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Welcome to the Mitten Blog, Sarah! Please tell us a little bit about yourself.
I'm a born and raised Michigander with an undying passion for children's picture books. I honestly think great picture books make the world a more kind, fair, and creative place. I worked with Penguin Young Readers in New York City for several years, but have been back in the mitten with Sleeping Bear Press since 2013. I live just south of Ann Arbor in a 130-year-old house with my husband, 18-month-old son, and lazy dog.
What are some of your favorite aspects of your job, and what are some of the challenges?
The absolute best part of my job is writing acceptance emails to new authors--their joy is contagious! Beyond that, being able to see a story come to life as it goes from draft to layout and sketches to final art is pretty magical. For me, the biggest challenges in this industry are anticipating trends, reaching new talent, and representing our readers in an authentic way. There's a definite balance we have to negotiate between what our buyers want, what we hear our little readers need, and what we see in our submissions.
In January 2021, Sleeping Bear Press launched the Own Voices, Own Stories Award for BIPOC and LGBTQ writers. Please share the story behind the creation of this new award, how it came to be, and what you hope to see in submissions.
2020 has been full of heartache, right? But one of the great things to come out of it has been the time and motivation to launch something that we're really proud of and excited about. With the spotlight on racial equity and justice this spring, we knew we needed to work harder to reach the readers and writers that are so underrepresented in children's literature. The award came out of a larger discussion around where we need to do better as a company. With our Grand Prize and Honor Awards we hope to serve both our readers and BIPOC and LGBTQ writers. I hope we see joyous, heartfelt, and funny stories that speak to the experiences of children in those communities. I'm SO looking forward to reading submissions!
Give a shout out for some new or upcoming books you're excited about!
I'm so excited about Little Dandelion Seeds the World (by a Michigan author!) and Ocean Soup, both coming out in March. The first really feels like a classic book from my childhood. The illustrations are lovely and the text is lyrical--AND it has a STEM tie-in. Ocean Soup addresses the really urgent need for us to start curbing our plastics use and get our oceans clean, but it's done in bouncing rhyme with really actionable lessons. Fun AND important!
Is there anything else you'd like us to know?
Sleeping Bear Press LOVES telling Michigan stories from Michigan authors--please keep those submissions coming!
Thanks for your time, Sarah!
Submissions for the Own Voices Award will be accepted from January 1, 2021 through March 31, 2021 with winners notified by August 1, 2021. Awards include a Grand Prize (publishing contract and cash prize) and Honor Awards (cash prize and consulting session with an editor). More information including eligibility and instructions can be found on the submissions section of the Sleeping Bear Press website or visit them on social media.
Coming up on the Mitten Blog:
A Writer Spotlight, Ask the Editor, Equity & Inclusion Corner, Tips for Starting an Author Newsletter, Book Birthdays, and more!
What We're Looking Forward To:
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For more information, including scholarship opportunities, go here: https://michigan.scbwi.org/2020/05/01/spring-conference-2021/ |
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https://www.scbwi.org/events/winter-conference-2021/ |
https://www.scbwi.org/awards-and-grants-new/
Great interview, Sarah!
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