Birth Stories for Books: THERE'S SOMETHING ODD ABOUT THE BABYSITTER, by Elayne Crain

Here comes another Birth Stories for Books interview packed with info and inspiration. My guest is Elayne Crain, author of the very funny picture book, THERE'S SOMETHING ODD ABOUT THE BABYSITTER (illustrated by John Ledda, Feiwel & Friends at Macmillan, 2025). 

by Elayne Crain and John Ledda

Elayne's interview is packed with loads of behind-the-scenes details related to bringing a book from idea to publication and beyond—you won't want to miss a morsel of this one! So let's get to it! 

Dawn Prochovnic: Welcome to the blog, Elayne. As I recall, we first "met" at a SCBWI-WW virtual intensive featuring the amazing editor, Elizabeth Law, prior to the launch of your debut picture book. I knew right away that you were a funny one! And now, here we are on the other side of this year's in-person SCBWI-WW conference (that you had a major hand in organizing!), AND you recently celebrated the one-year book birthday for, THERE'S SOMETHING ODD ABOUT THE BABYSITTER (illustrated by John Ledda Feiwel & Friends at Macmillan,). I'm eager to learn more about your path to publication for this very fun book.

Elayne Crain: That is so kind, Dawn. 😊 I do love cracking-wise—making others laugh is a dopamine factory for a nerd like me.

DP: Well you sure do have a knack for it! 

I'd like to start by learning about the inspiration that sparked the idea for this story, and the process and timeframe from your initial idea for the book to the story that was fully developed enough to submit to an agent or editor.

EC: Thank you so much! The initial idea came in two waves. Primarily, I wanted to write a story about a subject I had a lot of personal experience with—babysitting (as both a hapless, frequently-babysat kid and later as a babysitter). Additionally, I wanted the babysitter to be a messy character that also evoked empathy. So, I was in the “auditioning strange babysitters in my mind” stage when my kids and I caught an episode of Shaun the Sheep where the sheep stack up to get pizza—and I thought, “Ah-ha--that…but raccoons!” (I have a special soft spot for pest animals, so it was always going to be one of those.)

Here’s the timeline of what happened when:

First Draft (That I Can Tell): 03/02/2021

Revised Short PB: Forever-and-a-Day

Brought to SCBWI First Pages Event with Kat: 11/01/2022

In between: revisions 

Received Offer from Kat: 05/24/2023

Contract Signed (w/ Macmillan): 08/16/2023

In between: John Signed onto Project

Rough Sketches: 09/13/2023

PW Announcement: 09/19/2023

Revised Sketches: 11/16/2023

Cover and End Papers: 01/16/2024

Interior Art: 03/19/2024

Font Options: 03/27/2024

First Pass: 05/02/2024

Second Pass: 05/30/2024

Third Pass: 06/17/2024

Target.com (First Time I Saw the Book Online!): 07/08/2024

E-galley and Contact Form: 08/02/2024

Second Proofs: 09/16/2024

Introduced to MacKids Marketing and Publicity Smarties: 04/23/2025

Found out about Kids’ Indie Next Pick: 05/19/2025

Book Launch: 06/03/2025

DP: Wowza! That's a great overview of the nuts and bolts of the process and timeline! Thanks for sharing that!

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?

EC: I’ll start with the two survivors I’m most proud of—one is the whole idea that Freddie’s parents could be clueless enough NOT to spot that the babysitter was actually a bunch of raccoons. I mean, a lot of people just thought that whole concept didn’t make any sense, so the story was a no-go in several people’s eyes/rounds of critique. (Not kids’ eyes—they totally believe parents can be oblivious, I’m sorry to report to fellow parents, ha ha.) 

I also *love* bookending, callbacks, and wordplay. So, naturally, when the beginning of the story says, “Freddie and the Babysitter regarded one another,” I had to add the line at the end, “Freddie and the Babysitter re-regarded one another.” And yes, re-regarded is a made-up construct I added for fun read-aloud reasons (re: ‘rere’—it made me giggle). And I can’t tell you how many people “helpfully” told me that wasn’t a real word. But c’mon—it’s a real word NOW; it’s in a book! 

DP: I LOVE THIS!! 

EC: What is most different is the opening. I must have tried nearly every possible way three stacked raccoons could conceivably arrive to babysit—and some of them, twice. When I finally hit upon the idea of tethering Freddie’s unhappy past babysitter experiences to set up his expectations with this NEW babysitter, that’s when it finally felt like things were whistling well together.

DP: Way to be persistent! (And the opening of your story is very inviting — you nailed it!) 

I'd also like to learn more about how you went about infusing this story with humor — and if you have tips and/or resources for other book creators that want to lean into humor (me!!), I'm all ears!

EC: The best advice I have is also the simplest/most obvious/therefore hardest. One, the idea of the story needs to be genuinely funny, specifically to you. It makes YOU laugh. Not that you have to laugh ‘til you cry, but it makes you grin, involuntarily. Don’t try to “make” an idea funny, you know? Work with a funny idea; that way, the baseline, the concept, is already doing a lot of work for you.

Second (and this one takes time), discover and hone your specific sense of humor. One way you can do this-—and I have to give credit to creative Ruth Chan for sharing this idea at an SCBWI webinar-—is to carry a small notebook and write down anything that makes you crack up/tickles you. By forcing yourself to notice these things over time, you will come to see that certain themes and patterns are YOUR unique sense of humor, and that will be fun and natural for you to build on. It’s just like Mary Poppins said, “You find the fun, and snap! The job’s a game!” 

If all else fails, at least inject some hard k sounds. (I just added a pickle barrel to a story for this very reason.) 😂

DP: Ha! Fantastic tips, Elayne! 

Can you tell me more about how you formatted your manuscript for queries and/or submissions, because it seems to me this is an example of a manuscript that would have needed some art notes to make sure agents/editors knew what you had in mind!

EC: Yes, my manuscript included art notes, and honestly? I didn’t need most of them. But I was new to this, and very excited. 

The art notes/illustration notes question is such a hard one, only because editors feel ALL KINDS of ways about art notes, which makes agents feel ALL KINDS of ways about them. Naturally, illustrators (generally!!!) dislike them. Having said that, I definitely use them. I try very hard not to OVERUSE them (which is way too easy to do, and where the whole "try not to do them" advice comes from). 

But here's an example from this story:

You can see (from the final product) that the voices did NOT happen off-page, so I could have left that note off, and (looking back), I should have. At the time, I was trying to signal that Freddie's parents didn't actually see the Babysitter all that much, that they were out the door quickly. The second note, however, is crucial...it's essentially the entire setup for the book. And I included the mustache and hat because they are part of the story later. So, these days I would have included only the second one.

Another note about notes: if it's something you are including as a joke and it's essential, include it. If you just have a VERY FUNNY IDEA, you can include it, but as a “maybe.” Like, let’s say you have a piece of dialogue that says, "Robots are ill-mannered." You could add, so it's obvious it's a joke, [Illo: maybe robot drinking tea wearing fancy gloves]. The “maybe” shows you are just brainstorming, vs. [Illo: "robot drinks tea wearing fancy gloves”] which reads bossy, and really, it doesn't HAVE to be fancy gloves and tea, unless at the end, say, the robot becomes a tea sommelier or something, and the illustrations are part of the setup for that.

