by Bethany | Aug 2, 2023 | blog, Courage to Create, Milestones Met
A Milestones Met Interview
Please share your exciting news (agent signing, book sale, etc.)!
My debut picture book, Sonia and the Super-Duper Disaster, in which a girl uses coping skills to manage ADHD and anxiety while whipping up a super surprise for her Mom, was recently announced. It will be illustrated by Kelly Kennedy, and published by Free Spirit Publishing in Summer of 2024.
How long have you been writing/pursuing an agent/publishing deal and how has the Courage to Create program/tools served you in reaching this milestone?
If my debut comes out in 2024 as scheduled, it will have been 7 years from first draft to publication. I started seriously pursuing my dream of becoming an author in late 2016. I hit the ground running, joining the SCBWI, then 12×12. I was convinced that if I worked hard enough, I could be published within three years. So I attended every class and meeting I could find, wrote, revised, sought out critique partners, read tons of picture books, joined twitter, started a blog, applied for mentorships, and participated in pitch parties. I spent every spare moment working on my craft or querying. I had a few close calls in 2019 (champagne passes, R&R’s, etc.), which was encouraging. Then the pandemic hit and everything turned upside down. Life was suddenly exhausting. I felt demoralized when I saw people using the pandemic to get extra writing and querying done. I was having trouble doing ANYthing. I kept writing and querying, but at a snails pace. I kept having close calls, but as the years passed they started to feel more like a cruel tease than a promising sign. I joined Courage to Create in Fall of 2022, hoping it would help me recapture my creative passion and joy. And it did. The personal coaching sessions were particularly helpful in encouraging me to keep going. In October of 2022 I participated in a Twitter pitch party on a whim (something I hadn’t done in quite some time). I got a like from an editor and submitted to her with extremely low expectations, and by January of 2023, I had a contract in hand!
When we reach a milestone, it means we may encounter new fears and challenges, as well as joys along the journey. How has being a part of the CTC community prepared you for both enjoying the celebration of a milestone reached and the work that is next to come?
I think that the same CTC beliefs that sustain us through that long journey to our first book sale will sustain us through whatever comes afterwards. I see now that it’s an up and down journey that never becomes easy, and there is no finish line.
In the Courage to Create, we call on our Big Why as we engage in the ups and downs of the literary life? What’s your BIG WHY and how does it keep you motivated to keep working towards new milestones?
Writing feeds my soul. I write because I have something to say, and saying it in writing makes me happy. It also helps me process, learn, and grow. I love touching people with my words. In particular, I hope to help children who have ADHD and anxiety like me, by writing about my own experiences with honesty and compassion.
It’s not easy to keep creating courage when it comes to our literary lives. Did you ever encounter a low point or period and did you lean on any of the CTC tools or practices? What did the no/not yets, or near misses/champagne rejections teach you in hindsight not that your YES is here?
Yes, my lowest point was the couple of years from the start of the pandemic to the book offer in December 2022. I joined CTC in Fall of 2022 because I was really struggling and on the verge of giving up. The biggest thing I got out of Courage to Create was permission to feel all the feelings, encouragement to keep going, and a huge dose of self-compassion. CTC helped me accept that it takes the time it takes, and that passes are not a reflection on my worth or talent. It helped me focus on my goals knowing the milestones will come. But most importantly, Bethany and the rest of the CTC community helped me believe in myself and keep going when I was feeling on the verge of giving up.
As we celebrate your milestone reached, what thoughts can you share with other writers who may doubt they will reach their first or next milestone?
I never would have guessed that my debut picture book would come out of an un-agented deal with a small press, through a Twitter pitch party. In fact, I had very low expectations for that event, having pitched multiple times in the past with only a couple of likes that led nowhere. My take away is that you never know where your next “yes” is going to come from. You have to accept that it will take hundreds of tries and hundreds of no’s to find that right connection with the right editor at the right time. But if you don’t try, it will never happen. So keep trying. Keep putting yourself out there. And keep believing in yourself.
What is your favorite Courage to Create Belief?
Ambition is the NATURAL IMPULSE to share our gifts. Don’t make yourself guilty for having it. Or not owning it.
