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 The Tobias Literary Agency.

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. Tom is represented by Kelly Dyksterhouse of The Tobias Literary Agency. Visit him online at tombirdseye.com.

Hi, Deborah! Thanks for coming!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Will do, and thanks for having me! 

Salutations! Leslie, and welcome!

Happy to stop by!

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

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

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

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

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

Yes, it is. 

What do you love about working with Kelly?

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

Thanks, Leslie, for participating in my blog party!

No problem, Dionna. Glad to do it! 

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

Excited to he here!

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

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

Interesting! Tell more!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Absolutely! Thanks for having me!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Awesome sauce!

It was awesome!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thanks for having me, Dionna, and will do!

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

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 The Tobias Literary Agency.

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 The Tobias Literary Agency.

Blow up some balloons! Beginning tomorrow, Friday, October 1, 2021, I'll be  hosting a blog party to introduce Kelly Dyksterhouse's Kidlit Crew, of which I am a proud member!​

Stop on by, join in the fun, & say hello to each one by leaving a comment! ​

Hi, Madeline! So nice of you to join us.

Thank you, Mrs. Mann, for having me! 

The pleasure is all mine! Do tell about the interview you had with Moira Donohue, coauthor of LIONS & CHEETAHS & RHINOS! OH MY!

I did a Zoom interview with Ms. Moira Donohue. I liked being on Zoom with her because she is so friendly and paid attention to me when I talked. It makes me know she’s listening to my question and not taking it lightly. I learned a lot from her about animals, good sources, and about her work. I found out we put some of the same information in both our books!

That's cool! So I heard that Moira's publisher mailed you a review copy of LION, CHEETAHS & RHINOS! OH MY!, and that Moira sent you a signed bookplate. Did you enjoy reading the book?     

LION, CHEETAHS & RHINOS! OH MY!, her newest book, was AWESOME!!! The writing was well said and I wouldn't change anything. But what really caught my eye was the illustrations. Were those really made by kids!?! Those pictures look professionally done. The artwork is so realistic and the illustrations capture the actions and behaviors of the animals.

So would you recommend the book to your classmates?
  
I would recommend the book to my classmates because It tells interesting facts about the animals and the pictures are impressive because they are made by kids, just like us.

I heard you wrote a book for a school project that is similar in scope to John and Moira's book. Do tell a little about it, why you chose African animals as your research area, and what you enjoyed about the process.
 
This past year at school, I got to make a digital book on any topic as an individual project. I chose to write about African animals because I really like animals and almost all of my favorite animals live in Africa. The research I did about the 11 animals I chose was the hardest part of making my book. It took a long time, but it was neat to find out some facts I didn’t know. As part of my project, I was supposed to illustrate the book because I love art. Since we missed so much school in the spring [because of COVID-19], I ran out of time to do all the artwork for so many animals. I used digital photographs instead. It was still really fun to choose the photos, design the layout of the book and pick lots of different colors. So it was still a big art project and that was my favorite part.
 
Do you think you might like to be a writer or illustrator of books for younger readers when you grow up? If so, why?
 
I might like to become a writer and illustrator of books for young readers when I grow up because I enjoy listening to stories and making up new stories and I love to draw and paint. I also like to research and learn about things that happened in history. That would be fun to write about. 

You're on your way, Madeline! Thanks again for stopping by. It was great having you!

It was fun! 

Madeline is 9 years old and will be in the fourth grade when school starts in the fall. She enjoys learning about many subjects in school. Madeline loves reading, drawing, painting, making crafts, playing soccer, dancing, making I-Movies, and playing with her friends!

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​"My favorite animal to paint is the horse because of the way it moves. I love to paint the hair moving as it runs, but for African animals my favorite is the elephant. I have learned a lot in art class like how to mix different colors but also how to make sure that the animal is in the same position in the painting as it is in the photo you work from. Maybe its running, or walking or just standing, but you have to make sure you are showing those movements and positions. I feel good about my art being featured in a children’s book so that our art can be known to so many children and they can see and learn from us. I hope American kids will get some knowledge about different animals, what they look like, the way they run and eat and do so many things and also learn to believe in themselves that they can do it and do better!"

​"My favorite animal is the black panther because they have good hunting skills and I love the movie Black Panther. In art class, I leaned that art is part of my talents, its something I hadn’t really tried before. It feels really great that my work is included in the book and I hope kids everywhere will enjoy it. I hope they will be good artists and learn that art is a good talent to have."

