WILL WRITE FOR COOKIES

INSIGHT – INFORMATION – INSPIRATION

FOR WRITERS, ILLUSTRATORS, PARENTS, TEACHERS, LIBRARIANS,
AND BOOK LOVERS EVERYWHERE

TODAY’S GUEST

Jackie Morera is a Cuban-American author of books for young readers of all ages. Born and raised in Miami, Jackie now lives in Central Florida with her husband, son, and goofy pup where she enjoys telling stories, savoring pastelitos, and cozying up for a good nap. Her picture books include Abuelo’s Flower Shop, illustrated by Deise Lino; Together We Remember, illustrated by Violeta Encarnación, coming in the Summer of 2025; and an unannounced book slated for Fall 2026.

Jackie invites you to visit her online at jmorerabooks.com and on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter/X @jmorerabooks. She also has a monthly newsletter sharing the details of her publishing journey. Signed copies of Abuelo’s Flower Shop can be ordered from her local indie, White Rose Books & More, here!

Jackie would also love to invite you to a Virtual Launch Party on June 2nd at 12pm ET. RSVP here to receive the Zoom link.

ME: Welcome, Jackie! We are so very happy to have you here. I know everyone is excited to learn more about you, so let’s get started!
Who were your favorite authors/illustrators when you were a child?

JACKIE: I loved so many authors as a child but a few of my favorites were Madeleine L’Engle, Frances Hodgson Burnett, Lemony Snicket, and Roald Dahl. As for illustrators, I distinctly remember squealing when I discovered The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales written by Jon Scieszka and illustrated by Lane Smith at my local bookstore. The pictures were so wonderfully odd and I was immediately obsessed with them. There were many more illustrators I admired, of course. Talent abounds!

ME: What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started writing?

JACKIE: I wish I knew it was okay to call myself a writer outright. I hid behind aspiring writer for so long, almost as if I needed permission from someone else to take myself seriously. I believe that small but powerful mental shift kickstarted my career and, if I could go back, I might tell myself to drop the prerequisites sooner.

ME: When do you write – early morning, late in the day, middle of the night, on schedule, as the muse strikes?

JACKIE: I’m trying to be more disciplined about this but, honestly, I’ve never been successful drafting under the “butt in chair” mentality. I can’t force words on the page if I’m not quite there creatively so it’s a regular battle between finding the time and finding the inspiration. The muse is fond of striking while I’m in the middle of something “more important” and so I often find myself writing in stolen moments throughout the day.

ME: Where do you like to write – inside, outside, special room, laptop, pen and paper?

JACKIE: I bounce back and forth between my office

and “my spot” on the couch but my preference is to write somewhere with more hustle and bustle than my home. Fortunately, when it comes to coffee shops in the Greater Orlando area, we’re spoiled for choice. I also enjoy writing at the library or, if the weather allows, I’ll find a shaded spot in a park. And always on my laptop!

ME: Why do you write for children?

JACKIE: Because grownups are no fun! But in all seriousness, I write for any child who scans the shelves of their library or bookstore looking for characters who look not only like them but also like the people who fill their world. I write for the children who are curious about our differences and who are open to understanding them. I hope my books help readers, regardless of age, to grow in empathy and kindness.

ME: Also, if you have any thoughts or advice for aspiring writers, please share. As well as anything else you want to talk about that parents, educators, writers, librarians might want to hear.

JACKIE: Something that helped me tremendously while querying, and holds true for nearly everything else in this industry (i.e. contest entries, pitching conference and events, going out on submission!), is this: What you don’t already have can’t be taken from you. A rejection is not a loss because whatever “it” is—the agent relationship, editor acquisition, scholarship win, award, and so on—was never yours to begin with. Rather, they were all incredible opportunities to share your work and be considered. Try not to get too caught up in the “possibility of a thing” until it’s actually yours to be had. Doing so makes the “yeses” so much sweeter!

What a fabulous interview!!! Thank you so much, Jackie. And I know things are going to get even sweeter because you are sharing something amazing with us. Take it away, Jackie!!

Pastelitos de Guayaba (Guava Pastry) Recipe:

JACKIE: As a pastelito enthusiast, living in an (until recently) guava pastelito desert, I’ve made my fair share of at-home pastelitos de guayaba. Okay, full disclosure, it’s my husband who makes them because I’m a hazard in the kitchen but I digress … If you’re interested in trying your hand at the world’s best (yes, I said it) treat, then look no further.

Note: the following is courtesy of Marta Darby of the “My Big Fat Cuban Family” blog. Her website is a treasure-trove that’s worth exploring!

Ingredients

• 1 pkg. Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry Sheets
• 1 bar guava paste
• 1 pkg. Cream cheese (optional)

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Thaw the puff pastry according to package directions.
• Use baking parchment to line your cookie sheet so the guava won’t stick.
• Unfold one of the pastry sheets and place on pan.
• Cut guava into 1/4 inch slices and place on the pastry sheet.
• Spread cream cheese over guava paste slices (optional).
• Unfold second pastry sheet and place on top of guava paste.
• Cut guava pastry to desired size before baking.
• Bake at 400 for 25 to 35 minutes or until golden brown.

Dear friends…thanks to our generous guest, we have a Giveaway!!! A signed copy of Abuelo’s Flower Shop and bookish goodies (double-sided bookmark, character stickers, a plantable heart, and a selection of floral clear-backed stickers). Make sure you leave a comment and SHARE the post on your social media, place the book on your Goodreads Want to Read shelf, buy the book, review the book, and ask your local library to purchase copies for their collection.

Here’s Detailed Info About Jackie’s Book

Title: Abuelo’s Flower Shop
Author: Jackie Morera
Illustrator: Deise Lino
Publisher: Beaming Books
Age: Preschool (3-5 years); Early Grades (5-8 years)
Publication Date: June 4, 2024
Synopsis:
“Te recuerdo y te extraño.” I remember you, and I miss you.Elena is finally old enough to sell flowers with her abuelo in his shop. But she notices that many of the people who visit have tears in their eyes. Abuelo tells her the shop is the last stop before people visit the garden beyond the gate. A place for telling the ones you’ve loved and lost, “Te recuerdo y te extraño,” I remember you, and I miss you.AB

Tender and insightful, Abuelo’s Flower Shop celebrates the beauty of intergenerational love while gently teaching readers about grieving the loss of a loved one. Grandparents and grandchildren will delight in Elena and Abuelo’s heartfelt relationship, and readers of all ages will be inspired to find their own ways to say, “I remember you, and I miss you.” This thoughtful story is the perfect resource for navigating difficult conversations about grief.

And a final note from our wonderful guest:
JACKIE: I’ll leave you with a photo of my Abuelo Antonio, who sold flowers from a cart in front of his Miami home catty-cornered from a cemetery. Abuelo, te recuerdo y te extraño.