Andrea J. Loney Will Write for Cookies PLUS Giveaway

Posted on January 28, 2017 by viviankirkfield

WILL WRITE FOR COOKIES

INSIGHT – INFORMATION – INSPIRATION

FOR WRITERS

TODAY’S GUEST

ANDREA J. LONEY

I met our Will Write for Cookies guest in Picture the Books 2017, a group of authors and illustrators who have debut picture books coming out this year. And Andrea has not one, but TWO picture books debuting in 2017.

Andrea J Loney’s picture book BUNNYBEAR, (Albert Whitman & Company, January 31, 2017) is about a bear who believes in his heart that he is really a bunny. Her upcoming debut picture book, TAKE A PICTURE OF ME, JAMES VANDERZEE! (Lee & Low, May 2017), is a New Voices Award-winning picture book biography of the legendary black photographer of the Harlem Renaissance, and a third book is coming in 2019. A community college instructor with an MFA in Dramatic Writing from New York University, Andrea is also a proud volunteer for Reading to Kids and the We Need Diverse Books campaign. She lives in sunny Los Angeles, California with her devoted family, embarrassingly spoiled pets, and towering stacks of picture books.

And guess what? Andrea is sharing some more great news:

WOW! Congratulations, Andrea…that is fantastic! You are on fire!

Before we begin our Q&A, I want to remind everyone that if you leave a comment on this post, you will be entered into the giveaway for a brand new copy of BUNNYBEAR…I’ve seen it (and reviewed it here for Perfect Picture Book Friday). You definitely want to have this book on your shelf.

So, without further ado, let’s welcome Andrea!

ME: Who were your favorite authors/illustrators when you were a child?

ANDREA:

As a child, I read absolutely everything I could get my hands on – The Snowy Day, A Whistle for Willie, Corduroy, Where the Wild Things Are, all kinds of poetry, Alice in Wonderland, The Little Prince, The Lord of the Rings, The Encyclopedia Britannica; authors Virginia Hamilton, Rosa Guy, Ray Bradbury, Judy Blume, E B White; and all the comic strips I could find. I loved these stories because they allowed me to travel through time and space to other worlds and cultures.

ME: What do you know now that you wish you had known when you first started writing for children?

ANDREA:

I first tried writing children’s books fifteen years ago, and gave up in despair after about a year and a half. I wish I’d known back then how invaluable an active membership to the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) could be – the critique groups, monthly free events, paid local events, national conferences, and even the Bulletin newsletter made a huge difference in my growth as a children’s author.

I also wish I’d known that part of the secret to publication, at least for me, was to write, rewrite, and revise as many polished manuscripts as possible, so that when opportunity knocked, I was ready for it. It’s not that all of those manuscripts were even publishable, it’s that the process of writing (and sharing) dozens of stories improved my craft draft by draft.

ME: Where do you like to write/draw – inside, outside, a special area in your home, on the computer, in a notebook? And when do you find time to write?

ANDREA

While my work desk is in a lovely, fairy light-festooned, cobalt blue room called The Imaginarium, I write pretty much everywhere. My little pink computer (named Seraphine) fits in my purse, so I tend to wander all over the house as I write. When I write standing up, I put the laptop on the kitchen counter next to the fishbowl – along with the cats, my betta fish loves being part of the creative process.

Outside of the house, I write in our backyard with friendly bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies fluttering around – sometimes it makes me feel like a Disney princess. I live 25 minutes away from the famous Santa Monica Beach in California, so sometimes I write by the ocean. But honestly I can work pretty much anywhere – in my car, a café, a hotel lobby, the faculty lounge at my college, anywhere.

For the past decade or so I have been fairly obsessed with Pilot pens, specifically the G2 gel ink pen. I stash them everywhere. And I always carry a notebook of some sort. And journals –I love blank journals with gorgeous covers. Like many writers, I have half a library of pretty blank books, still untouched.

