writingcommunity Archives - chelseasworldofbooks

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

Posted on June 1, 2023August 12, 2023 by chelseasworldofbooks in Feature Interviews

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 May 1, 2023August 27, 2023 by chelseasworldofbooks in Feature Interviews, 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

APRIL FEATURE INTERVIEW WITH CHILDREN’S AUTHOR, ELLEN LEVENTHAL

Posted on April 1, 2023August 12, 2023 by chelseasworldofbooks in Feature Interviews, View all blog posts

Welcome back to CHELSEA’S WORLD OF BOOKS. I'm your host, Chelsea DiCicco. This month, I’m pleased to introduce you to another wonderful children’s book author. She will be the highlight of our April FEATURE INTERVIEW. Please welcome Ellen Leventhal.

Ellen’s Bio
Ellen Leventhal is an author and educator in Houston, TX. DEBBIE’S SONG: THE DEBBIE FRIEDMAN STORY is her fourth published picture book. Ellen’s work has also appeared in various poetry and short story anthologies. Ellen’s best days are when she can interact directly with students and spread her love of literacy, compassion, and kindness. To find out more about Ellen’s books, writing projects, and school visits, you can visit her website, www.ellenleventhal.com.

So, Ellen, the first thing I’m always itching to know is the “HOW” AND “WHY” of what led you into the exciting and challenging journey to publication. What got you here? What inspired you to keep going? How long did it take you to get here? And all the bits in between.

First of all, thank you so much for having me here!

So, the HOW and the WHY are kind of intertwined. WAY back when I was a kid, I was constantly writing poems and songs. At the beginning, they were silly rhymes (not very good ones!), and then, of course, as a teenager, my writing was angst-filled. I never really stopped writing, but I also never thought I would write kids’ books.

Then when I was teaching, I realized that I could make the curriculum more interesting and just add fun to the day with my writing. My friend Ellen Rothberg and I would go into bookstores and think, “We could do that.” Of course, we had no idea how difficult it really was! But one day, she saw a contest, we entered and won! The prize was publication. After what felt like a gazillion revisions, our debut picture book, Don’t Eat the Bluebonnets, was born. After that, I was hooked. I got involved in the kidlit community online and, when possible, in person. Through that, I found a group of wonderfully supportive people.

Of course, there have been many ups and downs and lots of adventures along the way…good, bad, and ugly. And really funny! I’ve learned to just go with the flow. I laugh when I think about two specific times during a reading at Barnes and Noble. Once, I was trying to read to a group, and some clown (yes…a literal clown who was supposed to do something after me) just started doing his thing while I was reading. Then there was the time during a reading with Ellen Rothberg when, in the middle of our reading, someone drove a scooter around in front of us calling for someone. We both sincerely hope the missing “Shelby” was found. One of the funniest things happened when during a school visit, a few teachers dropped their kids off before there were other teachers to take over. It was the day before winter break, the kids got to wear pajamas, AND Santa was on the other side of the room. HOW could I compete against Santa?! Before the teachers came back, a little boy and girl were having an argument about whether that Santa was real. The girl, who said he wasn’t, turned to me to support her claim. I was in panic mode and not sure what to do. Luckily, that same little girl blurted out “That Santa can’t be real because the real one is at the mall!” Whew! And then we had a great time.

Sounds like a close call! Haha. While we're on the track of school... could you tell us a little bit about your history with education and working with kids?

I’ve always worked with kids in some capacity. In fact, my husband and I met when we were working together at a day camp. I taught special ed back in the70s and loved it. When I moved to Texas, I had two little ones, but I was lucky to find part-time work with kids. Then when my own kids got a bit older, I taught mostly fifth grade for many years. I “retired,” but I was back at the same school working part-time within a few months! Now, although not working at a school, I tutor and enjoy my author school visits. So yes…kids (including my own and, of course, my four adorable grandkids) have always been an integral part of my life.

Here’s a hard question. Do you have a favorite manuscript/story that you’ve written? And is it one that’s currently published? If so, which one? Don’t worry, you can tell us! We won’t tell your other stories…

Ha! Yes, that is hard! At this point, I think A FLOOD OF KINDNESS and DEBBIE’S SONG are my favorite published stories, but that’s probably because they are my latest. I still like my others! However, I do have an unpublished story that I love. I wrote what I thought was a picture book years ago, but it was way too long. I love the story and have been trying to weave it into a chapter book or do something with it. It’s still one of my favorites, and I hope at least some of it will appear in something else.

So, as far as children’s books, I know you have DON’T EAT THE BLUEBONNETS, which came out in 2017; LOLA CAN’T LEAP, which came out in 2018, A FLOOD OF KINDNESS, which came out in 2021 (and is one of my favorites by the way) and you have another story coming out this month, April of 2023, DEBBIE’S SONG: THE DEBBIE FRIEDMAN STORY. Which I’m SO excited to read! Can you tell us a little about this story and what it means to you?

Thanks! I’m excited about this one too! Here's a blurb giving you a glimpse of what DEBBIE’S SONG is about: When Debbie Friedman was a little girl, music bubbled up inside her. Notes and melodies. Loud and quiet. Fast and slow. As she grew, she saw things that she believed should change. Debbie dreamed of making music that would include everyone, especially women and young people. It was difficult, but with determination to overcome obstacles and ignore those who sought to deter her, Debbie stuck to her belief that she could make the world better. Debbie's dream came true, and her transformative music changed the landscape of Jewish music forever.