​"My favorite animal is the cheetah. This is because from my childhood I used to hear about its speed, where it is the fastest animal in the world. In art class, I have learned how to sketch and make the drawing proportional without using the grid method. I learned painting and also putting very important details. I also learned how to use different kind of brushes, mixing colors and coming up with different colors. It makes me feel very good to know that my art is being featured in a children's book. I am really proud of that! I really hope American kids will get inspired by the book, feeling enjoyment when reading about African wild animals. And for those who are talented in art, I hope they will get inspired."

When you first read John and Moira’s manuscript for LIONS & CHEETAHS & RHINOS OH MY!, why did you fall in love with it? 

I have always loved animals, so it was very easy for me to enjoy this book. The text is fun and has both a sense of humor and a sense of adventure while sharing factual valuable information about the animals. 
 
Why did you also fall in love with the idea that the book would be illustrated by children living in the sub-Saharan parts of Africa? 

I thought this book was a wonderful opportunity to be able to give these children some way to be recognized for their accomplishments. The book is also a great way for children in the United States to relate to children in other parts of the world. 
 
Were there any particular challenges during this book’s creation? 

This book was a very different process from most books I work on, so that was an interesting change for me. John gathered all the art, the permissions, and handled getting the art scanned. My biggest challenge was taking paintings by many children and creating a cohesive looking book. A book needs to feel like a single thing. I took hints from where the children live and from the wildlife they depicted. That lead me to choose patterns that echo the animals depicted and the environment of the African countries the children reside in. I also took hints from the children’s paintings and from some of John’s paintings to determine the color palette I worked with. 

How did you feel when the kids' artwork started coming in?

I was pleased. The paintings by these children are quite accomplished. I thought they were beautiful and deserved a very special presentation in the book. Once I started putting things together, I had a lot of fun with the design of the book. 
 
What do you love about the final product and why do you hope kids here in the U.S. will read it? 

I am pleased with the cheerfulness of the book. And I love the photographs of the children on the back of the book. I think children in the U.S. will be fascinated that these are paintings done by children like them and will want to try drawing a lion, or they can try drawing the wildlife they see near their homes, or even their own pet. 

When Moira and John first spoke to you about their idea of writing LIONS & CHEETAHS & RHINOS OH MY!, why were you excited about it?

I loved the idea of a picture book with art by children, and when I saw the art, I was blown away. The art is so beautiful and life-like and I just fell in love with it. I also love the fact that we would be helping those very kids who drew the animals!

I was blown away, too! When deciding who to submit the project to, why did you send it to Barb McNally at Sleeping Bear Press?

I sent it to Barb since she does very interesting books that are usually a little serious and a little out-of-the-box. 

That makes sense! What was Barb's initial response after reading the manuscript and was the acquisition process an exciting one?

Barb loved it immediately. It’s always an exciting process when an editor loves and buys the book!

How do you feel about the manuscript being illustrated by children, even though this is not the industry norm?

I love the idea. You would never know that children illustrated this book since the art is so sophisticated. It’s almost like the animals are glowing, there’s so much life in them. 

I agree! How do you feel about the final product, and why do you hope kids here in the U.S. will read it?
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It’s a gorgeous book. I think kids in the US will see this art and realize that these children get to see these magnificent animals all the time, which is such a different experience than what we live here in the States. Whenever you can see how someone else lives, you are hopefully expanding your horizons and learning more than what you knew before you read the book. 

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.
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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!

I was beyond delight when my friend of the pen, Moira Donohue, announced that she'd be having a book about African animals published by Sleeping Bear Press, and even more excited when I found out that the book's artwork would be painted by young people who live in sub-Saharan Africa. The children artists have learned to draw, paint and depict lions, cheetahs, elephants and more from professional artists who volunteer with How To Draw A Lion, an art-based education program held in Tanzania, Kenya, and Malawi. How To Draw A Lion was founded by John Platt, an award-winning New York based artist and coauthor of Lions & Cheetahs & Rhinos! OH MY!
  
I wanted to join in celebrating the release of this book, and so, beginning tomorrow, August 15, I'll be hosting a week-long Lions & Cheetahs & Rhinos! OH MY! Book Launch Party!

