WILL WRITE FOR COOKIES
INSIGHT – INFORMATION – INSPIRATION
FOR WRITERS, ILLUSTRATORS, PARENTS, TEACHERS, LIBRARIANS,
AND BOOK LOVERS EVERYWHERE
TODAY’S GUEST
STEPHANIE FITZPATRICK
Continue readingWILL WRITE FOR COOKIES
INSIGHT – INFORMATION – INSPIRATION
FOR WRITERS, ILLUSTRATORS, PARENTS, TEACHERS, LIBRARIANS,
AND BOOK LOVERS EVERYWHERE
TODAY’S GUESTS
Welcome, everyone! I hope you are all safe – the world is a sad and scary place sometimes, but it’s important to continue to connect with people and projects that give us joy, even in the midst of troubled times…maybe especially in the midst of troubled times. And when I discovered that one of my dearest kidlit friends and long-time CPs, Beth Anderson, had a new book launching right around the time my latest book was launching, we knew we needed to do something special.
Both books are nonfiction picture books. Both books focus on women who refused to accept the role society offered them. Instead, both women used their skills, courageously making their voices heard..and making a difference of global proportions.
So, please grab your coffee, tea, hot cocoa, or beverage of choice and sit back to enjoy a conversation of sorts between book creators and their characters.
VIVIAN: Hi, Beth. I’m so glad you are here – and although your character, Kate Warne, and mine, Lucy Stone, can’t be here in person with us, I know they are here in spirit. So, I’m curious. Why did you feel kids needed to know about Kate? How will young readers relate to her hopes and dreams and the path she decided to take to become a Pinkerton detective?
BETH: Thanks so much, Vivian. I’m excited to chat about these amazing women. Kate’s story interested me for so many reasons! It was a detective story! With a gutsy woman who blazed an unusual path. It’s about a piece of history, the Baltimore Plot, which I’d never heard of before. And, it features a favorite person from history, Abraham Lincoln. Like me, I think kids will connect to the secrets, a dangerous plot, and be fascinated by this exciting peek “behind the scenes” that lets us know how complicated, and surprising, history can be.
Kids need to know about Kate because she’s a “regular” person like most of us. She put herself out there, not seeking fame and fortune, and took risks for others—and she impacted history. This event shows how important us regular people are, which can inspire hope, courage, and action when we look at the world today.
So now, I’m curious about your choice. Why did you choose Lucy Stone to write about? Why do you feel kids need to know about her?
VIVIAN: I absolutely love history…and I love discovering people who made a difference, but who might not have been recognized for what they did. I uncovered some information about Lucy Stone when I was researching Annie Londonderry and then someone, I think it was you, told me that there was going to be a Lucy Stone History-At-Play. I saw the performance by Judith Kalaora, who painstakingly researches famous women in American history and then creates fascinating performances, dressed in authentic costumes. The Lucy Stone performance inspired me to find out more. From the performance, it sounded like she was the one who inspired Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony to fight for women’s rights. And like you, Beth, when something sparks my curiosity, I have to find out more. I think many kids are like that – and I hope that ONE GIRL’S VOICE will spark the curiosity of many young readers. I believe kids will relate to her because there are many spreads/scenes that take place when she is still a child, railing against the rule of the day in the 19th century, that women should remain silent – and Lucy was determined to make her voice heard – and she did!.
It’s interesting, Beth, that both women lived around the same time. There is a lot of information about Lucy and her early and later life. She was born in 1818 in Massachusetts and died in 1893, but…not much is known about Kate. She was born about 1833 and died in 1868. Their lives intersected in time, if not in person. We don’t know if they ever met, right? Also, how did you craft a story without access to a lot of information?
BETH: That’s true. There is a lot more information about Lucy Stone than there is for Kate Warne. It’s hard to understand how she came to be who she was without knowing much about her childhood. Since this event involves Lincoln and Pinkerton, we have some sources that share Kate’s role. But it’s also interesting to note that some sources mention the plot and Pinkerton, but don’t mention Kate, an example of women often being left out of history. To tell her story, I needed to research far and wide to understand the challenges of her situation and the risks she took.
With such limited information on Kate’s life, it’s impossible to know if she ever knew about or met Lucy Stone. But…I can’t help but think that given the character traits we see in Kate’s actions, she would have read newspapers and followed the news on the fight for women’s rights. Who knows, maybe that inspired her to apply for a “male” job! Since Kate’s actions to save Lincoln remained a secret so she could work as a spy during the Civil War, Lucy couldn’t have known about Kate before her death. If they had met, I think they would have had great respect for each other and cheered each other on.
What do you think?
