Cheryl Fusco Johnson is our guest co-h0st for this interview with award-winning picture book author Jill Esbaum. Jill is also an instructor for the Institute of Children’s Literature, something she has in common with Cheryl. Jill is also the Quad Cities Chair for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. In this interview, we discuss Jill’s delightful book about a naughty dog with a secret passion for poetry.
Toward the end of the interview, Cheryl and regular host Monica Hadley discuss the upcoming Iowa Summer Writing Festival, all that it has to offer, and how to register.
For Producer Chamaigne Montana’s behind-the-scenes thoughts on this interview, check out her blog.
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Since Cheryl and Jill know each other through a few different writing-related endeavors, this interview had a nice flow to it. We love having Cheryl as a guest co-host. Her knowledge of writing makes her questions really thoughtful and interesting.
My favorite topic in this interview was what is really involved in writing a picture book. People tend to think it’s easy. Not so! Jill said that practically everyone you meet says they’ve considered writing for children at one time or another. (Guilty as charged!) Sitting in the studio listening in to this interview I learned a ton about what is actually involved.
Later in the hour, Cheryl, Jill and Monica discussed classes available at the next Iowa Summer Writing Festival, including many about writing for children.
How about you? Have you tried your hand at writing for children? Are you planning to attend the Writing Festival? Any thoughts about this interview?
What I would have asked if I were at the mic, is what happens if you want to write a book where you can’t tell what’s going on without the pictures? Do you get to describe to the illustrator what you had in mind?
What questions would you have asked this author?
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