However, this book means so much more to me than that blurb. When I was teaching at a Jewish Day School, we sang Debbie Friedman’s music all the time. I met her briefly once but really never got to know her. As it turns out, many people here in Houston did know her, and she touched all of their lives. I’ve always loved the inclusive music she created and sang, but as I dug deeper, I learned about her struggles, which weren’t insignificant, and how she was still there for everyone during their difficult times. Had Debbie lived, she would have been the same age as I am now. Her songs were the soundtrack of my children’s education, and I felt strongly about making sure this generation learned about her and how through her story, they’ll learn that they each have a special spark inside them. Though it may not be the same, through Debbie’s story, they’ll learn that they, too, have the power to make a difference, just like Debbie did.

In your opinion, what is the hardest part of publishing, and the most rewarding part of publishing?

For me, there are two parts that I find very difficult, and they’re related. I have a hard time letting go of my manuscripts and sending them off. I am never sure they’re ready to go, but I’ve learned that it is possible to over-revise and lose the heart, so I’m constantly working on that balance. Then once I jump that hurdle, I find the waiting hard as well as the lack of control. I’m getting better at that second part, but it’s difficult.

The most rewarding is, of course, seeing children enjoy my books. That thrill of seeing a child read one of my books will never go away. The other rewarding part of this journey is my connection to the kidlit community. There is no way I’d still doing this if it weren’t for my critique groups and friends I’ve made along the way.

If you could share one piece of advice with other writers on this journey, what would it be?

This is one that I need to remind myself of sometimes. Enjoy the journey.

It’s a tough business, and if you are only focused on the publication, it’s easy to get frustrated. It’s important to step back and just have fun with the process. Don’t let the business aspect zap your joy of writing and storytelling.

Now, because I’m a big-time lover of all things educational and a Children’s Librarian, I have to ask, what are your school visits like? And… do you do library visits too?

My school visits are hopefully educational and FUN! Although I have a description of my presentations on my website, I let the librarians/teachers know that I mix and match and will do whatever I can do to support the teachers in the classroom. I always have some type of interaction with the kids. The goal of pretty much every presentation is to let them know that they all have stories to tell and they are all storytellers.

And yes, although I haven’t done a lot of library visits, I’d love to do more! Here’s where you can find more about my School Visits.

What was your hand’s down best experience when doing a school and/or library visit?

Hmm…I’ve had so many good ones. One memorable visit was years ago when the first version of DON’T EAT THE BLUEBONNETS came out. A school in El Paso, TX, made it the monthly read for all their grades, and I was welcomed with writing and art having to do with their book and even a cake with the main character on it! The kids and staff were amazing. This was more than a normal visit because it was the 100th anniversary of the school, and we had a big celebration. We wrote stories and songs together and had a great time.

BUT…that is not to say that I don’t love all my school visits. Every one of them has something wonderful and magical about them that I keep with me. Sharing my love of literacy, kindness, and inclusion is definitely my favorite part of this business.

For other authors who may be interested in offering library or school visits, what recommendations would you give them on where to start?

Honestly, I still struggle getting visits sometimes, so I don’t want new creators to get down on themselves. Most of my school visits have come from personal connections. You need to put yourself out there and meet people at conferences, etc. For me, word of mouth is the best thing. When librarians and teachers like what you do; hopefully, they will pass on your info to others. Don’t be afraid to ask! But honestly, I’ve gotten visits from cold emails too, so you never know. I’d say to start small. When you first start out, you’re honing your presentation skills. Maybe don’t take on a whole school at once. Start with a grade level or two and see what works. Whatever you do, I’d say to be yourself. We all have different personalities, and as with other parts of life, trying to be someone you’re not never works.

And this is a new question that I want to start asking to help spread love and support for our wonderful independent bookstores. What's one (or more) local bookstore(s) that you love? Name it(them) below!

I love Brazos Bookstore in Houston!

Wonderful! Thank you for sharing, Ellen. As writers we know just how important indie bookstores are and we appreciate all their efforts to keep their doors open. I've gone ahead and added quick links to Brazos Bookstore's Twitter, Instagram and official website. If you live local, why not check them out?! And if you don't... you can always order from bookstores online through Bookshop.org.

Okay, now for some silly/fun questions:
If you were a color, what would it be?

Hmm….maybe purple? No real reason except that I love it!

If you could only eat three foods for the rest of your life, what would they be?

So I’ll pretend there is no such things as cholesterol or anything like that for this one. I think I could eat pizza, pasta, and Chinese food. Clarification: I don’t eat a lot of these things, but one can dream.

Favorite song?

That all depends on my mood. Sorry…can’t pick just one.

Favorite dessert?

Anything that combines chocolate and ice cream together.

Cat or dog?

Dog

Beach or mountains?

For years I’d say the beach, but now I’m thinking mountains.

Thank you, Ellen. We loved having you with us. But wait- it’s not over. It’s that time.

Do you know what time it is?
It’s time for our giveaway prize! YAY!

This month for our GIVEAWAY PRIZE, Ellen is offering a signed copy of her book DEBBIE'S SONG OR an Ask Me Anything zoom call. Winner's choice! 

How can I enter?

The winner will be selected from COMMENTER'S below at random. (That's right, all you have to do is leave a COMMENT with your prize choice. That's it!)

Please ONLY comment ONCE.

Winners will be announced before or by April 15th, 2023.

