Book Giveaway – Lucy Loves Sherman

Congratulations to author Catherine Bailey and Meg Walters on their new book LUCY LOVES SHERMAN, published by Sky Pony Press. They have agreed to participate in our book giveaways. All you have to do to get in the running is to leave a comment. Reblog, tweet, or talk about it on Facebook with a link and you will get additional chances to win. Just let me know the other things you did to share the good news, so I can put in the right amount of tickets in my basket for you. Check back to discover the winner.

Everyone’s invite to their Book Launch Party. See details at the bottom of post.

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Girl meets lobster. Girl loves lobster. But can girl save lobster? That question is at the core of this sweet and sassy picture book about Lucy, her shell-y friend Sherman, and the seafood-loving town they inhabit.

Lucy loves Sherman from the moment they meet at Flotsam’s Fish Market. Oh sure he’s an eighteen pound, eighty year old crustacean, but he’s also polka dotted. And blurble-y. And he smells like the ocean! Unfortunately, Nana and Gramps are not hooked on the idea of a pet lobster. Things only get worse when Lucy meets Chef Pierre and discovers that Sherman’s fate …. is on a plate! Of course she must rescue Sherman, and those cute wiggly antennae, even if it means getting into hot water with her grandparents. Never at a loss for words – or a clever plan – Lucy takes action. But will the efforts of one little girl be enough to save Sherman from the bib and butter?

Lucy Loves Sherman explores an unlikely, yet utterly charming, friendship, and the challenge and thrill of finding your voice. Lucy’s wild activist antics and Sherman’s loving, bubbly repose are perfectly captured in Meg Walter’s bright illustrations.

CATHERINE’S BOOK JOURNEY:

LUCY LOVES SHERMAN is my third published picture book, and I am extra excited for its splashy debut because the main character is a feisty girl. Of course it did not happen overnight (these things never do!)

I wrote the first draft of LUCY in April of 2014, though back then it was called BOBO AND THE POT OF DOOM. As you can tell by the original title, I was headed in another direction entirely – one that was more humor based, and, well, a little bit dark. I got the idea of writing about a lobster from my two daughter’s horrified reaction to an anniversary dinner I cooked for my husband.

I wrangled with the plot – which wasn’t working – for a few weeks. Then I remembered my daughters’ and how much they loved the lobster I’d brought home. Specifically, how they’d named him and tried to convince me to spare him. (Sidebar: I didn’t but I would have had he been 80 years old like Sherman!) So with those very authentic emotions in mind, I introduced the character Lucy. And since Lucy’s grandparents were in the story, and because the lobster was 80 years old, I changed his name from the youthful Bobo to a more appropriate Sherman.

Next up was a perfectly timed trip to the Highlight’s Foundation Revision Retreat in September. By the time I returned home, I gained 400 pounds from their amazing meals, and the story was ready for submission. Then it was off to my agent, Kathleen Rushall, who sold the manuscript very quickly to Sky Pony Press. We thought Sky Pony would be a great home for the story because its founder is “dedicated to publishing books that make people’s lives better, whether that means teaching them a hobby, bringing them a unique and important story, or encouraging them to fight against injustices.” And we were right! These amazing folks at Sky Pony have treated Lucy, Sherman, Meg, and myself like family, and I’m thrilled with how the book turned out!

MEG’S BOOK JOURNEY:

I’ve attended many SCBWI & NJ SCBWI conferences and workshops with the same hopes of all the other illustrators attending … for an editor or art director to take one of your promotional postcards and contact you for a book project… well, almost 8 month after a conference, it finally happened for me.  I was contact by Julie Matysik, a senior editor at Sky Pony Press, the children’s imprint of Skyhorse Publishing (www.skyponypress.com), Julie is now Editorial Director, at Running Press Kids.  Julie and SSP editor Nicole Frail, had acquired a wonderful picture book script written by Catherine Bailey, called LUCY LOVES SHERMAN. Julie said she thought the character on my postcard might be something that would work for the main character LUCY. The character Lucy in the book LLS is younger than the girl on my postcard so I created a younger Lucy for this story, here is a side by side of postcard and Lucy:

see visual ”LUCYPostCard_KT”

Catherine’s fun story and great characters were easy to picture in my mind and I had fun bringing her story to life. From initial character sketches, creating thumbnails for the flow of the story, to the final rounds of proofs, the entire picture book experience has been fantastic. I am SO Im excited for the publication LUCY LOVES SHERMAN! Thank you Kathy for letting us share this experience with you.

CATHERINE’S BIO:

Catherine Bailey is a children’s author and presenter from sunny Florida. Her current books include MIND YOUR MONSTERS (Sterling Publishing, 2015), HYPNOSIS HARRY (Sky Pony Press, 2016), and LUCY LOVES SHERMAN (Sky Pony Press, 2017) – with more on the way! She has also written for popular children’s magazines such as Highlight’s Hello and Babybug. She is a frequent children’s speaker and has visited with hundreds (and hundreds, and hundreds!) of kids at schools, libraries, stores, and special events.

When Catherine is not writing, or editing, or swatting at mosquitos, she looks after her husband and two children. All three of them are quite sticky, and none like bedtime, but she loves them anyway. Her prior job titles include Lawyer (interesting), Sailboat Deckhand (fun but occasionally sea-sicky), and Cartoon Network Intern (best job ever, besides writing). Her hobbies include reading, travel, and TJ MAXX. But mostly reading. Learn more about Catherine and her work at www.catherinebaileybooks.com.

MEG’S BIO:

Meg Walters is an Illustrator and Designer and lives with her family in New Jersey. Originally from Rochester, NY, Meg attended Syracuse University where she received her BFA in Illustration. Like Lucy, Meg adores polka pots and loves special lobsters, not lobster specials. This is the first picture book that Meg has illustrated. See more of Meg’s work at www.crazydogdesign.com.

Thank you Catherine and Meg for sharing your journeys with us and offering one lucky winner a copy of your new book, LUCY LOVES SHERMAN.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy