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.

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, 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. 

Greetings, Callie! So glad you could join in on Day Two of my kidlit celebration!

I love a good party, Dionna!

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

Even as a kid, I was always writing stories. In college every creative project I did ended up being written for children, and when I realized the Vermont College of Fine Arts offered an MFA program in Writing for Children and Young Adults, I was off to the races! I write picture books through middle grade, and love that kids in those age demographics are still so ready to believe in magic and to embrace the impossible.
 
"Embrace the impossible." Love that! What project of the heart are you working on?

I’m working on a couple of silly picture books, and a new middle grade fantasy (I have a never ending list of upcoming projects). I’m also developing some fun animation projects.
 
What do you love about working with Kelly Dyksterhouse of Raven Quill Literary?

I love everything about working with Kelly! She loves her authors and their work, and LOVES being an agent. She's also so incredibly smart when it comes to editing a manuscript. She's a very editorial agent, and her suggestions always elevate my vision for what I'm writing and make the story stronger. 

Kelly's editorial skills certainly do rock kidlit socks! Thanks so much for participating in my blog party!

Happy to be here!

​Callie C. Miller is an animation and children's book writer. A lifelong purveyor of words, she delights in the quirky, and is a sucker for black sheep stories. Callie wrote a Star Wars fanfiction novel when she was thirteen, and loves high fives and toast. Callie received her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts and has twice placed in the Katherine Paterson Prize competition for her middle grade science fiction and fantasy works. Her animation credits include LEGO Monkie Kid, Polly Pocket, and several other shows that are still a secret. Callie, online at calliecmiller.com, is rep'd by Kelly Dyksterhouse of Raven Quill Literary.

Salutations, Amy! Thanks for opening up my blog party--Day One of Kidlit Fun!

Happy to be here!

Do tell. How did you find your way into becoming a kidlit author and why do you love it?
 
I love the magical power of a well-told story…the power to bring understanding, compassion, growth, and empowerment to little people and big people. As a very visually-inspired person, I fell in love with the picture books story form as a child and still remembered it’s magical powers in college as I studied the intricates of such works as Shakespeare’s tragedies, the Bhagavad Gita, and T.S. Eliot’s, The Waste Land.

While working in the university library cataloging department, thumbing through new pictures books as they came in, I realized that the themes and emotions of humanity portrayed by those complex works I was studying, could be just as effectively portrayed in picture book form, with the added bonus of beautiful illustrations. I love that these literary story gems are accessible to every age of human. So, when I couldn’t find a grad school literature program that emphasized kidlit (since they didn’t’ exist back then), I have instead spent over twenty years reading and studying stories as I have taught middle school, high school, preschool and every other type of school, as well as at home with my seven children. After sharing many magical story moments with children of all ages (along with plenty of adults), I began to dream of writing my own magical stories.
 
Words certainly do have power! So, what project of the heart are you working on?
 
I started out writing the stories I wanted to read to my own children, but could not find. Since my children have grown up in the military with frequent moves and the burden of their dad’s repeated combat deployments to the Middle East, I searched for books that they could connect with their experiences and emotions in even the slightest ways. There were very few. That is what inspired me to start writing my own stories about military families. After years of honing my writing craft and writing many types of stories (some out on submission now), I am currently returning to working on yet another military family story. 
 
Write what you know, right? What do you love about working with Kelly Dyksterhouse of Raven Quill Literary?
 
Kelly is literally the perfect-fit agent for me. She is professional, kind, forthright, patient, responsive, transparent, and takes a long-term vested interest in her clients. It is so much fun to brainstorm with her as a partner! She has the editing capacity to let me know when a story needs work, the creativity to help me get it to the next level, and often puts as much thought into my submission revisions as I do. She is a great partner. She is thoughtful about strategy, proactive in developing relationships with editors, and most importantly, shares my passion for kidlit. I feel very blessed to work with her.

