Tag: picture books through middle grade

In today’s Feature Interview, we’ll be discussing:

• writing across genres of kidlit, picture books through middle grade
• how to master voice
• creative process
• juggling work with play & work-life balance
• and how to dazzle and hook an agent

Mia, it’s great having you with us! Can you tell us where you’re joining us from today? And how did you find out about Chelsea’s World of Books website/blog?

I’m joining from Newton, MA which is 7 miles west of Boston. I found Chelsea’s World of Books online as a source for book recommendations.

I’d love to hear how you got your start in publishing. What led you to the wonderful world of publishing, and what were you doing before then?

I was a children’s book blogger at PragmaticMom.com, and then I cofounded a literacy nonprofit, ReadYourWorld.org. I read a ton of children’s books as a blogger, and that helped me to spot areas where I didn’t see books. When the publishing world became more interested in diverse stories about 7 years ago or so, that is when the door opened for me to try to write my own stories.

Prior to that, I was an entrepreneur as the co-founder of Aquent.com. I also took time off to be a stay-at-home mom after my middle child was born. She is now 23 years old. When my third child started preschool five days a week, I decided to start my blog.

When did you begin pursuing writing as a career? And what were some of the first steps you took toward turning your dream into a reality?

My first step was to edit a book that was a curated list of lists of diverse children’s books by children’s book bloggers for my nonprofit, ReadYourWorld.org.

My next step was to write books for adults. I co-wrote How To Coach Girls with Alison Foley, the former Boston College Varsity Women’s Soccer Coach, who is also my neighbor. We also co-authored The Elusive Full Ride Scholarship, which helps high school students play sports in college.

But what really got me started was taking an Adult Education class on how to write children’s books at my local high school, and penning my first manuscript, Sumo Joe. I ended up entering this into Lee and Low’s New Voices competition. I didn’t win, but they offered me free editorial support, and after 7 months of edits, they offered to publish my book.

What were some things that helped you most in the beginning of your journey? Any contests, writing organizations, groups, friends, etc.?

Fifteen years ago, mom bloggers were a really big thing. There were hundreds of us who specialized in children’s books, and it was a warm and supportive community. I think this is where my journey into the world of children’s books began. It was a place to share my favorite books, and then I realized that there weren’t enough diverse stories being published, so I focused my blog on that. Being able to build a community around a love of diverse books has been the heart of being able to become a children’s book author because I was able to meet like-minded bloggers, authors, illustrators, publishers, and even agents!

As a fellow blogger and advocate for diverse books, I was thrilled to learn more about your literary blog. Can you tell us how/when that got started, and why?

About 13 years ago, Lee and Low published a study that showed that the number of diverse children’s books had not increased in the past 14 years. That was really a wake-up call for me because I had gone to a 10-year-old’s birthday party in California, and 18 out of the 19 girls were mixed race. The demographics of the U.S. were definitely changing into a more diverse population, but the children’s book publishing industry wasn’t keeping up because they thought only people of that minority would read a book about a diverse character. Children’s book bloggers sharing about great, diverse books to a wider audience helped to change this notion. The ALA awards recognizing diverse stories also played a major role.

As a traditionally published and agented author, could you share a little bit about what led you in the direction of traditional publishing vs. independent, as well as what reasons you chose to seek representation?

I have been both traditionally published and self-published, and my agent, Lary Rosenblatt, is also non-traditional in the sense that he owns a media company, (22MediaWorks) that makes children’s books as a “book packager.” He’s made more than 300 books for large publishing houses and turned to agenting during the pandemic when publishing was upended by the Covid lockdown.

He had hired me as a contract writer for Asian Pacific American Heroes, and asked if I had an agent. I did not and I was thrilled to work with someone that I actually already made a book with so there was comfort in knowing a person beyond one or two meetings. We also self-published Changing the Game: Asian Pacific Female Athletes together during the pandemic and then, five years later, he was able to sell reprint rights to Scholastic, the publishing company that he made Asian Pacific American Heroes for.

