22 Apr Laura Bower and EMILY SNOOK: THE WORLDS SMALLEST COOK Plus a Giveaway!

EL: I’m excited to welcome Laura Bower to the blog today. We met in the 12×12 Picture Book Challenge, and I am so happy she’s here today! Laura’s picture book, EMILY SNOOK, THE WORLD’S SMALLEST COOK is such a fun book. Although this adorable book came out last year, I didn’t see it until recently. My loss!  Emily Snook has a passion for cooking and is a whiz in the kitchen. But when she enters a cooking contest and meets the competition, her hopes of winning melt away. Told in rhyme with beautiful illustrations by Rekha Salin, this story will have readers rooting for Emily and smiling at the outcome.     

Welcome, Laura! Please tell us a little about yourself, including what you do when you’re not writing.

LB: I live in Westchester, NY with my husband and three kids – (ages 15, 12 and 10). In addition to writing, I am a pre-school teacher at a local nursery school (which is constantly inspiring me with new picture book ideas!). In my free time, I love to read, travel/explore new cities, play pickleball, see Broadway shows/comedy shows, participate in game nights, and search for the perfect chai latte.

EL: We all hear, “Don’t write in rhyme,” yet some of the most wonderful books, such as yours, are rhyming. Was your book always in rhyme? What made you choose that format? I love it!

LB: From the moment the title popped into my head (Emily Snook, The World’s Smallest Cook) I knew it had to be in rhyme. Although when I got stuck (rhyme is tricky!) I did experiment with writing it in prose, but I always came back to the rhyme. It just made sense for a little cook named Emily Snook. ☺ One of my favorite books — Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty and David Roberts — is in delightful rhyme and was a mentor text for me as I developed Emily Snook. I have always loved rhyming books, and my own kids did too, so one of my goals was to write one of my own. It was a huge challenge; I worked on this story for years to not only get the story as a tight as possible, but the rhyme as well. I received many rejections but didn’t give up and chose to believe in myself. Just like Emily Snook, I overcame (big) obstacles to make my dream come true.

EL: Yay! What advice would you give people attempting to write in rhyme?

LB: I would say if you are passionate about rhyme,  go for it, but make sure to study the craft! There is so much involved in writing in rhyme (not only must the meter/beat and rhyming word choice be precise, but it also has to tell an engaging story and rhyme for a reason). I have taken poetry classes/workshops over the years (including the fabulous Renee LaTulippe’s Lyrical Language Lab), but I wish I had taken the classes earlier on in my journey. That has helped tremendously and provided me with a framework in which I tackle my rhyming manuscripts. I would also suggest reading as many rhyming books as possible to get a sense of the flow and cadence of a successful rhyming story. I often type out published rhyming picture books on my computer. You might get a lot of “rhyme is hard” “don’t write in rhyme” (as I did on my journey). It certainly is hard, but I think there will always be a demand for rhyming stories. They are fun, engaging read alouds that allow the reader to anticipate the next word, which is an excellent reading tool. One of my favorite things at the school visits I have done is pausing at the end of a line, and letting the kids fill in the last word because they are anticipating the rhyme. So don’t deny the rhyme you might have dancing around in your head and filling up your heart; embrace it. Just like anything else, rhyme takes practice. Allow yourself to feel frustrated (it’s normal!), take breaks, and recharge. Make friends with Rhyme Zone (online rhyming website). Use your critique partners. Take advantage of professional critiques. Tackle revision one line at a time to make the meter sing. Oh – and don’t forget to have fun! You can do it!

EL:Great advice! I love rhyme too, and more importantly, kids love it!  Do you have a writing routine? If so, will you share it?

LB: I teach preschool in the morning. When I get home, I take my dog on a long walk to get some exercise, clear my head, and get inspiration (I have come up with many ideas on these walks!). I’ll eat lunch when I get back and then sit down at my writing desk and write for an hour or two before I have to pick up my kids from school. I find I am most productive during this time because the house is quiet (except for the sound of dog snores as Clover sleeps next to me while I write). ☺ Every Tuesday, I met up with a friend (who writes adult fiction) for a working lunch. Even though we don’t write in the same genre, we still bounce ideas off each other and ask each other for feedback, which is super helpful for a fresh perspective.

EL: Do you have anything else in the pipeline you can talk about? 

LB: I have a lyrical non-fiction book called Hail the Tail, illustrated by Elena Chavarri, coming out with Beach Lane Books/S&S in Spring 2027. I was inspired to try my hand at non-fiction after listening to a 12×12 webinar by the late Katey Howes, who spoke about her non-fiction book about weaving called Woven of The World, which is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful, and brilliant, books – from the subject to the language to the illustrations. Hail the Tail lyrically details all the amazing things an animal tail can do – from camouflage to protection to demonstrating love. I have a couple of other picture books on submission right now, drafted my first board book and am currently working on a chapter book and MG.

EL: Congrats! That’s a lot. Aside from your weekly working lunch, do you have a writing group or groups? How important do you think they are?

LB: Yes, I am a part of a few writing groups, which have been instrumental in the development of my stories. I am so lucky to be a part of such supportive groups of writers that build each other up, offer constructive feedback, and truly want to see each other succeed. Critique groups help catch things that you might not see if you are too close to the story. They can help point out where there needs to be more emotion or room for the illustrator in a more objective way. They can be your sounding board if you want advice on if a story is worth pursuing (from a business perspective). They can be there for you in a way that other friends/family might not be able to – since they are in the same boat going through the same waves in the kid lit ocean. Critique partners can be your biggest cheerleaders, your reality checks, your support systems and friends.  Bottom line – critique groups are critical, and I am so thankful for mine.

EL: I couldn’t agree more! To find out more about Laura and where to get her book, check out her website at  www.laurabowerauthor.com

Emily Snook, The World’s Smallest Cook is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble (online), and Laura’s local bookstore — Bronx River Books (www.bronxriverbooks.com)

@laurabowerwrites is my Instagram

Now it’s time for a

Laura is happy to give away a signed copy of one of her books (winner’s choice!) to one lucky winner.  Just comment on this post to get in the running. Let me know if you are a subscriber or if you’ve shared the post in order to get an extra chance to win.

Until next time,

Ellen

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

DON’T EAT THE BLUEBONNETS

https://www.clearforkpress.com/product-page/don-t-eat-the-bluebonnets