 We are so excited to host Nada Shawish Dutka on our blog today. We asked her about her debut picture book, Cookies and Crescent, which just released! It is illustrated by Zelma Firdauzia and published by Abrams Kids KLiC: What are your favorite illustrations in Cookies and Crescents? NSD: This is my favorite spread in Cookies and Crescents: Reem and Sara are sitting on the lawn of Reem’s new home. The reader is behind them, and the two characters and the reader pause to look up and see the bright new moon for the first time together. For me, the illustration captures seeing something as new again, as though seeing it for the first time. I love the idea that after the hustle-and-bustle of a city, a big move, and big emotions about big changes, a new perspective can culminate in a quiet moment like this one. Zelma Firdauzia illustrated this scene so, so beautifully. KLiC: Do you have any tips for pre-published authors? NSD: Authorship is scary! Book-making is a long process, you have to put yourself out there after a lot of laboring and iterating over your writing, and people will judge you and your book. Three best tips I got when I started: 1. Work on your craft; 2. Do your research (and read a lot); 3. Don’t be afraid. Give yourself the knowledge, safe space, and permission to write because no one else is going to give that to you. That’s the first hardest part. KLiC: Is there anything you want readers to know about you or about Cookies and Crescents? NSD: It’s amazing we’re seeing so many books on Muslim holidays and with Arab representation among other community representations, and many great books are doing the important job of educating curious readers about marginalized communities or are focused on being collective identity-proud. As many of my peers have said, there were virtually no books like them in English when I was a kid. They are absolutely needed and beloved. Now, I also want more books to try to push or widen the box that marginalized authors are sometimes put in, and I’m trying to challenge myself to write those kinds of books, or take on projects that can open more doors for other authors.  A daughter of immigrants to the United States, Nada now leads digital marketing for brands. Previously, Nada worked in nonprofit advertising and traveled to report on internal development and humanitarian conditions of refugees and underserved communities. Nada is writing about growing up, influenced by her Palestinian heritage. She has a Master’s Degree in English Language and Literature from Michigan State University and lives in Northern Virginia with her family where she loves to cook, travel, and do anything outdoors. Find her on social media: Instagram: @nadawritesbooks Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/nadawrites.bsky.social For more information or to order Cookies and Crescents, click here: https://store.abramsbooks.com/products/cookies-and-crescents
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 We are thrilled to have Emma Otheguy on our blog today! Read more about her newest middle grade, Cousins in Time of Magic. KLiC: Please tell us about your writing process. How long did it take you to write and sell this book? EO: Cousins in the Time of Magic took a very long time to write, mainly because the process of historical research was so intensive. The book starts in current-day Miami, then the protagonists travel back in time to Virginia at the time of the Civil War, then they fly to Mexico in a hydrogen balloon and arrive in time for the Battle of Puebla (i.e. Cinco de Mayo). I read extensively about the 1860s and visited the important sites in the United States and Mexico while I was writing this book–and that was just the historical research process, not the actual writing! Figuring out the time travel and the magical element of this book took many, many, revisions. I have thirty-eight drafts saved on my computer, meaning that’s the number of times the changes I was making to the manuscript were substantial enough to merit hitting “Save As.” My editor was extraordinarily patient and I received a lot of guidance from her in the form of phone calls and editorial letters. The book was a big effort, but in the end I think we–and it really is a we because so many talented people worked on the book, including the editor and illustrator–came up with something pretty special: an accessible, action-packed adventure that tells the story of one of the most critical moments in America’s history from a too-often ignored perspective. I would do it again in a heartbeat. KLiC: What are your favorite illustrations in the book? EO: Poly Bernatene outdid himself! His illustrations certainly helped with the historical elements (for example, it is much easier to imagine an ironclad from an illustration than from a writer’s description). But more than that, the illustrations convey the characters’ emotions and add a feel of wonder to the whole book. It would be impossible to choose just one illustration, but I do particularly love the one of the children examining the sword by the light of an oil lamp. There’s something magical and a tiny bit spooky about the way he illustrated that scene. But I love