Book Giveaway: LOLA SHAPES THE SKY

Wendy Greenley debut picture book, LOLA SHAPES THE SKY is out.  It is illustrated by Paolo Domeniconi. Wendy has agreed to share a book with one lucky winner. 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 do to share the good news, so I can put in the right amount of tickets in my basket for you.

Sharing on Facebook, Twitter, reblogging really helps spread the word for a new book. Thanks for helping Wendy!

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

A cloud with a mind of her own and a gift for making awe-inspiring shapes encourages her friends to go beyond their practical functions and expand their imaginative horizons.

BOOK JOURNEY:

My road to writing for children had many twists and turns. I grew up thinking that I needed to do “solid” jobs for financial security, and ended up with a M.S. in Microbiology and a law degree. I enjoyed both fields of study. But when we moved abroad and I was out of work awhile, I realized that there were other things I wanted to do too. I saw the kids at local schools losing music and art classes with a focus toward “solid” subjects for standardized tests and the long suppressed artist in me wanted to push back.

These feelings combined with an idea I had banging about in my head during Tara Lazar’s PiBoIdMo (now Storystorm). And I wrote a story about a cloud’s first day at cloud school.

The only thing I kept from my first draft in the final draft that sold is the name of the main character, Lola, and the fact that she was a cloud. She was shaping the story, and I was along for the ride. After hearing advice that the manuscript wasn’t easily illustratable, I put it away for a year before Lola called me back. She had a story to tell and reminded me that the plot wasn’t as important as her message. The revision was a complete re-envisioning.The final draft has no mention of school, and a slew of funny cloud jokes were shelved.

I shared the manuscript with my critique partners again and again. They gave me great advice along the way—as well as the encouragement and support to keep going! A final critique with Jane Yolen and Heidi Stemple resulted in Jane’s advice to send the story to Creative Editions, and as expected her advice was spot on. The final story combines a modern day fable about the origin of cloud shapes with themes of self-acceptance, the value of creativity, anti-bullying, and STEM facts.

Creative Editions bought the story in the summer of 2016 and paired the text with my amazing illustrator, Paolo Domeniconi in Italy.  Initially slated for Fall 2018, it was pushed back for a March 2019 release. I think it was worth waiting for!

WENDY’S BIO:

Growing up, Wendy Greenley wondered if clouds could be molded like clay, and was disappointed that her arms weren’t a zillion miles long. She was surprised when people said she had her head in the clouds–like it was a BAD thing. Now, she’s thrilled to share Lola Shapes the Sky with other quirky dreamers.

Besides writing for children, Wendy has worked as a telephone interviewer (sorry!), ice cream scooper, night security guard, microbiologist, attorney, and stay-at-home mom.

Wendy, Congratulations! And thank you for sharing your book and journey with us. Can’t wait to read this book. Good luck!

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy