By Chana Stiefel

November is National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. To help spread awareness, the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation commissioned me to write a book called WHY CAN’T GRANDMA REMEMBER MY NAME? For this post, I interviewed my co-author, Kent L. Karosen, President and CEO of the Fisher Center to explain how this meaningful project came about. Check out pics from our November 2nd book signing at Bloomingdale's in NYC below.

PLUS Enter our giveaway for a chance to win a free signed copy of the book, or go to Alzinfo.org to order your own copy today. (Guess which presidential candidate has one! See below!) All proceeds benefit the Foundation in the quest to find a cure.
 

CS: What is the mission of the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation?
KK: The Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation funds critical breakthrough research into the cause and cure of Alzheimer’s disease, an epidemic that is expected to affect 16 million people by 2050 if we don’t find a cure. With the Alzheimer’s epidemic at an all time high, it’s never been as important to increase the amount of research being conducted in an effort to find a cure.
 
CS: How did this book idea come about?
KK: I had an idea about using artwork created by children juxtaposed with art created by Alzheimer’s patients as a way to explain Alzheimer’s disease to a broader audience. I also wanted to demonstrate the power of art therapy for all ages and a way for parents and family to share with a younger audience what is happening to Grandma or other loved ones. It’s also important to make raising awareness of the disease a priority and to educate the public about it.
 
CS: What was the process in choosing an author (and how did you find me)? 
KK: I wanted to write the book and work with a children’s book author who understands what children will comprehend in terms of the intricacies of the disease. The Fisher Center found you [Chana Stiefel] through your online website*. We are thrilled to have worked with you on this educational book. ​

CS: It was an honor and a pleasure to work with you and your team. Describe the artwork in the book and how you got in touch with both the Alzheimer's art program and children's art program.
I have personal connections to Little Kinder Artists as well as Opening Minds through Art, an intergenerational art program for people with Alzheimer’s disease. Through these relationships, we partnered with them to obtain the beautiful art contained in the book (above).
 
What are your goals for the book?
Through Why Can’t Grandma Remember My Name?, my hope is that a younger audience will have a better understanding of the disease that affects their loved ones.
 
Which book publisher did you use and why?
We chose to use BookBaby.com, an online self publisher. As a Foundation that directs 85% of its donations to program expenses (such as research) to find a cure for the disease, we chose a cost-efficient method for publishing our book. Through this approach, we have been successful in promoting Why Can’t Grandma Remember My Name?, which hopefully will help us sell our book and inform people about the disease. All royalties from the book go directly to the Foundation in the quest to find a cure.
 
Visit ALZinfo.org to purchase a book, donate for the cure, and to find resources including current research studies, treatments, and disease management approaches.
Enter to win a signed copy of WHY CAN’T GRANDMA REMEMBER MY NAME? (U.S. only) below the slideshow.
 
*Note to authors: Here’s a great link about building an author website. ​http://www.writersdigest.com/online-editor/step-step-guide-build-author-website

By Chana Stiefel

KidLitTakeaways welcomes author Diana Murray, who has THREE new picture books out this year! Diana is generously offering a signed copy of her book GRIMELDA THE VERY MESSY WITCH, illustrated by Heather Ross (Harper Collins, 2016) to one lucky reader. See details below!

KLT: Congrats! GRIMELDA THE VERY MESSY WITCH is out in time for Halloween! How did you conjure this “charming” book?
DM: Thank you! I got the idea during the very first PiBoIdMo (Picture Book Idea Month) on Tara Lazar’s blog. It was 2009, I think. Before that event, I typically started writing as soon as an idea popped in my head. But this time, I spent more time at the idea phase. When I came up with the idea of a messy witch, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. By controlling the urge to write immediately, the inspiration actually grew more concentrated.
 
KLT: Rot sauce! A puff of ogre’s breath! Scream cheese (my favorite)! What was your inspiration for this hilarious witch’s brew?
DM: Well, firstly, I love puns. Perhaps to a fault. :) Also, I have an affinity for witch culture. When I first had the idea of writing a mess-related story, I wondered who the main character should be, and I thought of several directions I could go in. But the idea of a witch resonated the best with me and gave me the opportunity to write about more interesting things lost in the clutter. I felt making her a witch pushed the idea to the extreme--with all those books, and little bottles of this and that, not to mention the critters.
 
