I'm delighted to feature my good friend and fellow #2020BookLook member, Andria Rosenbaum. Her wonderful new book, BOATS WILL FLOAT, has quite an acquisitions history. It just released on March 15th, and it deserves tons of book buzz. Read on for Andria's thoughts about stories . . . creativity . . . and connection.
STORIES – Discuss the inspiration for your ideas and stories, and share the process about your latest projects.
My newest book, BOATS WILL FLOAT, was originally intended to be a follow up to TRAINS DON'T SLEEP, but my editor passed on it. Luckily, my agent at the time continued to submit it elsewhere and it sold! But, not long after that the acquiring editor left the company. Still, BOATS was assigned to another editor and the book, with an illustrator on board, was announced. Hooray!
Six months later the book was cancelled for being "too quiet." My agent and I were very disappointed, but we still believed in the manuscript. So she sent BOATS back on submission and it was acquired by Sleeping Bear Press. Though the journey was as rough as a stormy ocean, I'm thrilled with the way the book turned out. Brett Curzon's illustrations are lively, colorful and infused with humor. The book is anything but quiet.
CREATIVITY -- How do you showcase your creative side through writing/illustrating and other pursuits?
Though I have no talent when it comes to illustration, I'm a visual thinker. I imagine the pages of my books before I ever see the actual illustrations. I can picture what an eye-catching GIF. , or bookmark could look like. I'm an amateur photographer and my photos are everywhere in my home. I tend to be drawn much more to nature, animals and landscapes.
CONNECTION -- How do you connect to your young readers through your writing/illustrating, and how do you stay connected to the KidLit community?
I have been taking part in #KidsNeedMentors this year and corresponding with a librarian and her students at Mt. Tabor Elementary School. I also take part in World Read Aloud Day (WRAD) and Skyped with five schools. I love connecting with students and teachers. I would have enjoyed meeting a writer when I was a kid, so meeting children means everything to me.
In addition, I try to connect with teachers on Twitter. As a former Special Ed. teacher, I love visiting classrooms!
When it comes to fellow kidlit writers, I stay connected through critique groups, writing workshops, Twitter (too much!) and Facebook groups. This can be a very lonely occupation. I think it's vital to stay connected with other writers in order to maintain your perspective and balance.
ANDRIA'S BIO:
Andria Warmflash Rosenbaum first fell in love with boats paddling her grandparents' canoe on Candlewood Lake. She's never been on a dragon boat, but she's been on a submarine! Andria is also the author of TRAINS DON'T SLEEP and BIG SISTER LITTLE MONSTER among other books. When she's not writing, she's walking her dog, photographing nature, reading, baking, traveling, or hanging out with her grandchildren.
CONNECT WITH ANDRIA: