Author’s name: Thelia Hutchinson
Illustrator’s name: Adriana Predoi
What is your upcoming book title? More Than You Imagine
Date of release: 4/2/2024
Preorder or Order link: More Than You Imagine: Hutchinson, Thelia, Predoi, Adriana: 9781958372364: Amazon.com: Books
Publisher: Soaring Kite Books
Hometown: Thelia lives in Pennsylvania but is from The Bronx, New York, and originally from the island of Jamaica.
1. What are 5 things you want people to know about your book?
-I wrote this book for my daughter because I love her very much.
-This book is about love and devotion for your child. Expressing positive words of encouragement, always being there for them, and helping to guide them through.
– I met my publisher at Soaring Kite Books for this story from a Twitter pitch contest in Sept. 2022.
-The beautiful illustrations by Adriana Predoi represent diverse family dynamics so everyone can be represented.
-When I did the Twitter pitch, I only received one like (heart) from Soaring Kite Books, and all previous attempts to get this book out in this world resulted in all No’s!!
2. What are 5 helpful hints or tips you wish you would’ve known before starting on this publishing journey?
1. I wish I knew all about the waiting process. Publishing is truly a long process. Just be patient and keep at your craft.
2. Definitely querying too early. LOL! I totally made that mistake fast. When I look back at what I sent out to agents, I laughed and cried because I had no clue. In my head, it sounded good.
3. Thinking it was easy. This is work. Serious work, and I commend everyone involved in the process. This is a team effort, and a support system is absolutely needed.
4. Writing all my ideas down. Initially, I thought I would remember all the ideas, but I learned the hard way. Keep that handy dandy notebook or recorder nearby. You never know when you will need it.
5. I did not realize the number of picture books I needed to read and study to understand and better grasp the wonderful world of picture books. Picture books are awesome. You can learn so much from your fellow writers/authors/illustrators.
3. What are 5 fun/quirky facts about yourself as an adult or child?
1. I collect Barbie Dolls.
2. I was born on the island of Jamaica.
3. Flamingoes are my favorite bird.
4. Pink is my favorite color.
5. I graduated from modeling school and participated in a couple of fashion shows.
4. Where are 5 places you find inspiration for your stories?
I never really thought about this, but when I think about it, I find inspiration everywhere, but here are some examples:
1. Other picture books/books. You have to keep reading. You can learn so much.
2. My own personal experiences, because you have a lot of back matter there.
3. Your surroundings- just look outside and look around. Go to the store, go on a hike, go out to eat. Something can give you that spark at any time.
4. Other people’s experiences- You can learn so much information from others that can help generate a story or even pique your interest.
5. My dog-LOL!
5. What are your 5 favorite picture books and why?
This is so hard to choose. There are so many great picture books out there in the world. I highly doubt I’ll be able to read them all, let alone choose 5. Yikes! In no particular order…
1. The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld- I just love the message it represents.
2. Mel Fell by Corey R. Tabor- it’s such a fun story. You have to root for Mel. I love the spread where you have to turn the book.
3. Thank you, Omu by Oge Mora-I love the illustrations and the message of sharing.
4. Knight Owl by Christopher Denise- Such a great story of believing in yourself.
5. Ten Little Princesses by Mike Brownlow- Because my daughter loves it, and I’ve read it a million times. I practically know the book by heart. It’s a fun book.
Please comment below to show Thelia you support her and her amazing work!