VIVIAN: Oh, I agree, Beth. Even though they were very different, they both supported equality for all. Kate guarded President Abraham Lincoln with her life, aware that this man was a force for good in the country. And Lucy devoted her life to fighting for abolition, equal rights for women, and equality for all. What I love is that both of them can be role models for young readers, especially girls who can see how important it is to question the status quo…that we can make change happen by our actions. And it’s crucial for boys to grow into men who respect the intelligence and capabilities of women. As Lucy Stone said when she addressed the New Jersey legislature in 1867 regarding woman suffrage, “Why should not a woman be President of the United States? The names of Elizabeth of England, of Catherine of Russia, of Isabella of Spain, of Maria Theresa of Austria – each of these proves woman’s capacity to govern. Are American women alone incompetent for great responsibilities?”
Do you think Kate would have agreed with Lucy’s statement about the ability of women to handle great responsibilities?
BETH: Most definitely! And she proved it! And though Kate could never talk about her work, she had to use her voice and persuasive skills, like Lucy, when she convinced Allan Pinkerton to hire her as a detective. And Pinkerton quickly became a firm believer in the capabilities of women! He created a division of female detectives and put her in charge. I also think it’s crucial for kids to see history through the eyes of people who experienced it – to see how they responded to the challenges they faced.
VIVIAN: Oh yes! That’s so true, Beth. We can read facts about history, but it’s so much more powerful and relatable when we see it through the eyes and actions of the true life characters in these nonfiction picture book biographies. Children can observe how Kate foiled the assassination attempt – and all the planning that she had to do and the courage she had to muster to infiltrate the enemy’s strongholds to learn what was going on. They can watch how Lucy met opposition with calm and steadfast purpose and how she never gave up her battle to secure equal rights for everyone, even when her own life was threatened.
And now dear friends, Beth and I have a couple of special treats for you.
And my educator guide will be on my website soon.
Boil a heaping quart of loose hops (or if they are pressed, 2 ounces) in one gallon of water, strain it, when it is cold, put in a small handful of salt., and a half pound of sugar, then take a pound of flour and rub it smooth with some of the liquor, after which make it thin with more of the same liquor and mix all together, let this stand for 24 hours; then boil and mash three pounds of potatoes and add to it, let it stand 24 hours more; then put it in a bottle or tight vessel, and it is ready for use. Shake the bottle before using. It should be kept in a warm place while it is making, and in a cool place afterward.
Beth says we should call it ‘Rise to the Challenge’ yeast – in honor of the brave women in our books. You could use it to prepare cinnamon rolls or any other recipe that calls for yeast. I hope you let me know if you try it. It’s quite labor-intensive, as were most chores that women had to do in those days. There were many similar cookbooks that were published like this one, as a fundraiser for the suffrage movement…and they also served as a mode of communication for women back in the day before the internet and cell phones. I’m excited to read this one from cover to cover to check out the conversations.
Beth and I hope you all enjoyed this conversation between creators and characters. And we hope you’ll do all the things that help books become a success:
Buy them:
HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT:
ONE GIRL’S VOICE:
Review them
One Girl’s Voice:
Put them on your Goodreads WANT TO READ SHELF
One Girl’s Voice:
Tell friends about them
Ask your local library to purchase copies
Beth’s book is already proudly sitting on shelves in your local indie bookstores. And mine will be arriving on February 11th – which is my ACTUAL birthday…how cool is that! Plus there are several book events coming up in March for me:
March 8 at 1:30pm-3pm: G. Willikers Books and Toys in Portsmouth, NH
March 29 at 11am-11:45am – The Silver Unicorn Bookstore in Acton MA
We invite you all to celebrate these wonderful books with us! If you are a teacher or librarian looking for an engaging author visit, please reach out. If you are a writer of narrative nonfiction, each of these books could serve as a mentor text. And if you are a parent of young readers, we hope you’ll share these role models in history with your kids.
Have a great weekend, everyone! And don’t forget to leave a comment here and on the post on Beth’s blog for a chance to WIN this cool book pairing!
WILL WRITE FOR COOKIES
INSIGHT – INFORMATION – INSPIRATION
FOR WRITERS, ILLUSTRATORS, PARENTS, TEACHERS, LIBRARIANS,
AND BOOK LOVERS EVERYWHERE
TODAY’S GUESTS
I always love welcoming author promotion groups because I love sharing new picture books with you, my dear blog followers…and today we are featuring several folks from Kid Lit Clubhouse. Their responses to the questions are sure to inspire you – and their giveaways will certainly delight! And so, without any further ado, let’s welcome Andrew, Audrey, Barbara, Nazneen, and Seina.
ME: Who were your favorite authors/illustrators when you were a child?