Thanks so much, Amy, for getting my blog party off to a wonderful start!

Delighted, Dionna!

​Amy Harding grew up in the middle of a great big family with a book in her hand and a love for the power of sharing stories. With a B.A. in English and a professional certification in Writing for Children, she now creates stories celebrating the value and empowerment of the individual. As a military spouse and mother of a great big family of seven kids, Amy has made her home in every corner (and even island) of the U.S. and has fallen in love with all kinds of people, all kinds of places, and all kinds of stories. She currently calls the Olympic Peninsula of Washington home, where she loves hiking in deep dark woods, kayaking in search of orcas, taste-testing all the best chocolates and watching comedy with her teens. Find Amy on Twitter @a_hharding, on Instagram @amyhansenhardingwrites, and at amyhansenharding.com. Amy is rep'd by Kelly Dyksterhouse of Raven Quill Literary.

When you first met John Platt while visiting Tanzania, Africa, at the Rift Valley Children’s Village where he teaches children art and where you daughter was working, why did you decide to join him in writing LIONS & CHEETAHS & RHINOS! OH MY!

When I first met John, I wanted to sit in on one of his art classes to see how he taught children to draw and paint. I was so impressed. As we began to talk about our work (I think I was working on a book about the rainforest for National Geographic at the time), we found we shared a creative vision and appreciated each other’s processes. And we shared some unusual overlapping interests as well. I discovered that John had a playlist with big band music that I could use to teach the children how to tap dance!

We didn’t know what we might create together, but before we said goodbye, we promised to give some thought to a joint project. As I reflected upon my time with John, I came to appreciate more fully this young, talented man who was donating his talent as an art teacher, as well as his time every summer, to teach painting and drawing to children in east Africa. I knew we had to do something to highlight their art.

When deciding on the format to tell this informational nonfiction picture book, why did you both decide on focusing on using the phrase “if you want to draw a lion…”?

​My recollection is that, like most creative things, the idea to use that phrase just came to both of us from some creative force in the universe. When we started seriously bouncing ideas back and forth, it stuck. Even though I don’t usually write in second person, it seemed like the right approach for this book—I hope readers agree!

When you saw the artwork for the book created by children living in sub-Saharan Africa, how did it make you feel?

Not being an artist, I am in awe of anyone who can paint or draw something recognizable! But when I first saw this artwork, I was stunned by its beauty. It fills your eyes with vibrant color and depicts such gorgeous creatures. And it reminds us all that art has no boundaries, geographic, or otherwise--it is for everyone. 

I agree! Why did you decide to donate your portion of the proceeds of this book to John’s nonprofit, How to Draw a Lion?

Actually, we are donating all of our proceeds to the nonprofit. We are both committed to continuing John’s teaching every summer in several African countries because it helps children who would not otherwise be exposed to his art lessons. Naturally, airfare and lodging for three months is expensive and John has been spending his own money to provide this creative outlet. But he can return year after year if some of his expenses are covered through the donations to drawalion.com. Further, the children can continue receiving their art education.

Why do you hope children here in the United States will read LIONS & CHEETAHS & RHINOS! OH MY!?

I hope they will see the incredible artwork that children who live far away from them have created--especially children from different cultures with different lifestyles. And I hope they will be inspired to make art of their own. In addition, as an animal lover who has written a number of books about animals and who has been lucky enough to go on several safaris, I want children here to get learn something about the amazing animals that live on the African continent. 

How did the idea come to you of using the beautiful, expressive art of African animals painted by children living in sub-Sharan Africa whose talents are revealed while enrolled in your art-education program, How To Draw A Lion? 

I first had the idea of doing a children’s book back in 2016 and started putting art aside for it then, choosing whichever pieces I thought were really strong that the kids had already done. I didn’t want to make the project about the kids doing something specific for the book, but rather shaping the book around the kids’ creativity. 

