Color Me a Kidlit Writer
  • Home
  • My Books & Such
  • Credits
  • Clips
  • Interviews, Blog Parties & More

KidLit C'Ville Blog Party--Day 3!!

3/18/2016

6 Comments

 

Hannah Barnaby

Picture
Picture
(c) Scott DuBar

C'Ville Writer


Why did you decide to write about organ donation in your latest novel, Some of the Parts?

Most of my stories begin with a situation or a question, and Some of the Parts was no exception. I had always been fascinated by the idea of organ donors and recipients and one day while I was journaling, I wrote, "What if you lost someone and then found out they weren't really gone?" From that one question, I built Tallie's entire story. Of course, I had to do quite a bit of research along the way and there was a great deal I didn't know about how donor families and recipients communicate with each other.

What do you find is the biggest challenge when it comes to promoting your books?

There are two main challenges for me: one is keeping the balance between promoting a finished book and writing new stories, and the other is getting over the feeling that I'm bragging when I talk about my books. I try to keep the focus on the books and the characters, and the potential reader, rather than on myself. And I'm honest with myself about what I'm good at. School visits and book festivals are fun for me. Making a series of videos of myself and posting them online would be torture. Stick with your strengths!

How do you feel about the reviews your books have received (which have been pretty stellar!)?

It's incredible to hear from readers who have connected with something I've written, especially when the story has brought out an emotional response. Some of the Parts is obviously a sad story, in some ways, so it has had a strong effect on readers. But there are unexpected moments, too -- one girl told me that a relationship between two minor characters in Wonder Show made her realize that her own relationship was unhealthy for her and inspired her to end it. That was so powerful for me to hear. Stories truly do effect real change in readers' lives, which is what makes being a published writer such a huge privilege.

How has participating in and being in attendance at the Virginia Festival of the Book helped you grow as a writer?

I love the Festival of the Book for so many reasons--it's thrilling to see our community infused with so much energy and love for writing and books, and it's deeply inspiring to hear other writers talk about their experiences. Writing can be such an isolating occupation. It's vital to connect with each other, share resources, and cheer each other on! And I'm especially happy to have seen the festival expand the programming for young writers in the past few years.

What do you enjoy about Charlottesville's writing community?

I recently held a launch party at New Dominion Bookshop to celebrate the publication of Some of the Parts, and I was in awe of how many writers from the community came to support me. Charlottesville and Richmond both have incredibly tight-knit writing communities but there is always room for new writers, and I have experienced firsthand how welcoming these writers are. Not to mention all the great opportunities to attend readings and classes at places like WriterHouse!

Hannah Barnaby is a former children's book editor and bookseller, and was the inaugural children's writer-in-residence at the Boston Public Library. Her debut novel, Wonder Show (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 2012), was a Morris Award finalist in 2013. Her YA novel, Some of the Parts was released in February 2016 by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Kids. She lives in Charlottesville, VA with her family. You can find her online at hannahbarnaby.com and can follow her on Twitter @hannahrbarnaby.

Anne Marie Pace

Picture
Picture
(c) Scott DuBar

C'Ville Writer


 As an author, what do you enjoy about school visits?

School visits give me an opportunity to meet readers I wouldn’t otherwise get to meet--namely, awesome teachers and librarians and kids! My teaching career was spent working with high-schoolers, but I’ve found that the little ones are just as fun, as well as super-cute. Also, as a former teacher, I am intrigued by education issues in general, so I enjoy visiting different schools and seeing how a love of books is encouraged in classrooms at schools with varying demographics and philosophies.

In your opinion, can a Skype visit be just as fun? 

I won’t deny that Skype visits are different from in-person visits. I sing and dance with little ones in person, and that is harder, though not impossible, to do over Skype, since I’m working with a desktop computer in my kitchen, not a studio. But today’s young students have grown up with the amazing technology we have today--stuff we couldn’t have dreamed of when I was their age. So for them, talking with someone over Skype does not feel miraculous; it’s just another way of communicating. I don’t think it throws them off balance in any way. That means that most of what I do with them translates just fine to Skype. I do miss the hugs, though. You can’t Skype a hug!

Tell us about your recent deal with Disney.

