October 29, 2019 Interview and Giveaway with Lynne Marie
I’m excited to welcome to the blog this week, author, Lynne Marie!
Lynne Marie is offering a few lucky winners the following. To enter the giveaway, check out the Rafflecopter widget following the interview below.
PRIZES:
One Pitch & Query Letter Critique from The Picture Book Mechanic Critique & Mentoring Svc
One Critique from The Picture Book Mechanic Critique & Mentoring Service
One ½ Hour Phone Consultation from The Picture Book Mechanic Critique & Mentoring Service
One Zoom Critique Session from The Picture Book Mechanic
About Lynne Marie:
I’m the author of Hedgehog Goes to Kindergarten – illustrated by Anne Kennedy (Scholastic, 2011), Hedgehog’s 100th Day of School – illustrated by Lorna Hussey (Scholastic, January 2017), The Star of the Christmas Play — illustrated by Lorna Hussey (Beaming Books, 10/16/2018), Moldilocks and the 3 Scares — illustrated by David Rodriguez Lorenzo (Sterling, 2019) and her first non-fiction picture book, Let’s Eat! Mealtime Around the World — illustrated by Parwinder Singh (Beaming Books, 2019) and more forthcoming. When I’m not cruising around the world for my travel agent job, I live on a lake in South Florida with my family (my son Kevin and daughter, Kayla), a Schipperke named Anakin and several resident water birds. I’m represented by Deborah Warren of East West Literary Agency. You can learn more about me at www.LiterallyLynneMarie.com.
But now, the fun stuff. I’m a lover with creepy with heart (although not a fan of horror). I grew up watching Dark Shadows with my beloved Nanny, and absolutely ADORED television sitcoms like The Addams Family and the Munsters and the television mini-series Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein: The True Story. One of my absolute favorite Broadway Musicals of all-time is the Phantom of the Opera. I’ve seen it several times, including London, New York City, Miami, and Fort Lauderdale. When I was 9, I had my father paint my bedroom dark purple (they wouldn’t allow black) and I decorated it to look like a haunted house. I’ve always loved bats (but not up close only because I don’t like things that fly past my head — long story about a pet crow we had that became rabid), though I do own a dog that looks like a bat.
Connect with Lynne Marie:
Website
Critique and Mentor Service Website
Blog
Amazon
Twitter
Facebook
Author Page
Youtube
Instagram
Let’s kick off this interview with a game – Two Truths and a Lie. (The truth is listed right above the giveaway link following the interview below.)
- An Academy-Award Winning Actress was in my Wedding Party
- I vacationed with Duran Duran
- A grammy-nominated song was written about me*
Would you tell us a bit about your upcoming picture book, Moldilocks and the Three Scares?
It’s a fractured fairytale – a monster mash-up of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, with a Frankenstein monster, a Mummy, a Vampire, and a little Zombie Girl. However, I flipped the script and instead of breaking and entering (LOL) Moldilocks is lured by the soup to a place that smells like home and becomes an answer to the Scares nightmares (prayers). I also flipped some of the character roles, too — the father, Frank, is the cook, and the Mummy is the one who works in the lab. To quote my friend Debra Getts (also a writer) said, the book is creepy, with heart. It’s not too scary, but with just the right amount of ooky (borrowing that word from the Addams Family) and spooky to be fun and festive, and hopefully a fangtastic read.
Who will this story appeal to, and do you have a particular favorite part of the story (or a part you enjoyed writing most)?
The story is geared toward children 4-8 but certainly younger and older will enjoy it and it’s monsterly references and inspirations throughout the book and in the art. There’s a zombee (maggotfly) and a bloodhound named Plasma, too!
How did you come up with the idea for the story?
I came up with the idea several years ago when cultivating ideas during Storystorm (then PiBoIdMo). I was just playing around with punny variations of Goldilocks and the Three Bears to write a fracture of the tale and came up with Moldilocks and the Three Scares. Of course, Moldilocks had to be a Zombie!
Can you provide us with a timeline of Moldilocks and the Three Scares, from the inception of the idea to acquisition to publication?
The idea came around Story Storm 2014, but I didn’t write it until it became fully fleshed in my mind, about a half year later 5/2015. About 5 months after that, I submitted it for a critique and chat with Leslie Shumate of Little Brown, and she was interested in bringing it to acquisitions, but then left the company. In January, 2016, I was at a SCBWI conference in Miami, where I submitted THE DINO STORE, and Meredith Mundy liked it a lot, but already had too many dinosaur books on her list, so she asked me what else I had. I pitched her MOLDILOCKS and she ended up buying it. However, that process took about 1 ½ years, and the book took about 1 ½ more years to come out, which brings us to the present. In all that time it underwent 19 revisions. Seventeen before it sold, and two after Meredith had it. Nothing major, mostly tightening and cutting things that would be shown in the art.
Who were the team members you worked with for Moldlocks and the Three Scares, and what was the process like collaborating with them?
Unfortunately, MOLDILOCKS was an orphan, so I originally worked with Meredith, but then she left Sterling for Abrams, and so after that, I worked with three other editors and now Ardi Alspatch, who I have probably worked with the longest out of everyone! I would say it felt rocky before I teamed with Ardi because of so many changes. No one likes for their book to be orphaned. It’s always the buyer who is the most passionate for the project, and everyone less so after that.
Were there any concerns about the book being more of a seasonal picture book, and if so, how did you navigate those concerns and/or challenges? And advice or tips for others with similar questions, challenges, and or concerns?
