© Cynthia Cliff, cynthiacliff.com

Cynthia, welcome! I am super excited about having a share in launching your beautiful new picture book THE WILD GARDEN that came out today! As you know, I've been a fan of your work ever since I discovered it on the Mid-Atlantic SCBWI's Illustrator Gallery. And I must tell you that when I read THE WILD GARDEN, I fell in love not only with your illustrations, but also with the sweet ode your words sing in honor of all that is beautiful and bountiful growing and living in wild, open spaces. Thanks so much for stopping by!

​No, thank you, Dionna! I'm delighted to be here! 
 
The honor is all mine! So, why did you decide to create a story that celebrates that which grows and lives in wild open spaces?

I think that I actually “wrote” this story when I was a child. I loved the wild places that surrounded my rural childhood home. I spent hours and hours outside exploring those places—the woodlands, meadows, and waterways. It was a magical place and time that made a big impression on me. The elders in my family would take us out to forage for edible plants and fruits like sassafras for tea. There were wild asparagus in the early spring, all kinds of wild berries for pies in the summer, and nuts in the fall that my mother would bake into a cake for Christmas. Being out in nature was always like a treasure hunt for the delightful, the delicious, and the curious. So, when tasked by Prestel to develop a garden themed story, The Wild Garden narrative developed organically as I mined my childhood memories.

Did you name the village of your story Mirren after the Village of Mürren in Switzerland?
 
Is there a Mürren in Switzerland? I had no idea. My Mirren is a totally made-up place. The name just popped into my head. I liked the sound of it. It is a lyrical word. I liked that it almost sounded like mirror. I thought that was useful in the story as the two settings in the book—the wild place and the community garden—share many similarities. In the book I bounce between the two places and compare them to each other. I tried out other names for the village but kept coming back to Mirren.

​Your color palette in THE WILD GARDEN reminds me of redbuds dressed up for Spring! Why did you choose it for this story?
 
I first started by developing a color palette for my main characters to make sure they would stand out against all the greenery in the story. I do have a palette that I tend to use, which felt right—colors that are bright but a bit earthly as well, so I leaned into those inclinations. Nature is colorful and I wanted the book to be colorful too.

Do you, like your main character Jilly, have your own wild place to explore? If so, what do you love about it and how does it inspire or inform your kidlit work?  

These days I do have a favorite local place to hike and go there as often as I can. It is a very large public space that has both grand vistas and small, intimate woody spaces. I enjoy that mix. In my life I’ve been lucky enough to spend time in many amazing wild places, but my very favorite place to hike is in northern Maine along the coast. In that place, the earthy, mossy, and dreamy woodlands run alongside a granite strewn shoreline, which makes these trails full of magic and wonder--a perfect mix of restfulness and energy. When you look closely, you can find tiny flowers, lichens, and all kinds of little creatures every step of the way. This is the kind of place where I like to recharge, explore, and draw. It’s a place that feeds the soul and inspires, which is important for everyone, and especially for creative people.

As you worked with your Prestel Junior editor Doris Kutschbach going from original submitted manuscript to the finished proof, what about the process surprised you, and/or did you enjoy the most?

I guess what surprised me the most was how incredibly hard it is to write a picture book story for children! The general public has no idea. It’s like catching lightening in a bottle, at least that's how it was for me. There were many, many drafts. Doris was so helpful, she offered encouragement and wise advice. For me the most enjoyable part of the process was making the artwork, of course. 
 
Why do you hope kids will enjoy reading your book? Is there a theme or lesson you'd like for them to carry away?

I think the main lesson is about understanding why the wild landscape is important. Those wildflowers, nuts, berries, and mushrooms are food for wild creatures. It is their garden, in a sense. And those little saplings, rocky hillsides, and mossy ponds are their homes. Often, when children are outside, they might not take the time to look around and think about that connection. On another level, a second lesson might be about speaking up to protect what you value and to not be afraid to do so. But it's my hope that the biggest lesson learned will come through kids enjoying and discovering wild places just like Jilly, my main character, does. I hope my book will encourage children everywhere to experience the richness and excitement found in nature, if they take the time to look. 

Wonderful lessons, indeed! Well, thanks so much, Cynthia, for allowing me to shine a spotlight on THE WILD GARDEN and on you today--your Book Launch Day! (WOOT!) Can't wait to read about Jilly's next adventure.

Thanks for having me!

©Cynthia Cliff, cynthiacliff.com

Thanks so much for stopping by, Doris! All the way from Munich, Germany! Hope your trip went well. HAHA!

The smoothest trip ever! I'm delighted, of course, to talk about The Wild Garden, Cynthia's latest picture book with Prestel Junior. 

The delight is all mine! So, when you received Cynthia's submission for THE WILD GARDEN , why did you want to acquire it?
 
I had worked with Cynthia on her first book Pie for Breakfast, which has been published by Prestel Junior in both English and German. For me, it was such a pleasure to work with Cynthia, and I really loved the result of our collaboration, so I knew that I wanted to work with her again. I guess that the idea to make a book about gardening and nature came from me! I believe that a mindful, respectful handling of nature is extremely important for the future of our planet and our children. Saving our planet is such a strong message of our time. Cynthia was excited about the idea. She came up with a range of proposals based around that topic and we developed the book from there.

 What do you love about Cynthia's illustrations found in THE WILD GARDEN?
 
Above everything else I love her fine sense of color and color combinations. How she uses tones, shades, accents and contrasts. Her images are not just colorful. There is a beautiful underlying harmony that ties the illustrations throughout the book together. I also love the attention to detail in her pictures. Each detail tells a little story and children can discover so much. Cynthia seems to understand really well how children view the world.

I adore Cynthia's color palette too! ​What do you love about the story's characters--Jilly, Bleu and Grandpa--and their love for wild, open spaces?
 
Jilly and her grandfather know their beloved wilderness very well. The story really shows the joy they feel when they're there. It's very nice that they find a clever way to share this joy and love of nature with the other townspeople and bring about a positive change in the way other people think. Their protest is peaceful, friendly and full of empathy--important things in our aggressive times!

So true! Do you have your own wild open space you enjoy? If so, describe what you love about it and what kinds of things you like to 'gather' there.
 
I am fortunate enough to have my own garden! It has old fruit trees and it is a bit overgrown, which means many animals feel comfortable there: insects, hedgehogs, squirrels, toads, newts and birds. My family and I enjoy the garden very much and look forward to fresh organic apples, plums, pears, berries, tomatoes and vegetables. The garden was a great gift, especially during the lockdown. Nature can really ground us and give us a sense of calm in stressful times.

I agree! Why do you hope children everywhere will read this book?
 
I hope that the book will encourage children all over the world to have fun discovering nature, learn mindfulness and understand the importance of protecting our planet. Every child, no matter how small, can make a difference. The book can also help children learn about peaceful communication--which can be applied in so many aspects of life!

I couldn't agree more, Doris. WOW! I have really enjoyed your visit. Thanks so much for allowing me to share in launching THE WILD GARDEN. Or should I say Danke! May it have many more printings!

