19 Jun Jilanne Hoffmann shares A RIVER OF DUST: THE LIFE-GIVING LINK BETWEEN NORTH AFRICA AND THE AMAZON. (And a giveaway!)

Happy Monday, everyone! And Happy Juneteenth! I’m so excited to introduce Jilanne Hoffmann to those who don’t know her. She is a fabulous author, and as you’ll find out, a world traveler.  Jilanne’s newest book, A River of Dust: The Life-Giving Link Between North Africa and the Amazon is one you don’t want to miss. It is absolutely gorgeous. Her sparse and beautiful text, paired with Eugenia Mello’s lovely illustrations, tells the story of how North African Dust travels to and nourishes the Amazon Rain Forest. The story itself is fascinating, but what makes this book stand out from other STEM books is the way Jilanne tells the story. The reader will feel as if they are the dust and are on this fantastic journey.

EL: Welcome, Jillanne!  Before we get too deep into your book, will you please tell us a little bit about yourself? 

JH: Hello, Ellen! Thank you so much for having me on your blog!

Here’s a little background that may give some insight into my writing. After I ditched my brief career as an engineer, I backpacked around the world and discovered the phenomenal diversity of our planet and its people. I traveled alone through Peru, including to the highlands of the Amazon rainforest; swam the turquoise waters in Tahita; trekked and sailed in New Zealand; snorkeled the Great Barrier Reef and camped in the dusty Outback in Australia; was trilled to sleep by a zillion frogs in Bali; wandered through temples in Thailand; and walked along the Great Wall in the winter. Everywhere I went, people were kind and helpful.

When I returned to the U.S., I lived near Washington DC and worked as a science writer and a personal fitness trainer. I met my soon-to-be husband, and we moved to North Carolina, where we lived briefly before putting everything in storage and heading off together to explore the world.

One of our most memorable trips was driving a tent-top truck through the countries of southern Africa for a couple of months. During that trip, we hiked for four days through the bush in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Preserve where we ran into three young rhinos (luckily they have poor eyesight). The photo’s a little blurry because I was in a hurry to hide behind a tree, LOL.

In the Okavango Delta in Botswana, we accidentally camped near a nesting area of a troop of baboons that ambushed me for a loaf of bread. They have very large canines, so I let them take it! We moved our campsite, only to find ourselves back on top of the truck at sunset when a hippo ambled out of the bush.

We washed laundry in a dishpan and hung our clothes to dry on sticks. Crested barbets, birds with plumage like 1920 flappers, perched on the truck mirrors and pecked at their reflections. They were quite entertaining.

But the Namib desert was sublime…and quite warm, considering our visit was during the Southern Hemisphere’s summer. That’s me in the photo, hiking in the Namib. I can’t imagine crossing it on foot. It is considered the oldest desert on the planet, and is home to the highest dunes in the world, some rising nearly 1,000 feet above the desert floor!

When we returned to the U.S., we couldn’t decide where we wanted to live, so we put names in a hat and drew San Francisco. We’ve lived in SF ever since, with occasional trips to Mexico, Canada, Costa Rica, and to stunning national parks like Yosemite, Grand Teton, Yellowstone, the Black Hills, and Joshua Tree after our son was born.

All of this to say, I want to share my curiosity and wonder about our amazing planet with kids. When you’re curious, you’re driven to find out the what, why, when, and how. And I believe that understanding and empathy arrive on the coattails of knowledge…which is also a terrific first step in finding your path and passion.

EL: This is absolutely amazing! Now we know where you get your inspiration from in general, but will tell us a little bit about the inspiration for A RIVER OF DUST?

JH: Here’s a little about what inspired A RIVER OF DUST, the research behind it, and the resources available for use at home or in the classroom.

