JOY THE PANDACORN written by Maggie Lauren Brown
If there’s one thing I love just as much as a good book on a rainy day, it’s a portmanteau.
And today’s book has the best kind of portmanteau because it puts together two fabulous creatures to introduce a new whimsical friend: JOY THE PANDACORN!
I’m so pleased that my very talented critique partner Maggie Lauren Brown is here to share her revision journey for her debut picture book with delightful illustrations by Fia Kilbourn.
As for a little more about Maggie: after studying Creative Writing and Political Science at the University of Minnesota, she became a mermaid.
No, really!
She performed for 10 years in cirque shows from Le Reve at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas and Azul at SeaWorld in San Antonio and was a resident magical mermaid-for-hire. After she traded her fins for legs (without turning into seafoam) she taught high school English and elementary Language Arts.
And now, more about her magical debut...
Maggie! Thank you for sharing your writing and revision journey for JOY THE PANDACORN! What is the story behind your story?
Joy the Pandacorn, the story of a unicorn-panda hybrid who discovers that there isn’t anyone quite like her at the first of school, was inspired by my son, Braxton. We were at the grocery store and a woman commented that he was so cute, “but what is he?” I hesitated, like, um… he’s a human child? She was referring to his race (he’s multiracial), but I thought it was such a strange question.
I noticed there weren’t as many picture books about multiracial and biracial children as I’d hoped there would be, and many of the ones out there had a serious tone. I wanted to write something fun and playful that biracial/multiracial kids could relate to, but that wasn’t explicitly about race. Animal hybrid characters are something that I hope all kids will think is fun, and I also hope that kiddos will interpret the story in a way that works for them personally. This is part of the beauty of short-form writing—readers are allowed to make their own meaning, whether that’s seeing themselves reflected in a character, or just being able to laugh along with a story’s silly parts.
How long did it take from idea to book?
I came up with the initial concept of a story about hybrid animal characters, but then wasn’t sure exactly what animal to feature. I brainstormed different animal combos, which was super fun and definitely one of the strangest lists I’ve ever made! Eventually I landed on a Pandacorn, because it was something I figured most kids would be somewhat familiar with and could picture quickly in their heads.
Plus, the magic of a unicorn and the cuddliness of a panda? Yes, please! I couldn’t not include my other favorite, the Penguitten (penguin-kitten hybrid), so Urkel the Penguitten made it into the book as Joy’s best friend. From idea to first draft took about a month.
That is magically fast! What was your revision timeline?
January 2019: Completed the first draft. This was the second picture book I had ever written!
Summer 2019: Took my first Children’s Book Academy course and revised the draft. I connected with a wonderful critique group through the course and incorporated critique partners’ feedback into the story.
Fall 2019: Attended the Houston SCBWI conference fall 2019 and received a positive critique from a Scholastic editor who nominated the manuscript for an award. I had previously received a Golden Ticket request from Clear Fork’s Spork imprint through the CBA class, and at this point my editor/art director, Mira Reisberg, and Clear Fork’s owner, Callie Metler, delivered the news that they would like to acquire the manuscript!
Summer 2021: Joy the Pandacorn releases into the world!
What would you say was the hardest part of revising?
Pandacorn was the second picture book manuscript I’ve ever written, so initially I didn’t realize how much revision can change a story (for the better!), and how this is a normal part of the writing process. I had trouble letting go of lines and scenes I thought I loved, when really they weren’t serving the story.
These days, I am totally cutthroat—combing a manuscript for words/characters/scenes to cut is a fun challenge. If something needs to go that I still have feelings for, I put it in a “cutting room floor” document, with the idea that I can come back to it later and use it in another story.
(I’m coming back for you, Butterphant—elephant with butterfly wings for ears—you better believe it.)
I really, really want to read about the butterphant one day! Did you have an ‘ah-ha!’ moment with your manuscript during the revision process? If so, what triggered it?
As a new picture book writer, I overwrote, which I think is a common problem. In Pandacorn’s early drafts, I included a lot of descriptions about how Joy was feeling, and that just wasn’t necessary. Once I realized I needed to give the reader credit—that they could interpret how they would feel if they were Joy in these situations—that strengthened the story tremendously, and hopefully will also allow readers to connect more strongly to the story.
Very wise revision advice! What other advice do you have for writers? Are there any resources you would recommend to help with the revision process?
Seek out the most helpful tool in the revision process—a critique group! There are little gems sprinkled throughout each of my stories that remind me of particular critique partners, and I think that is so magical and special.
A piece of advice for critique groups: one thing I’ve noticed is that if critiquers make comments in the same document, they often agree. So I really like when each person opens a fresh doc, so that their comments are unbiased, initial reactions. If you get similar comments multiple times while using this format, then you know that the feedback is probably spot on.
And now a snippet of the early draft of JOY THE PANDACORN…
Joy the Pandacorn was all that was carefree in a unicorn, and all that was curious in a panda. She had a mom who loved her. A dad who adored her. And a big brother who…well, who tolerated her.
Life was perfect. Until…
Her first day of school.
And the words and pages in the book!
Joy the Pandacorn was as carefree as a unicorn and as loveable as a panda. Her world was bamboo-and-rainbow-filled bliss.
Her mom loved her. And her dad adored her.
Life was perfect. Until…
Her first day of school.
Make sure to follow Maggie’s book news on her website and on Twitter (@ByMaggieBrown) and purchase your copy of Joy the Pandacorn from Clear Fork, Barnes & Noble, or IndieBound!
Thank you, Maggie! I can’t wait for the first draft of Butterphant and the final book to join JOY THE PANDACORN!