​Doris Kutschbach wears many kidlit hats. Besides being a program manager and editorial director at Prestel Junior, she's an art historian who has written several children's books about art, including Art Detective: Spot the Difference. Doris is a passionate amateur gardener who lives with her family in Munich, Germany. You can find Doris's books HERE.

​​Filled with charmingly rustic illustrations of people, plants and animals, THE WILD GARDEN, written and illustrated by Cynthia Cliff and published on May 3, 2022, by Prestel Junior, is about community and biodiversity introduces children to the variety of ways things can grow and flourish in nature. Purchase your copy today, HERE!

©Cynthia Cliff, cynthiacliff.com

I am super excited to announce that tomorrow I'll be hosting a BOOK LAUNCH PARTY for THE WILD GARDEN, written and illustrated by Cynthia Cliff, and published by Prestel Junior.
WOOT!
I hope you'll join in the celebration! You won't regret getting to know Cynthia and her editor Doris Kutschbach a little better. And please, give a little shout-out by leaving a message in the comments.
On May 4th at 11 AM,  the Book-Launch fun for THE WILD GARDEN will continue as Schuler Books hosts a Facebook Live event with Cynthia engaging young audiences with a virtual storytime. Tune in HERE.

© Nancy Carpenter, nancycarpenter.website

The Great Stink: How Joseph Bazalgette Solved London's Poop Pollution Problem, written by Colleen Paeff and illustrated by Nancy Carpenter, is kidlit nonfiction at it's best. For one thing, it's an excellent telling of a most-interesting slice of history. What exactly was causing London's river Thames to stink to high heavens in 1858? Could it have been all that POOP floating within it? Could that poopy water, part of London's drinking supply, have be the culprit behind the deadly outbreaks of cholera? Hmmm, I wonder?

The Great Stink shines the spotlight on an unsung hero--Joseph Bazalgette. Though a civil engineer during a time when people were more apt to believe superstition than science, Joseph was a true detective, digging for the facts. (Sometimes literally!) He was persistent--never gave up in trying to convince the powers that be that clean drinking water was vital to the health and well-being of the city's inhabitants.

(Did you know that some people back then thought it was OK to drink murky, dirty water, so long as they let the gunk settle to the bottom of their glasses before drinking it? That's the kind of stinky stuff you'll discover when reading this book.)

Thankfully, Joseph wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty (in a clean-it-up sort of way). His love for his city and its inhabitants kept him on task for years. He wanted more than anything to clean up London's smelly problem. After Queen Victoria got ill, Joseph was finally given permission, funds, and manpower to solve London's poopy situation. When all was said and done, he created an entirely new thing--a sewage waste disposal system!

​People could finally unplug their noses!

​Kids are sure love this book. They will applaud Joseph's detective skills, tenacity, and his innovative waterworks project that kept the Thames flowing free from raw sewage. In fact, from the back matter, readers will learn that Joseph's method of separating wastewater from people's fresh water supply is still saving lives today.

Joseph created an AHA! moment in history! 

Though a little longer than some picture books, The Great Stink is fast paced. Carpenter's illustrations are sobering while at the same time super fun. They add a level of suspense to each spread. When discussing water conservation, teachers will not regret having a copy of this book in their classroom library. Students of any age will find this story as relevant in our COVID world as it was in the 1850 and 60s. Joseph Bazalgette's victory proved that disease and death can be prevented when common sense and science--the facts--prevail.

(c) Cynthia Cliff, cynthiacliff.com

​I love watching Chopped, a reality Food Network show that invites four chefs to prepare an appetizer, entrée, and dessert, each within a limited amount of time and by using a basket with mystery ingredients. A panel of judges rates each dish based on creativity, taste, and presentation. At the end of each round, the chef with the weakest palatal delight is placed on the proverbial chopping block, leaving a Chopped champion by dessert’s end. 

Now, I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking—Dionna, why are you wasting your writing time watching the veg-tube? My reply? This is writing research, not time wasted! I’ve gleaned a lot about the writing process by watching Chopped. Really.

For example:

Don’t forget the salt

We all know how important it is to add the right amount of salt to a dish, right? But I’ve seen many an episode when a classically trained chef forgets the essential dash, leaving the food, while beautiful, full of blah. Writing lesson learned? Don’t forget to add sensory delight to every scene by engaging all five senses, including taste!
 
Transform the ingredients

Chefs on Chopped are often given the strangest of mystery ingredients. Sometimes, I’m like, really? Artificial spray cheese? But a skilled chef can do it! He can turn that gloopy yellow goo into yum. How? Creativity combined with freshness. (FYI: artificial spray cheese makes delicious creamed kale.) My takeaway? Writers can spin original plot lines into something new by being creative.
 
 Add some fat 

I’ve seen quite a few chefs rise to the challenge when the basket is inherently lean, like say there are Rocky Mountain oysters in there. (Can you believe people actually eat bull testicles? Ewww!) A chef will slice them thin and deep fry them in sizzling oil. Readers like the taste of “fat,” too. They want stories full of emotion. Fat is where it’s at in a good way, at least when it comes to writing.

Sauce it together

I’ve seen chefs on the show rise to the top by using the unique flavor profile of an ingredient, like preserved rice juice, to create a delicious sauce that ties their dessert together. Writing lesson? We can tie our scenes together with a “sauce,” a theme, a setting, a mood.

Use the pantry wisely

Besides the basket ingredients, chefs on the show are encouraged to use fresh ingredients from the Chopped pantry in their dish. But if they add too many—say, a whole lot of chocolate to mask the taste of durian—the judges will ding them. They actually want to be able to taste the ingredients found in the basket, even if it’s a foul-smelling Asian fruit. Lesson: as writers, we should remind ourselves not to overwhelm a scene or dialogue with unnecessary details or description. Less is more basket.

Be true to yourself

Chopped champions are often those who stay true to their own style of cooking, like the one who borrowed his babcia’s chrusciki recipe, or the one who created her naani’s curry blend. The recipe for success as writers? Take a lesson from Granny. Mine from your culture, your homeplace, your language, your ancestry to create stories uniquely your own.

Tantalize the taste buds

I love it when chefs on Chopped create something so yummy, so scrumptious, that it leaves the judges saying, “I can’t stop eating this.” As writers, shouldn’t we try to do the same—leave our readers not just satisfied by the story’s end, but wishing for a sequel?

Remember all the ingredients

To avoid leaving a mystery ingredient off the plate, I’ve seen many a chef on Chopped count their ingredients before Ted, the host, says, “Please, step back.” (I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been left holding my breath, hoping that chef won’t forget those caramelized hot dogs hiding beneath their station!) As writers, we should enumerate, too. Have we included all that makes a story a story? Do we have a main character wanting something and doing something to get it; does he have an obstacle in his way and something at stake if he doesn’t obtain it? 

Count. 

Taste your food

Tasting as you go along is a secret to success in any kitchen. Writers should also “taste” their words as they go along by reading them out loud.

There are many more writing lessons from Chopped begging to be shared.

