Category: Lois Sepahban

Blog Party! Day 5 Celebrating PAPER WISHES

1/8/2016

Manzanar Barracks and Mt. Williamson, by Charles Isamu Morimoto, courtesy National Park Service, Museum Management Program, Manzanar National Historic Site, cat# MANZ 7597

Featuring:
Julia Kuo: Illustrator Extraordinaire

Photo credit: Erin Drewitz

What medium did you use in creating the book cover for PAPER WISHES?

I worked digitally in Adobe Photoshop from start to finish, using a Wacom tablet and stylus.

How did you decide what key elements would go into the making of the cover for PAPER WISHES?

I read the manuscript a couple times to make sure I had the right feel for the book! I took notes on details like how old the main characters were, their appearances, and if anything about their physical selves changed at certain points in the story. I also made sure to bookmark moments that were significant to the plot or scenes that could be visually appealing. Showing Manami on the cover seemed like a must, but I started off with a couple sketches that placed her in different settings.

Did you study photographs of children interned at Manzanar Camp and/or the artwork made by Japanese-Americans internees before finalizing your illustration? If so, how did allow them to influence your illustration decisions?

Yes! I always try to do research to make sure that I’m portraying my subjects accurately. There was actually an article about Ansel Adam’s striking Manzanar photos that popped up at the time I was working on this project. Thanks to the internet, I was able to find plenty of reference for the way that Japanese-American women and children dressed and did their hair during this time. I loved looking at those photos; as a 2nd generation Asian-American I felt personally drawn to these families and their struggles.

How did Manami's voice combined with her selective mutism influence your stylistic choices when creating illustrations for the cover?

I remember wanting to show the starkness of Manzanar, because understanding the camp was so important to understanding Manami’s distress. Manami chooses to live as a silent girl while she is in Manzanar, so I thought the strong shadows and earthy hues of this bleak and unforgiving desert landscape would easily lend themselves to Manami’s story.

In what way did you try to instill the theme of PAPER WISHES--of hope triumphing over despair--into your illustrations?

Manami is letting go of one of her many Yujiin drawings, hoping that her messages will bring Yujiin back to her. I felt that the strength of resolve Manami had at the end to move forward with life was not too different from the intense hope and yearning that she had for Yujiin’s return, or for the return of some type of normalcy in her life. She’s a strong girl, and I wanted to show her taking action despite the awful circumstances.

Julia Kuo is a freelance illustrator, educator, and expert snacker. She can often be found working out of coffeeshops around Chicago or teaching at Washington University in St. Louis. Julia has illustrated children’s books for Simon & Schuster, Little Brown & Co., Macmillan, Simply Read Books, and specialty books for Quarry Books and Random House. Other clients include the New York Times, Columbia Records, Universal Music Group, State Farm, and American Greetings. Julia can be found online at juliakuo.com and Tweeting @juliaskuo.

PAPER WISHES is historical-fiction for middle-grade readers ages 8-12. It is written by Lois Sepahban and published by Margaret Ferguson Books an imprint of Farrar, Straus & Giroux (BYR), January, 2016. Sketches used with permission of Julia Kuo and Macmillan Publishing Children's Group. Read a starred Kirkus Review HERE.

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Blog Party! Day 4 Celebrating PAPER WISHES

1/7/2016

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Manzanar Barracks by G. Okazaki, courtesy National Park Service, Museum Management Services, Manzanar National Historic Site, cat# MANZ 2224

Featuring:
Roberta Pressel: Kidlit Book-Designer Extraordinaire

Describe your process in working with Julia Kuo, the illustrator, in creating the cover for PAPER WISHES.

After reading the manuscript, the editor and I discussed what would work best for the cover image. We wanted to show Manami’s wistfulness and sadness, but also her hopefulness that the pictures she’s sending will bring her dog back. Julia did not have to do too many sketches before she created the perfect image.

When you first saw Julia’s final illustrations for the cover of PAPER WISHES, what was your emotional response?

I thought that Julia had completely captured the essence of the book.

Though PAPER WISHES details a sad and dark time in U.S. history, in your opinion, how does the cover embody hope?

