MARCH 20, 2024, FEATURE INTERVIEW WITH DEBUT CHILDREN’S BOOK AUTHOR OF MARA HEARS IN STYLE AND FORMER EDUCATOR TERRI CLEMMONS, CONDUCTED BY CHILDREN’S BOOK AUTHOR, BLOGGER, AND LIBRARIAN, CHELSEA DICICCO

Hello writing friends. I’m beyond words excited about introducing you to today’s guest. Not only is Terri Clemmons an emerging debut picture book author, but she also happens to be one of my good friends and critique partners.

Before we take off into the interview for any of our first-time visitors, here are a few of the things you should know about the feature interview segment.

WHAT’S SO GREAT ABOUT FEATURE INTERVIEWS?

Feature Interviews are an INVALUABLE resource for kidlit writers and illustrators at every stage of their publishing journey. Not only are they a great way to stay current on market trends and learn more about the industry’s ins and outs, but they also give readers an up close & personal look at the world of publication from the perspectives of a diverse collection of creators.

Every month, I sit down with members of the writing community (authors, illustrators, editors, and agents), and we discuss all things kidlit publishing.

Here are a few examples of topics:

• Writing workshops and resources
• Diversity in literature and why it matters
• Where to find support and community
• How to improve writing craft and set goals
• How to deal with setbacks/disappointments and WAITING
• Helpful tips and suggestions for aspiring authors and illustrators
• Querying agents, contract negotiations, book deals, and time frames
• And, of course- NEW BOOKS!

Now that we have that out of the way- let’s get started!

THE BEGINNING

Terri, I’m so excited to have you as my guest on the blog today. And I’m thrilled about the launch of your stunning debut, MARA HEAR IN STYLE, which just had its first-ever book launch/birthday last month, February 27, 2024. But before we get too deep into book conversation, I’d love to go back in time and look at your beginning in publishing: pre-publication, pre-agent, pre-everything.

I know you mentioned that – surprise, surprise—your road to publishing wasn’t an “overnight success” but rather a long journey of a number of years.

Can you tell us when, where, how, and why: When did it all begin? Where did it all begin? How did it all begin? Why did it all begin?

My love for books began in the library as a kid, like so many others. I vividly remember our old library with lampposts and grand entry, taking stacks of books home and settling into my bean bag chair to be engrossed in a story. I loved writing stories, too, and in fifth grade, my language art teacher, Mrs. Morgan, read one of my stories to the class. That gave me confidence that I had a talent for writing. Many writers say that a teacher encouraged them similarly and influenced them to become writers. Teachers also say a particular teacher inspired them to go into education. I was inspired to do both. 

“My love for books began in the library as a kid, like so many others.“

Can you share a little about that with us and if teaching had any connection to your current-day passion for writing children’s literature?

My first degree was in language arts, and children’s literature was a big part of that. I fell in love with picture books then. When I had my three children, we brought stacks of books from the library every week, and I began to have ideas for my own stories. I told stories to my kids and eventually began writing. 

Back then, there was no Internet, so researching agents and publishers required time researching in the library, snail mail, typed copies of manuscripts, and self-addressed stamped envelopes. I got rejections on little mimeographed slips, not even a full sheet of paper, but I also got personal feedback. I didn’t know when you got that kind of response, you are close. 

When I returned to teaching full-time, I put my writing dreams on hold. I loved being a mom and a teacher, so I wouldn’t have traded those things for publication, but I may not have waited so long to lift the pause on writing if I knew I was close. Picture books have changed dramatically since my children were small, so there was a lot to learn when I decided to write again with an eye toward publication.

Were there any notable things or moments at the beginning of your writing career that stood out to you that you’d like to share with readers? Good/bad or both.

When I was 53, I was an empty-nester and a veteran teacher who didn’t need as many hours to prepare for classes. I decided it was now or never. I didn’t want to look back and wonder what could have been. I joined SCBWI and attended my first conference, the Prairie Writers and Illustrators Day 2014. It was inspirational and affirming. One of the benefits of conferences is the opportunity to submit your work to agents and editors that are otherwise out of reach. I received an encouraging response from one of the agents, and it energized me to start submitting.

“When I was 53, I was an empty-nester and a veteran teacher who didn’t need as many hours to prepare for classes. I decided it was now or never. I didn’t want to look back and wonder what could have been.“

Thinking back to the early times of pursuing publication, are there any struggles you experienced and how you were able to get past them and continue moving forward?

