads Aloud, and a frequent presenter at schools, libraries, and educational conferences. Contact Dawn using the form at the left, or learn more at www.dawnprochovnic.com.  

Birth Stories for Books: Mommy Ever After, by Rebecca Fox Starr

Hello readers. Settle into a nice cozy spot, and get yourself a cup of something comforting and warm. Today we have a very personal and inspirational Birth Stories for Books interview with Rebecca Fox Starr, author of MOMMY EVER AFTER (illustrated by Sara Ugolotti, Familius, March, 2022). 

by Rebecca Fox Starr and Sara Ugolotti

Dawn Prochovnic: Welcome to the blog, Rebecca. I’m really looking forward to the upcoming release of your first picture book, MOMMY EVER AFTER.  

You write an award-winning blog and you’ve authored non-fiction books for adults, but MOMMY EVER AFTER is your first book for children. I’d love to hear how the idea for this story came to be, and specifically, how the repeating phrase, “And they lived mommy ever after…Because we are not always going to feel happy, but I am always going to be your mommy,” came to be. 

Rebecca Fox Starr: Thank you for having me! It is a pleasure. 

What a great question and one that I have never before been asked. This a birth story in two parts; my happy story and then my hopeful story. When I became a mom in April of 2010 I quickly realized the importance of human connection. I was the first of my friends to get married and have a baby and so I had no one with whom I could talk about honest motherhood. How things are enchanting and wonderful and hard and scary and lonely and boring and magical, all at once. So, in June of 2010 I started a blog, called “Mommy Ever After.” At the time, I chose the name because it felt authentic to my daughter and me. Her name is that of a Disney princess, after all! As the blog grew, so did my confidence. I was finding a groove in motherhood. I was living my happy story! And then, when I became pregnant with my son in 2013, I began to suffer from prenatal and then, later, postpartum anxiety and depression. I was just walloped. I call the period of time in which I suffered from severe postpartum distress my “hard story” but I always want to be clear that having my son wasn’t hard or any less magical than having my daughter. Four months after his birth, I decided to open up, in real time, about my ongoing struggle with postpartum depression, and that moment of vulnerability changed everything for me. I began my own “hopeful story.”

The blog started to grow, my reach broadened, and I became a full-time writer. Then, author. 

Fun fact that I’ve never before shared: when my first book, “Beyond the Baby Blues: Anxiety and Depression During and After Pregnancy” was being shopped to publishers its working title was “Mommy Ever After.” It took years, but I was finally given a book deal in 2016. The name, however, had to change. When I got a second book deal we named it “Baby Ever After: Expanding Your Family After Postpartum Depression” which was closer to my dream title. 

Long story long, all of that is to say that the idea for Mommy Ever After was born when my daughter was born, but then really crystallized when my son was born. She made me into the mother I had always dreamed of being, and he made me into the mother I was meant to be. Creating a children’s book with an emphasis on emotional and mental health, was a natural next step. I wanted to normalize negative emotions and the power of resilience for kids and for their parents. I wanted my kids to know that no matter how dark things had gotten for me I always loved them and I would always be their mommy. 

Image Source: Rebecca Fox Starr

DP: What a beautiful, heartfelt and meaningful backstory, Rebecca. You definitely have a way with words, and I'm not all surprised that your honesty and vulnerability brought and continues to bring comfort and engagement to many others. Thank you so much for sharing this with us.  

Shifting gears a bit, I'd like to hear about the process and timeframe between your initial idea for your children's book and the story that was formulated fully enough to submit to an editor.

RFS: My journey with Familius has been unexpected, interesting and delightful! I first connected with Familius through their awesome PR director, who sent me a review copy of “Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts.” After bonding with this woman, I decided to take a risk and pitch my idea to her. She told me to write up a manuscript, I did just that, sent it in, she kept me updated, and in May of 2019 I got an email from Christopher, the Founder and President, asking me to meet him over the phone. My husband speculated that they were going to offer me a book deal but I was too anxious to let my mind go there. He did, I cried, and the rest is history!

DP: Ah, more beautiful backstory! 

When you compare one of your earliest drafts of MOMMY EVER AFTER to the version in the published book, what stands out for you in terms of what is most different? Likewise, is there anything in particular that stands out that was included in your earliest drafts and survived the revision process?

