Debut PB Author Interview with Ellen L. Ramsey

KidLit Alert!

Interview with

Traditionally Published Debut PB Author

Ellen L. Ramsey

Good Day, Readers and Writers and Bookish people, 

Thanks for dropping by the Teazurs Blog. Please welcome Picture Book Debut author Ellen L. Ramsey, a self-proclaimed collector of stories, to the site. Her debut PB comes out this July 2023, and I am excited to read all about Bear and his humorous love of reading. 

Hmmm, sounds like there's a bit of the author in this Bear. 

  

Hello, Ellen! I love your website! It's written in a way that adults and children will laugh when they read all about you. It’s really clever and cute. What type of guidance would you give other authors about their websites?

I love to laugh, and I love stories. 

The website reflects my love of reading and writing, my sense of humor, and my other interests, like watching birds, bees, and butterflies. My husband and I had fun working on the website, and my husband contributed photographs and videos. 

Designing a website is like writing a story—

think about what will capture other people’s interest.

How many teddy bears do you have, and which one is your favorite? 

We have 37 teddy bears, most of them gifts from friends and relatives who know about our love of bears. Their names reflect their interests and outfits—Aviator Bear, Golf Bear, Globe Bear (who turns into a globe). 

Our favorite bears are Mr. and Mrs. Bear. Mr. Bear was a gift from my husband before we were married, and Mrs. Bear was a gift at the time of our wedding. For many years, our holiday cards have featured photos of Mr. and Mrs. Bear—plus holiday messages from the bears. Living in a house full of books, the bears have literary aspirations.

Many new authors are self-publishing, but you have an agent and have been traditionally published. Why did you go the traditional route?

I’ve worked as a technical writer/editor for many years and respect what editors do. I was delighted by Cheryl Eissing’s editorial suggestions that strengthened the story and by the choice of MacKenzie Haley as the illustrator. In navigating the publication process, I’m grateful for my agent Liza Fleissig’s guidance, Cheryl’s editorial suggestions and support from other Penguin/Random House staff, and MacKenzie’s imaginative art that adds beauty and visual humor to the book.

Why write for children?

My mom, who was an artist and art teacher, inspired my love of children’s books, especially picture books. I treasure books from my childhood, especially Wanda Gag’s MILLIONS OF CATS, Clare Turlay Newberry’s PANDORA, Beatrice Potter’s PETER RABBIT (a beautiful old copy that was given to my mother by one of her grandmothers). My mother used these books in her art classes, so they have been well-loved by many children. 

What was the most difficult rejection you’ve received over the years?

The most difficult rejection was my picture book manuscript A Book for Bear, making it to an acquisitions meeting but not being accepted for publication. There was also the time when a manuscript, which I naively thought was being seriously considered, was returned to me over a year later with a large footprint and an apology explaining that the manuscript was mislaid under a desk. 

In this case, I chose to be 

amused rather than discouraged! 

You have many publications. What are some of the publications or magazines a writer for kids might like to submit their work to? 

I’ve learned a lot from working with editors at Highlights, Muse, Ladybug, and Spider. Editors’ suggestions bring new perspectives and new ideas to my writing. 

Do you belong to any writer’s groups like SCBWI or a critique group, and what is the best thing about them? 

My success in publishing my work is a tribute to SCBWI and to my writing friends. I belong to several critique groups. We provide suggestions for each other’s writing, and support and encouragement as we deal with the...

 three Rs of writing—

rejection, revision, and resubmission; 

...and we enjoy the 

three Cs—

creativity, community, and celebration. 

All my critique groups have also become friendship circles. 

Why are birds, bees, butterflies, and other flying things important to you? 

I’m fascinated by flying creatures, but unfortunately, there aren’t many dragons in our neighborhood. So I watch birds, bees, and butterflies. It’s fun to go on “safari” in our yard or in neighborhood parks/wildlife refuges and to learn more about the importance of these animals to the ecosystem. 

You have a debut picture book coming out in 2023 - A Book for Bear - why should parents buy this book? 

A BOOK FOR BEAR is full of humor—the perfect story for kids and parents who love fun and imaginative books. It’s about three things I love—books, bears, and friendship. 

Bear, assisted by his friend Ellen, searches for the perfect book for them to read together. Kids will be amused by the disguises Bear wears in his efforts to sneak into a school, a library, and a bookstore. 

