After working on children’s stories for nine years, Laurie Isop received news that any aspiring children’s author would be overjoyed to hear – she had won the 3rd Annual Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories New Author Contest. Laurie’s winning story, “How Do You Hug a Porcupine?” will be distributed as a paperback in English and Spanish inside three million boxes of Cheerios, beginning in the spring of 2011. The story will also be published as a hardcover book by Simon & Schuster this July.
For Laurie, co-owner with her husband of a wedding photography studio in Renton, Washington, winning the award is a dream come true. She recently shared some insight into her thrilling win and what the award has meant to her in this email interview with Suite 101:
Laurie Isop on Writing a Winning Story
S101: Congratulations, Laurie, on your award and the publication of your story, “How Do You Hug a Porcupine?” What was it like winning the Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories New Author Contest?
LI: Actually winning the contest was fantastic and very emotional – it was something I wanted for a long time. It was like a whole new page was turning and I felt like doors were going to open for me, so that’s an exciting feeling. It’s all been very flattering and also validating.
S101: Many writers get their story ideas from their own life experiences. How did you come up with the idea for “How Do You Hug a Porcupine?”
LI: My family and I were sitting around the table having dinner, and we were talking about a problem my son was having with another kid at school and it turned the focus of the conversation to “warm fuzzy” and “cold prickly” type people and how to deal with each. I decided to go with that approach for my story – except with animals, of course.
S101: Your story is written in rhyme. Was that difficult to do, especially for a young age group with a limited vocabulary?
LI: Surprisingly, it was easier for me to write it in rhyme. Just like music, you anticipate rhyme and rhythm, there’s a pleasure center in the brain that is activated when the rhyme occurs – it’s a very satisfying feeling and kids light up for that.
S101: Pictures play a big part in “How Do You Hug a Porcupine?” During the writing process, were you thinking about how the story might be illustrated?
LI: Absolutely. I had visualized the whole story and had laid out my vision for the illustrations.
S101: As you know, children’s writing is a competitive field and certainly winning the Cheerios New Author Award was no easy feat. What do you think helped make your story stand out?
LI: For the contest, I wanted to write something expressive and super fun to illustrate, and it had to be engaging and interactive when read aloud. It has got oodles of rhythm and rhyme, and something to make you want to turn the page. "How Do You Hug a Porcupine?" captures the essence of childhood; the inquisitive, undeterred child trying to accomplish this one thing; to embrace the impossible-to-hug porcupine.
Laurie Isop on Becoming a Children's Author
S101: How has winning the award affected your life, personally and professionally?
LI: It’s definitely my greatest personal accomplishment, outside of being a mom. It gives me the motivation to press on and keep trying. When you get a win, it encourages you to move forward. It also encouraged me to start a blog!
S101: You worked on stories for nine years before winning the Cheerios contest. What words of advice do you have for aspiring children’s authors?
LI: Be persistent. Read your book to anyone who will listen – yes, I read to the UPS guy – and note their reaction. Are the children wide-eyed and wanting you to turn the pages? I also recommend writing in different settings; I used to write in coffee shops, libraries, karate places – anywhere that provided inspiration. And, of course, edit, edit, edit.
S101: Are you currently working on a new story? If so, any details you care to share?
LI: I am working on a few different projects and I have several titles in various stages of the submission process. I'm incredibly excited to do some local readings and signings once “How Do You Hug a Porcupine?” is out in hardcover, in July and I've been invited to Boston to read/sign in some bookstores. Coast to coast!
For more information on Laurie and her winning book, visit her author page.
Susie Yakowicz - Susie Yakowicz is a Minnesota freelance writer whose work has appeared in dozens of publications for children and adults.
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