23 Sep Joanna Rowland talks about BIG BEAR IS NOT THE SAME and GIVEAWAY ALERT!

Sometimes we find books that are not only lovely but are especially timely. Joanna Rowland’s newest book, Big Bear Was Not the Same, is one such book. As we all know, these last few years have been difficult in many ways. Aside from Covid, hurricanes, floods, and droughts, fires have been rearing their ugly heads. Fires are frightening to adults, so you can imagine how scary they are to children.

Joanna’s newest book, illustrated by John Ledda, helps us all understand how devastating fires and other traumas can be, not just physically but also emotionally. I’m happy to welcome Joanna today to talk about this lovely, important book. 

I’ve read the book, but will you please tell everyone about Big Bear Was Not The Same?

Big Bear Was Not The Same is about Big Bear, who is so big and brave, but who, after experiencing a traumatic forest fire, is not the same. Little Bear doesn’t understand why his brave friend is acting out in confusing ways. This is a story about friendship and trauma.

I really have to thank agent John Cusick who had done a critique on a family story that lightly touched on PTSD. He told me I needed to separate the name origin story from the PTSD story. He planted the seed for me to explore writing a story just on trauma. I sat with that for a few months wondering if I could. I had also attended the LA International Summer SCBWI Conference in 2019 and heard Anna Shinoda speak about writing responsibly about mental health.  So, when the idea for a story came to me in a title during “Story Storm” hosted by Tara Lazar in January 2020, I wrote it down. Then after I wrote my first draft for Big Bear Was Not The Same, I knew I needed someone that worked directly with children that have gone through traumatic experiences to be a part of it. Debbie McJimsey, a licensed marriage and family therapist was a huge part of shaping this story responsibly. She read every version and gave thoughtful feedback. She also wrote the backmatter for Big Bear Was Not The Same. I wrote the first draft of Big Bear in January 2020, and it received an offer from Beaming Books a few months later from editor Naomi Krueger. It was released August 24, 2021.

The Illustrations are beautiful. They are so evocative of both Little Bear and Bear’s feelings. I love them. 

Many of your picture books have serious themes, but they are all very child-friendly. Will you discuss this, please? Where do you get your ideas from in general? Does your work as a teacher inspire you to write these books? 

Because I work with children that are around five years old, I always am thinking about how I would try to explain this to them.  My first published picture book, Always Mom, Forever Dad (Tilbury, 2014) was about divorce and separation. I knew the message I wanted kids to get from the story is that they are loved always and forever. We have a blended household so that was the message I also wanted my children to grasp. I wanted to show that they are loved even though things may be different with time with mom and time with dad. Teaching kids who also went through this helped me write the story. I had one student whose dad lived in a different state, and I thought the weather was probably different, which helped inspire new spreads in the story.

When I was writing The Memory Box A Book About Grief  (Beaming Books, 2017), it was the first time I took my 5-year-old to a funeral, and I was trying to think about how I explain the death of a family friend so young to my daughter. I could see how a Memory Box could help with that. She made her own little memory box for Marisa.

For Stay Through Storm, I kept thinking about a childhood friend who died by suicide and how I wished he stayed. That story is more about friendship through a storm. That you don’t have to be alone, and the storm will pass.

When I wrote When Things Are Hard, Remember (Beaming Books, 2021), I had wanted to write a metaphor about a seed for probably a decade. It wasn’t until I personally went through a hard time of a forced work move and all the anxiety that came flooding back as memories of the teacher lay off years, that the story came to me. I had to write a story to tell myself it would be okay.

Such lovely books, Joanna. Will you share a bit about your road to publication? 

Every book I have sold so far was by submitting to publishing houses that took unsolicited manuscripts. Even when I had my first agent help write the contract for Always Mom, Forever Dad, I had submitted that book before I signed with her.  Luckily, when you work with an editor, even when they switch to agent-only submissions, they are often still willing to see your work. So, five of my books have been acquired by Beaming Books, and I have loved working with them. However, I am excited to have my agent, Lynnette Novak now.  She liked some fun, deep ocean stories I wrote. This is the first time I’ve had an agent submit stories to editors for me so I’m excited to see what’s to come.

Congrats on the agent, and good luck! Do you feel like you are primarily a picture book writer, or are you working on other categories of kids’ books?

I think I am primarily a picture book writer. However, I have a rough draft of a spooky middle grade at around 120 pages. Writing a novel in verse has been calling to me, so I am excited to explore that.

You’ve spoken briefly about where you get your inspiration. Can you elaborate, please?  

I find many ideas in the classroom.  Some from fun topics and some from students learning how to navigate their emotions around challenging issues. But I also can find inspiration from driving around in the car listening to music. When a song hits an emotional chord and makes me feel a certain way, I think about that. Was there a word that stuck out? What emotion did it make me feel? That happened when I came out with the idea for Stay Through The Storm. The songs were “Thunder and Lightning” by Imagine Dragon and “Stay With Me” by Sam Smith. Both songs hit emotional chords for me in different ways. I drove around for months listening to them and then one day the metaphor “Stay Through The Storm” came in a light bulb moment. I also find that family stories or hard times that friends, family, or myself are going through help generate story ideas. I love Story Storm hosted by Tara Lazar in January, where you write an idea for a story.

Do you have a specific writing routine? If so, will you share it?

Sometimes. But, honestly, the pandemic threw a wrench in that. I used to try to wake up before work and write. Now I probably try to write more at night. I do find the beginning of the school year to always be tough to balance writing with work and family. Thankfully, I have a picture book critique group that meets once a month so that gives me the kick in the butt to at least work on one story during times where my balance feels off. And that helps. I have a new story I just sent to my agent, so fingers crossed.

Do you consider yourself a planner or a panster? Why?

Hmm. I think for picture books I do a lot of thinking about a topic before I write so maybe a planner. But usually, I’ll still need to do many revisions rounds before I get it right.  Novels I feel like I am a mix.

What do you feel is the most difficult part of writing a PB?

I think trying to get the right mix of humor and heart can be the most challenging part to find. Why will someone want to read this over and over? My favorite stories to read are the ones that linger long after you close the book. That is my writing goal – to craft a story that lingers with you long after the book is closed

Do you have anything else in the pipeline that you can tell us about?

I am on sub, but no new deals yet to announce. I’ve had a nice near miss, so that’s encouraging.

 Any advice for aspiring or even published kid lit writers?

Don’t give up. Find a critique group. Read writing blogs. Attend conferences if you can. Every journey is different. It took me over 5 years of writing before I sold my first book. But it will be worth the wait.

Where can we get your book?

https://www.beamingbooks.com/store/search?ss=joanna+rowland

Also, check out Joanna’s website where you can buy her books and get some other great info. 

https://www.writerrowland.com/books.html 

Thank you for visiting with us, Joanna, and congratulations on another beautiful book! 

AND NOW A

WIN A COPY OF BIG BEAR WAS NOT THE SAME!

Please comment on this post to be eligible for a signed copy of Big Bear Was Not The Same. If you are a follower of the blog, please let me know, and you will get an extra chance to win! 

Until next time,

Ellen 

If interested, I’d love you to check out my website, http://www.EllenLeventhal.com, to learn a bit more about me, my books, and my school visits.