ME: When during the day (or night) are you most productive? Do you set a schedule for working or do you write/draw when the muse speaks?

ANDREA:

My favorite time to write is between the hours of 11pm and 3am, but that’s not always feasible for the days I teach 7 am classes. I mean, I’ve done it anyway, but sure I don’t recommend it! So sometimes I get up at 5 am and write until it’s time to go to work. I like writing when the world is dark and quiet so I can color it with my own imagination. But when I have time between classes or days between classes, I generally use that time to write.

While I cherish the romantic concept of the muse and do my best to entice her (mine likes flowers, green tea, and fairy lights), deadlines motivate me more than anything. Sometimes the muse graces me with her presence and it’s like magic, but I show up to work on my stories whether she is there or not. My deadlines come from my agent, editors, competitions, online challenges, and contests. Also, belonging to a few critique groups means that I am constantly generating new material to share with others. I may not write every single day and some days I only write for fifteen minutes or so. But I rarely go more than two days without writing, revising, or brainstorming something.

ME: Why do you write for children?

ANDREA:

Over the years, I’ve been a poet, a playwright, a screenwriter, and a television writer, yet becoming a children’s book author was always my dream. Why? It was through picture books that I fell in love with words, reading, and the whole world around me.

Also, when I was in the second grade, my family moved from a big city with many folks of all ethnicities to a small town with few people of color. I had a hard time fitting in. So, I escaped my fear and sadness by reading. Books were always there for me. Books delighted me. Books saved me. By the third grade, I vowed that when I became an adult, I would never forget how it felt to be a little kid and that I would write the kind of stories that I’d wished were available when I was a child – stories that embrace and celebrate the humanity of all children.

ME: Andrea, 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.

ANDREA:

For aspiring writers:

At my first SCBWI national summer conference in Los Angeles, I heard SCBWI president Linn Oliver refer to the people in the room as published writers and pre-published writers. That moment was a turning point for me. Once I saw myself as “pre-published,” the “getting published” part felt inevitable.

I also took action to back up that feeling – I joined critique groups, attended SCBWI events, joined Facebook groups like Sylvia Liu’s KidLit 411 and Kristin Fulton’s WOW NonFicPic, and online challenges like Julie Hedlund’s 12×12 Challenge and Tara Lazar’s Storystorm (formerly known as PiBoIdMo).

The most important thing I’ve learned so far is that the kid lit world can be exceptionally kind and generous. Immersing myself in this community has made all the difference for my career. So join in the fun, because there is a child out there waiting to read a story that only you can tell.

Hurray, Andrea…joining in the fun is the best way to learn and grow. It encourages us to write and revise and submit…and that’s the way we will get our story to the child who is waiting for it. I totally agree with you. Thank you so very much for participating in Will Write for Cookies…this was so much fun!

To connect with Andrea and find out more about her awesome books:

Website: www.andreajloney.com

She is also on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest @andreajloney.

And now something REALLY special…Andrea has shared a unique treat. When I asked her for a cookie recipe, this is what she said:

Cookies?

I don’t bake cookies, mostly because I’m so good at eating them – often too many of them – and then staggering around the house moaning, “Why, oh, why did I eat all the cookies?”

But if I want a quick, easy, tummy-friendly treat, sometimes I whip up a gluten-free mug cake. There’s only six ingredients and it takes ninety seconds to make in a microwave. Best of all, all I have to clean afterwards is a fork, a spoon, and a mug.

PALEO CHOCOLATE CHIP MUG CAKE

(from itsanerdylife.com)

Prep time: 2 mins

Total time: 2 mins

Serves: 1

INGREDIENTS

1 Large Egg

1 Tbsp. Almond Flour

1 Tbsp. Coconut Flour

2 Tbsp. Chocolate Chips

2 Tbsp. Maple Syrup

1 Tsp. Vanilla

INSTRUCTIONS

Crack the egg into the mug and whip with a fork.

