04 Aug Ann Koffsky, WHAT EMMA WROTE, BLAZING HUMOR, and a DOUBLE GIVEAWAY!
EL: Happy August! I’m not sure where the summer is going, but I’m excited to welcome Ann Koffsky back to Writing Outside the Lines. Today, I want to introduce you to her two latest books (and others on the way!) You probably know who Mel Brooks is, and if you do, I bet you’re wondering how there could be a children’s book about him. Well, leave it to Ann to make that happen and do it beautifully! The book, BLAZING HUMOR: MEL BROOKS IS SERIOUSLY FUNNY, illustrated by Jason Kirschner, was released on April 7. This is a book that both adults and children can relate to and learn from. Reading about Mel Brooks’s childhood and how he used humor was enlightening and made so much sense. Using humor to make things less scary has always been good medicine!
Ann’s other April release is WHAT EMMA WROTE: THE WOMAN BEHIND THE WORDS ON THE STATUE OF LIBERTY, beautifully illustrated by N.Tarcan. “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…” Most people reading this will know that these words are emblazoned on the Statue of Liberty, but not everyone knows that they are part of a poem called The New Colossus, written by a young Jewish woman named Emma Lazarus.
Emma’s welcoming poem came from her heart. Welcoming the stranger is an important Jewish value, and Emma Lazarus stood by this value. In this book, readers learn not just about the woman who wrote the poem, but also about the young Emma and how this famous poem came to be. I shared this interesting and child-friendly book with some kiddos, and they loved it. Oh, so did School Library Journal. They gave it a star!
EL: Welcome, Ann! You are super prolific and can bounce from one type of book to another…board books, picture books, chapter books. How do you decide what format your stories will take
AK: I really let the idea guide the format. So for example, when I have an idea, say, for a book about up and down, like MY MEZUZAH—up and down is an early childhood concept, so I know that fits best in a board book. On the opposite side, when I was working on THE STORY OF PURIM ACCORDING TO HAMAN ( which comes out from PJ Publishing in 2027), I knew that the snarky sense of humor would be perfect for 8-year-olds, so I made that into a graphic novel.
EL: I know you illustrate many of your own books. How do you decide which ones to do yourself and which ones to submit text only?
AK: Usually, it’s the publisher who decides that! But it’s guided by my style. My illustrations are adorable… which isn’t really the right vibe for Emma’s story, because it’s more sophisticated. So when I write something that matches my art style, then I’ll often be the illustrator. But if I write something that doesn’t match, it’s best for the book to find an expert that DOES match, like Naz Tarcan and Jason Kirshner were. 
EL: Do you have anything else in the pipeline you can talk about?
AK: Yes! As I mentioned, THE STORY OF PURIM ACCORDING TO HAMAN, a graphic novel, which will be coming out from PJ Publishing in 2027, and KAYLA AND KUGEL’S SHAVUOT SLEEPOVER, which releases in 2027 too.
EL: Do you have a writing group or groups? How important do you think they are?
AK: They are EVERYTHING! (I love being in a writing group with YOU Ellen!) So often we writers toil at home, alone. But writing is meant to be READ, and we are nothing without readers. My writing groups provide me with community, friends, thoughtful critique, and more. And, my work gets stronger because of them. So essential!
EL: I get SO much help from you, Ann! What do you do when the words won’t come?
AK: Complain to my husband and lament that I’ll never be able to write ever again and dramatically sigh. Also, sometimes I’ll go for a walk, LOL.
EL: Can we add chocolate to all of that? 🙂 Do you have anything else you’d like readers to know?
AK: If you’d like to get free coloring pages and more? Subscribe to my substack here:https://coloringjewish.substack.com/
EL: And don’t forget to follow Ann on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/annkoffsky/?hl=en
Check out her website here annkoffsky.com
And buy her books here!
https://www.amazon.com/Blazing-Humor-Brooks-Seriously-Funny/dp/1951365348/ref=sr_1_1
https://www.amazon.com/What-Emma-Wrote-Behind-Liberty/dp/1681157195/ref=sr_1_
Thank you so much for joining us today, Ann!
And now a DOUBLE…
Today’s giveaway is a bit different. Since we’re celebrating both WHAT EMMA WROTE and BLAZING HUMOR, Ann is giving away both books, so there will be TWO winners! Just comment here to get in the running. You won’t be sorry.
Until next time,
Ellen
Sue Ellen is back! She has had a long, twisty road, but she’s never really gone away.
Elizabeth Suneby
Posted at 06:44h, 04 AugustThe diversity, quality, and number of Ann’s books are impressive.
Elizabeth Suneby
Posted at 06:45h, 04 AugustThe diversity, quality and volume of Ann’s books are impressive.
Kim A. Larson
Posted at 09:41h, 04 AugustCongratulations, Ann! You are prolific! Both of your newest books sound wonderful.
danielle hammelef
Posted at 11:50h, 04 AugustCongratulations on your wonderful books. I’m excited to learn about the childhood of Mel Brooks as well as Emma.