*Always LIVE, never recorded—because 1) protecting creative copyright is important, and 2) because the old-school-Saturday-monring-cartoons-live-and-in-person-energy is totally RAD!
Tuesday, July 4, 2023
Super Story Time JULY
*Always LIVE, never recorded—because 1) protecting creative copyright is important, and 2) because the old-school-Saturday-monring-cartoons-live-and-in-person-energy is totally RAD!
Super Star Interviews: Mónica Vidalón
Welcome to my monthly interview feature! I’m so excited to be interviewing all the fabulous artists, illustrators and designers I’ve meet over the years (both personally and virtually!) and sharing their artwork and experiences here on Bird Meets Worm. Look for a new interview on the first Tuesday of every month.
This month I'm pleased as punch to be catching up with the lovely author-illustrator Mónica Vidalón. Mónica's new picture book, Penelope’s Big Dream, is her debut as a children's book indie publisher and an inspiration for creators dreaming of publishing their own books, too. Born and raised in Perú, she moved to the United States at the age of 24 to continue her studies. She currently lives with her husband and three daughters in sunny Texas, where she spends her days writing and illustrating children’s books. You can follow Mónica on Instagram here.
Q: Your adorable picture book, Penelope’s Big Dream, released this past spring in both English and Spanish. Dish with us about this sweet title and what inspired you to create it!
A: Thank you! Penelope’s Big Dream is a story about a girl who dares to dream BIG, so BIG that she starts to feel embarrassed by it. Eventually she finds herself with an important decision to make.
My inspiration to write this book came from what I have felt many times, not only as a young girl but also as a grown woman, and the example I would like to set for my children. I want them to have the courage to dream big and the self-awareness and determination to pursue it. The goal for this book was to create a heartfelt story that readers (young and old) can relate to and I wanted to draw simple but expressive illustrations to help tell the story.
(Psst! You can get your own copy of Penelope's Big Dream here:)
This month I'm pleased as punch to be catching up with the lovely author-illustrator Mónica Vidalón. Mónica's new picture book, Penelope’s Big Dream, is her debut as a children's book indie publisher and an inspiration for creators dreaming of publishing their own books, too. Born and raised in Perú, she moved to the United States at the age of 24 to continue her studies. She currently lives with her husband and three daughters in sunny Texas, where she spends her days writing and illustrating children’s books. You can follow Mónica on Instagram here.
Q: Your adorable picture book, Penelope’s Big Dream, released this past spring in both English and Spanish. Dish with us about this sweet title and what inspired you to create it!
A: Thank you! Penelope’s Big Dream is a story about a girl who dares to dream BIG, so BIG that she starts to feel embarrassed by it. Eventually she finds herself with an important decision to make.
My inspiration to write this book came from what I have felt many times, not only as a young girl but also as a grown woman, and the example I would like to set for my children. I want them to have the courage to dream big and the self-awareness and determination to pursue it. The goal for this book was to create a heartfelt story that readers (young and old) can relate to and I wanted to draw simple but expressive illustrations to help tell the story.
(Psst! You can get your own copy of Penelope's Big Dream here:)
Amazon
Q: What was your most treasured picture book as a child? What is your most favorite picture book now? Why?
A: As a child, I enjoyed reading El Patito Feo (The Ugly Duckling) over and over again. I loved how at the end, he turned out to be a beautiful swan. He was all along who he was meant to be. He just needed to find his tribe.
Nowadays, there are so many great picture books that it is hard for me to choose just one. The first one that comes to mind is Mama Do You Love Me? by Barbara M. Joosse because it touches my heart every time I read it. I think the unconditional love that a mother feels toward her child is spot on. The story is heartwarming, fun to read aloud, and has beautiful illustrations featuring the Inuit culture.
Q: What is next for you as an author-illustrator-publisher? What new books or products can fans look forward to in the future?
A: I’m excited to share that a new book is in the works. I have completed the Spanish version and I’m currently working on the English version as well as the illustrations. It is part of an overall series intended to share positive messages with young readers. Writing children’s books has been a dream of mine for a long time and it is truly amazing to be able to pursue it now.
Q: Describe your most perfect Sunday.
A: My most perfect Sunday involves waking up early and going for a short run or playing tennis. Followed by a nice brunch with the family and a visit to the bookstore. In the afternoon, we relax and read for a bit, and to finish up the day, we watch a family movie (popcorn included, of course!).
