Tag: hijinks

Today I’m talking with funny picture-book and middle-grade writer, Elayne Crain. We’ll be talking about ways to keep a scrappy mindset, having mentors without them even knowing it, and writing humor that kids (and parents) love!

Elayne, it’s great to have you here! Could you tell us where you’re joining us from? 

Hello, Chelsea! I’m joining you from my dining room table, my trusty laptop wedged in between a pretty enormous tray of hot sauces my family members use* and a heap of papers and art supplies I use.

It’s a happy, spicy mess, not unlike the girl typing these very words.

*Disclosure: I only use three tray sauces – green Tabasco, Valentina, and S&B Crunchy Garlic with Chili Oil, though I’m spicy in other ways, I assure you.

How did you hear about the Feature Interview series, and what made you want to apply?

I heard about it from being a subscriber; there’s something undeniably alluring about long-form interviews when one’s favorite thing to do is to write! 😊

Tell us a little about your publishing journey. When and how did it start?

The publishing part was (somehow) surprisingly straightforward, when it came—I attended an SCBWI First Pages webinar and connected with editor Kat Brzozowski through it. I didn’t have an agent, and I brought the first page of this particular story (which ended up being the first three spreads, ms-wise) because I loved it, but it didn’t seem to be getting much traction in the agent-querying trenches. Luckily, Kat saw in it what I saw in it—and then some—and I think she actually said, “This one is really weird, but it’s my kind of weird.” Then we chatted in the webinar chat about Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar, which was another huge sign that we were on the same page for humor. (And yes, I’m still pinching myself for being in the right place at the right time, somehow, to have met her and gotten to work with her! She really is amazing.) It took a while to get the rest of the team on board, but we did it—with a lot of revision work on my part, too, I should add. I’m so grateful that she didn’t give up on it, or me, during that time.

Could you share a little bit about the early stages of your writing journey?

I’ve written for fun—just for myself, and occasionally to amuse friends with—my entire life—including write right now, as I write about how I already wrote about my writing Origin Story.

Here’s the most salient bit: it was always FUN for me. When I was terrible, when I wrote too much (and when I wrote too little)—none of that mattered, because I enjoyed it. And I still do.

Holding on to that joy is simple but not easy—you have to remember to let yourself play as hard as you work—and, alas, play is something that absolutely cannot be faked or sped up. Ironically, play requires patience.

What were some of the things you learned that helped you the most?

Let’s list them! (I love a good list!)

• Reading—broadly and niche-ly, oldies and newbies. (This should be obvious, but one of the unfortunate truisms of spending more time on craft is that you have less time to read, so a reminder doesn’t hurt.)
• Noting. Alas, alack, reading itself doesn’t much improve craft—rather, it’s the post-read mulling, marinating, and ah-ha’ing that does; useful realizations can take an annoying amount of time and thought. Incidentally, this is why I even reread books I think I *don’t* like—it’s important to figure out why.
• Knowing oneself. Fully marshaling yourself—your real self—into your work may mean therapy, and maybe lots of it. Incidentally, self-knowledge doesn’t mean you aren’t evolving, and it’s nothing to fear (even if it’s not always comfortable); it means you have perspective, and ideally, empathy. This genuinely human experience is what separates us from AI glop, and it’s never been more important.
• Loving—life and people (where people include oneself). As Mary Oliver says, “let the soft animal of your body love what it loves.” Hugs help. Having a partner helps (assuming they are the right partner for you). Nature walks help (and Claritin helps nature walks help). Choosing bravery over fear helps. Connection helps.

Were there any groups/organizations/something else that benefited you?

I’m a SCBWI evangelist, for good reason! I joined the Eastern Australia chapter in November of 2019 (we were living in Melbourne at the time), and it’s been my creative career’s helpmate since. Not only has most of my craft learning and networking come through that organization, but it was an SCBWI webinar where I connected with Kat at Macmillan, who published my first book. (I volunteer pretty heavily with our local group, as part of trying to keep that going for others. Maybe gross to note, but I’m proud of that.)