the cover most of all–it’s fresh and inviting and makes me want to jump in the boat with those kids. KLiC: What’s the one thing you want children to take away from your book? EO: When I visit schools to talk to kids about this book, I tell them that history teaches us that we solve our problems when we work with, not against, our neighbors. It’s critical that kids learn that the United States does not exist in a vacuum, but rather, that our freedoms are intertwined with people throughout the Americas. I hope every single kid who reads Cousins in the Time of Magic gets swept up in an exciting adventure. If some of those kids learn the incredible role of Latinos in the history of the United States–and if that understanding becomes a part of them and stays with them–I will be thrilled.  Click here to purchase a copy of Cousins in the Time of Magic:
https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Cousins-in-the-Time-of-Magic/Emma-Otheguy/9781665915182 Emma Otheguy is the author of several books for young readers, including the picture books A Sled for Gabo and Martina Has Too Many Tías, the bilingual picture book Martí’s Song for Freedom, and the middle grade novels Sofía Acosta Makes a Scene, Cousins in the Time of Magic, Silver Meadows Summer, and, with Adam Gidwitz, The Madre de Aguas of Cuba, part of the Unicorn Rescue Society series. Visit her at EmmaOtheguy.com.  We are thrilled to interview New York Times bestselling author Neal Shusterman here at Kidlit in Color. Read more about his inspiration for his latest book, All Better Now and some great tips for writers. KLiC: What was your inspiration for All Better Now? NS: At a speaking event, someone commented that my darker books are often prophetic – and then they said, “Can’t you predict something happy?” Everyone laughed, but I took the challenge to heart. But, of course, not even an exploration of happiness can be all peaches-and-cream. Our society isn’t designed to function if everyone is happy. So, what are the consequences of a virus that threatens to bring about universal happiness? Developing this idea involved exploring how absolute contentment could disrupt power dynamics and challenge fundamental human desires and motivations. KLiC: Please tell us about your writing process. How long did it take you to write and sell this book? NS: The book took over a year to write, working on and off. As with all my books, there was a lot of soul searching, questioning the world around me, and examining human nature (both the positive and negative sides). And, of course, world-building. Because, while the story begins in our world, it rapidly veers off into uncharted territory as we face the prospect of unbounded joy and contentment—which can be terrifying … KLiC: What’s the one thing you want teens to take away from All Better Now? NS: That there are consequences to every decision we make, good and bad. That even happiness comes with a cost, and it’s up to us to determine if the cost is worth it. (I think it is.) And that there is always more to think about because the important questions are bottomless.  KLiC: Do you have any tips for pre-published authors?
NS: Yes.
KLiC: What’s next for you? NS: I’m very excited to say that I'm working on a prequel for SCYTHE which takes place in the year humans become immortal. This also happens to be the year that the Thunderhead gains consciousness and changes life on Earth forever. The novel focuses on the original 12 Scythes (or 13 if you believe certain sources), how they met, and how they came up with the idea for the Scythedom. The book doesn't have a title yet, but I'm very excited to be working on it. I’m also working on ALL OVER NOW, the second book in the Crown Royale Duology. KLiC: Is there anything you want readers to know about you or your book(s)? NS: Just that the one thing you can expect is to not get what you were expecting! Learn more about All Better Now and purchase copy here. Neal Shusterman is the New York Times bestselling author of more than thirty award-winning books for children, teens, and adults, including the Unwind dystology, the Skinjacker trilogy, Downsiders, and Challenger Deep, which won the National Book Award. Scythe, the first book in his series Arc of a Scythe is a Michael L. Printz Honor Book. He also writes screenplays for motion pictures and television shows. Neal is the father of four, all of whom are talented writers and artists themselves. Visit Neal at StoryMan.com and Facebook.com/NealShusterman.  