Tag: answers

JANUARY 3RD, 2024, FEATURE INTERVIEW WITH CHILDREN’S BOOK AUTHOR DEBRA KEMPF SHUMAKER, CONDUCTED BY KIDLIT WRITER, BLOGGER & LIBRARIAN CHELSEA DICICCO

Posted on by Chelsea’s World of Books in Feature Interview Series, View all blog posts

Hello, writing friends, and welcome back to Chelsea’s World of Books blog. Can you believe we’re in the new year ALREADY? And to get things started, we’re diving into 2024 with a very special guest; Children’s Book Author of one of our favorites, FREAKY, FUNKY FISH, Debra Shumaker!

But before we get started… just in case this is your first time here, let me tell you a little about what makes segments special.

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!

So, now that you know what to expect… let’s get into our interview.

Debra Kempf Shumaker started reading at the age of four and hasn’t stopped since. She grew up on a small dairy farm in Wisconsin but now writes fiction and nonfiction picture books from the suburbs of Northern Virginia. She is the author of the nonfiction rhyming FREAKY, FUNKY FISH, and PECULIAR PRIMATES (Running Press Kids, 2021 & 2022), a social-emotional learning book, TELL SOMEONE (Albert Whitman, 2021), and the upcoming WIND IS (Kids Can Press, 2024). Debra is also the co-host of #PBPitch, a Twitter pitch party for picture books held every February, June, and October. When she isn’t reading or writing, she enjoys hiking, gardening, and watching Jeopardy. Visit her online at www.debrashumaker.com, on Twitter at @ShumakerDebra, and on Instagram at @debrakshumaker.

THE SPARK THAT STARTED IT ALL

Debra, I can’t tell you how thrilled I was to find your name among the many stuffed in my submissions box for the 2024 Feature Interview lineup. Being a librarian and kidlit writer myself, I’ve had and witnessed many delightful read-alouds of your stories. Something that I love about your writing style is how you blend education with fun- and, to top it all off, you incorporate rhyme! Which is something that I think only the real wizardly kidlit writers of the world can successfully tame. But before I go off on a tangent on your books (I promise we’ll circle back to it), I’d love to start our conversation today by asking how you landed in the world of children’s publishing. What was “the spark that started it all?”

First, thank you so much for your kind words! I love hearing that read-alouds with my books are delightful! As far as “the spark,” as many writers can relate, I’ve always loved reading and had the “some day” dream of writing a novel. When I married and had kids, I took a step back from my corporate job and became a stay-at-home Mom. I took the kids to the library several times a week, checking out dozens of picture books. And I was floored. I didn’t remember picture books like those when I was a kid. And I fell in love with picture books. I decided that I was going to figure out how to be a part of the picture book creation. My kids are in their upper teens and twenties now, so it took a while, but I figured it out!

Can you tell us a little bit about what kinds of stories you write and why you write them?

I write both fiction and nonfiction picture books. So far, I’ve had more success with my nonfiction books. But I write whatever strikes my fancy. Many ideas come from some random fact that I read about or some emotions I’m feeling—wonder, joy, fear, sadness, or a complicated mixture—and want to write a story to give a place for kids to either find that wonder or explore their complicated feelings, too. And sometimes, I write a story because an editor asked for a specific story. 

I understand that you grew up on a small farm with eight siblings, and you’ve always loved reading. Can you tell us a little more about your childhood experiences with books and maybe share some of your favorites?

Growing up, as I did, we didn’t have a lot of money. But my Dad loved reading, so somehow, we always had books in our house, mostly from rummage sales or from people who knew we had a big family and wanted to pass down books from their family. I also loved Library Day and Scholastic Book Fairs. I don’t remember reading too many picture books, but I remember reading lots of easy readers. My favorite were Disney Encyclopedias. I spent hours and hours reading those!

I mentioned before that I’m a librarian… and I noticed on your website that your favorite day of each week as a young girl was “library day” at school. Which makes me so happy- mine was too! Can you tell us a little bit about the magic you experienced as a young girl in the library and what memories stand out most to you to this day?

As I mentioned, money was tight. Also, there were no bookstores nearby. I depended on Library Day during the school year and the Book Mobile (that we would bike to in the summer) to have new books to read. I remember the awe of walking up and down the bookshelves and picking as many as I could fit in my arms. I loved horses and probably read every horse book the library and Book Mobile had.

Now we’ve talked about the past… let’s fast-forward a little. Before becoming a children’s book author, what was life like? What kind of work did you do? And what were the events that led to the switch to writing as a career?

My first career out of college was as a Registered Dietitian for a nursing home. I eventually moved on to training healthcare software to staff in nursing homes, then staff development training for a healthcare software company. Not publishing-related at all. But sometimes, I took writing classes at community colleges because I dreamed of writing a novel someday. After having kids, becoming a stay-at-home Mom, and taking my boys to the library, the spark was ignited, as I noted in the first question. It took me a few years to call myself a writer, and a lot more years to finally get that byline in a magazine, and many more years before getting my name on a book!

THE PROCESS: QUERYING AGENTS/SUBMITTING TO PUBLISHING HOUSES

What was the publishing process like for you? Can you share a little about your experience with querying agents? When did you begin your publishing journey? When/how did you find your agent agent/agency match? 

The publishing process was very long. I started writing for kids in 2007, but with three boys in 3 ½ years, very sporadically. Once they started school, I started being more intentional in finding time to write. At first I wrote both picture books and magazine articles and did find success with a few articles in Boys’ Quest, Fun for Kidz, and Spider. By 2011, I had joined SCBWI and started seriously submitting picture books to editors then agents. Participating in challenges like PiBoIdMo (Picture Book Idea Month) and 12 x 12 greatly improved my writing and my understanding of publishing. Around 2015, I finally started getting champagne rejections and requests for R&Rs (revise and resubmits), but didn’t connect with an agent until 2017. That was Natascha Morris with BookEnds Literary. I submitted one of my fiction stories to her through the normal query process. She loved it and asked for a few more, then offered representation. (After she sold my first two books, she did leave BookEnds. I am now repped by James McGowan with BookEnds.)

Once you signed with your agent/agency, what was the submission process like? 

The benefit to having an agent is to have the doors to bigger publishers open up. But having an agent also meant that every story I wrote did not necessarily go on sub. She had to feel confident in it, too. But I loved being able to put all my focus on my writing instead of researching agents or houses that took unsolicited subs.

