Birth Stories for Books: A FRIEND FOR YOGA BUNNY, by Brian Russo

Hello readers! Today's edition of Birth Stories for Books is double the fun because it's from the perspective of an author/illustrator and it's about how a picture book sequel came to be. 

My guest is Brian Russo, author/illustrator of YOGA BUNNY (HarperCollins, 2016) and the sequel, A FRIEND FOR YOGA BUNNY, (HarperCollins, February 2022.)

So let's hop right to it. 

by Brian Russo

The Story of How Yoga Bunny 2: A Friend For Yoga Bunny Came to Be

by Brian Russo

I was working a graphic design job where I had a lot of down time. It had been several years since the original Yoga Bunny had been released. And I wasn’t sure if the publisher wanted a sequel. But, I loved the characters from that book, and I had time, so I thought up a new story and drew it. It was a parody of the movie ‘Step Up’, where Yoga Bunny and his friends’ turf is overtaken by a group of big bears, and they must have a ‘yoga-off’ to see who gets the spot.

I sent it to my friends over at HarperCollins and waited. 

Eventually they got back to me and said that while they didn’t want to do the story I had written, they were interested in doing another Yoga Bunny book, which was great! Lisa Sharkey, a Senior Vice President and Director of Creative Development at HarperCollins, pitched the story that would eventually become the new book, where Yoga Bunny meets a new friend struggling with anxiety. I suggested that the friend be a bear, because I liked the size difference between the bears and Bunny in my ‘Step-Up’ parody, and Lisa agreed (you can also read a version of this story from Lisa’s perspective over at my blog.) 

I put together another Dummy, and after a few more weeks of nervous waiting, HarperCollins came back with a formal offer to do another book. 

I was a dream come true at the time, because my incredible wife was pregnant, and about to give birth. We weren’t sure if I was going to be a stay at home dad or if we needed to send the baby to daycare after her maternity leave was over. We agreed that if I sold another book, I could quit my job and stay home with the baby. And so I did! 

This is going to sound petty, but… There are few pleasures greater than listening to your boss yell at you, knowing that in two weeks you’ll never see him again.  

Anyways, this was in the fall of 2019.

By the time we were starting production in the winter of 2020, the world was shutting down from COVID.

The first Yoga Bunny was done on watercolor paper that I brought into the HarperCollins office in NYC. But since I was now living in Utah, and we weren’t yet sure if mailing paper was going to be safe during the pandemic, Jeanne Hogle (my fantastic art director who was also on the first Yoga Bunny) and I made the decision to do all of the illustrations 100 percent digitally. 

So I bought an iPad! This was the first big purchase I made with my money from the advance, and it was pretty exciting! I never thought I’d be an iPad person, but man, I love this thing. And I’ve named him. His name is Theo. 

Anyways, I downloaded Procreate onto Theo, and spent a lot of time figuring out how to recreate the watercolor look of the first book with digital brushes. Jeanne and her assistant Chrisila Maida were really helpful during this process, and eventually I got it! The trick was layering, and then writing down the specifics of every layer so that I could recreate the process from page to page. 

Image from A Friend for Yoga Bunny, by Brian Russo

On the text side of things, I had a new editor on the sequel, Luana Horry, who was a total delight and rockstar. She suggested that the Bear character be female, which was really smart. She also helped a great deal in finding the right words when Bunny wants her to try yoga with him. We wanted Yoga Bunny to be a more proactive character here than he was in the last book, but we didn't want him to be pushy, or come off like a guru.

I’m really happy with what was eventually printed. 

Then, once we got going, it was just a lot of nights working on the illustrations after my son went to bed. One of the shows I enjoyed having on while illustrating was Earth to Ned on Disney Plus. It’s a talk show produced by the Jim Henson company, with very impressive alien puppets doing the interviews. And because of the format, there wasn’t a plot to follow, so it wasn’t too distracting. Highly recommended to all the Muppet fans out there.  

