25 Nov Katherine Pryor, ATTACK OF THE HANGRIES, and a GIVEAWAY!

I’m so happy to welcome, author Katherine Pryor to the blog today. Katherine has written a wonderful picture book, Attak of the Hangries, beautifully and hysterically illustrated by Thiago Buzzy. We’ve all been there…well, I can only really speak for myself. I know I’ve been there! For me, sometimes I think I’m sliding into anger because I can’t figure out the messy middle of a story, when it’s really that I am HUNGRY! And ANGRY! Yep…HANGRY!  This kid-friendly book will teach kids how to keep the hangries away and actually learn the science behind our bodies’ need for food. (OK, it’s teaching me too!) But this book isn’t the dry science you may have read when you were a kid. And it doesn’t hit the reader over the head with the “You musts!” Through humor and fun characters, this book imparts important messages in a subtle way that both parents and kids will love.

EL: Welcome, Katherine! Will you please tell us a little about yourself including what you do when you’re not writing?

KP: I fell in love with writing in second grade and have been scribbling ever since. I’ve written for magazines and newspapers, and even wrote a few novels I could never convince anyone to publish. I worked in non-profits and wrote on the side for many years, but when my second children’s book came out, I took a leap of faith and left my job to write and consult part-time. I like the balance of having part-time work (with guaranteed income) that allows me the freedom to write (with zero guarantees except having fun). It also gives me a lot of personal freedom, which I needed after having twins. (Did you know full-time childcare for toddlers is more expensive than college tuition? I didn’t until I had two of them at the same time.)

I recently moved home to northern California after nearly two decades in the Pacific Northwest. It’s been really wonderful to come back to a place I last saw with a child’s eyes—I can still feel that sense of magic and wonder. It’s been amazing to share the places I loved as a kid with my own kids. After a fairly nomadic life, I’m excited to put down roots back in the place I started.

EL You have been called a “Good food advocate.” Can you discuss how that has complemented your writing?

KP: I define “good food” as food that nourishes us, grown in ways that promote human and ecological health. I studied sustainable food and farming in grad school, and worked for many years trying to create better food options at hospitals, in food banks, and at major corporations. I loved the work, but I had always wanted to be a writer, so I began carving out time every day to write for fun before work.

When my first children’s book came out, I saw how kids responded to the story of a little girl who was afraid to eat spinach until she grew it in her school garden. I found that narrative stories were able to reach kids on a different level than lecturing about healthy eating. It was fun, rather than a lesson.

Attack of the Hangries allowed me to play with food concepts while also having fun with language. As a lifelong sufferer of the hangries and parent to two hangry kids, it was fun to really delve into the why while also reminding kids (and grownups!) that what we eat influences how we feel. I don’t have a nutrition background, so I had to read a ton of scientific articles and interview some nutritionist friends to really wrap my head about what’s happening in the body when we go too long without eating, as well as the best ways to fuel up. I learned a lot, and I hope parents and educators can use the book as a tool to help convince kids to eat regularly. I also hope it reminds us all about the importance of childhood nutrition and making sure no kid goes hungry.

EL: Although this book is so much fun, kids DO learn a lot from both the story and the wonderful back matter. Do you have a writing routine, and if you do, will you share it?

KP: I’ve found that the most important part of writing is simply carving out time to do it. At first, I used to take an hour to write before work or on weekends. After my kids were born, it was about prioritizing writing during their naptimes or the precious hours they were with a part-time nanny. Now it’s about carving out chunks of time when I can really focus on a project. I don’t write every day, but I do keep certain mornings completely empty to give myself space to dive into a project. I’ll often have ideas at inconvenient times and jot notes on my phone, then explore the idea more fully when I have a few uninterrupted hours.

EL: Do you have a writing group or groups? How important do you think they are?

KP: I belong to two writing groups, and I don’t think I could be a professional writer without them. Both are comprised of people I met in evening writing classes who decided to keep meeting after the class ended. Both groups started meeting in person but have since moved to Zoom. One is strictly kidlit, so everyone is working on children’s literature. The other is more eclectic—we have poets, essayists, flash fiction writers, and me. Both groups have met for years, and we’ve developed a language for encouraging each other while also offering constructive criticism. I use these groups as barometers to check my work before sharing it with my agent or editors. We’ve survived marriages, divorces, babies, pandemics, moves—you name it. The writing and the friendships have kept us together.

EL: What do you do when the words won’t come?

KP: When I’m feeling stuck, I try to do something fun to trick my mind into relaxing, or at least focusing on a different problem. Sometimes it’s something small, like going for a walk or paddle boarding, but sometimes I need over-the-top fun. A few weeks ago, my husband read that the world’s longest corn maze was only about 90 minutes from our house. We packed up the kids and had a day that was completely about being outside our comfort zones with no agenda—just a day spent doing something silly and challenging together. The next day, I had an idea for a new picture book.

EL: That’s so great! Did you have any communication with your illustrator? Or was it all through your editor?

KP: Attack of the Hangries is the first book I’ve written in years where I didn’t communicate directly with the illustrator. I’ve had the bizarre good luck of being friends with several of the illustrators I’ve worked with, and the projects often become collaborations. The editorial team knew this, and made the somewhat unusual step of allowing me to be part of the search for the illustrator.

All the illustrators they looked at were amazing, but something about Thiago’s work stuck out immediately. He did such a great job of balancing innocence and naughtiness, and the classroom scenes he depicted felt very real. I also loved that his Hangries were scary when they needed to be, but could also be cute and sweet.

We never communicated directly during the book’s production, but my editor, Peggy, did send me images along the way to get feedback. Because the book is so scientific, she wanted to make sure the art aligned with my research. But she was also open to other suggestions, like when I requested that the illustrations show girls eating in a positive light. Thiago ended up creating an entire character with her own arc to fit that request. That was really important to me, because part of me is really hoping this book helps counter negative messages about food and eating too many girls receive. I’m so grateful everyone took the request seriously, and am thrilled with the art.

EL: Thank you so much, Katherine! To find out more about Katherine and her books, go to http://www.katherinepryor.com 

https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/katherine-pryor/attack-of-the-hangries/9781546008125/?lens=worthykids

Now it’s time for a…

Katherine is happy to offer a signed copy of Attack of the Hangries to one lucky winner. 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.

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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