How long did it take to receive your first book deal?

I first signed with Natascha in July of 2017. After a few revisions, she subbed that first story widely. I had several R&Rs, and it went to acquisitions to around 4 or 5 houses, but we never sold that book. It was 18 months and four other manuscript submissions later before we finally found an editor who gave me a YES. And that was for FREAKY, FUNKY FISH in January of 2019.

RESOURCES & WORDS OF ADVICE

The beginning stages of the writing journey is a very tender time. It’s a time for learning and growth. Like everything in life, real growth comes through patience and trial and error. And it can be difficult. Rejections sting. Waiting is hard. But, the further along you go, the stronger you get and the more you learn. What has been your biggest challenge in the kidlit publishing arena, and how have you been able to overcome it?

Rejection is hard. The one thing writers can’t control is agents or editors deciding to take on your book. One thing I could control was to continue to work on my craft and to continue to write and submit. I continually reminded myself that agents and editors were rejecting my stories, not me personally. 

If you could share a piece of advice with newly aspiring authors or illustrators, what would it be?

I tell every aspiring picture book author to type up the text of picture books they love. (And that have been published in the last few years.) It’s the best way to get a feel for voice, pacing, page turns, and so much more. By doing this, it will become more innate when they write. Plus, if the book they are typing up has both an author and an illustrator, aspiring authors can get a better idea of how the manuscript looked when it was bought as a text-only document. Odds are, there was a lot of room left for the illustrator. I’ve typed up more than 300 books since 2015, and I continue to do so on a regular basis. My first drafts have improved so much because of this exercise.

Speaking of words of advice… let’s talk a little bit about writing community and resources. What are some of the best resources you were able to find when you started down the road to kidlit publishing?

In my first few years of writing, I didn’t know where to get ideas. I only had two manuscripts that I worked on over and over again. Thankfully, I stumbled upon Tara Lazar’s PiBoIdMo (Picture Book Idea Month) which has now morphed into StoryStorm that happens every January. It trained my brain to always be on alert for ideas, and now I have more than I can handle. Shortly after my first PiBoIdMo, I found Julie Hedlund’s 12x12. This was back when there weren’t agent submission opportunities and “levels”, just a community of writers attempting to write 12 picture book drafts in 12 months. Being a part of that community was priceless. The KidLit411 website is an amazing resource for KidLit writers.

Since we’re discussing helpful resources, I’d like to add the importance of having a strong writing community. Making connections is one of the best things a new writer or illustrator can do. Not only do you learn from each other… but you’re able to support and lift one another up. You can share and celebrate good news- and share and comfort hard news. It’s crucial for your mental health as a creator to have your clan of supporters around you- who both understand what it’s like and appreciate your continued efforts. Where are some places you’d recommend going to find that “kidlit community”?

Besides StoryStorm and 12x12, I love the KidLit411 Community on Facebook. Facebook has many great writing groups for community. But I also highly recommend finding a critique group, or two, or three, either in-person or online. I belong to four! The KidLit 411 website offers a place to find critique partners. And join SCBWI. When you join the national organization, you will get placed in a regional chapter. Conferences are an amazing way to meet fellow creators. Attending my regional conference is how I found my in-person critique group.

Another thing I think can really help to keep a creator’s creative juices flowing and inspired is participating in kidlit events. There are so many great contests out there! One of them is one that you co-host. Can you tell us a little bit about how you started #PBPitch events on Twitter/X, what they are, and what their intended purpose is?

Ah, #PBPitch. I’m so proud of it. It started back in 2015. I had just joined Twitter because in various KidLit groups on Facebook, I kept hearing about #PitMad, which was a pitch party for books for all ages. (For pitch parties, creators post a pitch for a completed manuscript with the corresponding hashtag, and if an agent or editor “hearts” it, it’s an invitation to submit the manuscript.) In March 2015, I participated in my first #PitMad, and there seemed to be very little love for picture books that day. Mandy Yates posted in one of the FB groups that someone should start one for just picture books. I responded that I had no idea what I was doing but would help. As did PJ McIlvaine. And before we knew it, the three of us created #PBPitch and hosted our first one a few months later. We had no idea if anyone would tweet or if any agent or editor would stop by, but they did! We’ve held it three times a year ever since. Each one has resulted in at least one successful agent match or book deal. We have numerous success stories on our website (pbpitch.weebly.com), and I’m sure many more have happened that we just aren’t aware of.

PREPPING FOR DEBUT AUTHOR BOOK LAUNCH: ORGANIZING VISITS/EVENTS: SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES, BOOK SIGNINGS

Okay, so now we have an agent, a book deal, and a launch date. Yay! Now what? Now it’s time to SELL the book. Can you tell us about your experience in preparing for your debut book launch and creating your author brand? What worked best? What didn’t? And why?

My debut, FREAKY, FUNKY FISH: ODD FACTS ABOUT FASCINATING FISH, came out in May 2021 when the world was still largely shut down due to the pandemic. I was able to have a launch outside of my local indie, Scrawl Books, but the weather was quite windy and chilly and sparsely attended. However, in getting ready for my debut, I joined a co-marketing group called PB Debut Troupe 21. Fourteen of us creators had debuts coming out that year, and we shared our joy, commiserated in the frustrations, helped boost each other’s books on social media, and wrote reviews. I’m still good friends with those creators. I highly recommend debuts join or create a co-marketing group!

A great way to boost your brand and share your story with others is by hosting author visits. Can you tell us about some of the visits you’ve hosted? How do you conduct your author visits? How long are they? Do you charge an author fee? Are you the one organizing them, or is it your agent/publisher? If you’re the one organizing, how do you go about reaching out about scheduling your visit? 

Occasionally, a bookstore has reached out to my publisher for an author event, but that’s only been once or twice. So, 99% of the time, I am doing the outreach to bookstores, schools, and libraries. For readings at bookstores, I do not charge a fee, but for programs at libraries and schools, I do. For Author Visits at schools, I do 3 - 4 presentations in one day–I don’t only read my book and talk about being an author, I have presentations connected to curriculum. To promote my Author Visits, I’ve attended my state’s librarian conferences to connect with librarians. I’ve also sent out postcards to local schools. I did about six visits last year and loved them, and hope to do more!

What has been the response to the author visits? What has been your favorite part? What has been their favorite part?

