WILL WRITE FOR COOKIES

INSIGHT – INFORMATION – INSPIRATION

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

TODAY’S GUEST

Getting book deals is certainly a wonderful part of this writing journey…but honestly, the best part is counting as friends so many fabulous creators and kid lit industry folk ..and today’s guest is absolutely positively one of those dear friends. I met Angela Calabrese back in 2015…so we’ve known each other for a decade! And we even met in person when she and her hubby were traveling and they stopped by my town for a visit. And, when I found out that Angie had a new book, THE PRECISE LITTLE WITCH, illustrated by Rashel Vakulina…that recently launched from Lawley Publishing, I knew I had to invite her to share a bit about herself and her writing journey with us.

And, because Angie is such a generous and kind creator, she is offering a fabulous giveaway…a PB manuscript critique to one lucky WINNER…so please make sure you leave a comment for a chance to win…and please share on your social media for extra tickets in the giveaway hat!

Angela Calabrese is a former reading specialist who loves writing heartwarming, funny and sometimes quirky stories. She believes that words are pure magic and children are her favorite audience to write for. Angela lives with her husband and demanding tabby in New York’s beautiful Hudson Valley where every season takes her breath away.

ME: Welcome to Picture Books Help Kids Soar, dear Angie. I know everyone is excited to find out a little bit more about you, so let’s begin!
Who were your favorite authors/illustrators when you were a child? 

ANGIE: Thank you so much for having me, Vivian! I’m excited for this fun new book, and I’m thrilled to be here on your blog. You are such a vivacious cheerleader to every kidlit author. You’ve personally given me encouragement and enthusiasm on my writing journey. I want to publicly thank you for constantly “paying it forward”  and being a breath of fresh air. You are a treasure!  
To answer the first question, I loved all of Peggy Parish’s Amelia Bedelia books. Her playful way of depicting figurative and literal language was really fun and the illustrations were hilarious. 

Louisa May Alcott was another author I admired. I’ll never forget being in fourth grade sitting on my grandmother’s green easy chair, reading the last chapter of Little Women. I thought, What will I do now without the March sisters in my life? I was so sad to come to the end of that story. 

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

ANGIE: I wish I had attended conferences sooner. The amazing camaraderie and energy at these events were palpable! The first one I had ever gone to was held in the Poconos. I was on cloud nine for weeks after I got home, pumped up and ready to apply what I had learned from seasoned writers.

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

ANGIE: I have a small office on the second floor of my home. It’s got a computer, a bookcase that houses my conference notes and notebooks with each WIP I’m working on, a wall hanging of a tabby cat, and some sentimental framed photos of my family. I painted it a calm shade of green (my favorite color). 

When the weather’s too beautiful to stay inside, I set up my laptop in my yard, make sure the birds and squirrels have a substantial breakfast, and channel my writing energy.

During the summer, paper and pencil are used when I’m at the beach or pool. That’s a treat for me since it feels organic to physically write down each word. 

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

ANGIE: It varies depending on what’s going on in my life. I’m not extremely regimented with set times and days. If I’ve suddenly stumbled upon a new idea for a story and want to strike while the iron is hot, it would be at that exact time that I’d start writing. I’ve staggered out of bed late at night just to jot down a great idea (I’ve learned the hard way not to wait until morning when I’ve totally forgotten what it was).

ME: Why do you write for children? 

ANGIE: I want children to see parts of themselves and their families in my stories. Characters in my books tackle challenging situations but always push through to the other side stronger and wiser. That’s a powerful message for kids to absorb.

My former special education students struggled in many aspects of their lives. I’ve seen where a particular book became their lifeline in certain ways. If my book helps a child feel better about themselves or their circumstances, I couldn’t ask for much more. 

Some of my other stories purely entertain and (hopefully) evoke laughter and levity. In this complex world where kids are burdened with many stressors, a book that brings a smile to their faces is sometimes just as important as a serious one.

ME: Also, if you have any thoughts or advice for aspiring writers, please share. 

ANGIE: For aspiring writers…

Realize from the get-go that your writing journey is a process and you’ll encounter many bumps in the road. That includes a healthy dose of rejections. 

Improve your craft by attending conferences, watching webinars, joining a critique group that meets your needs, and READING tons of books in your genre.

 Embrace revisions. Glean from feedback but only change what resonates with you. There is an element of subjectivity with writing so everyone’s “take” on a manuscript may be different. However, if four writers or editors zero in on the same part of your story as needing some tweaks, I’d suggest examining it with as much objectivity as possible. 

Hold those naysayers at bay. Surround yourself with positive writers and friends. Push through the times you might doubt your creativity. Celebrate little successes even if it’s some positive feedback on one of your manuscripts. And most of all, never, never, never give up!

ME: Where did you get the idea for this book?

ANGIE: My father was a man who needed everything to be in its place. He had a “lending” system in his garage where we would have to write our name, date, and item borrowed in a little notebook perched on his garage worktable. After a few days, he’d gently remind me that the hammer was due back soon.

 Helping Dad rake leaves was quite the experience. My siblings and I thought we were done but if he spied an airborne leaf floating its way towards the ground, we’d have to wait for it to fall and rake it up with the others. Years later, I remembered that and thought, What if a little witch had a similar proclivity for order? How would her witch friends react? That’s how THE PRECISE LITTLE WITCH was conceived. 

My dedication reads:  To my beloved, quirky dad who always had his heart in the right place and kept his three little ducks in a row. 

ME: Aww…that touches my heart, dear Angie…and I think kids will connect with this story and it will touch their hearts, too.

And dear blog followers, we are not done yet…because Angie has a wonderful cookie recipe to share with us…take it away, Angie!

ANGIE: These cookies look fancy and are easy to make (not to mention they’re scrumptious)

GRAM’S GRAHAM CRACKER DELIGHTS

INGREDIENTS:

12 whole graham crackers

1/2 lb butter

1 cup brown sugar

1 1/2 tea. vanilla

1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

DIRECTIONS:

1. Melt butter in saucepan.

2. Add sugar and nuts

3. Bring to a boil for around 2 minutes

4. Lay whole graham crackers on an ungreased cookie sheet

5.Pour butter mixture over crackers. Evenly distribute the nuts.

6. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

7. Cut them while still hot.

Thank you all for spending your precious time with us. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend…and, if you have a few minutes, please help this and other new books become a success…you can:
Buy the book
Review the book
Tell friends about the book
Ask your local library to purchase copies for their collection

And don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance to WIN the fabulous CRITIQUE GIVEAWAY from Angie! Please share the post for extra tickets in the giveaway hat!

Please stop by next week for a Book Birthday for Danna Zeiger…and a Perfect Picture Book Friday for Rachelle Burk.