On this episode of Kidlit with Kathy Ellen,
I talk with Jacqueline Tourville,
writer and author of Albie’s First Word, A Tale Inspired by Albert Einstein’s Childhood
We chat about Plattsburgh (the small town we both grew up in!),
the writing process, what it was like to work with a legendary editor, keeping the history in historical fiction, school visits, vulnerability, and different ways to attack writing. We had a great convo and I hope you enjoy listening to it!
Here are links to things we talked about during the podcast, and parts that I thought were worthy of including in the recap:
The book:
Albie!
Inspired by her own daughter and the appeal of a contemporary story wrapped up in a biography of a famous person. Worked hard to keep the history in historical fiction; it was organic to Albie’s spirit and descriptions of him as a child.
Her publication story:
Got an agent. Manuscript at 1048 words!
Changed ONE WORD and sent it out on submission.
Was bought two weeks later by Anne Schwartz of Schwartz and Wade.
Trimmed that book DOWN to 798 words!
People:
Find Jackie on twitter, instagram
Mutual friend Amy Guglielmo
Bree Johnson at Writer’s House
Justin Chanda
Kate Messner
Linda Urban
Joseph Bruchac
Places:
PLATTSBURGH our glorious hometown.
Charles Schultz Museum
Hicklebee’s
Things:
Swinger of Birches retreat (for info email Julie!)
Scrivener
12 by 12
Dragon Speak
Books mentioned:
Sugar and Ice
NMR!
Creepy Carrots
Robot Zot
The Right Word
Ideas/quotes:
“Picture books are a way to enter into many topics and start conversations.”
“In writing there are so many points of feeling so vulnerable, of ‘Can I do this?'”
Working on TELLING stories, experimenting with speech to text software. Just starting the story and seeing what happens, what gems can come out of that.
Writers basically print their own money. An idea comes from your head, onto paper as a story, and gets bought for REAL MONEY. (I have my amazing boyfriend Danny to thank for this bit of wisdom!)
Taking the time to meet authors and illustrators helps you figure out that YES they are rockstars, but yes you can be like them, and they can be your peers!
Big THREE Answers:
Big goal: Sell three books.
Magic wand to make any part of the writing process better? Revision.
Karaoke with a kidlit notable?
John Green, singing something from The Talking Heads
