Five years ago I was reading Joanne Levy’s SMALL MEDIUM AT LARGE—such a clever title and a fun read. I thought to myself…what elementary school joke’s punchline could I turn into a picture book title?
And then…
BAM!
I got whacked upside the head…
Why is 6 afraid of 7?
Because…7 ATE 9!
I felt a powerful surge of muse awaken all my senses, sorta like this…
When I get smacked so soundly, I immediate go research my idea. Surely someone already had to have published a 7 ATE 9 book, right?
Well, I should have searched on worldcat.org, but instead I went somewhere else. You can probably guess where.
And somehow I did not find a picture book with that name. I found other items, like a card game, but no picture book. But it turns out, there were picture books with that title—I was just so frantic with inspiration that I missed them. I could have been searching on a typewriter for all the attention I paid the results.
But guess what? That was a good thing. Because if I had found other 7 ATE 9 picture books, I would have immediately deflated…
And sometimes, you just have to go with your gut.
The first thing I imagined was an intrepid Private “I” being hired by a nervous and trembling number 6. The puns just started flying out, I couldn’t even stop them if I tried. I tested them on my kids. After a while, they got sick of me.
And that’s pretty much how I knew I had a good idea. Thanks, girls!
Then, shortly after Disney-Hyperion bought the manuscript, my acquiring editor extraordinaire Kevin Lewis left to pursue writing full-time.
Kevin had known exactly who should illustrate, and the two of us had already had brainstorming sessions to determine the look and feel of the book.
Thankfully, when editor extraordinaire TWO took over, Tracey Keevan hired Ross MacDonald like Kevin and I had envisioned.
I am so thankful to everyone who helped get this book into the world—my family, Ammi-Joan Paquette, Maria Elias, Kevin, Tracey, Ross, and the entire team at Disney-Hyperion. Today 7 ATE 9 debuts and I hope you will check it out.
Here’s the trailer…
It took four years to go from manuscript to book, and it was one heckuva good ride!
47 comments
Comments feed for this article
May 16, 2017 at 10:54 am
mariagianferrari
Hooray & Happy Book BD, Tara!! Can’t wait to read it!!
May 16, 2017 at 11:01 am
Wanda Luthman
Congratulations! It sounds hilarious!!
May 16, 2017 at 11:02 am
Karen Kane
Happy Day! And yay on Tracey Keevan editor extraordinaire!
May 16, 2017 at 11:07 am
just 1 marion
Your exciting info made me feel like you took me on your great ride too.
May 16, 2017 at 11:13 am
Polly Renner
Ha ha! Such a great post… Love learning the journey of your books in the making! Congrats again.
May 16, 2017 at 11:20 am
Michelle R. Eastman
Reblogged this on Michelle Eastman Books.
May 16, 2017 at 11:21 am
Michelle R. Eastman
Congratulations! Thanks for sharing your backstory, story!
May 16, 2017 at 11:26 am
M. Jane Hawkins
Tara, I can’t wait to find out what happens to 6. Great story about your journey and a fun post.
May 16, 2017 at 11:35 am
Gabi Snyder
Happy, happy book birthday, Tara! I can’t wait to read 7 ATE 9!
May 16, 2017 at 11:41 am
Meetic gratis
Congratulations! great post 😉
May 16, 2017 at 11:52 am
chardixon47
Congrats and happy book birthday! I’m looking forward to reading your new book, Tara 🙂
May 16, 2017 at 11:53 am
julietclarebell
And I love the trailer!
May 16, 2017 at 11:53 am
ptnozell
Happy Book Birthday, Tara! Thanks for sharing the backstory.
May 16, 2017 at 12:04 pm
diane1944
Great title, fabulous writer and now we can read the final result of your hard work, Tara! Can’t wait. Congratulations!
May 16, 2017 at 12:12 pm
Ali Pfautz
Thanks for sharing the story behind the storybook. You always crack me up! Congrats and can’t wait to read it!
May 16, 2017 at 12:25 pm
Stephanie Geckle (@SPGeckle)
Congratulations! 🎉
May 16, 2017 at 12:33 pm
Sylvia Mary Grech
Love the trailer! Can’t wait! 🙂
May 16, 2017 at 1:06 pm
Judy Sobanski
Happiest of book birthdays!!! Great trailer, too! 🙂
May 16, 2017 at 1:08 pm
Karen Henry Clark
I love hearing the back story. So inspiring.