Q: Tell us a bit about your most favorite reader response that you’ve received so far!
A: Of course, I love all the children’s responses. One of my favorites is a video of a little girl reading the book and her expressions and intonation truly warmed my heart. It was so precious! But my most favorite so far, because it was so unexpected, came from a grown man who confessed he was feeling a little down and reading my book made him feel better. It reminded him of the importance of living his life to the fullest. It really made my day to hear that my book helped somebody feel better.
A: Of course, I love all the children’s responses. One of my favorites is a video of a little girl reading the book and her expressions and intonation truly warmed my heart. It was so precious! But my most favorite so far, because it was so unexpected, came from a grown man who confessed he was feeling a little down and reading my book made him feel better. It reminded him of the importance of living his life to the fullest. It really made my day to hear that my book helped somebody feel better.
 |
| Nevermind the naysayers! YOUR dream is important, valid & wonderful! |
Q: Self-publishing children’s books is becoming increasingly popular! What advice would you give fellow author-illustrators about: 1) the self-publishing process, 2) inspiring positive book reviews, and 3) marketing your book?
A: Those are great questions and hard for me to answer because I’m still in the process of learning how to navigate all of this myself.
Self-publishing can be a daunting process but if you set your mind to it you can definitely do it. In my experience, persistence, lots of research and showing up to work every day have been keys to self-published my book.
As for reviews and marketing, I’m trying to spread the word about the book through different channels, including social media, emails, mouth to mouth, my author website and getting as many people as I can to read it. In all honesty, there is a vast amount of information on how to market a book that I have yet to explore.
A: Those are great questions and hard for me to answer because I’m still in the process of learning how to navigate all of this myself.
Self-publishing can be a daunting process but if you set your mind to it you can definitely do it. In my experience, persistence, lots of research and showing up to work every day have been keys to self-published my book.
As for reviews and marketing, I’m trying to spread the word about the book through different channels, including social media, emails, mouth to mouth, my author website and getting as many people as I can to read it. In all honesty, there is a vast amount of information on how to market a book that I have yet to explore.
 |
| Oops! This fella just needs a bigger doorway/car! ;D |
Q: What was your most treasured picture book as a child? What is your most favorite picture book now? Why?
A: As a child, I enjoyed reading El Patito Feo (The Ugly Duckling) over and over again. I loved how at the end, he turned out to be a beautiful swan. He was all along who he was meant to be. He just needed to find his tribe.
Nowadays, there are so many great picture books that it is hard for me to choose just one. The first one that comes to mind is Mama Do You Love Me? by Barbara M. Joosse because it touches my heart every time I read it. I think the unconditional love that a mother feels toward her child is spot on. The story is heartwarming, fun to read aloud, and has beautiful illustrations featuring the Inuit culture.
 |
| Hug your dream close!!! |
Q: What is next for you as an author-illustrator-publisher? What new books or products can fans look forward to in the future?
A: I’m excited to share that a new book is in the works. I have completed the Spanish version and I’m currently working on the English version as well as the illustrations. It is part of an overall series intended to share positive messages with young readers. Writing children’s books has been a dream of mine for a long time and it is truly amazing to be able to pursue it now.
Q: Describe your most perfect Sunday.
A: My most perfect Sunday involves waking up early and going for a short run or playing tennis. Followed by a nice brunch with the family and a visit to the bookstore. In the afternoon, we relax and read for a bit, and to finish up the day, we watch a family movie (popcorn included, of course!).
Thanks so much, Mónica, for chatting it up with us here at Bird Meets Worm! Congratulations on your sweet picture book!
Thursday, June 15, 2023
I Love Doughnuts with Frosting & Sprinkles
Things that make me happy: unicorns, donuts & bright colors! Yay! © Jane Smith
Monday, June 12, 2023
Super Story Time JUNE
MARK YOUR CALENDARS: Super Story Time LIVE* is back on WED 6/14 @ 10am EST over on Instagram. We'll be celebrating the spring season in stories! I'll be reading my picture book, MISS MEOW! And the one & only master of good vibes, Lala Watkins, will be joining me to read her picture book, IZMELDA!
Let's read & have fun TOGETHER!