DP: Super helpful examples and details, Elayne. Thank you so much! 

Reflecting on the journey from idea to published book, are there any individuals, experiences, or opportunities that you credit with opening the door for you to bring this story to publication? 

EC: Oh goodness, there were so many—and, luckily, I have thanked all those individuals, I believe. But what I can add here is how instrumental my SCBWI (the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) membership was in this whole process—joining was honestly one of my top life decisions (dramatic…but true!).

Prepare yourself for a touch of eyeroll (I’m about to quote myself—bleccch)…I owe so much to the other creatives in our industry, who push me every day to try to be a wonderfully human storyteller—through support and healthy strive drive! As I said in a post about my SCBWI anniversary, I have been so lucky to be surrounded by so many wonderful creators, who raise my own creative aspirations (to, let's face it, monumental levels) simply by being their thoughtful, lovely selves. 

Having said that, remind yourself—as often as you need—how far you’ve come, too! When you see people moving mountains in gorgeous, fun, and inventive new ways every day, it's easy to forget that you, too, have been transporting some bedrock.

This book happened because I attended an SCBWI First Pages webinar and connected with editor Kat Brzozowski through it. But it ALSO happened because I had been working my tail end off to have MANY stories, and because I put myself out there. It happened because I was an active SCBWI member, and also because I was in a critique group (where another member told me about this event). It happened, too, because I did a mentorship with Jessica Young, who gave me great notes on the original story manuscript. 

I don’t know where to stop the thanks—there were so many people—but I do know which person made the biggest difference in this book becoming real—and that was my editor, Kat.

At the time, I didn’t have an agent, and I brought the first page of this particular story (which ended up being the first three spreads, ms-wise) because I loved it, but it didn’t seem to be getting much traction in the agent-querying trenches. Luckily, Kat saw in it what I saw in it—and then some—and I think she actually said, “This one is really weird, but it’s my kind of weird.” Then we chatted in the webinar chat about Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar, which was another huge sign that we were on the same page for humor. (And yes, I’m still pinching myself for being in the right place at the right time, somehow, to have met her and gotten to work with her! She really is amazing.) It took a while to get the rest of the team on board, but we did it—with a lot of revision work on my part, too, I should add. I’m so grateful that she didn’t give up on it, or me, during that time.

DP: This is such an inspiring and motivating backstory, Elayne. Yay, you! 

Who do you see as the ideal reader for this book, and/or what would you love to hear a bookseller or librarian say as they hand-sell this book?

EC: We have been SO lucky with this book. With the bookseller support from the Kids’ Indie Next last summer, and we just recently found out we were one of 10 picture books selected to be a Florida Sunshine State Young Readers Award Junior Book pick, so I guess we can still assume that kindergarten through 2nd grade is the sweet spot for this silly, yet from-the-heart, tale of three tails in a trench coat. 

I think I’d just be happy for them to say ANYTHING, honestly. Any positive note from a bookseller or librarian is gold, as far as I am concerned—they know their stuff!

DP: Indeed! 

What would be your dream review for this book? Who would this review be from? And where would this review be published or posted?

EC: Ah, reviews! You know, we only ever got two reviews—one from Kirkus and another from LitHub (thankfully, both very positive!). So, as far as dreams go, I would have loved to get a few more from trade publications, to get the word out about the book more widely. (Luckily, word of mouth seems to be helping quite a bit!) As far as reader reviews, I read the first 20 or so that came in—but I quit while I was ahead. So, I actually have no idea what they say—I do love getting letters from kids. I guess those are my very favorite reviews!

DP: Well said! 

Speaking of kids, one of my favorite parts of being an author is connecting with young readers at school, library, and bookstore visits, and I’m always looking for fresh tips. Do you have any pro tips or suggestions for fellow author/presenters in terms of planning successful (in-person and/or remote) book-related events? 

EC: This is a great question, and I do think that it totally depends on the sort of book you bring with you. But for me, with this book, I’ve found the most important aspect is my tone with the students. I introduce myself by acknowledging that their first question is always, “Why is this lady here?” and by sharing what I was like at their age (they love seeing my kindergarten, first- and second-grade pictures). Then we read the book—and I say “we” because they have jobs to do during the story, too-—and then we make a story that builds off the book, all together. We wrap up with a Q&A—which is my very favorite part. Because I’ve built up a rapport with them by then, it’s always a lot of fun, and normally quite energetic.

I think it helps—and this is going to sound SO basic—but to really think, if YOU were the kid, what would be fun for you? What would make you feel a “part” of what’s going down? And then, try to do that.

DP: That's fantastic advice, Elayne. Your author visits sound like a great opportunity for young readers! 

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 had known a bit earlier?

EC: “What are you doing? Sit down and start writing those children’s book ideas you’ve been putting off. Also, work hard on your sketching! You’ll thank me later!”

DP: I'm so glad you brought up the sketching! I've noticed from your social media posts that you are actively working on the illustration side of the picture book craft, and I see from visiting your website that you eventually hope to illustrate one of your own books. I'd love to hear more about how things are going for you on this side of the equation.

EC: Oh, man, I really love art—even though the last time I took a formal art class (outside of high school ceramics) was in 5th grade. (I do take workshops sometimes!) And a lot of my very favorite children’s illustrators are self-taught, and I can’t tell you how inspiring that is. 

Still, I feel like I’m in a tender place with it at the moment—I’ve gotten just decent enough to see how much more I need to do to get to the level that I see others at. (Especially given that children’s book illustrators are some of the best illustrators alive.) So! It’s going well, but ALSO going to be long-term; right now, I’m holding those two truths tightly together and trying to trust the process. I am SO incredibly grateful for the support the community has given me, as I’ve worked on this.

Elayne With Her First Illustration Portfolio

And, until I’m able to illustrate some of my own work, I will enjoy (fingers crossed!) getting partnered with some of those amazing folk!

DP: Sounds like a fantastic approach! 

Is there something you wish someone would ask you about your path to publication for THERE'S SOMETHING ODD ABOUT THE BABYSITTER that you haven’t had the opportunity to share yet? 

EC: That’s a really great question! Well, we are in a really fascinating field. When you have a dopamine-valuing system, as I do, I often have to remind myself that the real work is in the less sexy parts of the process—the extra round of revision, making a dummy (again!) to see if you can improve pacing. I guess what I can say, from experience, is none of it is wasted. Either the story will become slightly better—or you will become a slightly better storyteller—and if you are very lucky, both will happen. But you can only control the work you put in, so that’s where the effort needs to go (and go and go).

DP: Such a wonderful, encouraging perspective, Elayne. 

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

EC: Ah, that’s a great question! Well, I’m working on three main things: a rhyming revision that is a dinosaur story, revision of a prose picture book about a girl who has to change her expectations in a big, honking way when she’s partnered up with an animal she wasn’t quite expecting, and a newer story that (for one of the first times ever), I started with character sketches and have been building the manuscript up after the fact—this particular one stars a ghost and a possum in a meet-awkward for the ages. 

DP: Sounds like more fun  is underway! I look forward to continuing to follow your work! 

