17 May Candace Spizzirri and a Great Giveaway!
Welcome, everyone! I’ve said before that writing can be a lonely endeavor with lots of highs and lows and twists and turns. But on this journey, I also get to meet incredible people along the way. So, I was thrilled to meet Candace Spizzirri and read her lovely book, FISHING WITH GRANDPA AND SKYE. 
Welcome, Candace!
CS: Thanks so much, Ellen, for having me on your blog today! I’m delighted to be here!
EL: And I am delighted that you are here! So let’s get down to business. Will you tell us a little about yourself?
CS: I grew up in a small town in New Jersey with tree-lined streets and old Victorian houses. As a child, I spent hours playing at the park, catching minnows in a nearby stream, and exploring the woods at the end of my street.
I hold a degree in child psychology with an emphasis on emotional development. Passionate about education, I am a co-founder of an elementary school and high school in Southern California, where I now make my home.
I love spending time with my husband, two grown children, daughter-in-law, and four grandkids. My grandchildren often inspire my stories.
EL: Ah, yes, those little ones do inspire stories! How long have you been writing?
CS: I began back in 2016. Writing for kids wasn’t anything I ever thought I would do, but I love it! In fact, I was a much stronger math and science student in school.
I started with rhyme (so difficult to do) which truly is my first love, and hope to publish a rhyming book someday soon.
Trust me; I had a long way to go.
I can’t help but cringe when I look at some of my first attempts. But I kept going! I love the saying: “She believed she could, so she did.”
EL: I know about looking at those early attempts. I cringe when I look at mine, too. Being your debut, can you share one “surreal” moment with us?
CS: Signing my contract for FISHING WITH GRANDPA AND SKYE was definitely a “surreal” moment. So thrilling!
Here is a photo my husband took of me with pen in hand. My family celebrated with a special dinner and a glass or two 😉 of bubbly!
EL: Looking good! Please give us a brief summary of your road to publication.
In 2017 I joined SCBWI and 12 x 12 Picture Book Writing Challenge and started studying the craft of writing picture books. There was so much to learn, so much I didn’t know.
I took lots of classes, attended conferences, found critique partners, wrote quite a number of manuscripts, and slowly started submitting my work (probably much too soon).
In 2018 FISHING WITH GRANDPA AND SKYE was a Storystorm idea. Storystorm is a month-long story brainstorming event run every January by awesome author Tara Lazar where kidlit creatives try to come up with an idea a day. One idea was “a story about fishing with a parent/daughter or grandparent/granddaughter.” It rumbled around in my brain until I wrote a rough draft in June of that year. Turned out it was a story about my grandpa and me!
I submitted it to Callie Metler at Clear Fork Publishing in December. She loved “FISHING,” and after a bit of editing, it was sent to acquisitions. Some additional edits were suggested, and Callie and the editorial staff worked with me on revisions. It went back to acquisitions, and this time I was sent a contract for FISHING WITH GRANDPA AND SKYE and signed in February of 2019!
EL: Congrats! Do you only write picture books, or do you write other things?
CS: It’s been ALL about picture books the last five years. However, I am also interested in early readers and chapter books. But I would need to take some classes to feel comfortable enough to plunge into a new genre. I guess we’ll see. Could be lots of fun!
EL: What can you tell us about FISHING WITH GRANDPA AND SKYE?
FISHING WITH GRANDPA AND SKYE was published with Clear Fork Publishing/Spork on April 19, 2022. It is the story of my heart!
Although I use my granddaughter Skye’s name as the main character, this story is truly about many special fishing trips to Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey, with my beloved Grandpa Henry. Fishing with the grandchildren has been a tradition in my family for generations.
Illustrator Beverly Love Warren did an amazing job! Her art is everything I had hoped for and more! Thank you, Bev! 
EL: I agree! I love the art in the book. Here are a few samples. 
CS: Here is a summary:
Days on the lake are a Skye and Grandpa thing. They load up their tackle box, hop aboard their skiff, and chug out to their favorite fishing spot. Today, the sun is shining, the fish are jumping, but will Skye hook a big one?
FISHING WITH GRANDPA AND SKYE explores the rewards of patience and celebrates the love between generations.
EL: How much is fictionalized? How do you know how much to fictionalize when you write on a real-life topic?
