Trick or Treat with Helen Kemp Zax!

Hi, readers, writers, and to-do list keepers too! Today we're thrilled to showcase another book perfect for spooky season & fall reading! Please give a wicked-warm welcome to Helen Kemp Zax and her brand-new book that has just flown to a shelf near you: Little Witch’s To-Do List!

Little Witch is bubbling over with chores from sunrise to moonrise - thank goodness she’s got a to-do list to keep her magic in order. From potion-stirring to bat-summoning to baking a frightfully delicious toadstool cake, she’s brewing up more tasks than you can shake a wand at. But will she finish them in time?

Want to know about Helen and her charming new book, PLUS want to know if she's passing out a Trick or a Treat? Read on if you dare...🧹🌕

Q: Hi, Helen! Thanks for joining #SeasonsOfKidLit for our Annual Trick-or-Treat Event! We’re thrilled to have you and hear all about your book Little Witch’s To-Do List.  Can you share more about your background in writing poetry? What made you decide #KidLit?

A: I have always been a writer. For a few years, I was a professor of legal writing. But I didn’t start writing poetry until our now-adult children were young. I worked on a poetry collection back then that I submitted to Susan Hirschman at Greenwillow. It was a thrill to get a kind, personal note from her saying they couldn’t publish my work because they already worked with a talented poet: Jack Prelutsky.

One year I wrote a poem-a-day to support a young friend who had been in a terrible accident. Later, I worked with a professional editor to hone my poetic skills. Then I received an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. For many years, I focused on writing longer fiction, but I always loved writing rhymed, meter poetry. I think the true turning point for my poetry career came when I became a member of Poets Garage. There I had the luck to critique and have my work critiqued by some of the most talented children’s poets I know. 

Q: We love charming books and Little Witch’s To-Do List is just that. It follows a busy Little Witch who has a lot to do morning to night - good thing she has a to-do list! From brewing potions to summoning bats to baking a toadstool cake, she has many tasks to complete before bedtime.

This is seriously so adorable! Can you share more about your book with our readers? What inspired you to write about a busy witch and what do you hope young readers will take away from your story?

A: Thank you! A long time ago I’d written a to-do list poem about the things a wild, little boy planned to accomplish during his busy day. The poem never sold. A few years back the Cricket group opened for submissions shortly before Halloween. I decided to use the format to imagine what a busy, little witch might do with her day. I hope children who read this book will not only love the poetry and illustrations, but they also will decide that planning and accomplishing the things they plan can be a lot of fun. Just yesterday, a Facebook friend told me her grandson started writing his own to-do list after reading the book three times. It doesn’t get any better than that!

Q: Were you expecting Little Witch’s To-Do List to be published?

A: No! I’d had a decades-long publishing journey, landing my agent immediately before Covid hit. We spent those hard years unsuccessfully trying to sell my longer fiction pieces. Just as the publishing world was opening up again, my agent was winding down much of his agency. Because we hadn’t sold anything together, we were planning to part ways that December. I’d shared my Little Witch story with him, but I thought he’d decided not to send it out since we had only a few months left together. Then one day he asked me to call him and told me we had an offer from Meredith Mundy at Abrams (and interest elsewhere). I knew Meredith was amazing, so we went with her. My agent negotiated the multi-book series at that time.

Working with Meredith, the whole Abrams team, and my fabulous illustrator Kiersten Eagan has been one of the most joyous times of my life. And it came out of nowhere—sort of. I’d written for years and years and years, butt-in-chair from morning until evening. So, that’s why this question is so important to me. You’ll never know when you will be the lucky one to break into this difficult publishing world. So keep writing. Keep loving writing. And never give up hope.

How fascinating and inspiring - thanks for sharing!

Q: What’s your favorite spread and why?

A: It’s really hard to pick my favorite spread because I love Kiersten Eagan’s work so much. But since I have to choose, I pick the double-page, trick-or-treating spread.  First, it’s an example of how incredibly creative the Abrams team and Kiersten are. Nothing in my text mentioned Halloween. But because of the team’s amazing vision, this page became a joyous celebration of the holiday. Second, this page is a perfect example of the collaboration that happens when you’re lucky enough to work with an editor like Meredith and her team. Kiersten’s original drawing was fantastic. But Meredith and her creative team encouraged Kiersten to keep adding more and more fun details. I think the end result speaks for itself.

Q: We love all holidays at #SeasonsOfKidLit and your next book in the series, Little Bunny’s To-Do List celebrates somebunny special - the Easter Bunny. Did you initially pitch your books as a series, or did one come first? What advice do you have for those looking to write a series? 

A: Little Witch’s To-Do List was submitted as a single title. I believe it may have been submitted as a board book as well. When Meredith Mundy—my fabulous editor at Abrams—acquired the book, my agent Steven Chudney negotiated a multi-book deal. Meredith is one of the most organized people I’ve ever met. (Like me, she’s the daughter of a librarian.) So, she was happy to make a deal for the Magical List Series. I didn’t plan to write a series. I suspect these titles had series potential because the structure is easily reimagined for a wide variety of magical characters.

BONUS: What’s both your favorite and least favorite candy? What would you be thrilled to receive in your candy bag, and what would you desperately try to trade?

Though I haven’t had a Rolo in years, I’d have to say they were my favorite candy when I was little. My beloved grandfather, who lived with us, had a candy stash in his bureau. I always chose a package of Rolos. I’d trade away any chewy fruit candy like a Starburst in a heartbeat!

Would you like to leave a trick or a treat for our readers?

A Treat:  I'd like to giveaway a copy of my book to one lucky reader!

THANK YOU for such a spellbindingly sweet treat. And thanks SO much for joining us. We loved getting a closer look at your new book!

Giveaway Details: Readers, to enter Helen's giveaway, 1) leave a comment below to thank her for stopping by and 2) share her post on social media. Adorable witch GIFs are welcomed, too!

Please Note: Books/giveaways will be shipped in the U.S. only.

*Special Reminder: Those who like, leave a comment on, and share all posts will be entered into a drawing and be eligible to win:

• One (1) of five (5) Rate Your Story Speed Passes perfect for quick MS feedback, provided by Editor Lynne Marie & Author Heather Macht and/or

• A Query Critique from Agent  Lynnette Novak with The Seymour Agency 

Winners will be drawn and announced on or about 10/22. 

About Helen Kemp Zax:

Helen Kemp Zax is a children’s author and poet whose work has been featured in many anthologies, magazines, and journals. Helen’s forthcoming picture books include Little Witch’s To-Do List, Little Bunny’s To-Do List, Little Elf’s To-Do List, and Little Leprechaun’s To-Do List. Helen has taught writing at all levels, from elementary to post graduate. She is a former lawyer and professor of legal writing. Helen earned her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Helen is a member of SCBWI and Poets Garage. She currently lives in Washington, D.C, with her husband.

For more about Helen, check out the below links:

Website: Helen Zax, Children's Author and Poet

Amazon (for book reviews and purchases): Little Witch’s To-Do List (A Magical List Book): A Picture Book - Kindle edition by Zax, Helen Kemp, Eagan, Kiersten Eve. Children Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

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