Speaking of which, what is the best way for readers to get in touch with you or learn more about your book(s)?

EC: I love this question! And, I LOVE snail mail! Classes, scout troops, or individuals can send me author mail at:

Elayne Crain

P.O. Box 15440

Seattle, WA 98115*

* I would ask they remember to include YOUR address, if you want a response! 

DP: Super fun, Elayne! I hope you get stacks and stacks of raccoon snail mail!  (And for folks who prefer the web, you can find Elayne here and on social channels such as IG and Substack @elaynecrain.) 

Thanks so much for sharing your Birth Story for THERE'S SOMETHING ODD ABOUT THE BABYSITTER with us, Elayne! 

EC: Thank you, Dawn! I really appreciate it! 

And now, dear readers, you know what to do. The best way to thank an author whose insights have been helpful and/or inspiring to you is to support their work. Buy their books. Request them from your library. Read and share them with others. THERE'S SOMETHING ODD ABOUT THE BABYSITTER is available everywhere books are borrowed and sold, including your own local, indie bookstore, or online at bookshop.org. *Disclosure: As an affiliate of Bookshop.org I may earn a small commission from books purchased through links on this post. 

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Elayne Crain is a proud creator of childish things — predominantly funny (meaning both peculiar and humorous) picture books, with additional forays into early graphic novels, Shel Silverstein-y poetry, and two middle-grade novels. She’s also diligently building her author-illustrator skills (a long-term investment). Elayne’s debut book, "There's Something Odd About the Babysitter" (illus. by John Ledda, Feiwel & Friends/Macmillan), was selected as a Kids' Indie Next List and 2026-27 Sunshine State Young Readers Award Junior Book pick. 

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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?, 16 books in the Story Time With Signs & Rhymes series, and the forthcoming title, Mama's Home (and Baby Too!). 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. Subscribe to Dawn's newsletter and never miss an update. 

Birth Stories for Books: NIGHTY NIGHT, DINOS, by Deborah Holt Williams

Hello, readers! Today I'm delighted to share with you a fantastic Birth Stories for Books guest post by Deborah Holt Williams, author of the darling new picture book, NIGHTY NIGHT, DINOS (illustrated by Anna Doherty, June 2026). 

by Deborah Holt Williams and Anna Doherty

Deborah's inspiring story is one of hard work, perserverence, and success, and I'm so happy to share it with you, today. (Something extra special about this book is that it's published by Familius, the publisher of my next book!)

Take it away, Deborah!

My Path to a Multi-Book Contract

by Deborah Holt Williams

I’ve been making up and writing down stories since I learned to write in first grade. My family moved a lot, and my Little Golden Books from my grandparents didn’t always make the move. I had a brilliant idea—if I could write my own, I’d never be without books! So at age six, I decided I would become an author.

I read and wrote all through my school years, and in high school I was a correspondent to our community newspaper, the Tonawanda News. I got a journalism degree in Madison and wrote for the UW campus paper, the Daily Cardinal, and got hired to work at a small town paper in Evansville, Wisconsin after graduation.

I got married and we moved to the Colorado mountains. As the family grew to include five children, I made up a lot of bedtime stories but I was too busy to write them down. When the last child was in school full time in 1998, I joined SCBWI and started submitting. I read in the Children’s Book Insider newsletter that two teachers had started a publishing company and were looking for early readers, so I sent in a story I used to tell my youngest, called “Awful Waffles.” And they bought it! And then they bought four more over the next few years. The teachers sold their little company to the educational house Continental Press, and none of my new submissions were accepted from then on. But at least my five little books are still in the catalog, helping kids learn to read after 25 years.

The next chapter in my writing career came after ten years of rejections. Finally in 2010 I sold a poem to Highlights, and over the next few years I sold 12 more and also sold stories to Jack and Jill, Turtle, Appleseeds and other magazines and on-line sites for kids as well. I loved working with Highlights and I started attending their workshops in the Pennsylvania woods, but my dream was still to write a beautifully illustrated, hard cover, traditionally published picture book.

The magazine chapter was followed by another ten years of rejections. But I took classes, entered contests and never gave up, My first picture book, Nighty Night, Dinos, began as an entry in a bedtime poetry contest in January of 2020. It didn’t win.

But I loved that poem, so I reworked it as a board book and submitted it to Familius on February 15, 2021 and heard back the very next day! The head of the publishing company (with the wonderful name of Christopher Robbins) really liked it, but Familius had several other dino board books coming out at that time. So we kept in touch, and in 2023 he asked if I would add four more stanzas so they could make it a 32-page board book! YES! Absolutely! I revised the manuscript and sent it in, with hope in my heart.

And speaking of my heart…In November of 2023 I underwent a procedure where a device was threaded through an artery and into my heart to prevent blood clots from forming which could cause a stroke. It required staying one night in the hospital, and when I couldn’t sleep I turned on my laptop around midnight, and there in my inbox was the contract for Nighty Night, Dinos! It would be released in June of 2026.

I was thrilled, but cautious—I’d been subbing stories since 1998 and I’d had two books that had come close in the past. (One made it all the way to the acquisitions committee of a wonderful publisher and the final NO came in 2014--while I was getting chemotherapy for my triple negative breast cancer. That was a low point in my journey! But I'm fully recovered.) So when I got an email from Familius early in 2025 I was sure it was to tell me that, since paper came from Canada and since books are printed in China, and both countries had been charged tariffs, that it would be too expensive to create my book.

But I opened the email—and it asked if I would consider writing a series of Nighty Night books! They sent me eight possible topics and invited me to think of others. In April of 2025 I signed the contract for Nighty Night, Puppies and then in June of that year I signed one for Nighty Night, Bears! Both of these are due out in 2028, thirty years after I joined SCBWI and began subbing to agents and editors. I’ll be 77 years old! Persistence and luck, finally rewarded.

Nighty Night, Dinos, with lovely illustrations by Anna Doherty, will be out in June of 2026. It has received very positive reviews from the School and Library Journal and Kirkus. 

I have to again mention that this all happened after many many years of rejections. The key is to keep going. Enter contests, take classes, subscribe to other authors' blogs and newsletters (like Dawn's!), and participate in a critique group. Write one story after another! And one of the most helpful tips I can offer is--volunteer at your local library! I go in for about an hour a week and they give me a rag and a bottle of cleaner and I wipe off books in the children's section. It gives me the chance to look at what's new, and to see which publishers put out books like what I'm writing. I check out several books which benefits the library's circulation and gives me the chance to study books for what works and what doesn't. I'll turn 75 shortly after my first picture book comes out. Hopefully your road to publication won't be quite as long as mine, but hang in there and keep on writing and submitting! Never give up on a dream!

What an inspiring story-behind-the story, Deborah (and an important reminder to keep learning, keep writing, keep submitting, and keep believing in your dreams)! Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us. Brava! 

And now, dear readers, you know what to do. The best way to thank an author whose insights have been helpful and/or inspiring to you is to support their work. Buy their books. Request them from your library. Read and share them with others. NIGHTY NIGHT, DINOS is available everywhere books are borrowed and sold, including your own local, indie bookstore, or online at bookshop.org. *Disclosure: As an affiliate of Bookshop.org I may earn a small commission from books purchased through links on this post. 

