The Picture Book Buzz - Interview with Kris Tarantino and Cori Doerrfeld
Kris Tarantino writes picture books for children. Besides writing, she loves tennis, gardening, spending time with her family, and hiking in national parks.
She is a member of SCBWI and the 12×12 Picture Book Writing Challenge. She has participated as a faculty speaker on a SCBWI Writer/Illustrator Panel and has won numerous writing and mentor awards. Kris holds a B.A. in Business, Marketing, and Art. Prior to writing children’s books, she worked in marketing, licensing popular characters for companies that make fun products like toys, books, and balloons.
This is Kris’s debut picture book.
Cori Doerrfeld lives in Minneapolis, MN with her husband and two children. She received her undergrad degree in Studio Art from St. Olaf College and her Post Baccalaureate from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design.
Cori is perhaps best known for her picture book The Rabbit Listened, which was named a Notable Children’s Book of 2018 by The New York Times and winner of the third annual Anna Dewdney Read Together Award. Her books in her graphic novel series Cici: A Fairy's Tale have been named Junior Library Guild Selections.
Cori is the author/illustrator of 11 books, including Beneath (2023), The Giving Day (2020), The Welcome Wagon (2020), Goodbye, Friend! Hello, Friend! (2019), Wild Baby (2019), Good Dog (2018), The Rabbit Listened (2018). And the illustrator of 15 books, including The Great Get-Together by Karlyn Coleman (2023), Help Mom Work From Home! by Diana Murray (2021), That's Life by Ame Dyckman (2020), A Perfect View: Book 3 (Cici: A Fairy's Tale) by Cori Doerrfeld and Tyler Page (2017), and Sleepy Toes by Kelli McNeil and Cori Doerrfeld (2017).
For more information on Cori, see our earlier interview (here).
Their newest picture book, Be My Valenslime, was released on December 19, 2023. But is the perfect book for this week's interview and review.
Welcome Kris and Cori, thank you so much for stopping by to talk about your writing and illustration.
Tell us a little about yourself. (Where/when do you illustrate? How long have you been illustrating? What is your favorite type of book to illustrate?)
KRIS - My favorite place to write is in my office on my desktop computer. It’s quiet and I’m surrounded by my favorite things. Saturday is my favorite day to write. But I also write on many days during the week. I’ve been writing since 2011, but I didn’t get really serious about writing until 2016. My favorite type of book to write is humor filled with heart!
CORI – Over the years I have illustrated in several spaces from kitchen tables to drafting boards. Now that I work digitally, I am fortunate to have an official set up in an actual studio space in my home. It is full of collectibles, art, and personal items from throughout my life. I love to work in the morning but work whenever I can find the time when I’m super busy.
If you count when I was little, I feel I have been illustrating my entire life. But professionally, it has since I was pregnant with my first child…so nearly 16 years! My favorite books to illustrate feature animals or creatures in organic locations. I love drawing emotions and expressive moments. I have also always loved the natural world and biology so anything that involves studying actual animals and their habitats. This is all a nice way of saying that I find drawing cars and buildings very, very difficult!
Thank you both for that peek into your creativity and preferred work. What is one of the most fun or unusual places where you’ve written or illustrated a manuscript?
KRIS - On a porch literally steps away from the beach in beautiful St. Thomas (US Virgin Islands) with warm breezes and the sounds of water spilling up on the shore.
CORI - I write a lot when I’m out on a walk or lying in bed and can’t sleep. I’ve drawn sketches for books on road trips, on couches, and picnic blankets. The most challenging place I illustrated a book was when I shared a studio space with my newborn daughter’s bedroom. It didn’t work out for long!
That sounds amazing Kris! And Cori, I can just imagine how challenging that was, writing with a furbaby can be hard enough. Kris, what was your inspiration or spark of interest for Be My Valenslime?
KRIS - The idea for Be My Valenslime came together after years of experiencing people who repeatedly demonstrated a lack, or void, of love and kindness. I found myself saying, This doesn’t feel like love. What’s love anyway? The idea of exploring What’s love anyway kept rolling around in my head. And I thought what better way to get down to the kid-level on the topic of ‘love’ than with the opposite kind of character—a mash-up of monsters (typically viewed as a nasty unloving group). But they all couldn’t be monster-y. Then Snoodle burst on the page, along with the fun title, and the rest was history.
I love Snoodle! And you definitely hit-it-out-of-the-park with that title. Cori, what about the Be My Valenslime manuscript appealed to you as an illustrator?