Why were you excited about the idea of working together with Moira Donohue on the children's book that includes the children's art, LIONS & CHEETAHS & RHINOS! OH MY!, out today from Sleeping Bear Press? 

Moira and I met in 2017 in Tanzania, which was total serendipity because she was already a well-known author and I really love her work, especially Penny and the Punctuation Bee, which is such a fun read but also so educational for kids. She attended one of the art classes and saw all the wonderful wildlife paintings the kids were doing. As it turned out, her forthcoming book was Little Kids First Big Book of the Rainforest with National Geographic and we bonded over our shared love of the hyacinth macaw. I mentioned to her my idea for a children’s book on African animals with the kids’ art and we ran with it. ​

What was your process as you and Moira worked together--going from idea to manuscript from manuscript to book?

I put together a rough outline and Moira and I carefully edited it together. Navigating children’s book writing is really something to do with a professional and Moira’s understanding of prose, structure and editing really shaped the book into what it is today.  Moreover she gave the manuscript to her agent who found us a publisher so it really wouldn’t have happened without her, and I am so grateful!  

Why did you decide to donate your share of the book's profits to How to Draw a Lion?
   
It was easy for us to make the decision that all proceeds should go back to the kids through How to Draw a Lion. The focus of the program is really about creative opportunities for youth and we weren’t interested in taking any of the potential revenue stream for ourselves.
​
That's wonderful, John! How did you feel when you saw the final book?

I was blown away by the book when I first saw it. Felicia, the book's designer, did such an amazing job and I cant wait for others to see it as well!  I hope that kids feel inspired to create their own works of art, not just of animals, but to understand there is a whole world in visual art waiting to be discovered!

So happy to have you, here on my blog, Jen!

Thanks for inviting me, Dionna!

First question for you. How did you find your way to becoming a picture-book writer?

As a selectively mute child, I preferred reading and writing to speaking, so it was natural for me to become a writer. My interest in books led me to get a doctorate in English and to become a tenured English professor at Norfolk State University. When I was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in my late thirties, my writing became a mission to advocate for the autistic community. I began to write essays for publications like the New York Times and the Washington Post.

In 2017, one of my online writer friends, Rina Mae Acosta, introduced me to an illustrator, Joanne Lew-Vriethoff, who told editors at Albert Whitman about my work. They asked me if I would be interested in writing a picture book about sensory issues with autism. After a few revisions, they made an offer on the book, and Joanne ended up illustrating it! 

That's awesome! What's your debut picture book about?

TOO STICKY! SENSORY ISSUES WITH AUTISM is the story of an autistic girl named Holly who has a fear of sticky hands. She’s anxious about slime-day at school. But with the help of her family, teacher, and classmates, Holly gives slime a try. TOO STICKY! is based on my own and my daughter’s experiences living with autism and sensory issues. The fear of sticky hands is actually more of a sensory issue for me than my daughter. My daughter is much more willing to play with slime or playdough than I ever was.

What inspired you to write it?

I wrote TOO STICKY! because I wanted my kids to see themselves in a picture book. Most picture books that address autism aren’t written from the point of view of an autistic character. I named three characters in TOO STICKY! after my kids, so they could really picture themselves in the story. Watching them giggle when we read the F&G together for the first time is a moment I will never forget.

As you did your research for your book, did you learn something new?

For accuracy, I researched the science of slime. The back matter in TOO STICKY! includes a slime recipe. I had also interviewed autism researchers from around the world, and developed a special interest in the gender differences with autism. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for every four boys diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, only one girl is diagnosed.

An editor at Albert Whitman read my first essay for the New York Times, “What a Muppet with Autism Means to My Family,” which focuses on Sesame Street’s autistic Muppet, Julia.  She then asked me to write TOO STICKY! with an autistic girl as the main character.

In my most recent essay for the New York Times, “My Daughter and I Were Diagnosed with Autism on the Same Day,” I wrote about autistic females who are often overlooked for an autism diagnosis, including me and my daughter. When we were diagnosed, she was two and I was thirty-nine. All of the other children’s books I’ve drafted so far have autistic girls as the main characters to raise awareness and acceptance, especially for autistic females.