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Deborah with her dinosaur in her garden
in the mountains of Colorado

Deborah Holt Williams is a retired preschool teacher, library story-time lady, and reading specialist. She’s also a mom to five grown children and a grandmother to six. She has loved dinosaurs since finding her first fossil in first grade.

 

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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?, 16 books in the Story Time With Signs & Rhymes series, and the forthcoming title, Mama's Home (and Baby Too!). 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. Subscribe to Dawn's newsletter and never miss an update. 

Have Swag, Will Travel: What to Bring to a Book Sales Event

Dear Readers, I have a practical, info-packed Have Swag Will Travel guest post for you today. 

Author Tracy. C. Gold's next book, CALL YOUR FATHER (illustrated by Vivian Mineker, Familius, 2026), comes out this spring. It's a companion to her gorgeous earlier title, CALL YOUR MOTHER. Tracy has visited the blog a few times before, and each post has been fantastic!

As the author of multiple books, Tracy has participated in several unique book events. Today she shares her experience and tips for planning and obtaining the various supplies that are helpful for these events. 

by Tracy C. Gold and Vivian Mineker

Take it away, Tracy! 

Have Swag Will Travel: What to Bring to a Book Sales Event

by Tracy C. Gold

I am ramping up an exciting spring full of book events because I have a new book coming out this spring, yay! Book events mean SWAG! Swag for the kids, and swag to keep you organized and sane.  

"Call Your Father,"  illustrated by Vivian Mineker and published by Familius, is my fifth published picture book. So this is not my first, second, or third rodeo. Of course, I bring different stuff depending on the type of event. Below, I’ve attempted to break down my packing list by event type. 

 Every author has a slightly different approach. This is what has worked for me so far. I am always looking to learn, so please weigh in on the comments if you have additional suggestions on what to bring. 

Note: I bought a lot of my stuff a long time ago, so buy links are not necessarily helpful. I do, however, have a post on my own website with links for buying some of this stuff. Check it out here!

Second note: As an author-only, my profits on each picture book sale are pretty low. That means it’s very easy to spend more on swag than I make at an event. This is not an industry for the weak of heart or wallet. So I have a few rules for myself: 

·      Only do book events that make me happy

·      Only get swag that makes me happy

·      Never spend money on book marketing that I need to put food on my table 

I do believe that going to book events does benefit your career beyond the money you make on book sales that day. All of these efforts help build real relationships with readers, booksellers, and educators. I have booked school visits because of connections I’ve made doing book events, or in one case, just from being listed on an event’s website. You can also take pictures and videos for your social media. Just go into buying book swag with a realistic view of whether you’ll ever earn that money back.

What I Bring to Most Book Events 

A folding wagon or rolling bag—Buy one of these and thank me later—that is, if you are driving to a book event. If you are flying or using public transportation, you’ll have to minimize this list. Getting stuff in and out of a bookstore or event venue can be a slog. Sometimes you can park very close and sometimes you have to hike. Evaluate the containers you keep your stuff in (I use Container Store bins and a variety of bags) and see if you can fit them in a wagon (I have two) or rolling bag (I have one from Hulken) so you don’t have to make a gazillion trips. Your wagon needs to fold so you can stash it somewhere out of the way. The good news is that these wagons can be a business expense, but they come in handy way beyond book events. I use mine all the time for groceries, sports equipment, Christmas gift schlepping, and cleaning out my endlessly messy car. That said, I currently have three different rolling thingamajigs and I’m not 100% happy with any of them, so if you have *the most amazing* wagon, please let me know. My dream wagon would be light, folding, large enough to carry 2+ Container Store bins, and have a brake. I have not found this dream wagon yet, but a heavy wagon is better than no wagon. 

Clear bins: I like Container Store brand clear bins because they fit into my Ikea Kallax shelving at home, but it is great to have small, stackable bins to hold all this stuff. Now, this can get onerous and you may be able to get away with bags if you’re just going to a bookstore, but if you are hauling copies of your books around, you may need more. I would go with clear so it’s easier to see what’s in there. 

Copies of my own books—I can’t tell you how many times bookstores have run out of copies of my books at an event. This is a lovely problem to have. If you bring a few copies of each of your own books, you can normally sell them to the bookstore at a wholesale discount, normally somewhere between 40 and 60%. Know what you paid for your own books, including shipping, so you are at least not selling them at a loss. Sometimes bookstores will ask to order new stock and swap copies out instead of paying you. That is normal but can be logistically complicated if you don’t live near the store. More on what to bring when you’re selling your own books in the next section. 

Don’t forget to bring out-of-season books! My Halloween book, "Trick or Treat, Bugs to Eat,” sometimes outsells my Mother’s Day book, "Call Your Mother,” at spring events. What can I say, kids like cute bats. 

A fun craft—Nothing brings kids to an author’s table like a fun craft! At festivals I have crafts sitting out at all times. At more structured events, I end a story time with a craft session. For "Hide and Seek, Nuts to Eat" and "Trick or Treat, Bugs to Eat,” Sourcebooks made an adorable activity kit with coloring pages and a word search. My go-to craft from the kit involves kids coloring in a squirrel or bat, cutting it out, taping a string to it, and tying it around their wrist so they can run amuck with their little animal companion. 

Bat Craft

This means I am bringing printouts from the kit, kid-friendly scissors, crayons, tape, and string. Sometimes bookstores provide these materials—it’s worth checking! You can find cheap multi-packs of scissors and crayons online. I often go with Oriental Trading (yes, it’s still called that) for these supplies. If you don’t have an activity kit, you might also be able to find craft kits that are relevant to your book on Oriental Trading or a similar site. The costs of these kits can add up quickly, though. 

This picture is from a literacy event with Park Books 

Craft set-up for literacy event with Parks Books 

When you’re working with a book store, they often have supplies which can lower the burden on you. They had this adorable setup and printouts from my Sourcebooks activity kits. This was destroyed as soon as actual children got their hands on it, which is a good sign that everyone had fun. 

This is a picture of the “decorate a star” craft I do for "Call Your Mother" because there’s a star motif in the book. Kids can give their gem stars to Mom as a Mother’s Day gift! Yes, I did buy the gems for this one. 

Bookmarks or some other sort of handout to serve as a business card—Kids don’t really use bookmarks for picture books, but I’ve found it handy to have some sort of business card. Sadly, business cards and bookmarks can, again, cost more than what you earn on a sale. However, the people I give these out to tend not to be kids/families. They are booksellers or educators who are interested in future collaborations. This is one reason why you can’t judge the value of events solely on book sales: events can be a great way to get educators interested in school visits! Though it is up to luck whether educators happen to show up to an event or not, I do find they tend to come by festivals where there are a lot of authors in one place. I need to do a bookmark refresh, but in the past I’ve even made them myself using card stock and scissors. 

Mesh/clear bags to keep everything organized: I buy cheap laundry delicates bags in a variety of sizes to keep all of my supplies organized. Otherwise, my bigger bins and bags become a jungle of broken crayons and tangled strings. 