The image of Manami tossing the picture of her dog into the air indicates that she is hopeful her dog will return and that everything will be okay again. Her expression also shows that no matter what her surroundings are, she is optimistic that things will get better. Her pose and actions are in contrast to the bleak background of the art.

What story do you hope your cover tells?

I'm hoping that the cover exemplifies the heart of the story--a young girl who feels isolated in a strange place, wishing for her dog and her past life.

If you could give a “Paper Wish” to the young people reading this novel, what would it be?

If I could give a "Paper Wish" to the young people reading this novel, it would be that they think about Manami's story and how it relates to the world today--how important it is to not let fear cloud judgment. I also hope that young people will be inspired by Manami's struggle to overcome her situation and not give up hope.

Roberta Pressel is a senior book designer at Macmillan Children's Publishing Group. She works on titles both for Farrar Straus & Giroux and Roaring Brook Press books. Roberta has also been an art director and book designer for Hyperion Books for Young Readers, Disney Press, Random House, Knopf, Scholastic, and Simon & Schuster. Though she specializes in children's book design, Roberta has designed calendars, promotional pieces, and audio and video packaging. Her design work has been displayed in award shows at the Society of Illustrators and The New York Book Show.

PAPER WISHES is historical-fiction for middle-grade readers ages 8-12. It is written by Lois Sepahban and published by Margaret Ferguson Books, January 2016. Read a starred Kirkus Review HERE.

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Blog Party! Day 3 Celebrating PAPER WISHES

1/6/2016

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Playing Baseball at Manzanar by Charles Isamu Morimoto, courtesy National Park Service, Museum Management Program, Manzanar National Historic Site, cat# MANZ 7598

Featuring:
Margaret Ferguson, KidLit Editor & Publisher Extraordinaire

What was it about the narrative of PAPER WISHES that made you fall in love with the character, Manami?

PAPER WISHES is a story about Manami, a ten-year old Japanese-American girl who is in a terrible situation over which she has no control. She loses her home on Bainbridge Island, her dog, and her life as she knew it when she and her family are sent to Manzanar internment camp after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Through the love of her family, Manami establishes a rhythm to her days there--spending time with her grandfather, tending her mother's garden, going to school and always longing for her dog, Yujiin, to find his way to her. And when Yujiin doesn't come, she "sends" him paper wishes that she hopes will make him come. The narrative also works in bits about how her family tries to maintain traditions from their old life--having a tea ceremony, a paper lantern ceremony, for examples, which shows us in a subtle way how much they have lost. Throughout the story, Manami's observations and worries seem so real to me, as does her eventual triumph which isn't about being released from the camp, but finding her own voice.

When you first read PAPER WISHES, what was it about Lois Sepahban’s writing style, her voice that truly excited you?

I love the spare and evocative prose that Lois uses to write her story. In a way, it was like editing poetry where every word is important and can't be misplaced. It was also a fun challenge to maintain that feeling and describe the historical details.

Why did you decide you wanted to be the editor and publisher for PAPER WISHES?

I had always wanted to acquire a novel about what happened to Japanese Americans during World War II in this country, but had never read one that I liked. When I first read PAPER WISHES, I was struck by how literary it was and how much I believed Manami's voice--it just drew me in. Then I spoke to Lois on the phone and discovered we both grew up in California and shared a fascination with Manzanar--and why it was glossed over in our education. We also discussed the things that weren't clear to me and she was on board to make changes.

As you worked through revisions together, what did you appreciate about Lois's work ethic?

I think I probably drove Lois crazy with all of my comments and questions—at least she knew I cared--but she was always willing to listen. We went through the manuscript four or five times (that isn't unusual for me) and Lois was always eager to get back to work.

What do you hope children reading this book will carry away with them?

I hope that children who read PAPER WISHES will be encouraged by Manami's resiliency in a terrible situation. I also hope it can provide a stepping stone for bigger discussions in classrooms about this horrible injustice against Japanese Americans in our history--and what it means to judge someone so unfairly.

Margaret Ferguson is a seasoned children's book editor with over thirty years of experience. Under her direction, she has launched and nurtured Newbery Medal recipients, Caldecott winners, and National Book Award honorees. Some of the authors and illustrators Margaret has worked with include: Brock Cole, Alexandra Day, Uri Shulevitz, David Small, Hope Larson, Claudia Mills, Sarah Stewart, Peter Sis and Judith Viorst. She is the publisher and editor of Margaret Ferguson Books, an imprint of Farrar, Straus & Giroux Books for Young Readers.