We are thrilled to interview author Gabriella Aldeman on our blog today! Read below about her latest book, Squawk of Spanish: KLiC: What was your inspiration for Squawk of Spanish? GA: Squawk of Spanish is inspired by my own family. I’m Panamanian American and fully bilingual. But for my son, Spanish doesn’t come easy. Sometimes his words knot in his throat and refuse to come out. When his grandmother visits from Panama, they speak in board games, video games, hugs, and food. Then after a while, my son’s Spanish words start tumbling out dry and rusty. He is like Max, the main character of the story. And, like Max, he began to learn that trying is what counts and that there’s nothing wrong with having an accent. In this book, I explore the issue some children face when they don’t feel comfortable speaking their heritage language. This is a book that celebrates effort over outcome, with a bit of squawk-out-loud humor. KLiC: Please tell us about your writing process. How long did it take you to write and sell this book? GA: The first (few) drafts of this story were titled The Parrot Who Refused to Speak Spanish. The storyline was similar, but Lorito (the parrot) was the one to refuse to speak Spanish and Max (the boy) was the one who cheered him on. I queried agents with this story and got rejected quite a lot. Finally, an author friend who read my manuscript said three magic words: “No one cares.” But of course! Who cares if a parrot speaks Spanish or not? The manuscript was lacking “heart” because Max needed to be the one who refused to speak his grandmother’s language. With this, I revised madly and changed the title. This was the biggest change as I had to rewrite the whole story. Once the book was sold, there were a few more changes during the editing process. We added cousins and Abuela got her own dialogue lines, which added even more depth and heart to the story. From start to finish it took a bit over three years.  KLiC: What’s the one thing you want children to take away from your book? GA: Learning a second language is hard. It can be harder when that language is our heritage language and it’s so tied to our own identity. As a matter of fact, learning anything is hard. It puts us in a very vulnerable space where we have to be courageous because we don’t know how well we’re going to do. Are we going to learn fast or slow? Will we like it? How will we perform in comparison with our peers? As a bilingual and bicultural mom, what I want from my kids, what I want from Max, and from young readers is to realize that perfection is never the goal; perfection doesn’t even exist. What matters is to have the courage to embark on the learning journey. At the end of the book, we see that Max still can’t roll his Rs, his words still get stuck in his throat. But he tells us he is practicing every weekend with Abuela and Lorito to untangle those long words in Spanish. That, to me, is what counts. Trying our best is what counts. And it’s what we can control. KLiC: Do you have any tips for pre-published authors? GA: Find community. We pour a lot of ourselves into our books. And it can feel very vulnerable, especially because there’s a lot of rejection involved in the publishing journey. It really makes a difference to have a community of writers who are going through a similar process. KLiC: What’s next for you? GA: My next picture book doesn’t come out until 2027. It’s titled Sometimes A Dream and it’s coming out with Versify, an imprint of HarperCollins. It’s about a girl named Alma who has many dreams, and they change with the changing of the seasons. The central question she asks is: How does a dream come true? With the help of her grandfather and armed with pencils, papers, and a cozy hammock she learns just how to work hard for each one of those dreams. -- Gabriella Aldeman is a Panamanian American author. She writes picture books in hopes that more children become readers and that all readers feel seen. She is also a professional translator of academic resources and children’s books. Gabriella holds degrees from Georgetown University and the College of William and Mary. Her books include Paula’s Patches (Free Spirit, 2023) and Squawk of Spanish (Charlesbridge, 2024). She lives in Fairfax, Virginia with her husband and two children. Please visit her at www.writebetween.com or @write_between on Twitter or Instagram. Order a copy of Squawk of Spanish here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/squawk-of-spanish-gabriella-aldeman/21303064?ean=9781623543921 Illustrator full name: Romina Galotta  We are excited to have author Elba Luz on our blog today with a personal essay for us. Read about her path to publication, persistence and how it relates to her new YA, Build a Girlfriend. Rejection By Elba Luz Rejection is inevitable in any career or stage of life, and it comes in various forms that tangle themselves in our paths. For me, the most gut-wrenching way it manifested in my life was in the literal form of rejections from agents. I started writing when I was a teenager, and only after graduating college did I snag an agent to try and sell my books. Foolishly, I thought it was the last time I’d have to deal with it, but when I failed to sell my first project, I learned I could never be rid of it—so I had to learn how to work through it. Amelia, the main character in Build a Girlfriend, has been rejected by every partner she’s had—along with her family of women, cursed with the same bad luck. Unlike me, who often opts to eat a pile of French fries and cry while playing video games until my best friend does a life check on me, Amelia decides early on to push through her rejections. She does so by facing them head-on. With the help of her family, she decides to do an “ex-retrospective,” re-dating her exes to try to figure out what went wrong in order to become the perfect girlfriend. You’d think that