October 27, 2021 Cover Reveal and Interview with Debut Author, Stephen Briseño
I’m excited to welcome author and 2019 #PBChat mentee, Stephen Briseño to my blog for a mini interview and cover reveal of his debut picture book, THE NOTEBOOK KEEPER, illustrated by Magdalena Mora!
ABOUT STEPHEN:
Stephen Briseño is a middle school English teacher in San Antonio, Texas. Growing up, his grandfather, a Mexican immigrant, wove stories of life in Mexico and Texas and talked about the challenges immigrants faced. Stephen lives with his wife, daughter, and dog, Charlie. He can often be found enjoying a good book with a cup of coffee. The Notebook Keeper is his debut children’s book. stephenbriseno.weebly.com
SYNOPSIS:
THE NOTEBOOK KEEPER is the inspiring story of a mama and her daughter who are denied entry at the U.S. border, and must find the refugee in charge of “the notebook,” an unofficial ledger of those waiting to cross into the U.S.
Before, the sun drenched the yard. Our neighbor’s laughter danced in the streets. Now, the streets are quiet. Papa is gone, and we are no longer safe here. We are leaving, too.
In this moving and stunningly-illustrated picture book, Noemi and Mama flee their home in Mexico, and head for the US border. There, they look for “The Notebook Keeper”– the person in charge of a ledger for those waiting to cross, and they add their names to the book. As the days turn into weeks, and hope dwindles, the little girl looks for kindness around her– and inside herself.
And now without further a due, the cover for THE NOTEBOOK KEEPER: A STORY OF KINDNESS FROM THE BORDER . . .
::DRUM ROLL::
What was your inspiration for writing this picture book?
In March 2019, my uncle died very unexpectedly. I went to the funeral, which was several hours away, alone without my wife and daughter. On the 5 hour drive back to San Antonio, I was mourning, reflecting, and too much in my own head. So, I played an episode of the NPR show This American Life to take my mind off of everything.
The episode I randomly pulled up highlighted this strange and infuriating process for those seeking asylum at the U.S. border. At the San Ysidro checkpoint in Tijuana, anyone who was seeking help was not allowed to cross. Instead, they had to get their names down into “the notebook.” They write down people’s names, give them a number, and they wait. Each day, U.S. officials tell the notebook keeper how many can plead their case that day. But the craziest part of this whole system was that the notebook keeper is seeking asylum themselves. When their number is called, they pass the notebook to someone else.
When the segment ended, I replayed it three times. It rattled me. I knew that there was a story there that needed to be told.
How did PBChat influence your journey?
PB Chat wasn’t just an influence on my journey; it has been an integral part of my writing journey so far. It may sound cliché but I wouldn’t be here at this point without the PBChat mentorship. The community that you, Justin, have formed has helped me connect with so many great folks in the kidlit community–authors, agents, editors, and illustrators.
After being chosen as Patricia Valdez’s mentee, she asked me what story have you not told. I knew immediately I wanted to write this story about a notebook system in Tijuana. I wrote a few drafts and workshopped it with Patricia. So if it wasn’t for PBChat, I literally wouldn’t be here!
What’s your approach to writing?
Ray Bradbury said, “You fail only if you stop writing.” I’ve taken this quote to heart since I began this journey. While it’s taken some time to figure out, I’ve developed a routine. Here’s how I approach writing picture books, and to an extent YA:
IDEA COLLECTION: I collect a list of ideas in my notebook and that’s the only thing I collect in there. No drafts, no plans, just ideas as they come to me. I gather ideas from everywhere. I’m always listening to podcasts, reading books, and chatting with my daughter–who’s always a source of brilliance. When an idea strikes, I write it down, even if it’s just a line or a phrase. The point is to be curious, as Kate Messner advises, and record that curiosity.
PERCOLATE & DRAFTING: I usually let an idea from that list percolate for a little while in my head before I commit to putting it down on paper. I hand write each and every first draft I’ve written, including The Notebook Keeper. There’s science behind this, but something happens when you put pen to paper. Your brain thinks differently when you hand write as opposed to just typing first drafts.
WRITING EACH DAY: Each morning, except for Sundays, I set a timer for 20 minutes, turn off my internal editor, and just write. (Shout out to my writing coach, author/podcast host/all-around amazing human Kirsti Call for helping me develop this routine!) When the timer goes off, I stop. Nothing is ever perfect. That first draft is usually a garbled mess in need of serious shaping and revision. Then I go back to it the next day and try to find the story among the mess.
SHARE IT: When I feel like it’s at a place for folks to read, I share it with my CPs (an amazing group of authors turned friends I met through the 12×12 community) and eventually, my agent. They are always quick to point out areas that need improvements, that are thin, or just push me to do better.
What do you hope readers will take away from this story and/or experience while reading?
I believe that books can be mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors. I hope that The Notebook Keeper works as all three. I hope both children and adult readers alike will gain a deeper understanding of the nuances of what’s happening at our borders. Above all, I hope readers develop empathy, see the humanity of what is happening, and be a force for change.
Can you share a little something with us about anything else you might have in the works?
Yes! My next picture book is a biography called Queen of Leaves: The Story of Botanist Ynes Mexia and will be illustrated by Diana Toledano. It is set to come out Fall 2022 from The Innovation Press.
I have some other books in the works, including a YA novel in verse, which my agent and I will be prepping for submission in the coming weeks. And, fingers crossed, some other “vague publishing news” that I can’t talk about just yet!!
Pre-order THE NOTEBOOK KEEPER via any of the following links:
Be sure to head to Goodreads and click WANT TO READ as another way to support The Notebook Keeper.
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