*Always LIVE, never recorded—because 1) protecting creative copyright is important, and 2) because the old-school-Saturday-monring-cartoons-live-and-in-person-energy is totally RAD!
Tuesday, June 6, 2023
Super Star Interviews: Colleen Kong-Savage
Welcome to my monthly interview feature! I’m so excited to be interviewing all the fabulous artists, illustrators and designers I’ve meet over the years (both personally and virtually!) and sharing their artwork and experiences here on Bird Meets Worm. Look for a new interview on the first Tuesday of every month.
This month I'm tickled pea flower tea purple to be chatting it up with the super star author-illustrator, Colleen Kong-Savage! I had the pleasure of hitting it off with Colleen at the Highlights Foundation illustration summer camp last year, and her artwork is gorgeous, shape-driven collage. Can you say fabulous?! Colleen is a New York-based author-illustrator, graphic designer, muralist and art teacher. Her debut children's book title as an author-illustrator, Piano Wants to Play, releases in March 2024 with Page Street Kids. You can visit more of her fabulous artwork here.
Q: I simply adore your gorgeous, detailed artwork and its’ unique layering of paper collage, patterns and textures. Dish with us a bit about your creative process—inspiration to sketches to fully realized color artwork.
A: Thank you, Jane 🥰. Rough sketches are always on paper with pencil or pen. It’s easiest to think with that medium. But final sketches are in Procreate on my iPad.
I make several copies of the final line drawing. These copies act as templates. Some I use to cut the shapes from colored/decorative paper. Then I lay shapes I cut against another copy to know where those shapes go in relation to each other. I tack pieces together lightly. If I glue them down solidly, the image flattens out, which I don’t want. The dimensionality of the layered papers is what I love about collage.
Procreate is also good for figuring out color schemes ahead of time. Trial and error in collage IRL is a drag.
Q: Your graphic style and talent for working with shapes and composition are highlighted in your mural work around NYC. Tell us a bit about your MOST favorite mural you’ve worked on, and how did it influence your children’s book work?
A: My current favorite mural is in South Bronx Community Charter High School. It was my first design as a teaching mural artist. At 14 x 44 ft., it’s the most enormous thing I ever got to work on (for a long time, I had given up working large because who has space for big art in NYC?). I love knowing this mural is “living” with the school community because I often see it in the background of the school’s IG posts of events.
I’m not sure how murals have affected my kid lit, but I know kid lit affects my murals. Illustrator Pat Cummings generously invited me to sit in on her class when art director Mallory Grigg visited to offer her wisdom to students. Mallory pointed out how a flat horizon line is like death to a composition. Flat horizons are boring and static. My mural design is all rolling waves because of that class. There’s so much energy in the Bronx, I needed to reflect that.
Q: You have lots of experience working with kids through both your experiences teaching art in NYC high schools and doing school & library visits as an author-illustrator. What do you think makes an author-illustrator visit successful from the kids’ point of view?
A: Make space for questions, going both ways. Just like in a conversation where it’s hard to be the listener all the time, it can be hard to stay focused when you have an adult simply talking at you. But if you ask kids questions, you are directly inviting an audience to engage. And if they ask you questions, you know they’re interested. That exchange of ideas and opinions is where connection is made.
Q: Tell us a bit about your typical workday as a freelance creative—routines, rituals & practical practices. Set the scene for us, too—what does your creative workspace look & feel like?
A: I bounce around a lot, between different schools for mural projects. Not gonna lie—earning a living as a teaching artist is a huge detractor from my kid lit work.
Recently, I got to meet Dan Yaccarino, who asked me what I was working on. He all but scolded me when I answered: hmmm, now that I’m just waiting for proofs for Piano Wants to Play maybe it is time to start another manuscript. “You should always have something in the works,” he said.
So now I’m trying to build routine: devote just 30 mins a day to either writing or sketching for a story. This is my baby pushup to becoming a stronger creative. As a creative, you have to make a lot of spaghetti to throw at the wall. Kid lit is a marathon of spaghetti.
As for workspace, I’m lucky I live in a big bright apt that I can both live and work in. But work makes home a bit messy, too. Apologies to anyone who lives with me.
Q: Looking ahead, your newest picture book, Piano Wants to Play, releases in March 2024—very exciting! Give us the full scoop on this beautiful project that is your debut as both author & illustrator, and what plans do you have for sharing it with the world?