I also really love 12×12 (for picture book nerds like myself) and Inked Voices (for their variety of genres) for their craft talks and opportunities. Really, it’s probably more important to join an active creative community than to overthink which one(s).

Tell us about writing humor. As I’m sure anyone who has read your hilarious debut, There’s Something Odd About the Babysitter, knows, you are a master of the hilarious. But writing humor is no easy feat- it’s an art- and it’s a very subjective art. For any genre, this is a feat, but for picture books, it’s especially tricky because your target audience (children ages 4-8) isn’t always the one selecting the book; often, it’s an adult. Which means, you have to appeal to both the child’s humor- and the adult’s. Can you tell us a little about how you broke into such a competitive space, as well as how you were able to master humor for kids while also appealing to adults?

Man, I wish I actually believed I’ve “mastered” humor! Jello-wrestled it successfully,  maybe—but that was mostly that one time in college*.

*This is true. (Keep in mind, I was much cuter then; if anyone has pics, please send them my way.)

But I think what I did manage to do, at least with this one book, is to tap into the humor that (alas) I know best: awkward/cringe/deadpan, with dollops of (hopefully) worthy wordplay.

Was there anyone/anything that helped you with your humor craft?

Oh, the usual: being an oddball misanthrope who didn’t want to be burned as a witch.

It also probably helps if you’ve (accidentally or otherwise) made a mockery of yourself so many times that it feels somewhat natural to willingly do so?

Truly, humor has been my lifelong crutch—by far my biggest social lubricant and coping mechanism. When you are as weird as I am, it behooves one to make oneself somewhat palatable in whatever form one can. I never saw myself as sporty, or pretty, or particularly skilled with people—so words have long been my most viable option!

Now, of course, I know I’ve battled undiagnosed-until-not-long-ago, pretty major internal hyperactive-impulsive ADHD for over forty (mumble) years. Making quick-witted and creative associations is a rare but appreciated benefit of that kind of brain, and I am so glad I had that to add to my perhaps nonexistent arsenal of other skills.

What tips do you have for authors who may be looking to break into the humor space for kids?

I think, for me, don’t assume kids aren’t as sophisticated as you are—and knowing most adults? FAR more sophisticated. I mean, if you want to hear an on-point Komodo dragon joke, go right to a fifth grader.

I hear a lot of writers repeat the same trite stuff over and over, like, “kids love poop jokes.” Well, some might—but, I think they appreciate craft as much, if not more, than subject. Why aren’t we saying, “kids love well-done jokes” to the point of triteness? THAT is far more universally true, and far more helpful to achieving something memorable and interesting on the page.

Related, truly my best advice: let the punchline be shown when you can. (This may require, GASP!, art notes.)

In your application, you mentioned mentors, which is always a topic, and I feel like this one is not talked about enough. Tell us about your mentor experiences. How were they able to help you on your publishing journey? And did they always know they were “mentoring?” Explain.

In terms of “official” mentorships—SCBWI to the rescue, not once, but twice! I did one mentorship through SCBWI Mid-South (with the wonderful Jessica Young, for picture book writing, which resulted in working further on my There’s Something Odd About the Babysitter manuscript)—and I did another through my current SCBWI group, SCBWI WW (Western Washington) with author-illustrator Vikram Madan (for poetry). 😊 They were—and still are!—amazing inspirations—personally and professionally, and I can’t thank them enough for sharing their smarts with me!

However, I’m ALSO a big believer in the imaginary—and that can take the form of mentors, too, because sometimes you will find yourself longing for advice from mentors who have passed, or are fictional, or who are simply too busy being awesome IRL.

