Happy
Monday Everyone! Today I’m excited to have Anita Fitch Pazner here. She’s a
friend, former critique partner, and author of the MG historical Words Matter:
The Story of Hans and Sophie Scholl and The White Rose Resistance. I’d like to
learn about The White Rose Resistance, and
I’m looking forward to reading her book.
Here’s
a blurb from Goodreads:
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Words are powerful. Words spread
truth. Words turn to action. Words matter in this lyrical account of the White
Rose Resistance.
The White Rose Resistance was the German student movement that used the power
of the written word to speak out against the Nazis during World War II. They
worked in secret to distribute leaflets condemning the government’s actions at
a time when doing so meant putting your life at risk.
The story follows siblings Hans and Sophie Scholl, who were instrumental
members of the resistance. Words
Matter transports readers through the world the siblings inhabited,
from their idyllic childhood to becoming leaders in the Hitler Youth groups;
attending the Nuremberg Rally; witnessing the arrests and murders of innocent
people; and finally emerging as leaders of the White Rose Resistance — while
still believing in the goodness that lived in the hearts of the German people.
The Scholl siblings were arrested and executed in 1943 but their legacy, and
the words of the Resistance, live on.
Written in verse and strikingly illustrated for middle-grade readers, Words Matter brings to life an
unforgettable true story of nonviolent resistance. Hans and Sophie’s story
demonstrates the enduring power of words, especially in times of propaganda and
fear.
Hi Anita! Thanks so much for joining
us.
1. Tell us about yourself and how
you became a writer.
I
always loved discovering what motivated people to be who they are. Turning this
question towards me feels a bit awkward so I’ll do my best to sum up who I am
and what motivated me to pursue a career in publishing without giving away any
deep dark secrets.
Being
a writer is something I’ve always been, even though commas and spelling
sometimes vex me. I’ve always had a desire to put words on paper. I started out
as a journalist and a photographer. I loved researching people, places and
interesting things happening in the world.
I
took a break for what felt like a hundred years to raise four human beings and
a couple of dogs along the way. I hung on to the writing life by meeting with
critique groups like the one we both belonged to in Ann Arbor. I still feel
connected to that group even though I haven’t attended a meeting in a long
time.
About
a decade ago, I knew it was time to move forward. The clock was ticking. I
decided it was time to discover as much about writing as I possibly could. I
started doing on-line classes with agents like Wendy Rohm. That prepared me to
apply to the Vermont College of Fine Arts program. From there, I read and
annotated hundreds of books and wrote numerous essays on the craft of writing.
I also met an entirely new community of supportive, committed professionals.
2. We’d love to have you come back! Where
did you learn about the White ose Resistance? What made you decide to write a
story about it?
My
introduction to Hans and Sophie occurred while on a bike tour with my teenaged
daughters on a trip to Munich, Germany in 2016 when political rallies raged all
over the U.S. The tour guide took us to many of the places where fascism first
took hold in the city. We saw museums dedicated to people who used their voices
to protest what was happening. The images of political opponents, members of
the LGBTQ community–both men and women– filled the walls. We learned the first
concentration camp had been set up in 1933 to hold political opponents. The
government at that time set the tone early on to be sure people became too
afraid to speak out. When we passed the University where Hans and Sophie went
to school, I was fascinated by their bravery and drive to do what was right.
The
Scholl’s story never left me. I spent the next four years researching and
writing about them. I read their diaries, letters—basically anything I could
get my hands on. I discovered what motivated them. How their parent’s desire to
keep banned books and the bible available for their children influenced their
ability to think rather than submit to propaganda and fear. I returned to
Germany one more time with one of my sons and my daughters. We scoured Munich
and Ulm, where Hans and Sophie lived, for any clues to who they were. As an
American with German heritage, I needed to know there was goodness in the
hearts of the German people. I needed to know how a progressive, democratic
country could fall victim to the racism and horrors of that time in history.
Your Writing Process
3. What research did you do into the
White Rose Resistance and the lives of Hans and Sophie Scholl? How did you find
your sources?
Even
though the Scholl’s are not as well known in the U.S. as they are in Germany, I
compiled a list of books written or translated in English, and I watched movies
based on their lives with English subtitles.
3. You did a lot of research. And
it’s cool that you visited where they lived. I know you started out writing
this as a picture book. What made you decide to write it as a middle grade
novel instead? And why did you choose to write the story in verse rather than
prose?
Funny
story about that. I did originally write the story as a picture book, and I
submitted it to several SCBWI-MI Critique Carousel agents and editors. I
received fantastic critiques, and requests to submit. When I followed up and
submitted the story, I received champagne rejections across the board. They
just didn’t quite know where to place the story.