it would be too humiliating a task, going back to past relationships to dive deep into yourself and pick out flaws, but Amelia pushes through despite it all. It’s not that Amelia is without embarrassment—she feels it quite often. She’s just brave enough to continue moving forward. For me, it was much harder. With each rejection, I grew more humiliated by my growing failures, causing me to doubt whether I should be a writer. I thought something was flawed within me. I didn’t have the skills to be on this path; therefore, I didn’t even have the right to try. Instead of realizing that even the greatest of artists did not succeed immediately, I only let myself wallow in my failures. With the help of her family and ex, Amelia can build herself up, focus on the things she is good at, and magnify her great qualities. It’s not a shield against her rejections; nothing can block them from piercing us fully. But it’s a weapon against them—something to combat the misery rejection often brings. Eventually, I realized that my writing and my words mattered. Even if I kept getting rejections, even if there were thousands of better artists than me, I mattered too. Just by living, you hold value. My stories had value, and so did I. So even when the hurt followed after rejection, I didn’t let it stop me from doing something I genuinely loved. Maybe I needed to take a break, eat some ice cream, and touch some grass. But as long as I came back to my writing, I became stronger than I was before. Rejection is natural, but pushing through it makes us resilient. Elba Luz is a Puerto Rican author and a lover of stories, whether in the form of anime, manga, video games, or, of course, books. Speaking of books, she should be writing her own. Instead, you’ll probably find her replaying Final Fantasy, listening to classical music, or cuddling up with her adorable pit bull, Stormy. Learn more about Build a Girlfriend here.   In the summer of 1975, I was ten years old, and the only things I had to worry about were keeping my comic books untarnished, getting tennis balls off roofs, and keeping up with the increasingly bold stunts of my best friend David. And then Jaws came to town. Growing up across the street from your best friend is both joyous and convenient. But ten years in, diverging interests can get harder to ignore, especially as you stumble toward “manhood.” You might find yourself trying to bridge the divides in any ways possible. In my case, it was by watching a movie about a giant killer shark. For a boy who was barely keeping up as it was, going to this movie was a test of my manhood that could not be avoided. So I asked my dad to take me.  Once I’d made the decision to go, I was excited to see it — partly to prove my bravery and partly to become part of a massive cultural phenomenon. There were parodies, games, a hit novelty song, even a Saturday morning cartoon based on the shark. Everyone was seeing this movie. How bad could it be? Turns out, pretty bad. I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised. The poster was rather clear. Far from proving my courage, Jaws left me a cowering mess. All seeing it did was further underline the growing gap between myself and David, as well as the distance between where I stood and the world’s expectations of a boy’s “manliness.” I couldn’t go near water of any kind. I saw sharks everywhere. Jaws himself took up residence in my closet and became the manifestation of all the fears and demands that were overwhelming my life. Not to mention getting salt water all over my comics.  I’ve never been very good at manly stuff. Car engines were Dr. Seuss-ian contraptions, bikes were best used with both wheels on the ground, and the scariest thing I could handle on TV was Grimace from the McDonald’s commercials (that guy was nuts!). And things didn’t change much as I got older. I’m still going nowhere near a “suicide hot wing.” My individual tastes butted up against my need to fit in, and there was a growing realization that who I was didn’t line up with who some people thought I should be. It hadn’t occurred to me that I was supposed to be “macho” until I was confronted with all the ways I wasn’t.  Sifting through those days for this memoir made me realize how much of our youth is still swimming around inside us. I guess we’ve all got some version of a giant shark living in our closet. Confronting and overcoming them is part of the process of becoming who we really are. I’ve come a long way since then — I can go in pools now! — but like many of us, whenever I enter a large body of water, I still hear some faint “du-nuh du-nuh du-nuh” music. But I remain determined to keep any sharks from pushing me around, or getting salt water on my comics.  Paul Gilligan writes and draws the syndicated comic strip Pooch Café, which has been twice nominated by the National Cartoonist Society for best strip. He’s the author/illustrator of the early-reader graphic novel series Pluto Rocket, the chapter book series King of the Mole People, and the graphic memoir Boy Vs. Shark. He lives in Toronto with his wife and kids, where he quite comfortably swims in lakes and pools, as long as nobody makes any “du-nuh” sounds.