Writers cookbook, anyone? ​

Salutations, Wendy & Madelyn! So excited to have you stop by!

We're happy to be here!

I've always wanted to know more about coauthoring books, so thank you for sharing with me how you worked together to write THIS IS JUST A TEST and NOT YOUR ALL-AMERICAN GIRL.

Delighted!

Wendy, I'd like to pick your brain first. 

Shoot!

How did you and Madelyn meet and who came up with the idea that you'd be able to write a book together?

I met Madelyn at the Mid-Atlantic SCBWI conference, back when it was at a church in Arlington and you had to help put away chairs at the end! My first image of Madelyn was her holding an enormous bag of recycling to take home, which, if you know Madelyn, is perfectly fitting. Her books, like TAKE CARE and ONE SMALL HOP, have really strong environmental themes.

As it turned out, I ended up joining a writing group that Madelyn belonged to, and then, as another coincidence, Madelyn and I ended up with the same agent. It seemed like we were destined to be friends. We were starting our writing journeys at the same time, our kids were around the same age, and we both were terrible at playing tennis, so we could play together without anyone feeling bad. 

I started campaigning to write together after I found out that Madelyn had written a book with another friend. I remember thinking, “Huh, you can do that? You can get paid to hang out and write? How do we get in on that?!” 

Very interesting! After coauthoring THIS IS JUST A TEST with Madelyn, why were you excited about working together on your second book, NOT YOUR ALL-AMERICAN GIRL?

When you’re starting a story, you have to make so many decisions, it’s kind of exhausting, right? You have to figure out your character, where they live, what’s going to happen, who their family is, etc. One of the nice things about going back to the same world is that you’ve already gotten a lot of that figured out, so you can focus more on what’s going to happen next. I loved THIS IS JUST A TEST, the way it came together and the way the prose just bounced, so I was excited to return to that world of defined characters (and it’s in the ’80s, so there’s an unmistakable vibe).

I’ll also tell you that when we write together, my goal is to make Madelyn laugh. Not that she’s a hard sell, but Madelyn has really good taste, so if she laughs out loud, I know it’s a keeper. 

Making a friend laugh is a cool thing! What did you enjoy about doing events together, both in-person and virtual ones? 

After working together for so many years, we’ve really developed a comfortable patter together where we can kind of sense when to jump in or throttle back. We didn’t have a joint book come out this year, but we each had a book come out on the same day (again! coincidence!) so we had an online event with One More Page Books. This was one of my favorite events to date because we talked about each other’s books (a distinct improvement over talking about your own book), and then Madelyn had this brilliant idea that we should prepare trivia questions based on the topics in each other’s books, sort of like Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me. The audience really loved it. It was kind of a quirky detour from the usual book event, and more than that, you could see we were cracking each other up with these oddball questions. 

It’s not important who got more questions correct. The point is everyone had fun. Okay, fine, it was Madelyn. There will be a rematch. 

Haha! I'm sorry I missed that.

Time to pick your brain, Madelyn!

Pick away!

Two authors writing a story with one voice and from one character’s POV sounds hard! Did you and Wendy have to spend loads of time outlining each stage of the plot?

You know that age-old question: Are you a plotter or a pantser? For this one, Wendy and I were both “pantsers” so there wasn’t so much outlining. Or, you know, any. We did do some brainstorming. Lots and lots of brainstorming. We took turns writing chapters, but as we wrote, the other person would edit the previous chapter and then move the story forward. Then the next person would come in and edit the edits. Honestly, by the time the book was finished, I feel like we both touched every sentence. Each of us added layers. With each edit, we went deeper into our character and the story. It worked that way with humor, too. With each edit, the other person made it funnier. It was story building in the truest sense.

Whoa! That required a lot of mental muscle and discipline! I reckon, like with exercising, having someone by your side to sweat it out with helps with motivation and staying the course.

For sure!

After coauthoring THIS IS JUST A TEST with Wendy, why were you excited about working together on your second book, NOT YOUR ALL-AMERICAN GIRL?
 
I was excited to get back into that world, of course, and I was also excited to get more time hanging out with Wendy. When we wrote together, we worked on a lot more than just our writing; we worked on our lives. We figured out what to eat for dinner (chicken and dumplings, carnitas), how best to help our kids, how to deal with certain situations without losing it. We need to work on something else because I miss having her voice in my ear every day.

That's so sweet! (I LOVE chicken and dumplings, BTW!) How would you compare the coauthoring experience to writing solo? What part of it do you like better? 

They say you should write books only you can write; as coauthors, we wrote books we could only write together. As a solo writer, it can be a pretty lonely experience, so it was lovely to be able to share my brain. Writing with a partner, it was easier to break through writer’s block because there was someone who had ideas when I was out. We could also talk through things to move our character ahead. There was just less being stuck. And of course, the copy was cleaner because we had both been over it so many times. Also, it’s much easier to promote a book if you’re promoting the work of a friend. I was less self-conscious about saying, “Please read this!” And I’m also so chicken when it comes to reviews. I made Wendy read them first.

So what's NOT YOUR ALL-AMERICAN GIRL about?

It's about Lauren, who is Jewish and Chinese, and used to being the side dish alongside Tara, her best friend. But after Lauren’s audition for her school’s “All-American” musical goes extraordinarily well, Lauren wonders if it’s her turn to be the star. Lauren’s hopes are dashed when the director tells her she doesn’t look the part to play the lead. And who is cast instead? It’s blonde-haired, blue-eyed Tara! Lauren can't bring herself to sing anymore, jeopardizing her role in the ensemble and her friendship with Tara. But with the help of a button-making business, the music of Patsy Cline, and her two bickering grandmothers, Lauren just might find her voice again. 

Considering your backgrounds, I can see why you and Wendy were the perfect coauthors to tell Lauren's story! Well, as fun as it's been, I reckon it's time to go. Thank you both for being here. It was great fun learning about your process. And do let us know when Book 3 comes out!

Our pleasure, and will do!

​To learn more about NOT YOUR ALL-AMERICAN GIRL, a middle-grade full of heart and hilarity that explores what it truly means to be all-American, check out these reviews: HERE, HERE and HERE.

​Wendy Shang is the author of several books for children, including The Great Wall of Lucy Wu, which won the Asian Pacific American Librarian Association Award for Children’s Literature. Wendy's latest picture book illustrated by Lorian Tu is entitled  The Rice in the Pot Goes Round and Round, released this past fall by Orchard Books, an imprint of Scholastic, Learn more about Wendy at wendyshang.com.

Madelyn Rosenberg is the author of a dozen books for children, including One Small Hop, a Junior Library Guild selection, and Cyclops of Central Park, a picture book about seeing the world that came out just when the pandemic began and we couldn’t. You can find Madelyn online at squealermusic.com.

Hi, Tom! I am superdy-dooperdy delighted to have you here on my blog! Thanks oodles for stopping by!

You're welcome, Dionna. Happy to be here!

I must confess, while being present during one of your author visits, I was absolutely amazed at your ability to fill the room with electric-fun! The kids were soooo excited to engage with you (and your character drawings). It was obvious to me that you love doing school visits!