Why do you hope children will read your book?

I hope autistic kids will read TOO STICKY! so they see a character that reflects their own life experiences. My book is not a book about autism; it’s a book about a girl who happens to be autistic. She goes about her everyday life. She has pancakes with her family for breakfast. She interacts with her classmates at school. She loves science. But she experiences the world through an autistic lens. Her autism is part of her identity.

I also hope that other kids who read TOO STICKY! will have a better understanding of autism and will be more accepting of differences. Just as preschool kids watching Sesame Street find Julia to be a likable character, I want kids reading TOO STICKY! to root for Holly.

Your book, I know, will be a winner not only with parents and educators of autistic children the world over, but with those kids like Holly who might have a challenge when stickiness gets on their hands. Thanks so much for sharing your journey, Jen! It is truly inspiring.

You are more than welcome. 

Too Sticky! Sensory Issues with Autism
written by Jen Malia and illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff is about Holly, who loves doing experiments and learning new things in science class! But when she finds out the next experiment is making slime, she’s worried. Slime is made with glue, and glue is sticky. Holly has sensory issues because of her autism and doesn’t like anything sticky! With help from family and her teacher, Holly receives the accommodations and encouragement she needs to give slime a try.
Released by Albert Whitman & Company, April 2020

                         “Charming, inclusive, and grounded in real-life experiences.” –Kirkus
                                                           Purchase your copy, HERE.

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy to be here!

As a work-for-hire (WFH) author for publishers like Abdo and Capstone, you've written nearly thirty nonfiction books, many covering STEM topics like robotics and space travel. How did you come across this kind of work?   

Through my agent(s), I had unsuccessfully tried out for a few fiction WFH projects. Then I discovered the educational WFH market, STEM nonfiction in particular. That seemed a natural fit for me. Before writing fiction (and teaching), I’d been a science writer for over twenty years, working with NASA, the Department of Energy, and the Environmental Protection Agency. 

How would you suggest an author break into educational (or trade) market WFH?

First of all, book packagers and publishers typically have a pool of writers to which they assign books or other projects. Some publishers use packagers or producers. Others work directly with writers. Either way, to get considered for upcoming projects, you need to get yourself into one or more of those pools. You need to find your niche.

How did you find your niche?

My niche wasn’t too hard to figure out. I wrote about space, the environment, and technology for adults for years. Plus, I also did a little coding. So my niche became STEM for elementary and middle school readers. For this age, most of these books are what’s called high interest. Wrapped in glossy covers, high-interest books are chock full of visuals and sidebars. Most include activities, prompts, discussion points, and/or other special features. Often, publishers try to correlate those special features to align with Common Core and/or other standards.

What if STEM is not an author's thing? 

If STEM is not your thing, don’t worry. The educational market spans many, many nonfiction topics, formats, and age ranges. For instance, sports books are huge. (I even wrote a STEM sports book.) So are history, biographies, animals, health and fitness, careers, crafts, and social studies, to name just a few. And publishers need these books at all reading levels, including hi-lo and leveled readers. (Many publishers put out these books in Spanish too.) The most important thing is being able to research a certain topic and then be able to break down the concepts without writing down to young readers.

How might authors find a potential market for their WFH services, even if they don't have an agent?
​
You can find educational publishers and book packagers through a number of resources. Once you find publishers and/or packagers that interest you, study their catalogs, and double-check their websites for submission guidelines for freelancers. You can also check out Molly Blaisdell’s work-for-hire select educational publishers list.

Once you’ve decided who you want to work for and in what areas, you need to send them a cover letter as well as samples of your work. If you don’t have any samples, you may have to write some, depending on the publisher/packager. Some might request a resume instead. Most publishers and producers include freelancer or work-for-hire information on their websites. 

