Talk about something to dance about! Valerie Bolling had a dream, a tweet and now a debut picture book, Let’s Dance!, thanks to an editor who saw and loved that tweet. Valerie has been an educator for more than 25 years. She graduated from Tufts University and Columbia University, Teachers College and currently works as an Instructional Coach with middle and high school teachers. In addition to writing picture books, Valerie writes a Monthly Memo for teachers that she publishes on Twitter, and has been published in The National Writing Project’s Quarterly and NESCBWI News. Valerie is a member of NCTE, SCBWI, the NESCBWI Equity and Inclusion Committee, the Authors Guild, the WNDB Mentorship Program, #12X12PB, 2020 Diverse Debuts and 20/20 Vision Picture Books. She and her husband live in Connecticut and enjoy traveling, hiking, reading, going to theater, and dancing. Welcome, Valerie. We’re excited you’re sharing your amazing journey on THE KIDS ARE ALL WRITE!
You’re a debut picture book author — congratulations! — but you date your love of writing back to when you were four. Please share that lightbulb moment when you decided you would become a picture book author and what that journey has been like.
Though I’ve always been a writer, Nancy, I didn’t decide until three years ago that I wanted to explore the world of picture book writing and the possibility of having a book published. Inspired by a visit from my nieces in December 2016, I wrote two stories in which each of them was the protagonist (I Do and The Greatest Gift). I also found a story I wrote when I taught 5th grade (Come In! Come In!) as well as a story I wrote a number of years before (Play Date), and I revised them. Then, I began to pursue my goal of becoming a published writer. I spoke to people who I believed could be helpful resources – and they were – and I wrote and wrote and wrote. And revised even more. In June of 2017, I started writing query letters to agents and editors and participating in Twitter pitches. Let’s Dance! was “liked” in a Twitter pitch, and a couple of weeks after sending the manuscript to Jes Negrón (an editor at Boyds Mills & Kane), she expressed interest in publishing the book!
Valerie with her nieces (and fans) Anyah and Zorah
What was your inspiration for Let’s Dance!?
Who doesn’t like to dance? I realize there are some who don’t, but most of the people I know love to “get down.” I wanted to write a book depicting the joy of dancing. Whenever music is played, children start to dance, including my nieces, Zorah and Anyah. Babies who can barely walk will sway and/or raise their hands. This book also celebrates the universality of dance. After all, dance is a language we all speak, even though we have different “accents.”
Tell us more about the Twitter pitch that caught Jes Negrón’s attention. Why did you participate in the PB Pitch, how did you craft your pitch?
I’m a big supporter of Twitter pitches, Nancy. They present a fabulous opportunity for writers to get noticed, and it’s so easy to participate. I participate in Twitter pitches (#PBPitch, #PitMad, #DVPit, and #FaithPitch) whenever they’re offered. You need a succinct, snappy pitch for your manuscript. The words must fit together, convey what the book is about, and fit within certain confines (280-word maximum). Sometimes a pitch has to go through about as many revisions as a story! And don’t forget to add appropriate hashtags! Here’s my #PBPitch pitch for Let’s Dance! that received a “like” from Jes Negrón at Boyds Mills & Kane: A girl dances the cha-cha-cha; a boy zig-zag-zigs in his wheelchair. Dancing is a universal language, even though we all have different "accents." This is a story that leaves no doubt that dancing is for everyone! #PBPitch #POC #OWN #DIS That Twitter pitch was in June of 2018. I sent Jes my manuscript on June 18, 2018, and she emailed me two weeks later on July 2, requesting to have a conversation. During “the call,” Jes expressed her interest in acquiring the story!
A girl dances the cha-cha-cha; a boy zig-zag-zigs in his wheelchair. Dancing is a universal language, even though we all have different "accents." This is a story that leaves no doubt that dancing is for everyone! #PBPitch #POC #OWN #DIS
Valerie Bolling’s Twitter pitch that led to the acquisition of Let’s Dance!
Please share the journey from pitch to finished book.
Once the book was acquired and the contract signed, Jes asked me to share my vision for illustrations, which she liked. Three months later, however, she shared that she felt my words could be matched to cultural dances to make the book more global. I thought this was a fabulous idea! I didn’t have to change any of my words or make edits to coordinate with this new vision. In fact, the only “edit” to the original manuscript was the deletion of two stanzas. Though I never communicated with Maine Diaz, the phenomenal illustrator, Jes included me in the decision to select her as the illustrator, shared her sketches with me throughout the process, and used my input to suggest revisions. Later on, Jes asked me to write back matter for the book, two-sentence descriptions about each dance. I feel so fortunate to have had Jes as an editor, especially as an unagented debut author. She’s amazing!
Valerie Bolling presenting her book, Let’s Dance!, illustrated by Maine Diaz (Boyds, Mills & Kane)
How long did it take? How did the manuscript change along the way?
I wrote my first draft of Let’s Dance! in June of 2017, at which time it was entitled I Love to Dance, as this line was repeated throughout the book. When I shared it with Marianne McShane, a friend, who is a writer, storyteller, and retired librarian, she suggested I read Watersong by Tim McCanna as a mentor text and that I start the story with a line that appeared later in the text: “Tappity-tap/Fingers snap.” Her recommendations helped significantly in revising the book. Since I started querying it in January of 2018, it took six months.
