My interview today is with Lydia Lukidis who is a children's
author with a multi-disciplinary background that spans the fields of
literature, science, and theater. So far, she has over 40 books and eBooks
published, as well as a dozen educational books. Her latest STEM books
include The Broken Bees’ Nest and The Space Rock
Mystery. Read on to discover how she’s been successful.
What drew you to writing children’s books?
I’ve been writing since the age of 6, but I focused mostly on
poetry and short stories for many years. After getting a degree in English
Literature, I went on a different venture- I became a puppeteer! I made string
marionettes and wrote plays for children. That’s when I realized that I *loved*
writing for children.
How long did it take you to write your first book?
My first children’s book was published in 2014. It took about 6
months to write. Some books take a few months, while many others take years.
What made you choose a gerbil as your main character point of view?
My first two trade picture books revolved around gerbils. I built
narratives for characters that my publisher at the time had created. It was
great fun! Children love gerbils and we did live photography to illustrate the
book. The photos really brought the book to the next level.
Are you active with any writing critique groups?Yes! I highly recommend getting involved. People in the kidlit
community are incredibly generous and it’s a good place to get advice and
support. My favorite groups are Kidlit411, Sub it, as well as groups for giving
workshops in schools.
I also have my own critique group and we help each other when
needed. I met them through SCBWI, which is an essential organization to be part
of if you write for children professionally.
How did you go about finding an agent / publisher?
I mostly relied on sending queries directly to agents. That’s how
I found my 2 previous agents. A lot of research is required, you need to know
who the right match will be and who will best represent your work.
I have also approached editors at publishing houses. There are
many that accept unsolicited manuscripts. I’ve attended writing conferences,
but not as much as I’d like. But they’re a great place to network with other
writers, and often big agents and editors will allow you to query them after
the event.
What is the hardest part of writing for you? Starting? Creating a
scene? Dialog?
I have no shortage of ideas and it’s easy for me to start my
stories. My main problem comes with the development of the narrative arc. I also
have trouble with endings!
I’m getting more comfortable with the pacing in picture books because I read and write so many. But when it comes to novels, I find pacing is
more challenging.
What does your editor remind you to do most often?
I work with different editors, but my top two mistakes would be
misplaced commas and telling rather than showing.
What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?
It’s always positive when an agent or editor tells you your work
is on point. But for me, the ultimate audience is children. A few years back,
I got my first “fan letter” from one of my young readers. He took the time to
type out a letter on why he loved my book. My heart melted, and I sent him a
huge care package to show my appreciation. When children, who can be honest yet
sometimes harsh critics, love your work, that’s the moment of greatest
satisfaction.
We have all experienced rejection. How have you learned to write
past it?
Trust me, I could line my entire house with all the rejection
letters I’ve gotten over the years! I’ve learned to not take them personally,
but some sting more than others. The ones that sting the most are when I get
close, and an agent/editor asked to see more of my work, but then ultimately
passes. That’s tough. I usually eat some chocolate, have a good cry, and then
right back to it. It’s okay to fall, but you need to be relentless and keep
getting back up.
What has surprised you the most in writing/publishing?
When I first started out, I was astounded how LONG everything
takes in the publishing industry! It takes several years to publish a book.
And, as with most other writers, I get frustrated when I don’t get a reply from
a query. A “no” is better than no reply because at least you know where you
stand.
I understand the nature of the industry better now- agents and
editors are inundated, and simply don’t have the time to reply to everyone,
though they’d like to. You just have to roll with it.
What do you know now about writing you wished you had known
sooner?
Regarding picture books, I wish I had started making dummies
earlier, and adding page spreads. Since I started doing that, it made a world
of difference in the pacing and tension. Also, READ YOUR STORY OUT LOUD! Sounds
so simple, but when I started out, I wasn’t doing it. Reading it out loud helps
understands how it flows, and more importantly, when it doesn’t flow as well.
What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?
An author I really respect, Laura Purdie Salas, once gave me great
advice about having the wisdom to know it’s time to let go of a manuscript.
Often, when we spend a lot of time on a project and put in considerable effort,
we feel like we need to publish that book. But the truth is, writers
don’t publish everything they write. You need to learn from experience and
accept when to shelf a certain project.
Are there any other points about writing you would like to add?
Just a reminder to write every day. I often get bogged down with
answering emails, researching or administrative tasks, and there’s hardly
enough time to write. That’s why I make a to-do list each week, to make sure I
carve that time out.
What is the next book coming out? Can you give me a short
synopsis?
I just released a new picture book called NO BEARS ALLOWED
illustrated by Tara J. Hannon and published by Blue Whale Press. I’ll be
hosting a book launch shortly. Here’s the synopsis:
Rabbit is afraid of many things, but most of all he’s afraid of
gigantic, monstery, BEARS! The very nervous Rabbit is soon confronted by his
worst fear who appears to be far more interested in making new friends than
causing Rabbit any real harm.
Despite his apprehension, Rabbit agrees to join
his jovial new acquaintance for dinner, but wait a minute . . . is Bear
planning to “have” Rabbit for dinner? In this tender story about a very nervous
rabbit and a lovable bear, Rabbit discovers that things aren’t always as scary
as they seem, and sometimes you may just have more in common with others than
you think.
Sounds like a fun story. Here’s a link to purchase it. https://www.amazon.com/No-Bears-Allowed-Lydia-Lukidis/dp/0981493890/
If you’d like to learn more about her other books, get
connected with these links: www.lydialukidis.com
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