Submitting to agents and editors is so time-consuming. You have to research each one and comply with various formats when querying. If I got a response, it was usually a form rejection. It can be disheartening. But what made the difference for me was making the conscious decision to pursue this dream to the end and enjoy the journey no matter what happened. 

I paused querying and focused on improving my craft for a couple of years. I went to workshops and took advantage of the critiques offered. I built a stash of manuscripts and learned to love revision. One of the best techniques I used to improve and find my PB voice was to put the words of picture books I loved into a document. The document would look similar to the author’s submission to the editor. Seeing it in that way gave me insights about page turns and how to cut word count, and it provided a way to analyze a story that is more insightful than just reading the book. I use the dictate feature and read books in manuscript form. If you want to try that, in Google Docs, go to “Voice typing” under Tools, and in Word, go to the microphone icon in the upper right. It’s quick.

One of the comments that kept coming up on critiques was that my writing was good but was more of a middle-grade voice. So I wrote a middle-grade book. The word count was daunting, but I found I loved that format, too. But I still loved picture books, so I also studied stacks of picture books from the library to find my own picture book voice. 

You may have noticed this recurring theme of the library playing an essential part in my whole writing journey. Libraries and librarians are essential to creatives! This is a photo of ‘the house that built me’!

“…a form rejection. It can be disheartening. But what made the difference for me was making the conscious decision to pursue this dream to the end and enjoy the journey no matter what happened.”

What helped you most toward the beginning of that journey? Were there any groups/websites/people who encouraged, inspired, or helped you in some other way to keep going?

Learning from other authors, agents, and editors at conferences helped me hone my craft and learn about the publishing industry. I know I’m fortunate to be able to take advantage of these opportunities.  My holiday or birthday wishlists are always about writing opportunities— no jewelry for me, thank you very much. And scholarships are usually offered, so it’s worth a try. You never know what could happen. Webinars are so prevalent now; some are free, but most have price points from $10 on up. 

The Marvelous Midwest Conference in 2016 was among the best I’ve ever attended. I learned so much and became aware of the We Need Diverse Books movement that has created such a wonderful shift for more diversity in books. WNDB offers mentorships, and I’ve applied twice— once with a version of MARA HEARS IN STYLE and once with an MG, both with a main character who wears hearing aids. I was a finalist both times and received great feedback and opportunities despite not winning. Taking these opportunities can make a big difference for writers. 

12x12 was another pivotal organization for me, and it's where I found my wonderful critique group. I’ve learned so much from them and have been supported during the rough patches. Critiquing other manuscripts also helps writers learn, so finding writer friends is essential, and technology allows connections worldwide. 

I’ve also attended the Whispering Woods PB Writer’s Retreat and learned from Jill Esbaum, Pat Zietlow Miller, and Linda Skeers. It is a terrific place to learn about all things picture books. I revised MARA after my first workshop there, which made all the difference.

“Learning from other authors, agents, and editors at conferences helped me hone my craft and learn about the publishing industry.”

Critiquing other manuscripts also helps writers learn, so finding writer friends is essential, and technology allows connections worldwide.

QUERIES & AGENTS

Let’s look back at query trenches. This can be a tough place to be, especially if you’ve been querying agents for a long time. Were there ever moments when you thought, “eh, maybe I don’t need to be doing this…”?

I’ve definitely had tough moments, but it was more about pausing the process than giving up. I needed to work more on my craft and enjoy the writing. I know now that I queried too soon. All that rejection can make you question yourself. Impostor syndrome is real, but I’ve never met an author who hasn’t experienced rejection— even very successful ones.

What made you keep going?

It really was the internal motivation to enjoy the writing itself. I knew I might never get published, but I just wouldn’t give up. I might take breaks. I might slam my laptop shut and cry when I was so close but got the no. But I didn’t give myself the option of quitting.

What advice would you like to share with someone who may be in a tough spot right now and feeling discouraged about query trenches?

Resolve to play the long game. Keep honing your craft. Get your stash of manuscripts ready. So many success stories are about perseverance. It only takes one yes— or two if you get an agent first. Rejection is always a part of publishing. Getting one book published does not guarantee you’ll get two. I’ve seen many posts recently about how tough it is in the trenches right now. If you’ve done the math, you saw it took ten years since my first SCBWI conference to my debut picture book at age 62. It’s never too late. 

Fantastic advice, Terri. Now, let’s shift to agent town. When and how did you first find your current agent match? 

