What a busy April over here! So many creative new picture books to celebrate!
Sarah Frances Hardy certainly has reason to party—even tea party. Her debut picture book releases today!
PUZZLED BY PINK is the story of what happens when Wednesday Addams meets Fancy Nancy, with whimsical watercolor illustrations that will delight little girls on both sides of the fence, whether they LOVE pink or just don’t get what the big fuss is all about.
Please welcome Sarah to the blog today! *throws confetti* *serves tea and orange-cranberry scones*
TD: Sarah, on this blog we like to talk about story ideas. Tell us, where did the inspiration for Izzie and her sister Rose come from?
SFH: The inspiration for Izzie came from my oldest daughter. When she was little, it seems like every book geared toward little girls was pink, pink, pink…and she just wasn’t into it. I wanted to write a book for girls who wanted to be girls, but they wanted to do it without having to wear pink-glittered fairy wings.
Rose, Izzie’s little sister, is inspired by my middle daughter who has always loved everything about being a girly-girl—from ballet to pink to tutus.
TD: So is your youngest daughter represented in the book?
SFH: Ha! She’s asked me that too, and I tell her that she is Jinx, the pet cat, who is actually the most fun character in the book. She’s thrilled.
TD: I’d love to be Jinx, too! Izzie a strong character who does her own thing even though it’s not popular. How do you hope young readers will relate to her?
SFH: Well, I think we’ve all had the experience of being excluded because we’re a little different or we’re not wearing the right thing. I hope kids will take away the message that you can be yourself, dress the way you want to, and still go to the party.
It takes courage to say you’re going to do your own thing and stick to your guns! But it’s always best to be true to yourself .
TD: So tell us a little about your journey to publication as an author-illustrator. We authors say it must be “easier” for an author-illustrator to break into the business, while author-illustrators may say it’s easier to wear just one hat. (I tend to think no matter how many hats you wear, it’s never easy! Especially if they’re sombreros and you can’t fit thru the doorway.) What do you think?
SFH: It is a sombrero! And the door feels like it’s tiny!
But I will say that it’s a little easier to get an agent if you are both an author/illustrator because you don’t have to split royalties, and there are more agents out there who are willing to represent you.
The downside is that you are giving editors TWO reasons to reject you, so I always tell people to be sure that their illustrations and text are equally strong.
My journey is fairly typical in that I spent years going to conferences and learning everything I could about the craft of writing and illustrating for children. I wrote some pretty terrible books, submitted them, and amassed a small mountain of rejection letters,
Finally, I came up with this character and concept, and I started getting a little interest. I signed with my amazing agent and worked on revisions for several months with her. In the summer of 2010, I sold my book to Viking Children’s Books.
TD: PUZZLED BY PINK is a great title many little girls (like my green-and-blue-loving one) can relate to. Was this your title from the start of the project?
SFH: No. It actually had the very boring title TEA PARTY at first. PUZZLED BY PINK actually emerged from a brainstorming session that I had when I was sending my manuscript out to agents. In earlier versions of the manuscript, my main character Izzie was an angry little girl—kind of a curmudgeon. I was talking about the book with a friend and I said “Izzie shouldn’t HATE pink…she just doesn’t get what the big deal is. She’s puzzled by pink.”
That phrase not only became the title but it helped me craft Izzie into a more likable character.
TD: Oh, I love that story! And I love how the title is all glittery pink on the cover, with Izzie giving a cute little smirk.
Your book has been described as “Wednesday Addams meets Fancy Nancy”. Wednesday is one of my all-time favorite TV characters. If she were to endorse your book, what do you think she’d say?
SFH: If she were to blurb my book, she’d probably say something like: “Finally! Someone who knows how to throw a decent party. I’ve found a kindred spirit in Izzie.”
TD: And we’ve found a kindred spirit in you, Sarah! Thanks for sharing the behind-the-tea-party scenes with us.
And now…someone please pass the cucumber sandwiches!
Whoops, sorry…I mean, please comment to win a copy of PUZZLED BY PINK!
You get one entry for commenting and then one entry for every share on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, etc. Just mention it when you comment!
Comments will close at the end of April 25 with a winner announced on April 26.
Good luck!
Sarah Frances Hardy is an author-illustrator and fine artist living in Mississippi with her husband and three daughters (who are not named Izzie, Rose and Jinx). Visit her at sfhardy.com and connect with her “Picture This” blog…which features photos of a cool local window display (well, TWO displays) dedicated to her book!
48 comments
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April 12, 2012 at 9:31 am
Ashley Bankhead
What a great concept for a book. I am excited to read this. I think my daughter will love it.
April 12, 2012 at 9:39 am
Jarm Del Boccio
Thanks, Sarah, for sharing your publishing journey with us…the book sounds delightful! I will be watching for it. Yes, we are not all the same, but, we can get along nonetheless!
JarmDelBoccio
April 12, 2012 at 9:43 am
laurimeyers
Love hearing success stories that start with a mountain of rejection letters!
April 12, 2012 at 9:44 am
Brianna Soloski
Throwing my name in the hat for the giveaway. I love books like this as much as I love books like Fancy Nancy.
April 12, 2012 at 9:57 am
Brenda Huante
Puzzled by Pink sounds like such a fun book! I can’t wait to read it!
April 12, 2012 at 10:05 am
Lori Alexander
Can’t wait to get this book–my daughter will love it!
April 12, 2012 at 10:06 am
Angela De Groot
I love cranberry-orange scones! Puzzled by pink sounds delightful. As a little girl, I didn’t see what all the fuss was about pink – now I love pink (and purple!) In fact, I’m wearing pink today.
April 12, 2012 at 10:13 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
This sounds like such a fun book! I’m always hunting down stories with unique, strong female characters for my three daughters. As a writer, I could certainly relate to your journey as well. I was encouraged as I read your road to publication. I’ve been searching for an agent for years.
April 12, 2012 at 10:26 am
Lynn A. Davidson
This is such a good idea – pink pink pink – and I think it must be a great read. I’ll have to watch for it. Thanks for sharing about your brainstorming and the transformation of your Tea Party to Puzzled By Pink.
April 12, 2012 at 10:32 am
Lynn A. Davidson
I have tweeted about this and Googled +’d it.
April 12, 2012 at 10:38 am
donnashepherd
This book looks – dare I say it? – darling! Love that smirk. Will Facebook, Tweet, and Google.
April 12, 2012 at 10:39 am
Beth G.
Fantastic idea, and great looking book! Funny, my daughters are opposite: one loves sparkles/pink/ruffles and the other is all sports/yoga-wear/dark colors. 😉 Thanks for the chance to win a copy!
April 12, 2012 at 10:45 am
Cindy Ferguson
I LOvE this book. I have twin grand daughters that perfectly represent Lizzie and Rose. One loves everything girly while the other just likes girly. Great book and wonderful illistrations.
April 12, 2012 at 11:19 am
Corey Schwartz
Already ordered my own copy, but just wanted to say a HUGE congrats to Sarah Frances!
April 12, 2012 at 12:19 pm
Leslie G
Thanks for a great interview. And the scones were delicious!
April 12, 2012 at 12:37 pm
Elizabeth Bowen
I always knew Sarah Frances would do great things. She has always been super talented. Congrats on your new book!
April 12, 2012 at 12:37 pm
Melissa
I, too, was (am..?) puzzled by pink–but pleased by purple! Go figure. 🙂 This sounds like a cute story that I will have to check out! Thanks for offering this giveaway.
April 12, 2012 at 2:35 pm
Karen Kallis Cheesman
I adore Wednesday Addams and can’t wait to read your book, Sarah.
April 12, 2012 at 3:15 pm
Julie
Sounds like a great story! Beautiful illustrations. I enjoyed hearing about your path to publication – thanks! And congrats!
April 12, 2012 at 3:38 pm
Sarah C. Pilon
“I tend to think no matter how many hats you wear, it’s never easy! Especially if they’re sombreros and you can’t fit thru the doorway.”<— I love that!
It looks like a fantastic book. Definitely a unique idea 🙂
April 12, 2012 at 3:43 pm
katiemillsgiorgio
Can’t wait to pick up a copy of Puzzled by Pink! Thanks for sharing! I’ll post to Facebook as well…
April 12, 2012 at 4:16 pm
Angela Padron
Sounds like a great book. Can’t wait to read it. Thanks for the insight.
April 12, 2012 at 8:24 pm
Terri
please count me in. thank you for the post.
April 12, 2012 at 8:47 pm
Jennifer Rumberger
What a fun book! And I loved to learn more about Sarah.
April 12, 2012 at 11:52 pm
maria gianferrari
Great idea for a book!
