AUGUST 7TH, 2024, FEATURE INTERVIEW WITH CHILDREN’S BOOK AUTHOR, EDUCATOR, AND FOUNDER OF HAPPY DAYS IN FIRST GRADE TEACHING BLOG, HA DINH, HOSTED BY KIDLIT WRITER, BLOGGER & FORMER LIBRARIAN, CHELSEA DICICCO

Today, I’m talking with the educator, children’s book author, and founder of Happy Days in First Grade Teaching Blog, Ha Dinh.

But before we jump into our interview, if this is your first time visiting the blog, here’s the scoop on Feature Interviews.

THE SCOOP: WHAT ARE FEATURE INTERVIEWS & WHO ARE THEY FOR?

Feature Interviews are a free resource for writers and illustrators at every stage of the publishing journey.

Every month, I collaborate with industry professionals—authors, illustrators, editors, and agents— many of whom were or currently are also educators and librarians, to discuss all things publishing.

What can these interviews offer YOU?

These interviews give readers an up-close and personal look at the world of publishing from an array of different perspectives on every side of the desk and offer insight into tips, resources, and advice on how to:

• stay current with market trends
• hook an agent or editor
• find writing community & other resources
• discover workshops, contests, and other writing events
• figure out which path of publication is right for you
• know if your agent is a good match

And more!

AND… if that’s not enough, every guest offers at least one giveaway prize—sometimes more. This means you have multiple opportunities to win prizes every month! *If you’re interested in entering the giveaway, scroll to the bottom of the interview for instructions.* Not that we’ve shared a little about what’s in store… it’s time to jump into our interview!

THE BEGINNING: ROAD TO PUBLISHING

Welcome, Ha Dinh! It’s so nice to have you with us today.  I love having educators on the blog because I feel like they have a special connection to the world of kids. Which is especially great when writing kidlit. Speaking of which…

The first question I love asking my guests is how they landed here in the world of publishing for children. How and when did your publishing journey begin?

First and foremost, thank you so much, Chelsea, for having me and allowing me to share my stories with you and your audience!  I have always wanted to be a Children’s book author since I was a kid but never seriously pursued it until 2020 when my beloved mom passed away. I realized then that if I didn’t write the stories that were inspired by my childhood and my culture, they would be lost for my children and all the children who may also need them.  

Once I wrote the draft of my debut picture book, WHERE WILDFLOWERS GROW, I worked on revising and editing it for a year before entering the #PBPitch Contest on Twitter, where I luckily found my agent and editor for the book. 

Have you always enjoyed writing and/or reading?

Growing up, I loved journaling and writing.  But since I came to America when I was 5 years old and didn’t know English,  learning the language was a daily challenge for me.  Reading allowed me to learn English and reading picture books encouraged me to write my own stories. 

-I love this! What a special connection you had with books at that young age.-

Do you think your role as an educator influenced/influences your inspiration for writing and publishing?

I know in my heart that being an educator propelled me to my dream as an author.  While I always loved writing, I also saw the lack of Vietnamese-American representation and stories in the children’s book space.  As an educator, I knew that that was a need that I could meet for our children. 

Can you walk us through some of the stages of how you got your footing in kidlit?

Starting a new journey can be daunting with so much uncertainty.  I was so nervous since I didn’t know anyone personally who had been traditionally published.  However, through various online contests including #PBChat, #PBPitch, and #50PreciousWords Contest and SCBWI, I have been blessed to have met many encouraging fellow creators and industry professionals, who allowed me to share my work, hone my craft, and supported me in my journey.

ROUTES TO PUBLISHING & CHALLENGES

I know you’re represented by Belcastro Literary Agency, which tells me that you were interested in going the traditional route to publication rather than independent. For some of our readers who are considering which route to take (and what the differences are), could you share a little bit about how these paths differ and why you chose to go the traditional route?

With teaching full-time, raising young children, and running my teaching resource online business, my time for writing and publishing was very limited when I started my journey.  Therefore, I knew that the traditional route was best for me as it has allowed me to stay creative, and my wonderful agent has been amazing at handling more of the business side for me.