Watersong by Tim McCanna, illustrated by Richard Smythe (Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books), was a mentor text for Valerie as she worked on Let’s Dance!
Did you envision from the start the diversity of kids that are evoked by Maine Diaz’ illustrations? Are there any illustrations that particularly surprised or delighted you?
I made clear to Jes from the beginning, Nancy, that I wanted this book to feature children of color and those who are not often seen in picture books. I wanted to ensure that Let’s Dance! would be inclusive, and Jes assured me that she would honor my vision, which she did. I explicitly said for the ballet spread, “I want a boy wearing a tutu!” That illustration particularly pleased me because the gender of the child is indiscernible, which is even better! (The tutu and shoes are blue, however.) The entire ballet spread is not what one typically imagines when thinking of a ballet dancer. I absolutely love it!
You have been an educator for more than 25 years. How does it feel to have your very own book to share with students?
It’s been fabulous! My former students have been particularly supportive. They have congratulated me on Facebook, and a number of them came to my launch celebration, some with their own children! That was incredibly special for me! Having the opportunity to share my book with students in the school district where I’ve been an educator for 27 years has also been fantastic. My first audience for Let’s Dance! was at the middle school where I last held a classroom position. (I now work as an Instructional Coach.) What’s interesting is that though the book is suggested for ages 3 – 7, those 6th graders were excited about Let’s Dance! and asked great questions during the Q & A. After the reading, a media specialist told me that one of the students asked to check out the book. That certainly made my day! Later that day, I read to 5th graders at another school who also enjoyed the book. I share these examples to illustrate that just as anyone can enjoy dancing, regardless of age, anyone can enjoy a book, regardless of the age group for whom it’s intended.
Valerie reading Let’s Dance! to students
What has your family’s reaction been like? What do your nieces think?
My family has been supportive, as one would hope. My husband says he’s my “number one fan,” and my mother is proud. My nieces are happy for me, too. Anyah, who is six, told her teacher that she’s famous because her name is in a book (in the dedication). At my launch celebration, Zorah, who’s eight, asked if I do school visits because she wanted me to come to her school. I was planning to take a personal day, so that I could do that, but then the pandemic hit. Who knows when any of us will return to school now?
How do you hope parents and educators will use Let’s Dance! with their kids?
There are so many possibilities, Nancy. Educators and parents should use the book in the way that most meets their children’s needs, just as they would with planning any assignment/activity. Most recently, I’ve been “marketing” my book as a great distance learning movement break. Parents can read Let’s Dance! while children act out the words. Of course, there can be musical accompaniment, too! A few other ideas are: Locate on a map the countries from where the dances originate; write about or draw a picture of a dance not represented in the book; research more about a particular dance or dancer. I’m currently in the process of writing an activity guide for the book where I’ll share more suggestions. Most of all, I hope adults enjoy this book as much as children and will create their own ideas to complement Let’s Dance! and I hope they’ll share them with me! What are your favorite dances to do and watch?
Do you have any pictures of yourself dancing that you can share with us?
I enjoy all forms of dance; I’m not sure I have a favorite. I’ve taken African and Modern dance classes. Of course, one doesn’t need formal training to dance and have fun. Play music that gets you going and groove! For myself, certain rhythms and beats call to me, and I have to respond. (I’ve included some pictures of myself dancing.) I enjoy watching dance performances, too. I love Alvin Ailey, especially “Wade in the Water,” and I like “Stomp,” ballet performances, and seeing dancers in musicals. Professional dancers are extremely talented! It’s been challenging for all of us who are picture book authors to have books releasing books during the shutdown for this pandemic.
Valerie dancing!
Valerie dancing with her husband.
How have you been coping and adjusting to plans that have changed?
It has been challenging, Nancy, having events cancelled, but I’ve been exploring other ideas, particularly virtual events. I’m grateful for these opportunities, but they aren’t a substitute for being physically close to young readers and signing books for them. Fortunately, I was able to experience a few events – including my book launch celebration – before the pandemic, and I look forward to more when it’s safe to interact with one another again.
What’s next for you?
I’m always revising several manuscripts at a time, so that’s the majority of my work. I wrote a new manuscript a couple of weeks ago, and I’d like to write a picture book biography about an inspirational female. I’m also writing responses to interviews (like this one!), working on an activity guide, and, as I said in the previous question, re-imagining how to get the word out about Let’s Dance!, virtually, since my in-person events have been cancelled due to the pandemic.
Is there anything you would like to add?
The only thing I’d like to add, Nancy, is that I hope people enjoy my book and, if so, that they’ll write a review and post it on Amazon and Goodreads. Positive reviews are beneficial in marketing a book. Especially during the pandemic when my face-to-face events have been cancelled, I’m trying to figure out other ways to share Let’s Dance! with children. Since parents are the ones who purchase books, they may be more selective now about which ones they buy, so reviews matter. Thank you for taking the time to interview me, Nancy, and I thank your readers for taking the time to read this detailed interview. If they’ve read through this entire interview, they should take a dance break!
Valerie and her husband taking a dance break!
Thanks, Valerie, for dancing with us. Visit Valerie on social media!
On her website: valeriebolling.com
On Twitter: @valerie_bolling
On Instagram: valeriebollingauthor and letsdancebook