03 Dec Janie Emaus, LATKES FOR SANTA CLAUS, and a Double Giveaway!!

EL: Just in time for the winter holidays, I want to welcome Janie Emaus to Writing Outside the Lines where she’ll talk about her book, Latkes for Santa Claus. But before we jump into that, Janie, will you tell us a little bit about yourself?

 JE: I’ve always wanted to be a writer. From the minute she was born, twenty-one months after me, my sister has been my biggest fan. When she was little, I would interject her name into newspaper stories. Her giggling response led me toward my future.

Currently, I live in Southern California with my husband, my ninety-nine-year-old mom, and a very playful black lab.  Unfortunately, my husband, a Vietnam War Veteran, is confined to his hospital bed or a wheelchair. And my mother lives wherever her dementia takes her. But despite their conditions, I always find something to laugh about daily. And I have a wonderful caregiver, allowing me to get some “me” time, the Ws: writing, walking, and drinking wine with friends.

I also spend time with my grandchildren, which keeps me young and informed. Although half the time, with today’s slang, I don’t know what they are talking about.

EL: I can certainly relate to not understanding much of the slang!  What was your inspiration for Latkes for Santa Claus? Can you tell us about the road to publication? 

 JE: I like to say it took me two decades to become an overnight success.

When I got the idea there was no social media. I wasn’t a grandmother yet. And my hair wasn’t white. Let alone pink!

The only thing that has stayed the same since its inception is the title. I came up with it during one of our annual latkes making parties where the women in our family gather to fry latkes, drink vodka, gossip and solve the world’s problems.

Having been raised Jewish I never celebrated Christmas until I met my husband. He never celebrated Hanukkah until he met me. When our daughter was young, we lit the menorah for eight nights, decorated a Christmas tree, sang carols, ate lots of latkes, and opened an exorbitant number of presents.

I began to wonder how our daughter was feeling. Was she confused? Did she understand?

Like any good mother, I looked for books that showed families celebrating both holidays and couldn’t find any. At least not anything fun.

So, like any good writer, I decided to write my own. And because there weren’t books like this on the market, I just knew publishers would love my book. Well, there weren’t any books like this because publishers didn’t want any!

And believe me, I pitched the book everywhere!

Then on a Thursday in December 2019, I entered a Twitter Pitmad event. My editor liked my tweet pitch. I sent her the full manuscript on Sunday. And on the following Tuesday, while I was driving through a canyon, she offered me a contract. My shrieks could be heard for miles.

EL: That is awesome!

JE: It took fifteen long years of referrals, rejections, and revisions. But my perseverance paid off. I also believe timing plays a big part in the publishing world. Today’s climate is ripe for books about diversity and being different. The success of Latkes for Santa Claus led to the publication of Easter Eggs and Matzo Balls, a story about Passover and Easter. I am currently working on another blended holiday story.

EL: Great story! I love the illustrations. Did you have any contact with your illustrator during the process?

 JE: I was very fortunate to be involved with the illustrations from day one. My biggest concern was the portrayal of Santa Claus. Needless to say, I wanted a fun, kid-friendly Santa. As soon as my editor acquired the book, she asked for my vision. She suggested Bryan Langdo and after seeing a few sketches I knew he’d be perfect. It was also very important to me that both Hanukkah and Christmas were represented equally on each spread. Bryan was very open to suggestions.

EL: I know you write more than kidlit. Will you tell us a bit about what else you write? 

 JE: In addition to writing for children, I also write Women’s Fiction. Or what is often called Upmarket or Book Club Fiction. But whatever you call it, my latest release The Advice Columnist,  puts a twist on that much asked question – What would you tell your younger self?

Dealing with the reveal of her husband’s secret and the lust of a younger man, an ex-advice columnist receives messages via social media from an unlikely source: her younger self. She must decide whether to delete the suggestions or listen to that spirited girl about surviving in the 21^st century.

With humor and poignancy, the story explores themes of family, aging, and staying true to oneself.

EL: It sounds wonderful. Do you have any words of advice for aspiring Kidlit writers? 

JE: I have a sign over my desk saying “Perseverance.” I know it can get discouraging at times. Believe me, I still get rejections. Many of my queries and submissions seem to fall into a black hole. Maybe someone on another planet is enjoying my stories.

I think it’s important to find critique partners. Read as much as possible in your genre. And attend conferences and writer functions where agents and editors are presenting, which then gives you the opportunity to send them your manuscript.

But most importantly, stay true to yourself and your vision.

EL: Wonderful advice.  Check out these links to find out where Janie will be signing Latkes for Santa Claus! 

https://www.facebook.com/janie.emaus

https://www.instagram.com/janieemaus/

And one last thing-

This is a wonderful reading of Latkes for Santa Claus by Miss Jessica of Jessica’s World

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwotfZlEbbQ

Find even more about Janie at her website https://www.janieemaus.com

Thank you so much for visiting with us today, Janie! 

And now…

This week, it’s double the fun! Janie is happy to give away a copy of Latkes for Santa Claus to one lucky winner and Easter Eggs and Matzo Balls to another! Just comment on this post and let me know if you are a subscriber or if you shared it for an extra chance to win. Good luck! 

Until next time, 

Ellen 

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On a personal note, I’d love you to check out my school visit section on the website. I’m currently booking visits for this school year. Also, please check out some of my books here. They are also available wherever books are sold. THANK YOU! 

DEBBIE’S SONG: THE DEBBIE FRIEDMAN STORY

https://bookshop.org/p/books/debbie-s-song-ellen-leventhal/18680277?ean=9781728443027

A FLOOD OF KINDNESS

https://bookshop.org/p/books/a-flood-of-kindness-ellen-leventhal/15150623?ean=9781546034582