A couple of years ago, my agent called to tell me that Disney Junior was interested in optioning VAMPIRINA BALLERINA for a preschool television series.  The option didn’t mean they were going to make it into a series; it meant they were asking for exclusive rights to do so if they wished. However, after many months of development, Disney Junior announced this spring that Vampirina is in production and will premiere some time in 2017. Chris Nee, the creator of the award-winning Disney Junior series Doc McStuffins, is executive producer, Norton Virgien is the co-executive producer, Nicky Phelan is directing, and Brown Bag Films from Ireland will do the animation. It really couldn’t be in better hands. The show and the books will complement rather than duplicate each other; we should think of two distinct timelines in a sci-fi universe. The books are the books and the show will be the show. I won’t have any input into the show itself, but LeUyen Pham and I are creating another Vampirina book. Think Beach Blanket Bingo meets Monster Mash, as Vampirina heads to the beach.

How has participating in and being in attendance at the Virginia Festival of the Book helped you grow as a writer?

I’ve been involved with the Virginia Festival of the Book for a long time now. I moderated panels of children’s authors for several years, then I sat on panels, then I put together panels--now my favorite thing to do are school visits. Schools in our area often schedule their author visits for Festival week, so we are all celebrating books together. It’s hard not to feel motivated and excited about our work when we are celebrating books.

What do you enjoy about Charlottesville's writing community?

University towns are always full of interesting people, aren’t they? And some of the most interesting people to me are other writers. My critique group began years ago after a panel at the Virginia Festival of the Book, and not only are we still together, but we’ve all published books. They’re not just my colleagues; they’re my friends. As the Charlottesville Events Coordinator for the Mid-Atlantic Region of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, I’ve had the chance to be at the hub of many children’s writing events in town. I’ve also begun teaching at WriterHouse, so I’m meeting new writers through my classes there. Children’s writers are renowned for being some of the most encouraging and helpful people around, and our children’s writers in Charlottesville are no exception. It’s a great place to live as a writer.
Anne Marie Pace is the author of  Never Ever Talk to Strangers (Scholastic Book Clubs 2010), A Teacher for Bear (Scholastic Book Clubs 2011) and the Vampirina Ballerina series (Disney-Hyperion) that is illustrated by LeUyen Pham. Her upcoming picture books include PIGLOO (Henry Holt & Co.), GROUNDHUG DAY (Disney-Hyperion), BIG-EYED BUG (Beach Lane Books), and the next adventure for Vampirina (Disney-Hyperion)! Anne-Marie’s favorite pastimes include reading, cooking, choral singing, walking in the woods, traveling, and (most importantly) spending time with family, friends and her two awesome beagle mixes (AKA mutts). She can be found online at annemariepace.com and Tweeting @AnneMariePace.
6 Comments

    About Me

    Dionna is a spinner of children's yarns, a weaver of nonfiction, and a forever-learner enrolled in the Institute of Imaginative Thinking. Her kidlit work has appeared on the pages of  Cricket, Spider, and Ladybug. As a work-for-hire author, she's written projects for Scholastic, Lerner, Capstone, Little, Brown and other educational publishers. Her middle-grade, MAMA'S CHICKEN & DUMPLINGS, will be released by Holiday House come 2024. An SCBWI member since 2005, Dionna is represented by ​Kelly Dyksterhouse and 
    Jacqui Lipton of The Tobias Literary Agency.


    Picture

    Picture

    Picture

    Picture

    Picture

    Picture

    Picture

    Picture

    Picture

    Picture

    Picture

    Picture

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    October 2021
    September 2021
    June 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    February 2017
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    February 2015
    May 2014
    March 2014
    September 2013
    July 2013
    May 2013

