Kalee Gwarjanski is a homeschooling mom to four book-loving kiddos living in the woods of Maine. She worked as a personal chef before writing picture books full time. Her stories are sometimes silly, often lyrical, and nearly always include food. She writes to encourage children and their families to learn about where their food comes from and most importantly to have fun in the kitchen. When she is not writing or cooking, she enjoys kayaking, hiking, and crafting. Visit Kalee's website to learn more. Or, find her on Twitter/X at @kaleegwar
1. What was your favorite book when you were a child? Why?
I loved so many books as a child. I remember re-reading My Father's Dragon over and over and over again. I loved the gentle fantasy and adventure. I also loved how the main character had a seemingly random assortment of stuff on his adventure, but used exactly everything he had just when he needed it. It was a very tidy and satisfying ending. Re-reading it with my children has been so much fun!
2. What three things bring you joy?
Fresh flowers.
Board Games.
Swimming.
3. What’s the best piece of advice a mentor has given you?
Stay on the bus. Unfortunately, I can't remember where I heard this, but I wrote it on a slip of paper and it remains tacked on my bulletin board. Publishing is a long game and full of ups and downs. You need to stay on the wild ride for quite a while before you get to a 'yes.'
4. Where did you get the idea for your new picture book, Miss MacDonald Has A Farm? What was your inspiration?
This story was inspired by a trip to pick up our weekly CSA from a local farm with my young children. (Through Community Supported Agriculture programs, consumers pledge financial support to a farm and that farm, in turn, supplies supporters with boxes of seasonal produce.) On our way home we were singing Old MacDonald Has A Farm and the song just didn't match with our experience picking peas at a women-owned vegetable farm. I wanted to adapt it to share the experience of visiting a modern small family farm.
5. If you could tell readers one secret about this book, what would it be?
Miss MacDonald's name is Marcy. She was the farmer who owned the farm near our house that inspired the whole thing.
6. What was the most challenging thing you faced while writing/researching this book?
Finding the correct word in the correct meter. It was important to me that the vegetables were presented in seasonal order and that the farm chores were in practical order too. Plus it had to be fun to read aloud. This was the most challenging, but the most fun too!
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