I participated in a Twitter event called #PBPitch. I’d done a couple of Twitter pitch events before and did not get any responses. But this time, I used more hashtags. Agents and editors often look for specific things, so hashtags can help your pitch get your eyes on it. Stephanie Hansen from Metamorphosis Literary Agency reached out, and after some revising, she offered representation. I had already been watching to see when she would open to queries because I knew someone she represented. I also knew she was unilaterally deaf, and two of my stories with HOH characters would likely resonate with her. I knew she would be a staunch advocate for my characters, and I was right.

“Resolve to play the long game. Keep honing your craft. Get your stash of manuscripts ready. So many success stories are about perseverance. It only takes one yes— or two if you get an agent first. Rejection is always a part of publishing. Getting one book published does not guarantee you’ll get two. I’ve seen many posts recently about how tough it is in the trenches right now. If you’ve done the math, you saw it took ten years since my first SCBWI conference to my debut picture book at age 62. It’s never too late. “

PUBLISHERS AND BOOK DEALS

Okay- now you’ve accepted an offer and signed with an agent. Hooray! Then what? Can you share a little bit about your experience of what comes after representation?

I made some revisions based on feedback from Stephanie and the Metamorphosis team. Stephanie sent it out to five publishers, and Andrea Hall from Beaming Books made an offer within a month. That is definitely not the norm. 
What was the book deal process like? And how have (if any) they been similar or different since that initial deal?
There was some back and forth in the negotiation. It took a few months to get the signed contract. But you can’t announce anything— which is really hard! Beaming decided on Lucy Rogers for the illustrator, which was a marvelous choice. 

I love how Lucy brought the characters to life and illustrated ASL. Then, there was collaboration on the title. Nine months after I signed, the announcement appeared in Publishers Weekly and finally felt real. Andrea’s editorial notes came later in the year, and we collaborated on revisions. She kept me in the loop and answered all my debut questions.

Something that amazes me is how many people don't realize that picture book authors are not always – or even usually- “author/illustrator,” but they are, in fact, two completely separate jobs. And unless you ARE the illustrator (in addition to the author), you have very little to do with the illustration process, if anything at all.

Illustrators are chosen by an art director, and their side of the desk has a great deal of creative freedom. So, sometimes, the illustrative process can be surprising to authors because it’s the first time their visual ideas meet with actual artwork. Can you tell us a little bit about the experience working with your art director and illustrator, Lucy Rogers? How was the experience, and how often were you updated on the process?

I agree— people are shocked that I didn’t dictate the drawings on each page! Andrea did keep me updated on the illustration process, though. First, it was the cover. Then, the sketches of each spread. It was a cool experience to see Lucy envision what I wrote. The rough color images followed. I could see the notes Beaming sent Lucy and added any input I had. It was a very collaborative process, and fulfilling to see it all transform into the final version. Lucy translated such emotion into the characters’ expressions, and the colors are gorgeous. 

All this talk about illustrations has me excited about the next part of the interview. If you guessed “books,” you’re correct! 

MARA HEARS IN STYLE: DEBUT BOOK LAUNCH

The dream has finally come true. You’re able to hold your story in your hands and share it with the world. How excited are you to be debuting this year?!

It’s very exciting to see all the collaboration come to fruition! I’m looking forward to sharing it with more children and can’t wait to do more school events. The sign language makes the book interactive and has really resonated with kids.

We’d love to hear all about your debut picture book, MARA HEARS IN STYLE. Speaking of “hearing,” can you tell us about your story and what the inspiration behind it was?

My three children were diagnosed with hearing loss when they were preschool age. The prevailing hypothesis is that I had undiagnosed mild hearing loss as a child. But as one ages, hearing deteriorates, so at age 40, I got my first pair of hearing aids. My kids wore hearing aids and used FM systems in school like Mara. The only books I could find representing kids with hearing loss when they were young were produced by hearing aid manufacturers. When I had a student in my class who wore hearing aids, I looked for books with representation. I was shocked to see the same books published by hearing aid companies on lists from 25 years ago! There was a need for more books with a character wearing hearing aids, especially in a school setting. If you look closely at this photo of my children’s first day of school many moons ago, you can see some colorful hearing aids like Mara’s.

When did you first start working on this project, and what does it mean to you personally?

I started working on it about the same time I went to the SCBWI PWID conference in 2014. I want all kids to see themselves in books and be seen, especially kids with hearing aids, so this has been a dream come true. It is the book I wish I could have handed to all my children’s teachers. When WNDB spoke about the need for diverse books, I knew this book could fill a need. 