KLT: Are you neater, as messy, or messier than your adorable little witch, Grimelda? Have you ever lost anything in your hair?
DM: I certainly hope I’m not messier! But I’m sorry to say, I’m nearly as messy. I try not to be, but it’s difficult to clean when I’d much rather be doing something creative. I do try my best. And in the end, of course I prefer a clean, organized house. That’s what I was trying to show with the story. I think it should be clear to the reader that Grimelda would be better off with a clean home and that she’s being very silly and stubborn by resisting. And she clearly pays for it in the end, too. But you see, the witch world is kind of like opposite land. I was hoping kids would get a kick out of that.
 
And yes, several times, I’ve lost my glasses only to discover they were already on top of my head. What drives me the most crazy is when I can only find one shoe. Ack! And then I have to walk around the house frantically looking for the other one. That happens to my kids, too. I thought it would be funny to imagine, what if you just left the house like that and went about your business in one shoe?
 
KLT: Did you and your illustrator Heather Ross stir up any ideas together? Did Grimelda appear as you imagined her?
DM: No, we worked independently. Grimelda didn’t look anything like I had pictured. I had always pictured her as an adult and not nearly as adorable. I was blown away by Heather’s illustrations and thought they were absolutely perfect. Better than anything I could’ve imagined. And she added some wonderful touches. Seeing the illustrations is my favorite part of being a writer. Such a fun surprise.

KLT: GRIMELDA is one of your three new books out this year—all in verse! The others are CITY SHAPES & NED THE KNITTING PIRATE. (Who says publishers don’t buy rhyming picture books? KERFLUMP to that!) What are three takeaways for writers who want to stick to rhyme?
DM: 1. Practice, practice, practice.
2. Exchange work with other rhymers and DON’T BE SENSITIVE ABOUT CRITICSM!
3. Take the time to learn about the basics of writing in meter. Test your scanning abilities. If you read something in rhyme, you can ask yourself what the meter and rhyme scheme is. Is it anapestic or iambic? Trimeter or tetrameter? AABB or ABCB? Start noticing.
​
KLT: How are you managing the marketing of your books? What are your best tips for organizing author visits, signings, and other publicity?
DM: I’m afraid I’m not very good in that area. But I definitely recommend applying for book festivals. They typically get a great turnout.
 
KLT: Before you fly away, what’s coming next?
DM: I’m happy to say the sequel of Grimelda is going to be released next summer. It’s called GRIMELDA AND THE SPOOKTACULAR PET SHOW (Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins). I’ve already seen Heather’s illustrations and they are simply awesome. And this January will be the launch of GROGGLE’S MONSTER VALENTINE, illustrated by the amazing Bats Langley (Sky Pony Press). Can’t wait for the world to see his talent. It’s his first picture book. Another title coming next summer is DORIS THE BOOKASAURUS (Imprint/Macmillan) illustrated by the wonderful Yuyi Chen. I am SO in love with the cover! There are some other things on the way, too. You can see more on my website: http://www.dianamurray.com.

So much to look forward to! Thanks so much!
Diana is offering a GIVEAWAY: One signed copy of GRIMELDA THE VERY MESSY WITCH! (U.S. residents only.) See details below!
​

Diana Murray writes poetry and books for children. Her award-winning poems have appeared in magazines including Spider, Ladybug, Highlights, High Five, and Hello. Diana grew up in New York City and recently moved to a nearby suburb, where she lives with her husband, two very messy children, and a goldfish named Pickle. She is represented by Brianne Johnson at Writers House literary agency.

Actress and kidlit author Jamie Lee Curtis recently made an appearance at Bookends in Ridgewood, NJ, promoting her new picture book, THIS IS ME: A STORY OF WHO WE ARE & WHERE WE CAME FROM. The audience was a diverse, inter-generational crowd; young moms with babies in tow, preschoolers, school-age children, teens, movie buffs, and in the third row, two aspiring picture book writers- my critique pal, Nancy Anton, and yours truly.

