Terry Shay is back with another installation of Creativity Corner. His guest today is author Anika Aldamuy Denise and we are highlighting her next book called A GIRL NAMED ROSITA.
A GIRL NAMED ROSITA
You may know Anika from her previous books:
- MONSTER TRUCKS (with Nate Wragg)
- BUNNY IN THE MIDDLE (with Christopher Denise)
- THE LOVE LETTER (with Lucy Ruth Cummins)
- PLANTING STORIES: THE LIFE OF LIBRARIAN AND STORYTELLER PURA BELPRE (with Paolo Escabar) (Pura Belpre honor winner)
I asked Anika to share some insight into how books are made: from finding an agent to pairing with an illustrator, to marketing a book when it comes out. Anika’s next book is A GIRL NAMED ROSITA: THE STORY OF RITA MORENO, ACTOR, SINGER, DANCER, TRAILBLAZER! (with Leo Espinoza).
*Releases on November 3, 2020.
Connect with Artists in our Discussion
Emily Van Beek
Harper Collins
Nancy Inteli
Leo Espinosa
Chelsea Donaldson
Rita Moreno
Christopher Denise
Peter H. Reynolds
Paul Reynolds
Margie Leonard
Jeff Kinney
Raul Colon
The Fan Brothers
Paola Escobar
Rafael Lopez
Indie bookstores in our Discussion
Barrington Books in Barrington, RI
Ink Fish in Warren, RI
Blue Bunny Books in Dedham, MA
An Unlikely Story in Plainville, MA
Latinx Bookstore list
Special shout out to these indie bookstores:
Silver Unicorn Bookstore in Acton, MA
Belmont Books, Belmont, MA
Wow wow wow! I just spent a relaxing 50 minutes, forgetting about the election, covid-19, and the fact that I spaced on buying desert for tonight. This was my treat instead. Anika…you couldn’t have watched the original Electric Company! I did. That was where I fell in love with Rita/Rosita and her Chutzpah! Then i saw her 34 times watching West Side Story, & she blew me away. I was studying acting then, and she def. made an impression on my young(er) soul. You too, I can see.
This was a great interview Terry, for both students (MG up?) and aspiring authors. I appreciated the break down of the processes behind publishing (what a pain, lol. Radio is so much simpler? If i had to wait two years to release a song, I’d burst!). Somewhere out there is a kid who will watch this whole interview, because they are interested in the new book, but also thinking they might want to try publishing their own books one day. You didn’t make it sound easy, Anika, but you did explain (and Terry) what needs to be done to find an agent, and find a publisher or five. Somewhere a kid just watched and is saying “I think I can do that! I like shows that break things down, and this did the trick. Thank you both Terry and Anika for a lovely hour. Now back to reality, sigh. Stay well all.✌?