THE OWL WHO ASKS WHY written by Michelle Garcia Andersen
My daughter loves asking why so much that I often end up finding myself struggling to answer her existential questions like...why is a tree a tree? Why is it called a tree? What is a tree?
By this time, I’m usually muttering something like “because it just is” and then running away.
But today, I am delighted to meet someone who asks why...in a picture book!
And I’m even more delighted that author Michelle Garcia Andersen is sharing her revision journey for her debut picture book THE OWL WHO ASKS WHY, illustrated by Ayesha L. Rubio.
Michelle was a teacher who loved teaching kids to read, and she spent a majority of her career teaching kindergarten and second grade. She writes books for the educational market, ranging from pre-kindergarten to twelfth grade, and has always dreamed of writing children’s books.
Something many of the readers here can relate to, I’m sure!
(*cough* like me *cough*)
When she isn’t writing and molding young minds through her words, she is a self-described outdoor girl who loves hiking kayaking, laying in her hammock, and reading a good book.
And now, onto the interview!
Michelle, thank you so much for sharing your story. Could you talk a little bit about what sparked your concept?
I got the idea for this story while sitting in my studio, and I heard a little owl ask WHO. It reminded me of a little boy I used to watch, who always asked why. I thought it would be fun to explore the idea of an owl that asked why instead of who.
By the way, that little boy who helped spark this idea is now in his mid-twenties!
That is so SWEET! Wait, does that mean he gets a cut of the royalties? Kidding! How long did it take from idea to book?
From the first idea to the actual physical book in hand . . . SIX YEARS! Good grief.
What was your revision timeline?
June 2016: I wrote my first draft and after sending it to my critique partners, I got busy revising it.
October 2016: I went to an SCBWI retreat. That was a HUGE deal for me. It took every bit of courage I had to go to an event like this. I shared my story at a round table event (GULP) and received valuable feedback, and learned that this community is full of kind and supportive people. After the retreat, I put the story aside for a while and focused on other writing projects.
August 2018: The Owl Who Asks Why (it had a different title back then) went out on submission.
January 2018: Page Street Kids received the MS.
February 2018: My editor at PSK asked for more revisions.
March of 2018: I revised and resubmitted.
April 2018: The book sold!
I went through several revisions throughout this entire process!
That is FABULOUS. And I agree, I was so glad the day I mustered up the courage to attend a SCBWI event. What was the hardest part of revising?
In the first several drafts, Little Wolf asked WHAT instead of WHEN. When my editor at PSK asked for revisions before purchasing the manuscript, she asked that I change Little Wolf’s questions to WHEN to sound more child-like.
I knew right away that it was a good idea, but I also knew it wouldn’t be an easy switch. It was incredibly challenging but definitely the right move.
Can you talk a little more about that? Did you have an ‘ah-ha!’ moment with your manuscript during the revision process?
I did! In the story, Little Owl and Little Wolf go off on their own and get lost. I knew these two had to find their way home without their parents coming to their rescue. I had thoughts about how I wanted this to happen from the very beginning. But at some point, during so many revisions, I lost sight of this.
When I slowed down and went back to the beginning, and reminded myself what my original idea was for this story. That was my ‘ah-ha’ moment. I think it’s easy to get off track when we are deep into our revisions and try to address the many critiques we receive along the way.
That is so true. It’s an ever evolving process, but I feel like definitely one thing to bear in mind when we revise our story: we know our story best.
What advice do you have for other writers? Are there any resources you would recommend to help with the revision process?
I'm not sure I'm qualified to give out much advice, but I think it's important to believe in yourself and invest in yourself. There are many ways we can do this that don’t require any costs. We can invest in ourselves by turning our phones off, closing the door, and getting to work.
Easier said than done for me!
If you can find a way to go to an event like a conference or a retreat, do it! I met people from the retreat I attended in 2016 that I am still friends with today. If you can’t go to an in-person event (boy, do I miss those!), participate online. This writing business can be a lonely journey, but it doesn’t have to be—it shouldn’t be. The people I’ve met in this kid-lit community are some of the funniest, most creative, and generous people I’ve known. I feel so blessed to be a part of it!
Same. And I miss those in person events too! I hope to see you one in the *fingers crossed* near future.
And here is a snippet of one of the early drafts...
Meanwhile, deep in the woods near the aspen tree grove Little Wolf was asking questions of his own.
“What?” cried Little Wolf.
“Wolves don’t ask what,” said Papa Wolf.
“What?”
“Wolves ask how,” said Papa Wolf.
“What?”
What was Little Wolf’s favorite word.
“What other types of animals roam in packs?”
“What does it mean to be the alpha male?”
“What if I don’t want to mark my territory?”
...and the final words with a sneak peek of a spread in this absolutely delightful story!
Meanwhile, deep in the woods near the aspen tree grove Little Wolf asked, “When will I be able to explore on my own?”
“Wolves don’t ask when,” said Papa Wolf.
“Since when?”
“Wolves ask how,” said Papa Wolf.
“Not when?”
“It’s just how it’s done,” said Papa Wolf.
“When can I ask when?”
Okay, seriously, WHO would not howl with laughter WHEN you read this book?
Make sure to follow Michelle on Twitter (@ChelAndersen) or Facebook and of course keep up to date on her book news on her website.
Great news... her book just launched and you can get your hands on a copy TODAY! You can purchase it from Bookshop or Michelle’s favorite Indie Store Powell’s Books.
Thank you so much, Michelle!