Happy National Author’s Day!
Today is a day to celebrate those who create the books we love. If you’re like me and love to read, then you have a long list of authors to celebrate.
For me, it’s also a pinch-me-I’m-actually-one-of-those day! I dreamed of having books out in the world for years before I had the courage to pursue my dream and get down to business. I’d done my research and knew that it would take a lot of drafting and revising and revising and revising — REPEAT!! to polish a manuscript that would catch an editor’s eye. Looking back, I’m so glad that I took the leap and persevered. Now I can say, “Hooray! I’m an author!”
Fun Stuff
I have three sisters. There are less than five years from the oldest to the youngest which helped us develop a treasured friendship that has lasted into adulthood.
Here’s my favorite photo of us as kids.
Each of my sisters has wonderful talents. But for this newsletter, I’m highlighting my sister, Cari, because she used her exceptional creativity to make these incredible book-related stepping stones for me.
Insanely awesome, right? Did you happen to notice that she included a penny in each work of art? A penny for Penny!
I shared two of these on social media a few years ago but since the book deal for Spider Lady: Nan Songer and Her Arachnid WWII Army (coming spring 2025) hadn’t been announced yet, this is the first time I’m sharing that stepping stone. Psst! I hear there might be a stepping stone for my upcoming Christmas book!
Speaking of Spider Lady, it’s time for a tiny sneak peek at the art-in-progress. The illustrator, Anne Lambelet, is unbelievably talented and perfect for this story! As you’ll see, this book is going to be a beauty!
I imagine you are as wowed as I am by her work. The detail! The color pallet! It’s thrilling!
If You’ve Got Questions, I’ve Got Answers
(Specifically, I’ve got answers to questions about my journey as an author.)
Whether I’m visiting students at a school or talking to a group of adults, they have a lot of questions. So I thought it would be fun to feature some of those questions in my newsletter. Here we go with one question that I get asked a lot.
How long does it take you to write a book?
Years! Yes, all of my books have taken years. I know picture books are short and seem simple but that’s because we’re reading the work of an author who spent years on the complicated process of writing and rewriting a story and considering every single word to perfect the simplicity we see on the page. I do work on several manuscripts at a time and a manuscript may sit for months as I consider ways to strengthen the story. Somtimes I come back to them years later after they’ve been on submission and editors have rejected my manuscript but have made valuable comments that lead to revision. Here are the specifics for my manuscripts that have landed a book contract.
There Was an Old Dragon Who Swallowed a Knight (A little over three years.)
First draft - April 2012
Published - August 2015
A Cooked-Up Fairy Tale (A little under six years.)
First draft - November 2011
Published - September 2017
Merry Christmas, Dear Mars (A little under 13 years.)
First draft - December 2011
Will be published - Fall 2024
Spider Lady: Nan Songer and Her Arachnid WWII Army (A little over seven years.)
First draft - February 2018
Will be published - Spring 2025
By the way, if you have questions about publishing or writing or one of my books, ask away. Subscribers just reply to this newsletter with your question/s. I’ll include answers in future newsletters.
And that’s my 2¢ for today! As always, thanks for reading.
Penny
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