AH: Laura Numeroff
AP: James Herriott and Roald Dahl
SW: Enid Blyton
BK: Eloise Wilkin
NA: Enid Blyton and Roald Dahl
ME: What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started writing?
AH: I wish I knew about the amazing community I would gain. Had I known, I might have jumped into the kidlit waters sooner.
AP: I wish I knew that my first drafts don’t have to be perfect, and in fact, aren’t going to be so JUST WRITE.
SW: I wish I had found a kidlit mentor to help navigate this journey and I wish I had plugged into a cohort of other picture book writers early on in my writing journey.
BK: I had no idea what a long road it is to publication. Patience, perseverance, and supportive peers are essential on this unpredictable journey.
NA: Read, read and read. Read in your genre. Read the same book again.
ME: Where do you like to write – inside, outside, special room, laptop, pen and paper?
AH: A cozy chair and my laptop are essentials when drafting, while a notebook and pen thrown in my backpack while hiking or kayaking is ideal for brainstorming and letting new ideas simmer.
AP: It depends. I prefer my laptop when fast drafting, but I do love to brainstorm with grid paper and colorful markers. If the weather is nice, my screen porch is my go-to spot where I can hear the birds (and hopefully not the leaf blowers).
SW: I enjoy writing on my laptop and I usually have a cup of green tea with honey, and a few cookies within reach. If I’m on the beach, I like to pen down ideas on a notepad. I also like to either write in silence or listen to the sound of crashing waves or music. It really just depends on my mood.
BK: I’m old school—pen and paper on my front porch swing! Something about being outdoors helps me focus.
NA: Outdoors, with a cup of coffee.
ME: When do you write – early morning, late in the day, middle of the night, on schedule, as the muse strikes?
AH: I am a nooks and crannies writer. Wherever and whenever I can squeeze a few minutes of writing into the rest of my life is when I do it.
AP: It’s all over the place. Just recently it was late at night while folding laundry when a line came to me, which led to another and another. I’ve written to a schedule during NaNoWriMo, but generally, I try to squeeze in time when the kids are at school. My anxiety tries to convince me I’m doing it wrong, but that’s also a WIP.
SW: I write when I can, which is usually around my family’s schedule. I usually prefer longer chunks of time carved out than shorter bursts. I find that it usually takes me a while to settle into a cadence and when I find the right thread in my work, I want to continue following it as long as I can.
BK: I’m writing or sifting through ideas all day—and night! My best ideas show up the second my head hits the pillow, so I always have a pen and paper on my nightstand.
NA: I am a morning person. I need to write first thing in the morning before my mind is flooded with other thoughts.
ME: Why do you write for children?
AH: I write to provide children with the opportunity to see themselves in stories and characters, to accept and overcome their insecurities, or to escape for just a little while through the power of their imaginations.
AP: I write for kids because I believe all kids should feel seen, heard, and validated in the stories they read, and hopefully have some laughs and fun too! I escaped to books when I was a kid and have always loved to make up stories, play with words, and make others laugh.
SW: I write so children can see themselves in my stories and I also write so children can be entertained. I enjoy writing across the board and look for ways to infuse my stories with my culture, traditions, and sometimes elements of fantasy.
BK: I wasn’t a big reader as a kid, so I want to create fun, interactive books to help foster a love of books from an early age. I noticed a need for books for toddlers that celebrate Jewish joy, which inspired me to create my first two books—rhyming, interactive stories about Jewish holidays.
NA: I love the writing process, especially because children’s books offer limitless possibilities. I began writing when I noticed the scarcity of Middle Eastern stories and wanted to bring tales of joy and laughter featuring Middle Eastern characters to life.
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.
AH: For aspiring writers, find your community. Publishing is a long, bumpy road and the ride is better with friends.
AP: Celebrate every milestone. If you only wait to celebrate the “big” ones, you are missing out on a whole lotta joy. Also, celebrate OTHERS. Community over competition — always. It’s a beautiful, uplifting place to be if you let it.
SW: Write the book of your heart and don’t write because of a trend. Publishing is often a slow process and it can take a while for a book to hit the shelves even after it’s sold. You’ll be tethered to your story for quite some time, so make sure you’re working on something you love.
BK: I always recommend that new writers enter contests. Your fabulous “50 Precious Words” contest is how I started writing board books! Contests push you to revise, encourage you to be brave and share your work, and are a wonderful way to connect with the amazing KidLit community.
NA: 1. Write from the heart and embrace your unique perspective.
2. Encourage diverse voices and stories to create a richer literary world.
3. Remember, every children’s story has the power to inspire and bring joy to readers of all ages.
WOW!!! Thank you all for sharing your experiences and your insights. And I know there is something amazing coming up…a delicious Middle Eastern cookie recipe!!!