    Categories

    All
    Abigail Halpin
    A Big Mooncake For Little Star
    Abrams Books For Young Readers
    Adriann Ranta Zurhellen
    African Art By Children
    Aladdin Pix
    Albert Whitman & Company
    Alexandra S.D. Hinrichs
    Alfred A. Knopf
    Alice Ratterree
    Alvina Ling
    Alyssa Bermudez
    Amy Harding
    Amy Lee-Tai
    Andrea Beatriz Arango
    Andrea Brown Literary
    Angela Dominguez
    Angie Arnett
    Angie Miles
    Angie Smibert
    Anna Staniszewski
    Anne Marie Pace
    Anne Moore Armstrong
    Annual Virginia Book Events
    A POEM GROWS INSIDE YOU
    Arrows
    Arthur Levine Books
    Art-Themed Challenges
    Ashley Spires
    Ashley Walker
    Autism Picture Book
    Bagram Ibatoulline
    Barb McNally
    Barb Rosenstock
    Beach Lane Books
    Ben Franklin's Big Splash
    Blink YA Books
    Blog Hop
    Blog Parties
    BO AT THE BUZZ
    Book Launch Parties
    Book Trailers
    Boyds Mills And Kane
    Boyds Mills Press
    BRAVE BALLERINA
    Brenda Woods
    Brian Rock
    Bright Literary Agency
    Brown Books For Young Readers
    Busy Eyed Day
    Busy-Eyed Day
    Calkin's Creek
    Callie C. Miller
    Candlewick Press
    Capstone
    Carina Povarchik
    Caroline McPherson
    Cetologist
    Changes In Publishing
    Charlie & Frog
    Charlottesville Illustrator
    Chronicle Books
    C. M. Surrisi
    Colleen Muske
    Colleen Paeff
    Confetti Kids
    Content Editor
    Coping Skills School-aged Children
    Copyeditors
    Coyote Moon
    Craft Of Storytelling
    Craft Of Writing
    Crenshaw
    Cricket Magazine Contributor
    Critiquing
    Crossover
    Cyndi Marko
    Cynthia Cliff
    Daniel Bernstrom
    Daniel Nayeri
    Dave Mottram
    Dawn P. Noren
    Deaf Main Characters
    Deborah Diner
    Deborah Prum
    Dionna Mann
    Dish Up A Reading Delight
    Disney-Hyperion
    Dolores Andral
    Donna & Libby Farrell
    Don Tate
    Doris Kutschbach
    Ebony Glenn
    Eerdmans Books For Young Readers
    Elliott Smith
    Engaging The Audience
    Erica Perl
    Erin Murphy
    Erin Murphy Literary Agency
    Ethan Suspended
    Eucalyptus Tree
    EVELYN DEL REY IS MOVING AWAY
    Fall 2020 Virtual Kidlit Events
    Farrar Straus And Giroux
    Fearless Public Speaking
    Feiwel & Friends
    Felicia Macheske
    Fine Art Raven Photographer
    Flashlight Night
    Fort Building Time
    Foundry Literary + Media
    Four Beautiful Picture Book Biographies
    Fran Cannon Slayton
    Frann Preston Gannon
    Frann Preston-Gannon
    Fred Koehler
    From My Notes
    Garvey's Choice
    Getty Publications
    GIFTS OF THE MAGPIE
    Good Illustration Ltd.
    Grace Lin
    Grammar Tip
    Great Nocturnal Book For Kids
    Growing Up Pedro
    Hannah Barnaby
    HarperCollins
    HB Steadham
    Heather Brockman Lee
    Highlighter SCBWI Mid-Atlantic Newsletter
    Holly Webb
    Holt Books For Young Readers
    Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
    How To Draw A Lion
    I Love My Library
    Interviews
    Iris Deppe
    IVELIZ EXPLAINS IT ALL
    Jacqueline Jules
    Jacques Kaufmann
    Jacqui Lipton
    Jen Malia
    Jennifer Elvgren
    Jennifer Laughran
    Jennifer Unter
    Jen Shulman
    Jess Brailler
    Jessica Sinsheimer
    Jewell Parker Rhodes
    Joanie Stone
    Joanne Lew-Vriethoff
    John Parra
    John Platt
    Joy Jones
    Julia Kuo
    Julie Matysik
    Jump Back Paul
    Jumpy Jack & Googily
    June Hunter
    Kara Reynolds
    Kar-Ben Publishing
    Karen Kane
    Karen Nagel
    Kate Testerman
    Katherine Applegate
    Kathleen Kellett
    Kathleen Rushall
    Kathryn Erskine
    Katrin Dreiling
    Kell Andrews
    Kelly Dyksterhouse
    Kellye Crocker
    KidLit411
    Kidlit Agent
    Kidlit Art Director
    Kidlit Artist
    Kidlit Author
    Kidlit Author & Illustrator
    Kidlit Book Designer
    Kidlit Coauthors
    KidLit C'Ville Blog Party
