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Writer's pictureMary Boone

Six Questions with Leslie Eva Tayloe

Leslie Eva Tayloe is a picture book author of I’m Fishing with Pop-Pop Today (Austin Macauley Publishers, 2022), Save the Trees (Brandylane Publishers, 2024, Illustrator: Lintang Pandu Pratiwi), and The Attic Door (Doodle and Peck Publishing, September 4, 2024, Illustrator: David Barrow). The inspiration for her stories come from personal life experiences. She’s a former analyst with the federal government and worked as a substitute teacher for elementary school-aged children. She holds a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management from the University of Maryland. Leslie lives in Virginia, with her partner, Michael, two cats and a dog. She loves to fish on the Rappahannock river, take long walks, and craft anything. Visit Leslie's website or follow her on social media to learn more:


1. How did you begin your journey as an author?

My journey began in 2019 when I was working as a substitute teacher. When COVID hit and schools closed, I turned to writing. Although I had always dreamed of writing a novel, my experience in the classroom and reading picture books to children inspired me to write picture books instead. I learned the craft by joining organizations like SCBWI, the 12x12 Picture Book Challenge, Women in Publishing, CBI, and Inked Voices. Each of these organizations offers something unique, and they have all played a vital role in my development as a writer.

 

2. What are your daily or weekly habits and practices?

I prefer a daily schedule that starts with making a list of things to accomplish. I love the satisfaction of checking items off my list. My day begins waking up early and walking two- to three-miles with my dog, Frankie. By 8:30 am, I'm in my office, where I spend about 30 minutes on social media posts for Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. After that, I focus on writing, revising stories, working on marketing, or taking a class. I usually conclude at 3:30 or 4:00pm. Occasionally, I may stray from my schedule, but I’m pretty consistent.

 

3. Do you work on multiple projects at the same time?

I work on five or six stories at a time. Bouncing from one story to another helps me maintain a clear focus on each one.

 

4. Where did you get the idea for this book? What was your inspiration?

The inspiration for The Attic Door comes from my personal childhood experience. When I was in second grade, my family moved into a new house in Chicago. My bedroom had a large, creepy door that led to the attic. Every winter, the wind would rattle the door, which terrified me. Eventually, I persuaded my younger brother to switch rooms with me. My imagination runs wild even as an adult!


5. How was the editorial process? Did you do any revisions?

The editorial process for The Attic Door was smooth and straightforward. After submitting two stories to the publisher, I received a response by mail within a month. She rejected one story but liked the second one. The publisher asked if I’d be open to making some changes and requested my feedback. The revisions were minor—nothing substantial. After I resubmitted the updated manuscript, I received a contract along with a second round of minor edits within a few weeks. I was very pleased with how everything went. The publisher already had an illustrator in mind for my story when I signed the contract.


6. If you read this book to a room filled with kids, what message would you want them to leave with?

My message to children is that sometimes our brains can play tricks on us, making us see or hear things that aren’t really there. If you encounter something unusual, strange, or scary, take a deep breath and look or listen again. You might find a simple explanation and realize there’s nothing to be afraid of at all.

 


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