Rachel Funez is an Adult Third Culture Kid (ATCK) who was born in the U.S., spent most of her childhood living in Latin America, and is now an Attorney raising multicultural children with her Honduran American husband in Peru. As a neurodivergent writer with ADHD and anxiety, many of Rachel’s books celebrate children with special brains or address social-emotional topics with humor and heart. When Rachel isn’t writing or working, she enjoys walking her Bearded Collie, playing board games with her family, dancing like nobody’s watching, and rainy afternoons with a hot beverage and a good book.
by Bethany | Aug 2, 2023 | blog, Courage to Create, Milestones Met
A Milestones Met Interview
Please share your exciting news (agent signing, book sale, etc.)!
My debut picture book, Fish Friends Forever, about a spunky child and her friendship with and loss of her beloved pet sold to Lauri Hornick at Penguin/Rocky Pond Books this past Spring! The book will be illustrated by the talented Aliaa Betawi and is due out in Summer of 2025.
How long have you been writing/pursuing an agent/publishing deal and how has the Courage to Create program/tools served you in reaching this milestone?
August 2023 marks *five years* of focusing on the genre of picture books. Wow. I signed with my agent Sara Crowe in the Summer of 2022, and we went out on submission with this book early the next year and it sold that Spring. I have always been a writer, but I am finally doing the hard work of getting out of my own way to become more comfortable with and confident in sharing my stories with a wider audience. Courage to Create has helped with this oft less-discussed side of writing — the emotional one. CtC has provided a community of writers who understand writing isn’t JUST the act of writing. It’s so much more than pen to paper — when it’s good, it’s deeply personal and hugely vulnerable. I’m getting better at sharing despite my instincts to always hold things close to the chest.
When we reach a milestone, it means we may encounter new fears and challenges, as well as joys along the journey. How has being a part of the CTC community prepared you for both enjoying the celebration of a milestone reached and the work that is next to come?
These stories and books we make are important. And the careers that build up around them are, too. This is all very hard work, isn’t it? CtC has helped reveal how taking the long-view is vital: to celebrate the successes and to grieve the failures knowing that both are essential parts along the path to becoming the best author I can be. I so appreciate the weekly check-ins acknowledging the ups and downs of each week — knowing that I’ve had both as well. We are not alone!
In the Courage to Create, we call on our Big Why as we engage in the ups and downs of the literary life? What’s your BIG WHY and how does it keep you motivated to keep working towards new milestones?
I write stories to reveal the Power of a Child (and Childhood) and acknowledge the Magic of the Every Day. Kids are incredible humans — and, as both my audience and my inspiration, they are at the heart of what keeps me working toward new milestones.
It’s not easy to keep creating courage when it comes to our literary lives. Did you ever encounter a low point or period and did you lean on any of the CTC tools or practices? What did the no/not yets, or near misses/champagne rejections teach you in hindsight not that your YES is here?
Everything takes SO LONG in publishing. We all have heard that. But I REALLY heard it through CtC programming. That was *so* reassuring as I lived (and continue to live) right through it — all the WAITING and WAITING and WAITING. OF IT ALL. Having a community who understands that, who talks about it, who can laugh about it, and who knows tactics to deal with it is really valuable.
As we celebrate your milestone reached, what thoughts can you share with other writers who may doubt they will reach their first or next milestone?
You will!! You will!! If you are here, I think we know you mean business and you are putting the good work in. From there — It takes the time it takes. Oh! How many times have I repeated that as my daily mantra?? But it’s true. I really, truly believe that. You’ve got this! xoxo
What is your favorite Courage to Create Belief?
It takes THE TIME IT TAKES.
Kerry Ferguson writes stories for kids and their families for the page and for the stage. A professor, poet, playwright, and picture-book author, she lives in Spartanburg, SC with her fun and funny family of humans, dogs, and rabbits. She is repped by Sara Crowe of Sara Crowe Literary Agency. In addition to her ongoing book projects, she was recently commissioned by The South Carolina Children’s Theatre (Greenville, SC) to write an original play for thier youngest audiences. The result of that partnership is D is for Dance Party! An Alphabet Play, which will premiere there in January/February 2023.
by Bethany | Aug 2, 2023 | blog, Courage to Create, Milestones Met
A Milestones Met Interview
Please share your exciting news (agent signing, book sale, etc.)!