My favorite part is being with the kids and exciting them about writing, reading, and science. Hearing them laugh about the facts in my book is priceless. And seeing their eyes light up because they are meeting a real, live author just warms my heart. Their favorite part is probably getting out of regular class, LOL. But I do think many of them love meeting someone who wrote the words in a book they read or heard.
Fox Mill Elementary School in Herndon, VA.
Marumsco Elementary in Woodbridge, VA. 

THE BOOKS! RHYME, EDUCATION & HEART

Okay, I promised we’d circle back- and here we are. We’ve finally arrived at my favorite part of the interview- THE BOOKS! 

As I mentioned earlier, I’m a big fan of your stories. I love learning, and your books FREAKY, FUNKY FISH, and PECULIAR PRIMATES are such inventive ways to spread knowledge. And your story TELL SOMEONE is just beautiful. But, enough about how much I love your work. I’d love to hear from YOU about each of your books. We touched on the types of books you write and why briefly earlier, but now I want to dig a little deeper. How did each of your stories come to be? What was the inspiration behind them? And what do you hope each story will give your reader?

For my debut, FREAKY, FUNKY FISH, I have to thank my first agent. I had been writing picture book biographies that just weren’t selling. She encouraged me to try something different. Since I love all nonfiction, I decided to try my hand at a science-y picture book and read some rhyming ones about bugs, water, squirrels, etc. I challenged myself to write one about a different animal. I recalled some research I had done about fish for a different fiction manuscript I wrote and remembered how strange some fish were. And wa-la, an idea was born.

For TELL SOMEONE, an editor asked my first agent if she had a writer who would like to try writing a story encouraging kids to talk about their feelings since Albert Whitman wanted to have one on their list. Natascha asked me. My gut reaction was “No,” as I had never written anything “on assignment,” but I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and said I would try. A few months later, I had a contract. 

After we were in the final stages of FREAKY, FUNKY FISH, I decided to write a companion book about birds, which I titled BIZARRE BIRDS. Running Press Kids felt there were too many picture books about birds and asked if I’d be interested in writing one about primates, so I did!

For my science books, I hope kids are fascinated by the diversity of our world and are inspired to do what they can to preserve it. For TELL SOMEONE, I hope kids are encouraged to talk about their feelings in both good times and hard times. Mental health is important.

There’s a fun musicality that you use in your writing that truly puts the “fun” into “fun facts,” and at the same time, it’s funny. Heart, humor, and education are my favorite combination. And, somehow, you managed to add RHYME into the mix?! Possibly proving that you’re a magician? (Are you a magician?) Can you tell us what inspired you to write your stories in rhyme and what that process looked/felt like?

I love rhyme. My first publication ever was a rhyming poem about a snail who ate a nail in my 3rd-grade newsletter. I frequently wrote “odes” for various occasions growing up, for fun, so I think my debut was destined to rhyme, LOL. When I started writing picture books, I wrote several fiction/concept stories that rhymed but never sold. Some books seem to work better in rhyme, and for both the fish and primates books, I felt rhyme gave them another hook vs. just a list of strange animal adaptations. It’s a lot of work but so much fun, like setting a puzzle. 

Did you have anyone try to discourage you from writing in rhyme- and if so, how did you respond?

No, no one discouraged me. I understand meter and know that rhyme is more than just counting syllables and using rhyming words at the end of two lines, so as I revise, I know the rhyme will read smoothly. I won’t quit until it does.

Okay, we’ve talked about rhyme. Now, let’s talk about illustration. Can you tell us about how you ended up with your illustrators and what your first thoughts were? 

For Freaky Funky Fish & Peculiar Primates- Claire Powell 
Tell Someone- Tristan Yuvienco

For both publishers, as is typical in traditional publishing, Running Press Kids and Albert Whitman found the illustrators. For Albert Whitman, the editor and art director, paired my text with Tristan’s art for the pitch at the acquisitions meeting, which was different from Running Press Kids. With them, FREAKY, FUNKY FISH was acquired first, then it took over ten months for them to find an illustrator.

I was absolutely thrilled with both Claire and Tristan once they were selected. Their portfolios were amazing.

Did you envision your characters and stories in a similar way to how they were illustrated?

For FREAKY, FUNKY FISH, I really didn’t have any vision in my head as I had seen so many photos of the fish as I was researching and writing it that I didn’t really give a thought to how they would look illustrated. But seeing Claire’s sketches for the first time was amazing—I loved the personalities she gave all the various fish!

For TELL SOMEONE, I hoped the art would depict various and diverse kids in the different scenarios, so Tristan’s art was in line with what I envisioned. But I was still amazed. His art is so sweet, I want to hug each child in that book.

Do you have a favorite spread from each book? 

While I love so much about the illustrations in all three books, my favorite spread in FREAKY, FUNKY FISH is the one with the hammerhead shark and parrotfish. I love Claire’s colors and humor. 

For PECULIAR PRIMATES, I love the nighttime scenes–the various primates are so adorable and huggable in that spread! 

For TELL SOMEONE, my favorite page is the girl on the first day of school. Tristan’s perspective on this page really emphasizes the girl’s nervousness.
And… you have a new book coming out this Fall. Can you tell us a little bit about that one?

Yes, I do, and I’m so excited about it! WIND IS A DANCE, illustrated by the fabulous Josée Bisaillon, comes out with Kids Can Press on October 1, 2024. This book is a lyrical ode to the wind. I use metaphors to describe various winds we experience—from a ruffling, fluffing breeze to a rumbling, tumbling derecho. I’ve recently seen the colored sketches, and Josée’s art is SO stunning. I cannot wait for the world to see it!

If you could send your past self any piece of writerly advice, what would it be?

Be prepared for the long haul. Getting published is so, so hard, but absolutely worth it. 

What’s one last message/piece of advice you’d like to impart to your readers?

If you are a writer and you want to be published, don’t give up. It may take more than 10 years, like it did for me. Work hard on craft and write new stories. Every manuscript you write will likely not get published. I wrote dozens of first drafts and about fifteen polished picture books before my first one was acquired. But I learned something from each manuscript I wrote, not one was a wasted effort.

Thanks so much for joining us today, Debra.

But we’re not quite finished. There’s still one last item on the agenda. And that is… the GIVEAWAY!

GIVEAWAY

Debra Shumaker is offering the following giveaway prize.

“A signed copy of one of my three books!”

HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

During the month of January 2024:

  1. Subscribe to the blog
  2. Like this blog post
  3. Leave a comment below letting me know you’ve done 1-2. (If the guest is offering more than one prize, please specify which you’d like in the comments below.)

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.

Did you enjoy this interview? Thank the author & host by purchasing or reviewing one of their books! Using the sponsored links below also helps support this blog.

Debra Kempf Shumaker’s Books

Peculiar Primates

Tell Someone

Freaky Funky Fish

Wind is a Dance (not yet available for pre-order)

Chelsea DiCicco’s Book

ADHD and Me

Connect with Debra Shumaker

Visit her website: www.debrashumaker.com

Visit her Twitter/X: @ShumakerDebra

Visit her Instagram: @debrakshumaker

Visit her Bluesky: @debrakshumaker

June 2023 Feature Interview with Children’s Book Author, Nancy Churnin, Conducted by Chelsea DiCicco

Posted on by Chelsea’s World of Books in Feature Interview Series 
Hello again, friends, and welcome to another fantastic FEATURE INTERVIEW. This month I'm talking with visiting guest, Nancy Churnin.

Nancy’s Bio: 
Nancy Churnin is an award-winning children’s book author who writes about people that inspire children to be kind and make the world a better place. Her Dear Mr. Dickens won the 2021 National Jewish Book Award and 2022 Sydney Taylor Honor and is a Junior Library Guild Selection, a National Federation of Press Women 1st Place winner, and on the Bank Street College Best Children’s Books list. Nancy is the author of 10 picture book biographies and will welcome six more books -- a mix of chapter books, a board book, historical fiction, and contemporary fiction in 2023. Additional honors include: two Sydney Taylor Notables, four Social Studies Notable Trade Books for Young People; the South Asia Book Award, two Children and Teen's Choice Book Awards finalists; starred reviews from School Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, and Publishers Weekly; and multiple state book lists. Nancy lives in North Texas. Her books come with free teacher guides, resources, and projects on her website, nancychurnin.com.

Beginnings & Inspiration

How did you end up here in the wonderful and magical world of publishing children’s books?
 
I had always dreamed of writing children’s books like the wonderful books my mother read to me – books that could enchant, teach, challenge, books that could make you think and aspire to do better and be better, books that could take you on magical and inspiring journeys. But it was not until I had become a journalist and struck an unexpected friendship with Steve Sandy that I felt the urgency to make that dream happen without any more delay. My friend Steve is a Deaf historian and it is his dream that more people know about the great Deaf baseball player and hero William Hoy. I felt compelled to write the book that my friend needed to have in the world. 

When did you first begin your journey in publishing, and what was that process like?
  
I promised Steve in 2003 that I would write a children’s book about William Hoy. But The William Hoy Story, which became my picture book debut, didn’t come out until 2016! As a journalist, I thought the journey would be fast and easy. After a mountain of rejections, I began to realize I didn’t know what I didn’t know. I took many online classes, including classes by Susanna Hill and Mira Reisberg, I joined critique groups, Rate Your Story and as soon as I found out about the 12X12 Challenge, I joined that in 2013. It was through 12X12 that I found my agent, Karen Grencik, whom I submitted to when she was the agent of the month in July 2013. After another year of rejections for Hoy – but this time personalized and encouraging – I revised again and we sold the new revision at the first submission in 2014 to Wendy McClure at Albert Whitman & Company. Karen is still my agent and friend and I’m about to sign my 20th contract.

The Beast of Publishing: Steps & Timeframe

I know I have people reading my blog who are in different stages of the publishing/writing process. 
Some are just starting out. 
Others are seeking representation. 
Some are already agented but don’t have any book deals (YET)! 
And some already have book deals or previously published works. 
But for our newer writers who are just beginning, they often face similar ones to that we all wonder… 

“How long will this take?” 

“What now? What NEXT?”

Could you give us a rough idea about what necessary steps you took or would recommend taking, and what the publishing timeframe was like for you; from querying to landing an agent- signing with an agent to landing a first publishing deal - and first publishing deal to first publication date? 

At first, I approached this as a journalist – seeing a story in terms of a word count and a beginning, middle, and end. It took me a while to realize that there was a complexity and craft to children’s books and that I had to reach deep inside to find and show – not tell – my emotional connection to the story. I had to read many picture books and study how they were put together and how they made me feel. I learned in my classes, the craft books, from my critique partners, and from my writing groups about leaving room for the illustrator, changing scenes, and creating page turns. I learned to have patience with the process. Even when I finally landed that first acceptance in 2014, it took two years before The William Hoy Story debuted in March 2016. But what I had also learned was not to sit around and wait for the next thing to happen. Once I was on this journey, I was on the journey for good, knowing that I can’t control the pace of publishing, but I can control the time and passion I devote to creating new stories. So even before The William Hoy Story came out, I had sold my second book, Manjhi Moves a Mountain, to Marissa Moss at Creston Books. That came out in 2017, followed by three more books in 2018.

Is there anything or anyone who significantly helped you to get to where you are today? 

Too many to name! I will say that Susanna Hill’s and Mira Reisberg’s classes were game-changers in getting me to understand the craft journey I was starting. My early critique partners and still friends, Miranda Paul and Vivian Kirkfield provided amazing support and inspiration when I needed it most. I am grateful to my first editors, Wendy McClure and Albert Whitman, and Marissa Moss at Creston Books, for giving a debut author a chance. My husband and family never stopped believing in and encouraging me when I needed that extra reassurance that I wasn’t crazy for pursuing this path; my husband still embarrasses me in the most endearing way by handing out my book cards wherever we go. I’m thankful for the generosity of kidlit groups like Kidlit411 that offer a bounty of support and advice every day. I adore the wonderful educators and librarians and the children who sustain and propel me every day. I am grateful for the individuals and organizations that continue to encourage my writing and keep me learning, like PJ Library, which provides free books for children and just sent me on the most amazing author journey to Israel. But also – and this is key – I couldn’t do it without the people I write about and the people who turn to me to write about them. I would never have written The William Hoy Story without the support and help of Steve Sandy, who never lost faith in me on the 13-year journey between promise and publication, and the kind and generous Hoy family. Years after I wrote Charlie Takes His Shot, How Charlie Sifford Broke the Color Barrier in Golf, I am grateful for my continued friendship with and support of Dr. Sifford’s family and friends. I only write about people I love and admire. When I commit to writing their stories, they are on the journey with me, and it is their spirit that guides me and strengthens me on the path to bringing their life into the light.