Full of energy, Jamie arrived early and shared backstories about movies, took selfies with everyone in the audience, and signed books. She described THIS IS ME as a story about identity.

THIS IS ME, written from a teacher's point of view, opens with the line, "My great-grandmother came from a far, distant place. She came on a boat with just this small case." The story addresses ancestry and family values and invites young readers to explore items that represent who they are. Jamie commented about the book's universal theme. "It doesn't matter what color or religion we are or what we believe, we all came from somewhere."

By Chana Stiefel

Popular children's book author Josh Funk (of LADY PANCAKE & SIR FRENCH TOAST fame) has not one but TWO new picture books out in a single week! PIRASAURS hit the shelves on August 30 and DEAR DRAGON swoops into stores today, September 6. To celebrate these book birthdays, Josh has shared some Funky advice for aspiring kidlit authors. PLUS he's generously offering a TWO book giveaway—one of his two new titles to TWO lucky KidLitTakeaways winners. Details below!

KLT: Welcome to Kidlitakeaways, Josh! Fill in the blank: Having two picture books come out in the same week is like ________________.
​JF: ...eating your two favorite desserts. Or maybe like having fraternal twins? I don't know, I don't have twins.
  
KLT: Are you marketing the two books together or does each one get its own unique campaign?
JF: More separately than together at this point. Each book is published by a different publisher, and each is illustrated by a different illustrator (Michael Slack's PIRASAURS are better than I could have imagined and Rodolfo Montalvo's DEAR DRAGON art is so gorgeous). Each of the publishers is approaching publicity from its own angle. Each book has its own trailer. In blog interviews (like this) and at in-person events, I certainly promote both books. But I believe that each book deserves its own publicity efforts.
 
KLT: PIRASAURS is your second picture book to hit bookstores after your wildly successful LADY PANCAKE & SIR FRENCH TOAST. Do you feel any different with this release, like a more experienced dad? What’s changed?
JF: I'm still pretty excited! Maybe it would have been a let down - but I gotta say, having two books come out at the same time might even beat the excitement of the debut (I'm not sure - we'll have to see how this plays out). One thing that's different is that because of Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast, I now have connections with bookstores, educators, and bloggers. It's been easier to connect with readers, and in some cases, people are reaching out to me. And also, I know how fun it is to release a book to the world. I'm just that much more excited to do it again!
 
KLT: One of your new books, DEAR DRAGON, is about the relationship between two pen pals (a boy and a dragon). How did that story come about?
​JF: I gotta thank my kids for this one (again). We were on our way home from a theatrical production of Charlotte's Web, and my wife and I were discussing her 8th grade social studies class's pen pals (Mama Funk is the teacher). At the time, my son was going through a serious dragon phase (two of our favorite read alouds were TAKE CARE, GOOD KNIGHT by Shelley Moore Thomas and WHEN A DRAGON MOVES IN by Jodi Moore). He piped up from the back seat (say in falsetto toddler voice) "I want to be pen pals with a DRAGON!" And that's how it happened.
 
KLT: Congrats on the upcoming LADY PANCAKE & SIR FRENCH TOAST, PART TWO. What’s it like to write a sequel? Did you already have the second story in mind when you submitted the first book?
​JF: I certainly did not have the sequel in mind when writing the first one. But I wrote LP&SFT: THE CASE OF THE STINKY STENCH about six months before the first one came out. I had seen Brendan Kearney's illustrations of the original​ and it opened up a ton of possibilities. Now that the world of LP&SFT actually existed, I was able to stretch it further - explore more of the fridge and really have fun with it.
     While I didn't know if Sterling would want to publish it - they didn't ask for it, I just wrote it on my own without even telling my agent first - just knowing that they liked the first one enough to publish it allowed me to take more risks in the sequel. I knew that at a minimum, they understood what I was trying to do. And I honestly think the sequel might be better because of that.​
 
KLT: What were TWO of your favorite children’s books as a child (and why)?
​JF: Just two? Well, I'm gonna go with Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig. Why? I'm not entirely sure. I know it certainly caused a great amount of claustrophobia in me (being turned into a stone, being inches from the pebble but not able to reach it). But really, it's got a caring family, magic, and a happy ending. Plus, my parents must have read it to me a lot.
      Number two would be Matilda. I was the perfect age for this book when it was released. It had the perfect amount of magical realism and the underdog heroine. Plus, I love seeing villains get their comeuppance through successful pranks!​
 
KLT: What are TWO takeaways for aspiring authors?
​JF: Well, I've written a 12-Step Guide to Writing Picture Books on my website (joshfunkbooks.com), that ​shares most of what I've learned since I started writing.
     The first thing I'd say is: Keep Writing. Every book I write is better than the last. And that makes sense as the more I read, the more I write, and the more I learn, I'm improving. Just like anything, writing takes practice.
     The second thing, which relates to the first is: Keep Learning. Go to conferences, workshops, and retreats. Network with other writers and industry professionals. Learn about writing in areas outside of your genre - because a good story is a good story, whether in picture book, novel, or other form. They all need good characters, plots, emotion, conflict, and so on. Everything you learn will make you a better all around writer - so never stop learning.

Thank you, Josh, for your terrific interview! Find out how to enter the TWO book giveaway (one book for TWO lucky winners) below. The more ways you enter (by commenting on this blog, joining our email list, following us on Twitter @kidlittakeaways & tweeting...), the higher your chances of winning! Good luck!

About Josh Funk: Josh Funk writes silly stories and somehow tricks people into publishing them as picture books - such as the Award-Winning LADY PANCAKE & SIR FRENCH TOAST (Sterling), PIRASAURS! (Scholastic), DEAR DRAGON (Viking/Penguin), LP&SFT: THE CASE OF THE STINKY STENCH (Sterling, 2017), IT'S NOT JACK AND THE BEANSTALK (Two Lions, 2017), and more.
      Josh is a board member of The Writers' Loft in Sherborn, MA, and the co-coordinator of the 2016 and 2017 New England Regional SCBWI Conferences.
      Josh grew up in New England and studied Computer Science in school. Today, he still lives in New England and when not writing Java code or Python scripts, he drinks Java coffee and writes picture book manuscripts.
      Josh is terrible at writing bios, so please help fill in the blanks. Josh enjoys _______ during ________ and has always loved __________. He has played ____________ since age __ and his biggest fear in life is being eaten by a __________.
      Find out more about josh at www.joshfunkbooks.com and on twitter at @joshfunkbooks.​

We've all been there- cleaning a closet, play room or dreaded basement. We look at the bins and bags, shut the door, and run away! "Next week," we tell ourselves. "Or next month," or better yet, "next year!" For me, "next year" comes every summer. My most recent project... my office closet. A storehouse of every toy and art material a child therapist or child could dream of. Some with a great deal of purpose. Some with none. But I love all of them. Where do I begin?

With the mantra "Keep, Donate, Throw Away," I proceed with determination and make three piles. Several hours later, voila! A beautiful, organized closet. Admiring my accomplishment, it occurred to me that this mantra can work when revising picture books.

KEEP-The words and lines of our stories that engage the reader, develop characters, add heart and humor, move the story forward, enrich the arc, and make the picture book one that children will read over and over.

DONATE- The clever, beautiful words and phrases that we just can't throw away. Put them in their own special file or notebook and use them for another story.

THROW OUT- Extra words, adverbs, and descriptive lines that take away from the illustrator. Cut anything that makes the story drag on. Remember, kids love action and excitement.

THE TAKEAWAY- When revising manuscripts, remember the mantra, "Keep, Donate, Throw Away." And don't forget to leave a bag of opportunities for the illustrator. Please share your ideas for revising picture books.

Recently, I had the good fortune of winning a manuscript critique with children’s author Miranda Paul through the 12 x 12 Picture Book Challenge. In addition to the critique (which was enormously helpful), we had a wonderful conversation about the importance of writing the books that are “true to you”—the books that come from your own life experience, your unique interests, and your heart.

Miranda has two new books out this year (check out TRAINBOTS & 10 LITTLE NINJAS, which arrives in stores August 9th). What are the keys to Miranda’s publishing success (besides being an all-around kind and generous person)? For starters, she stretches her creativity by writing in a variety of genres—both fiction and non-fiction. “Most of my books are a crossover between trade and school library,” Miranda says. “They are both educational and commercial. You can read my books at school or at bedtime.”

​In addition, she describes her stories as “more than just books.” How so? After all, they look, feel, and smell like books (especially when you buy them fresh from the store). I decided to dig deeper into some of Miranda’s books to find out what sends them soaring beyond the book zone.

ONE PLASTIC BAG
Miranda’s debut picture book is the true story of Isatou Ceesay, a young woman from Njau, Gambia, who came up with a brilliant solution for cleaning up piles of plastic bags that were causing pollution, attracting harmful mosquitoes in pooling water, and choking livestock. ONE PLASTIC BAG is a gripping story. But what makes it “more than a book”?

• It’s an inspiring and empowering life lesson about taking charge and solving a problem (or “being the change”), recycling, and entrepreneurship.
• It’s a multicultural tale—a window into the lives of poor people in a far away place but also a mirror to the challenges of poverty and pollution in our own country.
• ONE PLASTIC BAG can also be a springboard for hands-on activities, up-cycling, and art projects using found objects. 

​WHOSE HANDS ARE THESE? A Community Helper
​Guessing Book
As the subtitle suggests, this book is more than an interactive read-aloud. It’s a guessing game! With lively rhyme, each alternating spread displays pairs of hands doing a specific task (sketching, healing, keeping score…). Readers are asked, “Whose hands are these?” The book works on many levels. Yes, it ties into lessons on careers, community helpers, and STEAM, but it also raises the stakes by adding suspense and fun! I can imagine kids reading the book at home or at school and having a blast creating their own unique books based on WHOSE HANDS ARE THESE?

WATER IS WATER
With gorgeous illustrations by Jason Chin and Miranda’s lyrical rhyme, WATER IS WATER teaches kids about the water cycle throughout the four seasons. Kid-friendly details like hot cocoa, snowballs, and sloshing in mud puddles are interwoven into this heart-warming book that softly drizzles the science about cycles in nature. Beyond being a book, it’s also a song by Emily Arrow!  Listen here: https://youtu.be/vzJwNGo-7HY
​

By Chana Stiefel

We’re so excited to welcome Sylvia Liu to KidLitTakeaways! Sylvia and I connected through her website KidLit411.com—a great hub for kidlit resources—which she co-runs with her critique partner Elaine Kiely Kearns. KidLit411 had an awesome birthday bash last year, which included several amazing giveaways for authors & illustrators. I hit the jackpot, winning a year’s supply of debut picture books, including…A MORNING WITH GRANDPA, Sylvia’s beautiful debut picture book! Sylvia not only agreed to an interview, but she is also offering a signed copy of her book to one lucky winner (details below). Enjoy!
 
KLT: How did the story of A MORNING WITH GRANDPA come to you? Is it based on personal experience?
SL: Yes, sort of. My father was teaching my daughters breathing techniques for qi gong, a Chinese mind-body practice, and that inspired me to write a story about a grandfather teaching his granddaughter tai chi.
 
KLT: Mei Mei and Gong Gong—are these names in your family?
SL: Gong Gong is what my girls call my dad. It’s Chinese for grandfather. Mei Mei means younger daughter in Chinese, and I grew up as a Mei Mei. We don’t call my younger daughter Mei Mei, though.
 
KLT: When did you write your first draft? How similar is it to the final book?
SL: I wrote it during the summer of 2013. I went through many revisions with my critique group, and then I signed up for a paid critique that came with a Writer’s Digest course. The original story had Gong Gong teaching Mei Mei both tai chi and qi gong, and she was teaching him how to make lemonade. With the help of my critique group and a professional critique, I pared down the plot and introduced yoga into the story. The fun and caring relationship between the two characters remained the same.
 
