Can you feel the excitement? I can!!! I always feel this way when a new book flies into bookstores and we get a chance to celebrate…and in this case, the author IS flying (he lives in Israel and is in NYC for various book events including a book launch TODAY at The Corner Bookstore on Madison Avenue ) and the book is knocking on bookstores and they are welcoming it with open arms because it’s fabulous…and because the illustrations are amazing…and because the name of the book is…

EMILY SAW A DOOR

ME: And we are so lucky because Mel stopped by to chat with us and tell us a bit about the book and its path to publication! Welcome to Picture Books Help Kids Soar, dear friend. We are so excited to have you here. Please share a bit about the book and your journey with it.

MEL: Thank you so much, Vivian. It’s a joy to be here.
Here’s a short summary of the story

Emily knocks on door after door, seeking to be welcomed inside. After facing one disappointment after another, she realizes that the door that is right for her is the one she must create herself. When another child comes knocking, Emily is there with an open door and a warm welcome.

And here’s the story behind the story…that is, what inspired me to write the story and/or any humorous incidents and/or challenging moments on the path to publication.

As a short, pudgy, left-handed, Jewish child growing up in an anti-Semitic neighborhood in Ottawa, rejection was a regular occurrence. But I think that the main impetus for the story came from the hundreds of rejections I endured as an author trying to break into the world of traditional publishing. Ironically, my story about doors and rejection turned out to be the door that opened and welcomed me in.

ME: Oh Mel…I love that you kept moving forward…and I know that ALL of the writers who read this will connect with your story of rejection, whether they are aspiring authors or multi-published. And not only writers…since EVERYONE deals with challenges and the possible destruction of their dreams. Your words…and your book…give hope…and inspire us to never give up!

A little bit about the author:
Professor Mel Rosenberg is a Canadian-born author, scientist and inventor. His TED-Ed animations have been viewed 14 million times. Mel hosts the Children’s Literature channel of the New Books Network. Emily Saw a Door is his first North American picture book release. He is represented by Liza Royce Associates.

And a little bit about the illustrator:
Orit Magia is a children’s book author and illustrator celebrated for her whimsical visual storytelling and memorable characters. Her art brings emotion and depth to every scene she creates.

MEL: I also want to shout out that the original book was published in Hebrew in 2023, by Meira Firon (publisher, Tal-May) and chief editor Yotam Shwimmer. They picked my story out of the ‘pile,’ worked with me on revision and translation, chose Orit Magia, and created a wonderful book which won awards and has recently been given to  50,000 children in Israel, thanks to PJ Library. 

ME: WOW! The story about the book’s journey gets better and better, Mel. And the illustrations are glorious! I can’t wait for my copy to be delivered!
And, dear friends, if you want a chance to speak with Mel (he is kind and brilliant and funny), make sure you leave a comment to be entered in the giveaway of a 30-minute Zoom chat. He says he is willing to talk about any subject…even halitosis (he’s a scientist and inventor, after all).

To learn more about Mel and get in touch with him:
If you are local to NYC, you can attend his LAUNCH PARTY at The Corner Bookstore!

COME CELEBRATE OUR BOOK LAUNCH IN NYC!!!!

Mel Rosenberg, Ph.D., Children’s Author
Co-founder, www.ourboox.
EMILY SAW A DOOR COVER REVEAL
PRE-ORDER BOOK LINK FOR EMILY SAW A DOOR
Author website: authormel.com
linktree:   https://linktr.ee/doctormel
Host, Children’s Literature Channel, NBN 
And you can also purchase a copy of EMILY SAW A DOOR here!

Thank you all for spending your precious time with us. I hope you have a wonderful week! And I hope that lots of you are working on your #50PreciousWords entries.