CS: As I said, FISHING WITH GRANDPA AND SKYE is based on many fishing trips with my Grandpa Henry to a little “catch and release” lake in New Jersey. It was my favorite thing to do growing up.
The plot is quite close to the actual happenings of one particular, very special day on the lake that will forever be in my heart. It is complete with the goodbye song I made up at age 4 to bid a fond farewell to my fish. I’ve never forgotten it all these years later. Grandpa Henry had a surprise for me on that fishing trip, but you’ll have to read the book to find out what it was.
EL: Well, I have read it, but now it’s time for others to do the same thing! I know they’ll love the book as much as I do. Let’s talk about the writing for a bit. Do you consider yourself a planner or a pantster? Why?
CS: I’m definitely a pantser! I often get a title first and a little spark of what the story is about. Then, I like to let it all percolate a bit before I write anything down. Once I feel that tugging and can’t stop thinking about an idea, I write a rough draft in one sitting. I like to see where a story takes me and not restrict myself.
EL: What do you think is the hardest thing about writing a PB? The easiest? (IS there an easy part…I don’t really think so! 😊 )
CS: The hardest part for me is getting that first draft down on paper. I try to turn off my internal editor and just let it flow. The easiest? None of it is easy, lol! But I do love revising – working on story structure, character development, beginnings/endings, and finding just the right words.
EL: Do you have a writing routine? If so, will you share?
CS: I don’t have a set routine, but I do try to do something writing-related every day. It might be drafting a new manuscript, revising an existing one, researching, reading a pile of picture books, watching webinars, critiquing manuscripts, etc.
EL: What is your favorite thing about being a PB writer?
CS: I adore picture books! Always have, always will!
I write PB with humor and heart and love to see my books in the hands of little ones being shared with loved ones. It is so special to me. My hope is that kids and those reading with them will delight in and connect with my stories.
EL: Do you have advice for aspiring PB writers?
CS: Never give up! Be patient and persistent. Keep working on your craft. Take classes, go to conferences, join writing groups, find critique partners-they are invaluable. Get involved in the amazingly supportive and encouraging kidlit community. And most of all, believe in yourself. You can do it!
EL: Do you have anything in the pipeline you can tell us about?
CS: My second picture book, FINLEY: A MOOSE ON THE CABOOSE, will publish with Gnome Road Publishing in Spring 2023. On a trip to beautiful Alaska, I was mesmerized by the moose that wandered about. While visiting the little town of Talkeetna, I happened upon a shop called Once in a Blue Moose and the idea for Finley, a moose who longs to ride the rails, was born. The very talented team of Chantelle and Burgen Thorne are illustrating. I couldn’t be more thrilled! I’ve seen art which is so fabulous and hilarious. I can’t wait to share my Finley with the world!
EL: Great advice. Here are some places to get your very own copy of FISHING WITH GRANDPA AND SKYE.
https://bookshop.org/books/fishing-with-grandpa-and-skye/9781950169726
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Fishing-with-Grandpa-and-Skye-Hardcover-9781950169726/196745726
Find Candace at:
Website: www.candacespizzirri.com
Twitter: @CCSpizzirri1
Instagram: @CCSpizzirri
Candace will be giving away a signed copy of FISHING WITH GRANDPA AND SKYE to one lucky winner. Just comment on this post, and let me know if you are a follower for an extra entry. Good luck!
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To learn more about me, my books, and my school visits, please stop by my website (www.EllenLeventhal.com) or give me a shout on Facebook (Ellen Warach Leventhal), Twitter: (@EllenLWrite), or Instagram:(@EllenL411)
Until next time, be well,
Ellen
Susan Johnston Taylor
Posted at 14:58h, 17 MayCongrats, Candace! So exited for you.
Jim Chaize
Posted at 15:26h, 17 MayLovely interview. So glad for Candace’s success. Love the sweet book. I am a follower. Thanks, Ellen.
Leslie Eva Tayloe
Posted at 22:44h, 17 MayEllen, sounds like a wonderful book! I love fishing. The rule at our house is we throw them back in the pond! Best wishes in 2022.
David McMullin
Posted at 20:36h, 27 MayThis looks lovely. Congratulations, Candace!