CORI - I was so excited to design and draw monsters! Monsters are so fun because there truly are no real rules or images you have to follow. It gives a lot of creative freedom to me as an illustrator and allows me to create characters based more on their personalities/my imagination. Kris had fun little comments and ideas to help me understand that each monster should have its own attitude and persona.
And I love where your imagination took you! Kris, what was the toughest aspect of writing Be My Valenslime? How many revisions did you end up doing?
KRIS - Around 30 revisions from first draft to submission-ready. But that’s not the whole revision story . . . After I started sending Be My Valenslime into the query trenches, I soon met both my agent and editor at an online conference (covid time). During my One-on-One with the editor, I chose to spend my time pitching her as many of my stories as time would allow. I wanted to gauge her interest on each story because we all know that writers are only allowed to send one manuscript to a faculty member post-conference. It turns out she was looking for holiday books and lit up when I pitched Be My Valenslime. She asked me to send her the manuscript post-conference (which I did). And then said they only work with agented authors. Gulp. I told her I was working on that part.
Post-conference, I signed with my agent. Hooray! As this was happening, the editor got back to me and said there was internal interest, and would I be willing to revise and resend? I replied YES, I’d be happy to do an R&R.
My agent and I went through two months of revisions. After the R&R was sent, the editor said she took it to an acquisitions meeting. The group was very interested, but no offer, yet. They wanted to see more storylines developed with Snoodle and the monsters. There was talk of making this into a picture book series, maybe, no promises. Did I hear that right? A possible series?!
I had to think of 6-8 additional story summaries. I’d never done this before, but I was determined to try. So, after another month, the series ideas were done and sent. Shortly after that we received a formal offer! Even though the offer ended up being for one book (and not a series) the acquisitions group still thought a series was a future possibility.
Then, at the editorial kick-off meeting, I learned that there had been even more internal discussion about the monsters. The original story that sold had Snoodle (the main character) and groups of other non-specific monsters. My editor asked that I develop a few of the monsters, give them personalities and character traits, and have them appear alongside Snoodle. Enter in—Iggy, Zee-Zee, and Fleck. There were other changes to the story as well. Overall, we went through three rounds of revisions over two months. My editor’s vision ultimately made the story much stronger!
Wow, what a fun rollercoaster ride. I do hope that they (or you) decide to pursue additional stories for Snoodle! she's so adorable. Cori, what was the trickiest or hardest part of the illustrations for you? How many revisions did it take to create the illustrations for Be My Valenslime?
CORI - The trickiest part was always all the tiny details and keeping track of what I included so that it stayed as consistent as possible throughout the book—As in what was splattered where on which monster, what crayons and other supplies appeared, what were all the little monsters doing, etc. Thinking back, I know everyone liked the first round of characters I designed and submitted so that was amazing. As for the actual illustrations, most of them I only had to do one sketch of, but the cover and a few of the sketches I did about three rounds of revisions. Once the art was finished, there were just a handful of adjustments.
That's amazing, especially with all the minute things you had to keep track of. They turned out so fun. Is there something you both want your readers to know about Be My Valenslime?
KRIS - Story-wise, I hope readers takeaway the message that love is worth celebrating, at its best and at its messiest.
Craft-wise, don’t be afraid to have several characters in a picture book. It can amp up the humor and leave room for future story possibilities. Also, be open to revision. I promise, it will make your story better.
CORI - I want readers to take away that love comes in many shapes, sizes, forms, and types. There are many ways to celebrate who and what means a lot to you. Be My Valenslime is a fun way to remember that love isn’t perfect…it can be silly, messy, and of course monstery! So, try to look for those unique ways to tell someone you love them, or notice what messages those in your life are sending you even if they look different than what you would do. I for one love how my dog gets so excited when I get home that he runs and gets one of his favorite toys and tosses it around to celebrate me!
Great craft advice, Kris, thanks. Cori, I agree. There really is nothing quite like furbaby love! Kris, when you first saw Cori’s illustrations in Be My Valenslime, did anything surprise, amaze, or delight you? Which is your favorite spread?
KRIS - I loved Cori’s character sketches of each monster, especially Snoodle! They were fun and monster-y. I knew kids would love them. In addition, I noticed that Cori included Snoodle’s kitty in each spread, a fun extra for kids to search-and-find.
The cover: I nearly fell off my chair when I saw the art! The slimy lettering, all four monsters, and Snoodle holding a glittery heart—PERFECT! [The title sparkles, too! ❤️]
Text © Kris Tarantino, 2024. Image © Cori Doerrfeld, 2024.