Date Filling:
Enjoy your homemade Ma’amoul cookies with a cup of tea or coffee!
ME: I’ll definitely have mine with tea…and I’m excited to try them!!
And we’re not done yet, dear friends…because this amazing group of authors are also offering a plethora of GIVEAWAYS!!!
AH: I am happy to do a pb critique giveaway or a 30-minute Zoom AMA.
AP: I’d love to offer a signed copy of MOO HOO! (Mailed within the US)
SW: I’m happy to give away a signed copy of NAMING CEREMONY (mailed within the US).
BK: I’m happy to give away a signed copy of HANUKKAH HIPPITY-HOP (mailed within the continental US).
NA: I am happy to do a pb critique giveaway or a 30-minute Zoom
ME: WOW again!!! Please make sure you leave a comment (and let us know which giveaway you’d prefer if you are one of the lucky winners) and do at least ONE of these things:
Buy a copy of one of these awesome books
Review at least one of these books
Place the books on your Goodreads Want to Read Shelf
Tell friends about the books (you can share this post on your social media
Ask your library to purchase copies for their collection
And here’s a little bit about these fabulous authors and ways you can connect with them and find out more about their books!
Andrew Hacket is a writer, second-grade teacher, and father of three. He is also the author of the upcoming Ollie, the Acorn, and the Mighty Idea, Curlilocks and the Three Hares, and Hope and the Sea. Andrew recognizes that being a kid is hard and he writes to create ways for kids to see themselves in stories and characters, to accept and overcome their insecurities, or to escape for just a little while through the power of their imaginations.
Website: https://www.andrewhacket.com/
Order links: https://www.andrewhacket.com/books
@AndrewCHacket on all socials
Audrey Perrott is an award-winning children’s book author and copywriter who believes funny books are just as important as serious books and writes both in her North Carolina home. Her debut picture book MOO HOO, illustrated by Ross Burach, released April 2024 with Scholastic Press and her upcoming picture book A HAT FOR HOUSE, illustrated by Druscilla Santiago, releases November 2024 from Putnam. She writes everything from children’s non-fiction to graphic novels to adult fiction and has more books on the way! Find out more about her and her books on audreyperrott.com. She’s social too but most active on Instagram at @audreysbooksandbakes.
Barbara Kimmel is a children’s book author and playwright. Her debut HANUKKAH HIPPITY-HOP, illustrated by Ana Zurita, is available for pre-order and is scheduled to release on October 1, 2024, with Kar-Ben Publishing. PURIM POSSIBILITIES, an interactive novelty book featuring Colorforms©, is set to be published by PJ Publishing in the spring of 2026. Barbara also writes short stories for children’s magazines, including Highlights and High Five.
Pre-order HANUKKAH HIPPITY-HOP here:
Seina Wedlick is the author of NAMING CEREMONY illustrated by Jenin Mohammed (Abrams Kids, Spring 2023), THE NIGHT MARKET illustrated by Briana Mukodiri Uchendu (Random House, Fall 2024), and SPACE FOR EVERYONE illustrated by Camilla Sucre (Random House, Winter 2025).
Seina is an African-American author who enjoys writing diverse stories infused with culture and tradition. She enjoys reading to the sound of falling rain and considers herself an expert at pairing books with delicious snacks. When she’s not writing or working on special projects, Seina can be found exploring or spending time on the beach with her family. She also enjoys visiting bookstores and collecting postcards.
Pre-order THE NIGHT MARKET here.
Pre-order SPACE FOR EVERYONE here.
Purchase copies of NAMING CEREMONY here.
Website: www.seinawedlick.co
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seinawedlick/
Twitter: https://www.x.com/seinawrites
Nazneen Akbari is a debut author with a rich cultural background, blending Middle Eastern, Indian, and American influences. Her picture book, Home Away From Home, set in Oman, follows the journey of an American-Omani girl visiting her grandmother. Illustrated by Rashin Kheiriyeh, the book is slated for release in Fall 2025. By day, Nazneen serves as a foreign service officer, and currently resides in India. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, dancing, and reading. Nazneen’s work aims to bring joy and laughter to children’s literature, celebrating diverse stories and characters.
Website: https://nazneenakbari.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nazneenakbari
Twitter: https://x.com/NazneenAkbari
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Some of you might have been following my Facebook posts over the past two weeks…Vienna, Bratislava, and Prague were amazing places to visit – I had a magical time traveling with my son and look forward to our next trip…possibly early January.
VIVIAN KIRKFIELD - Writer for Children 