What should authors include in their cover letters, and should they expect a reply?

​The cover letter is really the critical element. In it, describe your experience, areas of expertise, education, publication history, availability, and so forth. Be specific! Don’t just say your expertise is STEM. For instance, I usually say my areas are space, environmental science, computers, and internet technology. Your specific expertise and experience may get you the gig. 

Send out the samples and cover letter—and wait. You may not hear anything until the publisher or packager has a project that fits your skills and interests. This could be a week or two—or many, many months. 

​Do you enjoy doing work-for-hire projects and does it pay well?

I enjoy the work, but to be brutally honest, the pay rates can be very low ($300 for a 500–750-word book, for example) and the turnaround times can be extremely tight (as little as one month!). So you need to be able to research and write quickly and efficiently—not just to meet the deadlines but to also make it worth your time. However, I would say that WFH can be a solid way to fill in pesky income gaps. And I know some WFH authors who do school visits to help generate revenue. But I think you should do WFH only if you love writing about science and technology—or whatever your niche is. 

Thanks again, Angie, for stopping by and for sharing your WFH know-how!

My pleasure, Dionna.

​Angie Smibert, a Mid-Atlantic SCBWI member, has penned several YA and MG science-fiction and fantasy novels. So far, she’s published twenty-six educational work-for-hire titles. As a science writer for adults, Angie received NASA’s prestigious Silver Snoopy award. Many of her work-for-hire books for younger readers are published within award-winning science series. Angie teaches writing for Indiana University East and for the online MFA program at Southern New Hampshire University. Find her online at angiesmibert.com.

Salutations, Karen!  So happy to have you here! Please, do tell about your journey to becoming a kidlit author.

Glad to be here, Dionna!

​To answer your question, I’ve always loved to read, but I didn’t start writing books until I had read The Artists Way  by Julia Cameron. Part of The Artist Way program is to free-write three pages a day. You write about anything—how grumpy you feel, what you ate for breakfast, what is annoying you. You just dump. The idea is that by page three you have cleared away enough of your brain clutter to find out what is underneath. And for me what was underneath was the dream of writing a children’s book. The beginning of my manuscript The Hayley Show was started in my morning pages. Although I didn’t sell it, that book got me my agent.

In 2010, I joined SCBWI, which became a wonderful source of support and information. Through SCBWI, I learned about Vermont College of Fine Arts Writing for Children and Young Adults MFA program. And it was at VCFA that I wrote Charlie & Frog. 

Why did you decide to write this story, one that features the Deaf community?

I never planned to write about the Deaf community. I always felt that my writing life and my life as a sign language interpreter were separate entities. But all those years I was interpreting, this story was percolating—I just didn’t know it. One of my advisors at VCFA, A.S. King, wanted me to write something new. She felt I would grow more as a writer with new material. So I began writing short stories. And then one day, while sitting at my computer, this story started to come out of me. And Frog, who is Deaf, came to me clear and strong. Her character was easy to write. 

What about your characters and their friendship mirrors your life-experiences?

I tend to be more like Charlie, the quieter one. Frog fights for what she wants and has never met a stranger. Not that being quiet means weakness. Charlie is anything but weak. But Frog helps Charlie find his own strength by modeling her own power and inner drive. That is true for me, too—my closest friends show me how I can embrace my own strengths. Also, as a kid, I had fun exploring with my best friend. I wanted Charlie & Frog to have that same freedom to explore the village of Castle-on-the-Hudson. And who wouldn’t want to ride a gondola across the river on their own? Sign me up!

How did you find a home for Charlie & Frog at Disney-Hyperion and why were you pleased?

When my agent tried to sell The Hayley Show, I had about seventeen rejections (I lost count!), and one editor who was interested, but who couldn’t convince her publishing house to buy it. Ten years later, I was fortunate to have five editors who wanted Charlie and Frog! (Moral: Don’t give up! Keep writing!)

My editor at Disney-Hyperion, Tracey Keevan, is terrific. Tracey happened to watch a documentary about Martha’s Vineyard one week before she received my manuscript. Two hundred years ago, Martha’s Vineyard had a large Deaf population. Both hearing people and Deaf people signed on the island. When looking back, islanders often couldn’t remember who was Deaf and who was hearing because everyone signed. Tracey was excited to work on this story after watching that film. And I was thrilled that Disney-Hyperion hired a Deaf artist, Carlisle Robinson, to illustrate the inside chapter artwork of Charlie & Frog!

What are you working on now, and why are you enjoying it?

I am currently promoting my second Charlie & Frog book--The Boney Hand! It was published in June 2019. I love the characters and setting of Charlie & Frog, so it’s wonderful to be immersed in them again. I am also working on a picture book. Picture books just make me happy. And it’s a nice change of pace from a middle-grade book, as they are so different from each other.

Karen Kane’s path to Charlie & Frog led her from a small village near Rochester, NY, to the bustle of Washington, DC. The people she met along the way inspired her writing with their warmth and humor, especially those in the Deaf community. Karen graduated from the National Technical Institute for the Deaf and received her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. When she’s not writing, Karen spends her days as a sign language interpreter at Gallaudet University or lost in the stacks of her local library. Charlie & Frog, her debut novel. was nominated for  a ​2019 Edgar Award Nominated Book in the Best Juvenile category! Find her online at Karen Kane Books.

Salutations, Susan! Thanks so much for stopping by to share with us the ins and outs of what you do as a copyeditor for publishers of books written for younger audiences.

Hi, Dionna! Glad to be here. What do you want to know?

Once an author sells a manuscript, when does a copyeditor step in with his or her red pen?

The minute a contract is signed, an author is welcomed to the editorial process, where the manuscript will be honed and polished to its greatest shining potential, most likely with help from a copyeditor.

But what, exactly, does a copyeditor do? 

Once the author and editor have ironed out the big-picture components of the story—plot and character development, structure, pacing—most likely through a few rounds of revision, the manuscript heads to copyediting. Here the focus on the text goes from wide-angle to close-up. The copyeditor puts the manuscript under the microscope, correcting errors, querying questionable passages, and preparing a style sheet, a record of editorial choices that's used throughout the production process to keep everyone on the same, well, page. 

Through several reads, the copyeditor will scour the manuscript word for word, sussing out errors and inconsistencies. He or she will correct faulty spelling, grammar, punctuation, and usage and ensure consistency in spelling, hyphenation, numerals, fonts, and capitalization. The copyeditor will track continuity of plot, setting, and character, keep on top of chronology, and fact-check people, places, and events for accuracy. He or she may also eliminate wordiness and clichéd writing, smooth out transitions, and revise sentences for flow and readability. 

WOW! I had no idea a copyeditor did so much! Is there more?

Whenever the copyeditor comes across a confusing or possibly incorrect passage in the manuscript, he or she will flag it with a query. Just like it sounds, the query is the copyeditor’s question to the author on behalf of the reader. If a phrase, sentence, paragraph, or turn of events doesn’t seem to make sense, instead of revising the passage directly, the copyeditor will ask about it in a query, leaving the tweaking up to the author. The helpful copyeditor will often suggest a possible revision in the query.
 
The copyeditor will also format the manuscript to comport with the publisher’s in-house style guide. The style guide is a compilation of editorial preferences specific to that publisher. For example, some publishers like signs, labels, and words on T-shirts to be set in SMALL CAPS. Others prefer ALL CAPS. Or Initial Caps. Or “Initial Caps with Quotation Marks.”

But what if editorial changes are made, and the manuscript evolves?

To keep track of all editorial decisions made while working on a manuscript, the copyeditor will create a style sheet. This document lists character names and info, unusual words not in the dictionary, treatment of words and numbers, story timeline, and other issues specific to the manuscript. This helps all those working with the text at the publishing house—editors, copyeditors, proofreaders—keep things consistent. That way, green-eyed Tasha Clark of 212 Erie Place who turned fifteen on page 6 doesn’t become brown-eyed sixteen-year-old Sasha Clarke of 221 Eerie Court on page 206.

When the copyeditor is finished, the manuscript will be returned to the author's editor, who might add more comments before forwarding it to the author. 

Do authors sometimes get overwhelmed by all the corrections and suggestions?

An author can, understandably, feel overwhelmed by the copyeditor’s corrections and queries. All those marks! My advice to them is don’t freak—the copyeditor’s working in your best interest. However, the book is, of course, the author's—so the author shouldn't think every correction or revision must be accepted. There’s a magic word in copyediting: stet. It means “go back to the original.” The author can override any of the copyeditor’s marks with that simple word (though the editor may disagree and discuss with the author why).

Remember, the copyeditor’s always got the author’s back. Your copyeditor’s mission is to help make the book its absolute best. Once all the issues spotted in copyediting are addressed and resolved, the manuscript will be ready to move to production, continuing its transformation from words tapped out on the computer to that gorgeous book in a reader's hand.  

Authors should feel privileged to have your red pen and sharp copyeditor's mind keeping watch over their manuscripts, Susan! I know I'm honored to have your trusty red pen upon the Highlighter, the newsletter serving the Mid-Atlantic SCBWI, of which I am the content editor!

​How might publishers contact you?

They can find me at SusanVanHeckeEditorial.com, my copyeditor's website and thanks again for having me, Dionna! 

The pleasure's all mine!

​Congrats about your new release, Fearless Public Speaking! And thanks for stopping by to chat with us about it. 

Thanks for having me, and yes, it's exciting! Fearless Public Speaking was just published by SparkNotes, distributed by Sterling Publishing, on May 7, 2019!

What's the book about and why did you decide to write it for young people, ages 12 and up?

Fearless Public Speaking teaches young people how to plan, prepare and deliver a speech with confidence. Outlining, ad-libbing, composing, performing, writing and reciting-- everything you need is found in this fun yet practical guide. I wrote it because many people fear public speaking and a lot of time that fear starts when they’re children. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Actually, I believe that stage fright is your friend--that nervous energy you feel is the power-source that will enable you towards fearless public speaking!

How did you find your home for your book?

SCBWI was the secret ingredient in my success. I had been sending the project out for a long while on my own. But it was when I went to the SCBWI Mid-Atlantic Fall Conference that I had a turn for the better. I met an editor there and initially pitched her a picture book. She didn’t like that book but she said she did like my writing and encouraged me to submit something else. So I did.

What did you enjoy about working with your editor?

My editor was very patient and encouraging. I submitted two books to her before she said yes to Fearless Public Speaking. Although the first two books didn’t appeal to her, she didn’t make me feel like a loser. I felt that I should just keep trying. The third try was the charm!

Why do you hope young people will read it?

Not being afraid to speak in public is a huge advantage. As soon as you get comfortable with standing in front of an audience, you've locked into a powerful personal plus. Besides, if you learn to really enjoy it--it can be a love-and-money combination. To be able to do something you find fun, while boosting yourself professionally, impressing influencers, and even becoming a source of income....it doesn’t get better than that.
      
What are you working on now?

Currently, I’m shopping around a middle-grade novel about a girl who forms a double Dutch team. In real life, I started a double Dutch team--not as a girl but as an adult. In 2018, DC Retro Jumpers did a three-city tour in Russia as cultural ambassadors, teaching and demonstrating double Dutch! Check us out at dcretrojumpers.com.