You're right. I absolutely love doing school visits! 

Any advice for us kidlit creators who might be hesitant about doing school visits, or who are afraid of boring the kids to tears?

First, I'd say, don't view doing school visits as an obligation. View them as an unmatched opportunity of getting energized by kids! I recommend doing them even for authors who are just getting started. View your visit as a chance to just talk to kids about books, writer's block, or whatever else the kids want to talk about. If you're not ready for a whole gym-full, try talking to a single class or even a small book club. 

​What message do you try to get across to the kids while doing a visit?

I don't think educating is my purpose at all. My job is to energize everybody—to read, to write, to draw. The kids don't need to remember anything I said as long as they remember that I have a great time making stories and they can, too.

Since the Pandemic, have you missed doing in-person school visits? How have virtual visits worked out for you?
​
I do miss the in-school visits, but I don't miss the travel and hassles that can go with it. It can be absolutely exhausting, especially at schools with bad microphones. I do not miss the bad microphones! But I totally miss the direct connection with the kids.

Virtual visits have their technology problems, too. But now that EVERYBODY knows how to use Zoom, it's a lot different than the days when I might be the first Skype visit a school had ever had. Also, I can do so many more visits in one day! I think my record is twelve in one day! But six is a much better number. Meanwhile, four in-person visits in one day are too many.

Twelve Zoom visits in a single day? That’s incredible! What works for you when doing an in-school visit? What doesn't?

I don't think the hard sell works. Don't try to be a commercial for your book. Instead, be a champion of reading in general!

Something that works great is this: “I love to write books, but I also love to READ books. I'm looking for a new one to read, can anybody tell me about their favorite book?”
 
Using a white board, you can either make a list or make a mash-up drawing with characters from each book. I tell kids I'm going to take the list to the library so I know what to check out. They are SO excited to tell me what to read next. (And, of course, it's a lot of fun to pretend I've never heard of the books or that I've misunderstood the title.)

Tom, it’s been so fun having you here! Thank you so much for sharing some school-visit tips, and please, do tell your talented wife CeCe Bell I said “Hi!” and congrats on El Deafo becoming a cartoon series! 

It’s been my pleasure! And will do.

Tom Angleberger is an author-illustrator with more than thirty books to his name. His Origami Yoda series is so deliciously packed full of fun that kids have gobbled them up by the millions. (Thankfully, the books don’t reciprocate.) His pen of choice is the Pilot G2 gel roller, 1.0 for everyday doodling, and the .7 for illustrating Origami Yoda. Tom gets inspiration from Star Wars, Fumiaki Kawahata, Daniel Pinkwater, and his own social disasters. Tom’s superpowers include Asperger’s and making a room full of preteens roar with laughter during school visits. His latest books include titles in his Geronimo Stilton and DJ Funkyfoot graphic novel series and in his Didi Dodo, Future Spy chapter book series set in the Flytrap Files universe. HIs graphic novel Two-Headed Chicken will be released this year by Walker Books US. His latest kidlit news (and how to fold an origami Yoda) can be found at origamiyoda.com.

Welcome, Collen, to my blog! I'm so excited to introduce everyone to you, Kelly Dyksterhouse's newest Kidlit Raven!

Thanks, Dionna, for having me here. Being part of Raven Quill Literary is a dream come true!

It's a great welcoming place, for sure. So tell me, how did you find your way into becoming a kidlit author-illustrator?

I've always been an artist. I tried everything to share my art with the world, from making bags and purses, home décor, murals, etc. One day my husband was watching the news and they had a segment on Jan Brett. He said, "Hey, you should do that." Until that moment I didn't even think of a children's book illustrator as a job. About a month later, I received a mailing for classes at Minneapolis College of Art and Design, where I would occasionally take classes. They were offering a Children's Book Illustration class and I thought it was so serendipitous. From the first class I was hooked. I have never tried to do anything with my art other than children's books since that moment in 2006/2007.

Serendipitous, indeed! What happened next?

As for the writing part, it naturally evolved after learning to tell a story visually. I started taking classes at The Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis. They offer lots of classes about writing for children and now (silver lining to COVID) you can take them online! I joined a critique group online and then a local group formed from one of the Loft classes. We still meet once a week and Lindsey McDivitt and Cynthia Surissi are both members. Our critique group is amazing and so helpful, keeping me motivated to generate new material. 

Learning from and being supported by others is truly a part of the kidlit journey! 

Yes it is!

​(c) Colleen Muske, colleenmuske.com

​What do you love about producing work with children in mind?

I will try and not sound like a sap when I say this, but it is truly the best thing! Children are so imaginative and observant. They love to learn new things, as do I. It's such a challenge to write for children, you can't be lazy, they notice everything. I really love the thought of one of my books connecting with a child and making them feel something. I love trying to tell a story in 500 words (or less). It's so hard. Also, I've learned my stories have to have heart and a sense of hope, even for a tough subject, or they just won't work for young readers. 

How is being an illustrator of children's stories especially fun for you?
 
Whether I am illustrating my story or someone else's, adding a visual backstory for kids is a lot of fun. I have to push beyond where I am comfortable to keep up with their imaginations. I love finding details in a book where every time you read it you discover new things in the illustration, and I think kids love that too. 

I agree! So how did you and Kelly find each other, and why are you glad?

I've been working on Kelly for a while! Cynthia first suggested I submit to Kelly after I parted ways with my first agent. I was getting really nice rejections, but could never get over the getting-acquired road bump. I really needed an agent to find the right home for my stories. When Kelly mentioned she was looking for an author/illustrator, Cynthia reminded her I was both (Isn't Cynthia the best!!!). I feel so lucky to have a friend who is such a great cheerleader for my work. This time I sent Kelly a couple of dummy books and it worked! YAY!!! 

Congrats! Kelly is great!

To be honest, I'd been watching Kelly do her thing as an agent for years. Since she represents two people in my critique group, I saw her feedback and suggestions frequently. She always has such insightful, helpful things to say about a manuscript. I've been impressed with her for a long time! I knew I needed someone editorial, organized, and someone who could make a plan for my career. Kelly is all of those things and more. And she is sooooooo nice!

You're right about that! Well, thanks for stopping by. And do let us know when your work is finally acquired!

Will do, and thanks for having me!!

2017-2021 Highlighter team drawn by AMY MULLEN, mintparcel.com

After five years of  curating the content for the Highlighter, the ezine serving the  Mid-Atlantic region of SCBWI, I've decided to hand my precious baby over to another caretaker. It was a hard decision. I so enjoyed discovering (and uncovering) all the amazingness that belongs to the collective of kidlit creators that live in my neck of the woods.

Each quarter there were so many amazing books being published! So many awards being won! So many industry professionals to learn from! And I attempted to capture it all in our SCBWI newsletter! A maddening thing to attempt for a volunteer, but I tried. Hearing our members express appreciation and gratitude many issues over, made it worthwhile. 

