The Story Behind the Story of Laila by Shirin Shamsi

 When my children were young, I made up stories for them. I illustrated and laminated them, and we would read them together. It meant a lot to me, as I felt they saw themselves represented in my stories. One day my eldest daughter asked if I would write a chapter book for her.

That is when the idea for LAILA AND THE SANDS OF TIME first came to me. It was of course a completely different story from the published book. In the original story, Laila was a happy and contented child, and both her parents were alive. 

The problem was, there was no problem for Laila and no story arc. But I loved the character of Laila. It was like she became my fourth child and every so often I would return to the story and write a little. Years passed. Each time I worked on Laila; the story took a different direction. I was not fully focused on the story, but always knew I would return to it. For being a writer was a dream I had and never lost sight of.

Years passed. My children grew up. When my youngest went off to college, I decided it was time to get serious about writing. I joined SCBWI and began attending events and learning more about the craft of writing – discovering how clueless I had been!

When I immersed myself in Laila’s world, a strange thing happened. I began having these ideas for where the story was heading. It was almost as if Laila was leading the story and I was listening. There were even some conversations that just came to me in the middle of the night. At times I woke up with a whole scene in my head and would run to grab a pen and paper. 

I can’t say that inspiration happened all the time, but when it happened it was the most exhilarating experience. I felt in awe. It was also humbling. almost like I were the vessel delivering the story. I listened and wrote. 

When LAILA AND THE SANDS OF TIME was completed, I wept. It really felt like a piece of me was in that story. 

When Callie Metler of Clear Fork Publishing requested the full manuscript, it was a dream come true for me – it had taken years of persistence, patience and perseverance, but it was time to share LAILA AND THE SANDS OF TIME with the world.

I am continually blown away when people tell me how moved they are upon reading my book. It is something I could never grow accustomed too.

I’m thrilled that I have two picture books in the works with Clear Fork Publishing. I am also working on another Middle Grade novel and a series of Chapter Books. I feel so blessed and honored to be writing for the most important people in the world – children! I hope that my books may resonate with readers. I hope they inspire empathy and expand the vision of their world. 

Get your hardcover or paperback edition copy of Laila and the Sands of Time HERE.

The Story Behind the Story of The Big Beach Cleanup by C. Offsay

 My stories tend to come from the things that take up the most room in my heart. When I sat down to write what would eventually become The Big Beach Cleanup, I was consumed with the desire to show my children that they don’t have to be superheroes to make the changes they want to see in the world. I wanted them to know that extraordinary change starts with small steps and ordinary hands joining together with those around them. 

While the core idea of small hands joining together was clear in my mind, the way into the story was not. I tried numerous structures, characters and voices, but nothing felt quite right. I needed a character that kids would be able to connect with and a story that while clearly had a message was still fun to read aloud and that kids would enjoy. ‘Little hands joining together to make big change’ continued to top my Storystorm lists for a couple of years in a row. 

It wasn’t until a series of environmental conversations with my two young children about the trash left out in the streets of our neighborhood that the story finally clicked. They wanted to know where the trash had come from, why was it important to pick it up and what did it mean to take care of our planet. Out of those conversations, the main character Cora was born. 

Cora is an ordinary child who dreams of becoming a sandcastle champion but when she reaches the beach, she finds the competition canceled due to litter at the beach. Cora and Mama pull on gloves and get to work, but soon Cora realizes it will take more than two pairs of hands to solve a big problem. 

While the story revolves around the sandcastle competition my hope is that Cora is a character that children can root for and connect with. I hope seeing ordinary hands joining together to make big change empowers children and inspires them to take a look at the world around them, do their part and join together to make a difference. 

Flap copy: 

Cora is excited to enter the local sandcastle-building contest--until the contest is canceled due to litter at the beach. Determined to help save their favorite place, Cora and Mama get to work picking up the single-use plastics that have washed onto the shore. It will take more than four hands to clean up the beach, but Cora is just getting started.

Author Bio:

CHARLOTTE OFFSAY was born in England, grew up in Boston, and currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two small children. Through her work, Charlotte hopes to make children laugh, to inspire curiosity, and to create a magical world her readers can lose themselves in time and time again. 