I recently (and for the first time ever) signed with an agent, Jennifer Mattson of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency.
How long have you been writing/pursuing an agent/publishing deal and how has the Courage to Create program/tools served you in reaching this milestone?
My writing career has spanned many years – I have 22 published books for children, and my first picture book, IF I WERE PRESIDENT, has been in print almost a quarter of a century (25 years next year!) and was recently made a part of a new school curriculum. However, in all that time, I had never worked with an agent. And I knew it was time. Joining CTC was, in part, a step I took toward the goal of seriously moving forward in connecting with an agent. But at CTC I’ve found so much more – a community of wonderful, supportive creators and numerous programs that supported my writing life. This year, I did sign with an agent – the incredible Jennifer Mattson of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency. Information and insights I gained as a part of CTC – including watching panels of agents who presented to our members – added so much to my knowledge and insights on the process of approaching agents (one of those events was even with the Andrea Brown Agency). I also learned about all I should consider discussing when “the call” with an offer of representation took place. And then — and this is no small thing — I had a community with which to share the news of my new representation, a community that really, truly understood the significance of this BIG step. Working with agent Jennifer Mattson has been life changing. I now have someone in my corner, advocating for me and my work. I appreciate the ways that CTC enriched my knowledge and prepared me for this milestone.
In the Courage to Create, we call on our Big Why as we engage in the ups and downs of the literary life? What’s your BIG WHY and how does it keep you motivated to keep working towards new milestones?
For many of my books, my “Big Why” has been this: I hope to share with others a glimpse of a world that is bigger and more amazing with more incredible opportunities than they ever imagined. Also, I have been exhilarated, enlightened and sometimes comforted by what I’ve read in books – how wonderful and fulfilling to be able to, through my work, create something that may stir or support someone out there who opens my book. That does keep me going!
It’s not easy to keep creating courage when it comes to our literary lives. Did you ever encounter a low point or period and did you lean on any of the CTC tools or practices? What did the no/not yets, or near misses/champagne rejections teach you in hindsight not that your YES is here?
Yes, I have had some near misses/champagne rejections from agents! But the agents who presented on the CTC panels reinforced something that was so important: That I needed to create a collection of really original, really strong picture book manuscripts so when the “send me more of your manuscripts to review” requests came through, I was prepared with the best work I could possibly produce.
As we celebrate your milestone reached, what thoughts can you share with other writers who may doubt they will reach their first or next milestone?
Take a deep breath, get to work on something you love, immerse yourself in as many select opportunities to learn and connect and grow in your writing or art as you comfortably can (but please don’t overextend yourself or stress out – that’s counterproductive). And know that reaching one’s goals may not happen overnight – it truly does take the time it takes.
What is your favorite Courage to Create Belief?
It takes THE TIME IT TAKES.
Catherine Stier is the author of 22 traditionally-published children’s books, including the picture books IF I WERE PRESIDENT, IF I WERE A PARK RANGER and WHEN A KID LIKE ME FIGHTS CANCER. Her A DOG’S DAY chapter book series received a Kirkus starred review. Stier’s work has also been recognized with an SLJ starred review, a Library Media Connection’s Editor’s Choice Award and two Bank Street College of Education Best Book of the Year designations, among other honors. Stier holds a Masters in Reading and Literacy and has served as a children’s literature researcher, magazine writer, newspaper columnist and writing instructor. Currently she is the Assistant Regional Advisor for the SCBWI-Southwest Texas chapter, a San Antonio family nature programs volunteer – and a national parks fan!
by Bethany | Aug 2, 2023 | blog, Courage to Create, Milestones Met
A Milestones Met Interview
Please share your exciting news (agent signing, book sale, etc.)!
