Jenny Lacika
Again, Essie?
(Picture book fiction, May, Charlesbridge Publishing)
“Rafael tries to save his toys from his baby sister, Essie, by building a wall from shoeboxes, toilet paper rolls, and other household objects in this playful exploration of spatial sense and geometry, illustrated by Teresa Martínez.”
Santa Fe, N.M. Growing up, I never thought I would be a writer because I gravitated more toward STEM. Fatigue and cognitive changes that came with Multiple Sclerosis, paired with motherhood, pushed me to try something new. … When I saw a call for submissions for mathbased stories with cultural elements for preschoolers, the concept really appealed to me. I saw the call for submissions in early 2018, and I got to work on several story ideas. None of those manuscripts were acquired, but new ideas kept percolating. When there was a This book sold without an agent. I later connected with Miranda Paul at Erin Murphy Literary Agency through another opportunity I submitted to, the We Need Diverse Books Mentorship program. I was not awarded a mentorship, but as a runner-up, I had a few submission opportunities. The first manuscripts I queried were not what got me my agent, but she gave me the opportunity to revise and resubmit, which led to an offer of rep. How collaborative writing can be. Seeing my work through others’ eyes and analyzing my partners’ work really helped me grow as a writer. Having the support of my writing partners has also helped me push through disappointments. For me, I think it was important to write for myself first, but then be open to feedback. I also made a real effort to not self-eliminate myself from opportunities because I didn’t feel ready or my first try didn’t work out. This experience is all about the process for me. I am learning something completely new to me every day, and I knew I would make mistakes, so I am just enjoying the ride. I owe a lot to more established authors for lending their platform and boosting me, specifically Meg Medina through the SCBWI Volemos Grant, as well as the Las Musas community. Be gentle with yourself and focus on what you can control. The Spanish edition of releases later this year, then I have several more picture book projects coming out in the next few years that are all very different. I am getting to explore more nonfiction and poetry, different aspects of my identity, and even some more math.