Thanks for joining us today! Be sure to like and subscribe to stay up-to-date with all our wonderful Feature Interviews and other blog posts. To find out more about Ellen, you can visit her website. Or find her on Twitter or Instagram

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 & the blog!

Purchase Debbie's Song HERE
Purchase A Flood of Kindness HERE
Purchase Lola Can't Leap HERE
Purchase Don't Eat the Blue Bonnets HERE

To find out about other great book recommendations, visit my shop tab!

MY SPRING FLING KIDLIT 2023 ENTRY: WAKE UP, WORLD! IT’S SPRING! BY CHELSEA DICICCO

Posted on April 1, 2023September 6, 2023 by chelseasworldofbooks in My Writing Journey, View all blog posts

First off, I'd like to thank the fabulous hosts, fellow librarian and kidlit Author Ciara O'Neal and Literary Agent Kaitlyn Sanchez for yet another amazing Kidlit opportunity to not only showcase our work but to just have fun with our community!

This has been such a terrific way to make friends, build relationships, and overall branch out with other writers. I speak for myself and my critique group partners when I say, we are all so grateful for events like these that help make this line of work even more enjoyable.

For most of us, writing can be very solitary work so fun events like these really add a breath of fresh air and get our creative juices flowing.

If you're not familiar with what the Spring Fling Kidlit Contest is, no worries! I'll be sure to include all the rules and details below.

So, what IS Spring Fling Kidlit?

Your challenge, should you accept it, is simple.
Find a gif and write a spring-inspired story. That's it!

Here are the official rules from Ciara's website:

1. Your story should be geared towards kids ages 12 or under.

2. Choose a gif to inspire your story. be sure to share where you found your wonderful gif. (The website or if you created it yourself!)

3. All gifs should be child appropriate and in no way be derogatory towards any faith, race, etc.

4. Now for the dreaded word count! You have 150 words. That’s it! No more but less is always welcome.
(Your title is not included in the word count.)

5. No illustration notes pretty please.

6. Your gif should be the only visual with your story.

7. The Spring Fling contest officially begins on Saturday April 1st and closes April 3rd, post your gif and story on your blog.

8. On April 1st, we will post a google form on this blog. (You can use the quicklink above titled "official rules" to get to the blog post.) Fill out the form, paste your blog website and story, and you my friend, will be entered!

9. Deadline for posting your story or the link to your story is April 3rd at 11:59pm CST.

10. Only one entry per contestant is permitted.

****If you don't have a blog, no worries, you can put your whole story on the google form. The form will open on April 1st. If you want others to read it too, feel free to post your story in the comments with the link to your gif.***

And that's it!

Now... the moment we've been waiting for; my entry for this year's 2023 Spring Kidlit Contest. This year I wanted to write a story that incorporated not only spring but sharing it with a beloved friend and who better to splash in puddles with than your dog?! So, without further ado, I give you my entry: WAKE UP, WORLD! IT'S SPRING!

Title: Wake up, World! It's Spring!
Written by: Chelsea DiCicco
Word Count: 121

Dewdrops dance on dainty petals.
Tweets and twitters fill the air.
This can only mean one thing…
“WAKE UP, WORLD! IT’S SPRING!”

Padding paws and racing feet.
Hurry, scurry; we can’t wait!
Nature’s calling- here we come!
“WAKE UP, WORLD! IT’S SPRING!”

Butterflies outstretch their wings.
Bees are buzzing off to work.
Mower’s roar, and flowers bloom.
"WAKE UP, WORLD! IT'S SPRING!"

Showers sprinkle in the sun.
Puddles are for everyone!
Happy slappy splashy feet.
"WAKE UP, WORLD! IT'S SPRING!"

Wagging tails and cheerful eyes.
Dirty paws and sun-kissed skin.
Shaking, quaking, laughs and barks.
"WAKE UP, WORLD! IT'S SPRING!"

Hoots and chatters fill the night.
Evening stars pierce the sky.
Look! There goes a firefly.
"Rest up, world. It's Spring."

This GIF was created by Chelsea DiCicco (me) on Canva for the purpose of being used for my 2023 entry for the Spring Fling Kidlit Contest.

Wake up, World! It's Spring! GIF by Chelsea DiCicco — **Wake up, World! It’s Spring! by CHELSEA DICICCO**

50 PRECIOUS WORDS ENTRY FOR MARCH 2023, VIVIAN KIRKFIELD’S PICTURE BOOK WRITING CONTEST, MONDAY MORNING CUPCAKES BY CHELSEA DICICCO

Posted on March 5, 2023March 5, 2023 by chelseasworldofbooks in My Writing Journey, View all blog posts

Hey guys,

So, we've just started March, and so far, 2023 has been a busy year; full of activities in the writing community, like the amazing #PBPARTY *which I participated in* and the Twitter #PBPITCH event for picture book writers seeking representation, *which I also participated in.* Since the #PBPARTY entries take a few weeks to get results, I've been trying my best to stay busy. Because waiting is hard!

Ways I've stayed busy include: gardening, playing with my pets, doing research on writing projects, reading books, trying to write new stories *and finding my inspiration outdoors* -it's almost SPRING! Curling up in my hammock and getting sunshine. And of course, my library work. Planning new programs and events, working on new activities for my Homeschool Group and Crafternoon and family Nature Walks behind the library.

One of the things I've also done to stay busy is to participate in OTHER events, which brings me to my purpose for posting today.

This year, I participated in Vivian Kirkfield's Picture Book Contest, 50 precious words. This is my first year - hooray! And my wonderful critique partner is also participating with me. Another hooray!

I found out about this awesome event back toward the ending of last year, (2022) while watching a YouTube interview with Literary Agent, Kaitlyn Sanchez, hosted by Maria Dismondy, of Cardinal Rule Press.

After the interview, I visited her website where I found a whole list of great resources for writers. You can find it under her "RESOURCE" tab and click "CONTESTS." Or you can just click this link here and it will take you directly to her page.

So, without further ado, here is my entry for the 50 Precious Words Contest. I hope you enjoy this little sweet treat.

Monday Morning Cupcakes
By Chelsea DiCicco
IG @chelseasworldofbooks
50 words

I smell them from the kitchen.
Sweet, SUGARY goodness.
A treat for each hand.

There they are. A perfect baker’s dozen!
Oodles of sprinkles and colors. Frosting for days.
Yum!
A magical Monday miracle.

“CUPCAKES!”
Pack them, stack them, steal a taste.
Safe in my lunch box. I can’t wait!

If you'd like to view the original post on Vivian's Website, you can follow this link here.

MARCH FEATURE INTERVIEW WITH CHILDREN’S AUTHOR, JANET SUMNER JOHNSON

Posted on March 1, 2023August 12, 2023 by chelseasworldofbooks in Feature Interviews, View all blog posts

Hello friends, and welcome to the March 2023 FEATURE INTERVIEW. Today we are sharing the floor with special guest Janet Sumner Johnson. Janet is a children’s book author, wife, and mother of three, living in Utah, who writes both picture books and middle-grade stories.

Her debut picture book, Help Wanted: Must Love Books (Capstone, March 2020), was the winner of the 2021 CLEL BELL Read Awards and nominated for both the Colorado and Washington State Children's Choice Book Awards. Her other picture books include Braver Than Brave and A Bad Case of the Almosts, and she has an exciting new picture book series beginning in 2023, The Recess Genius: Open for Business.

So, let’s talk about what got you into writing and when this journey began for you. Can you tell us a little bit about that?

I have always gravitated to writing. In first grade, I was part of our school newspaper. In 3rd grade, I entered an essay in the Reflections contest and took 3rd. In High School, I sent a movie idea to Disney (and got my first rejection letter, lol!). But I never wanted to be a writer/author until after I graduated from college, and I realized that I was always writing because I loved it! With my husband’s encouragement, I wrote my first book and then proceeded to make all the beginner mistakes (querying before revising, thinking I had nothing to learn because I was a natural--HA!). But I stumbled my way into SCBWI, joined a critique group, and spent a lot of years learning before I finally dared to send another query. It was a long path for me!

I’m curious to know, from your side of the desk, which came first, the chicken or the egg? The chicken being your middle-grade stories, and the egg being your picture books- and why?

Love your question! The chicken came first. When I began writing, I actually thought I was writing YA, but after all those years of learning and working with my critique partners, I discovered I’d been writing MG all along. I didn’t even consider writing picture books until having kids. With toddlers, you are reading SO MANY picture books every day, and I think it’s natural that you start to get ideas for picture-book-size stories. I resisted for a long time because I’d learned enough at that point to know just how hard it is to break into the picture book world as a writer. But with so much inspiration and with the encouragement of a critique partner who got me to sign up for Susanna Leonard Hill’s “Making Picture Book Magic!” class, I discovered just how much I love the wordplay of picture books.

Can you tell us a little bit about the mental process for writing in different children’s book categories. Any specific setting or headspace required before you write one over the other? Like, do you need to be sitting upside down, facing north, with just the right amount of wind before you can write a picture book, whereas, for middle grade, you need to hop on one foot, spin around a few times, and have a cup of tea at the ready?

Haha! That’s about right. It’s definitely a different headspace for each category. With picture books, I focus on structure and action to start. I lay out a super quick outline, and once I have that, it’s all about the wordplay and finding fun, lyrical ways to convey the story. It’s very much about the details.

With middle grade, I have to think big picture. I still prepare an outline, which helps me know whether my story idea will work or not without committing too much time (I’m a plotter if you can’t tell). Once I begin writing, I have to block out the wordplay and focus solely on moving the story forward. If I find myself getting caught up in the words or how I’m saying something, I recite this mantra in my head: “It doesn’t have to be good, it just has to be written.” It’s all about the big picture.

Do you find it more challenging to write one vs. the other, or are they equally matched? Is there one you naturally find yourself gravitating toward?

This is a hard question because they’re so different. I find that I gravitate to picture books because I love the wordplay so much. I am a bit of a (recovering) perfectionist, so the shorter works allow me to spend the time with words and phrases and play with form in a way that I just can’t do with middle grade.

If you look at how much time I spend per word, picture books are much more difficult. The simplicity of a good picture book is so deceptive. Telling a story is harder when you don’t have as much real estate. However, looking at the sheer amount of time a middle-grade book takes to write, as well as the increased complexity in plot, I personally have a harder time writing middle-grade.

What is challenging to one person may not be to another, so I think it depends on your strengths as a writer. My strengths lend to writing picture books.

Here’s a fun question. Have you ever had an idea for a picture book and realized it would actually make a great middle-grade story instead, or vice versa, and do you have any examples of this?

When I get an idea for a story, the first thing I do is decide who the audience is. Usually, it’s pretty obvious. Sometimes, I think a story could go either way. In those cases, I write the one that sounds more fun. However, every now and then, form and story overlap and make it hard to decide.