I was blown away when as a thank you the amazing Meg Medina had her publisher send me a copy of her lovely book EVELYN DEL REY IS MOVING AWAY, and when the talented Jacqueline Jules did something likewise! How cool is that!

Honestly, I won't miss spending all those tremendous amount of volunteer hours obsessing over every feature, every article, every iota of member good news. But I will miss working with ​my amazing coeditors, Susan VanHecke (who rocks socks with her red pen), and Tami Traylor (who rocks all things layout and design). They are simply FANTABULOUS.

If  you're a member, you won't regret logging into SCBWI and checking out our not-so-little newsletter. You'll find our final one--the Fall 2021 Highlighter--on the Mid-Atlantic SCBWI website.

On its pages you'll discover:

• a fun article about school visits with Tom Angleberger
• a partnership piece with coauthors Wendy Shang and Madelyn Rosenberg
• an author spotlight on Kathryn Erskine
• a Meet-the-Artist segment with Robert Meganck
• an article by Gabriella Aldeman about our members' books being produced for the stage and screen
• a craft article by me about lessons learned from watching the reality show Chopped, and so much more!

Click the Highlighter tab on the right.  Every issue produced by our team from 2017 through 2021 can be found THERE.

Welcome, Lindsey, to the final day of my blog party, celebrating Raven Quill's mini-flock that belongs to the amazing Kelly Dyksterhouse!

Huge thanks Dionna! Glad to be here. It's been wonderful learning more about the other members of Kelly's Crew!

I've enjoyed it, too! Now, your turn. How'd you get interested in writing for kids?

An especially challenging year in my life that got me writing--the abrupt loss of my healthcare job and coping with my mom's terminal illness in the middle of Minnesota's winter. I'd long wanted to write, but mainly procrastinated by reading books on the craft. But the burning need to escape the house led to hours in busy, cozy coffee shops and actual attempts at writing. It was stumbling onto picture books filled with stereotypes of older people that prompted me to try writing picture books with a more accurate, upbeat account of the aging process. 

Upbeat While Aging--that's my metaphorical work-in-progress! Are there any other topics that excite you, the author?

I've known so many fantastic, older role models and I'm totally drawn to reading and writing about people that have enjoyed the different stages of their lives. It's very inspiring to realize a person accomplished something in later life that absolutely required the life experience they'd acquired. I'm also drawn to topics related to nature, to our environment and our changing world.

Seeing Nana compete in the Senior Olympics would inspire a kid, to be sure! So what do you love about working with Kelly?

I feel incredibly fortunate to be represented by Kelly. Cynthia Surrisi, another client of Kelly's, introduced us. Lucky me! One thing I love about Kelly is how talented she is at helping me fine tune my picture book manuscripts. She unerringly puts her finger on things that bothered me about the manuscript, albeit subconsciously! Each manuscript has been so improved by Kelly's knowledge of writing and the current market.

I agree. Kelly knows her stuff! Well, thank so much for closing out our blog party. It's been super fun "meeting" everyone. Don't make yourself a stranger. 

I won't! Thanks again for hosting the party.

Greetings, C.M.! Big WOOT! for stopping by, despite your crazy editing schedule right now.

No problem. No raven left behind, right?

Exactly! So, how'd you get interested in writing for kids?

I was a born mimic. From the first time a picture book was put in my hands I wanted to copy the drawings. As soon as I learned to read, I wanted to write my own stories. In third grade, I filled spiral notebooks with stories of two sisters who solved mysteries of missing crayons and cookies. I see, I read, and I want to make. I particularly dug in to middle grade and identified with the outsider-girls. I do not connect with the term "popular." So, making stories for the rest of us has been my joy. And I love a good pager turner, so mystery is a fun challenge. I love introducing kids to a genre that they can continue to enjoy as an adult.

A well-spun mystery makes for a great read. What subject excites the author in you?

I am one of those people who'd test smack dab in the middle of the left-brain/right-brain function scale. That probably explains why, when I practiced law, I wanted to sing and dance my opening statements in trials. That also translates into wildly diverse interests as a writer. At the moment I am working on two books that will be published in ’22 and ’23. One is a YA non-fiction on a female Viking warrior, and the other is MG fiction on fangirls and influencers. I have written picture books, a MG mystery series, YA non-fiction, and an adult mystery! If there is a rule about having a groove, it's not for me. 

I think more trial lawyers should dance and sing! Sounds like the workings of a whole-brain kind of gal!  Do tell, how did you find Kelly Dyksterhouse as an agent, and what do you love about working with her?

Kelly and I were in the same MFA class at Vermont College of Fine Arts. We ate too many carbs together at Dewey Hall, laughed in the wine pit, cried on laundry day, and experienced all the joy that is that program. We became great friends and I met her family and watched her children grow up. I know her to be a lovely, principled person, a great mom, and community member. She’s a superb writer and fabulous editor. When she told me she was considering becoming an agent, I immediately knew my work was a good fit for her, and she would be a great addition to the agenting side of the kidlit community. I love that she is committed to transparency, nurturing, and finding great matches.  We make a great team!

You've got the inside scoop on all things Kelly, sounds like. Well, thanks again for hopping on over during my blog party. So glad you made it!

Glad to be here.

C. M. Surrisi is the author of THE BEST MOTHER, a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard picture book selection, and of The Quinnie Boyd Mysteries, an Agatha-nominated series for middle grade readers. C. M. practiced law for many years before pursing an MFA at Vermont College of Fine Arts. Since her graduation, she has taught writing in UNC’s Great Smokies Writing Program, as well as many SCBWI and librarian conferences. She is a member of the Author’s Guild, Mystery Writers of America, and The National League of American Pen Women, and is the current president of the Minnesota chapter of Sisters in Crime. She lives on five acres in Minnesota with her husband, loveable Cavalier King Charles spaniel, Sunny, and two incorrigible cats, Cosmo and Casper. C. M. is rep'd by Kelly Dyksterhouse. 
Watch for her two new books, BONE QUAKE: AWAKENING A FEMALE VIKING WARRIOR from Chicago Review Press in 2022, and  THE UNOFFICIAL LOLA BAY FAN CLUB from Putnam in 2023. C. M. is rep'd by Kelly Dyksterhouse of Raven Quill Literary.

Hi, Tom! Delighted you could make it to Day Ten of our Blog Party!

Glad to have made it!

So how did you find your way into becoming a kidlit author and why do you love it?

Unlike many writers who were born with a book in their hands and always love to read, I had trouble learning to decode text on a page, and was not drawn to books as a kid. Reading was hard enough, but writing? It was my least favorite subject—all of that spelling and grammar and punctuation stuff. The best way to spend time at school, as far as I was concerned, was on the playground at recess. It wasn't until I was in my early 20's that I got bitten by the reading bug, and early 30's when the writing bug struck. I've been scratching those itches ever since.
 
It's a scratch that must be itched (or is it the other way around?) Do share! What project of the heart have you been scratching out recently?