As far as creators who are in that third spot–who are accidentally (through no fault of their own, ha ha) “mentoring” me through their creative works, I doubt it would surprise any of them to know that I think of their work a lot. I have NO poker face and tend to gush when I really admire someone, so I’ve either straight-out told them how much I look to their work/careers for creative nerve and verve, or I’ve talked about their work enough that it’s blatantly obvious/possibly unnerving. What can I say? I’m not particularly cool, so I hope some appreciate my earnestness—it’s at least spread out over quite a few people (us being spoilt for choice, in our field). And I hope anyone in a position of influence in kidlit probably remembers the people they looked up to, and hopefully that helps.

Funny note: it can go both ways. I do have one adult-humor writer pen pal of many years who used to be WELL outside the world of kidlit, who has since ventured in; this cracks me up endlessly.

Not only that, but I have also been lucky enough to have BEEN a mentor for a few writers—and they were hugely inspirational to me! So, it’s not a one-way street, anyhow, this kind of thing (at least when it happens in real life).

How have you been able to keep a scrappy mindset? And why is this important? Explain.

Oh, goodness, yes. When times are crappy, you HAVE to be scrappy! Look, no one cares more about your creative work than you do—NO ONE, especially the totality of your work, which may (if you’re lucky) someday represent you. Even the greats don’t have ENDLESS resources—chief among them, time!

So even *just* viewing your future work through a lens of “what is most important to spend my time on next” requires you to be whip-smart, on some level?

I tend to focus on the classics in the self-help space:

• practice and experimentation (esp. via rapid prototyping)
• actively seeking out new perspectives and skills
• keeping a growth mindset

Easier said than done.

Luckily(?), I’ve always been a workaholic.

“When times are crappy, you HAVE to be scrappy!” -Elayne Crain

I saw that you offer resources for teachers/librarians/parents. I love this! Could you tell our readers about what you offer and where to find it?

Of course! One of the fun things I’ve done is create a 27-page activity pack for the book, which is available for free download for anyone who subscribes to my (free) monthly Substack newsletter.

Also, I have an author mailbox that could never garner enough mail to fill the dark, attention-seeking hole in my heart! So, if any classes are doing the whole “learn to write a letter to someone” and want someone who will write back…I could be the gal! 🙂 That address can be found here.

Speaking of resources, let’s talk books! I loved your book, but even more importantly, the KIDS I read it to loved it, and really, those are the ones you have to impress. So, since not all of our readers may have yet had the pleasure of reading your hilarious story, please tell us about it!

Aww, thank you! I like to think of There’s Something Odd About the Babysitter as a cozy mystery with a twist. On the one hand, what is different about the babysitter is hilariously obvious (as they look, um, suspiciously like a stack of raccoons wearing a trenchcoat). But what I’m proudest of is that the eventual twist is both ludicrous and also, in its own way, truer than the truth. And isn’t that so often the case?

I’m also especially proud that kids really feel for both Freddie AND the Babysitter in this meet-awkward story. I’ve read this book a LOT of times now to groups, and I can tell you—you can always hear a pin drop when we get to the three spreads where Freddie is working up his courage to find out what the Babysitter’s deal is—any age group, 3 years up through third grade. They feel for both sides, so, so deeply—and that is incredibly gratifying.

What was your debut experience like? 

It was amazing, and it couldn’t have come at a better time, to be honest. My mom, whom I had always had a difficult relationship with, had just passed—and it felt a bit like a life preserver to have this very good thing out there to focus on, and to celebrate something just beginning.

And, of course, it’s still going! I can’t believe it’s not even been a year yet, though time has certainly flown.

Have you been able to do any book events, local or virtual? If so, where (at what venue; school/library/bookstore/etc) and how were those events arranged?

I have! I love book events, it turns out—and school visits, in particular! 😊 I have sort of a Miss-Frizzle-inspired uniform I wear, including some raccoon-themed shoes that the kids love!

I have enjoyed many bookstore visits at this point, in addition to school visits, mostly through Third Place Books here in Seattle. 