RFS: I can tell you that my earlier draft of the story was probably 10 times longer than the finished product. I can also tell you that editing this book down to 1,000 words was much more difficult than creating my non-fiction works, despite their being 60,000-80,000 words. 

DP: I'm in complete agreement with you here, Rebecca! Adding words to the page is ALWAYS easier for me than cutting them! That's one of the reasons I enjoy blogging, because I can incorporate all the words! ; )

RFS: I have had an amazing time editing this story, as the Familius editorial staff is fantastic. They certainly brought out the best in me. 

I did have to let go of certain ideas and I am happy to say that I cannot think of most of them off the top of my head, which means we made the right call. 

One thing that was edited involves a vignette where the little girl protagonist visits an island. Originally, in this bedtime story within the story, she is taken to an island where her favorite foods grew on trees. There were sushi trees, and popcorn trees, and spaghetti and meatballs trees. 

The editors wanted to make sure we were being sensitive around potential food issues, and so we had to change the island from a place with her favorite foods to a place with her favorite things. I am much happier with that idea!

Another thing that stands out is the precision we used to come up with the right words to describe our main character girl. She is never named, though we follow her from infancy through tween-hood. I cannot tell you how much time we spent trying to decide on the simple adjectives we would use to qualify the girl’s age and stage, without causing confusion. I remember tossing around “baby girl” and “little girl” and “young girl” and “big girl” and “toddler girl” and it’s wild to think of how such a tiny detail was one that took the most time. 

DP: Yes, yes! The difficulty of those tiny details can be crazy-making!

Beyond what you've already shared, reflecting on the journey from idea to published book, is there any one moment along the way that you credit with opening the door for this particular story to find its way to publication? 

RFS: I think that multiple people had to come from a place of “yes” which is something that I try to do. I have recovered from severe mental illness with my prenatal and postpartum depression and, now that I can find joy, again, try to have a more positive view of life. I said “yes” to reviewing the “Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts” book, the wonderful former PR director at Familius said “yes” to exploring the idea with me, Brooke, my editor, said “yes” to working with me on specific things about my pitch that needed modification in order to make the submission as strong as possible, and then Christopher said “yes” to taking this chance on me. 

DP: That's such a fantastic way of looking at things, Rebecca. It's cosmic to me how little openings can lead to or create bigger openings. 

When you compare the path to publication for this book to your non-fiction book(s) for adults, what are some of the key similarities and differences in terms of the publication journeys for each?

RFS: I have been so fortunate to work with two great publishing houses: Rowman & Littlefield for my first two books and Familius for this book. I think the differences are exactly what you’d expect from juxtaposing a non-fiction, academic publisher with a warm, family-oriented publishing house (it should be called a publishing home, if you ask me). 

DP: I love that term. I think we should start using it! 

RFS: I can tell you that getting the first book deal was the hardest, and the second one was much quicker and easier. I had proven myself, I guess, and so they believed in me. I pitched a fourth book, a parenting title, to Familius in the Spring and was offered a deal for that book which will be coming out in 2024!

DP: Fantastic! We will get to bring new books with Familius into the world together (I have a children's book coming out with them in 2024!) 

Currently your blog is read “in all 50 states and over 160 countries worldwide,” and your work has been featured in wide array of television, media and print outlets nationwide. Based on your experience developing such a strong platform for your blog and your non-fiction books for adults, what key take-aways will you likewise apply in your outreach for your children’s book? and/or what professional advice or suggestions do you have for fellow authors seeking to expand their platforms and audience for their books?

Image Source: Rebecca Fox Starr

RFS: In order to succeed I have had to be vulnerable, persistent, hardworking, and kind. Be tenacious in trying to write your own story! I was rejected over and over and over again. It just took one offer to change everything. 

DP: Such excellent advice, and so well said, Rebecca. Thank for this! 

Your online bio indicates that you are a singer/songwriter that has played gigs all around the Philadelphia area. One of my favorite creative experiences has been collaborating with music professionals to create original songs and videos for my picture books (you can view a recent collaboration here .) I’d love to hear more about your work as a singer/songwriter, including where folks can go to hear your music, and/or any plans you have for bringing together these two forms of creative expression. 