KLT: How does the writing process work in your critique group?
SL: I have an amazing online critique group of six other picture book authors. We live on three continents and formed three years ago. We have a secret Facebook group where we interact and share our stories. Each of us takes turns sharing one story a week. One of us posts a story on a Sunday and the rest of us have the rest of the week to provide comments. Our turn comes around every seven weeks, and if we don’t have a story to post, we can use our turn to discuss any writing or career-related issue (for example, which stories should we submit to an agent, what do people think of this idea, etc.).
 
KLT: I love that the back matter of A MORNING WITH GRANDPA includes instructions for yoga and tai chi movements and postures. This seems unique for a fiction picture book. How did the back matter come about?
SL: I have been writing back matter for several of my fiction stories because most of my stories are inspired by some real life component. Because tai chi is not as well known as other forms of exercise and meditation, it felt natural to explain it. I did the same with yoga. 

KLT: Describe the submission process for A MORNING WITH GRANDPA.
SL: I submitted the story in late October 2013 as a submission for Lee & Low’s annual New Voices Award, a contest to identify new authors of color. I won the grand prize that year, which included a publishing contract for A MORNING WITH GRANDPA. I signed the contract in early 2014 and the book came out in May 2016.

KLT: Congratulations! You are also an accomplished illustrator. Was illustrating A MORNING WITH GRANDPA an option? Are you planning to illustrate your own books? 
SL: The New Voices award is geared towards finding and promoting new authors, so Lee & Low planned to hire a different illustrator from the beginning. I would love to illustrate my own books eventually.

KLT: Lee & Low is a publisher known for its multicultural books. Why is it important to share diverse books with a young audience?
SL: We need diverse books for young people (and everyone) so that we can learn from, understand, and experience the full and amazing multiplicity of stories out there, which show both our common humanity as well the fascinating distinct forms it takes. Reading diverse stories opens people's minds and hearts to the "other" so we realize that we are all essentially the same. Reading diverse stories helps us appreciate that we also have very distinct histories and cultural influences that make each person unique and interesting. Reading diverse stories helps us realize there is not one monolithic story about how we got here, what our country is about, and why we are here.

KLT: So true! What are you working on next?
SL: I’m developing several new stories, both the words and illustrations and revising other stories. 
 
KLT: What’s your takeaway for other aspiring authors?
SL: Keep creating and don't compare yourself to others. Work on your own timetable and don't stop! 

Thank you Sylvia! Sylvia is generously offering a free signed copy of A MORNING WITH GRANDPA. (Must be a U.S. resident.) Check out the Rafflecopter below Sylvia's bio to enter!

​Sylvia Liu is a picture book author and children's illustrator. Her debut picture book, A MORNING WITH GRANDPA, illustrated by Christina Forshay (Lee & Low Books) came out in May 2016. Her portfolio can be found at enjoyingplanetearth.com and she co-runs the successful kid lit resource website, www.kidlit411.com. She lives in Virginia Beach, Virginia, with her husband, two girls, cat, and guinea pig. She is inspired by cephalopods, aliens, kraken, grandpas, robots, and more.

By Donna Cangelosi

I recently won a copy of THERE WAS AN OLD DRAGON WHO SWALLOWED A KNIGHT by Penny Parker Klostermann, Illustrated by Ben Mantle (Random House, 2015).

​This book is nothing short of perfection! The catchy description says it all: "A knight, a steed, a squire, a cook, a lady, a castle, a moat, plus one very hungry old dragon add up to a hilarious and rollicking tale about a dragon who just can't keep his mouth closed... at least not until he eats almost everything in the kingdom. It's not polite!" How is that for a pitch? And that's only the beginning!

The picture book has some great takeaways for aspiring authors:

. Clever title. There Was an Old Dragon Who Swallowed a Knight- a fun spin off of the classic, There Was an Old Woman themed books.

. Words, words, words! Penny introduces words like savory, shady, tassel, guzzled, gulped, bloat, perchance, billow and amass. The book is so much fun to read that kids don't even realize they're learning new vocabulary words!