So, for example, I recently wrote a picture book that I think might make a better MG graphic novel. The story needed the pictures to carry the gag, which initially pushed it to picture book for me, but once I wrote it, I felt like the gag might be appreciated more by older readers.

I’m still working on that transition, and who knows if I can pull it off because it’s a new form for me, but I love trying new things and pushing myself as a writer. And it’s always fun to see how one story can lay a seed for another. I love playing with stories and seeing how small adjustments can lead to big changes. No writing is wasted!

In numbers, can you tell us between your picture books and middle-grade stories how many you have published now and about how many are in the works?

I have four picture books out in the world and two more announced. Six total.

For middle grade, I have one out and two more coming. Three total.

So far. 😉

Now, in just the past two months you’ve had two new books enter the world. Can you tell us a little bit about both?

A BAD CASE OF THE ALMOSTS released on Jan. 1st. It is about Abby, whose life is being ruined by Almosts! Almost tall enough. Almost fast enough. Nothing seems to go her way . . . until a chance encounter shows her that Almosts might have a bad rap. What if Almosts can actually be good?

I was struggling with my own Almosts, and I wondered if my attitude might be more powerful than I realized. It was a cathartic story to write that helped me change my own perspective. So it was exciting when my editor at Capstone connected with the theme.

Next, THE RECESS GENIUS: OPEN FOR BUSINESS is about Regina Grey, who is no stand-out student, but who loves to read. When she inadvertently solves her classmate’s problem, she is pushed into a new role as the Recess Genius, which suddenly makes it very hard to find time to read—the one thing she’s ever been good at! Can the Recess Genius use her magical power to solve her own dilemma?

This one is an origin story. I imagined a wise kid who other kids could come to for solutions to their kid problems. But I wanted to know how she got there. It took a lot of tries to get this one right, but I’m so excited for everyone to meet Regina!

And I know that’s not all for the new books out this year. You also have a very exciting release this Fall… tell us about that!

This Fall is the release of The Winterton Deception: Final Word. It is the first book in this Mystery Series surrounding the Winterton's—a wealthy dictionary magnate family. My editor called it a middle-grade Knives Out, and I wrote it because I wanted more books like The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. It has family drama and hidden passageways. It has a cut-throat spelling bee and a missing artifact worth millions.

When Hope Smith gets dragged into the Winterton drama by her twin brother, who enters them in the Winterton family spelling bee, she wants nothing more than to get in and get out with the prize. That all changes when a clue to a missing artifact lands in their laps, along with the promise of learning more about their long-dead father. Hope can’t resist the call to solve it, but with millions on the line and others following the same trail, Hope might just be in over her head.

It is complex and twisty, and it was oh-so-fun to write! I can’t wait for the world to meet the Winterton's and all their family drama.

Oh, my goodness. That sounds so good! Did I mention I love Knives Out? Because I LOVE Knives Out. A middle-grade version of this just sounds out of this world exciting to me! Okay… next question.

Do you have any advice for authors wanting to write both picture books and middle-grade series?

Yes! The big question with a series is, what thread do you plan to pull through to future books? Is it the character’s personality (think Olivia or Judy Moody)? Is it a theme (think Creepy Carrots or The Giver)? Is it specific type of situation (like with my book where the kids are seeking advice from the Recess Genius, or even a Series of Unfortunate Events)? Is it a genre (think a mystery series)? What is the appeal in the first story that drew people to it? That is what you want to continue into the series.

And once you have an idea, try writing some pitches for future books in the series. This will tell you if it’s viable as a series and if it’s something you’d want to keep working on (because a series is a commitment, and it can lock in your writing time for years (particularly for middle grade). Are these the books you want to be writing?) Plus, if you are pitching a series to a publisher, they will want to see what ideas you have for the next books. The time you spend planning the series is time well-spent.

Thanks for this terrific advice, Janet.
Now for some fun get-to-know-you questions

Favorite dessert?
Cookies!

Favorite climate?
Warm (but not hot).

Favorite place- real or imagined, or both?
The beach! There is something about the crashing waves and the beauty of the ocean.

Favorite books- you can include up to 5!

(Thank you for the 5! Here are 5 recent favorites.)

PBs: Pirates Don’t Dance (by Shawna J.C. Tenney); Mother Bruce (by Ryan T. Higgins); A Spoonful of Frogs (by Casey Lyall and art by Vera Brosgol)

MGs: A Wish in the Dark (by Christina Soontornvat); A Place at the Table (by Laura Shovan and Saadia Faruqi)

Favorite smell?
Fresh laundry. Or Cinnamon Twists. Tough choice!

Dream vacation? No rules.
A River Cruise through Europe. No cooking, I can be as lazy or as go-go as I want.

Favorite tv shows- you can include up to 3!
The Good Place; Phineas and Ferb; Ted Lasso; (Honorable mention to Wednesday)

Phineas and Ferb- YES! Also, I love Wednesday! In fact, I fell in love with her at first sight when I was about 6 or 7, in the 90s THE ADDAMS FAMILY movie. I wanted to look and be just like her.

Okay.
Siblings? If so, how many? And which number in the line are you?
4. 2 brothers, 2 sisters. I’m 4th of 5.

Thanks so much for being with us today, Janet! It was such a treat to learn about your methods and hear about all your great stories.

Now for our Giveaway Prizes
Yes… you read that correctly. There was an ‘s’ at the end of that word.
Janet has generously offered to give away multiple prizes.

What are the prizes? How can I enter?

