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My Aunt Johari

4/7/2024

Since April is National Poetry Month, I thought I'd share two poems--one written by my daughter, and one written by my aunt Johari who passed away at 88, a few months back. Though Aunt Johari was a co-founder of Third World Press and a gifted poet during the Black Arts Movement in Chicago during the 60s, I only knew her as my dad's sister whose given name was Jewel, and that she was a retired chiropractor who moved back to Chicago to be closer to her son (a gifted cadiologist) after I had moved away.

So sadly, I did not grow up knowing my aunt, and as an adult only met her a few times, though I did my best to get to know her by calling her on the phone. Whenever I did, I'd have to remind her who I was--'I'm Dionna, your brother Don's oldest'--and she'd acknowledge me. I'd try to find a common ground by talking about her poetry. Unfortunately, that was not a topic of interest to her whenever I tried. I guess her days as a poet were something she wanted to stay in her past.

Anyway, not long after my aunt's passing, I was reading one of my daughter's poems. It reminded me of one of my aunt's! Can a voice be inherited? I don't think so; and yet, there the two poems were, quite similar, at least to me. So that's why I've shared them here.

What do you think of them? In your opinion, do they have a similar voice?

Complement
by my aunt Johari M. Amini

here i am in the sweet evening
and bamboo reeds wave into
rhythms of the seventh pulse
honey stars shine
wide in a warm sky
dark sounds humhum patterns of the long grass
and heap me into beads of waiting
the big leaf moves
and the tree is heavy with it
come bring me my seeds

Courage
by my daughter Lauren

the firework
knew its nature
yet set itself
ablaze
for the joy
of shining
the worm knew
the agony
of metamorphosis
yet still grew wings
the leaf
broke its neck
from the tree
to drift
down
in circles
and so we too
can live
giving thanks
to the darkness
with its womb full
of light

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THINGS THAT SHIMMER Book Launch Party!

4/2/2024

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Happy Book Launch Day, Deborah Lakritz!

I'm excited to have you here to talk about your journey toward publication with your debut middle-grade, THINGS THAT SHIMMER!

Delighted to be here! It's truly satisfying to think back on the journey!

Awesome! To get started, tell us how you found your way to becoming a kidlit author.

Way back when I was a preschooler, my mother took me religiously to our public library to check out books and attend story time programs. She instilled in me a love of reading that has accompanied me throughout my life. As a social worker, I used books extensively with children to help them navigate divorces and deaths in their families, as well as fears and friendships.

Once I became a parent, one of my greatest joys was buying books for my own five children and introducing them to wonderful literature. Writing kidlit was just a natural extension of all of those experiences. For me personally, I had to wait until the timing was right and my youngest child was in school full-time before I could seriously try to get published. In the meantime, I took writing classes, read great award winning titles, and started to do the hard work of learning the craft.

Wow! A mom of five, and now a published author. That's an amazing accomplishment! Was THINGS THAT SHIMMER the first manuscript you had acquired by a traditional publisher?

Actually, no. I was offered my first book contract shortly after my youngest daughter started school. With raising a large family, however, there were times when I had to step away from writing for months at a time. But now my children are all grown and out in the world, I’m agented, and I just released my third picture book, and now have this exciting debut middle grade novel set to enter the world!

That's amazing. I'm sure your kids are proud! So What inspired you to write for middle-grade readers?

The summer I turned nine years old, my family was in a horrific car accident that sent reverberations throughout our family for the rest of my childhood. Back then, the understanding of trauma and its impact on individuals was still in its infancy as PTSD hadn’t even been given its name or been identified as an actual condition. As soldiers began to return from Viet Nam, there was this understanding, a recognition, that they were suffering psychological trauma due to their wartime experiences. Soon mental health professionals began to see the commonalities between war veterans and others who’d been through life threatening experiences. That was the starting point for THINGS THAT SHIMMER; two friends united by their deep understanding of what it’s like to grow up in a family dealing with trauma. But something has to pull them apart—right? That’s what makes a plot interesting!

”A tale of friendship dynamics that doesn’t reach for easy resolutions or immediate forgiveness.”
—The Horn Book Magazine

I'm sorry to hear your family had to go through that. It must have been a real challenge for you as a child. Your characters' emotions will no doubt ring true, and your story sure to be a real heart tugger because of it.

THINGS THAT SHIMMER is the story of my heart, the idea I had on the very first night I walked into my very first class on writing for children. While it is definitely a work of fiction, emotionally it feels very true, and I hope it resonates for readers wading through the murky waters of friendships, popularity, family relationships, and identity.

