Interview with Middle Grade Author Elly Swartz

It’s Thursday, which means it’s time for another author interview. Today I talk with Elly Swartz. Elly’s debut novel, FINDING PERFECT (FSG 2016) is about a twelve-year-old girl named Molly, friendship, family, OCD, and a slam poetry competition that will determine everything. In 2018, you meet the spunky and big-hearted Frankie in SMART COOKIE (Scholastic, 2018). Frankie is all about family with a dash of mischief and mystery! And then in 2019, say hello to Maggie in GIVE AND TAKE (FSG). 

When did you decide to become an author?

I have been creating stories since I was a little girl, but never with the idea of becoming an author. Simply for the love of story. I remember writing short stories and a lot of really bad poetry at my yellow desk. As a young mom, I dove into storytelling. I would weave adventures with my sons until they fell asleep, the hidden doorway was discovered, or the world was saved. Then, sixteen years ago, I started the journey to writing a children’s book. I wrote my first book. Then I wrote another. And, another. And, another. And, finally, I wrote Finding Perfect. Then Smart Cookie. And now Give and Take. I love telling stories and writing for kids. I love the way the words weave and bounce, and the way the characters unfold. I consider it a true privilege.

Tell us about your journey. How did you get your first book published?

Finding Perfect was my first published book, but not the first book I wrote. It was the fifth book I wrote. The first four are fondly known in my family as practice. Those books taught me how to be a better writer, and for that, I thank them. My journey was 15 years to yes. A long and winding road that happily led me to my agent, Trish Lawrence of Erin Murphy Literary Agency. She believed in me. And that meant everything. After revisions and submissions to about thirty editors, Finding Perfect sold. It was a moment I will always remember. The wait was finally over. My dream had come true. 

Was there ever a point when you felt like giving up?

It was never about giving up writing, but more about accepting the idea that I may not ever get published. Because no matter how many no’s I got, and over 15 years there were many, I always ended up back at my desk, writing.  On a recent school visit, one student asked me why. It was a good question. A valid question. I thought about it for a long time. Ultimately, I realized that I love writing more than I hate rejection. 

I heard you talk about your motivation for writing Finding Perfect at a conference this year. Can you share some of those influences?

Every story I tell, begins with a character that is with me long before I write the first word of the story. With Finding Perfect, that character was Molly. I woke with her in my head and the more I got to know her, the more she tucked into my heart. I knew she was scared and worried, but I also knew that she was braver and stronger than she realized. In this gap, I found the heart of her story. 

I knew Molly had Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and I knew she didn’t understand what was happening to her. I also knew, like many with OCD, she saw herself differently than the world saw her. She was scared and vulnerable and struggling. But to the world, she was confident and smart and so capable. This disparity drew me in. I wanted Molly to discover her voice and her strength. I wanted her to find her courage. Happily, she did.

Your new book, Smart Cookie, releases on January 30, 2018. What can you tell us about this new book?

Smart Cookie (Scholastic) is a story about family and secrets and eleven-year-old Frankie who is equal parts spunk and heart.

Frankie knows she’ll be in big trouble if Dad discovers she secretly posted a dating profile for him online. But she’s determined to find him a wife, even if she ends up grounded for life. Frankie wants what she had before Mom died. A family of three. Two is a pair of socks or the wheels on a bicycle or a busy weekend at the B&B where Frankie and Dad live. Three is a family. And Frankie’s is missing a piece.

But Operation Mom is harder to pull off than Frankie expects. None of the Possibles are very momish, the B&B’s guests keep canceling, Frankie’s getting the silent treatment from her once best friend, and there’s a maybe-ghost hanging around. Worst of all, Gram and Dad are definitely hiding secrets of their own. 

If a smart cookie like Frankie wants to save the B&B and find her missing piece, she’s going to have to figure out what secrets are worth keeping and when it’s time to let go.

Is there anything about being a published author that has surprised you?

Everything! But the one wonderful stand-out has been the community of educators and librarians who have welcomed me and my books so warmly into the kid lit fold. I am honored to be a part of this gracious community.

Any advice you would give to a writer just starting out?

Write because you love writing. Because you have a story to tell. Because you can’t not write. Then follow your heart and embrace the journey! 

Is there anything else about you would like to tell us?

Thank you for reading. All books. In my heart, I believe books are that unconditional friend, that safety net, that next great adventure. https://www.blogger.com/null

What’s next?