Favorite spread: It’s a tie between the last two spreads.
First, when Snoodle holds her finished slimy valentine (ADORABLE!). And then gives her monster friends Be My Valenslime valentines and the reader sees Snoodle’s efforts of love finally penetrating the hearts of her friends.
Second, where we see the results of how love changes the monsters. The slimy green heart backdrop (LOVE!) perfectly accentuates Snoodle, Iggy, Zee-Zee, and Fleck as they embrace in a big hug.
I agree that the adorable kitten romping around with the monsters is such a great addition. And this is such a great illustration. Cori, is there a spread that you were especially excited about or proud of? Which is your favorite spread?
Text © Kris Tarantino, 2024. Image © Cori Doerrfeld, 2024.
CORI - I feel really proud of the spread where everything is just a mess and Snoodle is realizing her party isn’t what she imagined. There are so many details in that spread and so many characters doing different things. I think it really captures the moment but also shows how much fun the monsters are having. My favorite spread is the one where everyone is tangled up in the streamers. Some of the faces and actions of the little monsters crack me up!
I went with the one you're most proud of because Snoodle's droopy antlers and face are so achingly amazing. And of course, the perfectly excellent bit of monster mayhem! Cori, many illustrators leave treasures or weave their own story (or special elements) throughout the illustrations. Did you do this in Be My Valenslime? If so, could you share one or more with us?
Text © Kris Tarantino, 2024. Image © Cori Doerrfeld, 2024.
CORI - Yes! I love to do this! Overall, I liked the idea that the monsters kind of live in “the dark.” They live in a cave where they are just not even aware or interested in what else is out there….other than Snoodle. She knows there is more and she wants to share it with her friends. So, by the end, all the monsters leave the cave and connect with the other creatures. The little monsters and their antics such as the two getting glued together, or the yellow one that sticks close to Iggy were things I added. And then of course the little kitten who accidentally falls in the box of party supplies and winds up in the cave. I felt the kitten represents how the outside creatures might be scared of the monsters at first, but after spending time with them, see that they are funny, kind, and a blast in their own way! The kitten is in several little spots in the book doing different things!
I think Be My ValenSlime's end papers do a super job of showing the change Cori mentions. But be sure to look through the book for the additional monsters and the kitten's antics. Are there any projects you are working on now that you can share a tidbit with us?
KRIS - I’m always writing and revising, including more stories with these monsters. I’m also close to going out on submission with another picture book story loaded with humor and a mash-up of unexpected characters.
CORI - I’m always working on something! I have a self-authored title coming out March 12th called Ready to Soar which was inspired by my relationship with my body and my journey in how to move in that body. It is also about lifting others up, instead of bringing them down. I have another book I illustrated coming out in May called Goodnight School. And then I am in the middle of illustrating another self-authored book full of baby sea turtles!
Good luck to you both with your projects. And Cori, those books sound delightful - we'll have to keep our eyes open for these upcoming releases. Last question, what is your favorite National Park or Forest, regional park, or city park? Or the one you’re longing to visit. Why?
KRIS – That’s tough. I’ve been to over 25 national parks with my family and they’re each so unique and breathtaking. I’ll answer with “categories.” Favorite mountains & wildlife - Glacier NP. Best bears - Lake Clarke NP. [image above] Favorite desert - Death Valley NP. Favorite interactive kids adventure - Mesa Verde NP. Favorite wonders - Yellowstone NP. Favorite rock formations – Arches NP. I could go on and on. Bucket List: several parks out west and some in Alaska. Why? To explore more amazing nature landscapes and see more wildlife.
CORI - My favorite National Park is the Badlands. We have visited a few times as a family and it truly feels like you’re driving back in time. I love imagining when everything was underwater or how each layer of who lived and died and what once was is literally visible in the rocks. The fact that anyone can find a fossil is also so cool!
These are both amazing national parks. Thank you, Kris and Cori, for stopping by and sharing with us. It was wonderful to chat with you both.
Be sure to come back Friday for the Perfect Picture Book #PPBF post on Be My ValenSlime.
To find out more about Kris Tarantino, or contact her:
Website: https://kristarantino.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kris_Tarantino
To find out more about Cori Doerrfeld, or contact her:
Website: https://www.coridoerrfeld.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coridoerrfeld/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CoriDoerrfeld
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coridoerrfeld/
