Mental Health Awareness Month is next month and we at the Barn would like to celebrate the recent release of author and WSS success story Ellen Tarlow’s children’s book, Looking for Smile. The book offers an approachable conversation for children (and adults, too) around depression and other mental illnesses.
We at the Barn love celebrating the success of our writers and breaking down the wall of transparency between craft and finished product. Being a writer takes work and we love seeing the journey one book can take from start to finish.
Ellen attended The Writing Barn’s Picture Book Intensive where she worked on this book and was introduced to her agent and publisher. We did a virtual interview with her about her success story.
1. Please share your exciting news (agent signing, book sale, etc)
At the Writing Barn Picture Book Intensive in May 2019, three really nice and surprising things happened. I signed with agent Rubin Pfeffer, who had reviewed my manuscript Looking for Smile. That weekend Rubin shared the manuscript with Allyn Johnston of Beach Lane Books, who was also on the faculty and she agreed to publish it. I also met one of my favorite illustrators, Lauren Stringer, who a few weeks later signed onto illustrate the book. The book came out in September of 2020! And thanks to the events of that weekend, I now have 3 more picture books and an early reader series coming out over the next few with Beach Lane Books.
2. How long have you been writing/pursuing an agent/publishing deal?
I have been writing children’s book off and on for over 35 (cough, cough) years. Along the way I have had a few small successes — a couple of picture books published by a very small publisher; an agent 30 years ago for my first book (a novel about a mouse), which never sold. I have also written many children’s books for my day job in the educational publishing world. It’s been a long and circuitous journey.
This newest phase of my writing life started in 2018. I went down to three days a week at my job and signed up for Dianne White’s WSS Picture Book class. (I had been at Vermont College for one semester about 12 years ago and met Dianne there.) This class was the perfect beginning for my new writing life. First, she is a brilliant and supportive teacher. The structure of the class was also exactly what I needed — with its two-part focus on creating a body of work (two stories a month for 6 months) and on really looking at the publishing world and thinking about how to get “out there.” So in one way this happened pretty fast. But in another way: 30 years!
3. What fears/hopes did you have before working with Bethany privately? OR What fears/hopes did you have before participating in WSS or a WB class/intensive?
My fear before taking a class is always that I won’t write anything I feel good about, which is just about the worst feeling in the world for me. Taking a class pretty much guarantees that I will go through that a little. Having such a supportive environment really helps to get through those dark days.
4. Did the WB programming aid you in the craft and the business of writing. If so, how?
Definitely. When I came to the Writing Barn through its WSS class, it had been many years since I had thought about trying to get published and that class really helped to ease me into that part of being a writer. And the critiques I received in my classes always improved my manuscripts. It’s a very dedicated group of teachers and students.
5. Did the atmosphere of The Writing Barn aid you in achieving your goals? If so, how?
What I love about the Writing Barn is that it is low key and intimate and yet so professional and connected. I tend to be overwhelmed by the conferences and other networking opportunities. What made it easy for me to come to this intensive is that by taking classes I already felt like I belonged. Bethany and the others do a fantastic job of creating a feeling of community. I really like how you can take online classes and yet feel part of this little place in Austin.
6. What is a takeaway you will carry with you far beyond this good news as you continue to build and develop your career?
How important being part of a writing community is. Clearly this would not have happened without the Writing Barn and the community of writers and opportunities for connections it offers. Children’s book writers are an amazingly generous (and fun) group of people. It’s good to know that you are going through this with such a wonderful group of people.
7. Any advice you have for writers/creatives having trouble staying the course while pursuing their goals?
Hmm, I guess I would say: stay the course in general but don’t be afraid to move on in particular. When I first started writing thirty years ago, I was immediately discouraged to learn that novels (such as the one I had just written) about talking mice were considered to be mostly a thing of the past. It seemed that no matter how much editors “liked” my book, there was always the fact that this kind of book was not what the world was looking for then. (Though I also believe that if it were a better book, that might not have mattered.) I didn’t write for a few years after that experience.
Since then (in several stages), I have worked to find a way to write what I want to write and to stay in the world that originally inspired me and yet somehow have it be relevant to the publishing world and children today. I think many writers have similar disconnects between what originally inspired them and what the world wants now. I guess I would say it’s worth it to keep searching for that place where your vision and the world, as it is, can meet.
Want to buy Looking for Smile? Please support your favorite independent bookstore.
Mental Health Awareness resources: https://www.aha.org/mental-health-awareness-month
About the Author
Ellen Tarlow lives in Sunnyside, Queens, with her husband, David (a painter), and Frankie (a cat). Most mornings she goes to her job as an early literacy specialist where she gets to work with children’s books all day. Riding a bike, the arrival of spring, and encouraging animals to talk (on paper) are some of the things that make her smile.
Hi Ellen: Fun to see you featured here. I cherish our online friendship. See you (on Zoom) soon.