Sharpies for signing books: I’ve gone down quite a rabbit hole of figuring out what pens are best for signing books. While Sharpies are not archival quality, they are simply the best for not smudging. For my board books, I have found that only metallic Sharpies work. Don’t ask me why. I can thank The Ivy Bookshop for helping me figure this out. I can vouch for both gold and silver Sharpies. Make sure that whatever color Sharpie you buy shows up on the title page where you’re signing. 

Post-it notes: When I sign books, I always like to practice writing names before signing them in the books. I use post-its to do this. Sometimes when there is a long line, booksellers will get names written on post-its for me to make things move more quickly. You know, I do know how to spell Michael and Elizabeth under normal circumstances, but book events can be extremely overstimulating and overwhelming in a way that makes me question whether the letter M is really supposed to look like that after all. And you never know when it will be spelled Mykel or Elisabeth. Now, I’m a pro at drawing a heart doodle over mistakes, but it’s always best to test names out. 

Little white board: A little white board and dry erase marker is so handy. This is an instant sign that you can change so that it says whatever you want! I do use this more for book festivals than book store events, but it’s great to have in the kit. 


Book stands: Using the vertical space of your display is so important, particularly when you have multiple books. Really, I’d like to have an even better system for vertical display, but right now, I have book stands. These can also be used to prop up your white board if it doesn’t come with a stand! 

Tape: Even if you don’t have a craft involving tape, just bring tape. Sometimes you need to tape paper somewhere and sometimes you need to tape a tablecloth down. I don’t really know why I end up using tape so much, but just throw a roll of Scotch tape in your stuff. 

“Learn More” sign: I always bring a sign in a little acrylic stand with a link to my website. For book festivals, I bring more signs (more on that later), but it’s nice to have something to show that people (especially educators!) can learn more about you and your books. 

Personal amplifier: At any book event where I am reading, I bring an inexpensive personal amplifier. Now, I’ll be honest. I always bring this but I have yet to actually use it. I have an inflated sense of confidence in my own skills of projection. I always regret not using my personal amplifier after the event when my throat is sore and my voice is croaky. My goal for the spring is to use my personal amplifier at events. Now, this is not so important in a tiny space. But if you are outdoors or speaking to a large number of children, this is key. Plus, as my friend Kathy MacMillan points out, sometimes people have struggles hearing, and a personal amplifier can be helpful for them even if you do project well. 

Charging cords for all my devices: This is more important for events where I’m sitting all day, but I always make sure I have a charging cord for my phone and whatever payment device I am bringing (if I’m bringing one). Nothing drains batteries faster than a book event. Don’t ask me why! This is just a fact. 

Tiny things to give away: Ok, this goes back to my “just for fun” category, because especially when you’re only earning royalties and not selling books wholesale, it is hard to find a giveaway that’s cheaper than your royalties. In the past, I have done sticker sheets. They are SO CUTE and so fun—but cost about 50 cents each, if I’m remembering correctly. I got a few hundred for each book and gave them away as preorder bonuses and at events, but I’m not ordering more due to the cost. 

For my book "Trick or Treat, Bugs to Eat,” I’ve also done tiny plastic bugs, which are pretty cheap. I also give those away as “non-food options” at my house for Halloween, so they’re multipurpose.

Mask: I typically have a mask in my bookstore stuff. My first books came out during the pandemic, so I got in the habit. Now, data on whether masks work is iffy, but you know what they do work on? My mental health. The truth about doing events with small children is that they will absolutely get in your face and sneeze in your eyeballs. However, it’s really tough to engage when half your face is covered. I do like to have a mask though in case I’m feeling sick, to protect others, and in cases where I really don’t want to get sick (like if I’m traveling). 

Hand sanitizer: If you don’t have this on you normally, bring it to book events. See: young children are snotty. 

What I Bring When I Am Selling My Own Books

More copies of my own books: At festivals or events where you’re responsible for selling your own books, figuring out how many books to bring can be hard. If you can, I’d ask the organizer or other authors who have been there before what to expect. I’d also recommend bringing more than you think you need. It’s sad when you are sitting there all day and could have made more sales if you only had more inventory! Generally, I bring 5-10 copies per book, but I do have 4 books, so if you only have one or two, I’d bring 30-40 total. And let’s be real, I do normally leave some extra in my car just in case. 

Ways to take payment: I use PayPal’s credit card system because I already have a PayPal account. Make sure you have whatever device you need well ahead of time because you need to get it shipped and make sure it works. And, of course, bring a phone! I have found that I am swiping credit cards much less these days because of the growing prevalence of Venmo, Paypal, and Zelle. I’d love for credit card swiping to go away. I have had so many issues with connectivity. That said, if the wi-fi or data connection is bad, sometimes Venmo/Paypal/Zelle doesn’t work great either. 

Basic change: People do still pay in cash! I try to have some ones and fives. I also will fudge the pricing a bit if someone doesn’t have exact change. I don’t mess around with coins. I just figure out the sales tax on my end later. Cash means I’ve saved money on credit card processing fees anyway. But Venmo is the best because it doesn’t have fees! 

Sign with your payment info: Have a sign with a QR code for your various payment methods and your user name. QR codes don’t always work, particularly if the lighting is bad. Having a sign will save you so much time of having to spell out your user name. 

Sign with your prices: You should have a sign with your prices—or multiple signs—depending on how you are set up. Clarify whether or not you’re including sales tax. Of course, if people have to ask you how much things cost, that can increase interaction. But I think people like to be able to look and know. 

Plastic sign holders: I bring cheap acrylic sign holders and just print my signs as needed to swap them out. The sign holders help me use my vertical space. There is normally not enough room to have signs horizontal on the table, and they’re harder for people to see this way as well. 

Toys that match your books: Ok, plenty of people go wild making custom stuffed animals for their books. Unless your books are mega-popular, it’s going to be really hard to make money on these. They’ll cost you a lot of time and money to make, and people don’t really want a stuffed animal to match a character they don’t know yet. Personally, I look for stuffed animals that already exist on the market. Squirrels and bats are pretty easy. I don’t have a way to get them wholesale at the moment—and I’m not sure if wholesale makes sense at the low volume I do. I do think that having something else besides books to sell can help increase your profits if you’re sitting somewhere for a whole day. I also like to have toys on hand as I frequently donate my books to silent auctions, and being able to add a couple stuffed animals makes a basket look much cuter.

I will say that I once had toys out at the Chesapeake Children’s Book Festival and had to put them away. Multiple children asked their parents for a toy…multiple parents said no, we’re here for books. I watched some families avoid my table even though their kids were trying to pull them back to me for toys. So I put the basket away to lower the drama for everyone. In my experience, toys do better at events that are not purely focused on books. Now, if you can MAKE toys to go with your books, that could be an easier sell. I would not count on toys making you a lot of profit, so I go back to my rule: only get toys for your books if it’s fun! 

The above photo is from the Chesapeake Children’s Book Fest. Often, you have to cram your stuff into half a table! Of course I was happy to share with author Terry Catasus Jennings. I love that in this pic, you can see the cool dolls Terry has to match her characters—and big banners from Timothy Young (left) and Kathy MacMillan (right). My very fancy tablecloth here is literally a beach towel. You don’t always have to buy something new.

