Barbara Lowell is the author of the new children’s picture book Sparky & Spike: Charles Schultz and the Wildest, Smartest Dog Ever. Her other books include Alexander Hamilton: American Hero and Daring Amelia. She lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Q: Why did you decide to write a picture book about Charles Schulz and his dog?
A: I have always loved Peanuts. My favorite character is Linus. I was surprised that no one had written a picture book biography about Charles “Sparky” Schulz, and I thought he deserved one.
I first wrote a manuscript that began when his was about six years old and ended with the publication of Peanuts in October 1950. I sent the manuscript to a freelance editor who suggested that I focus more on Charles and his dog Spike. I thought that was a great idea and more relatable to kids.
Sparky & Spike: Charles Schulz and the Wildest, Smartest Dog Ever turned out to be a combination of both manuscripts with Charles appearing only as a child.
Q: What kind of research did you do to write the book and what did you learn that especially surprised you?
A: I read every autobiographical book and art book with autobiographical information written by Charles Schulz. I read many excellent biographies including all those sold online by the Charles M. Schulz Museum.
I listened to every recorded interview of Charles Schulz and read every printed interview both in books and online. I visited the Charles M. Schulz Museum online, watched the PBS American Masters documentary, and read every The Complete Peanuts books of comic strips from 1950-1994 as well as other research. I found a tremendous amount of information written about him.
What surprised me most was that Charles Schulz decided that he would be a cartoonist when he was only six years old and that he never liked the name Peanuts. He wanted the strip to be called, Li’l Folks, the name of his cartoons published in the St. Paul Pioneer Press which were the forerunners of Peanuts. United Feature Syndicate chose the name Peanuts.
I was also surprised that his childhood nickname, Sparky, was the name his family and friends called him his entire life.
Q: What do you think Dan Andreasen’s illustrations add to the book?
A: Dan is the perfect illustrator for Sparky & Spike. He adds humor, heart, and a unique style to the book. He captures the “funnies” perfectly. Abigail Samoun of Red Fox Literary paired the story with Dan’s art and Cameron Kids saw her vision. It’s magic that it happened this way especially because Charles Schulz wrote a letter to Dan when he was a boy and the letter is in the book.
Dan is an outstanding illustrator with many published books. The American Girl doll books about Felicity and Samantha were my daughter’s favorites when she was little. We read them many times. I never imagined then that one day the illustrator of those books, Dan Andreasen, would illustrate a book of mine. I also had no idea at the time that I would become an author.
Q: What do you hope kids take away from the story?
A: Charles Schulz’s dream was to become a cartoonist because he loved to draw and he loved comic strips. In the story (and in real life) Sparky rips up his drawings after he compares them to those of professional cartoonists. But he doesn’t give up drawing. When he sees an opportunity to have a drawing of Spike published by Ripley’s Believe It Or Not, he takes it.
If you have a dream, work to make it happen. If you want to be an illustrator, practice drawing characters by the illustrators you like and you will develop your own style. That’s what Charles Schulz did.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: I am working on three nonfiction picture books. I had the idea for one about 10 years ago but had no idea how best to tell the story – I think I’ve figured it out. I am reworking a manuscript I originally wrote about 12 years ago, and I am writing a new one that is both history and science related.
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: I love to travel and have been fortunate to visit many countries, especially in Europe, during the past five years.
I have three books for reluctant readers that will be released by Black Rabbit Books this fall. My picture book, My Mastodon, illustrated by the exceptional artist Antonio Marinoni, will be released in Spring 2020 with Creative Editions.
And Behind the Bookcase:Miep Gies, Anne Frank and the Hiding Place, a picture book biography about the woman who tried to save Anne and those hiding with her from capture by the Nazis, and did save Anne’s diary is forthcoming with Kar-Ben/Lerner Publishing.
On June 1, I will be signing books at the Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa, California. It’s a dream come true!
Thank you Deborah for inviting me on your blog!
The Picture Book Buzz – Interview with Barbara Lowell
Barbara Lowell’s newest picture book is a biography of beloved cartoonist Charles Schultz.
For Barbara, “writing books for children is a dream come true.” She’s been a reader since she was little. Barbara lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma with my husband and two terrific cats. She writes nonfiction and historical fiction picture books, nonfiction early readers, and nonfiction educational market books for reluctant readers.
Welcome Barbara, thank-you so much for stopping by to talk about your newest book, Sparky & Spike: Charles Schulz and the Wildest, Smartest Dog Ever, which released April 23rd, and writing.
ME: Tell us a little about yourself. (Where/when do you write? How long have you been writing? What is your favorite type of book to write or illustrate?)
Barbara: I mostly write in my office at home, but recently wrote on a cruise ship. That was especially fun and productive since I didn’t have all the distractions I have at home. Sometimes my office gets to be a big mess, and then I write in my living room. I have been writing seriously since 2005, when the wonderful author, Anna Myers, suggested that I turn an article into a picture book. I love to write nonfiction picture books primarily biographies or history related.
I’ve heard of writing a book on a train or a plane but writing a book on a cruise ship sure sounds like lots of fun! What is something no one (or few) knows about you?