Charlotte’s debut picture book, The Big Beach Cleanup, illustrated by Kate Rewse published by Albert Whitman on March 1, 2021. How to Return a Monster, illustrated by Rea Zhai releases September 7, 2021 with Beaming Books. A Grandma’s Magic, illustrated by Asa Gilland will be published by Doubleday Books for Young Readers in Spring 2022. 

Buy The Big Beach Cleanup by clicking HERE.

Learn more about Charlotte’s work at charlotteoffsay.com and follow her on Twitter at @COffsay and on Instagram at @picturebookrecommendations.

The Story Behind the Story: Crane and Crane by L.J. Singleton

By Linda Joy Singleton

My husband operated a construction crane and we live a half hour from a Sandhill Crane sanctuary. The perfect combination to write a book comparing/contrasting construction cranes and Sandhill Cranes! 

Yet that’s not why I wrote my picture book, CRANE AND CRANE. It started with an online challenge to write a picture book idea every day for a month.

I’d admired my friends who had accepted this challenge and filled sketchbooks with ideas and drawings for picture books. I can’t draw, but ideas come easily to me. Still coming up with a daily new idea for a month wasn’t easy. But in 2014 I decided to go for it and by the end of the month I had thirty ideas. Now the challenge was to sort the good ideas from the duds.

A year went by while I worked on my series, CURIOUS CAT SPY CLUB. But when I was ready to dive back into picture books, I turned to my agent and she looked over my month of ideas. I was shocked when she picked the very first idea, CRANE AND CRANE because I wasn’t sure how to write a book told mostly in sound words. “Are you sure I can write this?” I asked my agent. And she said with certainly that I could do it. “Just write it,” she told me. 

I studied the notes from my Idea list:

Nov 1, 2014

CRANE AND CRANE – A bird lifts and carries and tried to be like a metal crane, making noises and scaring other cranes. Or maybe they think he’s crazy. But he can fly away when there’s trouble. It would teach leverage and have fun with heavy equipment.

Boom. Lift! (shows crane lifting equipment)

BOOM. LIFT! (Bird crane carries a big fish and lifts off)

Now if you’ve read CRANE AND CRANE, you know this initial idea is similar but not the picture book I published with Amicus Books. As I developed the idea, it transformed into a contrast of nature versus industry with a bird crane and construction crane building homes for a family. I wrote and rewrote; added and cut. And I amazed myself by writing an entire book with less than 30 words!

When my agent felt it was ready, she sent it out into the publishing world. Months passed. Almost exactly two years after I wrote down ideas for a month, I was at a retreat that my agent also attended. She arrived a little late and slipped into a seat next to me and whispered, “I have news.” And she told me my picture book had sold!

In June 2019, CRANE AND CRANE, illustrated by Richard Smythe, was published by Amicus Books! Click on the Title or Here: https://amzn.to/2OJic4x to get your copy!

And a companion book also illustrated by Richard Smythe, SUN AND SON, will come out in March 2022!

Fun Teaser: After writing CRANE AND CRANE, I looked for other homonym words that worked for a contrast-comparison plot. SUN and SON was a fun choice for a second book. But I could only find one other word that will work if I’m asked to write a third book. The first person who guesses the word will win an autographed copy of CRANE AND CRANE or a book of mine of choice.

Linda Joy Singleton's Bio

• I’m the author of over 50 middle-grade, YA and picture books about magic, animals, psychics, mermaids, aliens, cheerleaders, clones, and ghosts. My middle-grade series, CURIOUS CAT SPY CLUB, was inspired by a club I had with my childhood best friend. My picture books include SNOW DOG, SAND DOG, CASH KAT, A CAT IS BETTER, LUCY LOVES GOOSEY & CRANE AND CRANE. I also published YA series, REGENERATION, THE SEER & DEAD GIRL, some honored as YALSA Popular Paperback/Quick Picks. 

• Kids series books are my passion. I write, read and collect them. My collection includes  thousands of girl series from the mid-1800’s to present, including Nancy Drew, Judy Bolton and Trixie Belden. A fan letter I wrote at age 14 led to a life-long friend with the Judy Bolton series author, Margaret Sutton—I even co-authored a new Judy Bolton mystery, THE TALKING SNOWMAN, with her, and self-published it for fans.