Any words of wisdom or advice you’d like to share with writers and/or illustrators who are trying to decide what course to take?

I think the best advice is to follow your heart and take the route that you feel is best for you.  

What have been some of the challenges you’ve faced on your publishing journey, and how have you been able to endure/overcome them?

Rejection is such a big part of publishing, and while it’s something that we all can expect as creators, it still stings.  However, I have learned that rejection is redirection and when our work lands in the right hands, all the heartache was all worth it even if it took some time to find the right match.

-Beautifully put. “…Rejection is redirection.”-

Do you have any favorite writing resources, tips, or organizations that have helped you to stay on the path?

My favorite tip is to continue to be open to inspiration.  Sometimes a small conversation or a mention of a memory from childhood can spur into an entire story for me. When that happens, I feel like the story writes itself in my head and I’m just capturing it with my words.  

Rejection is such a big part of publishing, and while it’s something that we all can expect as creators, it still stings. However, I have learned that rejection is redirection and when our work lands in the right hands, all the heartache was all worth it…

eDUCATIONAL RESOURCES: KIDS AND FAMILY

We touched briefly on your educational background. Could you tell us more about that? How long have you been teaching, and what specifically (age range/subjects) do you teach?

After receiving my bachelor's degree in English and Humanities from the University of Louisville, I received a Master of Art in Teaching degree in Early Elementary Education. In addition to wanting to be an author, I always wanted to be the kind of teacher that I was so blessed to have had growing up. I taught for three years in second grade and 13 years in first grade. After 16 years of teaching, I felt it was the right time for me to dedicate myself to writing and creating educational resources full-time.  

Speaking of education… let’s talk about your teaching blog, Happy Days in First Grade. When did you first launch your teaching blog, and where did you find the inspiration for it?

When I started teaching in 2007, I found myself scouring the internet for hours at home looking for teaching resources for my classroom.  After years of searching, I decided to create what I needed for my classroom instead and began sharing what I made with other teachers online. What started as a hobby quickly turned into a business that has allowed me to support myself, my family, and my community of elementary educators who love finding new, innovative, and engaging ways to reach and teach their students.  

Could you tell us a little bit about the resources you offer there and who they are for?

I create teaching resources mostly for the primary grades (kindergarten, first grade, and second grade).  From core subjects to classroom decorations to organizational tools for teachers to STEM to Makerspace teaching materials and more, my resources are created to help students have fun while learning and growing. 

I love sharing educational resources with readers and would be thrilled to add your Happy Days in First Grade Teaching Blog to my list of resources on Teacher Corner on my website. *If you have any extra resources you’d specifically like to share, please send me an email with any/all, and I’d be happy to add them too. If you’d like to see examples, check out the “teacher corner” tab and see what other authors have there.* 

Thank you so much! 

** Grab your free WHERE THE WILDFLOWERS GROW activity packet & educators guide on TEACHER'S CORNER of this blog by CLICKING HERE.**

What kind of feedback have you received from your audience?

I have been so lucky to receive many wonderful and glowing reviews from my audience. In the 10 years since opening my store, I have received 8,200+ reviews with a 4.9/5 rating. 

What do you hope your readers will gain from visiting your blog?

Besides classroom activities, there are lots of book lists with recommendations for various holidays and seasonal themes, information on my picture books and upcoming projects, Author Visits, my TpT Shop, travel ideas, and insights into my Author Life. 

BOOKS AND REPRESENTATION

We’ve arrived at the book portion of the interview. Hooray! Tell us about your books. 

My debut picture, WHERE WILDFLOWERS GROW, was inspired by my memories of living and leaving a refugee camp in the Philippines in 1989 for America after my family and I had moved from Vietnam. While it is an immigration story, it is also a story of friendship, joy, and finding hope in new beginnings no matter where we are.  WHERE WILDFLOWERS GROW was published in 2023 by Waterbrook & Multnomah, an imprint of Penguin Random House and edited by Bunmi Ishola. 