Here ARE the answers.

Prize 1 Giveaway: A copy of A Bad Case of the Almosts
Prize 2 Giveaway: A copy of Recess Genius

If you would like to enter to win a prize, leave a comment on this feature interview post with 

PRIZE 1 or PRIZE 2 (OR THE NAME OF THE BOOK YOU'D LIKE). 
And that’s it! NOTE: This giveaway is international for wherever Book Depository delivers.

Winners will be selected at random and contacted within two weeks of this post. 

To see other great interviews, be sure to subscribe to the blog. And if you enjoyed this post, be sure to like it before you leave.


If you’d like to connect with Janet or find out more about her books, you can find her website and social media links listed below. Thanks for reading!

Wanda desperately wants to be brave like her big brother Zane, but it’s not easy. When the Coaster of Doom opens at the local amusement park, Wanda is determined to show her brave. With all eyes on her, Wanda must find the confidence to be her own kind of Brave. Mixing humor with themes of self-awareness and responsible decision making, author Janet Sumner Johnson shows the importance of thinking for yourself, being confident in your own beliefs, and accepting differences in others. Johnson proves that everyone has their own kind of brave, and that’s totally okay.

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

Not My Circus (Capstone, 2024)
The Winterton Deception MG series (Pixel + Ink, 2023, 2024)
The Recess Genius PB series (Pixel + Ink, 2023, 2024)
A Bad Case of the Almosts (Capstone, Jan. 2023)
Braver than Brave (Capstone, Aug. 2022)
Help Wanted, Must Love Books (Capstone, 2020)
The Last Great Adventure of the PB&J Society (Capstone, 2016)

Connect with Janet!

Find Janet on:
Twitter HERE 
Instagram HERE
Facebook HERE
Browse and purchase Janet’s books on her website HERE

A summary of my writing year in 2022

Posted on December 30, 2022December 30, 2022 by chelseasworldofbooks in My Writing Journey, View all blog posts

Wow, wow, wow. What a year! I made a few posts on my social media accounts, but I wanted to share them here on my blog for anyone who may have missed the updates.
Here goes...

Whew. So that was my "sappy and a little cheesy" post. At the beginning of 2022, I decided I wanted to make a collage to help remember the journey. I think sometimes as writers we can feel a little bogged down or lost at times. Rejections can be disheartening. Waiting can be difficult. And let's face it, we all feel discouraged sometimes. So, I wanted to make sure that this year I wrote down all my accomplishments and saved them. That way, whenever I was having a day that I was dealing with imposter syndrome, I could go and look at my list of happy moments and achievements. Every step counts!

So, if you are a writer, pre-published or currently published, I encourage you to do the same! This made me feel so good and I wanted to share it with you.

Also, if you have done something like this or have a positive comment or achievement you reached this year, I would love to hear about it in the comments below! Feel free to link your website or social media as well so that others can take a peek.

I think the one thing that has truly benefited me more than anything this entire year is finding my writing community and fully emersing myself in it. It makes such a difference to have friends who can encourage you and understand what you're going through on this journey. We all learn and grow from eachother, so please please share anything you'd like below! I would love to hear from you.

P.S. Another thing I did this year that I heard from another writer in a conference, and I loved the idea so much, was I got myself a jar and labeled it "positive comments" and every time someone told me something positive about my writing, I wrote it down and placed it in the jar. That helped pick me up and motivate me so much throughout the year! If you can, I suggest doing this too!

And now, without further ado, *drum rolllllllll* Chelsea's 2022 stats and inspirational photo collage of tiny victories!

My 2022 stats:
Groups joined: 6
Conferences/workshops/webinars attended: 9
Events participated in: 21
Books written: 28
Revisions made: 63
Critiques given: 64
Submissions/queries sent: 55
Wonderful connections made: too many to count!
#writingcommunity #2022 #progress #endofyear

January-Februar

March-April

may-june

july-august

september-october

november-december

Moral of the story: "It's not the destination, it's the journey."

Enjoy your journey! Celebrate every small victory! Learn from every small setback.


And KEEP. ON. WRITING!

ARE YOU NEW TO WRITING?

If you are new to writing and looking for some great places to start making connections and building your craft, here is a list of just a *few* groups & events I recommend looking into.

Events & Contests

Zidlit Zombie Week
Fall Writing Frenzy
Storystorm
KidLitPit 
Kidlit411 

Groups & Community

Julie Hedlund's 12x12 Challenge (membership fee)
SCBWI (membership fee)
IBPA (membership fee)
Storyteller Academy (membership fee)
Children's Book Academy (membership fee)

Remember, you don't have to join every group and participating doesn't always cost money. You can be a writer on a budget. Just make sure you stay active and find your community! Personally, my favorite group has been Julie Hedlund's 12x12 group. It's PACKED with resources, webinars, videoes, links to upcoming events *many contests that are free* and it's a great community! And it's where I met my amazing critique partners, who have been invaluable to my growth!

By the way... one of my amazing critique partners, Terri Clemmons, has her debut picture book coming out in Spring of 2024, Mara Hears in Style. You can find out more on her website.

Thanks for reading, and I hope you found this helpful! Don't forget to share your positive achievements below. Or, just some goals you might have for 2023!

#FallWritingFrenzy 2022 entry link: Buddy Bones Bubbleless Bath by Chelsea DiCicco

Posted on October 2, 2022December 21, 2022 by chelseasworldofbooks in View all blog posts

It's October... and you know what that means! Another Fall Writing Frenzy Contest is here!