 KidLit in Color author, Valerie Bolling, was thrilled to have the opportunity to interview her KidLit in Color sister, Tina Athaide, about her debut middle grade novel, Wings to Soar. Let’s learn more about this special book… Tina, what’s your one-liner to describe Wings to Soar? A powerful middle-grade novel-in-verse that captures a refugee girl's resilience and hope as she navigates hate, loss, and the search for her missing father in 1970s England. Wow! That one-liner will certainly make people want to read this book! Please tell me how this book came to be. Wings to Soar is more than a story—it's a healing gift to “little Tina,” a way to process the early childhood experiences that shaped my life. The decision to write this novel in verse, with white space on the pages, is deliberate; it mirrors the pauses, the breaths, and the moments of silence that are so much a part of navigating trauma and uncertainty. At the same time, this book is a gift to my students, especially struggling readers. The white space serves as an accessible pathway for kids who might otherwise feel overwhelmed by a dense narrative, as well as providing them with a narrative that shows the power of perseverance and the importance of finding light in challenging times. I love that Wings to Soar is both a gift to your younger self as well as to your students. What you said about what the space on the page allows is a gift in itself – both a reminder to breathe and reflect and an invitation to struggling readers. Speaking of writing for the reader, share with us how you cross between writing novels and picture books. Do you have a preference or “sweet spot?” I don’t know if I have a “sweet spot,” but crossing between writing novels and picture books allows me to explore a wide range of themes and tones. My middle-grade novels often dive into more serious subjects. These stories give me the space to tackle tough issues with the nuance they deserve. When I switch to writing picture books, I embrace the opportunity to celebrate the lighter, more humorous aspects of life, capturing the joy, curiosity, and whimsy of childhood. Picture books allow me to create moments of laughter and wonder for young readers. What type of writer are you, Tina? Are you a plotter or pantser? Do you have any writing routines? I like to call myself a plotter when crafting my books—really, I do. I even go so far as to write out basic outlines, color-coded and everything. But then, inevitably, my true nature busts out... and, suddenly, I'm a full-blown pantser, leaping from idea to idea like an over-caffeinated squirrel. The outline becomes more of a suggestion, and the story takes on a life of its own, dragging me along for the ride. Who needs a roadmap when the detours are so much fun? Balancing these two forms lets me honor both the serious and the silly in life, offering stories that resonate with children at different stages and emotional experiences, all while reflecting the rich tapestry of South Asian heritage. I laughed at the image of an over-caffeinated squirrel! What’s your involvement in the writing community? I wouldn’t be where I am today without my writing community. SCBWI has connected me with amazing writers and illustrators, giving me a sense of belonging. Kidlit in Color has been especially meaningful, surrounding me with supportive authors of color who share my passion for diverse stories. Attending and speaking at conferences is always a highlight—I love learning from the pros, meeting fellow writers, and staying inspired. These connections and experiences keep me grounded and excited to keep creating stories. How do you hope readers will experience this book? What suggestions do you have for parents and teachers who read this book to children? I hope readers experience Wings to Soar as a journey of resilience, hope, and the power of friendship during challenging times. I want them to connect with Viva's struggles and triumphs, feeling both the weight of her challenges and the light of her determination. Beyond Viva's personal story, I hope readers gain insight into a significant historical event—the expulsion of Asians from Uganda in 1972—and learn about the incredible resilience of the people who lived through it. For parents and teachers reading this book to children, I suggest using it as a starting point for discussions about the refugee experience, racism, and the importance of family and community. Encourage young readers to reflect on how they can support others who may be facing difficult circumstances. Since the book is written in verse with thoughtful use of white space, allow children to pause and absorb the emotions and messages in each poem, giving them the space to ask questions, share their thoughts, and connect the past to the present. Those are great suggestions, Tina. What book(s) can we look forward to next from you? Sunshine in the Monsoons is my new picture book that follows Mira as she seeks out the hidden joy of the rainy season, missing the bright umbrella-twirling, puddle-jumping fun she once shared with her grandmother. As thunder roars and rain pours, Mira and her brother embark on a quest to find sunshine in the monsoons to bring back to their grandmother. [HarperCollins, Aug. 2025] We’ll look forward to that book next year. Thanks so much for chatting with me, Tina, on the KidLit in Color blog. Wings to Soar is available wherever books are sold. Tina encourages readers to support their local bookstore.  