What a busy summer it has been! Thanks to COVID-19, Hollins Summer had to move to an all-online format. So instead of seeing my friends from all over the country for another crazy busy summer filled with writing and making art in the world of children’s literature, I spent my semester waving to my friends and professors on Zoom. Womp!
But it wasn’t all bad. I learned a lot, both in my classes and in the world of online chatting and virtual hangouts. It did take some getting used to, working from home and not with the in-person assistance of my instructors, but my classmates and I pushed through and managed to find the motivation to get the work done even without face-to-face contact. I just wrapped up the semester with two classes, a writing tutorial and an art studio entitled Children’s Book Design. My instructor, Elizabeth Dulemba (or E, as we refer to her in Design), is an incredible illustrator and writer. She has written and illustrated numerous picture books created in a variety of media, and she has a middle grade novel, A Bird on Water Street, that I recently bought. She has a fantastic website with tips and interviews with other famous children’s book makers. I had to get her on the blog, and below is my interview with her.
How did you break into the children's book industry?
Meet Elizabeth Dulemba, one of the very talented art professors at Hollins University! Image courtesy of Elizabeth Dulemba.
I was an Art Director, Graphic Designer, and in-house illustrator at various firms for about fifteen years, but my dream was always to illustrate picture books. When I got married, we moved, I went freelance, and started working towards publication. After years of working with licensed characters (other people’s art), it took a while to figure out what my look was. But I kept experimenting and sent out postcards, mailers, built a website, joined SCBWI, and tried to learn as much as I could about the industry. Three years in, I got my first contract with Shen’s Books (now an imprint of Lee & Low) to illustrate a variant of Cinderella called The Prince’s Diary. YAY!
Did you have a favorite book growing up or artist that really inspired you?
Oh yes! The Golden Book of Elves and Fairies illustrated by Garth Williams (of Charlotte’s Web fame). It was my mother’s childhood book (image attached), so it was already worn when I got it. But I used to spend hours staring at the images, trying to crawl into the worlds on its pages. I realized then (about age 6), that if I could make images that created that sense of wonder for others, that would be my dream. The book is falling apart, but it’s a personal treasure now.
You work as both a writer and an illustrator. How does that help/hinder your relations with potential agents, editors, and publishers?
The Golden Book of Elves and Fairies, one of E’s favorite books. Image courtesy of Elizabeth Dulemba.
Interesting question. Having two muses is a bit of a struggle, even though most agents say they want someone who does both these days. There’s just not a ton of money in picture books, and to have to split a royalty in half, well. Many agents don’t want to bother. I think I’m actually a better novelist and board book writer than I am a picture book writer, which is my sweet spot for illustration, so there’s a slight disconnect. I have a LOT of not-yet-published stories in my studio. But when the writing and illustrations come together - what joy that is!
Do you have a favorite subject to illustrate or write about?
Most of my writing seems to center around finding family, where one belongs, or finding one’s value in being different. I’m sure it’s all very freudian and transparent to my own life. But it’s ironic how the same themes pop up again and again no matter the genre I’m working in. I also like drawing friendly monsters and dragons. :)
You also teach illustration courses at the undergraduate and graduate level. What is the most rewarding part of the job for you?
I love working with budding creators, helping them along their own creative journeys. To see the lightbulbs go off for someone else, or be there for their breakthroughs - that is an absolute honor. And since I don’t have kids of my own, my students become my kids, no matter their ages. I love it when they keep in touch!
What advice would you give to aspiring children's book author-illustrators?
This is going to sound strange, but the best advice I can give is… forget the business. You’ve got to do it for yourself. You’ve got to enjoy the journey. So much of this business feels like a panic - like you might miss a trend, or a window of opportunity, and it’s just not so. Nobody is waiting for you, not in the beginning. If you rush through something to get to where you think you should be, it will show. Conversely, if you take your time with something because it brings you JOY, that will show too. And that is usually the stronger path to success.
E’s latest publications include On Eagle Cove, which comes out this fall. And the new, illustrated version of her novel, A Bird on Water Street came out last November. Merbaby’s Lullaby came out in 2019 from Simon & Schuster’s Little Simon imprint. And Crow Not Crow came out from Cornell Lab Publishing Group in 2018. Visit her stellar website, dulemba.com for more info!