You’re looking at a #FallWritingFrenzy participant!

Hey writing pals!

Fall is finally here! Time to break out all the candles and cozy blankets. And you know what else it means? Fall Writing Frenzy is here!

This is my first year participating in the Fall Writing Frenzy, and I'm thrilled to share my entry for 2022: BUDDY BONES BUBBLELESS BATH.

But before we jump into the story, I'd like to thank our very gracious hosts Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez and Lydia Lukidis, as well as this year's guest judge, Alyssa Reynoso-Morris.

So far, I've had a blast reading other peoples stories and sharing in the fun on Instagram and Twitter. If this is your first time participating, the rules are very simple.

Choose a picture.
Write a kidlit story (anywhere from board book to YA, 200 words or less.)
Post it on your blog and make sure to fill out the entry form.
Share, share, share!

For further questions, please check out the official FallWritingFrenzy2022Rules.

Remember: the goal is "to create connections and help writers grow!" So, have fun!

Below you will find my entry.

Happy fall writing everyone!xo,Chelsea

**BUDDY BONES BUBBLELESS BATH _ CHELSEA DICICCO _ FALL WRITING FRENZY 2022**–
*Photo Credit: Halloween- Credit: Samantha Hurley / Burst*

My 2022 Fall Writing Frenzy Entry
BUDDY BONES BUBBLELESS BATH (199 word count)
A picture book by Chelsea DiCicco


It was a dry, dusty day on the ranch, and Buddy Bones was getting ready to take a bath. 
“Nothing like a cool bubble bath on a hot day,” he said cheerfully.
But, just as Buddy got into the tub…
“Oh no! We’re out of bubbles!”
A bubbleless bath? Pass!
But the sun was blistering.
So, Buddy stayed in the tub. But he wasn’t happy.
A little while later, Buddy was still grumbling when a bird flew by.
“Morning, neighbor.”
“Morning,” Buddy mumbled.
“What you up to this morning?”
“I’m taking a bath,” said Buddy, hoping the bird would go away.
But he didn’t.
“I’ve just come from the store. Today is dishwashing day, and I was out of soap.”
“Oh,” Buddy said understandingly. “I ran out of bubbles.” He pointed to the clear bathwater.
“A bubbleless bath!” chirped the Bird. “Pass!”
Buddy agreed.
“I know!” said the bird suddenly. “What if we made bubbles?”
Before Buddy could respond, the bird was already pouring a glob of blue liquid into the water. 
“Now, splash around.”
Buddy splashed and thrashed… until-
“Bubbles!” he cried.
“Nothing like a cool bubble bath on a hot day,” Buddy said, sinking into the bathtub.

How to Write Picture Books – AND STAY SANE!

Posted on June 17, 2022December 30, 2022 by chelseasworldofbooks in My Writing Journey, View all blog posts

06.17.2022

Chelsea DiCicco

Going from this

to this

I think there’s a lot that can be said for people who are on the picture book path and have been for a while. Navigating the picture book world is like travelling down a road of potholes, and signs pointing in every direction. There are a million different routes your can take. And it can be intimidating, overwhelming, scary, and tiring. Sometimes, it feels like we’re drowning in endless options and crippling self-doubt! Fortunately, we aren’t quitters!

Navigating the picture book world is like travelling down a road of potholes, and signs pointing in every direction!

How do I know this? Because the hurdles upon hurdles, the always-changing pace, the fickle as a pickle market, and the unpredictability of times haven’t deterred us from continuing down this road. Some say madness. I prefer passionate. And really, to be successful in the ways that count, you have to be passionate about what you’re doing. What do I mean by successful in ways that count? Well, that really depends on how you view success. What does success mean to you? Money? Power? Freedom? Recognition? Whatever it is, you must have passion to reach it. And I’m convinced there isn’t a single picture book writer out there, who has been at this for years, that doesn’t have that passion. And guess what. Good news! Passion is KEY!

But, passion with no outlets can be exhausting. So, I ask you, how do you write picture books and stay sane? I think it’s imperative that when doing something that you love, at your full 100%, you must also be able to balance that with time to unwind. Because going at 100% nonstop, can be draining. Eventually, you will overload. And when that time comes, you must be willing to walk away. Because, just like a car’s engine needs to be parked and rested, so does your engine. But, what if you refuse to stop? Well… you might just end up like this car. Overheated!

Just like a car’s engine needs to be parked and rested, so does your engine.

But hopefully you won’t let things get this far. So, how can you avoid the overheating point? Well, a few things I find that help are setting boundaries and knowing my personal limits. These are both CRUCIAL for maintaining sanity- and avoiding overheating! (Oh, and caffeine. Did I mention that already?) But, seriously. Boundaries and limits!

BOUNDARIES

So, my writing boundaries. Firstly, I have a writing office. Maybe you don’t. Maybe you write in a basement, during free time at work, on lunch breaks. Maybe you write when your kids are asleep, when you’re husband is working, when your roommate is out of the house. Or maybe you write from a hammock. If you do, props to you; it sounds like you’re living your best life! Whatever the situation, having a space that is yours, and yours only, is a good boundary to have. If you don’t have a designated spot- find one. It could be a closet, outside under a tree, on a speedboat with Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron- it doesn’t matter- but find one.

Having a space to your own is not to say that you can’t write elsewhere. What it does, however, is give you a designated area to create. Which can be increasingly helpful to your sanity. And next, making sure that you know your limits.