Smart Cookie (Scholastic) comes out January 30, 2018 and then in 2019, get ready to meet Maggie in Give and Take (FSG). Twelve-year-old Maggie. Maggie has a big heart and a hard time letting go. Of stuff. Of people. Of the past. With the help of her turtle Rufus, a baby named Izzie and the almost all-girls trap shooting team, she begins to understand that people are more than the things that hold their memories. 

Thanks so much for coming by, Elly. You can find out more about Elly Swartz and her books by visiting her online and on twitter. And don’t forget to preorder Smart Cookie!

Teacher friends, here's a Finding Perfect CurriculumGuide. This book is definitely one that you'll want in your classroom.

Interview with poet and middle grade author Laura Shovan.

It’s the last week of poetry month. Today I’m very excited to interview poet and middle grade author Laura Shovan.

Laura Shovan’s debut middle grade novel, The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary, was a NCTE 2017 Notable Verse Novel, a Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Book of the year, and won a Cybils Award for poetry, as well a Nerdy Book Club award. She is a long time poet-in-the-schools and the author and editor of three books of poetry for adults. Laura co-hosts Wilde Readings, a literary reading series in Howard County, Maryland, where she lives with her family.

Welcome, Laura! On your twitter profile you list yourself first as a poet. When did you start writing poetry?

The first poem I remember writing was in second or third grade. (I remember the poem only because it was published in my school’s PTA newsletter!) It compared the sounds of nature on a summer night to an orchestra. I’ve always written both poetry and prose, but poetry is what I’m most passionate about.

Tell us about your journey. How did you go from being a poet to a middle grade author?

I’d been publishing poetry in literary journals for several years. When my children were small, I started making up songs for them – little ditties to keep them entertained in the grocery store. That was the beginning of my interest in writing for children. I took my first kidlit class and attended my first conference in 2003, but I didn’t sign with my agent until 2014. It was a long process.

In those eleven years, I sold a few pieces to Highlights, wrote a middle grade prose novel that will never see the light of day, completed at least three picture book manuscripts, and drafted about 75% of two YA novels. I think The Last Fifth Grade was “the one” because it’s rooted in my work with children as a visiting poet-in-the-schools.

The last big push with the book was working on it with a mentor, YA verse novelist Joy McCullough-Carranza, during PitchWars.

Your book, The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary, is a novel in verse told from multiple points of view. How did you keep track of all the different voices?

I used every method I could think of to develop and keep track of the characters. There were spreadsheets, character resumes, and classroom seating charts. In order to create distinct voices, I revised one character at a time instead of working chronologically through the story. My famously gigantic revision binder has one section for each of the students’ in Ms. Hill’s class. I like to bring it with me on school visits, so students can see how much work and how many drafts go into a book.

Your next novel is written in prose. Why the switch? Could you see yourself going back to poetry at some point?

That’s right. My next book is a prose novel in two voices. TAKE DOWN is about two middle school wrestlers—Mikayla, the first girl to join an all-boy team, and her training partner Lev, who’s convinced that having a female partner will ruin his dream of competing at the state championship. The book began as notes and poems I jotted down years ago, when my son was wrestling.

When I sat down to write the novel, there was an expansiveness to Lev’s voice. He’s literally wrestling with what it means to be an athlete, and he can be pretty wordy about it. Lev does have a few poems in the book.

Mikayla showed up later in the writing process. Like Lev, her character had a prose voice from the beginning.

I’d love to write another novel in verse at some point. Meanwhile, I’ve contributed work to two children’s poetry anthologies publishing in the next year or two. One is from J. Patrick Lewis and the other is by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater.

Is there anything about being a published author that has surprised you?

Before THE LAST FIFTH GRADE, I’d published three books of poetry with small, independent presses. My biggest surprise was how different the experience of publishing with a big house has been. In many ways, it was like starting from scratch. I had a lot to learn about how a large publisher operates and works with authors.

Any advice you would give to a writer just starting out?

The most important things to cultivate are perseverance and a literary community. Both will sustain you through the querying process, and – later on – through challenging revisions, as well as the successes and disappointments that are part of an author’s life. I’ve had a huge amount of support from the literary scene here in the Baltimore area, the Sweet 16s debut author group, and the PitchWars community. When I need a pep talk, they’re there for me.

Is there anything else about you or your books you would like to tell us?

Now that I’ve completed two books and am thinking about my third novel, I can see that there’s a focus on communities in my writing. THE LAST FIFTH GRADE is about how classes like Ms. Hill’s can form a strong sense of community. In TAKE DOWN, Lev and Mikayla are figuring out what it means to be part of the wrestling community and members of a team.