I've just started a new YA, tentatively titled Blowup. It's about 17-year-old Riley Lowe, a sensitive, good-hearted kid who, in a moment of teen brainlessness, throws an M-80 off the bridge into Salvation Creek Canyon, and starts a wildfire that blows up and threatens everything he loves. As you can see, it's a comedy . . . 

Kidding. Although not completely. I find that life, even when it's hard and is pushing us to the point of breaking, inevitably has funny moments in it. To leave those out of a story would paint only a partial picture of the human struggle to overcome adversity. It's not just about me, the author, providing a bit of comic relief, giving the reader a break from the intensity of conflict; it's about depicting characters living life fully, in all of its nuances, including humor. 

A tragicomedy for teens? Sounds like something teens will really enjoy reading. What do you love about working with Kelly Dyksterhouse of Raven Quill Literary?

After 30+ years with another agency, the culture there shifted and I realized it was time to go. I wanted a smaller, more intimate, hands-on agency, and an agent that was aligned with my sense of literary aesthetics. Kelly fit the bill perfectly. She has fantastic editorial chops, and is diplomatically relentless in her expectations, guiding every step of the way. She brings out the best in me. Working with her has been everything I hoped for. I could not be more happy with the change. 

Change can often be good for the soul! Well, thanks again for hopping on over! I've enjoyed having you!

Happy to acquiesce! 

​Tom Birdseye was decidedly uninterested in writing as a kid – or any academic aspect of school, for that matter – never imagining that he would eventually become a published author.  And yet nineteen titles later – novels, picture books, and nonfiction – that is exactly what has happened. His work has been recognized for its excellence by the International Reading Association, Children’s Book Council, National Council of Social Studies, Society of School Librarians International, Oregon Library Association, and Oregon Reading Association, among others. Combined, his books have either won or been a finalist for state children’s choice awards 43 times. Life, it seems, is full of who’d-a-thought-its. He lives and writes in Corvallis, Oregon, but launches mountaineering expeditions to his beloved Cascades on a regular basis. Visit his website at tombirdseye.com.

​Welcome, Nedda, to Day Nine of my Blog Party! I'm super honored to have you here!

Thank you for asking me to participate!

How did you find your way to becoming a kidlit author and what do you love about it?

My path to writing kidlit began during a time of extreme change in my life. I had just moved across the country to California with my husband and children. After many joyous years of teaching early childhood, I decided to take a step back from the classroom to help my daughters acclimate to their new home. But while they were at school, I was left wondering, “What about me? What do I do now?” That’s when I decided to fulfill a goal that had always been on my bucket list—writing a novel.

Since I was young, writing has always been a powerful creative outlet and means for processing the highs and lows of life. So it wasn’t a surprise that I was turning to it again when I was feeling lost. I knew right away that whatever I ended up writing would be for kids. Both as a teacher and a mother, I have learned way more from children than I’ve taught. Their journeys, coupled with my own childhood experiences, were begging to make their way onto the page.  

Nicely put! Do tell about the project of the heart that you queried to agents, the one that snagged Kelly Dyksterhouse's heart? 

Happy to share! It's a middle-grade fantasy inspired by my experience growing up as a second-generation Egyptian-American and by the Arabic folktales I heard as a child. Fantasy and adventure stories have always been my favorites as a reader. Bring on all the important themes, but entertain me first. While my novel explores issues, i.e., identity, family, and home, my main focus has always been to write a fun story filled with twists and turns. 

I can't wait to read it! What made you decide to sign with Kelly?

I recently signed with Kelly, so the reasons I chose her are fresh in my mind. First and foremost, I was blown away by Kelly’s understanding of what I set out to do with my novel. It’s like she was in my head. Her attention to detail also impressed me. There were elements in the story I labored over to get just right that she astutely picked up on. She also cares greatly about getting meaningful books in the hands of children. As a teacher and parent, this was very important to me. 

Thanks for sharing! Do let us know when your book is acquired!

Will do, and thanks again for interviewing me on your blog.

Hi, Deborah! Thanks for coming!

Hi, Dionna! Thanks for throwing this party for us! 

Do tell, please, how did you find your way to becoming a kidlit author? 

To be honest, I'm not completely sure what drove me to become a writer. It has always felt so natural to me, I've never seriously questioned why I'm willing to wake up early every morning to scratch out stories before work! But, I know exactly why I have chosen to write for children. They are the dream audience--open-minded, enthusiastic, curious, and brutally honest. As a teacher, my favorite part of the day is when I read out loud to my students and see the pure delight of their reactions to a well-crafted story. My dream is to one day write the book that makes students ask, "Is it read-aloud time, yet?"

Do you have a project of the heart you're working on?

The manuscript I have currently on submission was definitely a work of the heart--a middle grade fantasy story based on Jewish mythology and folklore. When I was a kid, Jewish characters in children's literature were confined almost entirely to historical fiction, in stories of pogroms, immigration, and the Holocaust. While those stories are incredibly important, I was aching for Jewish characters in the fantasy and science fiction books I loved best. Today there's a growing movement of Jewish fantasy, and diverse Jewish characters across all genres, that I would be so honored to be part of.

Sounds exciting! So, what do you love about being represented by Kelly Dyksterhouse?

What don't I love about working with Kelly? From the beginning, she has been so supportive of me and my strange little manuscript. She's given me the feedback I needed to elevate my book to the next level, but she's never made me feel like I have to change in order to be successful. Because this is my debut manuscript, I'm still learning the ropes of the publishing process, and she has been so patient in answering my questions and making sure I feel comfortable about the decisions we're making. I really couldn't imagine a better experience!

Thanks for stopping by, and do let us know when your manuscript is being released!

Will do, and thanks for having me! 

Salutations! Leslie, and welcome!

Happy to stop by!

How did you find your way to becoming a kidlit author, and what do you love about it?

I started out as an illustrator, something I'd wanted to do since I was very young, but along the way I became interested in writing, too. Illustration is very time consuming and I've always had a day job. The work was every evening and weekend until the job was finished. What I love about writing is it's a creative endeavor that I can pursue anytime, anywhere.

I've always wished I could illustrate! So what project of the heart are you working on?

I started working on a historical novel about 8 years ago. It's centering around the experiences of Choctaw people during the time of removal and resettlement in the 1830's

I was just researching a little about that time period. History is fraught with injustice, isn't it.

Yes, it is. 

What do you love about working with Kelly?

I can tell that Kelly loves what she does, and that she believes in me. I can't imagine having anyone else as my agent!

Thanks, Leslie, for participating in my blog party!

No problem, Dionna. Glad to do it! 

Salutations, Ashley! So happy to feature you here during Day Six of my Blog Party!

Excited to he here!

Please, tell. How did you find your way into becoming a kidlit author and why do you love it?

I'm a kidlit author with a confession: I didn't read much as a child. Instead, I climbed trees and tracked butterflies and dreamed about flying to the moon. By age five, I'd set my sights on becoming an astronaut, and I pursued that goal all the way through college. But as I squinted up at my engineering degree, I saw that I'd become too near-sighted to pilot a ship to far-off places. So, I flew (coach) to grad school and started work in robotics, determined to launch something, if not myself. Oddly enough, that's where my interest in writing began.