Paper Wishes is historical-fiction for middle-grade readers ages 8-12. It is written by
Lois Sepahban and published by Margaret Ferguson Books, January 2016. Read a starred Kirkus Review HERE.

6 Comments

Blog Party! Day 2 Celebrating PAPER WISHES

1/5/2016

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Mt. Williamson and the Manzanar Barracks, by F.M. Kumano, courtest National Park Service, Museum Management Program, Manzanar National Historic Site, cat# MANZ 7578

Featuring:
Kathleen Rushall, Kidlit Agent Extraordinaire

How did Lois Sepahban's manuscript, PAPER WISHES, find its way to you?

Lois submitted to me via my email so the manuscript came through in my regular queries folder. It was not a referral and we had never met before. I think it’s good for everyone to remember that you really don’t have to know someone or have an ‘in’ to become published. There is magic in the inbox. It’s one of my favorite parts of this job; never knowing what will arrive in my email each day.

When you began reading PAPER WISHES, what was it about the story and the writing that kept you turning pages?

PAPER WISHES immediately grabbed me. I remember reading the first page and setting it down to return to Lois’ query letter. I wanted to double check that it was for a middle grade novel. The first few lines were so sparse and lovely; it almost felt like it could be a picture book (where every word matters). Additionally, the earliest version of the manuscript didn’t use punctuation in the standard way. It was so unusual but obviously intentional and intriguing. Manami, the main character, sounded like an old soul. From the first few lines I thought Manami’s voice was accessible for her age but held a wisdom and timelessness that resonated with me right away. For nostalgia’s sake, I just searched my Outlook and found my original reply to Lois’ pitch letter: “I just read the sample pages and am anxious about Manami and Yuijin already.”

I was completely hooked by those first pages and finished it in one sitting after Lois sent me the full manuscript. I remember walking my dogs that evening with my now husband and talking about the book the entire time. (Kevin learned a lot about Japanese internment camps and what I love in a middle grade voice, hah.) I had a strong reaction; that gut feeling that agents have when we KNOW we have to offer representation to an author and can’t wait to make the call.

Now, for as much as I knew I loved this book, I also knew it would not be an ‘easy’ or simple sell. It was an unusual format with unique, literary structure, and much shorter than a standard middle grade (it has since been further lengthened), a completely unique reading experience. As an agent, it’s my job to think how to place a book in the current market. Whenever I start to fall in love with a manuscript I begin thinking of comp titles and start strategizing how I would share this with editors. Well, I couldn’t think of comp titles that would fully capture this one. I also knew that it would take just the right editor to do this manuscript justice—someone who loved it as much as Lois and I did. Someone with the right vision. I feel this book really met its mate with Margaret. Together, Lois and Margaret truly made this shine.

In your opinion, how did Lois infuse history into her narrative without bogging Manami's story down?

The historical details in PAPER WISHES are shown through the characters’ eyes. The characters come first, and I think that’s really the key to any historical fiction. Any details we learn about Manami’s time period are shown as they affect her. Nothing is told to the reader; it’s shown. It’s emotional and intriguing. We discover where Manami’s family is headed at the same time she does. We learn the mistakes she makes with her dog, Yuijin, after it is too late, as she does. We don’t know what she should do or how she should act in her new life at the camp. The reader learns these things alongside Manami.

How did spending time with 10-year-old Manami and experiencing her grief affect you personally?

I am not a crier but I cried when I first read PAPER WISHES. This book is very personal to me. Manami’s grief hits home because it’s so grounded. It’s based on something so seemingly simple—her love for her family’s dog and her good intentions toward him. I could easily relate to this as a huge animal lover, but also because it was clear that Manami is grappling to protect at least one small element of her life as it’s crumbling around her. Manami’s dog represents something larger. Through these varying levels of loss, Lois also paves the way for Manami to heal and for the reader to experience this with her. It’s powerful.

What theme found within PAPER WISHES do you hope will resonate with children?