My second book, THE JADE BRACELET, is based on a jade bracelet that my late mom gifted me when I was seven years old. Similar to my feelings toward the bracelet at the time, the main character loves her mom but would rather blend in at school and wear the same colorful and sparkling bracelet that her friends wear at school instead.  When Picture Day with the bracelet turned into a big ordeal, the main character has to decide if she wants to keep the bracelet or buy a new one. It is a book on understanding and appreciating one’s own family traditions while still holding onto one’s identity. The book is slated to be released April 2025 by Random House Studio and was edited by the Maria Modugno.

My third book, THE MOON LANTERN, follows Huy, a Vietnamese-American boy who wants to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with his own lantern.  As other children make traditional star lanterns for the holiday, Huy makes one to honor the moon instead.  This story introduces readers to this wonderful festival that is celebrated by numerous Asian countries while also sharing the mythical tale of a poor Vietnamese woodcutter and his magical banyan tree that is at the heart of the festival. 

Writing is such a personal thing. And it can be vulnerable, too. Which is, I think, a big part of what makes books so beautiful and important. At its core… writing is an expression of oneself. Can you tell us… what does each story mean to you personally? And what do you hope it will offer readers?

Each story means so much to me and was written with so much reflection and inspiration from my childhood memories. WHERE WILDFLOWERS GROW reminds me of finding hope in new beginnings, THE JADE BRACELET reminds me to hold onto family traditions as treasured gifts, and THE MOON LANTERN reminds me of finding beauty in traditions while also making them uniquely our own. 

In recent times, we’ve seen a huge effort in today’s society to help boost previously underrepresented voices and stories and give them the space they deserve. In your interview application, you talked about Vietnamese American culture and how your stories offer representation that allows young readers to connect to characters who are experiencing similar emotions and events while also learning more about experiences that they may not be familiar with. Can you talk in more detail about this?

While there is more Vietnamese American representation in Children’s literature in the last 5 years, there are still so many more Vietnamese American stories to tell, characters to write, and perspectives to share. I hope that with the addition of my books and those of other Vietnamese American authors, libraries across the country will be filled with more representation for our community and children everywhere.

-I love this thought!-

In your words… why is representation in literature so important?

Representation in literature helps all of our readers feel seen, heard, valued, and connected to the world around them.

If you could leave your readers with any last thoughts, what would they be?

Follow your heart and make all your own dreams come true!

Thank you so much for joining us today.
And now… 
It’s time for a GIVEAWAY

“Representation in literature [is important because it] helps all of our readers feel seen, heard, valued, and connected to the world around them.”

GIVEAWAY PRIZES

For the month of August, Ha Dinh is offering the following giveaway prize to ONE winner.

-Picture Book MS Critique

HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

• Leave a comment on this post!
• And if you haven’t already, like this post and subscribe to the blog and/or newsletter!

THAT’S IT!

Want to get EXTRA entries? Share a link to this feature interview on social media (Pinterest, X, Instagram) and tag me X @chellysbooks or Instagram @chelseasworldofbooks, letting me know, so I can add YOUR extra entry!

DEADLINE TO ENTER: August 31st, 2024, 11:59 PM CST

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 before this month, all you’ll need to do is LIKE this Feature Interview and leave your COMMENT below this post within the deadline (the current month/year entry was posted).

Did you enjoy this interview?

Thank the author & host by purchasing a copy of one of their books or by requesting it be purchased at your local library! Using the sponsored links below supports this blog.

Purchase Where Wildflowers Grow

Purchase ADHD and Me

Looking for a specific topic? Browse the list below to find a link to information on one of these topics:

• Where to find FREE and PAID for writing memberships, craft workshops, contests, and other resources.
• How to query agents and editors and what they’re looking for.
• Where to find kidlit community and support from other writers or illustrators.
• Diversity, empathy, and kindness in kidlit and why it matters.
• Writing across genres.
• Pros and cons of small publishers, hybrid (or indie) publishing, and being agented VS. unagented.

Browse books by feature interview guests + some of my other favorites on my bookshop.org page HERE!