Book Birthday Blog with Carrie A. Pearson

 

Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!

Where we celebrate new books from Michigan's authors, illustrators and translators.

 

Congratulations to Carrie A. Pearson on the release of Virginia Wouldn't Slow Down: The Unstoppable Dr. Apgar and Her Life-Saving Invention

 

 

How did you get the idea for your book?

I first learned about the APGAR Score eons ago in college in my field of study (early childhood education with minors in social and natural science). I was interested in pursuing neonatal (newborn) psychology for a time, and APGAR Scores were referenced. When our three daughters were born, the APGAR Score took on a whole new relevance, but this was before I started writing children’s books and my antennae weren’t up yet. Then, in 2015 with my author mindset, I read that the APGAR Score was invented by a woman – Dr. Virginia Apgar – and that she was a powerhouse of energy, intellect, and moxie. I was hooked.
 
I have no idea how the book hook is set for me, but I know it when it happens. If I read or hear something interesting and experience that flying-over-the-top-of-a-roller-coaster-hill-whoosh feeling, I’m usually hooked enough to start researching. No “whoosh” means I don’t have enough interest to sustain the twists and turns of publication. 

This is your second book to publish this year, congratulations! How do you stay organized with 2 book launches and what are the challenges?

Thank you! However, that wasn't the plan. 😊 The pandemic slowed production considerably, and over time, the two titles bumped ever closer together (April and August).

The biggest challenge is being okay with putting the books and me in the spotlight for what seems like a very long time from pre-release through post-release. But then I remember I’m sharing books that may impact readers. That keeps my momentum going! Regarding strategies, I use a combo platter of old-fashioned paper calendars and technology. Every workday, I crack open my spreadsheet that tracks categories for each book (Reviewers/Connections/Blogs/Interviews, Books to Send Out, Bookstores, Collateral, and Events). I use Google Drive as my digital filing cabinet to store research sources, drafts, and outlines because I now trust the cloud more than my computer. I use Canva (thanks, Deb G.!) and Tailwind for social media graphics and posting. 

What is something you hope your readers will take away from your book?

Dr. Virginia Apgar was a revolutionary woman who was successful in spite of setbacks and bias. She identified problems and worked tirelessly to fix them. She gave a voice to the voiceless which, to me, is a worthy ambition for all of us, even from a young age. 

 

 

What are your marketing plans for the book? 

We’re launching the book at Peter White Public Library in Marquette with a Baby Doll and Pretend Friend Medical Clinic where children will learn why the APGAR Score is important and how to perform it using their toys. I’m super excited to see how that works out. I’m planning bookstore signings in towns that were part of Dr. Apgar’s life, participating in school visits like the Macomb Reads Festival in November, and panel discussions like the one sponsored by School Library Journal's Picture Book Palooza on July 27th. I’ve reached out to the medical institutions and professional groups she aligned with. I just learned that the book is a Junior Library Guild selection so that will help get it in front of librarians and teachers. I’ll support everything I do with social media, book giveaways, and whatever connections I can build. 

 

 

What's next for you? 

Aside from hosting our daughter’s wedding at our house in mid-August? An unannounced book is due to the publisher in early November, and additional manuscripts are in the pipeline. It’s going to be a happily busy few months ahead! 

More about the book . . . 

The Apgar Score is known worldwide as a test given to babies to determine their health moments after birth. Less well-known is the story of the brilliant, innovative woman who developed it. Born at the turn of the twentieth century, Virginia “Ginny” Apgar soared above what girls were expected to do―or not do. She wasn’t quiet, wore all sorts of outfits, played the sports she wanted to―and pursued the career she chose, graduating near the top of her class at Columbia University and becoming only the second board-certified female anesthesiologist in the United States. The simple five-step test she created―scribbled on the back of a piece of paper in answer to a trainee’s question―became the medical standard and continues to impact countless newborn babies’ lives today. Ginny adored science, hated cooking, drove fast, made her own violins, earned a pilot’s license, and traveled the world. Carrie Pearson’s jaunty storytelling and Nancy Carpenter’s playful illustrations capture the energy and independence of a woman who didn’t slow down for anything―and changed newborn care forever.

Publisher: Norton Young Readers/W.W. Norton 

More about the author . . . 

Carrie A. Pearson (BA, early childhood education, University of Michigan) is a full-time word wrangler and literacy advocate. She is a former regional advisor of SCBWI-Michigan (2013-2023), a founding member of the Steering Committee for the SCBWI Impact & Legacy Fund, and co-chair of the 2024 SCBWI Marvelous Midwest multi-region conference (April 12-14). Her nonfiction picture book releases in 2023 are REAL PRINCESSES CHANGE THE WORLD (Roaring Brook/Macmillan) and VIRGINIA WOULDN’T SLOW DOWN: THE UNSTOPPABLE DR. APGAR AND HER LIFE-SAVING INVENTION (Norton Young Readers/W.W. Norton). Carrie would love to connect with you through her website, https://carriepearsonbooks.com/, and Instagram @carrieapearson.author.

Instagram and Threads: @carrieapearson.author

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Also on Pinterest: @carrieapearson