There are obvious challenges with seasonal picture books, but my book doesn’t mention Halloween anywhere so it is not truly a Halloween book except by virtue of featuring monsters that are popular during Halloween and hopefully, since monsters are also perennial and it also has the foster family/adoption theme it will continue to be popular past the Halloween season.
What were the challenges of riffing off of a well-known story, and how did you navigate them for this fresh, fun story of yours?
Thankfully, this one proved pretty easy for me, as well as fun. It was right up my alley and I was definitely the person to write this book. I love monsters and haunted houses (Disney’s Haunted Mansion is my #1 Favorite Attraction EVER) and I am adopted. My adoptive mother, who is a social worker, tells me all adopted children are fascinated with Halloween, likely, because they don’t exactly know who they are or where they came from and on Halloween, they can be whoever/whatever they want, without question.
My son, who was a premature baby, was due on Christmas and I was trying so hard to have him on Halloween. I couldn’t manage it and had him October 20. I did, many, many years later get a Schipperke puppy, my Anakin, who was born on Halloween though. When I heard the date the puppies were born, I knew it was a sign that it was the right litter. LOL.
Who are some picture book authors and illustrators who you want to work with one day and/or inspire you?
Karen Beaumont, Ami Dyckman. Beth Ferry. Rebecca Gomez. Ryan Higgins. Lauren Kerstein. Sophia Gholz. Karen Gruber. Lori Mortensen. Diana Murray. Kim Norman. Dev Petty. Tammi Sauer. Shannon Stocker. Corey Rosen Schwartz. Linda Joy Singleton, Jennifer Ward — UGH my mind is fried from my MOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE SCARES Book Launch this past weekend. I am sure I am leaving out some fabulous authors!
In addition to being a picture book author, you lead a double life as The Picture Book Mechanic! Can you tell us more about your critique service and where we can learn more about it?
I guess I lead a triple life (LOL) because I am also a world travel agent (specializing in world travel, specifically Western and Northern Europe, Hawaii, Mexico and the Caribbean, as well as Disney World, Universal, Beaches and Sandals! www.pixievacations.com/lynne).
Regarding my Critique and Mentoring Service, I have a very busy service in which I assist picture book writers in bringing their manuscripts to the next level. I charge affordable pricing, and many of my clients have received contracts, which is why I am busy. Readers can go to www.thepicturebookmechanic.com for more information. I am willing to offer a $5.00 discount on a first time critique or package or service (not good on add-ons) that a reader has not tried.
What are some of the most common things you see in the manuscripts you read, that hold a ‘good’ story back from being ‘great’? Any advice, tips, tricks, for identifying and or fixing these things?
Hmmm…I’ll be honest that it is usually a lot more complicated than one thing holding a good story back from being great. I would say that there’s a road to travel from here to there and that every step of the way needs to be paved with hard work (perspiration), the right tools (craft), facing forward (improvement), good intention (writing the right thing for the right audience) and eye on the horizon (marketability). But I do recommend that if you are not achieving your goals, it is a good idea to invest in yourself and hire a mentor to try and expedite the process and to see what, if anything you are doing wrong.
I would say the biggest thing is to be open to feedback and to be able to let the story go where it needs to go (regardless of your original vision for it). Stories are intangible and often take on their own shape once their seeds get planted. If you don’t agree with a paid critique from a trusted critiquer, step back and let it sit for a few days, then, at least try it out and see if it makes the manuscript better. If it’s that you don’t understand the feedback, schedule a consultation and make sure you do. Also, don’t rush a revision. Even for myself, a revision can take time. Often, I have to let the story percolate in order for me to come up with the perfect resolution.
I would also recommend reading the story aloud to make sure the voice is compelling it sounds smooth. And to do a revision pass focusing on each and every word to make sure the writing is tight and each word is the best. You should be specific, rather than general; use strong nouns, and active verbs. Each sentence should move the plot forward or characterize a character or perhaps be cut.
Is there anything else you have in the works that you can share with us?
LET’S EAT! MEALTIME AROUND THE WORLD releases on November 5, 2019 and I’m really excited about this book. I am crossing my fingers and hoping it sells well so that I can do the next book in the series. LET’S PLAY! GAMES AROUND THE WORLD.
Nothing else that I can share yet, but hopefully soon!
Here’s where you can check out Lynn Marie’s most recent book and her forthcoming titles:
MOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE SCARES:
https://www.amazon.com/Moldilocks-Three-Scares-Zombie-Tale/dp/1454930616/
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/moldilocks-and-the-three-scares-lynne-marie/1130336667
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43545503-moldilocks-and-the-three-scares
LET’S EAT! MEALTIME AROUND THE WORLD:
https://smile.amazon.com/Lets-Eat-Mealtime-Around-World/dp/1506451942/
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lets-eat-lynne-marie/1130579742
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42422709-let-s-eat
THE STAR IN THE CHRISTMAS PLAY
https://www.amazon.com/Star-Christmas-Play-Lynne-Marie/dp/150643813X/
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-star-in-the-christmas-play-lynne-marie/1127620421
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37572351-the-star-in-the-christmas-play
Two Truths and a Lie:
A talented composer did write a song for me but it did not get a grammy nomination
I vacationed with Duran Duran in St. Maarten with my boyfriend who was their American
Booking Agent.
Cathy Moriarty (Raging Bull, Casper, Soapdish, etc.) was in my Wedding Party, and a
Neighbor.
Thanks for your time, Lynne Marie!
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