    Kidlit Editors
    KidLit Events
    Kidlit Events 2021
    Kidlit Events 2022
    Kidlit Reviews
    Kid Reviewer
    Kids Can Press
    Killer Whales
    Kristen-Paige Madonia
    Kwame Alexander
    Kweli: The Color Of Children's Literature Conference
    Ladybug Magazine
    Laura Lyn DiSiena
    Law And Authors: A Legal Handbook For Writers
    Leah Henderson
    Leaving Room For The Illustrator
    Lee & Low Books
    Lerner
    Leslie Stall Widener
    Less Is More
    Lilliput
    Lily's New Home
    Linda Pratt
    Lindsey McDivitt
    LIONS & CHEETAHS & RHINOS! OH MY!
    Literary Agent Interviews
    Little
    Little Brown Books For Young Readers
    Liza Wiemer
    Lois Sepahban
    London
    Lynne Chapman
    Madeline
    Madelyn Rosenberg
    Making It (not Too) Personal Query Etiquette
    Mama's Chicken & Dumplings
    Marc Boston
    Marfe Delano
    Margaret Ferguson
    Margaret Ferguson Books
    Maria Gianferrari
    Marvelous Cornelius
    Marvelous Cornelius Blog Party
    Mary Amato
    Maryland Kidlit Events
    Mary Rand Hess
    Matt Forest Esenwine
    Maverick Children's Books
    Megan Wagner Lloyd
    Meg Medina
    Meg Medina's One-Minute Writing Tips
    Melissa Gorzelanczyk
    Melissa Manlove
    Michael J Rosen
    Michelle Meadows
    Middle-grade
    Moira Donohue
    My Work
    Nancy Carpenter
    Nancy Paulsen Books
    Nedda Lewers
    Nikki Grimes
    NOAA Scientist
    Olga M. Herrera
    Olivia Hinebaugh
    One Day In The Eucalyptus
    One Good Deed
    ORCAS By Dionna L. Mann
    Pam Ehrenberg
    Paper Wishes
    Paper Wishes Blog Party
    Paula Yoo
    Peachtree Publishers
    Personal Rejections
    Phil Bildner
    Picture Book About Change And Grief
    Picture Book Biography
    Picture Books
    PJ Books
    Planting Parsley
    Poet: Remarkable Story Of George Moses Horton
    POV
    Prestel Junior
    Proofreading
    Queries
    Query Kombat
    Query Kombat 2018 Grand Champion
    Race Car Dreams Blog Party
    Random House/Delacorte
    Rashin Kheiriyeh
    Raven Quill Literary Agency
    Rejections
    Renee Graef
    Return To The Secret Garden
    Roberta Pressel
    Rosie McCormick
    Running Press
    Ryan Hayes
    Saffron Ice Cream
    Sairom Moon
    Sam Gayton
    Sam Hundley
    Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency
    Sara Holmes
    SASE
    Scholastic Press
    School Visits
    Scott DuBar
    Scrap Artist
    S.D. Schindler
    Sensory Issues
    Seth Fishman
    Sharon Chriscoe
    Shirley Ng-Benitez
    Short Pump Bump!
    Simon & Schuster
    Sleeping Bear Press
    Slush Piles
    SOLO
    Sonia Sanchez
    Sourcebooks
    SparkNotes
    Spencer Hill Contemporary
    Spooky Cheetah Press
    Spring 2021 Kidlit Events
    Stan Fellows
    Stephanie Fitzgerald
    Susan Bartoletti
    Susan Batori
    Susan VanHecke
    Susan Wood
    Suzie Townsend
    Swenke Elementary Book Trailer Crew
    Sylvia Liu
    Tag Your Dreams
    Tami Traylor
    Teresa Bonnadio
    Terrible Typhoid Mary
    Terri Fields
    The 24/7s
    The Amazing Age Of John Roy Lynch
    The Boney Hand
    The Crossover Review
    THE GREAT STINK
    The Innovative Press
    The Most Magnificent Thing
    Therese Makes A Tapestry
    The Tale Of Rescue
    THE WILD GARDEN
    The Word: A Storytelling Sanctuary
    This Little Piggy: An Owner Manual
    This Little Piggy Has A Blog Party
    Thread Of Love
    Tillmon County Fire
    Tips For Book Events
    Tom Angleberger
    Tom Birdseye
    Towers Falling
    Trombone Shorty
    Uwe Stender
    Virginia Festival Of The Book
    Virginia KidLit Events
    Virginia Literary Events
    Virtual Bookish Events
    Want To Play?
    Wendy Shang
    Winter 2021 Virtual Book Events
    Wordsong
    Work For Hire
    Writing Advice
    Writing Process
    Writing Quotes
    WV Kidlit Events
    Yaroslava Apollonova
    Zara González Hoang
    Zara González Hoang
    Zoe In Wonderland