• I’m a long-time member of SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writer's & Illustrators) and Sisters In Crime. I’m also a frequent presenter at schools, libraries, and writing conferences. I’m lucky to live in the country with my husband David, in Northern California where we’re surrounded by horses, peacocks, dogs, pigs, wild turkeys, and very demanding cats.
• Learn more about Linda Joy Singleton by clicking HERE. 

The Picture Book Mechanic - So You Need a Critique? Questions and Answers

When purchasing a critique or mentoring services, there are several things to consider: 

    1. How many books has the critiquer published? Who was the publisher? When were they published. 

                   Hedgehog Goes to Kindergarten, 

                           Scholastic 2011

                           Currently unavailable. 

                   Hedgehog's 100th Day of School, 

                            Scholastic 2017

                           Available from Scholastic Book Clubs or direct from Author

                   The Star in the Christmas Play, Beaming Books 2018 

                            Available in Hardcover and Digital Formats

                   Moldilocks and the Three Scares, Sterling 2019

                            Available in Hardcover and Digital Formats

                   Let's Eat! Mealtime Around the World, Beaming Books 2019

                            Available in Hardcover and Digital Formats 

                   American Pie, Dancing Flamingo Press 2022

                   and two others, pending.

                   You can learn more about me and my books at www.literallylynnemarie.com.

    2. Other experience and accreditations of the critiquer. 

                 I am the owner and administrator of RateYourStory.org - a rating and feedback service for children's writers where you can get feedback on manuscripts, pitches, queries and more from traditionally published authors and illustrators. We have Member and Non-Member options (Membership opens 11/1), including Spring and Summer contests and always available Speedpasses.  

                I also work for Clear Fork Media and am the Editorial Director of the Dancing Flamingo Press, as well as a former intern at a literary agency. Feel free to join me for a First Pages with Callie and Lynne session. 

                 In addition, I am a former paid book reviewer and have served on the Cybils Award panel as a first-round Picture Book category Judge since 2017. 

                On Sundays, I hold a FREE Tinker and Talk Book Chats here:         https://tinyurl.com/TinkerandTalkBookChat

3. What will the critique cover? 

                My critiques include intensive line editing, where I consider each and every word and phrase. I comment on any and all points as I read, but also preface the critique with big picture comments including strengths and weaknesses of the manuscript, and objectives for revision. 

4.  What is the cost of the critique?

                MY RATES AND SERVICES MENU:

                 Be certain to bookmark my rates page for 2021 (check for updates):

                                        https://tinyurl.com/thepicturebookmechanic

5.  What is the critique style?

        I am truly grateful for the opportunity to be a part of your journey. Please know that from the bottom of my heart, your success is my goal. I want to help you enable your manuscript to perform to its fullest potential. I also hope to cultivate a continued relationship and to continue to assist you down the road, even as your needs change.  

     From hereon in, I will be cheering for you from the sidelines. But also realize that my actual critique method is a no-fooling-around, here’s-what’s-broken-and-what-needs-to-be-fixed style. For example, if your manuscript was a car, I would spend more time under the hood exerting effort in trying to help you get it to run properly, than I would standing outside it, admiring the exterior and telling you how pretty and shiny it is. 

 

You’ll see that I spend *a lot* of time on every detail. Until it’s time to celebrate, my focus will be making sure every little cog runs smoothly.  Because the truth is, no matter how beautiful the idea, if the mechanics don’t work, the vehicle won’t get you over the finish line. 

 

As with any critique --If you don’t agree with the feedback, give it a few days, and then when you feel you can approach it with an objective mind, go back to it and see if it makes more sense. Keep in mind that sometimes we have to re-vision our stories and let them go where they lead us for them to work. And you can always take what you need and proceed from there. I do recommend having a consultation if this happens -- it will help to understand and process the comments and we can brainstorm a direction for you to go in. These are $15.00 for a half hour as a critique add-on, $30.00 an hour for my critique clients. These sessions are reduced from $35.00, and invaluable, which you won’t know until you’ve tried one! 