My 10 year old daughter is still averse to pink &I purple which makes buying clothes so difficult!
April 13, 2012 at 1:15 am
carterhiggins
I LOVE WEDNESDAY ADAMS. Sorry, no need to yell, I know, I know. But this book looks FANTASTIC and I love the stories behind the story. Especially the part about Jinx. Thanks for sharing, ladies!
April 13, 2012 at 1:50 am
tinamcho
Love the title and hearing the story behind the book and your career. Thanks for the interview, Sarah & Tara!
April 13, 2012 at 2:53 am
Dana Carey
So interesting to here the behind the scenes story of this story and how it changed from start to finish. Plus the author/illustrator point of view.
Thanks, Sarah & Tara for the interview & giveaway. (I tweeted!)
April 13, 2012 at 4:15 am
Abigail
Super interview. Thanks for sharing your experience and insights.
April 13, 2012 at 7:02 am
alison Hertz
Great interview! I was a child who was puzzled by pink, too, so I love this concept. I now have a daughter who doesn’t wear dresses but is “perfect pink” from head to toe almost every day. That is a whole different kind of puzzle. Sarah, I wish you all the best with your adorable new book. I will post a link to this blog on my Blog, Facebook, and Twitter.
April 13, 2012 at 7:31 am
Jenn DesAutels
Congrats Sarah!! And the wooden cutouts and your local bookstore – they rock. Thanks Tara for sharing this. So inspiring.
April 13, 2012 at 9:37 am
lindamartinandersen
Great interview. I especially loved hearing how the book title was chosen. Please enter me in the drawing for a copy of this terrific book. Thanks!
April 13, 2012 at 10:13 am
Rebecca Van Slyke
How great that there are books for both “pink” and “not-so-pink” girls!
April 13, 2012 at 11:01 am
Margaret Greanias
What a great concept for a PB — also, I LOVE the title. Great interview — it was good to hear the process of how the story evolved.
April 13, 2012 at 11:20 am
Julie Falatko (@JulieFalatko)
“Wednesday Addams meets Fancy Nancy” is maybe the best pitch for a book, ever.
April 13, 2012 at 1:36 pm
Heather Ayris Burnell
This book sounds so fun! I know lots of little girls who I am sure will love it. I’ll tweet and facebook.
April 13, 2012 at 2:10 pm
Veronica Bartles (@vbartles)
I need to read this book! I have always been a little “puzzled by pink” – my little sister used to always tell me “you’re just not a girl!” because I never got into all that frilly, girly stuff.
I shared on facebook, twitter and pinterest (and then tweeted my pin!) 🙂
April 13, 2012 at 2:37 pm
Christie Wright Wild
I love how you found the name for your book. Totally cool! Congratulations on your debut!
April 13, 2012 at 4:04 pm
Cathy Ballou Mealey
I think “Jinx” is the best cat name ever! And beyond that, the book sounds charming and perfect for my nine year old who is averse to pink, to polka dots, to stripes, things that are red or orange, and meat.
April 13, 2012 at 4:37 pm
JoAn Watson Martin
I have a great grand=daughter who is NUTS about pink and her older brother almost throws up so they would feel like this book was written for them. I think it is amazing you took such an everyday occurence and made a wonderful picture book.
April 14, 2012 at 12:50 am
smmorris
Would love to add this to my review site. Winning is fun!
April 14, 2012 at 9:59 am
Brenda
What a great story idea. I have twin nieces. One is a girly girl and the other one is the avant guarde (spelling?) one. Seems this would be a perfect book for them. 🙂
April 14, 2012 at 9:16 pm
Penny Klostermann
What a great title! Can’t wait to read it! The illustrations are beautiful!
April 15, 2012 at 12:40 pm
Sharon K Mayhew
I was hoping to find Sarah’s book at the book store yesterday. 😦 It wasn’t there yet. It’s on my TBB list for sure.
April 16, 2012 at 7:11 am
Rebecca Fyfe
Great story idea! And I have a cat named Jynx too (spelled differently though).
April 16, 2012 at 7:13 am
Rebecca Fyfe
I went ahead and shared this on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/moonduster) and again on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/imaginecreatewrite)
April 16, 2012 at 7:46 pm
Jaymie
Sounds like a great story! Can’t wait to see it in person.
April 16, 2012 at 7:47 pm
Jaymie
I shared on Twitter and FB.