Karyn Friedman-Everham lives in southern Florida, where she’s seen a few gators and otters, but she hasn’t climbed into the water with them – yet. Her favorite adventures begin and end with a pen in hand.
Formerly a teacher, Karyn has worked in the Head Start program and the Peace Corps. She’s utterly, otterly thrilled to share Otter Oughta Know (illustrated by Michael Robertson and published by Orchard Books) her debut picture book. Find Karyn at www.KarynFriedmanEverham.com
1. When you begin creating a story, do you always know where the story is going?
I think I know. But I’m always wrong! It seems I inevitably reach a point in early drafting in which I whack myself on the head and say Oh! This is what the story’s about! Why did it take so long to figure this out?? A glass half-full assessment would be that I’d wasted time getting there. But I love the moment of discovery because it often feels revelatory as the pieces of the story begin to click.
2. Do you work on multiple projects at once?
I do. When I’m stuck on a project, it helps me to look away, stop thinking about it, and turn my attention to something different. Then, when I return to the original project, I’m able to see it with fresh eyes. Writing this, I’m reminded of a teacher (Sorry! Can’t remember his name!) who said not to read a draft over and over because the text will become “inevitable” in your mind. When I’m stuck, I think I’m often at the fixed place; I can no longer see the creative turns the story may take. Shifting gears helps me.
3. What one piece of advice would you like to give to aspiring kid lit authors?
Embrace the stinky first draft! When I started writing – long, long time ago – I thought every word that touched the page had to be perfect before I could write the next perfect word. This approach may have been an excuse to never finish drafts and never face rejection. When that got me nowhere (Duh!), I changed course and began filling blank pages with truly terrible first drafts. I don’t like looking at them! Or smelling them. But, for me, it’s the only way into a story. And I find it enormously freeing to not have to come up with the perfect words when I start something new.
4. Where did you get the idea for Otter Oughta Know? What inspired you?
Three waddling otters! One Saturday, a long time ago, I saw them strolling in my suburban neighborhood. I watched them cross the street to the sidewalk and half expected them to amble up the steps to the front porch of a house, take out their keys and open the front door! I couldn’t help but imagine a story about otters doing outlandish, unexpected things.
5. Was this always the title for the book?
Yes! “Otter Oughta Know” begs the question, “Just what should that otter know?” As such, I hope the title compels readers to open the book and follow her adventures. I also love the title because it is playful and fun to say aloud – so it’s in concert with my aims for the story at large.
6. What’s a particularly striking or memorable reaction someone has had to this book?
Striking to me are the little ones, not reading yet, who have memorized the story and recite it aloud to their families. Children’s wholehearted embrace of the story means the world to me. I hope to help feed a lifelong love of stories and reading. How amazing it is to write for children!
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