A Closer Look
The Story Behind the Story
Attack of the butternut squash. And BTW, our garden has never again looked this neat.
My husband and I have a big vegetable garden. I hate weeding, but it gives you a lot of time to dig deep. That’s how this story sprouted.
As I weeded, I was mulling over changes in my life. I had been a little like that cozy seed in Rooting for You. I had had a long-time job I loved as a children’s magazine editor. I was in charge of children’s content and I got to work with the likes of Ian Falconer, Jack Prelutsky, Chris Raschka, Jon Scieszka, Maurice Sendak, Lane Smith, Rosemary Wells, Jane Yolen & Heidi Stemple, Dan Yaccarino, and so many other children’s book authors who did original stories for us. Dream job, right?
Then in 2009, our magazine, like so many magazines that year, folded. The whole magazine division was laid-off. The only upside was good severance pay. I had always wanted to try writing picture books, so I told myself it was now or never.
No doubt about it: it was scary! But now I can’t imagine ever going back. Rooting for You was published as a two-book deal, which then led me to write Leaps and Bounce.