We have since sold 11 manuscripts together, and it’s been a wonderful and fruitful relationship!

For writers/illustrators out there who are desperately trying to dazzle and hook an agent, what are some suggestions you have on how to dazzle and hook an agent?

Honestly, I think the best way is to submit manuscripts on your own while also querying agents. When you have an agent who expresses a little interest, enough to get a phone call, let that person know when you are about to sell a manuscript on your own. There are actually quite a few publishing companies that will accept unagented children’s book manuscripts.

You mentioned that you write across different ages of kidlit. I’m curious, which did you start with- PB or MG (writing and/or querying)?

I had two picture book manuscripts and a partial early reader chapter book ready when I queried five agents. I would recommend querying a higher number. I got replies from three of them. One agent was someone I knew as an author, and she said that she was only looking to add a diverse graphic novel creator who was both a writer and illustrator, so that was not a fit. Another agent gave me a beautiful rejection email that broke my heart because it was so kind. I didn’t hear back at all from two of them. I had a couple of calls with another agent who was looking for a different type of story than I had written, but encouraged me to keep sending her my work.

So … no takers. I ended up not querying further and just focused on learning how to write better manuscripts, and then Lary came at the right time/right place.

Which manuscript landed you your agent, and which landed you your first book deal?

Sumo Joe was my first picture book deal. Food for the Future was my first book deal with my agent.

When writing across age groups, it takes a different mindset to create an appropriate voice for your characters. For example, a character in a picture book might respond much differently when presented with the same situation/problem as a character in a middle-grade story. How are you able to master voice across different age groups in your own writing? And do you have any tips on ways to improve this for our writers out there who may be interested in experimenting?

I honestly am still working on this. I tend to write for an older age naturally so I have to fix that when writing picture books. I also use an editor that I pay to help polish my manuscripts and I have learned a ton from her as well as from every editor that I work with on my books that were sold. It’s an ongoing process, I think, to just get better at craft.

My advice would be to read 100 books (if picture book) on the topic of what you are trying to write. There is so much to learn by imitating. It’s just like art when you study a master and even do a copy of their work. When you infuse your own personal lived experience into the story, you make it your own.

When writing a story… be it picture book or middle grade, what is your creative process like? And is it different depending on what age group you’re writing for?

I think I am similar to a lot of writers in that I have a ton of ideas, but I am always behind in developing them into an actual manuscript. And that process can really vary for me from a few weeks to five years. Sometimes, I have the idea, but I can’t figure out the structure of the story. For me, the structure of the story is where I begin and end as a writer. I think that is because I have trouble writing with a lot of emotion, so story structure is where I can build the narrative arc. Then, I go back to add in emotion and figurative language.

I talk to a lot of kidlit writers who are parents and have busy, busy schedules as it is, and want to get their stories out there, but worry that they won’t have enough time to dedicate. As a parent, what are some ways that you’ve been able to juggle work with play and create a healthy work-life balance?

I don’t think that I could have written manuscripts when my children were younger though many, many successful children’s book authors and illustrators can do that. I empty nested two years ago, so it’s been easier for me to find the time to slot in writing and revising.

What is your BIG reason for writing? What does it mean to you?

As an entrepreneur, I feel like I dropped into this because I had accidentally created an author platform as a children’s book blogger. It seemed like an opportunity to try to figure out. I was used to starting off doing things very badly and learning from mistakes, as someone who has worked on many start-ups, and writing is not different!

But I think the reason why I keep at it is because there are still stories out there of Asian Americans that deserve to be known to children as picture book biographies. I am hoping to bring some of these people’s stories to life in that way. I have a long list, lol!

Tell us about some of your stories and their inspiration! What makes each story special to you, and what do you hope it will provide your reader with? A new point of view? A specific emotion? A shared experience? A window or a mirror? Etc.