Add the rest of the ingredients into the mug and mix well.

Microwave on High for 1½ minutes.

If the cake is still too squishy, microwave again in 30 second increments until firm.

Enjoy!

OH YES…WE CERTAINLY WILL, ANDREA!

And now, dear friends, don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Andrea’s BUNNYBEAR. If you could be any animal in the world, which would you be?

THIS JUST IN…Susanna Leonard Hill has announced her famous VALENTINY CONTEST: https://susannahill.com/2017/01/28/announcing-the-2nd-annual-valentiny-writing-contest/

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Next week, we’ll be reviewing another 2017 debut picture book, BUNNY’S BOOK CLUB, and the author, Annie Silvestro, will be our Will Write for Cookies guest. Such richness…this is going to be a stupendous year for picture books. The journey is all the more fun for having you along.

Jessica Lawson: Will Write for Cookies PLUS Giveaway

Posted on December 10, 2016 by viviankirkfield

WILL WRITE FOR COOKIES

INSIGHT – INFORMATION – INSPIRATION

FOR WRITERS

TODAY’S GUEST

JESSICA LAWSON

One of the nicest things that happened to me this summer was connecting with our Will Write for Cookies author. Jessica commented on my July review of Sophie’s Squash Goes to School sharing the story that a dead squirrel was the most unique item she had ever brought to school. I just LOVE how friendships are formed in this kid lit community.

Jessica is the author of The Actual & Truthful Adventures of Becky Thatcher, a book that Publishers Weekly called “a delightfully clever debut” in a starred review, and Nooks & Crannies, a Junior Library Guild Selection and recipient of three starred reviews. Her latest middle grade novel, Waiting for Augusta, is also a Junior Library Guild Selection. She enjoys living in Pennsylvania, where she and her family spend weekend hours exploring backroads and discovering old stone houses and barns to drool over. She likes pizza. A lot.

I want to remind everyone that there will be a giveaway of a copy of Jessica’s middle grade novel, Nooks and Crannies (click here to read my Perfect Picture Book Friday review). Please stick with us throughout the post and then leave a comment at the end.

ME: Who were your favorite authors/illustrators when you were a child?

JESSICA:

My favorite picture books were by Steven Kellogg, Bill Peet, and Chris Van Allsburg. During my middle grade years, I loved Roald Dahl and LM Montgomery and stories with a nature or survival bent like A Girl of the Limberlost and My Side of the Mountain. I adored my copies of The Cricket in Times Square (George Seldon) and Charlotte’s Web (E.B. White), both of which were illustrated by Garth Nix. I had two older sisters and also read whatever they were reading, which was a lot of Babysitter’s Club and Sweet Valley High books.

ME: What do you know now that you wish you had known when you first started writing for children?

JESSICA:

I wish I’d known about the online writing community earlier! There are so many fabulous blogs focused on children’s books (eh-hem, like this one!) that offer advice and insight about reading and writing. I also think the urge to have publication be your immediate goal is one that’s common among writers starting out. I wish I’d put a backseat to that goal early on. It was really when I stopped thinking/stressing about getting an agent/book deal and started caring very deeply about learning to write a good story that I began making significant progress.

ME: Where do you like to write/draw – inside, outside, a special area in your home, on the computer, in a notebook? And when do you find time to write?

JESSICA:

I generally write at the kitchen table or on the couch, but would love to have a simple writing nook of my own at some point.

I LOVE being outside, but find that I really can’t focus on writing in an outdoor environment, mostly because it makes me want to go for a walk .

ME: When during the day (or night) are you most productive? Do you set a schedule for working or do you write/draw when the muse speaks?

JESSICA:

As a mom to young ones (and older ones- my oldest graduates from college this December, and my 2nd oldest just started college), I need to have a flexible writing style. I take notes on post-its or in notebooks or on the back of receipts whenever I get inspiration, then use my laptop girl for actual drafting writing.