During the celebration, I'll be interviewing those involved in the book's creation. On day one of the party, John Platt, the book's coauthor, will be up. On day two, I will interview Moira. On day three, John and Moira's literary agent, Jennifer Unter will be spotlighted. On day four, I will interview Barb McNally, the book's editor. On day five, I will interview Felicia Macheske, the book's designer. And on day six, I am honored to have ten of the children-- artists extraordinaire--as guests. Lastly, on day seven, Madeline, a nine-year-old author of her own book about African animals, will share her thoughts about interviewing Moira, her own writing process, and her thoughts about Moira and John's book. 

Will you join me in celebrating this book--a lovely work of art that celebrates both animals and humans living in sub-Saharan Africa? I hope so! Leave a comment for one of our guests and win a chance to receive a free, signed copy of Lions & Cheetahs & Rhinos! OH MY!!

Written by award-winning children's book author and poet, Jacqueline Jules,  and illustrated by award-winning illustrator, Iris Deppe, each free-verse poem in Tag Your Dreams: Poems of Play and Persistence  paints a picture of young people persevering while doing what children do best--playing.

​One poem shows a girl and boy wanting to play tennis, but alas, they must wait beneath the lights of night for their turn on the courts. In another poem, a girl is called a name that makes fun of her size. Yet, she swims majestically proud despite it. In another poem, a girl joins her Nana and Pops on a slow pace hike along a trail lined with "sycamore trees wrapped in mottled bark."

No matter the mode of play, no matter the season, no matter the child's gender, every poem in Tag Your Dreams shows a young person learning persistence and patience while perspiring.

One boy, while confidently riding his bike, swerves to keep hitting a squirrel: "Boom! Blood on my lip. Bent wheel. Broken finger. But no cast. No sling." Soon, he's pedaling again. A girl up to bat recalls how her past indecisiveness about whether or not to swing ended up poorly for her. This time, she decides to keep her eye on the ball and "send fear sailing over the fence."​
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Parents, physical education instructors, and teachers alike will enjoy having this collection of poems on hand, for each poem highlights the internal voice of a child learning persistence while engaging in play. Young readers will also enjoy Iris Deppe's simple illustrative style. Each image shows all kinds of children playing together--whether one participant is sitting in a wheelchair or leaning on crutches, or another is blond-haired or brown-skinned, or whether the player is female or male. That in itself is tagging a dream.  

​Released by Albert Whitman & Company April 1, 2020. Order your copy HERE.

So excited to have you here, Iris, and to be celebrating the release of Tag Your Dreams: Poems of Play and Persistence--written by Jacqueline Jules and illustrated by you!

​The pleasure is all mine, Dionna.

Do tell. What was your process for inspiration once you read Jacqueline Jules's poems in Tag Your Dreams?

First, I tried to remember the feeling I used to get when I did something active as a kid--the fun I had and the friends I made while doing sports. Being active wasn’t just the thrill of learning a new skill, it was also a way of learning to be a team player, plus realizing what your own body is capable of! Besides reminiscing, I also re-watched (parts of) some sports-related movies from the 90s, which I loved as a kid. "The Mighty Ducks", "Sidekicks" and "The Sandlot’"are just a few that came to mind. I would say these movies inspired me visually during the process of this book. 

​Why did you choose such an airy, light color pallet when illustrating this book, and what medium did you use?

Jacqueline’s words seemed very light and sometimes dreamy to me, so I wanted the drawings to translate that atmosphere, almost like a breath of fresh air for the readers. So light, airy colours seemed appropriate, especially since many of the illustrations take place outside. I work with mixed media. I draw all the figures and elements by hand, scan them in and afterwards colour them in and place them in compositions with my computer.

​Why did you decided to portray the children in Tag Your Dreams as coming from all walks of life? 

I think it’s important that every kid can relate to the characters in these poems. Playing and being active is a trait all kids in the world possess. It’s a universal thing, so I wanted all these kids to be represented in this book. 

Why did you enjoy illustrating this book?

I really enjoyed diving into my childhood for this project and getting acquainted with sports I’d never heard of before, like flag football, kickball or foursquare. Now I feel very up to date when it comes to sports and less of an old fart--haha. 
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Why do you hope children read and enjoy the illustrations in this book?

I hope they will feel inspired to pick up sports and just get active and ambitious and most of all, have a lot of fun doing it!

​​Images used with permission from Albert Whitman & Company