Maybe this is because, growing up, my own family was bi-cultural. As a child from two families separated by an ocean, finding a community where I fit in was a difficult for me. Many of my characters are asking the question: “Where do I belong”?

Thank you so much for joining me on my blog! Readers, make sure to get your copy of The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary. You can find out more about Laura on her author site, on Facebook, or on Twitter.

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Stacy Barnett Mozer is a third grade teacher and a middle grade author. The Sweet Spot and The Perfect Trip are available now from Spellbound River Press. She'd love to hear from you about Laura Shovan, The Last Fifth Grade, and novels in verse in the comments below.

Interview with Ted Scheu the Poetry Guy

It's Poetry Month! I've been celebrating all month long by sharing my favorite poetry books and books in verse on Mondays. One of my favorite poets is Ted Scheu. He has been the poet in residence at my school for many years and the kids (and teachers) always look forward to his visit. Ted's poems about school and kids perfectly capture the life and humor of the elementary school child.

Ted Scheu (pronounced "shy") is a children's poet from Middlebury, Vermont who is often introduced as a 3rd or 4th grader stuck in a grown-up's body. Ted didn't like poems much as a kid growing up in Connecticut, because all the poems he found back then were about love, nature, and beauty, or about bratty little British kids, and not at all about his life and his concerns--which were mostly centered around sports and food. Ted is a former elementary teacher (also a naval officer, carpenter, advertising exec and copywriter) who started writing funny poems seriously about 20 years ago. His poems are published in nearly two dozen books in the US and UK, including five collections: "I FrozeMy Mother," "I Tickled My Teachers,” "I Threw My Brother Out,” “NowI Know My ZBCs,” and most recently, “Getting the Best of Me.” all from Young Poets’ Press. He also has poems published in numerous anthologies. Ted tries to write a poem every day, and when he's not writing, or visiting schools, he loves to eat cereal with lots of milk, and ride his bike--just like any kid his age. He also really really loves being a dad to two remarkable kids, and husband to an amazing wife.

When did you start writing poetry?

Of course, I started playing with words early on. I was utterly captivated by the music of classic poems that my mom read to me. Then, Seussian bounces totally ensnared me. Song lyrics followed—Broadway show tunes and satirical rewrites especially. My 8^th grade English teacher completely energized me about Shakespeare. Sadly, it took nearly 40 years until I finally sat down to put rhyme to paper. Lack of confidence maybe?

You are known for writing funny poems about school and family. What are your tricks for making kids (and adults) laugh?

Wow, thanks for the compliment. Writing about the twists and turns in kids’ lives—especially the ironies of inconsistent parent behaviors and the funny things that teachers say and do, is a starting point for me. Telling kid-truths works too—like the stupidity of schools taking recess time away so kids can study more. Seeing a normal situation figuratively and kid-like—say, having a shaving-faced dad become an alien life form—that can be funny too. Finally, I turn to ridiculous silliness sometimes.

Tell us about your journey. How did you get your first poetry book published?

I wrote for 3 years before submitting a manuscript. I got lots of good advice from other poets, especially about scansion. Getting the rhythm just perfect is hard. Finally I submitted three poems to Philomel in 2002, when they were looking to do an anthology with unpublished poets, and I got a poem placed there. What joy! Mostly my work shows up in anthologies around the planet. Some are pretty high-visibility, so I’m happy with that. I’m on the radar of lots of poetry editors now. After lots of early rejections for a Ted-only-collection, I decided in 2005 to self-publish (I now have 6 collections of my own), with the help of a marvelous freelance editor and a designer. I don’t regret it for a second. I found and find the process of submitting, waiting, wimpering, resubmitting, managing submissions… to be really depressing, distracting, and hard. I’m in schools as a visiting author over 100 days each year, and I sell plenty of books there. Sure I’d love a Prelutsky-like success, but I’m fine for now…

Was there ever a point when you felt like giving up?

As I mentioned above, I pretty much did give up on the process of submitting and waiting, with the big publishing houses and editors, for a Ted-collection. Lots of early encouragement should have pushed me harder to be patient, but I’ve chosen the self-publishing route for most of my work, as many are doing now. It allowed me to spend more time writing and teaching as a visiting poet in schools, which I love to pieces.

What is your favorite part about being a professional poet?

Watching the sparkle in a child’s eyes as I share a poem is fun. Even better than that is watching the sparkle in her eyes as she shares a poem that she has written in one of our writing workshops. I also really love traveling—returning to some schools for many years (like your amazing school, Stacy), and visiting new ones. It’s the best job in the world.

What is your favorite poem?

The one that pulls at my heart (and gets the biggest kid-groans) is “Nancy Cristman Kissed Me.” It was an early poem about a very memorable walk to school in second grade. Nancy died young, so I think of her as I read it. Kids seem to love it and the story behind it.

Any advice you would give to a poet just starting out?

Write a thousand poems before submitting any to public ears and eyes. Field test them with kids and grown ups. Be patient. Don’t expect to make it big. Poetry is not big. Never will be. (It’s pretty much only published by the big houses in April every year.) Meet and network with other poets. Have fun on the journey.

Gotta run… hot dog bun! Thanks for including me on you blog, Stacy!

Thanks so much, Ted! 

Here's some more about Ted Scheu: 

More information about Ted and his work, (plus a pile of funny videos featuring seven of Ted’s ‘cousins’) may be found at his web site at www.poetryguy.com

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Stacy Barnett Mozer is a third grade teacher and a middle grade author. The Sweet Spot and The Perfect Trip are available now from Spellbound River Press. She'd love to hear from you about Ted Scheu and poetry in the comments below.

Interview with Picture Book Author, Josh Funk

This week I am excited to interview Josh Funk. Josh and I met at his first NESCBWI writing conference where we realized that we attended the same sleepaway camp (a few years apart). Josh writes silly stories and somehow tricks people into publishing them as picture books - such as the Award-Winning LADY PANCAKE & SIR FRENCH TOAST (Sterling), PIRASAURS! (Scholastic 8.30.16), DEAR DRAGON (Viking/Penguin 9.6.16), and more. Josh is a board member of The Writers' Loft in Sherborn, MA and the co-coordinator of the 2016 and 2017 New England Regional SCBWI Conferences. Josh grew up in New England and studied Computer Science in school. Today, he still lives in New England and when not writing Java code or Python scripts, he drinks Java coffee and writes picture book manuscripts. Josh is terrible at writing bios, so please help fill in the blanks. Josh enjoys _______ during ________ and has always loved __________. He has played ____________ since age __ and his biggest fear in life is being eaten by a __________.

When did you decide to become an author?

I first started writing five summers ago, in 2011. Like many others, I started by writing rhyming picture books because I thought that would be easiest. I mean, everyone starts by reading Dr. Seuss, right? Boy was I wrong! Writing picture books, especially in rhyme, is hard. But I found the writing community very welcoming, so I decided to go for it! 

Tell us about your journey. How did you get your first book published?

In the spring and summer of 2013, I wasn't getting great responses from literary agents, so I decided to send my best work out directly to publishers. I sent Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast via snail mail to about a dozen. And about four months later, I got an email from an editor at Sterling who said they found Lady Pancake in the slush pile and were taking it to acquisitions. 8 days later I received an offer!

Since then you’ve had a number of books contracted, including a sequel to Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast. What is the secret to your success?

There's no real secret. You just have to keep writing. I learn something from every story I try to write. Every book I write is better than the last.  I try to learn and absorb as much information about writing as I can. I go to workshops and conferences. I joined the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. I became a member of The Writers' Loft. Like playing an instrument or a sport, the more you practice, the better you become. I read a lot of picture books. I read a lot of books that aren't picture books. And I try to have fun.

Was there ever a point when you felt like giving up?

Give up? Absolutely. All of those rejections hitting my inbox hurt - and broke my heart a little each time. But ultimately, it only takes a single "yes" to make a book happen. And when you find that right fit, it makes all of the pain worth it!

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?

So far, I have four illustrators for different projects: Brendan Kearney (LP&SFT and LP&SFT: The Case of the Stinky Stench), Michael Slack (Pirasaurs!), Rodolfo Montalvo (Dear Dragon), and Edwardian Taylor (It's Not Jack and the Beanstalk). All were 'assigned' to my books, but I have to be honest, I couldn't be happier. The folks at each publisher know what they're doing when searching for illustrators. What surprises me most when seeing each of the illustrations is how much better these artists' imaginations are than mine, at least in a visual sense. A strawberry hat for Sir French Toast? A peg-tail for Captain Rex? None of those things were my idea!

Is there anything about being a published author that has surprised you?

Well, being a published author at all is a surprise! It's so incredibly fun to see a book I wrote on the shelf at a library. I get to meet all these cool teachers and librarians and students (and other authors). And I never imagined people would want to take their picture with me! How surreal!?!  

Any advice you would give to a writer just starting out?

Have fun. Don't write to get published. Write to entertain your friends. Make them laugh. Make them cry. Put on a puppet show for your family. Write a song. Draw! And read a lot! Stories come in many forms. TV shows, movies, and even video games - all of them have stories - stories that were written. And someone has to write them. There's no reason they can't be written by you!