Really, my only complaint about the process of making a book like A Friend for Yoga Bunny is that I wish I could do it all the time. I love working with a small creative team, and I think the people I worked with are amongst the best in the world at what they do. And they’re very cool. I never minded getting notes or criticism, because everyone was so consistently level headed and professional about everything. 

Now that it’s over, I really miss it. There’s something so great about being part of a group and working towards a big creative goal. I’ll admit that I’m a little lonely without it.  

But, my wonderful agent, Sera Rivers, has sent a manuscript for Yoga Bunny 3 over to HarperCollins. And in a couple months, if this one sells enough, I may just get to do it again. 

Bunny ears crossed!   

Everything in children’s book publishing just takes a very long time. 

The funny thing about starting this book just as my son was born is how much I felt the time passage between when we finished, to when the book was released. As I was finishing up the art, my son was just starting to crawl. Now, as the book is being released, he’s running around, saying full sentences, and making sound arguments as to why it’s okay for him to eat dog food. 

Things have changed for my wife too. When I finished the art she was working as a teaching coach at a public elementary school. And now she’s been promoted to assistant principal, practically running the place! She also helped me design a Yoga Bunny educational poster, available as a free download on my website for all the teachers out there. Hearing from her what life has been like for teachers during the pandemic, they deserve a lot more than a free poster!

So yeah, that’s about all I have to say about the making of A Friend for Yoga Bunny. I’m so thrilled with how this book came out, and all the positive reviews it’s been getting. I hope you and your kids will be thrilled by it too, and also relaxed by the illustrations of Bunny and Bear doing yoga together :)

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Thanks for sharing so many behind-the-scenes, details for A FRIEND FOR YOGA BUNNY, Brian. What an inspiration! (And readers, if you haven't yet followed the link that leads to the backstory for Brian's first book, YOGA BUNNY, it's a must-read, too!)

And as a reminder to all, the best way to thank an author whose insights have been helpful and/or inspiring to you is to support their work. I hope you'll consider heading on over to Bookshop or your favorite local indie and getting yourself a copy of one of Brian's beautiful books. Can't add another book to your own collection? Ask your local library (and/or your local yoga studio!) to include A FRIEND FOR YOGA BUNNY in their offerings and/or share this post with a friend.

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Image Source: Brian Russo

Brian Russo has been drawing since he can remember. He grew up in Short Hills, New Jersey, then moved to New York, where he earned a degree from NYU. Afterwards, he discovered something he loves just as much as drawing: doing yoga. He earned a teaching certificate from Yoga to the People in 2010, during which time he developed the Yoga Bunny illustrations. He now lives in Lehi, Utah (the setting of the film Footloose) with his beautiful wife, Emily, adorable son, Quill, and loyal dog, Spike. His favorite film is Spirited Away, and the celebrity he'd most like to meet is 'Weird Al' Yankovic. 

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Birth Stories for Books is an occasional feature of Dawn Babb Prochovnic's blog. Dawn is the author of multiple picture books including, Lucy's Blooms, Where Does a Cowgirl Go Potty?, Where Does a Pirate Go Potty?, and 16 books in the Story Time With Signs & Rhymes series. Dawn is a contributing author to the award-winning book, Oregon Reads Aloud, and a frequent presenter at schools, libraries, and educational conferences. Contact Dawn using the form at the left, or learn more at www.dawnprochovnic.com.  

Birth Stories for Books: MOONSONG, by Denise Gallagher

Hello, readers! I'm delighted to bring you another Birth Stories for Books interview--this time from an author/illustrator's perspective! Today's guest, Denise Gallagher, stops by to share her path to publication experience for her latest book, MOONSONG (Little Press Publishing.)

Book Cover by Denise Gallagher

Dawn Prochovnic: Welcome to the blog, Denise. Turning the pages in your book, I feel transported to a magical place and time. Even children who are not yet independent readers will enjoy the vivid images and the imaginative journey. I’d love to hear how the idea for this story came to be.