Important themes to be sure. Did you have to revise much after THINGS THAT SHIMMER was acquired by Kar-Ben Publishing?

Actually, most of my revising work came before my manuscript was acquired. While querying agents, I got a full request from Susan Cohen, who at the time was an agent at Writers House. Susan liked what she read, but offered me an opportunity to revise and resubmit my manuscript. Both she and her assistant provided me with very specific feedback on how to improve the project, and I spent six months doing two rounds of revisions for them. Afterward, Susan offered me representation and started submitting it to editors! So by the time my editor, Amy Fitzgerald, read it, she didn’t have a lot of requests for big changes. Mostly we cleaned up sentences--an occasional word being replaced or eliminated.

That says a lot about having an editorial agent. I'm sure you're thrilled you got a chance to work with Susan before she retired. So now that your publication date is here, are you nervous about how kids will receive your book?

I am nervous, but I hope they will enjoy the ride as Melanie Adler navigates the world of the 1970s, while desperately wanting to be accepted by the Shimmers, the popular kids in her class.

I'm sure they will! Well, thanks for stopping by and for allowing us to share in your book launch day!

Thanks for the invite, Dionna!

Deborah Lakritz is the author of A PLACE TO BELONG, a picture book biography of beloved Jewish singer/songwriter, Debbie Friedman. Her debut middle grade novel, THINGS THAT SHIMMER (Kar-Ben 2024), is set in 1973-74, which coincides with the 50th anniversary of tennis legend Billie Jean King’s victory over Bobby Riggs in the Battle of the Sexes, the Watergate scandal, and President Nixon’s resignation. Her first book, SAY HELLO, LILY, was a Sydney Taylor Notable Book for Young Readers, and PJ Library selection. A former school social worker, Deborah lives in Wisconsin where she and her husband raised five children. Find Deborah online at deborahlakritzbooks.com.

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Happy Book Launch Day, Monica Mancillas!

4/2/2024

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Happy Pub Day, Monica Mancillas!

I'm super excited to be interviewing you today as your debut MG, SING IT LIKE CELIA is released from Penguin Workshop!

My pleasure! Happy to be here.

Do tell! How did you find your way to becoming a kidlit author?

I have always known I wanted to be an author, but my love of kidlit really blossomed after my daughter was born. We spent countless hours reading and exploring our local libraries. I found myself suddenly bubbling over with picture book ideas of my own. I joined the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) in 2017 and began attending conferences and critique groups in order to learn more about both craft and the business of publishing. In 2018, I won the Andrea J. Loney Mentorship that was hosted by my region of SCBWI. That same year, I connected with my agent through #DVpit, an annual pitching event for un-agented, self-identifying historically marginalized authors and illustrators. In early 2019, after a few short rounds of revision, my agent sent my debut picture book MARIANA AND HER FAMILIA out on submission. The book quickly sold at auction, and I officially became a kidlit author!

Your first book sold at auction?! That is amazing!!! MARIANA AND HER FAMILIA went on to win some honors, yes?

It did! School Library Journal named it a Best Picture Book of 2022. Booklist gave it a starred review, and it received a Junior Library Guild Gold Star!

Wowsie!

So, what inspired you to write your debut middle-grade novel, SING IT LIKE CELIA?

SING IT LIKE CELIA was inspired by both my younger sister’s experiences navigating the unexpected disappearance of her mother from her life and my own experiences growing up with parents who were divorced. In writing the book, I strived to empower children confronting similar challenges to speak up for themselves and set healthy boundaries with the people in their lives. It was also a delight to incorporate my own love of music (and, specifically, legendary salsa singer Celia Cruz) into the book. I grew up singing in choirs and playing the piano, and for a long time was an avid salsa dancer. Music was a way through for so much of my life that I felt it important to give young readers the inspiration to use their own gifts as a means of self-expression and inner strength.

Sounds like a project of the heart, to be sure! So, who acquired SING IT LIKE CELIA, and how did it get acquired?

I had just sold another picture book, HOW TO SPEAK SPANGLISH, to Elizabeth Lee at Penguin Workshop, when my agent mentioned to her my interest in writing IP (essentially, work for hire). Elizabeth was new to the imprint and, in building her list, was extremely excited to work on contemporary MG fiction featuring marginalized voices. However, she felt it important that her authors retain copyright and receive a standard advance and royalties, so rather than IP, she offered to work with me on what she called “proactive publishing” terms. We set up a call to discuss ideas and I submitted sample pages and a detailed outline. Elizabeth and her team were so enthusiastic about the book that they offered me a two-book deal!