Writing Tips, Shared Wisdom, and Writing Across Genres

Throughout the publishing process, has there been anything that really surprised you? Or have there been any obstacles you’ve had to overcome? If so, what were they, and how did you do so?

I was surprised by how long the journey to publication can be and how tricky it can be to determine if a story is not finding a home because it isn’t where it needs to be or because you haven’t found the editor who shares your vision. Often it is a combination of both! You need an editor who shares your vision, but you also need to keep working until the story is the best version of itself it can possibly be and then be open and willing to keep working on it with the editor and editorial team. It never bothers me to make changes. In fact, it uplifts and delights me every time I find a way to make the story better, stronger, and truer. We are all working together to create a book that lasts, and the work is about the story always – we are all on the same side, working for a story that is ship-worthy, that children can take out and sail in the sea of their imagination.

I love that mental attitude and metaphor of children setting sail in the sea of their imagination!

Sometimes in life, when we look back, we think, “I wish I had known this or that sooner… it would have helped so much!” Is there anything that you wish you had known earlier as a writer that you’d be able to share with other writers today?

I wish I had known earlier what I share with kids now on my school visits: that you don’t fail until you give up; that as long as you keep going, it’s just a question of how long it takes to succeed. I knew enough of that truth not to give up, but in the beginning, I also struggled with frustration and doubt when I couldn’t seem to deliver what I had promised in getting Hoy’s story published. There are still some stories that take longer than others to get right or to get a publishing home or both, but I now have patience and determination on the journey. I don’t give myself a hard time when something doesn’t click. I just keep working on that story and other stories. I put in the time and know that each journey takes as long as it takes.

It was mentioned earlier that you write across genres. You have picture book biographies, board books, historical fiction, etc. Can you tell us more about how you started out and managed to navigate different genres of writing in publishing?
 
I love reading all genres of books and wanted to expand my range of writing. At the same time, I realized that if I wanted to try writing a different format I had to have an idea that fit that format. When I thought about a board book, I thought about the toddlers I know. I thought about the great-grandchildren visiting my now elderly mother and how much joy that brings her. Soon, the idea of a board book emerged that involved an elderly person alone until there are knocks on a door and a family arrives bringing food and cheer. To anchor the book on 10 spreads, I made it a counting book from one to ten and soon I had Counting on Shabbat, a 58-word rhyming board book about counting, Shabbat, and kindness that I hope will inspire kids to reach out to the elders in their lives and communities.

On my school visits, many of the upper elementary students had asked if I write chapter books. So it was a longstanding goal of mine to someday be able to say yes! The chapter books that I have coming out in June were a natural evolution from picture book biographies to chapter book biographies. Thomas Edison, How a Boy Who Learned Differently Changed the World, and Elizabeth Freeman, Fighting for Freedom are my first work-for-hire books. They are published by Core Knowledge, a non-profit that shares my mission of writing stories about heroes that inspire kids to be heroes, too. I took on these assignments because I admire Edison and Freeman and also to push myself to write longer. I confess that after I agreed to do them, I panicked. But after being reassured by my editor that I could indeed pull this off, I got to work and enjoyed the opportunity to show more detail about the lives of my subjects. In fact, once I got going, I had to make an effort to cut back!

Do you have any tips that you can share for writers who may be interested in breaking into writing across genres themselves? 

Just do it. I am a great believer in craft courses. I’ve taken them. I’ve given them at conferences, at SCBWI, and at The Writing Barn in Austin. At the same time, it’s important to remember that you can learn things through the actual act of writing that you can’t learn from studying writing. I took a chapter book class that I enjoyed, and I know it helped me, but nothing substitutes for making a plan, following it, sometimes breaking the plan, getting it down on paper, and then revising until I get the story where it needs to be. One more piece of advice: find yourself, someone you trust to be your reader. For my board book, my critique partners were invaluable. For my chapter books, I turned to my good friend Patricia Sarles, the coordinator of library services at the New York City School Library System, as my first reader. Her excellent notes helped me see and write more clearly.

New Books and Extra Resources!

Speaking of writing across genres… this year was a big year for you! In 2023 you had six new books come out. That must be so exciting. We’d love to share in that excitement with you and hear more about them! 

Thank you for asking about my book babies! 
Coming up first in June are my two chapter book biographies with Core Knowledge. 
Thomas Edison, How A Boy Who Learned Differently Changed the World is the story of the great inventor with a focus on how Edison’s differences – his Deafness and how he learned differently – became his strengths. I hope his story helps children see how their differences can be their strengths, too. 

Elizabeth Freeman, Fighting for Freedom, is the story of an enslaved woman in Massachusetts who used the newly approved state constitution’s words about freedom to sue for her own freedom in court. She won, which led to Massachusetts becoming one of the nation’s first free states. Freeman had a firm inner sense of right and wrong, of her own worth, and of everyone’s right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I hope her story inspires kids to reach within for their moral compass, to know their self-worth, and support everyone’s rights.
Coming up in September are two picture books. 

Lila and the Jack-o’-Lantern, Halloween Comes to America is my first historical fiction book. I’ve always loved Halloween, and I wanted to share how this favorite holiday was a gift from immigrants. Lila and her family leave Ireland in 1850 because of the Potato Famine. Lila and her little brother and sister worry about leaving favorite traditions behind, like Halloween, where they carved turnips to scare away a spirit named Jack. In America, Lila can’t find turnips. But she finds a new friend, Julia, at a vegetable stand. And in this story about how immigrants have merged their traditions with ours to create new American gifts, she finds a strange gourd – a pumpkin – that she and Julia carve, giving America its own twist on the Irish holiday celebration.

Mama’s Year with Cancer is my first co-authored book, co-authored with Shayna Vincent. Shayna, a young mother with breast cancer, couldn’t find the book she wanted to share with her daughters about what to know about living with cancer, so I proposed that we write the book she wanted to have in the world. Mama’s Year with Cancer is told by a child and takes you from January through December, through a messy, loving, challenging journey until Mama rings the bell that shows her chemotherapy is done. 

Coming in November is a picture book biography and my first board book. 
Valentines for All, Esther Howland Captures America’s Heart is a picture book biography of Esther Howland, who got the idea of creating and selling Valentine cards that would help people who struggle with words express what they had in their hearts. She created the first American Valentine’s card company in the early 1800s. 