RFS: I have always had a passion for music. I don’t want to oversell myself as a musician, it is really just a hobby, but one that has brought me great joy. I joke that by day I am “mommy” but by night I can “party like a Fox Starr.” 

DP: Very fun. Love it! (I've long told my friends and family that I play a mean tambourine, and one day I'm going to be part of a girl band...we shall see!) 

RFS: I have not done any music outside of my home since the start of the pandemic and I miss it a lot. I am fortunate to have a good friend who is my music partner and he and I harmonize together, mostly doing song covers, and it’s been a fantastic experience. Healing, even. In recent years I learned how to play guitar and that has allowed me to further explore my songwriting. 

Image Source: Rebecca Fox Starr

I feel like there’s a parallel between that and my book writing: If I wanted to achieve my goal, I had to work at it and I could not/can not rely on anyone else to do the heavy lifting for me. My daughter is an amazing little singer and so my current role is “theatre mom” without being a “stage mom.”

DP: It sounds like you have found some very fulfilling ways to incorporate music into your life. (One of my music heroes is Annie Lynn -- she is a fellow Philadelphian. I'm willing to bet that she might have some great ideas and opportunities that align with your daughter's musical interests--I collaborated with her team on the song for my Pirate/Potty book. She is fantastic to work with!) 

If you could go back in time, what would you tell your pre-published self? Or, said another way, what do you know now, that you wished you would have known a bit earlier?

RFS: “Hey, Becca. You know how this feels scary? How the rejections can feel searing? Don’t take it personally and don’t let this discomfort deter you. Show me your grit.” That sounds trite, and I don’t want it to, but it’s true. On a more personal level, the Becca of this time in 2014 would be floored to hear that not only would she survive, she would go on to help others in this area. I was deep in the darkness, and I would assure myself of all of the light ahead. 

DP: Thank you for this, Rebecca. I feel certain there is someone reading this post right now who needs to hear exactly these words. Thank you so much for sharing your heart with us. 

Is there something you wish someone would ask you about your path to publication for MOMMY EVER AFTER that you haven’t had the opportunity to share yet? 

RFS: When I first read a draft of “Mommy Ever After” to Belle, my daughter, she started to cry. I asked her why she was crying. She said she didn’t know how to explain it. Now, she’s able to articulate that she felt moved. That moment managed to sneak itself into the book. “Some feelings don’t even have names.” Also, if you can write something that moves your child to tears, you’ve succeeded. 

DP: Wow. Just wow. (And for the record--that is one of my favorite lines in your book.)

Do you have anything you’d like to tell us about what you’re currently working on? 

RFS: I know I mentioned the parenting book I am working on for Familius and I am really excited about it. Without giving too much away, it is a creative take on a very common source of strife for moms. I am also working on improving the screening for women who may be suffering from perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. That work is definitely out of my comfort zone, but I hope I can look back on this moment in a few years, in a blog interview, perhaps, and talk about how that big idea began!

DP: I'll be looking forward to hearing more about that project. 

Thank you so much for sharing your Birth Story for MOMMY EVER AFTER  with us, Rebecca. I look forward to following your work and walking the publication journey with you for our 2024 releases with Familius.

RFS: Thank you so much! It’s been a pleasure to share this chapter of my story!

Friends, you know what to do...head on over to Bookshop or your favorite local indie and get yourself a copy of this meaningful book. Can't add another book to your own collection? Ask your local library to include MOMMY EVER AFTER in their collection and/or share this post with a friend.  

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Image Source: Rebecca Fox Starr

Rebecca Fox Starr is an author and advocate for maternal mental health. She lives and writes outside of Philadelphia with her family. Learn more at mommyeverafter.com. 

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Birth Stories for Books is an occasional feature of Dawn Babb Prochovnic's blog. Dawn is the author of multiple picture books including, Lucy's Blooms, Where Does a Cowgirl Go Potty?, Where Does a Pirate Go Potty?, and 16 books in the Story Time With Signs & Rhymes series. Dawn is a contributing author to the award-winning book, Oregon Reads Aloud, and a frequent presenter at schools, libraries, and educational conferences. Contact Dawn using the form at the left, or learn more at www.dawnprochovnic.com.  