You
see, Hans and Sophie were beheaded for using their words against the
government. Not the best visual for a picture book. Who knew?
Certainly
not me. I had done my homework. I found mentor texts (Yes, there are PB mentor
texts where the main characters die.) One of my favorites was Swan: The Life and Dance of Anna Pavlova
by Laurel Snyder. It’s beautiful and lyrically written. Most importantly, it
ended with the death of the ballerina.
In
my defense, I grew up on German fairytales–the real ones where characters cut
off their toes to fit in shoes, not the watered down Disney versions.
Ready
to throw the manuscript in the proverbial drawer, I reached out to an editor at
Groundwood Books for advice. She asked if I would consider having it published
as a fully illustrated, middle-grade novel in verse. My first reaction was that
I didn’t know how to write it in verse. Being up for the challenge, I asked how
much would I have to rewrite?
Her
response was that I had already written it in that format. Self-awareness, even
when it comes to writing, is not one of my strong suits.
There’s
one thing I want to add about writing in free verse. In my first semester at
VCFA I had a wonderfully kind advisor named Mark Karlins who has since passed
away. When I worked with him all I wanted to do was learn how to take my
journalistic style and transform it into lyrical prose. I struggled and failed
for several packets. He suggested we move on to some other aspect of craft. I
begged him to give me all the books he could think of. I believe there were
about 20 or 30 on the list for me to read and annotate within a three week
period. It wasn’t until I dove into Ursula Le Guin’s Steering the Craft that something clicked. I’ve always appreciated
his willingness to let me flounder until he found just the right books to move
me forward to achieve my goals. I wish he were here to see this book come to
life.
4. There’s no happy ending to what
happened to Hans and Sophie Scholl or life in Germany during WWII. How did you
balance the uplifting message of Hans and Sophie’s work and the sad parts of
their story for kids in middle grade?
Great
question. But I feel as though there is a happy ending. The Words of the
Resistance survived and brought hope to those who needed it. When they were
alive, the Scholls watched as so many of their contemporaries perished during
the war. They felt that doing nothing and surviving was worse than the fate
they ultimately suffered. What a tragic commentary on life under an
authoritarian regime. I don’t want to shield young people from accurate
historical content. I want them to ask questions. I want them to think for
themselves rather than follow blindly.
My
underlying message in the book is that young people have the power to use their
words to transcend their situations.
Knowing the truth and not some whitewashed version of historical events
will hopefully give young people the power to protect our democracy and the
decency we hold dear. Mostly, I want them to know their words have power. They
can be beautiful or destructive, kind or divisive. Words have an energy all
their own. There’s a reason authoritarian regimes seek to silence writers,
poets, artists and educators.
Your Road to Publication
5. That’s a great way to end the
story on a positive note. You’re also the author of a picture book, The
Topsy-Turvey Bus. You got your publishing contracts for both your books without
an agent. How did you find publishers that you could query without an agent?
What advice do you have for other writers who want to query publishers
directly?
I
didn’t set out to enter publishing without an agent. I spent a great deal of
time trying to find one. Most agents I encountered were looking for novel
manuscripts or illustrator/author picture books. I’m not an accomplished
illustrator and my novels weren't polished enough to send out. When the
pandemic forced us all into our homes, I had several novels in various stages
of completion. And then my adult children came home. I didn’t have the
bandwidth to work on my larger projects so I wrote picture book manuscripts.
Not because they were easy, but because I felt that I could accomplish a
finished piece of work in a shorter amount of time. I have some really bad
picture book manuscripts stored in my computer, by the way.
One
day, when I was helping deliver food to area food banks, my friend Wren
Beaulieu-Hack picked me up with the real Topsy Turvy Bus and I said, “This
would make a fabulous picture book.”
She
pointedly said, “Sooooo, why don’t you write it?”
So
I did! I wrote the manuscript on Monday, edited on Wednesday and sent it out on
Friday to a specifically targeted publisher. Much to my surprise, I received a
request to add 350 words to the manuscript and resubmit.
7. Share your tips for working with
a small press publisher and resolving any issues when you don’t have an agent?
Great
question. After having worked with two different publishers, I have to say much
of what goes on depends on the publisher. Working with Groundwood Books on Words Matter has been a dream scenario.
I negotiated the contract on my own and they were gracious about my not having
an agent and worked with me on my one and only request. Their publicity
department and foreign rights teams are incredible. Words Matter has already received positive reviews due to their
diligent work. Foreign rights have already been sold to Korean and French
publishers.
