by Julie, in Nashville at Bouchercon–find me and say hello!
Betsy Groban and I share a passion for Jane Austen, and arts advocacy. She’s had a fascinating career, and recently added another title to her resume–author. She’s thrilled that this dream came true, and is making the most of it, hosting book events for her target audience and their parents. Betsy’s book is a young readers’ book–she’s working on the next generation of Wicked readers. Welcome to the blog, Betsy!
Hello.
This is my first time at bat, and it’s good to e-meet you!
I’m a former longtime children’s book publisher (at Little, Brown and the company formerly known as HMH) who just published my first book for kids. It’s called Pizza for Pia and it’s about a plucky little girl who stands up for her meal of choice in a pizza-loving family.
It’s been incredibly fulfilling to find myself on “the other side of the desk.” I’m intimately familiar with the publishing process and well aware of what I can expect from the publisher – in my case, S&S — and what I should do on my own. This summer, I’ve set up a series of appearances in bookstores in several states and have had an absolute ball doing them.
My process has been relatively simple. Bolstered by a few great reviews (“A panoply of plosive P’s, a panorama of pizza prep, and the power of persistence make this particularly pleasing.” -Booklist ) I drew up a list of bookstores that I knew to be especially strong in children’s books. Since I’m an unknown debut author at this point, I created a “package” that I hoped would encourage booksellers to invite me to do an event at their store.
My proposed package has three parts. First, I read and discuss Pizza with Pia (retail price: $5) with kids and their families. Second, I lead the kids in a pizza-themed craft activity (supplied by me); and third, and maybe most important, I encourage the bookseller to provide real pizza for the kids to eat, during which I sign books. A book-craft-and-pizza party! What could be better?
As I mentioned, I’ve had the best time travelling around to bookstores talking to kids and reading and autographing copies of Pizza for Pia. The response has been beyond gratifying. I think the very best moment so far was when a little boy came back after I’d signed his copy of my book and asked me to sign a copy of the cut-paper pizza he’d just made. Be still, my heart!
If you are in the Boston area, Book Ends in Winchester, MA will be hosting me for an End of Summer Pizza Party on Saturday August 31 at 3:00:
Question: I believe that children’s books are especially meaningful, even when we’re adults. Do you have any memorable experiences meeting a children’s book author, either as a child or with a child? Or how about a children’s book that’s meant a lot to you? I’m happy to give away three copies of Pizza for Pia to commenters on the blog.
About Pizza for Pia!
Pizza is easy. Pizza is cheesy. Everyone loves pizza…right? A plucky little girl in a pizza-loving family pushes for her meal of choice in Pizza for Pia, a playful and delicious book for beginning readers.
About Betsy Groban
Betsy Groban is a correspondent for the Boston Globe and writes a column on reading for Publishers Weekly Children’s Bookshelf. She is also the book review editor of the Jane Austen Society of North America. Betsy lives in Cambridge and has four magnificent grandchildren, one of whom is called Pia. Pizza for Pia! is her first book for children. www.betsygroban.com
The Wickeds 
Welcome. Betsy, and congratulations! The book sounds delightful, and I plan to order a copy for the little ones in my life. (I can’t make it tomorrow, but if I order it from Bookends today, can you sign it for Luca?)
What are you working on next? And tell us about the process of working with the artist!
LikeLike
Aha – I didn’t answer the question. When I was a child in southern California, my mom took us to the library at least twice for an author presentation. Once it was Taro Yashima, who signed UMBRELLA with a water color painting. Another time it was Leo Politi with SONG OF THE SWALLOWS (A Caldecott Medal winner), who also signed with a water color drawing. Both authors were Californians of ethnic heritage, and this was in the late 50s and early 60s. I still have both books! My parents didn’t have extra money lying around, and I think each of the four of us kids got a book. Shows you how important books were in our family.
LikeLike
Thank you for these beautiful stories about meeting authors as a child. You were fortunate to grow up in such a literary family!
LikeLike
Thank you, Edith! I’d be happy to sign a book for Luca when I’m at Book Ends tomorrow. As for working with the artist, people are often surprised to learn that, more often than not, the authors of illustrated books for kids do not work with the illustrator at all. The publisher signs up the author and then chooses the illustrator. In my case, I was so thrilled with the creativity and insight that Allison Steinfeld brought to Pizza for Pia that I wrote her a fan note! I’m currently working on two additional stories about Pia and her family…
LikeLike
Congratulations, Betsy! What an exciting time for you! I have (sadly) never met a children’s book author but I can easily point to the book that started my reading passion: Ann Likes Red by Dorothy Z. Seymour. I remember crying tears of frustration at not being able to read. Then my mom found Seymour’s book and I learned to read. I even have a copy (though not the original I received when I was four) proudly displayed with all my favorite books.
