Book Birthday Blog with Leslie Helakoski

 

 

Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!

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

 

Congratulations to Leslie Helakoski on the release of When the Rain Came Down

 

 

How did you come up with the idea for your book?

I grew up on a bayou in south Louisiana where my family lived through many storms, one of them leaving 5 feet of water in our family home. WHEN THE RAIN CAME DOWN was inspired by those storms and Hurricane Katrina and Rita in particular. In the aftermath, everyone I knew had taken people into their homes. Everyone volunteered in some capacity, everyone spoke of before and after the storms and noted water marks that are still there today. The phrase, ‘When the rain came down and the water rose up,’ came to me when I was trying to write a story about neighbors.

At the same time I was working on RAIN, I had another idea involving hurricanes in a more whimsical way. GATOR’s BIG MOUTH is also about a storm displacing locals –alligators this time. It was inspired by a trip through the marsh after a hurricane. The storm damage made me wonder what happened to the alligators when their homes were destroyed.

What inspires you to write and draw?

The work of other artists and other writers inspires me all the time. Finding work I love and respond to, makes me want to do the same thing.

How do you approach the creative process? Plotter, panster or combination of the two?

I don’t consciously plot out picture books. I get an idea about a character or a problem and start writing about it. Once I have something down, I may do a bit of plotting to see what is missing or not working.

What are your marketing plans for the book and where can we find it?

I’m lining up school visits and speaking at Michigan Reading Association this spring. There are many festivals and book fairs where I will promote the book. It will be available at most bookstores and online. You can get a signed copy or pre order from Book Bug, a great indie,  here: WHEN THE RAIN CAME DOWN

What's next for you?

I just sold a picture book to Putnam that will be out in fall of 2025.
And GATOR’S BIG MOUTH will release in April–you can pre-order it here: GATOR'S BIG MOUTH

More about the book . . .

WHEN THE RAIN CAME DOWN is about the strength that arises when a community bands together to overcome immeasurable hardship. It was inspired by Hurricane Katrina and influenced by Leslie's personal experience living through rising waters on a bayou in south Louisiana. WHEN THE RAIN CAME DOWN follows the devastating effects of flooding and the enduring heart of the community.

Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux (Macmillan)

More about the author . . .

Leslie Helakoski is the author and sometimes illustrator of 18 picture books. Her books like BIG CHICKENS and WOOLBUR are known for their humor and wordplay and have won many state book awards and starred reviews. Her recent title, ARE YOUR STARS LIKE MY STARS? was chosen as a best diverse book in 2021. Leslie served as Regional Advisor for SCBWI Michigan for 11 years and is now RA Emeritus. Each summer Leslie also runs the PB&J picture book workshop at the Highlights Foundation.

Facebook: Leslie Helakoski

Instagram: helakoskibooks