Birth Stories for Books: HUGGA LOULA, by Nancy Dearborn

Hello readers! Here comes another informative Birth Stories for Books interview. My guest is Nancy Dearborn, author of HUGGA LOULA (illustrated by Huang Junyan, Familius, March, 2021). 

Photo Credit: Neil Patten 

Dawn Prochovnic: Welcome to the blog, Nancy. Today we get to celebrate the Book Birthday for your children’s book, HUGGA LOULA. 

I’d love to hear how the idea for this story came to be. Reading the FAQ on your website, I understand that most of your story ideas come from lived experiences, so my curiosity is definitely piqued as to whether or not that’s the case with HUGGA LOULA. 

Nancy Dearborn: It is the case with Hugga Loula. My friend Steve and I were helping his sister move. Some of the other volunteers were taking a break and standing right where Steve needed to set down a load. He was getting frustrated with them and started to say, “I need. I need…” but before he could finish his sentence, his niece Alessia said, “a hug,” and wrapped her arms around his legs. When he told me about the incident later, I thought the idea would make a cute picture book. Later, that very same day, I sat down and sketched out some of the characters and events in the story.

DP: What a fun and fitting backstory! 

I’d also like to hear more about the process and timeframe between your initial idea for the book and the manuscript that was formulated fully enough to submit to an editor. Your online bio indicates that you are a member of several different writers’ groups, so I suspect one or more of those groups played a role in the process.

ND: I tend to write almost everything out long-hand before I type it into my laptop. With picture books, I write them in double-page spreads starting with pages 2-3 to make sure I have around 32 pages. It shows editors exactly where I envision the page turns. Even as I was writing the original rough draft of Hugga Loula, I crossed out words and improved my writing by making notes in the margins. Some experts on writing picture books suggest you have three main scenes although not every author builds their picture book around this. Since I envisioned four main characters (Hugga Loula, her dad, her mom, and her brother), it was easy for me to build the scenes where a different character received some help and a hug from Hugga Loula. When I wrote Hugga Loula, I lived in CA, so I was a member of Write On!, a local critique group that met in person.  Once I edited the manuscript several times myself, the members of Write On! offered me invaluable suggestions on ways to improve it. What I love about critique groups is that everyone sees something different to comment on.     

DP: I couldn't agree more. Critique groups are such an important part of the writing process. 

When you compare one of your earliest drafts of this story to the version in the published book, what stands out for you in terms of what is most different? Likewise, is there anything in particular that stands out that was included in your earliest drafts and survived the revision process?

ND: A few things that differ are that Familius added a couple more sound words to the double page spreads, and they created the catchy phrase, “If you’re grumpy or sad, frustrated or mad, just give a shout, and hug it out.”

I was pleased to see that Familius left the page breaks exactly where I put them.

DP: Thanks for sharing some of these details, Nancy. The collaboration between author and publisher is such a fascinating process. 

Reflecting on the journey from idea to published book, is there any one moment along the way that you credit with opening the door for this particular story to find its way to publication? 

ND: I can’t say there was one moment along the way that opened the door. What I can tell you though is after researching several possible publishers, I believed Hugga Loula was a perfect fit for Familius since their mission statement is to help families be happy. With that said, they focus their books around ten habits of healthy families. Hugga Loula exhibited loving together, working together, talking together, etc.  

DP: This is such a great example of how important it is to research and target your submissions to find the just-right publisher for each book. 

When you compare the path to publication for this book to the paths to publication for some of the many articles and stories you have published in other formats, such as magazines, what are some of the key similarities and differences in terms of the publication journeys for each?

ND: I decided early on that I was writing to be heard – not just for myself but to hopefully improve the lives of others through my written words. Some of the similarities are that one needs to really study the markets to make sure your piece would be a strong fit. Sometimes I’ve written articles, or stories or poems and not found a good fit right away, so I don’t necessarily immediately send out everything I write. But new markets pop up all the time, and sometimes existing publishers change their focus. One of the factors that’s changed is the timing with shorter pieces because of the Internet. One night I sent a piece off to an online publisher, and they published it the very next morning. I couldn’t believe it! 

DP: Wow! I think that's the fastest turn-around time I've ever heard of in this business!  

Your book launched during the middle of (a still ongoing!) pandemic. What have you found to be the most effective and meaningful way(s) to connect with young readers and book buyers during this challenging time? 