Baskets and bowls: What you need here depends on what you bring. I have baskets and/or bowls which I fill with toys. I sometimes also use a small cup to hold scissors and crayons. I don’t tend to need this when a bookstore is providing supplies, and I don’t bring toys to sell at bookstore events, since they typically have their own tchotchkes on offer. 

Tablecloth: You can see in my pictures that I have used a variety of items as tablecloths, including a beach towel and an old scrap of fabric. Tablecloths look nice, but more importantly, they cover up the underside of your table. That’s where you’ll need to cover your backstock of books and important things like your purse! It’s nice to have it hidden. I’ve upped my tablecloth game recently thanks to the cornucopia of tablecloths that can be found cheaply at Good Will. You can get cheap plastic tablecloths new, too, but it’s more fun to thrift! 

You can see a lot of my set up in the above picture! I have a whiteboard, basket of crayons, pages printed out from my activity kits, a sign about all my books, a basket of toys, a sign about my website, and a sign with my Venmo and Paypal info. Whew! I think the venue provided the tablecloth.  

Woohoo, I got a full table! The above picture is from the Waterfowl Festival in Easton, Maryland. In my experience it is rare to get this much space but you can see my full spread here. This was before "Call Your Mother" came out. I have a print-outs from my activity kits, crayons, scissors, yarn to tie a string to cut-out bats and squirrels, a white board, and baskets of toys. In the back you can see my “learn more” placard with my website. On the right you can see my pricing sheet for my books.

Here we have zoomed in a bit! You can see my very fancy tablecloth is just a random piece of fabric from some costume or other that has been roughly cut. On the left you can see that I’ve taped an example hanging bat so that kids can see the craft. Crafts bring kids to you! You can also see that I have a few little plastic bugs scattered on the table. I give these away for free if I can buy them cheap enough! You will also see my mask. 

This is author Rachel Kolar with her book “Mother Ghost” at an event at Park Books. You can see her cool skeleton props and fun witch hat! On the table in the forefront is a craft provided by Park Books—color your own spooky tote bags! I teamed up with Rachel and another local author, Rebecca Evans. It looks empty, but that’s because it’s a huge space and I was avoiding kid’s faces in this picture for privacy reasons. 

Things I Have Thought About Bringing but Don’t 

Email sign up list: So, I actually did this in the past, but very few people signed up, and it took up precious space. And then I’d actually have to send out an email newsletter to make it worthwhile. However, I probably should bring this as I do occasionally send emails. They tend to be focused more on writers than readers. Psst, you can sign up to receive content like this blog post here: https://tracycgold.com/newsletter/.

Banner or custom tablecloth: I’ve looked into getting a custom banner or tablecloth to bring more attention to my table. They are just so expensive. I’m lucky enough to have books coming out scheduled into the future, and I just couldn’t see myself paying for a new banner every time I had a new book come out. Now that I am five books in, however, I might do something with just a few of my books. Probably not, though, unless I can find a really good sale. 

Hoo boy! I think that’s it! 

Thank you so much for sharing your experience and resources with us, Tracy! What a FANTASTIC prep-kit list for book events! I consider myself a book-event pro, but you've included some things on your list that weren't yet on mine. Thanks!  

And now, dear readers, you know what to do. The best way to thank an author whose insights have been helpful and/or inspiring to you is to support their work. Buy their books. Request them from your library. Read and share them with others. Tracy's books, including her latest, CALL YOUR FATHER, are available everywhere books are borrowed and sold, including your own local, indie bookstore, and through Bookshop. *Disclosure: As an affiliate of Bookshop.org I may earn a small commission from books purchased through links on this post. 

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Photo Credit: Shore Love Photography

Tracy C. Gold writes books that inspire kids to connect with nature and their families. She also works as a freelance editor, helping writers develop novels, memoirs, and children’s literature. Her published and forthcoming picture books include “Call Your Father,” “Call Your Mother,” “Everyone’s Sleepy but the Baby,” “Trick or Treat, Bugs to Eat,” and “Hide and Seek, Nuts to Eat.” She also writes short stories, essays, novels, and poems. Her work has been published in several magazines and anthologies. Tracy earned her M.F.A. in Creative Writing and Publishing Arts at the University of Baltimore and earned her B.A. in English from Duke University. When she’s not writing or editing, she’s playing with her kid or hanging out with horses and dogs. You can find out more about Tracy at tracycgold.com, by following her on Threads and Instagram at @tracycgold, or by liking her Facebook page. 

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Have Swag Will Travel 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?, 16 books in the Story Time With Signs & Rhymes series, and the forthcoming title, Mama's Home (and Baby Too!). 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. Subscribe to Dawn's newsletter and never miss an update.

Birth Stories for Books, ADVENTURES WITH OPAL: THE MUGGY, BUGGY DAY, by Lora Heller

Hello readers! Welcome to the first Birth Stories for Books interview of 2025. Today's post is an extra special one! Our guest is my longtime friend and colleague, Lora Heller. Today I'm so excited to shine a light on her latest book, ADVENTURES WITH OPAL: THE MUGGY, BUGGY DAY (illustrated by Piper Fialkoff, Independently Published, February 2025). 

Dawn Prochovnic: Welcome to the blog, Lora. We have been friends, colleagues (and occasional critique partners!) for a very long time. I believe we first came to know each other via our shared interest in signing with babies and young children. By my recollection, our friendship dates back to your kindness in offering your expertise as the content consultant for my second series of Story Time with Signs & Rhymes books. That kindness continued with your enthusiastic support for my latest book, LUCY'S BLOOMS, generously recording book readings, lining up others to provide ASL interpretations of the story and the companion song, and eagerly helping get the word out about my book launch in the midst of the pandemic. The list goes on and on. I am so very grateful for all of your past support and SO VERY EXCITED for the opportunity to support the launch of YOUR latest book, ADVENTURES WITH OPAL: THE MUGGY, BUGGY DAY. I'm eager to learn more about your path to publication for this sweet and cheerful new book, so let's get started! 

Although I've had the pleasure of reading various iterations of this story via some past manuscript swaps, I'd love to learn more about the inspiration that sparked the idea for this story, and the process and timeframe between your initial idea for the book and the story that was formulated fully enough to move forward with publication. 

Lora Heller: While I was working on a different story, I was struck by the summer heat and the first line of this one just came into my head (“It’s muggy and buggy and so warm outside…”). Thinking about it evoked memories of summers past with my children, exploring parks and playgrounds together and witnessing their creative play, which inspired me to continue writing. It took about 18 months from start to finish. I’ve always written poetry so it was fun to write a story in rhyming verse – but it was a new added challenge to develop a character and plot in this format.

DP: 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? 

LH: Each illustration includes a ‘thought bubble’ that comes from Opal (the story’s main character) reflecting her thoughts or feelings about her adventures as told on each opposite page. I initially had an older sibling as a narrator instead, and decided over time to focus just on Opal. I feel that is what changed the story and Opal’s storytelling most significantly. The first line survived the revision process. 😊

Interior image from Adventures with Opal, Muggy Buggy Day
by Lora Heller.and  Piper Fialkoff 

DP: LOL, that's how revision, goes, isn't it! And I love Opal's thought bubbles. 

