writerjenn

Last Friday, the award-winning Jessica Dimuzio and I stopped by our local independent children's bookstore, the cozy Children's Book World in Haverford, PA. It has all the touches that make independents so special: the Help Wanted sign on the door says, "Must love children's books," and the people working in the store know the stock because they love to read. They host events celebrating children's books and their authors (watch for a Corduroy anniversary party on April 5, Lois Lowry signing her book The Willoughbys on April 16, and a visit from Angelina Ballerina's Katherine Holabird and Helen Craig on April 21). When you walk in the door, you don't have to wait long for a staff member to ask, "May I help you?" If you want recommendations, they've got 'em. And if you prefer to browse the shelves at your leisure, you're welcome.

After a chat with the store's gracious owner Hannah Schwartz, I gravitated to the YA section. While in the store, Jessica and I also ran into local writer Kathye Fetsko Petrie, author of Flying Jack. Ms. Petrie told us about Flying Jack's journey to publication, showed us some of her favorite picture books, and let us in on the Local LIT website, a resource listing literary news, local authors, and upcoming author events in the Philadelphia area.

So, as you can see, I left the store with a lot more than the new books I carried home!

 I recently posted about Dr. Jessica Dimuzio, one of the winners of the SCBWI Kimberly Colen Memorial Grant.  She received the prize at SCBWI's New York meeting for her picture-book manuscript, BARK, BARK, BARK FOR MY PARK.  I got the inside track on today's interview with Dr. Dimuzio because I belong to her writer's group, and I am shamelessly taking advantage of that fact to pick her brain on her writing process, the award, and animals she has known.

Dr. Jessica Dimuzio, a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, has done research on elephants, rhinos, and wild baboons in Kenya.  She has also served as Director of the Animal Health Technician Program at Harcum Junior College, and as co-Director of the Kenya Semester Program in Wildlife Biology.  Her consulting business provides personnel management programs, strategic planning, and leadership development for veterinarians in practices and research institutions. She has been published in veterinary journals such as Journal of Veterinary Medical Education and Veterinary Economics.

Dr. Dimuzio’s interest in writing for children stemmed from seeing the enthusiasm of students in naturalist programs she conducted both in the U.S. and abroad. She wants to excite more children about animals in their natural environment by relating true incidents from her work.

Q: Congratulations on winning the SCBWI/ Kimberly Colen Memorial Grant! I remember when you first described this book to me, you used the phrase, "doggie kissing booth," which is certainly one of the more original hooks I've ever heard. Can you tell us a bit about your project--what the book's about, and where the kissing booth comes in?

A: “BARK, BARK, BARK FOR MY PARK” recounts the true struggle of how Johnny Angel, my 5-pound, then 2-year old Papillon dog saved a farm park from development. The story proves that no matter how small, how young, or even what species you are, you do have the power to make a difference in your world if you have passion and a plan. For helping him save his park, our hero thanks everyone in a most unusual way that gets his picture in the paper! That's how the Kissing Booth started, and it continues to raise both awareness and funds for the Norristown Farm Park.

Q: Anything else you'd care to add?

A: The Colen Selection Committee and the presenter, Randy Colen, brother of the late Kimberly, surprised the audience [in New York] by having my co-author, Johnny Angel, receive the Award with me. But they surprised me for when I went to shake Randy’s hand and accept my plaque, he held out a big red squeaky bone for Johnny Angel! This is the first time in the 37-year history of SCBWI that a dog was recognized for his contribution to children’s literature.

Q: Has your dog gotten a swelled head from all the attention? Is he ego-tripping? Are your other pets jealous? 

A: Johnny Angel has always been dedicated to serving others--from his work in hospitals, to reading to children at the library, to raising money for charity, though he does love the camera (& the camera loves him!)   Although his girlfriend missed him when Johnny Angel went to New York to receive his award, Bizou (which means Little Kiss in French) was just proud and happy to have him home. 

Q: You've spent time studying animals in Africa and Asia.  How are you using your African adventures in your writing?

A:  My interest in writing for children stems from seeing the enthusiasm of students in naturalist programs I have conducted both in the US and abroad. I am determined to engage more children in learning about animals in their natural environment by relating true incidents from my work. Living in a tented camp in the bush on Masai land provided the setting for my first manuscript, “AFRICAN ANIMALS’ LULLABY.” When studying wild baboons in Kenya, I was lucky to see something I had never seen before, something most others will never see, and something I have never forgotten. This experience resulted in “MISCHIEVOUS MAHLER, THE BABY BABOON WHO PLAYED A MOST DANGEROUS GAME.”

Q: What other projects do you have in the works? 

A: My newest manuscript, tentatively entitled “Elephant Island,” tells of the conflict for the same land between a Malaysian village and a wild bull elephant, and the ensuing rescue mission with my husband.

Q: What are your strengths and weaknesses as a writer?

My strengths: I have unusual but true stories to tell. My husband promised me on our wedding day that I’d never have a boring life with him. He has kept his promise & we have shared many unique experiences with animals and people all over the world. This, combined with my ability to see humor in odd situations, produces the tales I love to tell.

My weaknesses: Being a scientist and knowing that fact is stranger than fiction, I am a stickler for accuracy in relating the events and in portraying animal behavior without anthropomorphizing. This is a difficult balance to achieve so that your writing is engaging but not preachy or teachy.

Q: What are your favorite/most useful tools as a writer?

A: There are three. 

(1) Since I write about true events, and am a stickler for scientific validity, photographs and detailed journals help maintain the accuracy of my stories. I "think" in pictures and one of the most helpful hints I can give picture book writers is, once your draft manuscript is complete, type a mock-up in PowerPoint.  If you cannot envision a dynamic picture with the words you have written, it's revision time.  

(2) Feedback from other writers especially in a group situation. In our critique group, it has fascinated me how many different interpretations have evolved, which helps an author see other possibilities or misinterpretations. Either way, it is valuable fuel to create a better story.

(3) Let your story be read by, or to, different aged children with different reading and comprehension skills. Watch their reaction, their attention span. Listen and take seriously their questions and comments. INVALUABLE! It has improved my writing every time. 

Q: What is your process like? Any interesting rituals as you sit down at the writing desk?

A: To date, all my children's manuscripts and magazine articles have been written in one sitting.  But you must know that the stories have been in my head, or told, for years. The most critical process is that I must allow for insomnia for the creativity to flow and keep paper and pencil by the bed stand.

Q: Where would you like your writing career to be, five years from now?

A: Having income from publications I am proud of, still enjoying writing, and thrilled to have met Oprah Winfrey who selected one of my books to share with her audience! 

Q for Johnny Angel: What adventures lie ahead for you?

A: He is currently working on his next manuscript, how he saved his girlfriend from a puppy mill. 


Thanks to Jessica and Johnny Angel for visiting with us!

Good news for some of my writer friends:

The Mad Poets Society is having a "New Women's Voices" reading this Thursday evening, in Media, PA. Four women will read (including the marvelous Kelly Fineman), followed by an open mike.

One of the Kimberly Colen Memorial Grants (awarded by the family of the late Kimberly Colen and the Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) went to Jessica Dimuzio, a member of my local writers' group.  I have been sitting on this good news for weeks, not knowing when the committee was responding to all the applicants, and not wanting to let any cats out of bags prematurely.  But since Jessica picked up her award last week at the New York SCBWI conference, I think I can congratulate her publicly now.  I hope to post more about her project in the near future, but for now I will say that her book was based on a real-life dog, and the dog went to NY too.  (She says he loved the limelight.)

A toast to my talented friends!

And now back to the world of revision, revision, revision . . . balanced by a bit of new first-draft writing if I'm lucky.  This new work is much darker than I had expected--it's leading me all over the place and I'm letting it, because with a first draft, I don't have much choice.  The choices come later.  Anyway, it's nice to have a new work peeking up like the head of a crocus, because the novel and the short story I'm working on are in those very late drafts where I'm working on exciting things like (brace yourselves!) punctuation.  And tweaking single words here and there.  

Next weekend is the Rutgers University Council on Children's Literature's annual One-on-One Plus conference. Though nostalgic for my own trip to this conference a couple of years ago, I am excited for my talented friends who were accepted this year: Colleen Rowan Kosinski, who writes contemporary YA novels with a supernatural twist, Jessica DiMuzio (accepted for the second time!), who writes nonfiction books based on her experiences in Africa, and Kelly Fineman, who's been working on picture books and poetry.

Applications are usually opened in late spring/early summer for this fall conference. If your application is accepted, you get to meet one-on-one with an agent, editor, or author who critiques your manuscript and talks with you about your career. Then you meet in small groups with other writers, agents, and editors for Q&A and discussion. But wait, there's more! Speakers on various aspects of the writing process, lunch and networking time . . . Truly one of the best conferences I've ever attended.

The mentor I had that year talked with me about developing the voice of my main character (among other things, he suggested keeping a diary in that character's voice . . . not to appear in the book, of course, but as a tool for me), and sharpening one of the conflicts in the book. All of which I did, and which made it a better book. In addition, I got to chat with other writers, editors, and agents, and picked up a lot of information about the publishing industry and the requirements of specific houses. And that year, we wrapped up with one of the most inspirational keynotes I've ever heard, courtesy of Joan Bauer , about lighting that fire and not letting rejection stand in your way.

So have fun, everybody!