Interesting! Tell more!

Science requires a lot of reading and reporting, and I was slow at those tasks due to what I later learned was dyslexia, but I eventually found my way into the world of academic literature. Eventually, paper writing became a source of joy and pride. Though I never built a robot to visit mysterious other worlds, I used machines to model mysteries of this terrestrial one, including honeybee navigation, bat sonar, and whale songs. My interest in these topics didn't stop when I left academia to nurse a sick kid back to health. That's when I started thinking about exploring science and technology in kidlit.

Fast forward many years (and manuscript drafts), and I'm a Raven Quill Literary Agency author! What I love about writing for young people is that I can approach topics in many different ways—inside a novel with a beating heart, as creative nonfiction, across picture book spreads and comic book panels. And I'm always thinking about ways to engage young people (like my kid-self) who are reluctant to read.

What project of the heart are you working on?
 
This year, I've divided my time between two totally different projects of the heart. One is an MG novel about loyalty and loss and ligers (captive big cats). The idea came to me nearly ten years ago, and figuring out how to make the story catch fire has required patience and vulnerability. But the book is now on submission! My other project is a YA biography collection that I proposed to a publisher just ten months ago. It has required action and organization (to make connections with pioneering women in the music industry). I'm writing with a friend and fellow music lover, Maureen Charles, and we're excited to share these inspiring bios with young readers next year. Music Mavens will be published by Chicago Review Press in fall 2022. 

CONGRATS! What do you love about working with Kelly Dyksterhouse of Raven Quill Literary?

In an interview on this very blog, Kelly said, "I think that a true writer is someone who is always growing their craft." One of the many things I love about working with Kelly is her commitment to career development. Kelly shares craft resources and book recommendations with her "mini flock." She offers imaginative insight about new work and detailed feedback on finished drafts. I lost count of how many times Kelly read my MG novel during a recent revision, but her comments were always supportive and spot-on!

I also have to highlight Kelly's community spirit. When I arrived (virtually) at the agency in the long winter of 2020, the birds-of-a-feather culture I found there was such a surprise and delight. The agents host Zoom hangouts. The authors meet in Slack and FB groups. And everyone’s deals, awards, and book birthdays are celebrated. Participation in RQLA's many group activities is optional, of course, but for me, this connection has become an essential piece of support in my writing life. And I'm so grateful to Kelly and the other agents for making the "nest" such a warm and friendly place. 

A nurturing place to land, to be sure! Well, thanks for participating in my blog party.

Absolutely! Thanks for having me!

Welcome, Kellye, to Day Five of my blog party! Thanks so much for coming!

Hi Dionna! It’s so great to be here. Thank you for all you do to support kidlit authors and illustrators! 

Your turn to tell. How did you find your way into becoming a kidlit author and why do you love it?

I grew up reading and loving kidlit and never stopped! For a few decades now, I believe some of the best, most ground-breaking writing has come from picture books, middle grade and YA novels and non-fiction.

After working 14 years as a newspaper reporter, I quit to become a full-time, self-employed freelancer. My first year went surprisingly well, and my boss (me!) rewarded her only employee (me!) with a trip to Los Angeles for SCBWI’s annual conference. That was in 2000, and I’ve been a member ever since. Both the Iowa and Rocky Mountain chapters have been so important in helping me learn about the industry and connect with a creative community, which I think is critical. At the national conference, I heard a woman speak about her experience as a student in Vermont College of Fine Arts’ MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults program. It sounded amazing, and I wanted to do it. But with a job, a spouse, and our young son, I didn’t have much time and even less money.

Four years later, I took out student loans and entered the program! I graduated in 2006 and have been writing fiction for young people seriously since then. 

SCBWI and MFA programs like VCFA are true-blue learning opportunities for anyone in this industry, to be sure! Do tell more!

I signed with Kelly in May 2020 (my birthday week and during a pandemic!). Fourteen years is a loooooong time to write seriously, dream of being published, and not be! One issue: I was a reluctant querier. After writing six novels, the one I sent Kelly was only the second I’d queried. I also experienced a serious illness during that time. Anyway, Kelly sold my middle grade novel about a year after I signed with her.

Awesome sauce!

It was awesome!

The answer to your second question—why do you love it?—is why I kept writing. I love how writing allows me to constantly learn, experiment, and improve. The “kidlit years” offer such rich material, and I very much still feel like a kid inside! When I was young, books were a lifeline, and it is my biggest dream to pay it forward and create work that inspires young readers, makes them think, and gives them hope.

Hope is so important in these uncertain times. I heard one of your projects of the heart was acquired recently. Do tell, what's it about?
 
I  just turned in a revision for Dad’s Girlfriend and Other Anxieties, a contemporary middle grade novel and my debut, which is scheduled to be published in the fall of 2022 by Albert Whitman and Co. The story was inspired by my move to Denver in early 2015. After living in Iowa for about 100 years, the only thing I knew about Denver was that my spouse had a job there. (That “young son” of ours had just graduated from high school!) I was in a bit of a funk about my writing, and my dear friend, Sarah Aronson, suggested I take a playful approach. I took her words to heart! Colorado was so different, and I knew I’d never again see it with new eyes. Everyone loves Colorado, including me, and it was fun to write my protagonist’s contrarian view.

Here’s the book's blurb that ran in Publisher’s Weekly: "When her father takes her to Colorado to meet his girlfriend for the first time, 12-year-old Ava must come to grips with both her newly diagnosed anxiety disorder and her rapidly changing family. But she learns from the mountains that it's okay to want two opposite things at once, and that the bravest people are the ones who are scared but do what's right anyway."

My move to Colorado was the shakeup I didn’t know I needed, and it also triggered a lot of anxiety. I was diagnosed with anxiety in the late ’90s, as an adult, but I believe it’s something I probably was born with and always have had. I finished the first draft of this story in late 2016 and, even then, anxiety in young people was a growing concern. Obviously, the pandemic has made it so much worse, creating serious mental health challenges for many young people. I’m glad that mental health is being discussed more openly now, and I hope my story can serve as a mirror or window and sliding glass door—to use literary scholar Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop’s iconic metaphors—for middle grade readers.

Dad's Girlfriend and Other Anxieties sounds like a great MG read! What do you love about working with Kelly Dyksterhouse of Raven Quill Literary?

I love everything about working with Kelly! She’s scary-smart! She’s also kind, funny, responsive, and grounded. She’s very insightful and an excellent editor. She has solid industry experience and, at the same time, as a relatively new agent, she’s highly motivated to build and deepen relationships with editors. I also appreciate how genuinely positive she is. It’s about keeping the focus on what’s important—the joy of creating and making a difference in young people’s lives. I love how Kelly is helping her clients create our mini-flock community, too!

I also feel incredibly grateful to be part of the bigger flock! Shout out to founder and agent Jacqui Lipton, the other agents Kortney Price and Lori Steel, and assistant Lindsay Flanagan, who are really working hard to create something special at Raven Quill Literary Agency.