I’m excited to share that my second essay collection, Autumn Song: Essays on Absence (University of Nebraska Press | American Lives Series) is now available. This collection invites readers into one Black woman’s experiences encountering absences, seeing beyond the empty spaces, and grasping at the glimmers of glory that remain. The official release date is actually September 1st, but the book has already shipped from the warehouses and is out in the world (writing this at the end of July)! That was unexpected for me and required that I change course a bit with my marketing & publicity efforts.
How long have you been writing/pursuing an agent/publishing deal and how has the Courage to Create program/tools served you in reaching this milestone?
I finished this essay collection in early 2021, and my book proposal went out on submission around the same time (just the FYI: my experience with essay collections is that you need to a book proposal for your project even if your manuscript is already written). After numerous rejections from large and small presses, the University of Nebraska Press acquired the manuscript in the late spring of 2022.
Let’s just say that journey was filled with occasional moments of hope paired with a whole lot of turmoil. As we all know, it’s hard to be on submission. The rejections can lead you to question yourself and your work. I remember one press rejected my manuscript twice!! The acquiring editor had passed my manuscript onto another editor, and they both independently rejected it. That was a lot. I needed ice cream that day!!
I joined the CTC community in the autumn of 2021, and I found this space to be such an encouragement, just normalizing the reality of what it means to be on submission—whether in the forum or the literary life sessions. I also found the CTC beliefs to be a huge help. During those hard days of being on submission and wondering if this manuscript would find a home, beliefs like “The only STAMP OF APPROVAL we need is our own,” “We BELIEVE our books and careers into BEING,” and “It takes THE TIME IT TAKES.” were very meaningful reminders.
When we reach a milestone, it means we may encounter new fears and challenges, as well as joys along the journey. How has being a part of the CTC community prepared you for both enjoying the celebration of a milestone reached and the work that is next to come?
CTC is such a place of celebration!! I love how we celebrate all the goodness happening in our lives. That alone can bolster a person. I remember sharing with the group earlier this year that I had just announced AUTUMN SONG to my newsletter subscribers and on social media, sharing about pre-ordering, etc. I felt free to celebrate that and acknowledge how vulnerable I felt taking those actions. And this community was a place that made space for the reality of how I was feeling but also cheered me on. It’s a place that continues to help encourage me to take the next brave step. And honestly, I think that is what we need across this journey—whether crafting the words, submitting our work, or launching a book in the world, we keep taking brave steps forward. There will always be a lot of vulnerability, but we can also choose to be brave. And when we don’t feel it, to know that others can remind us how brave we are.
In the Courage to Create, we call on our Big Why as we engage in the ups and downs of the literary life? What’s your BIG WHY and how does it keep you motivated to keep working towards new milestones?
So, my BIG WHY has been known to fluctuate over time . . . But right now, I’m feeling these words: “Telling lyrical stories that celebrate joy, expand understanding, and foster compassion . . .” Reminding myself of these words regularly helps me determine which ideas to pursue and which ideas to release. These words also help me remember what my hopes are with my work. It can be so easy to get caught up in external expectations floating around out there, not taking the time to determine if meeting such expectations is what I want to do. Having a big why can serve as a beautiful boundary setter, course corrector, and general friendly voice that tells me the purpose of what I do matters!
It’s not easy to keep creating courage when it comes to our literary lives. Did you ever encounter a low point or period and did you lean on any of the CTC tools or practices? What did the no/not yets, or near misses/champagne rejections teach you in hindsight not that your YES is here?
As I mentioned above, that period of time looking for a publication home for my essay collection was filled with a lot of turmoil. Those CTC beliefs and literary life coaching sessions truly served as an encouragement. And ultimately, now with this collection (and with other projects too), I have recognized and embraced the reality that the type and style of my writing isn’t for every publisher, but it is for a particular publisher. Part of the whole submission journey is bravely putting my work out there and knowing I am taking steps toward finding that right publishing fit!
As we celebrate your milestone reached, what thoughts can you share with other writers who may doubt they will reach their first or next milestone?
One of my favorite pieces of advice I read at the start of my writing journey is that if you keep at it, the writer you are today will not be the writer you are six months from now. And I find that so true for many things. I think if we keep on the journey, we will grow and change in ways that bring whatever goal or milestone that much closer.