We Sing from the Heart came out of a meeting with musician and band leader, Simon Tam, when he reached out to hundreds of Asian American organizations and influencers to write letters of support for his lawsuit’s appeal. We met over the phone, and I was so impressed with him! When he won his trademark in a unanimous Supreme Court decision, I knew that my kids would not know about him unless it was through a children’s book.

My newest book, The Traveling Taco, is in response to the negative narrative recently about immigrants. I wanted to show that some of your favorite foods, such as ice cream, pizza, and pasta, would not be available if not for immigrants. I find that food is a great entry point to learn and appreciate other cultures.

What has the reaction been from readers? Have you had any special moments with fans? In person, online, through a kind review/note, etc.? We’d love to hear/see!

I don’t have a photo, but on one of my very first author visits to a school in Rhode Island, a very young Asian boy, perhaps in Kindergarten, greeted me with a hug. It meant so much to me, and I felt like he connected because we are both Asian.

What have been some of the highlights and greatest joys along your publishing journey?

I met publisher Angus Yuen-Killick one year after the pandemic at USBBY in Nashville, and his children’s book company, Red Comet Press, was a start-up with just one or two seasons of books under his belt. It’s been a joy to get to know him and support his company. They make the most beautiful books! I’m thrilled to be making six books (and hopefully more!) with him and his husband, Mike Yuen-Killick! It has been really fun to work together on our books, but also to send talent their way and watch my friends’ books come out.

Have you been able to host any local author events? Book signings/school visits (virtual/in-person), library storytimes, etc.?

Yes, I am going to be doing some group events soon. I have a group of Red Comet Press authors in the Massachusetts area and we hope to have events lined up in the fall. I am also putting together another group focused on sustainability/farms/pollinators.

I also do solo events including an author visit for a school in Ohio, right before ALA.

What were some difficulties you faced on your publishing journey, and how were you able to overcome them?

Every time I get a rejection, it feels like a gut punch, and I have to take off a few days from writing to recover. Luckily, my agent shields me from much of this.

What advice do you have for an author facing (a) similar difficulty/difficulties?

Look at rejection as the currency you need to succeed. Like, I need 100 rejections in order to achieve X goal.

Favorite children’s book/, author, and/or illustrator?

I have so many, but I will say that my go-to response is Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo. Every character in that book is a fully fleshed-out, living, breathing, interesting human being. She is a remarkable writer!

-Such a great choice! I love Kate DiCamillo!

Favorite hangout spots?

I am learning to Urban Sketch, so I like to go fishing with my husband on the Charles River, and I watercolor paint while he fishes. I also set up a bird feeder in my yard, so now I wander around Newton, where I live, to find birds. There is a small pond in front of Newton City Hall, and I like to search for birds while painting there.

Favorite snack?

I love senbei, rice crackers. Also, the herb popcorn from Trader Joe’s. I am also a fruit-a-holic. I love all kinds of fruit, especially anything tropical. My kids think that I was a fruit bat in a past life.

Anything else you’d like to share with our readers today?

My nonprofit, ReadYourWorld.org, gives away diverse books to readers, and our sign-up to be matched with a book starts in September. We celebrate the books at our annual event on the last Thursday in January.

We also have tons of resources to find great diverse children’s books, including our List Resource, a library of more than 250 interviews with authors from our IG Live series, and our Classroom Kits.

If you are in the Boston area, we host the Newton Children’s Book Festival, which will feature more than 60 authors. Check it out HERE.

Thank you so much for being here today, Mia!

And now…

It’s time for a GIVEAWAY!

For the month of June 2025, Mia Wenjen is offering ONE WINNER a signed copy of her book We Sing from the Heart and her newest book, The Traveling Taco, + book swag + and a virtual author visit.

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 extra entries? Share and tag on X @chellysbooks or Instagram @chelseasworldofbooks, and I’ll add your additional entry to the giveaway pool.

DEADLINE TO ENTER: June 30th 2025, 11:59 PM CST

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