11 Nov Della Ross Ferreri, THE MOUSE BUFFET, A CHRISTMAS TREAT, and a GIVEAWAY

EL: I am excited to host long-time kidlit friend, Della Ross Ferreri, today. Della always writes the most joyful and fun books, and A MOUSE BUFFET, A CHRISTMAS TREAT is no exception. This book is filled with fun, impeccable rhyme, and of course, some adorable, yet mischievous mice! One of the hardest things about writing picture books is crafting one that children will love to hear over and over. Della has nailed that! Tim Bowers’s illustrations are perfect and complement the text beautifully. I love this book! 

Welcome, Della! Will you tell us a little about yourself? What do you do when you’re not writing adorable rhyming children’s books?

DF: Aww, thank you for your kind words, Ellen, and for having me on your blog. I’m excited to be here!

I live in the beautiful Hudson Valley in New York with my wonderful husband. I have 3 amazing children at different stages of their professional lives. Since my kids live on their own, I appreciate family gatherings even more and cherish those times together. Last year, I retired after 30 years of teaching, and now I happily wear my author hat! When I’m not writing, I love reading (mainly children’s books or thrillers – two extremes, I know!), movies, traveling, disc golf, and leisurely walks. I also enjoy school visits – it’s so nice to stay connected with elementary children.

 EL: How does your background as a teacher complement your writing?

DF: As a teacher, I enjoyed bringing laughter and fun into learning – and I try to bring that same joy to my writing and author visits. I strive to craft stories that spark imagination and offer an (often humorous!) escape for children.

EL: I love reading your books. How do you decide that a story should be in rhyme? Can you talk a little about the process? It certainly works for The Mouse Buffet!

DF: Thanks! The Mouse Buffet was fun to write. When it comes to rhyme, I usually think up an opening line or a snappy verse that kicks off a story idea. If it feels fun and perky and complements the story line, I’ll play around to see if I can sustain the rhyme over the framework of the manuscript. I try to hit key plot points and aim for a strong ending. Sometimes the original rhyme pattern sticks; other times it shifts as the plot takes shape. I do a lot of talking to myself out loud – trying out the way phrases sound together – and I always keep the tab open for rhymezone.com – not just for rhyming words but for synonyms, descriptive words, etc. As I’m sure your readers know, writing in rhyme is a challenging process, but always worth the effort when the story sings.

EL: For sure! Do you have a writing routine? If so, will you share it? And what do you do when the words won’t come?

DF: I don’t really have a strict writing routine. Some days I find my flow, maybe polishing some rhyming stanzas or fleshing out a scene. But there are days where the creative spark just doesn’t come. I find that a trip to the library or bookstore to read (and analyze) picture books is a way to get the creative juices flowing again. Sometimes ideas come in the shower or when taking a walk or brainstorming with my writer friends. Other days, I shift gears and focus on marketing tasks, like planning school visits or other book events.

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

DF:I have several projects on submission so fingers crossed on those. I’m especially excited to share that I have a new holiday picture book rolling out in fall 2028 with Flamingo/PRH. It’s another rhyming Christmas story (no mice this time!) entitled JANE THE TRAIN AND THE CHRISTMAS STORM. This one introduces Jane, a clever, take-charge train, who battles a blizzard to deliver baking supplies to Santa and elves at the North Pole. The illustrator is Ag Jatkowska and her art work is stunning. I can’t wait to see how she brings this fun, festive adventure to life!

EL: I can’t wait either!  Do you have a writing group or groups? How important do you think they are?

DF: I’m fortunate to have a talented in-person writing group. We push each other creatively, whether brainstorming plots, going through manuscripts with a fine-tooth comb and striving to come up with just the right word or phrasing. We also help each other with marketing, from fine-tuning our websites, to critiquing author visit presentations, even reviewing book-themed activity sheets or promotional swag. Our motto says it all: ‘Better Together!’ I also have a handful of critique partners on line, like you, Ellen! 😊 We exchange mss from time to time, and it’s so helpful to get fresh ideas and support.