I shared earlier about my board book, Counting on Shabbat. I hope this 58-word rhyming story about an elderly person surprised and delighted by a visit from a young family encourages families to visit the seniors and those who are alone in our communities.

I saw that your website offers educational resources with your books. I’m a huge fan of books that come with extras! There are so many great ways to utilize them. They’re helpful to educators and students and make a terrific asset to schools and classrooms. But they aren’t just wonderful in school settings, they can also be extremely useful to parents/caregivers and librarians too. I know for my STEAM Homeschool Students, whom I host in the library every month, I love sharing newly discovered resources with the parents who visit. Books like these are so helpful to these families. Can you tell us a little about some of the resources that you offer, what they include, and how people can find out more about them?

My mother is a retired teacher, and it is very important to me to provide teacher guides, resources, and projects for every one of my books. I have a dedicated page for each book on my website. Because so many of the books are based on real people, my resources include primary sources, photos, and videos of the real people when available. I commission the teacher guides from educators that connect the book with curriculum. There is always a project and an opportunity to share pictures of the children’s work on the project pages. For example, the project for The William Hoy Story is HOY FOR THE ALL. Kids send pictures of persuasive letters they write and send to the National Baseball Baseball Hall of Fame, asking for Hoy to be inducted; he would be the first Deaf player honored there. For Manjhi Moves a Mountain, it is MOVE YOUR OWN MOUNTAIN. Manjhi moved an actual mountain to help his village, but every time we help others, we move mountains. Kids send pictures of kind things they’ve done, and I post them and praise them for moving mountains. The new books will have projects, too. The project for Counting on Shabbat is COUNTING ON KINDNESS. 

Time for some easy questions.

Favorite color? 
All. I love rainbows!

Favorite smell? 
Lilacs

Favorite animal? 
All. I don’t want to get in trouble picking between my dog and cats, and besides, I just fell in love with a camel on my trip to Israel :)

Favorite book(s)? I’ll allow up to five because I know choosing favorite books is very hard… 
The Wizard of Oz, A Tale of Two Cities, The Last of the Just, The Color Purple, The Chronicles of Narnia… (may have different answers on different days)...

Sweet or salty? 
Both, but my real faves are crispy, chewy, and crunchy!

Beach or mountains? 
Both! Although my magical childhood summers in the Catskill Mountains may give mountains the edge.

Thank you so much for all of your wonderful answers today, Nancy. We appreciate your time and wisdom and loved hearing about all your new stories and your publishing journey.

Now... it's time for our GIVEAWAY PRIZE(S)! Ooh. Did anyone notice that unsuspicious "s" at the end of that word? Yes, it's true. This month Nancy is offering TWO giveaway prizes.
Prize 1: An "ask me anything" zoom call.
Prize 2: A free copy of one of her books- winner's choice!

In order to be entered to win this month's giveaway prize, simply LIKE this feature interview, SUBSCRIBE to the blog, AND LEAVE A COMMENT on this month's feature interview post with "PRIZE 1" or "PRIZE 2."

And PRESTO! You're entered.

Did you enjoy this interview? Support this author by purchasing one of their books below! Using these direct purchase links also supports this blog.

Mama's Year with Cancer
Valentines For All Esther Howland Captures America's Heart
Lila and the Jack-O'-Lantern Halloween Comes to America
Counting on Shabbat

Connect with Nancy

Website: https://www.nancychurnin.com/
Facebook: Nancy Churnin
Facebook: Nancy Churnin Children's Books
Twitter: @nchurnin
Instagram: @nchurnin

Books by Nancy in 2023

Mama's Year with Cancer 
Written by Nancy Churnin and Shayna Vincent 
Illustrated by Wazza Pink 
Published by Albert Whitman, September 7, 2023 
Genre: Picture Book, Contemporary Fiction 

Valentines for All, Esther Howland Captures America's Heart
Written by Nancy Churnin 
Illustrated by  Monika Róza Winiewska 
Published by Albert Whitman, November 7, 2023
Genre: Picture Book, Biography

Lila and the Jack-O'-Lantern, Halloween Comes to America
Written by Nancy Churnin, 
Illustrated by Anneli Brey 
Genre: Picture Book, Historical Fiction
Published by Albert Whitman, September 7, 2023

Counting on Shabbat 
Written by Nancy Churnin, 
Illustrated by Petronela Dostalova 
Genre: Board Book
Published by Kar-Ben Publishing, November 7, 2023 

Thomas Edison, How a Boy Who Learned Differently Changed the World 
Written by Nancy Churnin, 
Published by Core Knowledge, June 2023 

Elizabeth Freeman, Fighting for Freedom
Written by Nancy Churnin
Published by Core Knowledge, June 2023

Nancy's books will be available at independent bookstores at https://www.indiebound.org/
on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and through their individual publishers.

May 2023 Double Feature Interview with Children’s Book Author Marzieh Abbas, and Children’s Book Illustrator Anu Chouhan, Conducted by Chelsea DiCicco

Posted on by Chelsea’s World of Books in Feature Interview Series, View all blog posts 
Welcome back to THE BLOG! This month I’m pleased to introduce you to not one but two special guests! That’s right… this month is a DOUBLE Feature Interview! Please welcome, Marzieh Abbas!


Marzieh's Bio
Raised between the bustling cities of Dubai, U.A.E, and Karachi, Pakistan, Marzieh loves traveling, reading, and samosas. She is a member of SCBWI, 12x12, and a graduate of the Lyrical Language Lab, Children's Book Academy, and Storyteller Academy. She is active on Twitter, where she continues to form connections with the Writing Community, runs a kidlit review group on Facebook, and blogs about her author journey and life in Pakistan on Instagram. 


Marzieh was thoughtful enough to ask if the illustrator for her new book A DUPATTA IS could join us on the interview today… and of course, I said yes!! It’s not every day I get to interview an author and illustrator -especially ones working on the same project. So, right off the bat, we’re in for a treat.


Let’s start with Marzieh’s portion of the interview questions…


First off, I love asking my guests: what landed you in the crazy and magical world of publishing?

