Was it a great debut picture book author I interviewed? Yes. Yes, it was!

I love me some wordplay and Laura Bontje’s debut picture book Was It a Cat I Saw? (Amicus, March 2024) does not disappoint. The clever wordplay begins with the title. Can you figure out the Literary Device?

If you guessed “palindrome” — good for you! A palindrome is a word or group of words that’s the same when you read it forward or backward. The idea for Was It a Cat I Saw? came to Bontje one day when she thought about the name “Hannah” and how it’s a palindrome. She wondered what would happen to a kid with a palindrome name if they really loved palindromes…and an idea for a picture book was born! Buy your own copy here!

Bookpage.com Review of Was It A Cat I Saw?

Author Laura Bontje and her family live in London, Ontario — but when we met on Zoom last week, she was sitting in her childhood bedroom in Calgary, Alberta. Bontje’s excitement was palpable, for good reason: it was the release date (March 12th) of her debut picture book Was It a Cat I Saw? Her dream of publishing a book was twofold and both parts were about to come true.

KD: First off, congratulations — it’s your book’s birthday! Thank you for meeting with me on such short notice! Your concept of a character who speaks in palindromes is so clever, and I’m very excited to talk with you about it. Picture books are already so difficult to write, how did you go about executing a picture book in palindromes?

LB: Thank you! I really appreciate you taking the time to speak with me. I originally wanted to make the entire book a palindrome, line by line, as opposed to letter by letter, so it could be read backwards and forwards. About three-quarters of the way through a draft, I realized it felt flat. It was too conceptual and I really wanted it to be a narrative about Hannah going through her day. The gimmick was working but the story wasn’t. I went back to the drawing board and thought: what if Hannah spoke in palindromes? That was the key; it allowed me to write a more traditional narrative but still have the quirky element of palindromes woven throughout the story.

KD: You mentioned that you’re in Calgary, where you grew up, this week. Are you doing something special with friends and family to celebrate the release of your book?

LB: Yes, I am! (Laura’s face lights up!) My love of books came from my mom at a very young age, and when I dreamed of being an author, even before I had ever written a manuscript myself, I always thought it would be so special to be able to launch my book at the bookstore I grew up going to called Owl’s Nest. I have so many special memories there. I remember winning a gift certificate from a “Count the Owls” contest they had in the store and going there for book launches with my mom as a teenager. Even my kids know that whenever we come back to Alberta, “Grandma” will take them to Owl’s Nest. This Saturday, (March 16th) I’m having my book launch there (along with another debut PB author). Being able to launch my book at Owl’s Nest is the most surreal and wonderful thing. I’m also visiting my old elementary school this week to do a presentation for the kids. I’m most excited to talk to them about the power of revision. I have an example of the first draft of the words and original sketches to show the students how the story and illustrations started and what they turned into. Even as adults, and someone who’s doing this professionally, it’s never perfect on your first try. You always have to keep trying.

KD: Tell me about your writing process.

LB: Once I have the idea in my mind I’m very linear about it; I can sit down and write a draft. I’ve also had times when I’m not sure which direction I’d like to go in. When that happens I try starting a book three different ways and seeing which one feels right and starts to flow. I know authors usually say you have to write every day and have a strict writing schedule, but when I hear that I think, “That’s just not me.” My life is chaotic with two young children and freelance work. Sometimes I write at 2:00 in the morning, in the afternoon when it strikes, sometimes I go three months without writing anything, and I’ve really learned to just give myself grace. 

KD: I’ve always struggled with trying to write every day, so I really appreciate your advice about giving yourself grace. Let’s talk agents. How did you find representation for your manuscript?

LB: “Entirely backwards.”

KD: Just like Hannah in your story!

LB: “Yeah! Backwards and forwards, I planned it that way. (She laughs). I had been querying for a couple of months with no bites and one of the agents I really wanted to query was closed for queries. I participated in pitch parties on Twitter, mainly just for fun. It’s such a needle in a haystack, I really joined just as a way to connect with the kidlit community. In the fall of 2021, the one and only “like” I had ever gotten from a pitch party was from Amicus, which turned into an offer. I was so excited but I also panicked because I really preferred to work with an agent to negotiate the deal. At the last minute, the agent I really wanted, James McGowan (BookEnds Literacy Agency) opened up for queries. I sent off this “hail mary query” saying I had an offer on the table from a publisher and needed to let them know really soon. As luck would have it, he liked the book, he liked the other things that I sent through, and I couldn’t be happier, he’s been such a great representative.

KD: Can you share any other projects you’re working on?

LB: The first manuscript I ever worked on is coming out next year; it’s called When the Air Sang. It’s about a young girl who discovers the beauty of a cicada’s emergence. It was inspired by an experience my daughter and I had, where we saw a cicada that had just molted. I thought to myself, “There’s got to be a story idea in there somewhere.” I’d describe that story as gentle, lyrical prose, and at first, I thought that style (lyrical prose) would be my signature as an author. But then I had the idea for Was It A Cat I Saw? which has a quirky, playful tone. I decided that as a reader, I love reading a wide range of books and it might be fun to explore all the different things writers can do with storytelling. I have one picture book in the works, that I hope to announce soon. I’m also working on some other manuscripts and I’m drafting a Middle-grade mystery novel. It’s been quite an adventure to stretch my storytelling muscles in a new direction.

KD: Your journey has some really special stories: the book launch at Owl’s Nest and the way you signed with your agent! This is a big deal, you never get another “debut” release. Is there anything else you want to share about your experience?

LB: One thing that’s really special to me about this book is that it’s dedicated to my grandmother (and late grandfather), whom I hadn’t seen since 2018, before COVID. Last November, I was able to visit my grandmother and show her an advance copy of the book. Being able to sit and read my book with her was really special. Now she’s selling copies of my book around the retirement home.

KD: That’s amazing – she is so cute. I have really enjoyed talking to you, Laura! Any last words of wisdom for aspiring authors?

LB: If it’s your dream, go for it. You always hear about how hard publishing is, and it’s true, that whether you decide to self-publish or get published traditionally, it’s not an easy path. But it happens. Sometimes writers can be daunted by the fact that there’s no guarantee of getting published, and I know it’s easy for me to say now that I’m on the other side, but knowing that it wasn’t a “given” meant that I found so much joy in the writing process itself — taking courses, attending conferences, receiving feedback from queries, connecting with other writers. I love that I can look back and remember how much joy I had making these books. And now, (Today!), I’m able to celebrate bringing my first book into the world.

KD: I love, love, love your advice. Honestly. It’s so genuine. And the joy you’ve found in creating is so evident in your work. Have so much fun at your book launch this weekend and send me a photo!

LB: Thank you, Keri! That’s so kind of you. Thank you for taking the time to do this interview.