Today we’d like to introduce you to Ann Paul.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I am a picture book writer and was inspired to create stories by my four children. I thought they were short and would therefore be easy Ha! I took numerous classes through UCLA Extension and also joined the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators which is based in Los Angeles, and attended many conferences and workshops. Still, I guess I’m a slow learner as it took me five years to sell my first book and four years to sell my second book. I’ve published rhymed and prose texts, fiction and nonfiction, early readers, a collection of poetry and a textbook for adults on how to write picture books.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not smooth at all! One day I received one dozen rejections for a proposal for a cookbook parents and children could do together. I remember spreading them out on my bed and thinking, “If I can survive this, I can survive anything.” It actually inspired me to take more classes and to work harder. Writing requires a tough skin when you take a story to your critique group and realize you have more work ahead of you. It hurts when a reviewer doesn’t love your book and is especially painful when a book of yours goes out of print. OUCH!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
IF ANIMALS TRICK OR TREATED
Illustrated by David Walker F S & G
WHO LOVES LITTLE LEMUR
Illustrated by Jay Fleck F S & G
IF ANIMALS TRIED TO BE KIND
Illustrated by David Walker F S & G
IF ANIMALS GAVE THANKS
Illustrated by David Walker F S & G
IF ANAIMALS CELEBRATED CHRISTMAS
Illustrated by David Walker F S & G
IF ANIMALS WENT TO SCHOOL
Illustrated by David Walker F S & G
IF ANIMALS SAID I LOVE YOU
Illustrated by David Walker F S & G
‘TWAS THE LATE NIGHT OF CHRISTMAS
Illustrated by Nancy Hayashi eFrog Press
WRITING PICTURE BOOKS—A HANDS ON GUIDE FROM STORY CREATION TO PUBLICATION
Writer’s Digest Books
WORD BUILDER
Illustrated by Kurt Cyrus Simon & Schuster
TORTUGA IN TROUBLE
Illustrated by Ethan Long Holiday House
IF ANIMALS KISSED GOOD NIGHT
SNAIL’S GOOD NIGHT
Illustrated by Rosanne Litzinger Holiday House
COUNT ON CULEBRA
Illustrated by Ethan Long Holiday House
FIESTA FIASCO
Illustrated by Ethan Long Holiday House
HOP! HOP! HOP!
Illustrated by Jan Gerardi Random House
MAÑANA, IGUANA
Illustrated by Ethan Long Holiday House
LITTLE MONKEY SAYS GOOD NIGHT
ALL BY HERSELF
Illustrated by Michael Steirnagle Harcourt, Inc.
THE SEASONS SEWN—A Year in Patchwork
Illustrated by Michael McCurdy Harcourt, Inc.
SILLY SADIE, SILLY SAMUEL
Illustrated by Sylvie Wickstrom Simon & Schuster, Inc.
EVERYTHING TO SPEND THE NIGHT
Illustrated by Maggie Smith DKInk, Dorling Kindersley Publishing, Inc.
HELLO TOES! HELLO FEET!
Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott DKInk, Dorling Kindersley, Inc.
SHADOWS ARE ABOUT
Illustrated by Mark Graham Scholastic Inc.
EIGHT HANDS ROUND—A Patchwork Alphabet
Illustrated by Jeanette Winter HarperCollins Publishers
OWL AT NIGHT
Illustrated by Catherine Stock G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Plus numerous poems in anthologies
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Each of the illustrators who bring my words to life, my editors who help me make my writing the best it can be, the book designers, the copywriters and my agents who find the perfect home for my manuscripts. And a special shout-out to the teachers and librarians, the parents and grandparents, the relatives and friends who share my books with children.
Contact Info:
- Website: annwhitfordpaul.com
- Facebook: Ann Whitford Paul or Books by Ann Whitford Paul
- Twitter: @annwhitfordpaul
Image Credits
My picture credit to Sonya Sones