Is there anything else about you or your books you would like to tell us?

I'm on Team Baron von Waffle. But shhh! Don't tell anyone. It'll ruin my image.

My students and I are big fans of Josh’s book trailers, especially after learning he writes and sings all of the music. Make sure to watch the trailers below and you will see why we love them.

To learn more about Josh and his books visit is author website  or follow him on twitter. 

Interview with Middle Grade Author, Victoria J. Coe

Today I have the pleasure of interviewing middle grade author, Victoria J. Coe. Victoria has long been a fan of books, dogs, and the Boston Red Sox. Today she combines these passions as the author of the Fenway and Hattie series, written in the voice of a dog named Fenway. She loves to visit classrooms and share point of view activities with elementary students.

Thanks for hosting me, Stacy! I’m thrilled to be part of your blog! You wear both hats – as an author and a teacher – so your inviting me means a lot. Deep thanks!

When did you decide to become an author?

I’ve always wanted to be an author! For years and years, I read and wrote, I took workshops and went to SCBWI conferences, and joined a couple of critique groups. But I just wasn’t progressing to that next level. So in 2010, I decided to really go for it. I spent that whole year working one-on-one with a mentor. Sadly, she has since passed away. But working with her was a huge turning point in my writing journey and I will be forever grateful for that amazing experience.

Tell us about your journey. How did you get your first book published?

In the summer of 2011, we were moving and our dog was terrified. When he saw us packing, he jumped in the car and sat in the passenger’s seat shaking, refusing to get out. Even though we were crazy busy with the move, that image of a dog who didn’t want to be left behind captured my imagination.

In the weeks that followed, I journaled and journaled until the character of Fenway emerged. That fall, I summoned the skills I’d worked on with my mentor and wrote a draft of the story that became Fenway and Hattie.


After revising with my critique group, taking a class, and going to an NE-SCBWI conference and revising some more, I started querying in the summer of 2012. I signed with super-agent Marietta Zacker in August of 2013. Fenway and Hattie sold to Putnam in January of 2014, and the first book was published in February of 2016. I’d say that qualifies as a long journey!

Was there ever a point when you felt like giving up?

I never felt like giving up, but I did have a low point. At first, Marietta responded really positively to Fenway, but she felt that I needed to develop Hattie more and expand the story. We chatted on the phone and she invited me to revise and resubmit. I was beyond thrilled. She really “got” Fenway and we shared a vision of what the story could become. I knew she was the agent for this book and for me.

After rewriting for months and feeling like I nailed it, I resubmitted to Marietta with high hopes. Unfortunately, she replied with the news that it still wasn’t working. I was devastated.  

But incredibly, she said she’d be open to seeing it again if I chose to keep at it. I'd hit bottom, but the stakes were sky high. I had to find a way.

I reached out to one of my old teachers and he graciously agreed to help. After reworking and sending Fenway and Hattie back to Marietta once again, everything clicked.

The lesson here is crystal clear: DO NOT GIVE UP!

Your book, Fenway and Hattie, is told from the pov of a dog. How did you get into a dog's head?

That’s right. Since you only get Fenway’s side of the story and he’s a dog, the reader has to figure out what’s really going on.

When I was journaling about Fenway’s character, I kept asking myself how he would view various aspects of moving from the city to the suburbs. In my family’s case, we did the reverse. I literally walked the streets of Boston with my dog, watching very closely how he’d check everything out.

I already knew a lot about dogs from going to dog training classes and reading books (turns out having a badly behaved dog can be an asset!). So it wasn’t too hard for me to put myself in his place. Once I started living through my character, I really got into his head and that dog point of view became part of me. Pretty soon, I was spotting squirrels everywhere and detecting food on the sidewalk before my dog! Sometimes I can’t turn it off!  

Are there any more Fenway and Hattie stories coming in the future? If not, what are you working on next?

Yes! The next book, Fenway and Hattie and the Evil Bunny Gang, is coming out on January 24, 2017. Picking up soon after the first book leaves off, this book tackles issues of jealousy and friendship – and a whole gang bunnies. Wait till you see how evil they are!


Any advice you would give to a writer just starting out?

Write, write, write. Read, read, read. Take classes, join a critique group, don’t be afraid of healthy criticism – we all need it to grow. And most importantly, never give up! Keep an open mind and get help when you need it. Dreams really do come true!

Thank you so much for stopping by, Victoria. I can't wait to get a copy of the new book!

For more on Victoria J. Coe, visit her website. You can also find her on twitter.