Erica Silverman
Erica Silverman is the author of more than twenty-five picture books and early readers, as well as poems, articles and educational materials. Her books include: the Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa series, the first of which was a 2006 Theodore (Seuss) Geisel Honor Book; Hanukkah Hop; Sholom’s Treasure: How Sholom Aleichem Became a Writer, winner of the 2006 Sydney Taylor Award and a National Jewish Book Award runner up; Big Pumpkin, a perennial Halloween favorite; and Don’t Fidget a Feather, California Young Reader Medal winner.
Having taught nursery school, English as a Second Language and writing, her students have ranged in age from 2 to 92. Loving libraries since early childhood, she recently got her Masters in Library and Information Science and now works as a librarian for Los Angeles Public Library. Her advice to aspiring writers is: join SCBWI (www.scbwi.org); read widely; get into a critique group; trust the process of revision; and don’t give up. She speaks at schools, libraries, and conferences on literacy, creativity and the joys and challenges of writing.
When and why did you begin writing and/or illustrating children's books?
I knew I loved writing from the time I was about 8 years old, but I didn’t have a clue how one went from writing to being a professional author. I explored many kinds of writing before I found my home in children’s books. That happened when I went to my first Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) conference. As I listened to one writer after another talk about their work, I knew I had landed in the place my heart had been seeking. I joined SCBWI, threw myself into the world of children’s literature and never looked back.
What inspires or informs your writing and/or art?
It really isn’t one thing. I think starts with an overall love for language and story. Folklore inspires me. Playing with the sound and rhythm of words drives me. The experience of diving into the world of my imagination keeps me going when the work gets hard – which it always does! Writing is a way that I explore my own feelings and try to understand life.
What do you want young readers to learn or take away from your work?
I want to write a book that connects with readers’ hearts and engages their imaginations. I hope they will experience the pleasure that comes from connecting with a character, a feeling or a moment of truth. I hope my words will sound good and create a bit of music in the readers’ inner ears. That’s what good books do for me and I want to pass it on.
Is there an artist or writer you would consider and mentor and why?
I was very fortunate early in my career to study with some very wonderful writers – among them Sue Alexander, Jane Yolen and Myra Cohn Livingston. Sue Alexander, one of the founding members of SCBWI and a teacher and friend for many years, really helped me understand the form and language of the picture book. I would also be remiss to not mention my first editor, Beverly Reingold. Editors are too often overlooked; a good editor is invaluable.
Did you have any formal writing or art education, if so, where?
I took some creative writing classed in college. Once I discovered the children’s writing community, I started going to workshops and conferences. I still do.
Do you have a favorite published book? If so, what makes it special?
That is an impossible question. Each book has particular meaning and memory for me. And I always feel that my next book, the one I haven’t written yet, will be my very best. It exists in a pure state in my mind until I start the very messy process of the first draft.
What do you want readers to know about you and your work?
Endless pleasure. I love hearing from parents that they have to read one of my books to their child over and over – and that they don’t mind! That makes me very happy.
