DIANNE: First things first. Congratulations on your absolutely joyful debut, MONSTERS IN THE BRINY! What a fun read-aloud this is – a rollicking, exuberant sea shanty complete with a crew of known and lesser known sea monsters!

You talked eloquently HERE about the process of  “walking the rhyme” as you wrote your debut. But what came *before* the rhyme? You mentioned writing a short sea shanty about a kraken that you later expanded into a story. What came first? The poem? The sea shanty? Can you elaborate? I ask, because finding a song (or a poem, for that matter) can be an effective way into exploring a new picture book idea. Did inspiration “drop into your lap?” Or did you have to work to find it?

LYNN: Dianne, thanks for having me on your blog!

Actually, the kraken came first, before poem or sea shanty. At the time I began this project, I already had a handful of manuscripts that I was beginning to query, and I felt like I could take a break and write something just for me, something I myself might have enjoyed as a child.  I settled on writing poems—and songs—about different kinds of monsters. Eventually, when I got to the kraken, it seemed like a sea shanty would be a fun and fitting way to handle this underwater beastie. I took the shanty to my critique group and they enjoyed it so much that we all agreed I should expand it into picture book.

Is that dropping into my lap or is that me working to find it? I think it’s both—I did my work and the inspiration flowed.

DIANNE: Scott Brundage’s illustrations are the perfect backdrop for your story. There’s so much energy in the text, and the vibrant illustrations and expressive faces of each creature build on that lively energy.

Readers and newer writers often don’t realize that authors and illustrators rarely communicate. The author turns in her words and then the illustrator picks up and takes things to the next level.

How was the experience of seeing the completed art for the first time? Do have a favorite illustration? Is there a sea creature you were hoping to include that simply didn’t make the cut?

CLICK TO ENLARGE © Scott Brundage

LYNN: The cover was the first finished art I saw. I opened an email from my editor while I was in a supermarket and seriously began crying. It was absolutely perfect. When I saw it, I knew that everything would be fine, so right then and there I stopped worrying about the book and really began to enjoy the journey.

It’s not an easy thing for the author to turn in the words and hope for magic from the illustrator. Seeing the early black and white sketches really helped. But, as soon as I saw the cover, I knew I could trust Scott—and the Sleeping Bear art department—completely. I think Scott did the perfect cover for MONSTERS IN THE BRINY—every time I see it I want to pick up the book and read it again. It always draws me in.

For all of the above reasons, the cover is my favorite, but the interior art is completely wonderful, as well. Perhaps my favorite spread is the last one, which includes the sailors and all the beasties—and prominently features that very personable accordion player!

To answer your other question, these were the only creatures I considered using. The story was originally about the kraken only, so I expanded the cast to fit, rather than cutting it.

DIANNE: What has been the most surprising or fun part of being a debut author? Any tips for newer writers or authors on the cusp of launching their first book?

LYNN: I think the biggest surprise has been how much work there is once the book is sold, and even more so as the release date approaches—social media expectations, blog posts, and in-person events—these are all part of an author’s job to get the word out. The publisher does their part in many other ways, but it helps if creators can build a community of people who are committed to promoting this art form.

I think lots of authors hate the idea of engaging on social media beyond our circle of friends, and I resisted for a very long time, but once I was ready to take the business part of writing seriously I started following people in publishing. I lurked for a long time, then moved on to liking and, for Twitter, retweeting posts about people’s books. Then, when I had news of my own, it wasn’t so odd or intimidating to post it, just like I’d been seeing other people do for months. And I frequently ended up learning something whenever I did have a little time to engage.

As for the most fun part of all this, it’s absolutely watching someone read—and enjoy—the book!

CLICK TO ENLARGE © Scott Brundage

DIANNE: What are you working on now, and what can readers look forward to next?

LYNN: Next spring, my rhyming board book, June Moon, comes out. It’s about a child and the moon enjoying a magical summer evening before bedtime. And I’m working on a number of other projects in various stages of completion, but it’s impossible to know which will be have that special something needed to make it through all of the rewrites and revisions. I’m not sure the job gets easier—I guess we need to keep doing the work, and hope the inspiration will flow?!!

DIANNE: Thanks, Lynn, for taking the time to answer a few questions. Congratulations of a fun and fabulous debut!

• Check out this super fun video by the staff at the Wandering Jellyfish Bookstore singing the opening to MONSTERS IN THE BRINY. (remember to turn on the sound!)
• Find the book trailer HERE.
• Free, Downloadable Activity Pages to go with MONSTERS IN THE BRINY.
• Enjoy a conversation with Lynn on Kathy Temean’s blog HERE and Maria Marshall’s blog HERE (scroll down for the link to more resources and activities).