I agree! Raven Quill is an amazing kidlit place to be planted! Thanks for stopping by Kellye, and do let us know when your book releases so we can throw it a launch party!

Thanks for having me, Dionna, and will do!

Kellye Crocker is the author of Dad’s Girlfriend and Other Anxieties, a contemporary middle grade novel coming in the Fall of 2022 from Albert Whitman & Co. She’s a former newspaper reporter and freelance journalist who has written for Better Homes and Gardens, Parents, and Glamour. She’s also worked in library youth services and has taught writing at two Iowa universities. Now, she’s encouraging the next generation of writers as part of the Young Writers Program faculty at Lighthouse Writers Workshop, the largest literary nonprofit in the Mountain West. Kellye, who lives in Denver, holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts and a bachelor’s degree in news-editorial from the Missouri School of Journalism. Like her protagonist, Kellye lives with anxiety and is always up for some belly breathing. She also loves to read, make art from the recycling bin, and explore the mountains with her husband and their naughty black lab. You can connect with her at kellyecrocker.com, on Twitter @kelcrocker and on Instagram: @kellyecrocker. Kellye is rep'd by Kelly Dyksterhouse of Raven Quill Literary.

Hi there, Jess! Thanks for stopping by during Day Three of my blog party!

Wouldn't have missed it!

Tell us, please. How did you find your way into becoming a kidlit author and why do you love it?
 
I was a creative writing major in college. I weirdly enjoyed reading what my fellow students wrote more than I enjoyed reading what I wrote. And they sure could write better than me. About 20 of us graduated from the program each year. There were about 200 such programs around the country, which meant that every year there were 4,000 better writers than me entering the market. I was so screwed. So instead, I thought, maybe I could continue to do that joyful discovery of what others wrote. I’d be a book publisher!

I did exactly that.  Sometimes as a publisher when I thought there should be a book and it was of a sort that even I could write—like a collection of quotes or a quiz book or a hot dog cookbook—I’d do that.  And holy smokes, I ended up being the author of quite a few adult books.

At one point, I saw a market opportunity for “stealth learning” books—classroom content that didn’t smell or look like classroom content that could be published in a way to be kid-driven versus teacher-driven.  I started an imprint (Planet Dexter) at Penguin to publish those.  When I couldn’t find somebody to write the type of books I wanted, I just wrote them myself.  It was easier, quicker, cheaper.  Soon I ended up being the author of quite a few children’s books.

Thereafter, if I had an idea for a children’s book, publishers and co-conspirators (illustrators) were open to the possibility.  So I ended up having random picture books and nonfiction books published.

(I hesitate to use the word “love” as I think you expected me to.  I’m the odd one out.  Maybe I don’t belong in this wonderful Raven club.  I often feel like an undercover Philistine.)

Being completely honest, I'd say that the publisher part of me loves spotting an opportunity and creating something that nails a response more that the writer part of me loves writing. 

Sounds like stealthy kidlit shenanigans to me! What projects of the heart are you working on or have you acquired?
 
Picking up from where I exited the previous question, I get jazzed by spotting an untapped slot on the bookshelf. So I've got two projects right now.  

One, I was lucky enough to first publish Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid, which was a matter of shaking up things with a journal format for a middle school audience. It had never been done before (I love doing stuff like that). And ever since I’ve been waiting for somebody to do a journal format for the market under Wimpy Kid, for younger kids.  Nobody has. Finally, I found an illustrator to work with me as the author on that notion. Fingers crossed.
 
Second, I’ve always wanted to write a mystery.  I’ve got over 25 years of failed starts.  I could never get a comfortable voice. Then I wrote a blog this past year for 134 straight days. I was incredibly comfortable with that voice. Winder of wonders! Why not write a mystery in blog format?

I’ve always loved pushing content and narrative to unexpected places. I first published Wimpy on a computer screen at a time when everybody told me kids would never read it.  Kinney and I then created Poptropica, my notion to publish stories via a gaming literacy.  I published a book for sick kids printed on tissues in a box. And I’m working on a collection of inspirational quotations printed on rolling papers. I’ve tried as a publisher for decades, to fight the urge to confine narrative and content to stacks of paper bound on the left. So this storytelling via a blog thing has my interest right now.


Cool stuff, Jess! What do you love about working with Kelly Dyksterhouse of Raven Quill Literary?

Kelly puts up with my weirdness and madness. She’s honest. She doesn’t give up. And most of all, she just doesn’t take my stuff and hand it off to publishers. Writing is a lonely thing to do.  I often get a manuscript to 85% of what it could and should be. And then I’m stuck. Whereas at the office or with a staff, a full team working together got the work to 100%. But I don’t have that with the loneliness of writing. I’ve found many agents hand off that 85% to editors. But Kelly puts the brakes on and is very talented at helping and guiding me to closing that 15% gap.

Wow, Jess! Thanks for sharing your exciting kidlit journey during our blog party!

Enjoyed it, Dionna!  

Jess Brallier, a native of Ligonier, PA, has served on the executive teams at Harcourt, Little Brown, and Abrams. Jess at Funbrain, was the first to publish Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid two years before it was published in print. With Kinney, Jess launched Poptropica, a gaming literacy program that quickly became the world's largest virtual world for kids.  Jess has authored many books for kids, including Tess’s Tree, Whaddaya Doin’ in There?, Bouncing Science, Thumbs Up Science, Y2Kids, Instant Creature, and others. His series title with Penguin, Who Was Albert Einstein, has sold 400,000+ units. Jess and his wife, Sally Chabert, reside in New York City, They share  two grown children who are the greatest. Learn more about Jess at jessbrallier.com. Jess is rep'd by Kelly Dyksterhouse of Raven Quill Literary.

Howdy, Dolores! Thanks for coming by on Day Four of my Raven Quill Blog Party!

Thanks for inviting me, Dionna!

Do tell. How did you find your way into becoming a kidlit author and why do you love it?

I started off writing adult books, and never thought I would be a kidlit author. It was such a foreign concept to me. But then I had my own children and became immersed in children's picture books and literature and my love for it grew exponentially. I was also a preschool teacher and got to see the joy on the students' faces when I read books that they identified with. 

When I first started writing, I had my own kids in mind, and knew they needed to see positive images of characters that looked like them represented in books.

What project of the heart are you working on?

My middle grade story centers a contemporary, Black female warrior, and is my absolute heart. The protagonist a pretty good cyclist, and whenever I ride my bike, I'm always thinking about scenes with her. I've also been teaching myself animation and had a blast animating a picture book that I self-published a few years ago with my husband who illustrated it. You can check that out HERE. 

What do you love about working with Kelly Dyksterhouse of Raven Quill Literary?

​When I first received an offer from Kelly, I had another offer on the table as well. But I remember thinking that even if I didn't sign with Kelly, I planned on using the critique she gave on my work, and that sealed it for me and let me know she was the one. She's very honest and upfront. One of my questions was: "When do you plan on sending out my work?" And her reply was "When it's ready." It's wonderful when an agent wants to make sure your work is in the best light.