I’m a morning person by nature and my best drafting time is early morning. My creative side is often useless after about 3:00 p.m., so the afternoons are best for more logistical tasks. I can’t stay up late for the life of me, so that’s out as an option.

ME: Why do you write for children?

JESSICA:

I fell in love with reading during my middle grade years (8 to 12) and found that my heart never really left that age range in terms of my taste in books. I write for that audience for the same reasons that I still love reading it—to follow journeys, to find out what inspires me, to maintain a sense of hope for what lies ahead, and to figure out what kind of person I’d like to be.

ME: Jessica, 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.

JESSICA:

Aspiring writers, don’t give up! Keep at it, get yourself some solid critique partners, and read, read, read  I wrote and submitted 8 middle grade manuscripts over several years, amassing a huge number of rejections (including ones for picture books and articles, etc.) before getting an agent and a book deal. Writing is still very much a journey for me—I still get rejections and still struggle and still want to learn how to tell stories. If it’s your passion, stick with it. It’s worth it.

To parents, educators, librarians, & writers: You are raising and teaching and guiding and inspiring the future. I am grateful for you.

Jessica…I totally agree with you…critique partners are our allies…and rejection is just a part of the process that gets one step closer to successful publication.

Thank you so very much for participating in Will Write for Cookies…this was so much fun!

And for all of you who want to find out more about Jessica and her awesome book or get in touch with her:

Website: jessicalawsonbooks@gmail.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JS_Lawson

Blog: http://fallingleaflets.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jessica-Lawson-Childrens-Author-149125145284531/

And just in time for holiday baking, Jessica and her daughters are sharing a fabulous cookie recipe with us.

Gingerbread Sandwich Holiday Cookie Recipe

We call them Gingys

The recipe is adapted from The Taste of Home)

INGREDIENTS

3/4 cup butter, softened

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 egg

3/4 cup molasses

4 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons ground ginger

1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

3/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon salt

Vanilla frosting and colored sprinkles of your choice

DIRECTIONS:

In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg and molasses. Combine the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. *If the dough seems a bit dry, add milk or heavy cream one tablespoon at a time until moistened.

Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight or until easy to handle.

On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/8-in. thickness (FYI, I prefer slightly thicker than that). *If you let the dough come closer to room temperature, it will be easier to handle. Cut in small circles (I use inverted juice glasses). Place 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheets. Sprinkle half with colored sugar sprinkles of your choice (my hubby likes them plain).

Bake at 350° for 8-10 minutes or until edges are firm. Remove to wire racks to cool.

Spread plain gingerbread circles with frosting and top with sprinkled circles. Enjoy!

WOW…this is just in time. My three-year old granddaughter will be here for Christmas and yesterday on the phone, she asked if we could make gingerbread cookies. Thanks a million, Jessica!

And now, dear friends, don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Jessica’s book. What was the scariest place you ever went to when you were a kid?

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend…please don’t forget to visit Susanna Hill’s Holiday Writing Contest post…there are so many great original stories to read.

SYLVIA LIU: Will Write for Cookies PLUS Giveaway

Posted on October 15, 2016 by viviankirkfield

WILL WRITE FOR COOKIES

INSIGHT – INFORMATION – INSPIRATION

FOR WRITERS

TODAY’S GUEST

SYLVIA LIU

When I was new to this kid lit community, several names appeared frequently in blog post comments and writing challenges. These people seemed to have a confidence…a sense of knowing what they were doing. They were helpful, generous, and they made me feel so welcome. Sylvia Liu was one of those special people.

Sylvia Liu is an environmental attorney turned author and illustrator. Her debut picture book as an author, A MORNING WITH GRANDPA, illustrated by Christina Forshay (Lee & Low Books 2016) was the 2013 Lee & Low New Voices Award winner. She is inspired by her family, oceans, cephalopods, aliens, penguins, and more. Visit her website at http://www.enjoyingplanetearth.com. She is the co-founder of the kid lit resource website, www.Kidlit411.com.

