What's Cooking? 2023
Delicious picture books. Every recipe is different.
Hello! Let’s talk about book production. It’s quite a process to bake a picture book so what follows is a list of the books I have in the oven and how they’re cooking. (I would much rather prepare books than dinner any day.) But first
Other News
One of my favourite reads on Substack this month has been from Agents and Books, Kate McKean’s Rules. The preamble lost me but the post contained gems for aspiring and emerging creators, like this
Don’t ask your agent/editor friend to read your book without making your expectations clear.
Do you secretly hope they will deem you a genius and roll out the publishing red carpet? Do you want honest and thorough feedback? Do you want support and congrats for actually finishing it, nothing else? Don’t be coy. Don’t use a friend as a shortcut.
There’s also some specific advice for picture book authors because
Everyone and their uncle is trying to write picture book (I am included here!!!!!) and everyone thinks they can do it easily because they are short and meant for (I guess less discerning????) children, but guess what? It is the hardest genre to write and publish in, hands down.
I’m not sure if picture books are actually the hardest to write. I think we all have our lane. I can’t imagine ever writing a novel for adults with all those thousands of words but it’s a great post with good advice.
Books in the Oven
Us authors are frequently asked, Have you got any new books coming out? It’s how people show a polite interest, but it can send creators into a spin, especially when we’ve just published a book because well, a new book! A brand, new book! Can we just talk about that for a while? It’s also the reason why it’s sometimes hard to enjoy a new publication because all of a sudden when people ask, What’s next? you’ve got nothing to say anymore, and you start feeling like a fraud again.
So this newsletter is an answer to that question. (And I really do appreciate people asking. Thank you for showing an interest.) I thought it might be helpful to look at different books because every recipe is different. So, come with me. Let’s see what’s cooking.
One Little Duck (Illustrated by Danny Snell. HarperCollins, July 2023)
Usually, my stories are submitted to the publisher without illustrations but every book is different. This manuscript found its way to a publisher with the help of the SCBWI 2021 Picture Book Illustrator Award. Wonderful illustrator, Danny Snell entered his artwork along with the text in the award where it caught the eye of Lisa Berryman at HarperCollins. You can read about it on the SCBWI Blog here.
One Little Duck is ready for the printers (yay!), and it looks absolutely beautiful. Danny’s artwork is completely enchanting and Hannah Janzen’s design is perfect. It’s my first singalong story and I cannot wait to share it with everyone in July.
My Dad Thinks He’s a Pirate paperback edition (Illustrated by Tom Jellett. Walker Books Australia, Fathers Day 2023)
A new edition of the 2022 release, My Dad Thinks He’s a Pirate. The paperback version has something special in the back for added fun. It was the publisher’s idea and I’m not sure if I’m supposed to say anything further so I won’t. But it will be great. I’m pretty sure this book is also being released in the United States this year with Candlewick Press but I need to check on that.
Baby Lou (Illustrated by Karen Blair. Little Book Press).
Often, when I start a story, I write about whatever I feel like and worry about finding a publisher later but every book is different. Boutique publisher Little Book Press is the publishing arm of Raising Literacy Australia so all of their books are used in programs that support adults to share quality books with children aged five and under. It means they’re very child-focused, and their books are not only fun but also age appropriate with educational opportunities embedded. They approached me to write an engaging story about good foods for a growing baby. Basically, the character of Lou happily eats their way through the book. It’s a jolly, rhyming story as well as a resource for parents. Karen Blair’s illustrations are so adorable and make for a very sweet book (little pun). It’s also ready for the printers (yay!). I’m not sure of the release date.
Before You Were Born German edition (Illustrated by Helene Magisson. CalmeMara, Autumn 2023)
Before You Were Born will be translated into German and published in Germany. I’m curious to know how this will work with a book written in rhyme but Helene Magisson’s beautiful illustrations are so universal that I’m sure the German book will be delightful. I also love that the publisher’s website has videos of cows and pigs on the home page.
The Fifth Book in the My Dad Thinks He’s Funny series (Illustrated by Tom Jellett. Walker Books, 2024)
Most of the time, I write stand-alone books about whatever takes my fancy, but every book is different, and the My Dad series has grown way beyond what I ever imagined when I wrote the first book, My Dad Thinks He’s Funny, over ten years ago. At the time, there was nothing on the market like it and I was unsure about even finding a publisher for something so unusual. With Tom Jellett’s clever and humorous illustrations the first print run of ten thousand copies sold out within a fortnight. We originally had no plans for a series but based on the popularity of the first book the publishers asked us to create a second, and then a third, and last year we released a fourth. The 2024 release will be the fifth book in the series. I think it’s funny and like My Dad Thinks He’s a Pirate it follows a particular theme that I believe children will love. It also lends itself to great dress-up opportunities. Stay tuned. I can’t wait.
Little Book Baby (Illustrated by Cheryl Orsini. HarperCollins, February 2024)
A book for our youngest readers. I’m really excited about this one. I’ve been an admirer of Cheryl Orsini’s’ work for a while, so I was thrilled when Lisa Berryman suggested her as an illustrator for this story and even more thrilled when Cheryl said, Yes. I know this book will be beautiful.
Girls Like (Midnight Sun 2025)
I wrote this book following a conversation with a friend whose eight-year-old daughter has short hair. You would think that a girl with short hair is not especially radical or interesting in 2023 but apparently it still draws continual comment, judgment, and confusion. This text is a joyful celebration of all the different ways to embrace and enjoy girlhood. It’s not a set of instructions, a handbook with life advice, or even a collection of famous inspirational females. It’s more like a party. After being told by a larger publisher that there are enough ‘girl power’ books on the market (Seriously? After 100 years of predominantly male protagonists?) I’m grateful that Anna Solding at Midnight Sun shares my vision.
A New Non-fiction Title
This one has recently survived acquisitions and been accepted but the contract is not yet signed so my lips are sealed …
Set the timer and get ready for some yummy books! Shall we have a cup of tea while we wait?
You might also be interested in my previous newsletter on choosing a publisher.
Any questions? Ask them in the comments.
Happy cooking!
Katrina xx