A two-book deal?! This just keeps getting better and better! What was it like working with Elizabeth?

Working with Elizabeth has been absolute perfection. I could not be happier that this book was written under her direction and have thoroughly enjoyed working with her on book two!

Your experience makes publishing sound like fun! Well, thanks again for stopping by on your Book Launch Day, and for sharing your kidlit journey up to this point. We're looking forward to learning more about book 2 soon!

Happy to be here, and will do!

Mónica Mancillas, born in the small coastal town of Ensenada in Baja California, México, moved with her parents to the United States when she was two-years-old. As a child, she loved nothing more than to study and explore self-expression through writing and music. After graduating Valedictorian from the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts, she earned a B.A. in Anthropology from the University of California at Berkeley, after which she moved to Los Angeles where she worked for ten years in the recording industry. Today, Mónica runs her own business teaching children how to play the piano. She spends her days writing, reading, and tending to her much-adored daughter, husband, and dog, Annie. Mónica's work includes picture books: Mariana and Her Familia, The Worry Balloon, and How to Speak Spanglish. Her debut middle grade, Sing It Like Celia, will be released in 2024, with a nonfiction middle-grade, Leyendas/Legends! to follow in 2025. All of Mónica's books center on themes of identity, culture, and mental health, and challenges outdated tropes that have historically left Latine voices in the margins. Monica is represented by Melissa Edwards at Stonesong Literary. Find Mónica online at
monicamancillas.com.

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My Aunt Johari

Complement
by my aunt Johari M. Amini

here i am in the sweet evening
and bamboo reeds wave into
rhythms of the seventh pulse
honey stars shine
wide in a warm sky
dark sounds humhum patterns of the long grass
and heap me into beads of waiting
the big leaf moves
and the tree is heavy with it
come bring me my seeds

Courage
by my daughter Lauren

the firework
knew its nature
yet set itself
ablaze
for the joy
of shining
the worm knew
the agony
of metamorphosis
yet still grew wings
the leaf
broke its neck
from the tree
to drift
down
in circles
and so we too
can live
giving thanks
to the darkness
with its womb full
of light

THINGS THAT SHIMMER Book Launch Party!

Happy Book Launch Day, Deborah Lakritz!

”A tale of friendship dynamics that doesn’t reach for easy resolutions or immediate forgiveness.”
—The Horn Book Magazine

Happy Book Launch Day, Monica Mancillas!

Happy Pub Day, Monica Mancillas!

About Me

Archives

Categories

My Aunt Johari

Complementby my aunt Johari M. Amini

​here i am in the sweet eveningand bamboo reeds wave intorhythms of the seventh pulsehoney stars shinewide in a warm skydark sounds humhum patterns of the long grassand heap me into beads of waitingthe big leaf movesand the tree is heavy with itcome bring me my seeds

Courageby my daughter Lauren

​​the fireworkknew its natureyet set itself ablazefor the joy of shiningthe worm knew the agony of metamorphosisyet still grew wingsthe leaf broke its neck from the treeto drift down in circles and so we too can livegiving thanks to the darknesswith its womb full of light

THINGS THAT SHIMMER Book Launch Party!

Happy Book Launch Day, Deborah Lakritz!

”A tale of friendship dynamics that doesn’t reach for easy resolutions or immediate forgiveness.” —The Horn Book Magazine

Happy Book Launch Day, Monica Mancillas!

Happy Pub Day, Monica Mancillas!

About Me

Archives

Categories

Complement
by my aunt Johari M. Amini

here i am in the sweet evening
and bamboo reeds wave into
rhythms of the seventh pulse
honey stars shine
wide in a warm sky
dark sounds humhum patterns of the long grass
and heap me into beads of waiting
the big leaf moves
and the tree is heavy with it
come bring me my seeds

Courage
by my daughter Lauren

the firework
knew its nature
yet set itself
ablaze
for the joy
of shining
the worm knew
the agony
of metamorphosis
yet still grew wings
the leaf
broke its neck
from the tree
to drift
down
in circles
and so we too
can live
giving thanks
to the darkness
with its womb full
of light

”A tale of friendship dynamics that doesn’t reach for easy resolutions or immediate forgiveness.”
—The Horn Book Magazine