Tina Athaide is a children’s book author who writes stories to capture the texture and richness of a wide scope of cultural experiences, recent or distant, with the hope to open readers’ hearts. She was born in Entebbe, and after leaving Uganda, she immigrated with her family to Canada from England. Believing that books can present different experiences to children in an organic, natural way, she started publishing early literacy readers for the educational market before her debut MG book, Orange for the Sunsets, and picture book, Meena’s Mindful Moment.
For more about Tina and her books, please visit: Website: http://www.tinaathaide.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004255516156 X: https://x.com/tathaide Instagram: https://instagram.com/tinaathaide  What was your inspiration for MAMIE TAPE FIGHTS TO GO TO SCHOOL? I’m a former lawyer and first learned about Mamie while researching Asian American civil rights cases. I grew up just across the bay from San Francisco, where Mamie fought to attend her neighborhood school and, like Mamie, am the daughter of Chinese immigrants, so I was surprised I hadn’t learned her story. It stuck in my mind as something more people should know, but it wasn’t until the pandemic hit and anti-Asian hate was on the rise, that I truly felt compelled to write this book. Please tell us about your writing process. What kind of research did you do for your book? How long did it take you to write and sell this book? etc. I started with the legal research – Mamie’s California Supreme Court decision, Tape v. Hurley, and all the documents filed in her case. I also read books and journal articles to get a good overview, then went more specific, listening to a recorded interview of Mamie Tape from 1972 (shortly before she passed away), and interviewing some of Mamie’s relatives, including her eldest great-granddaughter who lived with Mamie while growing up. A big source of my information came from the dozens of newspapers from the 1880s that reported on Mamie’s case. Even though they often reflected the anti-Chinese bias of the time, they were the most immediate accounts of what happened and helped paint of picture of how much Mamie’s fight was a two steps forward, one step back process. It took me about eight months to research, write, and sell this book. It was a very unusual process as I had submitted my manuscript for an industry critique through the Kweli Color of Children’s Literature Conference, but instead ended up getting an offer from my now-editor Phoebe Yeh at Crown Books for Young Readers!  What are your favorite illustrations in the book? Michelle Jing Chan did an amazing job with the illustrations, so it’s hard to choose, but I think my favorite is of Mamie standing on a hillside overlooking San Francisco Bay and her neighborhood where she fought to attend school. Michelle beautifully captured a combination of determination, uncertainty, and innocence in Mamie’s expression. And the foggy windy sunset is so San Francisco! The scene really sets the tone for the rest of the book and Mamie’s long fight. Another one I love is of Mamie and her family eating the traditional Chinese New Year’s meal of jai. This illustration is extra special because the dishes on the table are inspired by actual dishes hand-painted by Mamie’s mom, which I had a chance to see when I visited Mamie’s great-granddaughter. Michelle did a wonderful job sprinkling little historic details like this throughout the illustrations. What’s the one thing you want children to take away from your book? I hope this book inspires children to step up in the face of unfairness and be part of the change, whether in big or small ways. I also hope they’ll recognize that even though change often comes slowly, especially in terms of social justice and the fight for equality, every little step helps move us forward.  Do you have any tips for pre-published authors? Lean into the kidlit community! I have met so many amazing creators through conferences, classes, pitch contests, and writing communities, and it has made all the difference in my journey. You won’t find a more supportive group of people who share their wisdom, root for each other, and commiserate together! These connections and friendships have really furthered my growth as a writer and helped sustain me in my writing practice.  Traci Huahn (she/her) writes books for kids and especially loves stories rooted in Asian American culture, history, and identity. Mamie Tape Fights to go to School is her debut picture book. As a former attorney and the daughter of Chinese immigrants, Traci feels a deep connection to Mamie’s story and hopes it will inspire young readers to become changemakers, even if it starts by taking just one small step.