What is your favorite Courage to Create Belief?
We STRIVE to get comfortable with the uncomfortable.
Patrice Gopo is an award-winning essayist who writes stories steeped in themes of place, belonging, and home. She is the author of two essay collections: Autumn Song: Essays on Absence (University of Nebraska Press American Lives Series) and All the Colors We Will See (a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers selection). Her debut picture book, All the Places We Call Home, is based on one of her essays. When she’s not writing, Patrice hosts the podcast Picture Books Are for Grown-Ups Too! because she believes in the power of stories to help build connections between people. Please visit www.patricegopo.com to learn more.
by Bethany | Jul 26, 2023 | blog, Courage to Create, Milestones Met
A Milestones Met Interview
Please share your exciting news (agent signing, book sale, etc.)!
A River of Dust: The Life-Giving Link Between North Africa and the Amazon Rainforest released on July 25th from Chronicle Books! And a new book contract is currently being negotiated with another publisher.
How long have you been writing/pursuing an agent/publishing deal and how has the Courage to Create program/tools served you in reaching this milestone?
The book took eight years, from idea to publication. I’m not sure I would have made it the distance without the CtC and this community. It’s a marathon, and we need people along the way to give us an occasional energy bar or a long, cold drink of persistence.
When we reach a milestone, it means we may encounter new fears and challenges, as well as joys along the journey. How has being a part of the CTC community prepared you for both enjoying the celebration of a milestone reached and the work that is next to come?
I sold A RIVER OF DUST in mid-2020, and then three long years passed before I sold another book, despite having an agent. I’d gotten close, with several R&Rs or eventually losing out during acquisition phase. Without CtC, I think I may have given in to despair. But the community kept me going, kept feeding me energy bars and long, cold drinks.
In the Courage to Create, we call on our Big Why as we engage in the ups and downs of the literary life? What’s your BIG WHY and how does it keep you motivated to keep working towards new milestones?
I write for the up and coming generation, the kids who are curious, who want to help save our planet, the kids who want to laugh and learn, and love the beauty that surrounds us. I want to feed their curiosity and empathy and awe. I want them to become good stewards of Earth. And I want them to be compassionate toward each other. Writing books that helps them become the best people they can be is my primary goal.
It’s not easy to keep creating courage when it comes to our literary lives. Did you ever encounter a low point or period and did you lean on any of the CTC tools or practices? What did the no/not yets, or near misses/champagne rejections teach you in hindsight not that your YES is here?
During the three long years between my debut picture book going to auction and then selling another, I leaned on the belief that my “yes” would come, and that it takes the time it takes, if only I didn’t give up. And also that it’s not helpful to waste time or mental energy (don’t waste those energy bars!!) comparing my journey with others who are more prolific. I will do my work in my time. Everyone’s marathon is a different distance and is run at a different speed. The only speed or finish time that matters is your own.
As we celebrate your milestone reached, what thoughts can you share with other writers who may doubt they will reach their first or next milestone?
I have ADHD, so I have trouble staying focused. And WHAT to focus on is key. Firstly, NOT focusing on others progress or milestones, unless it is to celebrate their successes, is crucial to staying sane. Stay focused on your own journey. Stay focused on projects that feed your heart. Stay focused on improving and creating your best work for the most important audience in the world: kids. And if you stay focused, your “YES” will come.
What is your favorite Courage to Create Belief?
It takes THE TIME IT TAKES.
Jilanne Hoffmann has a degree in Industrial Engineering, and an MFA in Creative Writing. Her debut picture book, A RIVER OF DUST: THE LIFE-GIVING LINK BETWEEN NORTH AFRICA AND THE AMAZON, illustrated by Eugenia Mello, is a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection, and earned a starred review from Publishers Weekly. Jilanne is also the author of two board books for young explorers, THE HONEY BEAR HIVE and HAPPY CAMPER, both illustrated by Erica Harrison. She’s a member of 12×12, the Courage to Create Community, and is a San Francisco coordinator for the SCBWI South Bay Region. She’s also a member of PBSpree, STEAMTeam, and StoryJammers kidlit book groups and reviews children’s books on her website. You can also find her on Twitter and Instagram. She lives in San Francisco with her family.
by Bethany | Jul 26, 2023 | blog, Courage to Create, Milestones Met
A Milestones Met Interview
Please share your exciting news (agent signing, book sale, etc.)!
Lauri Hornik at Rocky Pond Books has acquired world rights to my book Free Museum Day, illustrated by Tatiana Gardel. Publication is set for spring 2025!
How long have you been writing/pursuing an agent/publishing deal and how has the Courage to Create program/tools served you in reaching this milestone?
I’ve been writing for about 7 years. I got my agent in 2021 and went on submission a few months later. I was given a scholarship for courage to create a few months before I got offered an editor call. Which was 10 months after going on submission. Once I joined, CTC was a great way for me to stay accountable and be in community with others who were going through the same things I was. They were a community that kept me accountable for when I needed to finish edits on deadline, and a sounding board when I was struggling after a rejection. I was able to hear from industry professionals on meditation and mindfulness. It’s especially a great space for early career writers immediately after getting a deal.
When we reach a milestone, it means we may encounter new fears and challenges, as well as joys along the journey. How has being a part of the CTC community prepared you for both enjoying the celebration of a milestone reached and the work that is next to come?
My biggest fear after I sold my books in the two-book-deal was that this was it. The manuscripts I had spent years revising and working on to get me to this point were the only things that I would be able to sell. I had convinced myself that those books were my best work. I wouldn’t even give myself a chance to explore the adventure of what was to come. CTC gave me the outlet to share those fears, and learn that I was not alone in those feelings. They helped me understand how common they were, and were encouraging when I needed motivation to let go of the books I had sold, celebrating where they had got me, and gave me “permission” to get lost in a new manuscript and find my passion again.
In the Courage to Create, we call on our Big Why as we engage in the ups and downs of the literary life? What’s your BIG WHY and how does it keep you motivated to keep working towards new milestones?
My big why is showing that the Black experience in America is not a monolith. It’s a huge ask, and not something I can accomplish on my own, but keeping this mantra in mind is a way that I can cement my work within the greater genre of children’s literature. I am telling a few stories, a few moments, a few glimpses into a culture thats goes beyond what anyone can imagine. I’m not trying to represent everything, just a piece.
It’s not easy to keep creating courage when it comes to our literary lives. Did you ever encounter a low point or period and did you lean on any of the CTC tools or practices? What did the no/not yets, or near misses/champagne rejections teach you in hindsight not that your YES is here?
Expectations are hard and when you get to the point of having a book deal, the “career” in “writing career” becomes real. It makes you put so many expectations on yourself that you burn out. I did that, I expected so much from myself, and didn’t let myself rest or breathe or even celebrate and it caused a strain on my creativity for a time. I appreciated the space of saying that in the open forum. My check-in’s weren’t always industry related, the no’s weren’t editors, they were a testament to whether or not I wrote words that day or week. My celebrations were as simple as watching a documentary for research, and my goals were to get a few words down. But that space and the encouragement I received for those small things made it possible for me to work up to setting realistic writing goals without pressure.
As we celebrate your milestone reached, what thoughts can you share with other writers who may doubt they will reach their first or next milestone?
People are like trains. We start at our first city and begin a long journey with no clear destination in sight. There are stops along the way where we pick up travellers, and drop others off. Sometimes when we’ve been going so long we even have to stop, rest, and refuel. So, when you feel like your tank’s running low– stop, rest, refuel, and start again. Only you can drive this train, and there is always a destination.
What is your favorite Courage to Create Belief?
REST is a radical act. For the work. For ourselves.
Ariel Vanece is a Black-American author who writes picture books, chapter books, and middle grade. Her stories are described as heartwarming and adventurous. She obtained an MFA/MA in Writing for Children and Children’s Literature from Simmons University, and holds a BA in English from The University Of Kansas. When they aren’t writing, Ariel is watching the latest Korean Drama, trying out random art projects, reading romance, and taking a road trip.
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