LIMITS

What are your limits? What does that even mean? I’m not talking about speed limits. Although sometimes speed comes into play. But that’s a different topic. I’m talking about knowing yourself. If you’re pushing yourself to a point that you are no longer enjoying your work- that’s not working within your limits. Writing should never be a place of confined, mandatory restriction. It should be a happy place of creative freedom. If you are demanding too much out of yourself and pushing your limits to a point of frustration, not only are you going to be unhappy but guess what- your writing will suffer. Yeah. You heard me right. Your writing will suffer! There’s a scene in Toy Story 2 where Woody is getting fixed up by Geri, an antique cleaner. And if you haven’t already seen this and aren’t interested in watching the full movie, I highly recommend watching it HERE because it is just *chef’s kiss* GOLD.

Geri is taking his time, situating himself with his tools that he’s about to use to clean and fix Woody.

Al says to Geri, “So, uh, how long is this going take?”

And Geri says, with a wag of the finger, “You can’t rush art!”

There’s a lot of truth in this statement. When you push yourself to write in an unnatural or uncomfortable state, the work is never your best. So, remember to be kind to yourself. Give yourself the time and space you need to find your creative rhythm. And once your mojo kicks in, write, write, write!

But, what if you can’t write? You feel zero inspiration. You’re tired. You’re staring at the page, and nothing is coming to you. CHANGE THE SCENERY. Taking a walk, doing some light exercise, or getting lost in a favorite binge tv-show can help give your brain a break. Again- forcing yourself to be creative isn’t how it works. Creativity is a natural thing that comes at its own pace. But how can you encourage creativity?

Read, read, read. Reading stimulates our natural curiosity and encourages creative brain flow! Read books in your genre that are new in the market. Go to the library. Bring a notebook with you! Jot down ideas you like. Ask yourself, “Why do I like this? What about it stands out?” And brainstorm how you could implement things into your own writing. Ideas are contagious. When we let others in, it inspires our own.

So, what am I rambling about anyway? Well, this morning, I read a fellow writer’s new blog post and walked away saying, “Ah, that was encouraging.” And do you know what my next thought was? “I want to encourage someone!” IDEAS ARE CONTAGIOUS- INSPIRATION FOLLOWS. And that’s really what it’s all about.

Now, encouragement. Why do writer’s need encouragement? Well, everyone needs encouragement from time to time. It’s healthy and natural to both give and receive encouragement. But, why might a writer need encouragement more than some? Well, being in the writing business, unlike other jobs in an office where you’re surrounded by co-workers and smiling faces, for a writer, it can often be a solitary affair. So, encouragement comes in handy. Having your writing community in your corner, your supporters, your critique partners, your friends, your family, your “fans” can help you get by and make it to that next milestone.

Speaking of milestones, here we go.

What are your goals?

What milestones do you hope to achieve?

And have you been able to?

If so, congratulations! If not, don’t fret. Just continue down the road until you get there, and sooner or later, I have faith you will. I believe in you- you should too! And sometimes, it can be tough. The waiting. The pushing. The hope. The letdowns. When I find myself losing courage, I like to think of Jane Eyre.

“Renewing then my courage, and gathering my feeble remains of strength, I pushed on.” -Charlotte Bronte

Remember,

“Never give up on what you really want to do. The person with big dreams is more powerful than one with all the facts.” – Albert Einstein

And another one of my favorites…

“You never fail until you stop trying.”

Cliché, perhaps. But that doesn’t make the statements any less true! There is, after all, a reason that clichés exist! So, this is my brief cheerleader speech for today. If you’re writing picture books, or NOT pictures books- it could be anything- DON’T GIVE UP!

So, in conclusion to my ramble, I just want to remind you that you are loved, and awesome, and incredible, and most likely a total 10, the whole shebang, the greatest thing since sliced bread, the apple of someone’s eye, all that and a bag of chips. Remember, to stay sane in the writing world, 1. Give yourself boundaries. And 2. Know your limits!

Love you all!

XO,

CHELSEA RADOJCIC-DICICCO

Tag: writingcommunity

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

The Beast of Publishing: Steps & Timeframe

Writing Tips, Shared Wisdom, and Writing Across Genres

New Books and Extra Resources!

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

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APRIL FEATURE INTERVIEW WITH CHILDREN’S AUTHOR, ELLEN LEVENTHAL

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MY SPRING FLING KIDLIT 2023 ENTRY: WAKE UP, WORLD! IT’S SPRING! BY CHELSEA DICICCO

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50 PRECIOUS WORDS ENTRY FOR MARCH 2023, VIVIAN KIRKFIELD’S PICTURE BOOK WRITING CONTEST, MONDAY MORNING CUPCAKES BY CHELSEA DICICCO

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MARCH FEATURE INTERVIEW WITH CHILDREN’S AUTHOR, JANET SUMNER JOHNSON

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A summary of my writing year in 2022

January-Februar

March-April

may-june

july-august

september-october

november-december

ARE YOU NEW TO WRITING?

Like this:

#FallWritingFrenzy 2022 entry link: Buddy Bones Bubbleless Bath by Chelsea DiCicco

Like this:

How to Write Picture Books – AND STAY SANE!

Like this:

The Beast of Publishing: Steps & Timeframe

Writing Tips, Shared Wisdom, and Writing Across Genres

New Books and Extra Resources!

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Like this:

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January-Februar

March-April

may-june

july-august

september-october

november-december

ARE YOU NEW TO WRITING?

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