LikeLike
What a wonderful story! Thanks for sharing it. It’s awesome to remember the powerful time when we first learned how to read, and how it opened up with world to us.
LikeLike
Pizza and books party for kids – great idea (along with lots of wet wipes lol)! I can’t think of any childrens books authors I’ve met, but I know Dr. Suess books were very popular with my kids growing up. Plus Winnie the Pooh!
LikeLike
Thanks, Kathy. Dr. Seuss and Winnie the Pooh will never go out of style.
LikeLike
Congratulations on the release of “Pizza for Pia”! Love the idea of your interaction with the kiddos (and parents). What a swell idea you had.
Was never fortunate enough to meet a children’s book author. I’m from the generation when our library was the traveling book mobile. I do so remember fondly the Pippi Longstocking books. It wasn’t just the adventures, but that everyone didn’t have to be alike and being different can be fun.
Not entering the contest since I have no little ones to give the book too.
2clowns at arkansas dot net
LikeLike
Thanks, Kay. Pippi was also a favorite of mine when I was young. She was so strong, in all ways!
LikeLike
Congratulations on your delightful book, Betsy! I remember when Ruby Bridges came to my son’s school to talk about her children’s book. It was such a an amazing learning experience and history lesson for him.
LikeLike
Thank you. And wow! What a thrill to meet Ruby Bridges! An unforgettable experience, I’m sure.
LikeLike
Congratulations Betsy!
One of the most meaningful book series for me was the Encyclopedia Brown mysteries. It is one of the four tentpoles that started my lifelong love of mysteries. It’s the closest to kids books as I can remember loving. Other stuff I read was geared towards a slightly older age group and that took it out of “kids” books range. But Encyclopedia Brown is definitely ever so fondly remembered by me to this day.
LikeLike
Thanks, Jay. Encyclopedia Brown seems like a wonderful place to start a lifetime of reading, especially mysteries!
LikeLike
Congratulations on your wonderful children’s book. A meaningful and memorable series was the Anne of Green Gables entire series which I read in hardcover borrowed from the public library many years ago. I have the newer collection which I bought for my grandchildren to enjoy.
LikeLike
Thank you, Sharon! One of my best memories is when we travelled to Prince Edward Island to check out all the Anne of Green Gables sights.
LikeLike
Congratulations Betsy! Your book looks delightful and special. Reading was my favorite activity and it still is. I never met a children’s author. I read many unforgettable books which made a deep impression. My favorite series were the Narnia books. A real escape.
LikeLike
Thanks, Anne. Reading is my favorite activity, too. And like you I’ve read many unforgettable books. And I look forward to reading many more!
LikeLike
The book. looks delightful and I’m sure my pizza and book loving grandson will love a copy!
Last year a friend & I visited the Eric Carle Museum of children’s book art & arrived just in time for an author talk by Balint Zsako about his new book (without words) Bunny & Tree. We both bought copies & had them signed by the author.
LikeLike
Thank you, Judith. The Eric Carle Museum is awesome! And what great timing you had!
LikeLike
Congrats! It’s so wonderful to see a dream and hard work pay off, isn’t it? (No need to enter me in the giveaway.)
LikeLike
Thank you for your kind note, Mark. I really appreciate it.
LikeLike
Congratulations! What a wonderful post and a great theme for a party. You’ve made some young readers there – I’m sure of it. I often return to childhod favorites when I want a comfort read. The Little Prince springs to mind – I first encountered it when my dad read it to me. And who could forget Paddington Bear. I blame him for my wanderlust!
LikeLike
Thank you for your kind note. I agree that returning to childhood favorites for comfort is a great idea. The Little Prince and Paddington — what a dynamic duo!
LikeLike
The book sounds amazing and congratulations on becoming an author and receiving such a fabulous review from Booklist, Betsy! The promo package you proposed sounds great, too! Like you said, what’s not to love about family, food, and lots of fun?
LikeLike
Thank you, Damyanti. Very kind of you. This book was all about family, food, fun, and a bit of feminism, too!
LikeLike