PPD! As crazy as it sounds, I had to shut down my home-run cake business of nine years when my second born was just under a year old. I just couldn’t cope. Later I found out I hadn’t fully recovered from PPD and felt overwhelmed with all the juggling I had been doing. I began writing letters to my children and Quran journaling in an attempt to process my feelings. I had never dreamed of publishing a book, and although I enjoyed jotting down thoughts from time to time, they weren’t very eloquent. I was missing my baking business so much I subconsciously ended up writing a story about a mom with two kids who enjoyed baking. It was also Ramadan at the time, and I incorporated that special time of the year for Muslims into the story too. All this culminated in two books with Islamic publishers. I soon realized I could write for non-Muslim kids too! That’s when I stumbled upon the Children’s Book Academy course, won a partial scholarship, and the world of traditional publishing invited me in.


I know the big question for many writers is: “When is my career going to take off?? How long??” and the answer can vary greatly, depending on many different variables. For instance, which route of publication you decide to take… whether it’s submitting directly to a small house or trying to find an agent, or approaching it from the independent side. Can you give us an idea of the time frame of your publishing journey so far?

Mira’s CBA course ran in the fall of 2019. I began querying in March 2020 with only two completed manuscripts. I signed with my agent, the lovely Lynnette Novak, in August 2020, and my first book, A DUPATTA IS… sold in October 2020 (the contract was signed in January 2021, though.) And it just released on April 11th, 2023!


What avenue of publishing did you decide to go with? And can you elaborate on some of the steps you took to get there? 

My Islamic books sold before I signed with my agent. The Muslim publishers work differently, and the process isn’t nearly as rigorous as the (secular) traditional publishing route. 

After Mira’s course, I was convinced I wanted to go the traditional publishing route and not self-publish. I also saw the benefits of signing with an agent and invested a lot of time scanning MSWL and browsing Query Tracker, so I knew I was querying the agents who were interested in the kind of stories I was writing. 

I joined SCBWI in 2020, and The Book was also a very helpful guide, as were the Blue Boards on the forum. I sent Lynnette my work in March 2020. She liked my manuscript and asked me to send her more work. I did, and she didn’t connect with the other story I queried her with. I then went on to invest in professional query critiques with a couple of authors. I polished my work and sent out another round of queries, this time using another manuscript, around June 2020. I also queried Joyce Sweeny of The Seymour Agency at this time. She wrote back saying her PB client list was full and she’d shared it with her colleagues, and Lynnette loved it and would get in touch. When Lynnette did touch base, I told her I had already sent her my work previously, but it had gone through considerable revisions since. She loved my work and wanted to have ‘The Call.’ 

I alerted the other agents who were considering, and two more agents were interested. I was in the process of sending them more material, and subsequently, we were setting up times for calls when I spoke to Lynnette. I watched all the Bookends Agency videos on which questions to ask during the call. I literally asked her any and everything I had concerns about, even the sticky questions. She was happy to answer all my questions, and we connected so well during the call. I also had a friend check date on Publishers Marketplace for me. Lynnette’s sales were the most impressive, and before I got off the call, my decision was made!

In total, I sent out approximately 30 queries. 

Wow. That is incredible! I love your persistence. And I'm glad you mention the Bookends Channel. Bookends videos are definitely a wonderful resource to use as a helpful guide at pretty much all stages of the publishing process. (For any of our readers who are interested in entering the publishing world and aren't familiar with the Bookends Channel, I greatly encourage you to check it out HERE).

So, here's the next question. How many books do you currently have published? 

Traditional PB publishing debut: A DUPATTA IS…
Early Reader Chapter Books: Nadia & Nadir series, ABDO Publishing
I also have several upcoming children’s books, including:

●	AWE-SAMOSAS (Clarion, 2024)
●	HENNA IS...(Feiwel and Friends, 2024) 
●	YASMEEN LARI, GREEN ARCHITECT (Clarion, 2024) 

And some unannounced projects I can’t speak about yet 🙂
ALWAYS exciting hearing about new books!!
I know writing can be solitary. Did you have anyone who supported or inspired you throughout this process? 

I have no friends or family who quite understood what I was doing at the beginning. Being a writer or a freelancer isn’t very common here in Pakistan. 

I found my community online through a critique group I formed through SCBWI, friends I met virtually at classes I took with The Writing Barn, and in 2021 I joined the 12x12PB Challenge and love the sense of community there. 

I’ve made awesome connections through the KIDLIT411, Manuscript Swap group on FB, the #WritingCommunity and the 5 am WritersClub on Twitter, the Desi Kidlit Community, and the Traditionally published and Agented Muslim writer’s group on FB. 

As I geared up for the launch of my debut book, I also joined Street Teams, PBSpree, The Dream Team, and Kidlit Works! They’ve been so supportive, and we even swap manuscripts. 

I also volunteered to be a mentor through the PBRising Stars program last year and made many author friends there. Groups like ‘Agented Authors’ and ‘On Sub’ and a Slack group called The Rockets have made the whole writing and submission process much less lonely. 

Thank you for sharing all of this information with us, Marzieh. These are all fantastic suggestions and places to visit. I was familiar with most all of the ones mentioned but a few stood out as something new. I hadn't heard of 5 AM WritersClub or Desi Kidlit Community, so it was awesome to learn more about them throughout the interview process.


So, what would you say is the biggest challenge you’ve had to face as a writer? And what helped you through it?

I feel like I’m constantly wondering if my next book will sell. The process is different for every book, and the pressure actually keeps mounting, with option clauses and non-compete clauses kicking in as more books come under contract. I am still struggling to keep myself from falling into this trap. The pressure of ‘what’s next?’ can cripple creativity. And sometimes, when you’re active on social media, it becomes even more challenging. My advice would be to focus on what brings you joy, write in several age categories, take frequent SM breaks, share stories of your struggles as much as sharing stories of your failure, and just go with the flow. This is a very unpredictable industry, and there’s no use in trying to crack the code of success!


If you could offer one piece of helpful advice to a new writer… what would it be?

Keep honing your craft through conferences, webinars, and tuning into podcasts. Keep revising your stories, as all the magic happens during revision!


Great advice!

Okay… now for some exciting book talk. I know April 11th was the scheduled release of your debut picture book, A DUPATTA IS. Which, no doubt, you’re THRILLED about. Since we have the special opportunity of having your illustrator here today as well, I wanted to ask you a few questions about this project. 

From what I’ve heard from some other authors and illustrators in the publishing industry, usually, the author and illustrator don’t really have much contact- if any at all- throughout the process of the project. 

Can you tell us about your working experience with your illustrator, Anu?

