Creator Chat: Mary Vander Plas
This month I'm chatting with a debut picture book author.
Each month I’m chatting with a creator and gathering tips to help me with my career and yours! This month I’m welcoming Mary Vander Plas. Mary’s debut picture book, Call Me Calvin was described by Kirkus Reviews as "A touching read that will speak to all little ones longing to be big." Read on for Mary’s advice on when to query and how she figures out rhyming problems, and more.
Welcome to Creator Chat, Mary! Tell us about your background and how you became an author.
I have degrees in Psychology and Human Development and I worked in the mental health field after college until I had kids. Then I was a stay at home mom for many years and volunteered and worked a bit in the schools as my kids got older. Fast forward to 2017, the year my youngest graduated from high school, and I decided to pursue a dream that I had which was to be a published author of children’s books. I found out very quickly that I had a lot to learn! I stumbled upon the 12 x 12 Picture Book Challenge through a Google search and my journey began. I met my first critique partners there. I started placing in a few contests and just kept learning the craft of picture book writing through studying picture books, interacting with critique partners and mentors, and falling forward after rejections. I did many workshops but after one in particular we had a submission opportunity with an editor who had something in his MSWL that I thought was a fit for one of my manuscripts. I was right! He emailed me indicating he liked it and we did some edits before it was acquired, and then more edits after, but it was a fairly smooth process.
“I stumbled upon the 12 x 12 Picture Book Challenge through a Google search and my journey began.” - Mary Vander Plas
12x12 is an amazing community, I’m a long-time member too.
What would you go back and tell your beginner-writer self if you could?
The same as most authors I know…don’t query too soon! I still have nightmares about the stories I sent out and I’m certain that there’s at least one agency that wraps up a printed copy of my query letter/manuscript as a white elephant gift at the annual holiday party and when the recipient opens it they all have a good laugh…”Oh look, John got Mary’s query this year! Bahahaha!!!”
What’s been the most rewarding moment of your creative career so far?
Definitely holding a copy of my book in my hands which happened after it was released since the publisher sent my author copies to an old address! I had to have my old neighbor send the box to me so it was sort of a clunky process to get my author copies. The first hard copy I held was one my long-time critique partner and friend brought to the ALA conference that we attended in Chicago in June. She pulled it out of her suitcase and I finally got to hold it! We both got a little emotional!
Do you have any I-need-to-pinch-myself-to-make-sure-this-is-real moments that you can share?
While at the ALA conference I got to sign some copies of my book in the publishers booth. I must say, it was pretty cool!
What three pieces of advice would you give any creators hoping to get published?
Read
Write
Repeat
(Sorry, I have four. Get yourself trustworthy writing buddies. You’ll need them.)
“Get yourself trustworthy writing buddies. You’ll need them.” - Mary Vander Plas
Do you have any rituals that help you get a creative session started?
The one thing that spurs my creativity the best is jumping in the car and hitting the road. There is something about the cadence of driving that helps my creativity flow. (Unfortunately, if I’m REALLY stuck on something this costs me a lot in gas!) Once the ideas start flowing I’ll just record my thoughts on my phone and go back and try to make sense of them later. And of course, I’m always paying close attention to the road. Safety first!
When I’m trying to nail down a rhyming stanza, some sort of movement helps like walking or even cleaning the house. I should probably write more rhyme. My house would be spotless!
“The one thing that spurs my creativity the best is jumping in the car and hitting the road. There is something about the cadence of driving that helps my creativity flow.” - Mary Vander Plas
Is there something else creative that you’d like to learn how to do?
I really wish I could use power tools to build things. I don’t know what exactly I’d build…maybe a treehouse for my grandkids. Not just any tree house. A spectacular treehouse that someone who knows how to use great big power tools could build!
Quick fire round
Lake or Ocean?
Lake
Salted or Sweet Popcorn?
Salted
Bookstore or Library?
Both
Thank you for joining me today, Mary.
Mary Vander Plas is a picture book author who lives in Wisconsin with her husband and dogs, Norman and Gatsby. She began learning the craft of writing for children in 2017 when she and her husband became empty nesters. In the last several years Mary has fully immersed herself in the writing community and has participated in many writing-related conferences, classes, and workshops. She holds degrees in psychology and human development and has worked with children in various educational settings. Mary recently earned an associate’s degree in interior design and loves to use this as a creative outlet alongside her writing. In her free time she enjoys reading, paddle boarding, and fishing in the beautiful Northwoods of Wisconsin. But most of all, she loves spending time with her kids and grandkids. Mary is represented by Jonathan Rosen of The Seymour Agency. Call Me Calvin is her debut picture book. Visit Mary online at https://maryvanderplas.com.