Reflecting on the journey from idea to published book, are there any individuals, experiences, or opportunities that you credit with opening the door for you to bring this story to publication? 

LH: Definitely my own children. I’ve always loved writing and reading poetry, and found that my kids also enjoyed stories told in verse. They also loved adventures and being outdoors. 

DP: It’s my recollection that you worked with a specialized organization to help ready this book for publication. Can you share how you connected with this organization, how the process worked, and/or any valuable learnings from the experience that might be of help and interest to our readers? 

LH: Children’s Book Mastery offered a picture book bootcamp which I participated in for several summer days, getting inspiration, guidance, and feedback along with other authors in the program. CBM also offers assistance with the self-publishing process including book design. One of the most valuable pieces of this experience was developing relationships with other children’s authors and another was having a daily goal for writing; these were things that kept me inspired and motivated to complete the story and continue working on more. 

DP: I can completely relate. I don't know what I'd do without my network of kidlit friends and colleagues (I'm talking to you!), and writing goals definitely help keep me moving forward day by day.   

Were there any specific resources you utilized that were most helpful to you along the way? 

LH: I attended and continue to attend a variety of online workshops and webinars, and utilize the workbooks offered by CBM as well as other similar programs. For CBM I participated in live on-line picture book 5 day ‘boot camp’. I also attended follow up webinars she offered covering topics such as book launch and marketing.

I’ve also attended a few general writing retreats in person through various organizations. Some examples include: 

https://journeytokidlit.com : I’ve followed her blogs and book templates; attended webinars on character and story development with her and guest presenters.

https://miriamlaundry.com : I have her book blueprint and attended her webinar ‘How to Write a Picture Book Children Will Love  (and Parents Will Buy!)’

https://murphywriting.com : I attended an in-person weekend writing retreat in the poetry track.

DP: Those are some great resources, Lora. Thanks! 

I’d likewise be interested in hearing how you went about the process of connecting with / collaborating with an illustrator for this project. 

LH: While telling my neighbor that I was writing a picture book and would soon be looking for an illustrator, she told me that her (adult) daughter was an artist. I had seen this young woman grow up literally since she was born, but didn’t know this about her. So I reached out and asked if she would be interested in a possible collaboration and had any playful drawings to share. Piper’s style was so charming, it just felt like a perfect match. That said, she hadn’t done a lot of people drawing, so developing Opal was a process. She joyfully took my ideas and feedback, dived right into the story, and really brought Opal to life. 

DP: I love it! What a great connection. Casual networking at its finest!  

You have several traditionally published books under your belt including a collection of Baby Fingers board books, Sign Language ABC, and Sign Language for Kids. When you compare your path to publication for this new book to your path to publication for one or more of these earlier books, what are some of the key similarities and differences in terms of the publication journeys for each? 

LH: The autonomy you have when self-publishing is liberating. I was able to make my own decisions about the title, text, illustrations, cover, size of the book, publication date, etc. It’s quite a learning curve, though – understanding book design (and finding the right organization to help), book sales, and so much more. And I had to invest financially, not just my time. Finding writing & author groups and programs helped maintain a collaborative feel of sorts which can be motivating. Traditional publishing can be daunting, as your work has to be accepted. My first sign language book was initially requested, and subsequent proposals led to my additional books. With the board books and Sign Language for Kids, I was fully engaged in the photography process to make sure we caught the models actually signing (all the babies/toddlers were students in Baby Fingers). My writing was also edited only for clarity and flow, since I was considered the ‘expert’ on the topic. For the ABC book, I chose the word list and made sure the handshapes for each letter were correctly done, but the art/artist was primarily coordinated by the publisher. An advance was nice 😉 and I appreciated the support & collaboration throughout the process with each book. Very different experiences!

DP: It sounds like very different experiences, indeed! 

One of my favorite parts of being an author is connecting with young readers at school, library, and bookstore visits, and I’m always looking for new pro tips. Given your vast experience as the founder of Baby Fingers, LLC, a music therapist, a stage performer, Adjunct Professor, and Teacher of the Deaf (and likely other credentials I'm forgetting or overlooking),  what professional advice or suggestions do you have for fellow author/presenters in terms of planning successful (in-person and/or remote) book-related events? 

LH: I am still figuring this out myself! That said, relationships can be valuable. Now in our 25th year at Baby Fingers and my 30th year as a music therapist in NYC, I have developed relationships with schools, day care and community centers, medical and mental health facilities, libraries, a network of professionals and families. I’ve also developed relationships with other authors, writers, and people working in publication or other areas of media. So with these relationships, I’ve been able to set up and offer some upcoming programs including book readings and signings, special workshops, have books for sale in classes, have my books chosen by librarians and schools, etc. 

DP: That is so fantastic to hear, Lora. You have always been so kind and supportive of others' work. I'm not at all surprised that you have built a network of "book angels" around you who are eager to support your books. 

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 and/or are there any lessons you've learned along the way that could help others who would likewise like to write and independently-publish (and/or traditionally publish) a children’s book?  

LH: Write because you want to write, regardless of publication process. Write what you know and what you love. Remember that it takes time!! 

DP: Yes, yes, and yes! 

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

LH: I am working on the next two (so far) Adventures with Opal books and still returning to the book I initially started before Opal came to life.  

DP: That's great to hear, Lora. Thanks so much for sharing your Birth Story for ADVENTURES WITH OPAL: THE MUGGY, BUGGY DAY with us! I wish you MUCH success with this project!

Dear readers, you've heard me say it before: the best way to thank an author whose insights have been helpful and/or inspiring to you is to support their work. Buy their books. Request them from your library. Read and share them with others. Let's give ADVENTURES WITH OPAL: THE MUGGY, BUGGY DAY some love! (Bookshop, B&N, Amazon )

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Lora Heller is the founding director of Baby Fingers, the premier NYC area ASL program for families, established in 2000. She is a mom, a music therapist, and a teacher of the Deaf. She and her team have provided music-mediated sign language programs for schools, libraries, and thousands of families both in person and virtually. Lora is the author of seven ASL books for kids with Sterling Publishers and has written for national parenting magazines and music therapy professional journals. She has always loved telling stories and going on adventures with her own two children, leading her to writing Adventures with Opal. Learn more at Mybabyfingers.com. 

instagram.com/mybabyfingers  

instagram.com/babyfingersasl  

https://www.facebook.com/mybabyfingers

Lora LinkedIn

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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.

Have Swag Will Travel: Yearlong Author Residency, by Tracy C. Gold

Dear Readers, I have a very special Have Swag Will Travel guest post for you today. 

Author, Tracy. C. Gold, just launched a beautiful, new picture book into the world: CALL YOUR MOTHER (Familius, 2024). As the author of multiple books, Tracy has participated in several unique book events. Today she shares her experience and tips for planning a yearlong author residency.  

by Tracy C. Gold and Vivian Mineker

Take it away, Tracy!

Have Swag Will Travel: Yearlong Author Residency

by Tracy C. Gold 

I have done quite a few events now that I’m on my fourth picture book, but since I debuted during the pandemic, school visits have been slow. So I was absolutely thrilled when school librarian Alicia Danyali reached out in summer 2023 about setting up an author residency for the next school year. 