May 16, 2017 at 1:10 pm
Melanie Ellsworth
Congratulations, Tara (and Ross)! A great concept – so many punny opportunities.
May 16, 2017 at 1:18 pm
Sheri Radovich
What fun to start and even with research to keep going and write something new and different and get it published. You are my hero and push to get something out there to an agent or editor someday soon– well this year.
May 16, 2017 at 1:20 pm
Kathy Doherty
How exciting, Tara! You’ve written such a clever book. Congratulations!
May 16, 2017 at 2:21 pm
Lori Alexander
I remember reading about the sale years ago and thinking…”She’s done it again!” Such a clever idea, Tara. Congrats!
May 16, 2017 at 2:43 pm
fireurchin
Hahahahaha – thanks for sharing this with such a fun ride! Laughing and energized by all your perfect visuals. Excited for you, and that puns win the day! Go Tara!
May 16, 2017 at 3:24 pm
pathaap
Loved the trailer! Can’t wait to read the book!
May 16, 2017 at 4:03 pm
Sandy Perlic
The moral of the story is: always go with your muse! My copy should be in the mail today… can’t wait!
May 16, 2017 at 4:12 pm
guzinski5@roadrunner.com
I…..CANNOT….WAIT….TO….READ…THIS…BOOK!!!! GREAT IDEA AND TRAILER!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!
May 16, 2017 at 5:25 pm
jama
Happy Pub Day! Looks fabulous. 🙂
May 16, 2017 at 6:30 pm
Andria Rosenbaum
Hooray, Tara, for grrr-8 ideas and the persistence & zest to bring a book into being!
May 16, 2017 at 7:30 pm
Nancy Ramsey
Great post! Congratulations on all your success! Can’t wait to read this book!
May 16, 2017 at 7:54 pm
Carole calladine
Love the title. I’ll start looking for it
May 16, 2017 at 9:22 pm
Patricia Toht
Happy Book Birthday, Tara! What a brilliant idea for a book!
May 16, 2017 at 11:23 pm
Jill Richards Proctor
Congratulations, Tara! Can’t wait to read your wonderful book!
May 16, 2017 at 11:57 pm
betlw
Great video and clever idea for a PB.
May 17, 2017 at 5:25 am
tinamcho
Can’t wait to read it. Looks hilarious. Congratulations!
May 17, 2017 at 6:09 am
Lisa A. Reiss
Congratulations! Best of luck!
May 17, 2017 at 12:01 pm
Darcee Freier
Congratulations! I look forward to reading it!
May 17, 2017 at 9:43 pm
Beth Newhall
Congratulations! Looks hysterical!
May 17, 2017 at 10:50 pm
Pamela Courtney
The trailer is AMAZING! I know this book will bring the funny in a major way. Excited for you and Major congratulations.
May 18, 2017 at 7:25 am
jeannecurtin
Great story about your story’s journey. And I love, love, love the trailer. So much fun 😊
Congrats on 7 Ate 9 🎉 Can’t wait to read it!
May 18, 2017 at 9:05 am
Meli Glickman
What a wonderful journey of persistence and passion! I’m so excited for you and all of your delightful number characters! Way to go!
May 18, 2017 at 11:30 am
Jacqueline Adams
Congratulations, Tara! What a fun trailer!
May 19, 2017 at 2:54 pm
Nicole M Strangman
Awesome trailer – can’t wait to find out what happens
May 23, 2017 at 10:41 am
Michelle O'Hara Levin
OK – you already know I LOVE this book… LOVE. I have an important question to ask – in that last question are those people being given a ride by real people who are carrying them around? If so, that is amazing and shocking on all wonderful levels.
May 26, 2017 at 9:29 am
Kristen Donohue
What a great trailer! I look forward to reading it.
May 30, 2017 at 12:53 pm
Moderator
Reblogged this on Young People's Pavilion.
May 30, 2017 at 9:57 pm
Beth Elliott
Great trailer! I can’t wait to read another of your books!