Join me in welcoming Katelyn Aronson to the blog! Her debut, Piglette, is a charming story of self-discovery with the feel of a classic.
DEBUT-BY-THE-NUMBERS
Number of years writing: 5
Number of years from contract to published book: 1
Date your book was released: 5/26/20
Number of pages: 40
Number of launch events: 2 events in Paris, oui oui! (But sadly, things are up in the air now due to Covid…)
Number of days per week that writing takes a backseat to marketing & publicity: 2-3
Number of critique partners: 5
Number of books you hope to publish over the next ten years: 20
Number of times you’ve pinched yourself that you really have a book out: Several times a day!
A FEW QUESTIONS…
Why do you write for children?
I write for children because I loved my own childhood and I never grew out of the literature associated with it. I adore the sheer fun of it, the poetry of it, the beauty of it. There is a kind of magic created in the telling of a story, and children’s literature lends itself so well to the oral tradition of story-sharing.
Who/what are your greatest inspirations?
My travels throughout Europe—all the encounters with its landscapes, languages, and traditions—have been a profound inspiration to me.
Without giving anything away, tell us about your work-in-progress. What do you love about it so far? Where are you stuck?
What I love about my current work in progress is its lyricism. I’ve written a prose version, and now I’m re-writing the same story in verse in order to compare the two. My struggle right now is deciding which of the two versions is a more beautiful, powerful rendering.
What does your work space look like? Tell us about a typical work session.
I write wherever I feel I can concentrate best at a given moment. That might be my classic workspace (desk/lamp/chair/etc.)…or not! I’m creating a writing nook for myself this summer, though, so that’s a project I look forward to.
During the week, I try to fit writing in as a reward whenever I’ve gotten my “day job” work out of the way. When that fails, I set aside a couple of hours on Sunday as my sacred writing time. When I get stuck, I go on a run or a walk. Staying active and being out in nature always help to clear new pathways.
When you need to take a creative break, do you have another activity or hobby that recharges you?
Quiet activities like cooking or reading or an art project recharge me. I also love Irish dance.
REVIEW TIME
Leave an honest review on Amazon, Goodreads, or other online site. Every time you write five reviews for debut Kidlit creators between May 1 – June 30, 2020, you can fill out this ENTRY FORM for a chance to win prizes. Katelyn has generously donated a signed book. Thank you, Katelyn!
For a chance to win SWAG from Katelyn, enter the Rafflecopter giveaway. ***This week only***
You can find the complete rules for the Debut Review Challenge and a downloadable record sheet to keep track of your reviews HERE.
Inspirational!
i like to take creative breaks – like knitting so spend time knitting and doing video call with mom. love your blog and your books