ND: It has been challenging because I was so looking forward to doing in-person readings and events at bookstores, preschools, libraries, elementary schools, etc. I live in Dane County in Wisconsin, and we have been under a mask mandate almost since the very beginning. Schools, libraries, preschools, and some bookstores have mostly been off limits as far as in-person presentations. But I still market Hugga Loula in a wide variety of other ways and am so thankful my publisher Familius does the same.

Photo Credit: Terri Wilhelm

DP: If you could go back in time, what would you tell your pre-published self? Or, said another way, what do you know now, that you wished you would have known a bit earlier?

ND: I strive to encourage writers (including myself) to never give up and pursue the goals they set for themselves. There may be naysayers along the way. Even though I was getting a number of my poems published early on in my writing, my mother still told me, “Your brother in high school writes better than you do.” (That really hurt, but I just told myself it wasn’t true.) At other times, my daughters encouraged me to spend my time pursuing other interests, but writing and speaking are what I really want to do. 

 DP: What an excellent practice, to encourage writers, including yourself. I'm so glad you persisted, Nancy. (My most recent picture book, Lucy's Blooms, is about persisting in the face of obstacles and discouragement from others, so I have a very soft spot for this sort of thing!) 

Do you have anything you’d like to tell us about what you’re currently working on? 

ND: I have taken a small step back from writing any new picture books and instead am focusing on marketing my published books (Hugga Loula, I Found a Wallet, and Runaway – all in 2021) and am currently working with Pen It! Publishing on another picture book Grandma’s Stories: Twins in Trouble. Besides that, I am researching picture book markets to find homes for around ten already completed picture book manuscripts. I am also working on an adult book about some of the unusual experiences I’ve had in my life.

DP: It sounds like 2021 was quite a year for you in terms of publication, and that you're off to a busy start in 2022! I wish you every success with all of your book projects. Thanks so much for sharing your Birth Story for HUGGA LOULA with us.

And now, readers, I hope you will consider heading on over to Bookshop or your favorite local indie to get yourself a copy of this book. Can't add another book to your own collection? Ask your local school or public library to include HUGGA LOULA in their collection and/or share this post with a friend. 

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Image Source: Nancy Dearborn

Familius Publishing released Nancy Dearborn’s first picture book Hugga Loula on March 02, 2021. Pen It! Publishing released her second picture book I Found a Wallet in July 2021. KDP Amazon released her middle grade novel Runaway in August 2021. Pen it! Publishing plans to release her third picture book Grandma’s Stories – Twins in Trouble in 2022, and Nancy has more picture books in the works. She is also working on a non-fiction adult book about some of her unusual life experiences.

She had an audio book titled When Will It Snow? released November 2018 by Highlights. Nancy has also had published over 250 articles, stories, and poems in various magazines, newspapers, anthologies, and in online publications.

Nancy enjoys speaking as well as writing. She is an active member of the SCBWI, Kids at Heart, and Write On! She has served as a judge for the SCBWI’s Magazine Merit Awards and spoken at the SCBWI’s national conference in LA. Nancy is the former leader of two writers’ groups.

Her awards include grants from the Arizona Commission on the Arts to attend out-of-state conferences, a Highlights scholarship to attend Chautauqua, and she won second and third place in two separate poetry contests.

She has worked as a high school English teacher, junior high reading teacher, and has been the lead teacher for babies, ones, and twos.

In her spare time, she enjoys walking, biking, hiking, and traveling. Nancy is the mother of identical twin daughters and has three granddaughters.

She lives in her hometown of Verona, Wisconsin.

Visit her online at nancydearbornauthor.com, or you may email her at nancy24dear at gmail dot com. 

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Birth Stories for Books is an occasional feature of Dawn Babb Prochovnic's blog. Dawn is the author of multiple picture books including, Lucy's Blooms, Where Does a Cowgirl Go Potty?, Where Does a Pirate Go Potty?, and 16 books in the Story Time With Signs & Rhymes series. Dawn is a contributing author to the award-winning book, Oregon Reads Aloud, and a frequent presenter at schools, libraries, and educational conferences. Contact Dawn using the form at the left, or learn more at www.dawnprochovnic.com.