What do you hope to impart to parents and children reading MARA HEARS IN STYLE?

I hope they see a spunky girl who struggles with a new situation and worries about making new friends like we all do— and overcomes it by being herself. I hope it helps normalize hearing aids as a tool for hearing, like glasses helping people see, and helps someone who is not hard of hearing to understand what it is like to struggle in certain environments, encourages respect for differences, sparks interest in ASL, and encourages a community of belonging for everyone.

I just loved Lucy’s illustrations. Her bright color palette and the expressions and life she brought to the characters were fantastic. Do you have any favorite spreads from the story? If so, which ones and why?

I agree! Lucy brought the characters to life in a vivid, expressive way! I love the cafeteria spread because it conveys so much— Mara’s struggle and feelings, Raven’s concern, and the sound wave illustrations are a great way to show the overwhelming roaring waterfall of sounds.

I chose one of the sign language spreads because of the beautiful way Lucy shows the sign alongside the butterfly, tree, and flower illustrations. I also love that the girls are lying down on the playground castle, which is so authentic to how kids play.

I know you have some special resources at the end of the book. Would you like to tell us a little bit about those and who they’re intended for? 

The American Sign Language alphabet spread in the backmatter has been so well-received by kids. They love learning to sign their name and want to learn more signs. I did sign language lessons with my students when I was teaching. Some students went beyond what I could take the time to teach and learned more on their own. Over the years, many kids expressed interest in becoming interpreters someday. I am not an expert by any means, but I did learn from a CODA— a child of deaf adults. I recommend learning from someone fluent in sign language. There is a list of resources on my website to get started. 

Do you have any local (or virtual) launch plans with bookstores/schools/libraries?

My launch party was at Woodbury Elementary School with Ms. Cryer’s second-grade class. It was so much fun sharing the book with this wonderful group of kids. They quickly picked up on some basic ASL, and Ms. Cryer said they spent time on ASLNook.com later to look up more signs they wanted to learn. The students designed colorful hearing aids that Mara just might want for her next pair because they were definitely flashy and sassy! The design worksheet is available as part of the CCSS Educator’s Guide on my website, terriclemmons.com, or beamingbooks.com.

I look forward to doing more events like this and have been reaching out to bookstores, schools, and libraries. I have some events set up, but I want to do more. MARA is very interactive and lends itself well to storytime.

What have been some of your favorite parts of the book launch prep so far, and what tips would you like to share with authors or illustrators who may be approaching their own debut book launches?

I have enjoyed tapping into my artsy side using Canva to create promotional materials like postcards, bookmarks, and an educator’s guide. But there is a lot that goes into a book launch. My biggest tip is to stay organized. Make lists. Prioritize what you can do and what you want to do. You can’t do it all. Ask for help from friends and your writing community to get the word out. Pre-published writers can start now by creating a website, building a social following on one or two platforms, and finding your writing community friends. There are a lot of marketing resources available, from webinars to books. Courtney Maum’s book Before and After the Book Deal was a helpful resource for me because she covers all aspects and provides a big-picture view. Podcasts are helpful— Writers with Wrinkles podcast recently featured the Marketing Mondays advice series.  

Have there been any complications during this time, and if so, how have you been able to manage them?

Life happens, and sometimes it crashes into something big— like the release of your debut picture book. I am taking one day at a time and doing what I can. Much of the preparation happens during the two years you wait for the book to come out, which helps. Thankfully, I have wonderful critique partners who have supported me and a launch team that has helped spread the word about MARA HEARS IN STYLE.

Thank you so much for visiting us today on Chelsea’s World of Books Blog, Terri. We’re so happy for you and your story and can’t wait to see where it goes!

And now… it’s time for a GIVEAWAY!

This month, Terri is offering a nonrhyming PB critique of up to 800 words, and a signed copy of MARA HEARS IN STYLE to two winners. 

HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

During the month of March 2024:

1. Subscribe to Chelsea’s World of Books blog/newsletter
2. Like this Feature Interview
3. Comment below letting me know you’ve done 1 & 2.

And that’s it!

FAQ: What if I was already subscribed to the blog? Does that mean I won’t qualify for the Prize Giveaway? Not at all! If you subscribed PRIOR to this month, all you’ll need to do is LIKE this Feature Interview and leave your comment below this post.

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Purchase Mara Hears in Style

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