Update - Winner Announced! Celebrate Summer Reading & Fun with Kaitlin Sikes!

7/15: Congrats to CFreeland on winning Kaitlin's book giveaway! We'll be in touch soon with more details.

A special thanks to everyone who joined us to celebrate Summer Reading & Fun!

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6/26

Hi, readers, writers, and STEM lovers, too! Have you ever thought about the journey a single drop of rain makes on its way to earth? How about what happens after that? You're in luck! We're here with the wonderfully talented Kaitlin Sikes today as she shares her debut book, One Drop. Through crashing lightning and rumbling thunder, the reader embarks on a journey through the water cycle with a single raindrop from the sky. Her lyrical nonfiction book traces a drop of water from cloud to aquifer, from underground stream to marsh, from lake to river, from ocean to strait, past icebergs and waterfalls and beaches, until finally back to cloud. Want to know more about Kaitlin and her new book PLUS want a chance to win a signed copy? Read on...

Q: Hi Kaitlin! We’re so excited to feature you and your debut book today for our Summer Reading & Fun Event! 

Before we get started, can you share more about yourself and how you got into children’s writing with our readers? What was your path to becoming agented and a published author like?

A: Hi Heather & Lynne Marie, thank you for having me! In addition to being a mom and writer, I’m a pediatric nurse practitioner. I specialize in caring for children with Type 1 Diabetes. In 2018, I transitioned to part-time work and began homeschooling my children. My new lifestyle gave me time to explore my creative passions, and I adopted a regular writing routine. I was especially passionate about reaching neurodiverse kids through unexpected structure and sparse text. In 2021, I received a PBChat mentorship from Hannah Holt, who provided more structure to my writing process. In 2022, I sold a book to Reycraft Publishing and signed with my agent, Amy Thrall Flynn, at Aevitas Creative (Previously Rubin Pfeffer Content). She has been a dream to work with. 

Q: One Drop, your debut book, follows a single drop of water as it navigates the entire water cycle - from cloud to aquifer, from underground stream to marsh, from lake to river, from ocean to strait, past icebergs and waterfalls and beaches, until finally back to cloud.  

I own this book and absolutely adore it! What was the inspiration behind the story?

A: Oh wow, thank you! I appreciate your support! I live in Northeast Florida, and one day, I found myself wondering about our local river. Was it flowing north? Was that unusual? Where was the water going? Where did it come from? My kids and I wanted to understand, but the available water cycle books included mountains. There are no mountains in Florida. My research into the Floridan Aquifer and freshwater springs revealed gaps in the market, so I got to work.

Q: The text in your book is sparse, yet impactful! How many words were in your MS when submitting it to Reycraft and what advice do you have for readers who are looking to pack a lot of punch in a small amount of words? 

A:  Good question, it was 220 words. The first draft was 80 words; then it ballooned up to 350 words before I cut it down again. When I get stuck, I like to ask myself, "What am I trying to say?" I may write out the answer as a complete sentence and then play with structure to trim any extraneous words. I keep in mind that it's not about sharing every detail; it's about sparking curiosity and inspiring kids to explore further. 

Q:  What makes this a perfect summertime read for readers of all ages?

A: ONE DROP is a perfect summertime book. Readers will enjoy following a drop of water on a vibrant journey from Florida to Europe. Mel Cerri’s signature word art is bold and refreshing. Every time I read this story, I wish I was following along in real life, taking the ultimate summer vacation. 

We love Mel's artwork, and word art, too! Thanks for sharing.

Q: What’s one question you wish we would’ve asked you about you, your books, your writing/illustrating process, etc.?

A: This was fun! I'll add a note about critique partners, which I think are a “secret to success.” 

A good critique partner offers guidance or encouragement. A great critique partner does both. We all need great critique partners, and that means showing up in the same way for others. 

So true!

Q: BONUS QUESTION: What’s your favorite summer dessert / or treat? 

Fresh strawberries with whipped cream! I finished our strawberries yesterday; I need to go restock. :)

Q: Would you like to leave a tip or a treat for our readers?

A: A treat! I'd love to offer a signed copy of One Drop to one reader.

Thanks so much for such a generous treat! And thanks again for joining us, Kaitlin. We loved having you and getting a closer look at your new book. Congrats again!!

Giveaway Details: Readers, to enter to win Kaitlin's amazing book giveaway, 1) share this post on social media and 2) leave a comment below to thank her for stopping by! Share some rain-worthy GIFs, too!

Giveaway winners will be drawn and announced on or about 7/11!

Books will be shipped in the US only.

About Kaitlin Sikes:

Kaitlin M Sikes is passionate about writing books that inspire wonder and loves searching for those stories alongside her husband and two children. When she isn’t writing or exploring the natural world, she works as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner.

For more about Kaitlin, check out the below link:

https://www.kaitlinsikes.com/

To purchase Kaitlin's book on Amazon, or to leave a review for it, click here.

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