So, dear readers, now you know a little bit about Sylvia…and, by the end of this interview, hopefully you will know more.

Sylvia…I’m thrilled to welcome you to Picture Books Help Kids Soar! I want to remind everyone that there will be a giveaway of a copy of Sylvia’s brand-new book, Mornings with Grandpa, which I reviewed yesterday for Perfect Picture Book Friday. To be entered into the giveaway, please leave a comment at the end and share something you loved doing with a grandparent or something you enjoy doing with your grandchildren.

ME: Who were your favorite authors/illustrators when you were a child?

SYLVIA:

Even though English wasn’t my first language (Chinese was), my mom took my sister and me to the library all the time to check out books. I don’t remember specific picture books I loved (other than the Dr. Seuss), but I fell deeply in love with stories like CHARLOTTE’S WEB (E.B. White), A WRINKLE IN TIME (Madeleine L’Engle), WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS (Wilson Rawls), and THE MIXED UP FILES OF MRS. BASIL E. FRANKWEILER (E.L. Konigsberg). I stumbled across Andre Norton’s science fiction stories and that turned me onto a whole world of sci-fi and fantasy (Ray Bradbury, Isaac Asimov, Lloyd Alexander, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Frank Herbert).

ME: What do you know now that you wish you had known when you first started writing for children?

SYLVIA:

I wish I had found a critique group sooner, though if I had, I wouldn’t have found my wonderful current group. I spent a lot of time writing and revising with little outside feedback, which resulted in a slow start and lots of wheel spinning.

ME: Where do you like to write/draw – inside, outside, a special area in your home, on the computer, in a notebook? And when do you find time to write?

SYLVIA:

I usually write at my computer in my study, but I keep a sketchbook in my purse. I jot notes, random musings, and first drafts in the sketchbook. I sometimes write in my Notes app on my phone while waiting at one of my girls’ sports practices.

ME: When during the day (or night) are you most productive? Do you set a schedule for working or do you write/draw when the muse speaks?

SYLVIA:

Usually, I spend at least a morning or an afternoon each day on creative pursuits, whether writing or illustrating. Sometimes I will go days without writing because I’m focused on illustrating, while other days, it’s the reverse.

E: Why do you write for children?

SYLVIA:

To spread the love – to help other children discover the love of reading that I enjoyed as a child.

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

SYLVIA:

My advice to writers has been said by many, but I’ll reiterate: read, read, and read some more. Write from your heart. Learn the craft. Connect with other writers. Never give up!

Wow…thank you so very much, Sylvia. Each one of your tips for writers would make an excellent poster to hang up for inspiration!

And here’s something else that will give many of you some inspiration for those left-over bananas that no one will eat…Sylvia’s recipe for Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

This is quick and easy recipe that takes 30-35 minutes to make from start to finish.

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
¼ cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
1 egg
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 or 1½ bananas, the riper the better
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (substitute ½ cup of chopped walnuts if you prefer)

Makes 12 muffins

Preheat oven 400 degrees

In a small bowl, mix the wet ingredients together: egg (lightly beaten with fork), bananas (mashed), milk, and oil.
In a medium bowl, sift dry ingredients: flour, sugar, baking powder, salt.
Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Stir together until just moistened. Do not overmix.
Add the chocolate chips and mix in.
Grease a muffin pan or use cupcake cups in a muffin pan. Spoon the batter into the muffin cups.
Bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes.

Yum! I will definitely be making these!

To connect with Sylvia or to find out more about her book or her art (yes…Sylvia is an illustrator as well as an author:

Website

Twitter (@artsylliu)

Facebook

KidLit411

Please don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Sylvia’s new picture book. Just tell us something special you remember doing with a grandparent or something you love to do with your grandchildren. And if you are able to share the post on social media, more people will be inspired by Sylvia and get a chance to win a book.