|
|
I write picture books and poetry. I was
named runner-up for the 2012 Barbara Karlin Grant. My debut book,
THERE WAS AN OLD DRAGON, is coming from Random House Children’s
Fall 2015. It will be illustrated by Ben
Mantle (big smile!). I am represented by Tricia Lawrence of the
Erin Murphy Literary Agency.
Can you tell us about your picture
book writing journey?
I’ve wanted to write picture books
for a long time. But I was all want and no action until Fall 2010. It
was then that I decided that if I really wanted to do this thing that
I’d better get serious. Early in 2011, I found a critique group
(the critique group of awesomeness). I had never critiqued a
manuscript in my life. So not only did I need to learn how to write a
picture book, I had to learn how to critique. No, they didn’t just
let me in. I had to give writing samples and they saw something. They
didn’t see a well crafted-picture book…I can tell you that.
Looking back…Oh my! But you know, the fact that they let me in
challenged me to get to work. I worked!!! Then came Runner-up for the
Barbara Karlin Grant. That was a HAPPY day and the encouragement I
needed to pursue getting an agent. After researching, I knew my top
choice was the Erin Murphy Literary Agency. But there were others I
liked, too. I queried and submitted to several. In April 2013, I
signed with Tricia Lawrence (Erin Murphy Literary )
and that was a HAPPIER day! Just a few days after Tricia submitted
THERE WAS AN OLD DRAGON, we had interest from Maria Modugno at Random
House Children’s Books. And I guess the HAPPIEST day of all was
when Maria said she wanted my story!
That’s very condensed because along
the way…I wrote. I revised. I read picture books. I read
craft books. I wrote. I revised. I read picture books. I
followed blogs. I wrote. I revised. I read picture books.
I critiqued. I wrote. I revised. I read picture books.
I entered challenges. I wrote. I revised. I read picture
books. I got discouraged. I wrote. I revised. I read
picture books. You get the picture!
What has influenced you most?
As far as influences, my critique group
gets a ton of credit. They are honest and encouraging. They push me
to write my best. Other influences have been my online writing
buddies that I share with many of you through Susanna
Leonard Hill’s blog activities, Tara
Lazar’s PiBoIdMo, and Julie
Hedlund’s 12 x 12. I love you people!!!
Can you tell us a little about your
revision process?
After I write my first draft, I try to
look at it as a manuscript I’m critiquing for someone else. I know
I can’t really let go of the fact that it’s my story, but I try.
By doing this, I find a lot to reconsider, delete, and/or change.
Then I send it off to my critique group. I read each of their
critiques and let my thoughts simmer. I’ve learned to consider each
of their comments in terms of what I want to do with my story. From
their comments alone, I may come up with several revisions. Then when
I have it revised to my liking, I send it back to my critique group.
And so the process continues until I feel my story is the best it can
be.
If my manuscript is rhyming, I send it
through my poetry critique group, The Poet’s Garage. They are
wonderful to point out problems with meter, logic, or forced rhyme.
I consider each word. I use the heck
out of the thesaurus. As I’m considering an idea, writing a draft,
and revising, I do a lot of research. I keep a glossary of terms and
images relating to my characters and settings. Even though my
manuscripts are fiction, the research has had an influence on all my
stories. For instance, while writing THERE WAS AN OLD DRAGON, I
researched dragons and medieval times. I pasted the information and
images at the bottom of my manuscript. The research is informative
and inspirational. I know my revisions wouldn’t have come as
quickly if I hadn’t had my research for reference.
I did have to revise THERE WAS AN OLD
DRAGON. That scared the beejeebies out of me! It’s rhyming…Eeek!
I totally got what Maria wanted to see and knew if I could find my
way to the revisions that my story would be stronger. At first
nothing came to me! Nothing! Nada! Blank! I took a deep breath and
did other things for a few days. Then slowly, new lines began
creeping into my brain. I made notes and turned those words into text
that got me all kinds of excited about the transformation of
my story. I came up with two options. I sent them to my critique
group and my poetry group. Mixed opinions! I had my favorite, but the
other one was strong, too. We ended up showing them both to Maria.
She picked my favorite
Favorite picture book?
You saved the hardest question for
last! There is no way I could pick a favorite! I do have a soft place
in my heart for Lily’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes
because it never fails to entertain me and is one of the picture
books that inspired me to try my hand at writing. I love Interrupting
Chicken by David Ezra Stein! I could go around all day reciting
Three Ninja Pigs by Corey Rosen Schwartz. Then there’s Can’t
Sleep Without Sheep by Susanna Leonard Hill which I read over and
over again. And Pat Zeitlow Miller’s Sophie’s Squash just
came out this fall and I just know it will be a classic. I’ve made
it known that I actually hug the picture books that I love! I read
them the first time and I just can’t help myself…*HUG*! There are
many more I have hugged, but I’ve gone on too long.
You can learn more about me at my blog,
~a penny and her jots~.
Be sure to check out my Perfect Picture Book Friday posts. You can
search for them with my Search box at the top of my left sidebar. I
would love to have you drop by my Pinterest (HERE)
where I pin a plethora of picture books.
Now get revvvvvvvvved up! ReviMo is not
that far away!
Thanks for having me, Meg!
Thank you for joining us Penny! I love that you hug favorite books.