I think, honestly, partially because of my sincere passion for events and visits (which definitely comes through)—I’ve been incredibly lucky to have support from local indie books when promoting this book. We were even selected as a Kids’ Indie Next picture book pick last summer! So, I can’t overstate how important independent bookstores are, especially to new authors.

What response have you received from readers with this book?

Honestly, it’s just been…almost overwhelming. It’s not, you know, a New York Times bestseller or anything, but I do know that I have heard from an awful lot of people that their kids want to hear it over and over again; I also know that it recently won one of those March Madness Picture Book brackets at an elementary school in New York.

I truly love this book that John and I made (with Kat and Foyinsi’s stewardship), so to know that anyone else could love it, too, is just so, so lovely.

This book is so funny- I just love it. I have to know, what was your inspiration for writing this?

As always, lived experience, ha ha! I was both a babysitter and a haplessly-babysat kid. So, I was always genuinely interested in (and hopefully suited to) telling some sort of babysitting-related tale.

So much went into plotting, and the writing, over years of revisions–including, but not limited to, the name Freddie (a nod to a Steve Martin character I loved as a child), plus a Shaun the Sheep “pizza ordering” sequence–even the dog’s name, Bonzo, comes from Calvin & Hobbes.

I’ve talked about this before, too—but even though I identified with Freddie and the Babysitter as I was writing this, I didn’t quite realize that I had hyperactive ADHD yet, in ways that apparently present very commonly in women (i.e., manifesting mainly internally). What I did know, though, was that I certainly often FELT like I was full of conflicted raccoons. So even though it’s ridiculous, to me? That character is very heartfelt, as are their constant attempts to mask themselves.

What do you hope this story (and others that you write) will bring your readers?

I actually have a well-thought-out answer to this—here goes!

I have three primary concerns when I create.

One: Do I relish this work so that it will be endowed with joy? (This speaks to my own selfish needs.)

Two: Will this brighten a child’s day? (This speaks to a child’s needs.)

Three: Do I purposefully choose to believe this fiction, and why? (This speaks to the emotional side—the part that makes fiction truer than fact.)

If I’ve considered all three aspects fully, I can be sure I’m bringing the best I’m capable of to readers: something bright, layered, and genuine. I hope that’s what they feel, too.

Any last words of wisdom for our fellow writing community and/or anyone else who may be reading today?

You all are probably tired of hearing from me at this point, so I’ll share my three favorite quotes from others!

• From Dolly Parton: “Find out who you are and do it on purpose.”
• From the mantle at Henry Ford’s house: “Chop your own wood, and it will warm you twice.”
• From my dad (admittedly when he was trying to get me to go into law, ha ha): “There’s always room for someone good, and you can always GET good.”

Thank you, all! 😊

Thank you for joining us, Elayne. You have been a delight. And now… It’s time for a giveaway or two!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

Elayne will be giving away TWO PRIZES … to TWO WINNERS.

• Winner 1 will receive a free personalized signed copy of There’s Something Odd About the Babysitter.
• Winner 2 will receive a 30-minute author Ask-Me-Anything call.

Let me know in the comments below the article which prize you are entering for!

HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

LIKE AND SHARE this article to X and/or Instagram and mention/tag my handle X @chellysbooks / Instagram @chelseasworldofbooks so I can add your entry! Don’t have X or Instagram? Enter the giveaway by LIKING and leaving a COMMENT at the bottom of the interview. DEADLINE TO ENTER: 5/19/2026

ENTRY WINDOW: Once the Feature Interview is posted, you will have one month (roughly 30 days) to enter. The entry window for this feature interview giveaway will close once next month’s feature interview is posted. At that time, the next month’s feature interview giveaway window will open. Meaning, there will always be a giveaway opportunity. Example: January Feature Interview is posted: January giveaway window opens/begins. February Feature Interview is posted: January giveaway window closes/ends, and February giveaway window opens/begins. NOTE: Feature Interviews come out on the third Wednesday of every month. 

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