She works at Krieger Schechter Day School which is local to me (so—have swag, will travel ten minutes down the road, in this case). She wanted to revive an author residency program the school had before Covid, the Silverman-Brown Residency. We had the opportunity to work together to shape a post-Covid version.

I jumped at the chance and had a really fun idea, if we could make it work. Ever since my book "Trick or Treat, Bugs to Eat" came out in 2021, I’ve been looking for a school that would install a bat box to go along with a school visit. Hint: do NOT write emails with the subject line “A bat in your ear,” even if you know the recipient well, as this does not go over well with those with a phobia of bats. Oops!

KSDS is a certified Maryland Green School, with a gorgeous community garden and a commitment to serving the environment, so they were up for the bat box! After trading lots of emails, talking on the phone, and meeting at the school’s beautiful campus, Alicia and I made a plan. 

We would do three visits, and on the last, the school would install bat boxes. Alicia involved the Art and Woodshop teacher Gigi Smith, who helped the fifth graders make bat boxes themselves. So cool! 

Here’s a quick recap of each visit, and then some tips for pulling something like this off: 

Visit One: October 2023

I met with first grade and kindergarten all together, with lots of help from teachers. I did a quick presentation about how I get my ideas, read "Trick or Treat, Bugs to Eat,” and then set the kids loose to color and cut out their own bats from an activity kit Sourcebooks made for the book. 

Then I met with second and third grade. I did the same talk about how to get my ideas, but with these more advanced learners, we embarked upon a yearlong project: making their own books about wildlife (well, this ended up being a book about anything they wanted, but a lot were about wildlife). For their activity, they looked through library books and made lists or mind maps full of ideas.  

Image Source: Tracy C. Gold, Mind Map

Then, teachers collected their brainstorming documents so we could save them for my next visit, which would focus on drafting. (Kudos to Alicia’s organizational scheme that kept track of all of these over the course of the year!)

Visit Two: January 2024          

We crammed a lot more into this visit! I met with fourth graders and talked with them about the drafting process and structure in picture books. Then I read "Hide and Seek, Nuts to Eat,” and asked them to identify which structures I had used. We ended with a freewriting exercise.

I did a similar presentation for second and third grade, but instead of freewriting, we pulled out their ideas for books, and they started drafting a book. I pushed them to add some structure—maybe a plot with a beginning, middle, and end, or for a non-fiction book, perhaps they could chronicle a year in the life of an animal. 

I also did an interview with the school podcast, and talked a little bit about the ecology of bats with the fifth graders who were making the bat boxes. Whew! 

Visit Three: April 2024

The final visit! I had been in touch with Alicia throughout the year, and she confirmed that the bat boxes were well on their way. 

She also sent me a few pieces of student writing to review ahead of time before meeting with a few students in pairs or individually. This was so fun! KSDS has some wonderful budding authors and it was great to hear their excitement. One of them even gave me a book that she had written and self published with her grandfather. Then, I had a quick meetup with some fifth graders. I talked about how I get ideas and shared my newest book, "Call Your Mother.” 

Image Source: Tracy C. Gold, Meeting with Students

After that, I got to see the second and third graders for the third time! They were familiar faces by now, though I admit I didn’t remember names as much as I had hoped to. We talked about revision, and I shared some of the revisions I had done on "Call Your Mother.” Then, it was time for them to revise their wildlife books and start transferring them to cardstock to be stapled into actual books. As we expected, we didn’t have enough time for all of the students to finish. Alicia will be helping students finish during their time in the library.

Last, it was time to install the bat boxes! Facility and maintenance employee Ray helped hang them alongside the community garden. We celebrated the installation with the fifth graders who built the bat box. A photographer from a local paper even came! (To be determined if the photo will run in the news, but thanks to my publicist at Sourcebooks for reaching out to local media!)

Image Source: Tracy C. Gold, Student with Bat Box

Of course, expect the unexpected with school visits—a parent expressed concern that children might end up accidentally handling bats in that spot, so the bat boxes will be moved to a more remote location soon. I’ll keep this in mind for future schools interested in a bat box.

By the end of the residency, I had gotten to know students and staff and felt like part of the KSDS community. I would love to do a yearlong residency with other schools! This was a really special experience. 

If you’re thinking about doing this with a school, here are some tips and lessons learned:

· Alicia Danyali, the school librarian, put in a ton of work to make this happen and to arrange the schedule so that students from as many grades as possible could participate. (Without making my head explode.) She came up with a plan, involved several stakeholders within the school, and did a huge amount of work wrangling schedules. I don’t think this residency would have been possible without Alicia’s hard work. 

· I would probably only try this if you have more than one book published. I’m not sure three visits would have made sense with only one book. It was great to have a different book to share for each visit. 

· Don’t try to cram too much into a day. I was grateful that along the way Alicia sent me a proposed schedule. As excited as I was to meet all the students…I did have to push back and say “let’s spend more time on fewer things,” which, in hindsight was a good call. We ended up fitting most of the schedule into the mornings, because that worked best with everything else going on at the school. I honestly don’t know how teachers manage their fully scheduled days. Sure, it’s partly that I’m meeting all new people in an all new place and trying to bring my max energy, but whew! Respect to teachers! 

· Expect the unexpected. We had a few hiccups along the way but were always able to make the best of them. On my end, whenever I plan a school visit, I block out the whole day on my husband’s schedule so that he knows he’s on the hook for watching our daughter if she can’t go to school. Good thing I did that—for my April visit, my kid’s school was closed due to a water main break. That was a fun email to get in the morning. Because my husband knew I would be unavailable that day, he could take off work without major issues. Funny enough, in the past I’ve also had to reschedule a school visit due to a water main break on their end! What is with these pipes?

I think that’s it! I am happy to answer questions in the comments about the visit and share any advice! 

Thank you so much for sharing your experience and insights with us, Tracy! This sounds like such an excellent series of visits for all involved. And yes, props to the school librarian who was with you in this all the way! (And to ALL of the educators who give so much of themselves to young learners each and every day.)

And now, dear readers, you know what to do. The best way to thank an author whose insights have been helpful and/or inspiring to you is to support their work. Buy their books. Request them from your library. Read and share them with others. Tracy's books, including her latest, CALL YOUR MOTHER, are available everywhere books are borrowed and sold, including your own local, indie bookstore. 

Photo Credit: Ruut DeMeo

Tracy C. Gold loves writing about families and nature. She is an author, freelance editor, and mom living in Baltimore, Maryland. Her published and forthcoming picture books include “Everyone’s Sleepy but the Baby,” “Call Your Mother,” “Trick or Treat, Bugs to Eat,” and “Hide and Seek, Nuts to Eat.” She also writes short stories, essays, novels, and poems. Her work has been published in several magazines and anthologies. Tracy earned her M.F.A. in Creative Writing and Publishing Arts at the University of Baltimore and earned her B.A. in English from Duke University. When she’s not writing or editing, she’s playing with her kid or hanging out with horses and dogs. You can find out more about Tracy at tracycgold.com, by following her on Threads, Bluesky, and Instagram at @tracycgold, or by liking her Facebook page. 

Have Swag Will Travel 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.