. "Clippity, clippity, clippity, clop. It's not polite!" Penny adds to the humor, charm and page turns of the book by using this fun refrain. Her writing dances off the pages. She incorporates onomatopoeia and rhyme, and her meter is spot on.

. Story Arc. The dragon starts out slow, eating just one knight but from there he gets carried away. The conflict builds and then...  You'll have to read the story to find out about the resolution!

. Illustrations. The illustrations are hysterical and work perfectly with the text. You'll have to re-read the book several times to take them all in. They are hilarious!

. Satisfying conclusion. This is a must read! Treat yourself and enjoy!

. Huggable! In her author biography, Penny writes, "Penny is a hugger of picture books and hopes this book will gain huggable status with readers everywhere!" As one picture book hugger to another, THERE WAS AN OLD DRAGON WHO SWALLOWED A KNIGHT is without a doubt, HUGGABLE!

​Penny Parker Klostermann taught school for 26 years before she began writing. Her second picture book, A Cooked-Up Fairy Tale, also illustrated by Ben Mantle will be published by Random House, Fall, 2017. Penny lives in Abilene Texas with her husband. 

By Chana Stiefel

​Get out your cape and put on your goggles! MR. PARTICULAR (aka Jason Kirschner) is here at KidLitTakeaways to share his publishing journey. Plus he’s offering a SUPER Giveaway (details below)!
 
KLT: Congrats on the debut of your first picture book, Mr. Particular: The World’s Choosiest Champion! What was your inspiration for this particular story?
JK: I was a really picky kid. Supremely picky. And I can be a pretty picky grownup too.  And then I had kids and found out that they’re all picky in their own ways. Mr. Particular was a funny nickname I came up with. The more I thought about it, it seemed that Mr. Particular was the funniest name for a picky superhero. After that, the story came easily enough.
 
KLT: You’ve had an illustrious career as a set designer for TV shows, including 14 years (!) with The Late Show with David Letterman. How did you take the plunge into picture books?
JK: First off, I’m not sure how illustrious it’s been, but thank you. Anyway, I had always wanted to animate or illustrate…basically to tell my own stories. When my kids were born and we started reading books together, I saw something that I really, really wanted to do. I started attending SCBWI conferences and getting a portfolio together. It took years of drawing and writing daily to get my craft to a good place, but it’s an industry full of the nicest, most supportive people so it was a pleasant journey.
 
KLT: Your story features a Super-Duper Group of mini superhero friends, including Mr. Particular (the world’s choosiest champion), Dr. Slimyhands, Super Pooper, and more! Which character are you?
JK: I am Mr. Particular with out a doubt.  You can ask anyone in my family—I like things the way I like them and ONLY the way I like them.
 
KLT: Your book reads like a Little Kid Intro to Comics or Graphic Novels. Was that your intention? 
JK: It was not necessarily my goal to introduce kids to comics, but I do think it’s awesome if this book fills that roll. I was (am) a giant comic book nerd. With that sort of background and a superhero main character, it just seemed natural to tell it in a comic book format. And once I decided that, I tried to include as many comic book elements as I could—from the old style ads I adapted for endpapers, to the giant hand lettered “BOOM”s and “ZAP”s, to the color halftones I tried to sprinkle in the backgrounds. There are many comic book “Easter eggs” in the book.
 
KLT: How did you submit Mr. Particular—as text, in sketches, or storyboard? Was it complete?
JK: I submitted a pretty tightly sketched dummy. I’m not sure anyone would have understood what my vision was without actually showing them. And I’m probably a stronger illustrator than writer so it felt easier to let my pictures help sell the story.
 
KLT: Tell us about Mr. Particular’s journey to publication.
JK: It is thankfully a very brief story. I wrote the manuscript and revised until I had the words where I wanted them. Then I started to draw. Four months later I came out of my cave with a sketched dummy. There were a few rounds of revisions based on comments from my agent and my critique group. When we agreed it was ready, we subbed it out to a few houses on a sunny Monday in April. Against all expectations, we had an offer that Friday and contracts were signed the following Monday. It was fast!
 