 

Remember that publishing is a business. My feedback is meant to bring the manuscript to the next level and to get you further on your road to success. Please take the feedback in the spirit it is given -- which is complete honesty of what I believe is needed to move closer to your goal. I truly want to further you on your path to success! 

6. Can I ask for Referrals?

While my Referrals Page is currently under construction with my fabulous Website Guru, you may ask me to provide references, as well as see some older accolades on my services menu.

 

       Thank you for your time and trust. I look forward to working with you! 

 

WEBSITE: Learn more about me and my books here:

www.literallylynnemarie.com

TWITTER: Follow me on twitter for more helpful tips: 

https://twitter.com/Literally_Lynne

FACEBOOK: Lynne Marie

https://www.facebook.com/WordsandPictures.by.LynneMarie/

GOODREADS: Literally Lynne

https://tinyurl.com/LiterallyLynneReads

BLOG:  My Word Playground at LiterallyLynneMarie.com

https://tinyurl.com/MyWordPlayground

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE: 

https://amzn.to/3ckkX3D

BOOKSHOP (Independent Book Store) PAGE:

https://bookshop.org/shop/thebookgarden

 

And just to start you off on the right foot, here is some helpful information that I hope you will read: 

 

Picture Book Skeleton Cheat Sheet 

The Importance of Reading

Tips for Revising

Most importantly of all, DON’T GIVE UP:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbC4gqZGPSY

 

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CHECK OUT and PREORDER MY NEWEST BOOKS, at:

Moldilocks and the Three Scares

Let’s Eat - Mealtime Around the World

The Star in the Christmas Play

 

If you would like a signed bookplate, please e-mail me for more info.

 

Honing Heart with Lauren Kerstein

 HONING IN ON THE HEART AND AMPLIFYING YOUR EMOTIONAL ARC

by Lauren Heller Kerstein, 

Author of the newly-released HOME FOR A WHILE, ROSIE AND CHARLIE MAKE WAVES and ROSIE AND CHARLIE SAY GOODNIGHT

When I critique, I often find myself helping authors hone in on the heart and create an emotional arc that is both resonant and relatable. We want to make our readers FEEL. 

Here are a few tips to help your readers FEEL all the feels:

PITCH IT: Write a pitch. What is the heart of your story? What is your character’s goal? What is your goal in writing this particular story? What do you want your readers to walk away with? I love this quote from Jodi Picoult’s latest novel: The Book of Two Ways: “Art isn’t what you see. It’s what you remember.” What do you want your readers to remember long after they’ve read your book?

ZOOM IN: Zoom in on emotional moments so that you can create scenes that your readers feel part of. We want them to live, breathe, and feel the moment. For example, in my latest book: Home for a While (Illustrated by Natalia Moore/Magination Press), I wanted readers to FEEL Calvin’s uncertainty. Instead of saying Calvin felt uncertain, I highlighted his uncertainty by zooming in.

“Maggie?” Calvin asked, his voice gruff.

“Yes.”
“Why do you want to hug me, anyway?”

ACTIVE LANGUAGE: Use active language to draw your readers into the emotional arc. In Home for a While, I used active language to draw my readers into Calvin’s experience. For example: “His hands shook as he waited for Maggie’s reaction.” 

The use of active language adds more resonance to the moment, and pulls the reader into the emotional arc.

CREATE SPACE FOR MIXED EMOTIONS: Feelings aren’t straightforward. They are often a mixed up and muddled mess. Create space for mixed emotions in your manuscript by showing your character’s physical reactions, highlighting your character’s internal experience, and leaving lots of white space for the illustrator.

PACING: Pacing plays a huge role in the emotional arc and in the heart of your manuscript. Pacing moves the plot forward, and highlights conflict, motivation, stakes, resonance, and intensity of emotion. Use pacing to your advantage.

These are just a few of the tools you can use to hone in on your heart and amplify your emotional arc. You can find additional tips in this blog post I wrote a couple of years ago. https://laurenkerstein.wordpress.com/2019/04/26/laurens-quick-read-crafty-tips-take-your-readers-breath-away/

As I always say, we must feel, write, and risk as creators. 