Manami feels powerless in the beginning of this book. In fact, she is so struck by this feeling that she physically loses her voice. I think feeling powerless and not in control of your surroundings is something every child has felt at some point—to varying degrees. It’s so important to know that there is a light at the end of this feeling, how to come out on the other side of that experience. In addition, PAPER WISHES has themes of tolerance and compassion that resonate very strongly in today’s climate. I hope readers will connect to that as well.

Kathleen Rushall joined Andrea Brown Literary Agency in 2016. She represents writers for all age groups of children’s literature, including picture books (fiction and non-fiction), middle grade, and young adult novels. The most important element that draws Kathleen to any project is a strong voice and unforgettable characters. You can keep up with Kathleen HERE on Twitter.
PAPER WISHES is historical-fiction for middle-grade readers ages 8-12. It is written by Lois Sepahban and published by Margaret Ferguson Books an imprint of Farrar, Straus & Giroux (BYR), January, 2016. Read a starred Kirkus Review HERE.

8 Comments

Blog Party! Day 1 Celebrating PAPER WISHES

1/4/2016

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Manzanar Block 18, by F.M. Kumano, courtesy National Park Service, Museum Management Program, Manzanar National Historic Site, cat# MANZ 5172

Featuring:
Lois Sepahban, Kidlit Author Extraordinaire

What inspired you to write a novel for middle-grade readers that deals with the internment of Japanese-Americans in the United States during World War II?

When I was a child, one of my friends had grandparents who had been forced to move to an internment camp during World War II. We lived in a small mountain town not far from Manzanar, one of two internment camps in California. Because of this personal connection, I have always been interested in learning more about the World War II internment camps.

I was inspired to write this novel by a photograph of a little girl in a book about the children who had been imprisoned at Manzanar. About half of those forced to move to Manzanar were children, and I wanted to write a story about the trauma of that forced relocation.

Explain how your primary research enabled you to create a realistic world for Manami and her family?

My research involved watching hours of interviews with former internees. Densho.org has an archive with hundreds of interviews that include former internees and other people who had worked at the camps, including interviews with teachers, like my fictional Miss Rosalie.

The Manzanar Historic Site is an amazing resource, too. It’s open to the public, and visitors can see what remains of the camp. They also have online exhibitions that include artifacts and documents.

The Bainbridge Island Japanese American Community has an online museum that includes photographs, video and print interviews, and historical notes. It was a tremendous help during my research.

Anytime you write a historical novel, you are stepping outside of your known world. I’ve found that what works best for me is to spend weeks soaking up the research--taking notes, of course, but otherwise not writing. Once I am able to picture the setting and the characters moving around within that setting in my mind, then I feel ready to start writing. I completely stop researching while I’m drafting--but I do revisit my research after I have a solid draft.

One thing that I did not have to research was the climate, having grown up nearby. It’s dry and windy--so dry that hands and lips are chapped from fall to spring. I have vivid memories of my little brother’s lips with a rosy ring around them for months at a time.

Why would you consider your agent, Kathleen Rushall, a true cheerleader of your story?

Kathleen’s first words to me were, “I love this story.” She was so excited about Paper Wishes, that I knew she loved it at least as much as I did. During the last two years, her support has buoyed me in those moments when I’ve doubted myself and my work.

She does the work of a doula: big heart, warm hands, loving words.

Kathleen is more than a cheerleader for Paper Wishes--she’s a cheerleader for me.

Give us an example of a revision request you received from your editor, Margaret Ferguson, and how it moved your narrative to a stronger place.

Working with Margaret is like taking a master class in writing. She took on my raw manuscript which, at the time, was emotion, emotion, emotion, and very little plot. With precisely placed questions, she pulled scenes from me that have become so necessary to the story.

I think the best example of this is when Manami and her mother are in the garden in October at the end of the growing season. Manami’s mother describes the deep roots that the desert garden had to grow in order to survive and compares them to the shallow roots that grow when there is plenty of rain.

This scene is important for many reasons. It brings the garden’s growing season to a close. It reveals the love between Manami and her mother. And it provides Manami with a moment to reflect on how plants in the desert must be strong to survive, and perhaps to think about how the desert has made her stronger, too.

During the second round of revisions, Margaret wrote a note on the manuscript: need a scene here, perhaps in the garden. Few words, but the right words at the right time to inspire this scene. Her gentle influence is present from the beginning to the end.

Manami has a very close relationship with her family, especially her grandfather. How were you able to draw from your own family experience to develop such a touching narrative?

As a child, I had a deep connection with my paternal grandmother. My father is the youngest of six children, so she was quite old when I was born. But we had wonderful times together. She had a beautiful laugh and gave such good advice. I wanted Manami to have a similar anchoring connection to a grandparent, and it was important to me that strong, loving bonds between her family members were a part of the story.

Manami grieves over the loss of her beloved dog, Yujiin, and sends out "paper wishes" on the wind to try to bring him back again. Have you ever experienced a similar grief? How do you hope children who are grieving will find comfort in Manami's story?

I was deeply affected by my parents’ divorce when I was a child. It was probably the defining moment of my childhood--I tend to think of my childhood in terms of before the divorce and after the divorce. When we moved from our home, my parents decided it would be best to find a new home for our dog, Strider. Years later, I heard that Strider had been spotted near our old home--if that report is true, then he had traveled far to find his way back to us.

Writing about Manami’s grieving forced me to revisit my own grief. I found comfort in her loving family and in Grandfather’s words about love growing her heart, and I hope that readers will, too.

I think that the experience of voicelessness is common for children in difficult situations. Even if they are able to speak, they may not be able to articulate what they are thinking and feeling. I hope that young readers might be moved by Manami’s story to speak their own brave words.

Lois Sepahban grew up in central California. She spent her childhood climbing trees, reading books, and creating maps and leading her brother and sister on hunts for buried treasures. On all of her adventures she was accompanied by her dog, Strider, an Australian shepherd, who walked her to the bus stop every morning and then met her there to walk home at the end of the day.
She studied literature in college and became a teacher. Today, she is married and has two children. She lives on a small farm where she has a barn full of animals who need homes. She has dogs, cats, and the sweetest chickens in the world. She can be found online at loissepahban.com and Tweeting @loissepahban.
PAPER WISHES is historical-fiction for middle-grade readers ages 8-12. It is a debut novel penned by Lois Sepahban and published by Margaret Ferguson Books an imprint of Farrar, Straus & Giroux (BYR), January 2016. Read a starred Kirkus Review Here.

19 Comments

Blog Party! Day 5 Celebrating PAPER WISHES

Featuring:
Julia Kuo: Illustrator Extraordinaire

Blog Party! Day 4 Celebrating PAPER WISHES

Featuring:
Roberta Pressel: Kidlit Book-Designer Extraordinaire

Blog Party! Day 3 Celebrating PAPER WISHES

Featuring:
Margaret Ferguson, KidLit Editor & Publisher Extraordinaire

Blog Party! Day 2 Celebrating PAPER WISHES

Featuring:
Kathleen Rushall, Kidlit Agent Extraordinaire

Blog Party! Day 1 Celebrating PAPER WISHES

Featuring:
Lois Sepahban, Kidlit Author Extraordinaire

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Blog Party! Day 5 Celebrating PAPER WISHES

Featuring:Julia Kuo: Illustrator Extraordinaire

Blog Party! Day 4 Celebrating PAPER WISHES

Featuring:Roberta Pressel: Kidlit Book-Designer Extraordinaire

Blog Party! Day 3 Celebrating PAPER WISHES

Featuring:Margaret Ferguson, KidLit Editor & Publisher Extraordinaire

Blog Party! Day 2 Celebrating PAPER WISHES

Featuring:Kathleen Rushall, Kidlit Agent Extraordinaire

Blog Party! Day 1 Celebrating PAPER WISHES

Featuring:Lois Sepahban, Kidlit Author Extraordinaire

About Me

Archives

Categories

Featuring:
Julia Kuo: Illustrator Extraordinaire

Featuring:
Roberta Pressel: Kidlit Book-Designer Extraordinaire

Featuring:
Margaret Ferguson, KidLit Editor & Publisher Extraordinaire

Featuring:
Kathleen Rushall, Kidlit Agent Extraordinaire

Featuring:
Lois Sepahban, Kidlit Author Extraordinaire