KLT: Super fast! How did you find your agent?
JK: I had met my fantastic agent, Rachel Orr at Prospect Agency, a few times at SCBWI events. She represented some friends of mine. Unfortunately, it was always at the bar when I had no portfolio or dummy to show. Thankfully, she was a guest speaker at a CBIG (Children’s Book Illustrator Group) meeting and I had a portfolio review with her. I thought her comments were really insightful so I followed up with her and signed soon after.
 
KLT: The endpapers brought me back to hours spent reading comic books and begging my mom to order sneezing powder and sea monkeys. Now I want a Zing Ring! How did your hilarious pages come about?
JK: I tried to cram as many comic book elements and homages as I could into the book. Originally, I had the ads as a back cover but because of blurbs and UPC symbols it didn’t work. My art director asked if I could do another page of them and make them endpapers. They were SO MUCH fun to write. I just wrote things that made me laugh.
 
KLT: What was the most challenging part of illustrating this book & why?
JK: Because the story is told in panels, there was a lot of drawing. It was very time intensive but fun to draw. I was also a bit nervous because it doesn’t look like most other picture books on the shelf. It was sometimes work to not second-guess myself.

KLT: Since you say you’re pretty particular, which spread is your favorite & why?
JK: Wow. What a question. There are things I love about most of the spreads. I tried some weird and unconventional layouts that I think somehow succeeded. Having said that, I like the spread where all the kids are in the sandbox and on the swing set. I also like the one where he discovers the bees. The little character on the bottom left makes me laugh every time. 

KLT: Best takeaway for aspiring author-illustrators?
JK: It’s not anything new but draw and write every day. EVERY DAY people.  Once I started doing that, I think I took a healthy leap forward. There’s always room to grow as an artist.
 
KLT: Is MR. PARTICULAR vs. THE INCREDIBLE SULK a reality? What’s next?
JK: See what I did there? Very few picture books get to drum up interest for a sequel on the last page. It’s yet another comic book convention that I snuck in. I’d love to do another one. Sterling hasn't ordered a sequel yet but I’ve got a great story planned and ready to go when they do. Right now, I’m working on a dummy for another picture book I wrote with a whole different cast of characters and developing a few other manuscripts. Hopefully, you’ll see another picture book from me soon.
 
And now for the Super Giveaway! 
Jason has generously a free signed copy of MR. PARTICULAR to one lucky winner! Leave a comment and enter the Rafflecopter below. (Must be U.S. resident.)

About Jason Kirschner 
​By day, Jason is a set designer for television, with credits that include The Meredith Vieira Show, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, and The Late Show with David Letterman. By night, Jason is an author and illustrator of children’s books, including his debut picture book, Mr. Particular: The World's Choosiest Champion. He lives in New Jersey with his finicky veterinarian wife, persnickety twins, and ridiculously choosy cats.  He is a member of United Scenic Artists Local 829, The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Society of Children's Books Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and Children’s Book Illustrator Group (CBIG). Visit him at jasonkirschner.com.

One of the many fantastic workshops I attended at this year's NJSCBWI conference was THE EDITING PROCESS-FOR REAL! with Katie Bignell, Senior Editor, at Scholastic. The session was a gem. Katie showed us the original manuscript of HOW TO BEHAVE AT A DOG SHOW written by Madeline Rosenberg and Illustrated by Heather Ross and took us though the entire editing process, line by line. We then looked at finished samples of the book. The transformation was truly remarkable. 
In her discussion, Katie noted that writing picture books requires good problem solving skills. We must find a way to:
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       Keep the word count low
       Show action on each spread
       Leave room for the illustrator
       Keep the reader engaged
       Include fun words and phrases 
       Increase stakes
       Build an emotional arc
       Build a story arc
       Add complications that lead to a strong climax, and
       End with a fun twist!

This list can be daunting, especially when you have to accomplish all of this in less than 500 words. But the reward will be worth it.

The Takeaway: If you need encouragement, look at a finished picture book that you love and remember, that author had to edit too!
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