Episode #153: What did you do when your book was published? with Jenny Lacika
Welcome back to another fun episode of Kids Ask Authors! Today we are joined by author Jenny Lacika and she answers the kid question, “What did you do when your book was published?”
TRANSCRIPT:
Grace Lin: Hello. I'm Grace Lin, children's book author and illustrator of many books including the middle grade novel Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, and the Picture book A Big Moon Cake for Little Star. Today, I am here with Jenny Lacika, the author of the Picture book Again, Essie? Welcome, Jenny.
Jenny Lacika : Thanks so much for having me, Grace.
Grace Lin: Oh, thanks for coming on. So are you ready for today's kid question?
Jenny Lacika: Yes, I am.
Grace Lin: All right. Today's question is from a kid named Sam. And they ask, what did you do when your book was published?
Jenny Lacika: I love this question, Sam, because this is my first book. Again, Essie? is my first book. And so I didn't know what to expect. And so the publication date was coming and I was very excited. But prior to publication, you get the copies of the book and you already get to see it and feel it. And so publication date comes and there's not really anything for me left except getting it into the hands of readers. And so what I did is I worked with the local library and we planned a series of story times. My friendly local librarian, Lydia, and I collected a bunch of packing boxes in advance of the book being released. And I got to go to the three library branches and read the book and then do a fun math building activity with the kids and see their reaction to the book, which was very exciting.
Grace Lin: Oh, that's nice. So what was it like when you first got the box of your books?
Jenny Lacika: It was very exciting, but also kind of an out-of-body experience. I couldn't believe that my name was on it.
Grace Lin: I have to say, when my first book was published, it was a little, strangely, anti-climactic.
Jenny Lacika: Yeah, exactly.
Grace Lin: Because I had worked so long. And I was curious if this had happened to you because of the pandemic, but my book was delayed for, not pandemic reasons because it was a long, long, long time ago, but for other reasons. And it was delayed. And so it was like, after I had finished writing it, when the book finally came out, it was almost two years later. And I remember opening the box and being like, "Huh. Gosh." It wasn't like I forgot or anything like that, but it was just so strange because I'd been waiting for so long. It was just like, well, this finally happened.
Jenny Lacika: Yeah, definitely. Well, you also worked on the illustrations and so you knew how everything looked. But for me, I got to really dive into how everything looked for the first time.
Grace Lin: Oh.
Jenny Lacika: And so that was really exciting.
Grace Lin: How was that? Was there any surprises for you?
Jenny Lacika: Yeah. I mean, it was just fun seeing what Teresa Martinez had put in throughout the book. There was a cat that you saw on several pages. And so it was just fun noticing the little details that weren't in the text.
Grace Lin: That's fun. Did you have a party at all to celebrate?
Jenny Lacika: No. I mean, it was just the story times were really fun. I had some friends from the area brought their kids. And there was one little boy who came to more than one of the story times. And he was very shy the first time and didn't really participate in the building. But the second time he really got into it, so that was fun.
Grace Lin: That's awesome.
Jenny Lacika: Yeah.
Grace Lin: So, okay, you don't have to this advice, but as an, old, old old timer, I did not have a book party for my first book either. And like I said, it was a little anti-climactic. I don't think I had a book party until much later. And I always regret the fact that I never celebrated my first book, because you never have a first book again. And so my suggestion is that when you get your second book, at least have a small party to celebrate it, because you'll never have a second book again. And it's something worth celebrating, I think.
Jenny Lacika: Yeah. Okay.
Grace Lin: So celebrate it because it's something to be proud of. And that's how I feel now about my books. Even so many books in, now I make a point to celebrate each one.
Jenny Lacika: Yeah.
Grace Lin: Because these things are hard.
Jenny Lacika: Yeah.
Grace Lin: But they're so worth it, you know?
Jenny Lacika: Yeah.
Grace Lin: And they're worth enjoying. But I'm so glad that you went to have those book readings. And I'm so glad so many kids came and enjoyed your book. So that is a fun thing to do when your book is published.
Jenny Lacika: Yeah.
Grace Lin: So thank you, Jenny, for answering this question. And thank you, Sam, for asking it.
Jenny Lacika: Thank you so much, Grace, for having me.
Grace Lin: Bye.
Today’s KID BOOK REVIEW comes from Abhinav! Abhuinav is reviewing, Again, Essie? by Jenny Lacika.
The book I would like to talk about is called, “Again, Essie?” written by Jenny Lacika and illustrated by Teresa Martinez. This book talks about a boy who has a baby sister. He tries to protect his toys from her in multiple different ways. His last idea is to build a wall. That does not work. His sister crashes through his wall. From this incident he knows that all his sister wants to do is play with him. I would recommend this book to people who like comedy.
Thank you Abhinav!
More about today’s authors:
Jenny is a children’s writer from Santa Fe, New Mexico. As a Chicana, MIT grad, chronically ill, mother of two, her work often explores themes relating to STEM education, disability, and Chicanx culture and history. Jenny’s debut picture book, AGAIN, ESSIE?, illustrated by Teresa Martínez, was awarded the 2023 Mathical Book Prize for Pre-K. Jenny is a member of SCBWI, 12×12, and Las Musas Books. She was selected as a 2020 NESCBWI Windows & Mirrors Scholarship recipient and the 2021 Meg Medina Volemos Grant recipient. Jenny is represented by Miranda Paul of Erin Murphy Literary Agency.
Grace Lin, a NY Times bestselling author/ illustrator, won the Newbery Honor for Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and her picture book, A Big Mooncake for Little Star, was awarded the Caldecott Honor. Grace is an occasional commentator for New England Public Radio , a video essayist for PBS NewsHour (here & here), and the speaker of the popular TEDx talk, The Windows and Mirrors of Your Child’s Bookshelf. She is the co-host of the podcast Book Friends Forever, a kidlit podcast about friendship and publishing (geared for adults). Find her facebook, instagram , twitter ( @pacylin) or sign up for her author newsletter HERE.
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