Anu and I communicated often. My editor, Emily Settle, and Art Director, Mariam Quraishi, asked for my input often during the process. I pitched in at every stage of the process, from character design to final cover choice. Anu wanted to make sure all the depictions of dupattas from different regions of Pakistan were accurate. It was an amazing, collaborative process, and I hope that shines through. I’m also so lucky to be collaborating with the same team on a companion book, HENNA IS…, which releases in July 2024.


Is there anything that surprised you about the illustrations in A DUPATTA IS? 

Since Anu is also South Asian, I knew she would be familiar with the culture of the region. But when I saw her drawings of the girl in her grandma’s room, it brought tears to my eyes. The furniture in the room, right down to the wooden bangle stand, reminded me of my own grandma’s room! Magical!


Do you have a favorite spread of images in the story? 

It’s hard to pick a favorite (they’re all so beautiful, and Anu is so so talented)!, but I love the page with the hijabi bride best. 

Thank you so much for sharing, Marzieh! It's been an absolute treat having you with us. 

And now it's time for this month's...
In order to throw your name into GIVEAWAY ring, all you have to do is:
LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW ON THIS BLOG POST.
And that's it! It's a piece of cake.
Now, I'd like to welcome our next guest today, Anu Chouhan!

Anu's Bio
Anu Chouhan is a Punjabi-Canadian illustrator and video game artist. A trained animator and character designer with a background in game development, Anu often combines her love of her cultural heritage into her art, as well as always being inspired by anime, nature, and global fashion. Her unique, edgy, and energetic art has been featured by the CBC, the BBC, Harper’s Bazaar Bride India, The Times of India, and The Times of London. 


How did you end up in the publishing world? What led you here? Where did it all begin?

I was very lucky that my amazing agent Thao Le reached out to me on Twitter. At the time, I was actively trying to get more freelance work and was sharing my work through hashtags like #PortfolioDay and #SouthAsianArtists. When we connected, I indicated that I was interested in illustrating books as well as working on my own picture book. Since then, Thao has helped me work on 7 books, including one written and illustrated by me!



How thrilling! It's wonderful to hear that hashtags like this can help people make illustrative connections within the publishing industry.
Has art always played a role in your life in some aspect? If so, how?

I have enjoyed drawing as a hobby ever since I was little. I work full-time in the game industry, and illustration is often a big part of that. But making time for my personal art and freelance projects like books every now and then is also very fulfilling.


I can imagine! I believe finding balance is a key component to a living a happy and fulfilling life. And it sounds like you've managed to successfully do this.

Can you tell us a bit about your journey in children’s illustration?

I have been illustrating picture books and graphic novels since 2020. At that time, working on books was my main focus. Nowadays, I'm back to working at a studio, so it's important for me to find balance. But often, working on picture books is a fun way to shift my creative gears.


I know you’re trained in animation and character design, and you also have a background in mobile game development, which is SO cool. I’m curious… in what ways does your illustrative work differ from these? And what are the similarities, if any?

With studio work, you're often working within a specific style that's already been established based on the property. With my own art, and often with my books, it's a way for me to establish my own style of art. I've been lucky in that a lot of publishers and art directors have granted me creative freedom when it comes to how I visually interpret the stories; this was definitely the case with A DUPATTA IS... But that said, my drawing style from standalone illustrations vs books is also quite different!


When it comes to your illustration, can you share with us what your creative process like?

I track my tasks by writing in my planner (feels better than using a calendar app). I try to give myself ample research and sketching time before I begin working on a book so that I'm not coming up with ideas on the fly later (although sometimes, that has happened with awesome results). 

When it comes to my own drawings, I like to sketch on paper and let inspiration come to me slowly. Forcing an illustration when I'm tired or uninspired has never worked out successfully for me.

I love this so much. And I completely agree! I find personally with my writing, if I try to "force" creativity, vs letting it come naturally, even if I do manage to get words on a page, the quality isn't the same. I say it all the time: creativity is an art form, and as Toy Story 2 taught us, "you can't rush art"!

Are there any challenges that you’ve had to face within the publishing/illustration arena? If so, what were they, and how did you overcome them?

I think that fair wages are a big issue within the arts. There are many gigs out there that don't pay artists what they are worth, and it is important for us to approach projects carefully and understand what is worth our time and what is not. I've been learning a lot about this within the publishing industry, but thankfully my agency is really good at guiding me!


Thank you for sharing this! I'm sure that this will help a lot of illustrators to make sure that they're getting paid properly.

And for our last question today, if you could share one piece of creative wisdom with other illustrators and artists looking to break into the publishing industry, what would it be?

Speaking from experience, it is really important to know when to say "no" to a project. There be times when there are gaps between projects, but there will also be times when a bunch of overlapping gigs will come in at once! It's tempting to say yes to all of them, but it's not worth sacrificing your mental health! 

It's important to take breaks and make time for other aspects of life. Also, remember to stretch your back muscles often lol.

Thank you, Anu. These are fantastic pieces of advice to end our interview on.
It's okay to say "NO," don't forget to STRETCH and give yourself time to relax!
That wraps up our DOUBLE FEATURE INTERVIEW for May. Thanks for visiting the blog! I hope this interview helped answer some of your writing/illustrating questions. If there's ever a question you'd love to have answered, LEAVE IT IN THE COMMENTS below.

Did you enjoy this interview? Thank the author & host by purchasing a copy of one of their books. By using the links listed here, you’ll be supporting the author and this blog!

Purchase Nadia and Nadir: Hurricane Helpers HERE
Purchase Nadia and Nadir: Lunch in the Leaves HERE

To discover more fantastic books and writing related items, make sure to visit my shop!

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS…

Connect with Marzieh:
FB: MarziehAbbas
IG: marziehabbas_author
Twitter: MarziehAbbas
Website: www.marziehabbas.com 

Marzieh's Books:
Hamza's Pyjama Promise. Sun Behind the Cloud Publishing, UK. 2020
Hamza and Aliya share the Ramadan Cheer. Kisa Kids, USA. 2020
ABC's of Pakistan. WHY Books & Children's Literature Festival, Pakistan, 2020
Nadia and Nadir. Chapter book series, ABDO Publishing, 2022
A Dupatta is... Feiwel and Friends, Macmillan, USA, 2023
Anu is represented by Thao Le at the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency. 
She can be found on Instagram @anumation, as well as on Twitter @anumationart