A: One of my thoughts when creating it was, I wonder what would motivate a child to practice. In my book, Piano is a sympathetic character because I want readers to want to spend time with the instrument. Someone in my critique workshop said they started apologizing to their own piano for neglecting it after reading my manuscript, which tickled me. But then one publisher rejected the manuscript precisely because they worried the story would guilt trip young readers. I’m glad Page Street Kids didn’t have an issue with that!
Another thought I had in creating this book is, what does it mean to be heard? Humans are expressive beings. We have voices we can use whenever we have something to say. But what if we aren’t able to use our voice? Our existence is incomplete when we cannot say what needs to be said.
I’m not sure about plans for sharing it with the world yet 😅. Marketing is not my forte. I did join a small band of kid lit authors and illustrators called PB Parade. Our books cover a diverse range of subjects and styles, but they’re all coming 2024. We’ve joined forces to make a conscious effort to crow about each other’s accomplishments on social media.
Q: Describe your most perfect Sunday.
A: The perfect Sunday needs to be longer than 24 hours because my days off feel shorter and shorter the older I get. I love walks and sitting by the river with my partner, philosophizing and observing human nature. And eating. I love eating.
While I love making art, so much of my job is art that sometimes creativity just feels like work. It’s a real treat when I feel myself being pulled by a project that exists purely to amuse me—a linocut print, a gingerbread house, collage of an idea knocking about my head. It’s important to stay in touch with that desire to create.
This month I'm tickled pea flower tea purple to be chatting it up with the super star author-illustrator, Colleen Kong-Savage! I had the pleasure of hitting it off with Colleen at the Highlights Foundation illustration summer camp last year, and her artwork is gorgeous, shape-driven collage. Can you say fabulous?! Colleen is a New York-based author-illustrator, graphic designer, muralist and art teacher. Her debut children's book title as an author-illustrator, Piano Wants to Play, releases in March 2024 with Page Street Kids. You can visit more of her fabulous artwork here.
 |
| And we want to listen! How about some ragtime jazz?! |
Q: I simply adore your gorgeous, detailed artwork and its’ unique layering of paper collage, patterns and textures. Dish with us a bit about your creative process—inspiration to sketches to fully realized color artwork.
A: Thank you, Jane 🥰. Rough sketches are always on paper with pencil or pen. It’s easiest to think with that medium. But final sketches are in Procreate on my iPad.
I make several copies of the final line drawing. These copies act as templates. Some I use to cut the shapes from colored/decorative paper. Then I lay shapes I cut against another copy to know where those shapes go in relation to each other. I tack pieces together lightly. If I glue them down solidly, the image flattens out, which I don’t want. The dimensionality of the layered papers is what I love about collage.
Procreate is also good for figuring out color schemes ahead of time. Trial and error in collage IRL is a drag.
 |
| Love the contrast between the big, wide sky and the bustling crowd! |
Q: Your graphic style and talent for working with shapes and composition are highlighted in your mural work around NYC. Tell us a bit about your MOST favorite mural you’ve worked on, and how did it influence your children’s book work?
A: My current favorite mural is in South Bronx Community Charter High School. It was my first design as a teaching mural artist. At 14 x 44 ft., it’s the most enormous thing I ever got to work on (for a long time, I had given up working large because who has space for big art in NYC?). I love knowing this mural is “living” with the school community because I often see it in the background of the school’s IG posts of events.
I’m not sure how murals have affected my kid lit, but I know kid lit affects my murals. Illustrator Pat Cummings generously invited me to sit in on her class when art director Mallory Grigg visited to offer her wisdom to students. Mallory pointed out how a flat horizon line is like death to a composition. Flat horizons are boring and static. My mural design is all rolling waves because of that class. There’s so much energy in the Bronx, I needed to reflect that.
 |
| This has ALL the happy vibes! |
Q: You have lots of experience working with kids through both your experiences teaching art in NYC high schools and doing school & library visits as an author-illustrator. What do you think makes an author-illustrator visit successful from the kids’ point of view?
A: Make space for questions, going both ways. Just like in a conversation where it’s hard to be the listener all the time, it can be hard to stay focused when you have an adult simply talking at you. But if you ask kids questions, you are directly inviting an audience to engage. And if they ask you questions, you know they’re interested. That exchange of ideas and opinions is where connection is made.
Q: Tell us a bit about your typical workday as a freelance creative—routines, rituals & practical practices. Set the scene for us, too—what does your creative workspace look & feel like?
A: I bounce around a lot, between different schools for mural projects. Not gonna lie—earning a living as a teaching artist is a huge detractor from my kid lit work.
Recently, I got to meet Dan Yaccarino, who asked me what I was working on. He all but scolded me when I answered: hmmm, now that I’m just waiting for proofs for Piano Wants to Play maybe it is time to start another manuscript. “You should always have something in the works,” he said.
So now I’m trying to build routine: devote just 30 mins a day to either writing or sketching for a story. This is my baby pushup to becoming a stronger creative. As a creative, you have to make a lot of spaghetti to throw at the wall. Kid lit is a marathon of spaghetti.
As for workspace, I’m lucky I live in a big bright apt that I can both live and work in. But work makes home a bit messy, too. Apologies to anyone who lives with me.
 |
| "I'll meow the chorus!" mews Kitty, tapping her paws! |
Q: Looking ahead, your newest picture book, Piano Wants to Play, releases in March 2024—very exciting! Give us the full scoop on this beautiful project that is your debut as both author & illustrator, and what plans do you have for sharing it with the world?
A: One of my thoughts when creating it was, I wonder what would motivate a child to practice. In my book, Piano is a sympathetic character because I want readers to want to spend time with the instrument. Someone in my critique workshop said they started apologizing to their own piano for neglecting it after reading my manuscript, which tickled me. But then one publisher rejected the manuscript precisely because they worried the story would guilt trip young readers. I’m glad Page Street Kids didn’t have an issue with that!
Another thought I had in creating this book is, what does it mean to be heard? Humans are expressive beings. We have voices we can use whenever we have something to say. But what if we aren’t able to use our voice? Our existence is incomplete when we cannot say what needs to be said.
I’m not sure about plans for sharing it with the world yet 😅. Marketing is not my forte. I did join a small band of kid lit authors and illustrators called PB Parade. Our books cover a diverse range of subjects and styles, but they’re all coming 2024. We’ve joined forces to make a conscious effort to crow about each other’s accomplishments on social media.
(Psst! You can pre-order your very own copy here now:)
 |
| Watch out! Those notes are really flying! |
Q: Describe your most perfect Sunday.
A: The perfect Sunday needs to be longer than 24 hours because my days off feel shorter and shorter the older I get. I love walks and sitting by the river with my partner, philosophizing and observing human nature. And eating. I love eating.
While I love making art, so much of my job is art that sometimes creativity just feels like work. It’s a real treat when I feel myself being pulled by a project that exists purely to amuse me—a linocut print, a gingerbread house, collage of an idea knocking about my head. It’s important to stay in touch with that desire to create.
Thanks so much for catching up with us here at Bird Meets Worm, Colleen! You rock! Congrats on Piano Wants to Play!
Tuesday, May 23, 2023
Summer Edition of the Super Readers Club Newsletter
The summer edition of my Super Readers Club newsletter comes out in a little more than ONE WEEK! And I’m super excited because it’s full of SO much fun stuff—including a fab Would You Rather quiz for kids and a new Kitty & Cat comic. You don't want to miss it:
• Sign up for the newsletter here: https://superreadersclub.substack.com/
Tuesday, May 2, 2023
Super Star Interviews: Jarrett Lerner
Welcome to my monthly interview feature! I’m so excited to be interviewing all the fabulous artists, illustrators and designers I’ve meet over the years (both personally and virtually!) and sharing their artwork and experiences here on Bird Meets Worm. Look for a new interview on the first Tuesday of every month.
Q: Your new middle grade novel, A Work In Progress, releases this month with Simon & Schuster, and it just might be your most personal yet, tackling important topics like body shaming and disordered eating. Give us the full scoop on your new book—what’s it all about, and how did it come to be.
A: I’ve been trying to write this book–or a version of it–since college. It definitely is my most personal story. It is, in large part, my story. The book, told in poetry, prose, and illustrations–it is formatted as if you are peeking into the main character’s private notebook–is the story of one kid’s journey to self-acceptance and self-love.