Above all, my agent has been an incredible editorial and collaborative partner, always with me on my journey. She’s very hands-on and thoughtful in her feedback and generous with her time. I wouldn’t be where I am today without her guidance.

EL: Can you tell us about the road to publication for The Mouse Buffet?

DF: Sure! The Mouse Buffet took a few years to come together. The heart of the story has always been mischievous mice sneaking onto a buffet table, trying not to wake the sleeping cat, though – spoiler alert – they ultimately share the food in the end. What evolved over time was the setting. At first it was a typical dinner, but I was advised by my first agent, to center the story around a specific occasion, like a birthday or a holiday. That’s when Christmas desserts clicked. I mean, what could be more fun than goofy mice hanging out in a gingerbread house or running off with a candy cane or hiding behind a gingerbread man to get away from the cat?

 My current agent sent it out, and in spring 2023, Barb McNally at Sleeping Bear Press shared it with her team, and they loved it! Such great news! And the cherry on top? The incredibly talented Tim Bowers would be illustrating! His artwork came out deliciously amazing, and I know kids will love poring over the illustrations of the dessert table and those fun, expressive mice. Sleeping Bear publishes beautiful books, and working with Barb and their team has been a wonderfully collaborative experience. The reviews from PW, SLJ and Kirkus have all been positive – which is always a relief. All in all, I couldn’t have asked for a sweeter path to publication!

EL: What inspired you to write this book? How about other stories? 

DF: Ha! In The Mouse Buffet, those sneaky mice are basically my own kids in disguise. Even now as adults, they’re always on the lookout for sweets. Maybe that mischievous streak is why young readers enjoy rooting for the mice over the course of the story.

Della’s “kids” are raiding the sweets.

In terms of inspiration for my other books, I try to remember back to when my kids were little, say five years old, and the kinds of books they wanted to hear over and over again. I have such fond memories of reading piles of picture books together with my kids, and I’m sure that experience has left a lasting imprint on me as it continues to shape my writing today.

EL: Is there anything else you’d like readers to know? 

DF: Oh, yes, one more thing. I’d love parents, teachers, and librarians to know that Sleeping Bear Press offers fun activity sheets to accompany The Mouse Buffet. Here’s the link where you can download mazes, word search, coloring page, etc. for free: https://sleepingbearpress.com/teaching_guides/588

Thanks so much, Ellen, for hosting me on your blog!

EL: My pleasure! Thank YOU for joining us!

Here are some places to buy the book. Don’t forget about pre-orders! They are helpful. 

:https://www.amazon.com/Mouse-Buffet-Christmas-Treat/dp/153411338X

https://sleepingbearpress.com/shop/show/54285

https://merrittbooks.com/preorders/della-ross-ferreri-the-mouse-buffet

And anywhere books are sold! 

website: https://www.dellarossferreri.com/
Instagram: @DellaRossFerreri 

And now a …

Della is happy to send a signed, personalized copy of The Mouse Buffet: A Christmas Treat to one lucky winner OR  offer a free 30-minute Zoom call/story time to an elementary classroom or library group, pre-K – grade 2. Winner’s choice!

To get in the running, please comment on this post and let me know if you’re a subscriber or if you have shared this post to get an extra chance to win. To get an EXTRA, EXTRA chance to win,  we’d love you to request that your local library purchase a copy of The Mouse Buffet. Just let us know if you do. Honor system here.  
Here’s the ISBN: 978-1534113381

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On a personal note, I’m currently scheduling school author visits for the 2025-2026 school year. I’d love to visit YOU or a school near you! Please check out  https://EllenLeventhal.com.   

Here’s a review! Ellen Leventhal is an amazing presenter who tailors her presentations to meet the needs of all students and age levels.  I am amazed at how she can talk about her love of writing, how to become a writer, encouraging students to do what they love and how we can all be kind into a 45 minute presentation. A school visit from Ellen Leventhal is a treat for everyone!  Suzanne Ritchey:  Carroll T Welch Elementary School Clint, TX

Until next time,

Ellen