A RIVER OF DUST was inspired by an email I received from NASA describing how they use satellites to measure and track the dust. Surprisingly, that email triggered a memory from my childhood. I recalled watching the evening news and hearing the newscaster say that dust from North Africa was reaching the U.S. I was gobsmacked and wanted to know more, but the newscast was the beginning and end of my knowledge. So when I received this email decades later, I took it as a sign that I should be the one to fill in the blanks for today’s kids (and for me!). That meant doing tons of research, starting with NASA and continuing with academic papers on where the dust originates, how it flies in different directions depending on the season, and how it affects the weather, the ocean, and the Amazon. All of these details were extensively fact-checked, including the illustrations—which are stunning. I am in awe of Eugenia’s work. The images are filled with movement, and her color palette is so vibrant! I can’t stop looking at her beautiful pictures! I cried when I first saw them. Actually, I still tear up when I open the book.

 I also want to emphasize that while the narrative is quite lyrical and describes the basics of dust’s journey for younger readers, I wrote extensive back matter to answer questions that older kids and educators may have about the details. I also offer learning resources on my website that can be used as an extension of the book. The resources are designed to be used across the curriculum, not just for STEM. That’s one reason I’m excited to be in the STEAMTeam marketing group. We’re showing how STEM can be used with English Language and Fine Arts to create STEAM. Oh, and I’ve got downloadable instructions for a fun satellite model project that I had a lot of fun creating!

EL: Wow! Most people have no idea how much work goes into a non-fiction picture book. You’ve been on quite a ride! Do you have anything else in the pipeline you can talk about?

JH: Thanks for asking! I have a lyrical nonfiction picture book similar in tone to A RIVER OF DUST coming out. I also have an SEL concept picture book and a middle-grade novel in verse out on sub, an info-fiction picture book I just sent to my agent, and I’m working on a middle-grade novel that’s a contemporary ghost story. I need to stay busy so I don’t keep checking my inbox.

EL: Congrats!!  What do you think is the best part about writing kid lit?

JH: The kids!!! And the teachers and librarians who are the champions of learning and reading!!! I participated in World Read Aloud Day this past February, after getting approval from my editor to share the pdf of A RIVER OF DUST. I scheduled a bunch of visits over Zoom, and had the best time!

After I read the book to the kids, it was inspiring to see how engaged and curious they were and to answer their questions. My first session sent me into a brief panic when I discovered the class had a substitute who didn’t know how to let me share my screen. Luckily, it was a class of kindergarteners, so I could read one of my nonfiction board books, THE HONEY BEAR HIVE, about how honey is made and ends up in a bear-shaped bottle! Note for future classroom visits: always have a backup plan! I’m looking forward to sharing A RIVER OF DUST with lots and lots of kids this Fall!

EL: Lucky kids! And oh, yeah…the backup plan! I know that everyone will love your book, and you. Readers can register for the free A RIVER OF DUST launch party through The Writing Barn. Jilanne will be giving away door prizes, including NASA satellite magnets, a print from the book, and a 20-minute online school visit or AMA session. The party will be held online Saturday, July 29, at 10-11 am PT/1-2 pm ET.

Find out more about Jilanne and her books at her website, where she shares thoughts about writing and reviews of children’s books. You can also find her book recommendations and haiku on Twitter and Instagram. A RIVER OF DUST: THE LIFE-GIVING LINK BETWEEN NORTH AFRICA AND THE AMAZON is available for preorder and personalization with swag from the San Francisco-based indie bookstore, Folio Books, and of course, anywhere else books are sold.

And now…

Jilanne is happy to offer a spectacular GIVEAWAY!!

• 20-minute AMA (Ask Me Anything)
• 20-minute virtual classroom visit, and if you’re not a teacher, you can gift it to one. Just comment on this post and let me know if you are a subscriber or if you share the post in order to get an extra chance to win. GOOD LUCK!!

EL: Jilanne, thank you so much for sharing your amazing adventures and wonderful books with us. 

JH: Thank you for having me! 

Until next time, be well,

Ellen