Denise Gallagher: Before I was an author and illustrator, I was a graphic designer with an itch to do more. Illustrating picture books was vastly different from anything I’d done before. I had a lot to learn! I felt that one way to do this was to write a picture book myself in order to practice illustrating one. I was drawn to folk tales and fairy tales and read them voraciously. I studied works from the Brothers Grimm to Aesop’s Fables. I loved the magic elements and vivid worlds contained in the stories. I then sat down with a sketchbook and a pencil and sketched and scribbled. 

Sketch by Denise Gallagher

My own magic spilled out onto the pages. What emerged was a very wordy book called “Claire de Loup” about a girl and a wolf in a forest. That was eleven years ago. That initial manuscript and the illustrations that accompanied it went through many iterations to eventually become what is now “Moonsong.” 

DP: Wow, that is quite a journey! What an inspiration you are for sticking with this story idea and seeing it through to fruition! 

I’d like to hear more about the process between your initial idea and the story that was formulated fully enough to submit to an editor.

DG: Over those eleven years, the manuscript that eventually became “Moonsong” changed many times. During that time, I joined the Society of Children’s Book Authors and Illustrators (a big first step to becoming an author) and attended conferences and critique groups. I took every critique and piece of constructive advice seriously. I listened and I revised. (First revision? It was WAY too long!) But I was always true to myself and to my story. 

My illustration style also changed during that time and I did a scary thing — I scrapped the entire book and illustrations and started over. 

Art Credit: Denise Gallagher

Art Credit: Denise Gallagher

I worked with an agent and got feedback on the new art and manuscript, but never an offer to publish. There were times when I was dejected and set the story aside. Then, in 2019 I attended a workshop where I got this bit of advice: “If something is not working with your story, try changing an aspect of it. Maybe the character, the voice, the setting?”  I took that advice to heart. I decided that my story might work better as a girl with a TIGER in the JUNGLE. I revised the manuscript and worked on a third round of illustrations. 

Early Sketch of Fulki a character in Moonsong, by Denise Gallagher

Illustration from Moonsong, by Denise Gallagher

Illustration from Moonsong, by Denise Gallagher

I changed the name to “Moonsong” and was excited about my story once more. It was then that I met my editor who loved the story and the art. It took nine months to complete the illustration and layout of the book and now it is in the hands of readers and I am ready to celebrate!

DP: Congratulations! It's time to celebrate, indeed.

It sounds like you definitely made some major revisions to your story along the way to the path of publication. When you compare one of your earliest drafts of this story to the version in the published book, what stands out for you in terms of what is most different? Likewise, is there anything in particular that stands out that was included in your earliest drafts and survived the revision process?

DG: The original story did not include the missing moon! Looking back now, I realize that including the problem of the missing moon in the plot helped Fulki and the Tiger grow together as friends and added another layer to the tale.

I love playing with language. I’m happy to say that a lot of the initial phrases that I loved survived to the end, even as the manuscript was whittled down. The song lyrics changed, the setting changed, but in the end, Fulki and the Tiger still “tumbled and danced and shared stories and cakes.” 

DP: Thanks for sharing those details, Denise. 

Reflecting on the journey from idea to published book, is there any one moment along the way that you credit with opening the door for this particular story to find its way to publication? 

DG: I have to say, sometimes it helps to set something aside for a bit and return to it later with fresh eyes. With “Moonsong” it took hearing that bit of advice about shaking the story up for me to really dig in and come up with a fresh, modern story that maintained the vivid, magic folk tale feel that I loved.

DP: Well said, and an important reminder. 

In addition to authoring and illustrating books, you also have a passion for design. How do you balance the demands of these different elements of your creative life? 

DG: I received my degree in graphic design and I still really enjoy it. It’s a different skill set — designing projects from logos to packaging. Happily, these graphic design skills also come in handy when working on books. I’ve been fortunate to assist with designing each of them. I truly love great type and compelling page layouts, eye-catching color palettes and unique details. Using these elements along with my writing and illustrations to create a book that I am proud of is truly a joy. So, I consider myself lucky to be able to have these skills. Writing, illustration, graphic design — they are all ways that I can share my stories and express myself creatively.   