In elementary school, Will Chambers is publicly shamed for the size and shape of his body. This trauma is internalized, and over the course of the next few years, he becomes his own bully–and, to paraphrase Will’s own words, he does the job better than anyone else possibly could. Will, essentially, wages war on his body. He develops a number of disordered eating habits and even struggles with body dysmorphia, seeing himself as a monster in a middle school filled with “normal” kids. I won’t give too much away, but things get pretty dark for Will before he meets a kind, caring soul who offers him some insight and guidance on how to find some light.
Q: Your graphic novel chapter book series, The Hunger Heroes, also addresses issues surrounding food, but is geared toward a younger audience and has a lighter tone. How do the two projects creatively relate to each other from your point of view as the creator?
A: That’s a wonderful question. Food is the common denominator in my work–it appears, in one way or another, in just about every single one of my books. That’s because it is one of the great themes of my life. I love food. I love cooking and baking it, and I love eating it. It’s one of the things that brings me the greatest joy and pleasure in my life.
Q: A Work in Progress is a very intense read. The reader is often carried along by main character, Will’s, emotional inner dialogue. How did you, as the author-illustrator, embrace the emotional flow of the story, while also working to control & direct it?
A: Wow–what a question! It’s a hard one to answer. Because I think the truest, most honest answer is...I don’t know. This book was a bear. A wild, often angry bear. And working on the book was kind of like a wrestling match between me and that bear. The work of controlling and directing the emotional flow of the story, as you put it–it took me a longer and was harder than any other book I’ve ever wrote.
Q: What advice would you give fellow author-illustrators looking to develop similar projects that tackle tough issues, while also bringing in an autobiographical component?
A: Be kind to yourself. Take it slow. And make sure to take advantage of whatever support system you’ve got in place. I didn’t expect the creation of this book to be as tough for me as it was. It was extremely challenging–both the crafting of the story, but also the emotional and psychological toll that crafting took on me. Sitting in and sifting through past trauma–it’s not fun. It’s hard, rough work. You can’t just do it for a couple hours, then get up from your desk and emerge untouched by it. It clings to you. Hangs around. And it wasn’t until I recognized that, until I made a conscious effort to address and lessen the negative effects of it all, that the process really became bearable. So, yeah–especially if you’ve never worked on a project like it before, give yourself plenty of grace, and don’t dive into it haphazardly.
Q: What do you hope readers will take away from A Work in Progress?
A: I hope they have a lot of takeaways from the book. And one of my favorite things about making books is that their readers always take things away from them that I couldn’t have ever anticipated. But if I had to pick one thing, I hope it’s this: that we are all works in progress. We are all just doing our darnedest to be our best, truest selves. And the more we can acknowledge, recognize, and respect that about both ourselves and others–the more grace we can give both ourselves and others as we all continue our individual journeys–the better.
Q: Describe your most perfect summer vacation.
A: I’m fortunate that I’ve gotten to take my most perfect summer vacation a handful of times! My family often heads up to Maine for a week or two during the summer. We rent a place close to the beach, and spend our days by the water, getting ice cream, cooking and eating meals outdoors, taking things nice and slow and never having too much of a strict plan.
This month it's my pleasure to catching up with the rock star author-illustrator, Jarrett Lerner, and we're chatting all about his new heartfelt, gut-punch of a book, A Work in Progress. Jarrett is the award-winning creator of the EngiNerds series of middle grade novels, the Geeger the Robot series of early chapter books, the activity books Give This Book a Title and Give This Book a Cover, The Hunger Heroes series of graphic novel chapter books, and the Nat the Cat series of early readers. All of Jarrett’s books are published by Simon & Schuster. He lives with his wife and daughters in Massachusetts. You can visit more of his work here. You can also follow him on Twitter and Instagram.
 |
| Always moving forward, one step at a time... |
Q: Your new middle grade novel, A Work In Progress, releases this month with Simon & Schuster, and it just might be your most personal yet, tackling important topics like body shaming and disordered eating. Give us the full scoop on your new book—what’s it all about, and how did it come to be.
A: I’ve been trying to write this book–or a version of it–since college. It definitely is my most personal story. It is, in large part, my story. The book, told in poetry, prose, and illustrations–it is formatted as if you are peeking into the main character’s private notebook–is the story of one kid’s journey to self-acceptance and self-love.