MacKenzie Haley’s illustrations capture Bear’s enthusiasm for finding the perfect book and add lots of visual humor. 

I hope reading the book will inspire kids 

to create a book of their very own. 

 

More information about the book is on my website ellenlramsey.com

You also write poetry. How has poetry helped your life?

Writing poetry helps me focus on brevity and the rhythms of words—both important skills in writing picture books and in writing articles and stories to meet specific word counts. 

If you could bring something magical to the world - what would it be?

A magic wand that delivers the gift of 

KINDNESS and PEACE.  

What are you writing next? Will there be another bear book? A hummingbird book?

Yes, I’m writing another bear book. I’m also writing other stories based on my love of reading and creative nonfiction books about birds and other animals.

What conferences and events will you be attending where aspiring authors will get to meet you in person?

I just attended an SCBWI Eastern Pennsylvania Conference at Highlights Foundation—a fantastic experience with inspirational speeches and opportunities to see writing friends and to meet in person three other members of one of my online critique groups. 

I’ll be part of an SCBWI Eastern Pennsylvania webinar panel discussion of debut authors and illustrators on Thursday, August 31, 2023. I’m looking forward to participating. It will be an opportunity to hear about the paths to publication of several authors and illustrators. Check here for updates Eastern PA SCBWI.

For people living in the Pennsylvania/New Jersey/Maryland area, here are local bookstore events: 

Book Launch at Children’s Book World in Haverford, PA, on Saturday, July 22, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. Home - Children's Book World (childrensbookworld.net)

Book Signing and Activities, Barnes & Noble in Exton, PA, on Saturday, August 5, 2023, 1:00 p.m., Barnes & Noble Bookstore in Exton, PA | Barnes & Noble (barnesandnoble.com)

If you live close by, 

I would love to see you at one of these events.

What do books mean to you?

Books are windows into worlds I may never experience, but I love learning about characters who are different from me as well as characters similar to me. 

I value books, which are a reflection of people’s 

thoughts, feelings, and interests. 

Reading brings me new information and an understanding of people and how the choices people make affect their lives and the lives of others. I hope that A BOOK FOR BEAR will encourage children to love reading and inspire them to create books of their very own. 

For more information, visit my website: https://www.ellenlramsey.com/

You can connect with me on social media:

Instagram: @ellenlramseybooks

Facebook: @EllenLRamsey

Twitter: @ellenlramsey1

Other blogs that will feature interviews and information about my path to publication:

July 6, 2023: Kathy Temean’s Writing and Illustrating

July 13, 2023: Darlene Beck Jacobson’s Bringing Stories to Life

July 28, 2023: Vivian Kirkfield’s Perfect Picture Book Friday

Thank you, Ellen, for your insights and your love of writing and reading. I am so excited about your debut picture book - A BOOK FOR BEAR - coming out this July 2023. 

And I am thrilled to learn of some other writers' blogs to check out. Support writers for kids! Read their blogs. Buy their books. Get involved. We can change the world for the better, one book at a time. 

As always, if you'd like to be interviewed or want to be a guest blogger - reach out to me on @angie_azur_writer or email me at angazur @ gmail.com

KidLit Author Interview with Suma Subramaniam

KidLit ALERT!

Interview with 

Traditionally Published Author

Suma Subramaniam

Good Day, Readers and Writers!

Let's say hello to Suma, a children's book writer by night and software engineer scout by day. When she's not recruiting, she is a volunteer for We Need Diverse Books. And she's on a roll with her picture books. A huge welcome to Suma on Teazurs Blog. 

Hello Suma,

You earned an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Why did you choose that program? What did you love about it?

The MFA program at Vermont College of Fine Arts gave my writing a purpose. I joined the program to study the craft of writing books for children.  I spent all my time studying books as a writer under some of the most brilliant children’s authors in the country. The program gave me a community of lifelong friends and a writer’s toolbox that will stay with me forever. This is what I love about Vermont College and the Writing for Children and Young Adults Program.

You have a day job like most writers do, and you write about STEM/STEAM topics. What is the crossover here? 

Children’s books make great mediums to introduce kids to various aspects of science, arts, culture, and the histories of courageous people and places. Although my day job has nothing to do with children’s literature, my education has a combination of science and arts. 

Writing for children helps me carry 

empathy into my workplace environment. 

Likewise, writing helps me blur the boundaries between science and the arts. The routine of working a day job and writing every day helps create a continuity between myself and children in a beautiful way. I’m forced to put my devices away and turn to pen and paper for the service of children. This is a practice of mindfulness and takes precedence over everything. 

You have another book coming out in the fall of 2023 - The Runaway Dosa. Why did you write this book, and what are you most excited about it?

The Runaway Dosa (Little Bee Books, September 2023), illustrated by Parvati Pillai is a fairytale mishmash of The Gingerbread Man and a popular Tamil rhyme called Dosai, Amma, Dosai!

In the summer of 2015, I was working with my faculty advisor, the one and only Jane Kurtz in the Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA in Children’s and Young Adult Literature program when...

 ...we both challenged each other to write 

a story from the cultures we grew up in. 

The story would be inspired by The Gingerbread Man – a folktale about a man made of gingerbread who runs away from a cast of characters.

Jane Kurtz was an early believer in this story, and I’m thrilled that this book will be available now in honor of the relationship I share with her. She created THE RUNAWAY INJERA for Ready Set Go Books, which is one of the bestsellers of the Open Hearts Big Dreams Fund Program for children in Ethiopia. I created THE RUNAWAY DOSA, also inspired by an all-time favorite Tamil rhyme, Dosai Amma Dosai, for dosa lovers all over the world.

What do you do as a volunteer for Diverse Books?

I volunteer for the internship grant committee at We Need Diverse Books. Since its inception, the committee has given away thousands of dollars in grants to interns from marginalized backgrounds so they can pursue careers in publishing. More than 80% of the interns have gone on to secure long-term jobs in the publishing industry. Some of them have started acquiring books, too.

You have multiple projects coming out in these next 3 years. How have you had the time to write and revise them all and still hold down a day job? What is your secret? Help us if you can!!

I follow my VCFA faculty advisor Martine Leavitt’s advice, which is to write every day and to write for the child in me even if it is only for fifteen minutes.

Slowly, the ideas will form, the revisions will happen, and the manuscript will fly off the nest when it finds a home in the big, wide world.

Something you wish others would ask or that you want others to know …

My real name is Suma Venkata Subramanyam. It has been misspelled over the years and has evolved into Suma Subramaniam. Suma means flower in Kannada. Venkata Subramanyam is my father’s name. Here is the pronunciation guide for my name: https://www.teachingbooks.net/pronounce.cgi?pid=3379

Well, thank you, Suma! 

I enjoyed getting to know you and how you keep up with writing and working. Thanks for the advice! And I appreciate the pronunciation guide. I love that! If you'd like to follow Suma on her amazing, award-winning, KidLit writing journey, see her bio and links below. 

Suma Subramaniam’s interests in writing for children are centered around STEM/STEAM related topics as well as India and Indian heritage. When she’s not recruiting by day or writing by night, she’s volunteering for We Need Diverse Books and SCBWI or blogging about children's books. 

Her picture book, Namaste is a Greeting (Candlewick Press, 2022), illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat, is named one of Bank Street College of Education’s Best Children’s Books of the Year 2023.  It is also the winner of the SCBWI Crystal Kite Award and has been selected as part of this year's NYPL Storytime Collection to be read by all 88 branches of the New York Public Library System. It also made the best books of 2022 in The Guardian as well as Read Brightly.  

Her second book, She Sang for India: How M.S. Subbulakshmi Used her Voice for Change (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2022), illustrated by Shreya Gupta, is an Honor Book in Toka Box’s top South Asian Children’s Books of 2022 list. Suma is also the contributing author of The Hero Next Door anthology from Penguin Random House, which is a finalist for the 2023 Massachusetts Book Award.

Her poems have been published in Poetry Foundation's first Young People's Poetry Edition of Poetry Magazine. She lives in Seattle with her family and a dog who watches baking shows. Learn more at https://sumasubramaniam.com.

Suma on Instagram

Suma on Twitter 

Suma's Website

And thanks, readers, for dropping by the blog. If you'd like to be interviewed, please reach out. I love promoting writers, illustrators, and bookish people of all genres. 

Write~on,

Angie