DP: Are there ways these different elements of your creative life work in concert with one another? For example, the lettering on the cover of MOONSONG draws the reader in and sets the tone for the book. I’m guessing that’s no accident.

DG: Book design is an art all on its own. I approach each of my book projects as a whole – from the art and words to the design, color and type. So yes! I designed the cover of “Moonsong” as an invitation to the reader. I wanted to create a sense of wonder and draw them in before they even began to read.

DP: I definitely feel the sense of invitation when I look at the cover!

DG: I also believe that books are a child’s first introduction to art and literature. So I try my best to create art and stories that will delight and engage them — helping them to see the beauty that exists in the world all around them. 

DP: It really shows that you approach your books in this way. 

If you could go back in time, what would you tell your pre-published self? Or, said another way, what do you know now, that you wished you would have known a bit earlier?

DG: I’d definitely tell my younger self that it is true, “Patience is a virtue!” There is a lot of waiting in publishing. Often that’s a good thing. I know now that I was not quite ready to be published when I had just graduated from college, or even when I started to focus on publishing again many years later. It took a lot of hard work, a lot of learning, a lot of starting over and a lot of patience. But now? Now comes the fun part. After all of my time preparing, I can now share my work with children and families, teachers and librarians. Now I can talk about my progress and my love of art and literature and I can sing the Moonsong. Even though my singing is a little off-key!

DP: Is there something you wish someone would ask you about your path to publication for MOONSONG that you haven’t had the opportunity to share yet? 

DG: I’ve only shared this little tidbit with one other group but I’ll share it with you, too. I’ve included a secret “Easter egg” in “Moonsong.” If you look carefully at the illustration where the children are being fussed at for singing, Fulki is holding a book. Hidden on the spine of the book are the initials W.B. and on the cover is the face of a tiger. W.B. stands for William Blake, an artist and poet from the 1800s who wrote one of my favorite poems “The Tyger.” In that scene, Fulki is reading William Blake’s poem and smiling. I like to believe that she is thinking of the Tiger who is waiting to sing the Moonsong with her in the jungle. 

DP: I love learning and discovering little secrets like this! 

Do you have anything you’d like to tell us about what you’re currently working on?

DG: I am excited to report that I have written a middle school novel. I’m still working on revising and editing, but it’s in its final stages. And when it is complete, it will contain illustrations throughout.

DP: That sounds fantastic!

DG: When I started this literary journey, I dared to believe that I’d even be able to write and publish a picture book. When the idea for my novel started nagging at the edges of my brain, I was not sure I could do it. But here we are, 40,000 words and a dancing bear later, ready for my next chapter.

DP: That's fabulous, Denise. Thank you for sharing your experiences and insights with us. 

Friends, I hope you will head on over to Bookshop or your favorite local indie and get yourself a copy of this beautiful book. It's available everywhere books are sold. You can also ask your local library to include it in their collection and/or share this post with a friend. 

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Denise Gallagher is an author and illustrator for children. As a child, she drew constantly. Now, she can usually be found deep in thought with a sketchbook and a cup of tea. She loves folklore, music and nature and draws inspiration from her lush, green Louisiana home. The combination of her lyrical writing and her whimsical artwork has charmed children of all ages. She has written and illustrated picture books, is currently working on a middle grade novel and has also illustrated folk tales from both Louisiana and Canada. Denise is devoted to promoting a love of arts and literature in both children and adults and nothing pleases her more than to share her stories with you. Learn more at denisegallagher.com.

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Birth Stories for Books is an occasional feature of Dawn Babb Prochovnic's blog. Dawn is the author of multiple picture books including, Lucy's Blooms, Where Does a Cowgirl Go Potty?, Where Does a Pirate Go Potty?, and 16 books in the Story Time With Signs & Rhymes series. Dawn is a contributing author to the award-winning book, Oregon Reads Aloud, and a frequent presenter at schools, libraries, and educational conferences. Contact Dawn using the form at the left, or learn more at www.dawnprochovnic.com.