Erica S. Perl - blog - Happy Birthday to O.J.!

Tuesday

Jun142011

Happy Birthday to O.J.!

Tuesday, June 14, 2011 at 12:55AM

Ah, it seems like only yesterday that When Life Gives You O.J. was just a germ of a crumb of an idea for a story. And here he is, all grown up and PUBLISHED! Yes, that's right: today's his pub date, better known as his Book Birthday. So happy birthday to you, little O.J. May you wag your way into the reading public's heart, even without benefit of an actual tail.

Here's an old illustration I did for him (back with his original title!)

It seems only fitting that I should take a moment today and thank SO many people who joined me and O.J. on this journey. First and foremost, everyone I thanked on pages 197-198 (two pages? what can I say? I'm a thank-er!): my family, friends, wonderful agent, fabulous editor, etc. In addition, I would like to thank everyone who has cheered O.J. onward since I finished writing, namely my dedicated publicists (official and unofficial!), and the bloggers and booksellers and librarians and teachers and parents and grandparents who are now starting to perk up their ears at the sound of the book... thank you, thank you, thank you!

I also want to thank someone who has no idea that he inspired me to write this book, and that's Andrew Clements. He came and spoke to the Children's Book Guild of Washington, DC (a fabulous group of which I am a proud member) and he talked about being a picture book writer before he ever wrote word one of a novel. He explained how he submitted a book as a picture book, and had it rejected repeatedly because the idea just wasn't a picture book story. He went on to re-envision it as a middle grade novel and sold the book. That book was Frindle.

I would never be so presumptuous as to compare my work to Andrew Clements'. However, hearing him tell that story about Frindle changed the way I had been thinking about a picture book I had been working on. It was about a girl and her grandfather, and how he promised her a pet and then delivered an orange juice jug instead. It was cute and funny as a picture book, but something was missing. I suddenly realized why I was so stuck. There was a lot more to the story I wanted to tell. It wasn't a picture book; it was a middle grade novel. Only problem was: I hadn't written one of those yet.

So I started digging in the one place I don't usually go: my own story. I'm a writer of fiction, after all, so I generally make stuff up. But for some reason, this fictional story about a girl named Zelda "Zelly" Fried seemed to be rooted in my own experiences, and in the time when my grandmother was sick and my grandfather came to stay with us. Once I realized that and, as Andrew Clements encouraged in his speech, I allowed my story to take up whatever space it needed, it was pretty clear to me that I wasn't writing a picture book. Which was fine, because it freed me up to go back to who I was and what I was struggling with at the age of ten-going-on-eleven while writing a book intended for kids around that same age. My issues, like Zelly's, also had to do with being Jewish in a predominantly Christian place, but I believe that kids of all backgrounds will relate to Zelly.

I hope kids - boys and girls - find O.J. And if you have anything to do with them finding him, I thank you, too!

17 Comments |

Reader Comments (17)

I cannot wait to pick up this book. The book trailer did its job!

June 14, 2011 |

Colby

I can't wait to get this for my son! I entered the giveaway on Sweep Tight and am considering just purchasing your book!

July 9, 2011 |

Toni

This book is so cute! I want to get an inside peek at it :P

July 9, 2011 |

beckie ford

Looking forward to getting this book for my grandchildren.

July 11, 2011 |

Emilia Jaime-Mateo

Can't wait to read this book with my grandchildren!!! Entering giveaway @ Sweep Tight!

July 12, 2011 |

Terri S Crum

This looks fantastic - I cannot wait to give it to my Mom and see her read it with the grandkids!

July 15, 2011 |

Samantha

this is so inspirational! My sister who has small children is trying to get published, and I forwarded this blog to her :)

July 22, 2011 |

Steven Heaston

What a cute picture!

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