Joy Jones has addressed countless audiences-- performance poetry, training workshops, storytelling, classroom teaching. She is the director of the performance poetry group, The Spoken Word and founder of the multigenerational double Dutch team, DC Retro Jumpers. Joy is the author of several books including Private Lessons: A Book of Meditations for Teachers. and Tambourine Moon, which was selected as one of the best books for children by the black caucus of the ALA and featured on the Bernie Mac show. Fearless Public Speaking debuted May 7, 2019. JoyJonesOnline.com

Welcome, Leah! Thanks for stopping by!

Nice to be here, Dionna!

Do tell a little about the Kweli conference, and how you found your way onto the planning committee.

Kweli--The Color of Children’s Literature Conference--is a wonderful day-long kidlit writers and illustrators event (with optional Masterclasses on Friday). This year it will be held Saturday, April 6, 2019, at The Graduate Center of the City University of New York. In 2014, after reading author Walter Deans Myers op-ed piece "Where Are the People of Color in Children's Books?", Laura Pegram, editor-and-chief of the Kweli Journal and Kweli conference founder, decided to create an event that is exclusively for Indigenous people and persons of color who were writers and illustrators. As she puts it, “we honor Walter Dean Myers' legacy with a conference that celebrates and supports our voices, our stories, our truth.”

In 2016, I stumbled across a post for an upcoming Kweli conference that was happening that weekend. I didn’t do much thinking, I just sent an email to inquire if walk-ins where permitted and once I got a "yes" back, I booked a train ticket. There was no way I was going to miss it! I had never been to a children’s writing conference where Indigenous and persons of color were the majority. It was a wonderfully refreshing experience to see and hear from creatives who had many of the same concerns as I do. But it wasn’t just about the struggles. Kweli is also a celebration of our many successes. After that first year, I was hooked and about a year later, when Laura asked if I was interested in becoming involved, I was honored to be a part of it all.
​
What do you love about working behind the Kweli scenes, creating a lineup that is both rich culturally and holds promise of a real educational experience for attendees?

I go to a number of conferences and retreats and it’s nice to create programming that I hope to see. Also, I love that Kweli is a good mix of new and established voices. 

Share one or two of your most memorable experiences while either attending or planning for the conference.

Kweli is a very unique experience. I will never forget the welcome I received during my first conference. It’s hard to explain, but when you are used to being one of the only people of color in a room, it was nice to see and meet so many other POC creatives in one space. They were doing so many amazing things in their work and were just as curious and eager as I was to learn more about craft and the business-side of writing.

May people from any background, not just persons of color, attend the conference?

Kweli is a conference exclusively for Indigenous and POC creatives. It’s an opportunity for this community to come together to speak about issues and concerns that are unique to our experiences as well as general discussions on craft and the ins and outs of publishing. Kweli’s aim is not to exclude, so the organization does offer a literary festival during the summer that is open to anyone interested in attending.

What is the process for a published author or illustrator who would like to be considered for the Kweli faculty?

At the moment, the planning committee creates most of the sessions offered, reaching out to people we feel will work best for each panel or session. Since we want to highlight newer voices on the publishing side of the table as well, we often get recommendations from IPOC editorial assistants, designers, or marketing experts. Everyone, especially Laura, does a pretty good job of knowing which authors and illustrators are coming out with new work that can be highlighted each year.

Leah Henderson is the author of the middle grade novel One Shadow on the Wall, an Africana Children’s Book Award notable, and a Bank Street Best Book of 2017. Her forthcoming picture books include Together We March, Day For Rememberin’, and Mamie on the Mound. She also has a new middle grade novel  The Magic in Changing Your Stars on the horizon.

Raised in Andover, Massachusetts, Leah has fond memories of getting up to all kinds of shenanigans that often made for great tall tales told late into the night. Growing up in a family of curious travelers, she has always known where there is adventure, there is story. Through seeing the world, Leah has witnessed the richness that can be found within everyone’s individual story. That is why writing the world she sees is so vitally important to her. These days, when she’s not off exploring, you can find her writing, laughing, or playing soccer at midnight with her dog, Boston, in Washington, D.C. Learn more about her and her books at leahhendersonbooks.com.