I am so excited to
share this interview with picture book author, Tara Lazar. Tara is the author
of Monstore, the soon to be released, I
Thought This Was a Bear Book, and she has four more books coming out over
the next two years. Tara has inspired my 3rd grade students year after year to write create their own helpful
monsters when she has come to my class via Skype. You can see some of their
monsters on her website, TaraLazar.com. Not only does Tara write picture books,
she also founded PiBoIdMo (Picture Book Idea Month), and she’s a member of the Rutgers University Council on Children’s
Literature. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and her two daughters.
Today she is going to tell us about her journey.
When did you decide to become an author?
When I was 8 years
old and my elementary school librarian, Mrs. Seamus, told me a 12-year-old girl
wrote “She Was Nice to Mice.” I thought if she can do it, I can do it, too! It
only took me about 30 more years!
Tell us about your journey. How did you get your first book
published?
I just kept doing
what I loved. I kept writing new stories.
When I first
starting sending manuscripts around, I got nothing but rejections. Something
didn't feel quite right. I knew I had the desire and drive, but I hadn't hit
upon a winning concept. So I wrote and I wrote. When I finished THE MONSTORE,
my critique partner, Corey Rosen Schwartz (THE THREE NINJA PIGS, NINJA RED
RIDING HOOD) said, "This is it! This will get published!"
But I had become
so shy about my work. I hadn't sent anything out in a year because I felt what
I was producing just wasn't ready. It wasn't good enough. It took another
positive reaction from author Jean Reidy (ALL THROUGH MY TOWN, LIGHT UP THE
NIGHT) and a referral to Ammi-Joan Paquette (from BOTH of them) to finally seek
out an agent. And Joan loved everything I sent her. We clicked immediately.
But it took me two
weeks to tell Joan, “yes!” I just couldn't make a decision to go forward with
this whole "author" thing. Although I had been waiting for this
opportunity for a long time, I wasn't in the best state of mind.
I had recently
been diagnosed with MS and I was in a terrible depression. I had been bedridden
for weeks. So a month later, when Joan sold the manuscript, I don't recall
feeling happy. I was too worried about my health and my future.
Was there ever a point when you felt like giving up?
Yes, at that
point, I almost felt like it didn't matter any more. Being an author wasn't as
important as being able to walk. Thankfully, with the support of my family, I
made it through that dark time. It took about a year to get over my funk and
realize that my life was not over. It was just a new chapter. I had to modify the
way I did things--and I still do, every day. But I'm happier than I've ever
been.
Is there anything about being a published author that has surprised
you?
Yes! How tough it
continues to be.
I think before
you're published, you imagine the first contract is like receiving a golden
ticket that will grant you admission from here on in. But no, that's not the
way it goes. Selling each subsequent manuscript is like starting all over
again. The slate is wiped clean. You're being judged on the manuscript that
sits in front of the editor, and that's it. You don't get a free pass if they
think your story's “meh.” You get a rejection.
I continue to get
rejections every week. It's part of the job. (The crappy part, but you get used
to it. Rejections slide off my back now and I move on. Sometimes I act upon the
criticism and sometimes I don't. But I always move onward.)
Any advice you would give to a writer just starting out?
Read, write,
attend!
Read many new
books in your desired genre. It helps you to understand structure and story. It
seeps into your noggin. I read hundreds of picture books before I ever sat down
to write one.
Write as many
stories as you can. You will gain skill with each new one.
Attend as many
craft workshops and conferences as you can. Network with other writers. You
will learn a lot from friends.
The children's
book community is the friendliest, most welcoming group of professionals. They
want you to succeed. Success for you is success for all of us--it means more books
in the hands of children. More imaginations inspired. Higher literacy rates.
Every book makes a difference.
My students are always surprised to hear that authors don’t always
get to approve their illustrator and some don't even see the pictures until the
book releases. What was that process like for you? Did anything surprise you
when you saw the illustrations?
It is a popular
misconception that authors choose their illustrator. That's always one of the
first questions I'm asked, “How did you find your illustrator?”
But think of it
this way--an editor falls in love with your manuscripts and buys it because
they have a vision. That vision includes a particular style of illustration,
and it's their business to know who draws what. Who is quirky? Who is
traditional? Who works in watercolor? Who works digitally? Can this illustrator
draw humans as well as animals?
With Alyson, my
editor for both MONSTORE and BEAR, she came to me and said, "We really
like this person. What do you think of their portfolio?" And each time
I've been BLOWN AWAY. YES, HIRE JAMES, GET BENJI, YES, YES, YES! (Think the
deli scene in "When Harry Met Sally".)
I've also been
shown early sketches of the characters for each book and asked for my input.
Again, MIND BLOWN. I had no idea how anyone would look, and it's so surprising
and fun to see the illustrators' interpretations. It's nothing you can ever
imagine, and it's always exciting to see your characters come to life. It's the
most fun part of the whole job!
Any big plans for the release of I Thought This Was a Bear Book,
coming on August 4th?
Oh, it's so hard
with a book coming out in the heat of summer! I'm getting out to a few
bookstores to teach kids how to write their own fractured fairytales. One
appearance will be while on vacation! Other than that, I will probably have a
nice dinner on the 4th.
You have five books coming out between now and 2017. Is it hard to
wait? What do you do to pass the time?
Write new stuff!
It wouldn't be any fun if there weren't a current submission causing me stress
and agita! LOL!
But there's a lot
of other things that come with the “author” title. I'm also the marketing and
PR director, book reviewer, blogger, teacher, literacy advocate, and speaker.
That's probably not everything. I'm getting tired....LOL....
Is there anything else you would like my readers to know about you
and your books?
F-U-N. I write to
bring happiness to people. I love to make people laugh. If you and your
children enjoy my book together, then I'm thrilled. There's nothing better. My
goal with picture books is to instill a life-long love of reading. And that
means making my books FUN and FUNNY so you'll want to read them again and
again. (And again? PUHLEEZE?)
Thank you so much for doing this interview, Tara. Best of luck for
your launch. You can learn more about Tara and her books at TaraLazar.com, on
Twitter, and on Facebook.
Thank you, Stacey!
ReplyDeleteAhhhh, I spelled your name wrong! I get an "F"!!!
DeleteTara has always been so supportive of other #kidlit authors. I knew way back when, because of her blog, she'd be published someday. Stacy, great site, and Tara...keep inspiring and touching lives. Wishing you good health and many books in your future.
ReplyDelete