The more you feel…

The more risks you take with your writing... 

The more heart and emotion will shine through.

Buy Home for a While HERE.

March's RYS Guest Gurus - Callie and Lynne Marie

CALLIE METLER, OWNER/PUBLISHER, EDITOR AND AUTHOR

at Spork Books, a Division of Clear Fork Media (https://www.clearforkpublishing.com/)

1. What do you LOVE about children’s books?

I love how Children’s books open the door to a whole new world, and it gives us an insight into something we might not get to experience in real life.

2. What brought you to children’s books? 

I had published a couple of YA books when I started working on my first PB. I loved it so much that I realized I wanted to make it the main focus of my company moving forward.

 

3. What do you look for in a project to acquire for Spork?

I want something that is unique that I am not likely to see a similar project in another publishing house’s catalog. I want to open up the world even more for children.

 

4. What drew you to your favorite Spork books? 

All of my favorite projects have been fun because of the subject matter, the creativity of the illustrator, and the relationship with the author. I always love when you know the story has great structure and is a well put together book. 

 

5. What is a common issue with the submissions you receive?

Usually they have a lot of unnecessary words or the story structure isn’t strong all the way through.

 

6. Please share a submission tip with our Members. 

Do a little research before submitting. Don’t address your query letter to “To whom this may concern” or to the wrong person.

 

7. Please share a revision Tip for our Members. 

If an editor ask for a revision, don’t revise it right then and send it back the same day. Take some time to think about the revisions and then send back in a timely manner.

 

8. Name a subject you would like to see in your in-box. 

I would like to see stories with an agricultural or slice of life spin.

 

9. Name something to avoid sending to your in-box. 

I am currently not looking for any cute animals does cute thing books.

 

10. Share a fun fact about YOU! 

Here are 10 random facts about me:

1) I was featured on the tv show Texas Country Reporter in 1999 for my work with the Bobwhite Brigade.

2) I teach art classes to six 7-12 year old one afternoon a week.

3) I'm terribly addicted to Dr. Pepper.

4) I adore Classic Movies. My favorite one is Breakfast at Tiffany's

5) My minor was German in College. I was inspired to learn it because my Grandmother was a first generation American and spoke German when I was little.

6) I was published for the first time when I was in 4th grade. It was a Poem called "I am Me"

7) I was Youth Conservationist of the Year for Texas in 1998

8) I'm the 4th generation in my family to own a community Newspaper

9) I grew up on a cotton farm that has been in my family for over 100 years.

10) I was diagnosed with cancer in 2008 and then again in 2019 and just recently celebrated 6 months cancer free!

CONGRATULATIONS, DEAR CALLIE -- You are an Inspiration to us ALL!  

Check Out Callie's Books Here: https://amzn.to/3rcXkzL [#Ad] 

*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*

And now, here's:

LYNNE MARIE, AUTHOR AND EDITORIAL DIRECTOR, DANCING FLAMINGO PRESS

1. What do you LOVE about children’s books?

I love the story, art, imagination, and varied experiences they portray. And, that they can take you away -- from a bad day, a rainy day, a boring summer or anything that limits your world and experience at a particular time.

 

2. What brought you to children’s books? 

I had wanted to be an Author since I received my first Scholastic Book Club flyer, but I took

a long path and  experienced many other things before coming here. I do think that those

experiences helped shape my worldview and filled my writing well. Formerly, I was a paralegal,

a paid book reviewer of fiction books, and dabbled in romantic comedy writing and screen

writing before fully committing to children’s books. 

 Check Out Lynne Marie's Books Here: https://amzn.to/3cZALJJ [#Ad] 

3. What do you look for in a project to acquire for Dancing Flamingo?

I am looking for anything that’s a celebration of life and basically touches upon at least

one of these concepts in the Dancing Flamingo tagline: A Celebration of Art and Culture,

Kindness and Curiosity. That’s a wide net, but it gives an idea :) 

 

4. What drew you to (SPECIFIC RECENT ACQUISITION)? 

It was a Goldilocks retelling which spoke to my love of folklore fables and fairytales, and

since I have read them all for my pre-publication research for Moldilocks, I knew it was

fresh and different. Besides being a celebration of folktales, it also demonstrated curiosity

and kindness. And of course, it inspired really wonderful art! 

