We had the good fortune of connecting with Charlotte Offsay and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Charlotte, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
Most people outside the publishing industry are surprised to learn that the publisher selects the illustrator rather than the author. The illustrator is hired after the picture book text has been acquired and I have been continually delighted by the additional layers that the partnership brings to the book. People are also surprised to learn that it takes about two-plus years after acquisition for a picture book to end up in bookstores.
Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I feel very lucky to get to write books for children. I have always loved reading and storytelling and dreamed of becoming a published author for many years before launching my first book into the world. It wasn’t until 2017 when my children were small that I began writing stories for anyone other than myself. I became inspired one afternoon after baking challah with my children and sat down that evening to write them a story about it. I enjoyed the process so much that my husband encouraged me to take a picture book writing class through UCLA Extension. During that class, I began to understand all that goes into becoming a published author and the many steps I would need to take. There was a lot to learn about craft and the industry. For example, I was surprised to discover that I would need three to five polished stories to get a picture book agent. The more I learned, the more I wanted to learn and I soon found myself immersed in the warmth of the children’s writing community. It is a supportive place and through groups like Julie Hedlund’s 12×12 challenge and Inked Voices, I soon found my footing. I signed with my agent Nicole Geiger in 2019 and together we have sold eight picture books.
My path to publication wasn’t easy but I was lucky to have an incredible support network. I was encouraged by my family and I surrounded myself with other picture book authors aspiring to publication. The camaraderie of the picture book community made the inevitable rejections easier to handle and the ‘yes’ that much sweeter. Writing is subjective and I strongly recommend that anyone looking to break into the industry surround themselves with a strong support network and not get off the rollercoaster too soon – it only takes one yes to change everything.
My best stories come from my heart and I tend to write about the things in my life that I care about the most. I think what sets me apart is my ability to write about what consumes me through a child lens while infusing my stories with heart and humor and keeping an eye on the market. Picture books are where art meets business and while I love the creative process I find it important to think about what parents and gatekeepers are looking for when purchasing books. I think about the hooks they look for when they walk into a bookstore, is their child obsessed with firefighters for example, or is a parent looking for a book to inspire their young activist? Keeping in mind what makes a book buyer reach for one book over another has helped me to layer my stories, appeal to broader audiences and ultimately find success in getting my stories into the hands of readers.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
What a fun question! Well off the museums, I love the Getty (the one by 405) and The Broad. Also, the Science Center to see the Space Shuttle and The Peterson Auto Museum.
In terms of food, my family and I love a taco crawl – some or all of Villas Tacos, El Ruso, Los Cinco Puntos, Mariscos Jalisco, Chichen Itza, and Holbox. Also, a visit to Langer’s Deli and Sweet Rose for some ice cream.
No visit would be complete without a trip to the pier in Santa Monica, some time walking around Manhattan Beach, and of course a trip to my favorite children’s book store, Children’s Book World LA.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Countless people have helped me along my author journey but my husband, Rick Offsay, has been and continues to be my biggest supporter. He is the one who encouraged me to sign up for my first picture book writing class and pursue my dream of becoming a published author. He has read countless drafts, helped me brainstorm story solutions, and continues to cheer me on every step of my journey.
Website: www.charlotteoffsay.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/picturebookrecommendations/
Image Credits
Natalia L Photography