July 9, 2019 Interview and Giveaway with Author, Ashley Franklin
About Ashley:
Ashley Franklin is a writer, mother, and adjunct college professor. Ashley received her M.A. from the University of Delaware in English Literature, where she reaffirmed her love of writing but realized she had NO IDEA what she wanted to do about it. From no idea to now having more ideas than what she knows to do with, Ashley discovered her love of children’s literature.
Ashley currently resides in Arkansas with her family. NOT QUITE SNOW WHITE will be published July 9, 2019 by HarperCollins and is Ashley’s first picture book
Connect with Ashley:
Twitter: @differentashley
Facebook: Ashley Franklin
Instagram: @ashleyfranklinwrites
Thank you for joining me today, Ashley! And congratulations on your upcoming picture book debut, Not Quite Snow White! Talk about timing… your picture book is dropping just days after Disney announced the casting of Halle Bailey as Ariel in their live-action version of The Little Mermaid. It’s truly a special week.
Okay, let’s dive into some questions!
Justin: I’m ditching’ the traditional author bio today for something a little more fun. Can you tell us a bit about yourself ?
Ashley: I’m an expert worrier, and I think that it’s actually been able to help me as a writer. I’m constantly wondering about the multiple possibilities of things that could happen or alternative ways they could have happened. You know how some people become professional singers when they’re in the shower? Well, for me, that’s when I do some of my best thinking. It’s where I have figured out some of my best plot holes. I like to think of it as an extremely efficient use of time.
In the grand scheme of things, I guess it kind of reflects my writing schedule. That is, I don’t have a set schedule. I keep pens and notebooks handy and use my cellphone to write and take notes whenever I can. I work from home (as an adjunct instructor and part-time social media content writer), and I have two very active boys. This has been the case ever since I first started seriously trying to become a published author. My mind is always going. Fortunately, ideas pop up rather frequently.
Justin: Let’s play two truths and a lie. Please share three statements with us, making sure one is a lie and the other two are a true.
Ashley: I almost got trampled by a deer once while sitting in my parents’ yard.
I’m afraid of birds because I got chased by a goose when I was younger.
For most of my childhood, I kept getting purple beta fish for pets. I named them all Curtis.
Justin: Are there any creators [you don’t have to limit this to writers] who have inspired you and your work, and if so, who?
Ashley:
Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow: Jamilah is awesome with sensory imagery. I’ve had the pleasure of reading a few of her upcoming works, and it really just seems to come naturally to her. For me? Not so much. Now that’s something I tend to look for in my own writing so that I can go back and revise accordingly.
Brandy: It blew my mind when she played Cinderella in the 90s. Not only was this part of my inspiration for Tameika in Not Quite Snow White, but it was inspiring for me at that age. I only hope that Not Quite Snow White can bring a similar feeling of pride and validation to the kids who read it (or have it read to them).
Dev Petty: When I first read “I Don’t Want to Be a Frog,” I honestly don’t know who enjoyed it more—me or my kids. I loved the dialogue. I loved how every word seemed absolutely necessary. I aspire to be that concise. I am a wordy writer.
Justin: Would you take us through the process for your upcoming picture book debut, Not Quite Snow White, from its inception as an idea to a published book out in the world?
NOT QUITE SNOW WHITE began as a story idea for Tara Lazar’s StoryStorm challenge (then PiBoIdMo). I knew I wanted to write a princess story, and I knew that I wanted her to be African American. I tinkered with that idea, and realized I didn’t really need her to be an actual princess. I actually wanted to focus on the idea of being a princess.
My first agent sold NOT QUITE SNOW WHITE within a year of us working together, but there were many other failed manuscripts before that.
Justin: How did the story evolve throughout its various drafts?
I don’t remember the particular order, but I do remember a few things about the different versions. Tameika’s parents weren’t there until the last version. In the first few drafts, Tameika got a chance to watch other kids audition. That’s when she noticed that all of them were different and had different strengths, so it was only their talent that mattered for the part. There was also a version where Tameika was bullied directly (like tripped while practicing her dances).
Justin: Were there every any other princesses you considered instead of Snow What? I know the answer might seem obvious (prove me wrong, haha), but why did you choose Snow White? What about her felt right for this story? Did she pose any particular challenges
Ashley: I absolutely did not consider any other princess besides Snow White because I didn’t want to do a retelling. There’s nothing wrong with them, but that’s not what I wanted to do for this particular story.
Like I said, I came up with the title pretty early on and loved it. I also loved all of the potential things that I could do with the idea of Snow White because there’s definitely a certain image that most people think of when we hear the name.
Justin: What were some of the greatest challenges you faced while writing Not Quite Snow White?
Ashley: Honestly, there weren’t any. I was pretty fortunate in that way.
Justin: How did you come to work with Ebony Glenn [a super talented illustrator committed to diverse narratives]? Can you tell us more about the process of finding and collaborating with an illustrator?
Ashley: That was brilliant work of my editor and publisher. They asked me to make a list of illustrators and they made a list. They narrowed down the list and asked that I choose from the list after reviewing the artists’ work. In the end we agreed that Ebony would be the best choice.
Justin: I see you’re a member of the ‘New in 19’ group. Can you tell us more about the group, how it works, and what you’ve gained from the experience?
It makes all of this less lonely, and it’s awesome to have a safe space. We can ask each other anything no matter how big or small, and there’s no judgement.
Justin: What’s the overall experience been like, collaborating with other debut others?
Ashley: It has been fantastic! The support and the love are genuine. We have no problem sharing things that have worked, are working, or have failed miserably as we’ve tried to navigate our debut year.
I’ll also have a chance to do a joint signing while I’m in Delaware with one of my New in Nineteen pals soon, Wendy Greenley, who wrote Lola Shapes the Sky.
Justin: I read that you’re in the beginning stages of working on a middle grade novel. It seems many picture book writers are [now] writing middle grade, too (myself included). What inspired and/or motivated you to start writing mg, and what has that process been like?
Ashley: I have a lot to say! LOL! Honestly, I want to give more attention to many of the themes that are found in Not Quite Snow White. I want to be able to spend more time developing characters and showing how they process and navigate tough situations.
For me, it’s totally different from writing a picture book simply because of the length and larger assembly of characters. I’ve found it easier for me to rely on an outline to keep everything straight. The longer the work, the easier it is for me to get lost in the details.
Justin: What’s your vision for the stories you create and put out into the world?
Ashley: It’s my hope that the stories I create always have an emotional pull that make readers expand their thinking about how they see the world and helps them to understand that not everyone lives in this world the same way.
Justin: What’s something you believed earlier in your writing career but think about differently now?
Ashley: I thought that all agents were created equally. They’re not. You really have to do your homework and find the person that shares your vision for your work and career.
Justin: Where can prospective buyers purchase your book?
Ashley:
WILDCARD ROUND:
Justin: If you could be any fictional animated character, who would you be and why?
Ashley: One of the Powerpuff Girls. It would be cool to be heroic with my sisters, and our personalities are vastly different like theirs. I think I’d probably be Bubbles. They’d probably say I’m Buttercup.
Justin: If you could have an unlimited supply of something for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Ashley: Babysitters—unlimited, free babysitters! Childcare is expensive. It doesn’t even matter that I wouldn’t need them my whole life. It would be worth it.
Justin: Thanks for your time, Ashley! And again, congrats on your picture book debut, Not Quite Snow White!
Ashley: Thank you, Justin!
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