 

5. What is a common issue with the submissions you receive?

To be honest, there are many, and all very common, including: Not a child-accessible main

character, not a kid-friendly concept, problem or theme, no story structure, no cohesiveness,

and a resolution that’s not satisfying. Also that the main character does not have agency

over the story and/or solve the story problem and that the plot does not move forward. It’s

clear that many who write picture books are not actively reading and study picture books

to see what has been done, what hasn’t been done, what works and how it works. It’s the

reason behind starting the Tinker and Talk Book Chat on Sundays 6:00 PM EST. So that we

all have access to picture books and are able to discuss and learn from them. 

 

6. Please share a submission tip with our Members. 

Publishing is an industry and being a writer is a profession. Both should be respected.

Read the submission guidelines (and follow them of course), and submit only your very best,

polished work. If you don’t it will be a no and you will have likely missed an opportunity for

the manuscript to sell, had it been fully-formed. 

 

7. Please share a revision Tip for our Members. 

Each time you review your manuscript look at one thing that I had on my list of submission

problems above. Then repeat with another aspect. It’s important to have checks and balances

and make certain you focus on one thing at a time and revise thoroughly and effectively,

even if it means re-visioning your original idea. If you do, when you are done, your manuscript

will sing. 

8. Name a subject you would like to see in your in-box. 

Oh, there’s so much I love and want to see! However, I would love something that combines

animals and culture. 

 9. Name something to avoid sending to your in-box. 

Anything that is poorly written or is unimaginative and dry. 

 

10. Share fun facts about YOU! 

I was a Pog Mom to a total of five Hedgehogs and Spike from Hedgehog Goes to Kindergarten

and Hedgehog's 100th Day of School is inspired by my very first one -- Apollo Nike (NIGHKEY - nicknamed Spiky Nike).

But to mirror Callie, here are some fun facts about ME: 

1. I was born in Brooklyn and am a true New Yorker, but I was always drawn to Boston and

later found out my birth family was from there.

2.     The first place I flew alone as a child of 12, was Humble, Texas - where our bus got

cornered by a long horn steer!

3.     I was adopted and grew up thinking my parents were dead, but found and met my

Birth Mother and Father both at 26 years old.

4.     I have two half brothers who I never go to meet because they died of Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy. Oddly, before I even knew of them, I was active in Special Olympics and a big fan of Jerry Lewis' Telethon for Muscular Dystrophy.

5.    When I was 18 -21 my ex-boyfriend was a Music Producer and I got to meet and hang out with many new wave bands, like Duran Duran, Power Station, the Go Gos and so many more!

6.     Me and one of my besties tried one of those Fish Pedicures in Mexico and lived to tell about it.

7.    I have been to Disney World many, many times, as well as Disneyland and Euro Disney. The other parks are on my list :)

8.     I have a morbid fascination with graves and have been to many, many famous graves / monuments all over the world to pay tribute, including Princess Diana, Claude Monet, Molly Brown, and many other Titanic associated people (including the Mass Graves at Halifax), William Wallace, Alexander Graham Bell, St. Patrick and many US Presidents - to name just a small few.

9.     I love history and folklore of all countries and studied both the Salem Witchcraft Trials, The Holocaust in Children's Literature in School and Folklore and Fairy Tales (as well as Myths) in College.

10.     I've watched over 92 K-Dramas so far (Korean Dramas) and am planning a trip to Korean in 2022.

Bonus: My dog Anakin is the second Belgian Schipperke I owned. Dante was the first, who we got when my son was only 6.

 

Also is there anything in particular you want or don't want to give rating and

feedback on?

I can pretty much rise to the challenge of any manner of stories as I’ve written Fiction

and Non-fiction and also write in rhyme, but at this time, I prefer not to rate synopses

or novels. 

Feel Free to Check Out First Pages with Callie and Lynne Marie

 

We look forward to helping you move forward on your journey!