Traci was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and still lives close to where she grew up. Most days you can find her there writing, along with her husband, two kids, and their pup who loves belly rubs and Brussels sprouts. To learn more about Traci visit her at: Website: www.tracihuahn.com Instagram: @tracihuahn Bluesky: @tracihuahn.bsky.social  We are thrilled to interview middle grade debut author, Shifa Saltagi Safadi on our blog today! KAREEM BETWEEN releases September 10th. Please read the interview below and pre-order or request this incredible novel in verse from your local library. KLiC: What was your inspiration for KAREEM BETWEEN? SSS: Kareem Between was inspired by my own experiences of being Syrian American and the feelings of trying to find out where you belong as a kid (and really, as an adult!!). It’s also a football book! So the Bears and NFL references are inspired by my own tween kids’ love of football! KLiC: Please tell us about your writing process. How long did it take you to write and sell this book? SSS: Writing the first draft of Kareem Between took me about one year, but this was just the first part of what was to become a book. Drafting it was a long process, as I was still figuring out the format. It was a prose book at first before I tried verse, and then as I was rewriting it in verse, I kept finding places where the plot needed work. The process of finally having a draft ready to send out on sub was long, as I think I rewrote the book multiple times over the year. It was hard to find my confidence as a debut MG author- I kept wondering if I was doing it right. But honestly, reading about other author processes was SO helpful. I kept telling myself that the struggle is worth it, and I kept reading and rereading craft books like Save the Cat writes a Novel and Story Genius. I was already agented when Kareem was finally finished. When it finally went on sub, and was accepted (yay)- I then had to go through the revision process with my lovely editor. Sub was not too long for Kareem, but I think it is because I was in a mentorship with my current editor, which really helped me develop a good working relationship to sub to her. Revision rounds took about six months I would say. And then pass pages and such. The whole process from draft to publication is about 2 and a half years- and I can’t wait for it to be out! KLiC: What’s the one thing you want children to take away from your book? SSS: I want kids to know that they don’t have to fit in certain boxes or cater to peer pressure. Kareem struggles to be both Syrian and American, and for him, it often felt like a betrayal to choose one or the other. And I want kids to know that it’s okay to have a life that may not look like what others live- that the most important thing is to stand up for yourself and your values and be proud of your heritage.  KLiC: Do you have any tips for pre-published authors?
