Myrna: What is your profession?

Sharon: I’m a writer! Since elementary school, I’ve written poems, skits and short stories. I have worked in education as a teacher and literacy coach, both of which have given me many opportunities to share books with young readers and to have students perform skits and assemblies that I’d scripted.

Myrna: What made you want to start writing picture books?

Sharon: I thought that 500 words, the average length of the average picture book, was an achievable goal. Who knew how difficult it could be? Telling a story, fleshing out characters, creating a mood or feeling … when you think about it, it’s probably more of a challenge to do so much using so few words. Oh well, I guess I like a challenge!

Myrna: That's the best attitude! It really is a challenge.

You have a picture book coming out in January that’s based on an event from your life. Could you tell us about your story and why you decided to share it?

Sharon: The story of my family’s role in the integration of a local amusement park has been a part of my family’s oral history for as long as I can remember. When I joined SCBWI, and then Storyteller Academy, I began to think that perhaps my story could become a picture book. I think it helped that people were showing interest in the story based on Round and Round Together, a book my co-author Amy Nathan had interviewed me for and written for young adult readers (middle and high school students).

Myrna: I didn't realize your story was already out there in a book. Do you want to share how you see children making a difference in the world around us?

Sharon: When pulling together the manuscript for A Ride to Remember, it was important to me that we included the contributions of other children, families and young adults who helped push the park to integrate. It confirms that there were many people who did not agree with segregation and felt that it was wrong. They expressed their support for all children by including their own children in the protests, marches and demonstrations.

Myrna: That's so important. Do you have any advice for writers who have stories from their own lives they want to share?

Sharon: Family lore, oral histories, scrapbooks and photo albums are a great place to start. I’m convinced that everyone and every family has a story to tell. Interview older family members to recount the stories and share the photos, letters and other artifacts.

When my family has a reunion, my aunt, along with a cousin, would post large boards with family photos that include captions and artifacts like postcards, love letters, and souvenirs. They act as docents to describe the special events that occurred in our family and to highlight the family members connected to those events. My aunt has since passed away, but I’m thankful that she and my cousin made this an integral part of family gatherings. I’m also very grateful that before she passed away, she was sure to appoint a younger cousin as her successor and the “keeper of the family flame.”

Myrna: I'm sorry you lost your aunt. It sounds like she was a family treasure.

Speaking of history, when and why did you take Arree Chung’s Making Picture Book Stories and Dummies?

Sharon: I signed up for Making Picture Book Stories and Dummies in 2017 because I wanted to continue to grow as a writer. I was very happy that the manuscript for A Ride to Remember had been accepted, and throughout the editorial process, the revisions were somewhat minor. However, in watching Arree’s success and the new books that he was publishing, I felt it was important to learn more about the craft of picture book writing. I also appreciate that the lessons are available to revisit whenever I feel the need.

Myrna: Yes, I love that. How did taking Arree’s class change the way you write picture books?

Sharon: Every story isn’t a personal story or a family story. Taking Arree’s class helped me to think about the essential elements of story, character and pacing. I also participate in online story idea generating contests, such as Storystorm, and I return to my Storyteller Academy lessons to help me develop and expand a kernel of an idea. Some “kernels” require research or further exploration. Some “kernels” need time to develop. For some ideas, I need time to ruminate and mull them over. Then I’ll come back to them later to see if there’s enough content or information for them to become a fully developed story. 

Myrna: True! Could you tell us about your book deal with Abrams Books for Young Readers? Did you have a literary agent? 

Sharon: I’m represented by Susan Schulman at Susan Schulman Literary Agency.

Myrna: Did you get to choose your amazing illustrator? Details, please!

Sharon: The manuscript had been accepted, most of the revisions had been made, and we were waiting for an illustrator to be assigned or to sign on. This part of the process took the longest, and I was beginning to be concerned because I didn’t want the story to languish. And although people often say that authors have no input about illustrator selection, I found that our editor was very open and receptive to suggestions. In fact, he actually asked me for a list of illustrators that he might consider approaching. Since I’d been a classroom teacher and literacy coach, I’d read lots of children’s books to my students and in my work with teachers. It was really important that the illustrator depict Black people in a warm and inviting way.  

Myrna: And Floyd Cooper does that so well.

Do you have any advice for our readers?

Sharon: Keep writing. Keep learning. And keep reading. I recently read a quote from Pam Allyn, “Reading is like breathing in. Writing is like breathing out.”