In elementary school, Will Chambers is publicly shamed for the size and shape of his body. This trauma is internalized, and over the course of the next few years, he becomes his own bully–and, to paraphrase Will’s own words, he does the job better than anyone else possibly could. Will, essentially, wages war on his body. He develops a number of disordered eating habits and even struggles with body dysmorphia, seeing himself as a monster in a middle school filled with “normal” kids. I won’t give too much away, but things get pretty dark for Will before he meets a kind, caring soul who offers him some insight and guidance on how to find some light.
(Psst! You can get your very own copy here:)
A: That’s a wonderful question. Food is the common denominator in my work–it appears, in one way or another, in just about every single one of my books. That’s because it is one of the great themes of my life. I love food. I love cooking and baking it, and I love eating it. It’s one of the things that brings me the greatest joy and pleasure in my life.
But just like Will, I have a complicated relationship with food. Like Will, I struggled as a kid–and still often struggle as an adult–with my body and how and what I eat. I think food appears in so many of my books because it is so important to me.
The Hunger Heroes series investigates situations in which kids want food and are unable to get it. A Work in Progress is about someone who systematically denies themselves it. My EngiNerds series is, in large part, about the importance of and power of food. And my Geeger the Robot series, I hope, creates increased consciousness around the food we eat and the food we waste. Food, food, food! It’s everywhere. And not I’ve gotten myself hungry...
Q: A Work in Progress is a very intense read. The reader is often carried along by main character, Will’s, emotional inner dialogue. How did you, as the author-illustrator, embrace the emotional flow of the story, while also working to control & direct it?
A: Wow–what a question! It’s a hard one to answer. Because I think the truest, most honest answer is...I don’t know. This book was a bear. A wild, often angry bear. And working on the book was kind of like a wrestling match between me and that bear. The work of controlling and directing the emotional flow of the story, as you put it–it took me a longer and was harder than any other book I’ve ever wrote.
And I couldn’t have done it (maybe this is the key) without a team. My wife. My agent. My editor. I relied on them regularly. I’d tap out of the wrestling match and share with them, and they’d sort of help me get some perspective, see if what I was doing was working–if I was, you know, actually taming the bear or just temporarily subduing it, only to have it rear up with even more anger and energy.
Okay: I’ll drop the metaphor now. But truly, if it was just me, if I hadn’t had a team of incredible, caring, brilliant people around me, I never would’ve finished this book. I earnestly tried to write it, first back in college, and then probably half a dozen times between then and now, and because I hadn’t had that team around me, I failed. I gave up. And I am fairly certain I would’ve given up this time, too, had I not had the people I am lucky enough to have in my work and personal life.
Q: What advice would you give fellow author-illustrators looking to develop similar projects that tackle tough issues, while also bringing in an autobiographical component?
A: Be kind to yourself. Take it slow. And make sure to take advantage of whatever support system you’ve got in place. I didn’t expect the creation of this book to be as tough for me as it was. It was extremely challenging–both the crafting of the story, but also the emotional and psychological toll that crafting took on me. Sitting in and sifting through past trauma–it’s not fun. It’s hard, rough work. You can’t just do it for a couple hours, then get up from your desk and emerge untouched by it. It clings to you. Hangs around. And it wasn’t until I recognized that, until I made a conscious effort to address and lessen the negative effects of it all, that the process really became bearable. So, yeah–especially if you’ve never worked on a project like it before, give yourself plenty of grace, and don’t dive into it haphazardly.
Q: What do you hope readers will take away from A Work in Progress?
A: I hope they have a lot of takeaways from the book. And one of my favorite things about making books is that their readers always take things away from them that I couldn’t have ever anticipated. But if I had to pick one thing, I hope it’s this: that we are all works in progress. We are all just doing our darnedest to be our best, truest selves. And the more we can acknowledge, recognize, and respect that about both ourselves and others–the more grace we can give both ourselves and others as we all continue our individual journeys–the better.
Q: Describe your most perfect summer vacation.
A: I’m fortunate that I’ve gotten to take my most perfect summer vacation a handful of times! My family often heads up to Maine for a week or two during the summer. We rent a place close to the beach, and spend our days by the water, getting ice cream, cooking and eating meals outdoors, taking things nice and slow and never having too much of a strict plan.
Thank you so much, Jarrett, for chatting with us here at Bird Meets Worm! Congratulations on A Work in Progress!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)