SSS: Keep reading and writing. I actually drafted (and tossed) two other mg manuscripts before Kareem was written. I learned a lot along the way, but most of all, I learned that persistence is key. You have to keep writing and learning and revising until the book is finally done! KLiC: What’s next for you? SSS: In 2025, I have five books coming out!!! I have a picture book in the winter titled The Gift of Eid from publisher Holiday House, as well as a four book chapter book series titled Amina Banana coming out from Putnam later on in the year. Super excited!! KLiC: Is there anything you want readers to know about you or your book(s)? I hope my books provide Muslim children with pride in their identity, and kids who are not Muslim with windows to peek into what it is like to be a Muslim kid. SHIFA SALTAGI SAFADI is the author of Kareem Between and several picture books, including The Gift of Eid. She has a bachelor’s degree in English literature, teaches ELA at a local middle school, and reviews Muslim books on her blog, Muslim Mommy Blog. Shifa was born in Syria and immigrated to the US with her parents as a young girl. She lives near Chicago with her husband and four children. For more information on Kareem Between, click here. Find her on Instagram @MuslimMommyBlog Cover art by Oriol Vidal and designed by Maria Fazio  KidLit in Color author, Valerie Bolling, was thrilled to have the opportunity to speak to Tonya Duncan Ellis about her debut picture book, They Built Me for Freedom. Let’s learn more about this special book… Tonya, what inspired you to write They Built Me for Freedom? I started out writing for children with chapter books and self-published the Sophie Washington series, which has sold over 175,000 copies. During the pandemic, I wrote a middle grade novel manuscript that won an SCBWI conference prize. The agent who selected my book asked if I also write picture books, because she said my writing has a lyrical quality. Intrigued, I started learning more about picture books, and I fell in love with the genre. On a visit to Houston’s Emancipation Park, the site of the first Juneteenth celebration, I got chills thinking about my ancestors commemorating their newfound freedom on the very ground I was walking. I felt like this was a story that needed to be told, and I began research that led to the first draft of They Built Me for Freedom.  I love that you started out writing self-published chapter books and then moved on to traditionally published picture books. What inspired you to tell the story of Emancipation Park? How long did it take to write and sell this book? This project moved pretty quickly. I spent around three hours writing the first draft of the manuscript a week after visiting Emancipation Park and doing research. I shared that manuscript at a Highlights Foundation virtual summer camp during the pandemic and made some updates, which took an hour or two. Then I shared that version in a critique group and worked another hour making a few more additions. My agent, Sara Megibow of kt Literary, who had taken me on as a client with my middle grade novel manuscript, rejected my initial version of They Built Me for Freedom, which told the story of a little girl visiting the park. I reworked the story, personifying the park, and she liked that version. All totaled, I probably spent around seven hours writing and revising the They Built Me for Freedom draft that was shopped to editors. Two to three weeks after the manuscript was sent out on submission, it got a purchase offer, which I accepted. It's always interesting to hear a story’s journey and to learn how it changed throughout the process. By the way, personifying the park was a brilliant change. What are your favorite illustrations in the book? Illustrator, Jenin Mohammed, did a phenomenal job on the images. I was blown away when I first saw her colored illustrations and teared up in the grocery store line after I opened my phone there and glimpsed the final cover. I truly love all the illustrations, but my favorites are the spread with the grandmother and child looking at the ancestors in the clouds and the image of the protestors.  I agree that Jenin’s illustrations are magnificent. What do you want kids to take away from your book, Tonya? Besides learning about different aspects of Juneteenth and facts about Houston’s Emancipation Park, I want kids to understand that there is history all around us. My hope is that after reading They Built Me for Freedom, children will become more interested in learning about historical spaces in their communities. I, too, hope children are motivated to learn more about history that isn’t always discussed in their classrooms. Do you have any tips for pre-published authors? Establishing a writing habit and perfecting your craft are important, but make sure to build your writing community as you continue along your publishing journey. Publishing is a roller coaster ride of emotional highs and lows. Getting an agent, landing a book contract, and marketing your book once it’s finished are experiences that elicit anxiety, stress, frustration, depression, envy and many other difficult feelings, along with the celebrations. Support from empathetic creatives who understand what you’re going through gives you the strength to continue when times get tough. Great advice Tonya! What’s up next for you? I’m contracted to write another, not yet announced, historical picture book with HarperCollins, and I’m working on a couple of other picture books. I’ve got some ideas for a new middle grade brewing, which I’m hoping to begin writing this fall. We’ll look forward to seeing these projects published. Thanks so much for stopping by the KidLit in Color blog and chatting with me, Tonya. They Built Me for Freedom is available wherever books are sold. Tonya encourages readers to support their local bookstore.  Tonya Duncan Ellis is author THEY BUILT ME FOR FREEDOM: The Story of Juneteenth and Houston’s Emancipation Park, the bestselling, award-winning, Sophie Washington chapter book series and is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), the Authors Guild, Black Creators HQ and the Brown Bookshelf’s Highlights Foundation Sponsored Amplify Black Stories storyteller cohort.
For more about Tonya and her books, please visit: Website: www.tonyaduncanellis.com Facebook: @tonyaellisbooks X: @TonyaDEllis Instagram: @tonyaellisbooks |
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