August 20, 2018 Signed Book and Skype Chat Giveaway + Interview with Author, Tara Lazar

I’m excited to welcome to the blog, author, Tara Lazar. Her most recently published picture book, 7 Ate 9, earned her the Crystal Kite Award and the Irma S. Black Award. Let’s dive in!

You provide, via https://taralazar.com/category/7-ate-9/, some insight as to how 7 Ate 9 was born. At the end of that blog post you share that it took four years from manuscript to publication. Why four years? What happened during that process? Who was involved? And what was the process and overall experience like for you?

        

I wrote the book, revised it, and then it took several months to sell, so that’s nearly a year right there. It can take months for the contract. The illustrations take months, too, and there is always a back-and-forth editing process there. Also, a book is completed and printed several months to a full year prior to release, to allow time for marketing and distribution. The book cover comes last in the picture-book-making process, and you need that cover to promote the book.

Shortly after I signed the contract, my acquiring editor Kevin Lewis left to pursue writing and agenting full time. Thankfully, Tracey Keevan was excited to take over the project. The transition took a while as Disney-Hyperion reorganized its editorial department.

A lot depends upon the illustrator’s availability, too. If the publisher wants a specific person but they are working on another project, you have to wait. I don’t recall if that was the case with Ross MacDonald…but he not only illustrates books, he makes movie props (like the Book of Secrets from National Treasure). He’s a popular guy!

I find, on average, for me, that a picture book takes three years. That may seem like a long time, but I have known others with books in production (and a holding pattern) for up to 9 years!

Has being a recipient of the Crystal Kite Award and the Irma S. Black Award for 7 Ate 9 changed things for you? If so, what and how?

I was shocked, surprised and, as the British say, “chuffed”. (No, I’m not British but I love the word.) Both awards have given me a sense of legitimacy that’s often illusive to artists and creators. However, that feeling was fleeting, and I like it that way. I prefer to keep proving myself with each book; I never want to be content with “good enough.”

Is there anything you expected or hoped would change, following receipt of those awards, that didn’t? 

I had hoped sales would skyrocket…but, neither of those awards are well-known to the general public. But to be recognized by children and my peers–that certainly wins over sales.

It seems that children’s literature has so many women behind the scenes and yet men seem to garner more attention, awards, and accolades (e.g. the Caldecott imbalance: https://christinetaylorbutler.wordpress.com/2018/03/01/gender-inequity-caldecott-by-the-numbers/ ). What do you feel the industry could do differently to turn the tide? What could writers do?  

I think people should be made aware of this imbalance–because many do not realize it until it’s pointed out.

When a man writes or illustrates a book for children, it can be interpreted as “special” because nurturing kids is the traditional female role. It may seem more natural for women to create children’s literature, and thus, perhaps it’s more expected, seen as “less than” a male effort…? I don’t know why. It’s baffling to me. Plus there’s the long-standing bias that women aren’t as funny as men. Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Gilda Radner, Ellen DeGeneres, Tina Fey? Hello???

And I don’t necessarily want to promote women as “funny female authors”–I want females to be included in “funny authors,” not be shoved into a separate category. Before I became an author, hilarious women like Carolyn Crimi, Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Laurie Keller inspired me. More female authors were on my radar than males.

Conversations about these topics need to happen. Author-illustrator Grace Lin has begun the kidlitwomen blog and podcast to discuss gender issues. Women have been whispering it to one another for years, so it is refreshing to hear it happen in the open. Conferences, events and articles need to be called out when they don’t include women and people of color. Again, this bias is often unconscious and needs to be pointed out and corrected.

You balance A LOT of hats. You’re an accomplished author with several published books and awards under your belt. You created and run Story Storm and you have a strong presence and following via your blog (which I’m pretty sure I plug on a daily basis) and social media. In short, you’re an inspiration to many within the industry. But what inspires YOU and keeps you going [as somebody balancing so many hats]? 

It’s a passion. It never feels like work. It always feels like fun.

Do you still deal with as many hiccups as when you were first breaking into publishing? How have those hiccups changed over the course of your career? And how do you deal with them? 

Sure I do. Getting published is just the first hurdle in a career that will be full of hurdles. The hiccups are as long as they ever were—the waiting is the one constant. This is not a career for the impatient. Working on new projects is the way to make the wait time whizz by. I also try to find new ways to support books, their creators, and children’s literacy, so we can all lift each other up.

The hurdle I am dealing with now? No new book released in 2018. I have six books under contract, but none come out this year. I feel like a year is an eternity in children’s books, and keeping one’s name out there is important. That’s difficult to do when there’s no new book to promote.

Piggybacking off of your previous response, what are some ways authors can keep their name out there? Tips for unpublished authors who don’t feel they have much to put out their yet? Any advice for how to shake off feeling like one’s trying too hard to stay relevant or become known within the industry? 

Although I began my blog before I was published, and that used to be the prevailing advice, I don’t think blogging is as important as it used to be. Unpublished writers should concentrate on their craft, first and foremost.  That’s what’s going to get them a contract. If you have free time after that, try hanging out on Twitter where you will find a very supportive Kidlit community…plus librarians and educators, too! Make connections to other people in your business and those who value and support your business.

I’m on social media a lot, and that’s how I hope to stay in people’s memories between books… besides visiting book fairs, festivals, conferences, bookstores, libraries, schools, etc.…

I honestly enjoy social media and have fun with it. If you don’t enjoy it, don’t do it. Your displeasure will seep through and you might just stress yourself out! Life is too short to be constantly stressed!

What are some dreams and goals you have for yourself as an author? 

As for my goals, I hope to publish books for the rest of my life.  It would be nice to have a New York Times bestseller someday, but if I keep writing and the audience keeps enjoying my books, that’s really all I could ever ask for. It is a privilege to work in children’s publishing.

Tara, thank you for your time, and congratulations on your recent awards. You inspire and motivate many writers and make many readers, young and old alike, laugh with your funny picture books. Looking forward to reading more of your books in the near future!

Tara is graciously offering two signed copies of 7 Ate 9 and a 30-minute Skype chat as part of a Giveaway to celebrate 7 Ate 9. The contest is being hosted via Twitter and the the follow post is pinned to my Twitter profile page. Simply go to my profile page, and follow the directions listed in the pinned tweet below. Twitter profile: http://twitter.com/justinrcolon

Enter the Rafflecopter widget below for a chance to win a signed copy of 7 Ate 9, swag, and a 30-minute Skype Chat with Tara. You can an earn extra entry for each entry option you complete. Three winners will be announced 8/29. Thank you for this generous giveaway, Tara!

a Rafflecopter giveaway