A big thanks to Karen M. Greenwald for taking a moment during a busy holiday season to talk to us about her upcoming Non-Fiction Picture Book, “A Vote for Susanna: The First Woman Mayor.”
Read on to learn more about Karen’s journey to the page, and be sure to follow her on Twitter for news on when and where you can pre-order her book!
Please share your exciting news!
I am thrilled to share that my debut Non-Fiction Picture Book, A Vote for Susanna: The First Woman Mayor is scheduled for release, Fall 2021 (Albert Whitman), and this August, I signed with Liza Fleissig of Liza Royce Agency.
How long have you been writing & pursuing publication?
Writing has always been an important part of my life—from childhood to my political, legal, and strategic branding work. However, writing for picture books feels like another language completely!
I began seriously pursuing it three and a half years ago.
How did Writing Barn programming aid you in both the craft and business of picture book writing?
First, it gave me a sense of obligation and a heightened focus on accountability (ie, being present when in class, doing my “homework,” and taking advantage of course time.)
It also allowed me to get to know others pursuing the same goals. Forming your own community within the writing macrocosm is essential.
Did the atmosphere of The Writing Barn aid you in achieving this goal? If so, how?
I love being a student. I would be a life long college student if I could.
The Writing Barn offered a familiar, safe, comfortable space to deconstruct the process of writing a book—with great opportunities for feedback!
Also, as I said above, it allowed me to forge friendships with others who are on the same path.
What is a takeaway you will carry with you far beyond this good news as you continue to build and develop your career?
Thanks to the enormous amount of research that I did for this book, I now think of myself as an “historic detective!” I never realized how much I would enjoy the research process—it was exhilarating to uncover minor articles from 1887 that yielded a clue to the bigger picture.
The obvious takeaways for me were:
- Never give up!
- Be flexible enough to see your story from a different perspective.
- Be brave enough to change it (but don’t erase the other version[s]!).
Any advice you have for writers/creatives having trouble staying the course while pursuing their goals?
READ! READ! READ!
Engage with others in the community, even if you are an introvert.
Understand that rejection is a part of the process, but so is success!
Study the market.
Picture book writing is difficult but the journey should matter, too.
About Author Karen M. Greenwald:
Karen M. Greenwald enjoys a wide range of government and branding experience. Her work has earned 16 international awards for STEM Creative, writing, video, rebranding, and self-promotion. Karen’s bylined credits include print, electronic media, and The Washington Post.
She belongs to SCBWI, 12×12, and co-founded #SunWriteFun—a NF contest that raised money for the charity, We Need Diverse Books (WNDB). A Phi Beta Kappa, Magna cum laude, Karen earned her undergraduate and JD degrees from Georgetown University.
Her debut picture book, A Vote for Susanna: The First Woman Mayor is set to debut in fall 2021 (Albert Whitman).
Learn more at www.karengreenwald.com or on Twitter
Great post! I’m so happy for Karen, and I am determined to get to The Writing Barn myself! In person!