My
advice to anyone signing a contract without an agent is to read it thoroughly
(duh!). Also, check with other authors published by the company. Most will
freely discuss their experience. I found author/agent/attorney Jacqueline D.
Lipton’s book, Law and Authors: A Legal
Handbook for Writers, worth reading before signing a contract. I’ve also
heard of agents willing to read over contracts for unagented authors for a fee.
If you find yourself with an offer, you can always reach out to your dream
agent with a contract in hand. You might get lucky.
Promoting Your Book
8. It’s great your publisher already
sold foreign rights for you. From watching you market The Topsy-Turvey Bus, I
know you’re good at marketing a book. What are your plans to celebrate the
release of Words Matter: The Story of Hans and Sophie Scholl and The White Rose
Resistance and promote it?
This
is actually the fun part. I received The Regional Advisor Marketing Grant from
The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators to help launch the book
on Sunday, September 14, from 5-7 at THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED BOOKSTORE in
Farmington, Michigan.
I’m
planning a theatrical launch with some surprises. There will be free raffles
for Words Matter swag and some signed
books from other talented authors. Everyone who attends the launch will receive
a free raffle ticket. I’ll be posting more of the free merch on my social
media. Attendees can also expect some fun food and bevies. I’ll be honoring educators and librarians who
attend with special giveaways. Each book purchased will also receive some fun
swag. I intend this book launch to be a celebration of Words. Not just mine,
but of so many voices that matter. If you are an educator or librarian let me
know you’re coming. You can contact me on my website and I’ll have your goodies
waiting for you.
9. Has your strategy toward
marketing changed from your experiences promoting your picture book? If so,
how?
Definitely.
I’m still working hard to promote this book, but the amount of support I”m
getting from the publisher, SCBWI and the writing community is incredible. I’m
still working hard to promote Words
Matter, but the process feels different with this book. I’m using my voice
to uplift other incredible writers. There are so many important books out there
right now.
10. What are you working on now?
I
still have a plethora of picture books that focus on sustainability and
conservation ready to go. In fact, there is one about a tree that’s being
considered by a local publisher. It’s about a snarky tree. I’m also diving back
into my middle-grade and YA novels. Now that Words Matter is out in the world, I’ll have the mental time and
space to complete those projects. I did finish a graphic novel manuscript set
at an alternative school for at risk kids that I adore. I did the research a
couple of years ago and I would love to see that out in the world. Then again,
I’m not an illustrator so it will be an uphill battle to publication–my
favorite kind of journey.
Thanks
for sharing all your advice, Anita. You can find Anita:
Website:
AnitaPazner.com
Instagram:
AnitaPazner
FB:
Anita Fitch Pazner
Bluesky:
@anita-pazner.bsky.social
Giveaway Details
Anita’s publisher is generously offering a hardback of
Words Matter: The Story of Hans and Sophie Scholl and The
White Rose Resistance for a giveaway. To enter, all you need to do is be
a follower of my blog (via the follower gadget, email, or bloglovin’ on
the right sidebar) and leave a comment by October 4th. If I do not have
your email (I can no longer get it from your Google Profile), you must leave it
in the comments to enter the contest. Please be sure I have your email address.
If you mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or
other social media sites and/or follow me on Twitter or Bluesky or follow Anita
on her social media sites, mention this in the comments, and I'll give you an
extra entry for each. You must be 13 years old or older to enter. This book
giveaway is U.S.
Marvelous
Middle Grade Monday is hosted by Greg Pattridge. You can find the participating
blogs on his blog.
Upcoming
Interviews, Guest Posts, and Blog Hops
Monday, September 29th I have an
interview with author Tracy Badau and a giveaway of her MG Ghoul Summer
Wednesday,
October 1st I’m participating in the Scaredy Cat Giveaway Hop and have an
interview with author Julie Berry with a giveaway of her YA If Looks Could Kill
and my IWSG post
Monday,
October 6th I have an agent spotlight interview with Renee Runge and a query
critique giveaway
Monday,
October 13th I have an interview with author Lynne Kelly and a giveaway of her
MG Three Blue Hearts
Wednesday,
October 15th I have an agent spotlight interview with Sophie Sheumaker and a query critique giveaway
Thursday, October 16th I’m participating in the Silly Pumpkin
Giveaway Hop
Monday, October 20th I have a guest post by author Claudia
Mills and a giveaway of her MG The Last Apple Tree
Monday, October 27th I have an interview with author Dusti
Bowling and a giveaway of her MG Holding on for Dear Life
I hope to see you on Monday!
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