With a new children’s book hitting the shelves this spring, one San Antonio writer is seeing her persistence pay off.
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Editor’s note: This article contains Amazon Affiliate links. See the disclaimer at the bottom of this page. And look for the “Explore More” section of this story for a giveaway!
We love introducing our readers to authors, artists, and other creatives from across the Hill Country region, so when we caught wind of a blogger-turned-author whom we hadn’t yet met, we set out to get to know Carolyn Leiloglou (Web | Facebook | Instagram | GoodReads) better with a quick Q&A.
TW: Tell us about how you came to be a writer.
CL: I’ve always wanted to be a writer. I’ve written poetry for as long as I can remember, and I started my first novel (inspired by the Redwall series) in fourth grade. But around middle school, as happens with so many kids, I lost confidence in my writing, and didn’t gain it back until my early thirties. I think having kids and reading lots of books aloud rekindled that dream.
TW: Making the leap from “writer” to “author” is a big step. How did that come to pass?
CL: It is! Several years ago, I decided to fully commit to my writing. I’d been dabbling in it on and off for quite a while, but I realized that if I never invested the time, I’d never get good enough to be published. Since I write for children, mostly picture books, I participated in Storystorm, joined Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and the 12×12 Picture Book Challenge, and began attending online webinars and conferences. I was writing more and submitting to both agents and small publishers who accepted unagented manuscripts. One of those publishers, Clear Fork Publishing, which is actually located in North Texas, offered me a contract for my chapter book Noah Green Junior Zookeeper and the Garage Sale Pet.
Since then, I’ve also signed with an agent and finished as a finalist for the 2018 Katherine Paterson Prize, which definitely helped me feel like a real author while waiting for this book to come out.
TW: Can you tell us a little bit about the book? It debuts this March correct? What was the inspiration?
CW: Sure! Noah Green Junior Zookeeper and the Garage Sale Pet releases March 26. Noah is a girl who loves animals but has never had a pet until she unexpectedly finds the perfect one at a garage sale. But he won’t stop growing or making mischief, leaving Noah with a mystery and a dilemma.
There’s a bit of a mystery to the story which I don’t want to give away, but the idea came from two animals which look very much alike. Also, I was a kid who loved animals and couldn’t have enough pets. I would catch lizards in my yard and play with them in my dollhouse before letting them go. I wanted to write a book that I would have loved as a child, and I think I’ve done that.
TW: How long did it take you to go from the book’s idea to getting the final copy ready for press?
CL: Oh, a long time. I first had the idea for this book close to a decade ago. But an idea isn’t a story. When I finally sat down to write it about five years ago, the main character was a boy. Many revisions later, I started submitting. A little less than two years ago, Clear Fork offered me the contract. Since then there have been more revisions and a lot of waiting. The book is for younger readers, so it has black and white illustrations inside. It took time for the illustrator to develop the characters and finalize art with the publisher.
TW: Who are some of your favorite authors? Who inspires you?
CL: When I was a kid, some of my favorites books were Trumpet of the Swan, Redwall, and the Chronicles of Narnia. Today my favorite children’s authors include Andrew Peterson, Jonathan Auxier, Grace Lin, Anne Ursu, N.D. Wilson, and S.D. Smith.
TW: Finally, what’s next? Book promotion? Another book? A little R&R?
CL: Hopefully a little bit of each! There will be a book signing/launch party at Barnes & Noble in late March or early April. And, yes, another book in the Junior Zookeeper series will be out this fall. It’s called Save the Cave and features bats. I’ve also got a picture book contract in the works that should be announced soon.
We can’t wait to read them all, Carolyn!
Explore More
Carolyn is offering a downloadable bonus bundle to anyone who preorders her book. Simply send your receipt to juniorzookeeperpreorder@gmail.com. The bonus includes the prequel story, three coloring sheets, and a printable junior zookeeper certificate.
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