I was tagged (again) in the Next Big Thing meme so figured I’d answer the questions again, only this time I’d speak about the picture books that I currently have out on submission. Actually, I think one of those picture books might be back in the revision stage so make that: might have out on submission. I think. It’s hard sometimes to keep track of all of this…which is a wonderful thing!
So, here are the questions:
What is your working title of your book?
Silver. And the second one has three titles at the moment, and might actually turn out to be two separate picture books with the same characters, and (to be honest) I’m not a big fan of any of the titles: Mr. Moon & Mr. Bear; Mr. Bear; The Stevedore Bear. I think I might like the last one best but it’s the one that’s least useful…go figure.
Where did the idea come from for the book?
I have been working on Silver for 15 years or so, it started out as poetry that I realized had more of a storyland quality to it so it became a picture book. I think I would most love to see Silver published solely to see the illustrations, the piece is VERY atmospheric. Mr. Moon (we’ll just call it that for now) started out as dialogue that I was playing around with because I liked the sound of it. It also was basically a poem to being with.
What genre does your book fall under?
Silver is a ‘train’ type of picture book and Mr. Moon is definitely a lullaby goodnight kind of story. I’m incredibly proud of the sound and rhythm of both books so really hope they sell!
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
This is a fun question because, um…these would have to be animated. So, therefore, instead of actors, I’d choose Pixar (or, at least, Disney) to animate.
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Well, see, I think this might be the problem. Silver is a tremendous setting, voice, a characters desperately seeking a plot (sort of Pirandello for toddlers. Oh, just look it up, that’s what Google is for 
). And the same pretty much holds true for Mr. Moon. Both books are missing something crucial in the plotting aspect that I’m still working on.
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
All of my writing is represented by the Erin Murphy Literary Agency.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
First draft? Minutes, maybe? The original poems were simple. Editing and revising has been going on for YEARS…
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
Silver I’d have to say is a cross between all of the Thomas series and Polar Express. Just go with it…
Mr. Moon is similar in simplicity and subject to pretty much all bear/moon type of lullabies. It’s just different. Really.
Who or what inspired you to write this book?
My own kids inspired me to turn the poems into books since so much of what I’d end up reading them at bedtime touched them so much, I wanted to have that affect.
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
It’s trains. And bears. And short.
Thanks to Authoress of Miss Snark’s First Victim for tagging me.