I can tap dance and twirl a baton.
That’s a fun tidbit! Can you explain the difference between trade and work-for-hire books (Engineering AT&T Stadium (2017))? Is Sparky & Spike your second trade picture book? (George Ferris What A Wheel (2014) being your first one.) Do you prefer one type to the other?
Sparky & Spike is my second trade picture book. I have two more coming out, one in Spring 2020 and the other forthcoming in 2021.
I like writing for the trade market best. I come up with the idea and the manuscript is completely my vision (until it’s sold.) I have written seven work-for-hire books. I was paid a flat fee, no royalties, and was given a set of guidelines to follow. Work-for-hire books in the educational market are usually sold as a series. Although they have different authors, they need to look similar. That’s why they are written to a strict set of guidelines.
Thank you for describing the difference. You’ve also written two leveled Young Reader books – Alexander Hamilton: American Hero (2017) and Daring Amelia (2016). How did these come about? How different are these books from Sparky & Spike? (Process, timing, vocabulary, amount of research, writing style, etc.)
After I wrote George Ferris What A Wheel, I pitched ideas to the editorial assistant at Grosset & Dunlap/Penguin Young Readers. When I suggested an early reader about Amelia Earhart, I was given the go ahead. Then Penguin asked me to write Alexander Hamilton: American Hero.
Writing leveled readers is different from writing picture books in two respects: the vocabulary needs to be at the requested grade level and the manuscript has to be leveled using a leveling tool. I used the ATOS leveler. Vocabulary that is above the grade level is also used to challenge the reader. Of course, with biographies, more advanced vocabulary will naturally be used. I really enjoyed writing both books because it was a challenge to get the vocabulary correct.
Sounds a lot more technical. Was any book harder than the others for you to write?
Engineering AT&T Stadium was the most difficult. Almost all of the research available was written by engineering, architectural, and construction professionals. They were writing for other professionals, not me. I had to use an engineering dictionary to understand what they were talking about. I had to learn a lot about construction, too. But I like to learn about things that are unfamiliar.
Congrats on digesting and simplifying all that material. What was the hardest part in the researching for Sparky & Spike?
Researching Sparky & Spike was lots of fun. There was so much research available either written by Charles Schulz or interviews with him. I love learning and writing about people’s lives, especially their childhood and how that influenced their adult life. Charles Schulz wrote a great deal about his childhood. There wasn’t a hard part researching him.
I imagine the hard part could have been too much information. How did you break into writing for/within the educational market?
When I decided that I would try to write for the educational market, I took the workshop, Writing for the Educational Market, offered by the Highlights Foundation. I learned everything I needed to know and was hired almost immediately by a book packager. Going to Highlights in Pennsylvania is a real treat!
Wow! I love Highlights workshops. Who was your favorite author, illustrator, and/or favorite book as a child?
Beverly Cleary. My favorite book of hers is Fifteen, one that is probably not well-known.
What/who is your greatest source of inspiration? (as a child or now as a writer or illustrator.)
My greatest source of inspiration is author, mentor, and friend, Anna Myers. She was the Regional Advisor for SCBWI Oklahoma for thirteen years. She is reason I persevered through the many rejections that all writers receive while learning the craft. Whenever I would buy one of her latest books before I was published, she would write inside: “I’m waiting for your book.” She believed in me! I am dedicating my next book: My Mastodon to her. She is a treasure and everyone in SCBWI Oklahoma loves her.
It’s cool to have that type of a mentor relationship. What is the hardest thing about trade publishing for you? The most amazing?
The hardest part is how slowly the trade publishing business moves. The most amazing is when I hear that a manuscript has sold, and when I first see the illustrations. That’s when the book comes alive. It’s also amazing that of all the illustrators that have illustrated my published books and those forthcoming, only one is from the United State (Dan Andreasen.) The others are from: Wales, England, New Zealand, Italy, and Columbia.
How interesting. Is there something you want your readers to know about Sparky & Spike?
Sparky/Charles Schulz’s dream was to become a cartoonist. It wasn’t easy. He had to work very hard to make his dream come true and he never gave up trying. If you want to be an illustrator, then practice drawing the characters of the illustrators you like and you will develop your own style. Charles Schulz did just that.
Great advice. Did you imagine the illustrations having such a cartoony feeling when you wrote the text? Or when you heard that Dan Andreasen would illustrate it?
I didn’t imagine the illustrations as they are. They’re much better. I love how Dan Andreasen’s vision was to make the book look like the “funnies.” My dad, like Sparky’s dad, read the big Sunday comics to me every Sunday afternoon. Dan’s illustrations remind me of my childhood. Dan has so many styles. I didn’t know what to expect until I saw the first sketches. He illustrated the American Girl books about Samantha and Felicity that my daughter and I read when she was young. The style of Sparky & Spike is completely from different from those books. Dan is an amazing illustrator.
I totally agree with you on that. He did an amazing job with this book. Any projects you are working on now that you can share a tidbit with us?
I had an idea for a picture book about ten years ago, but I had no idea how to make it work. I think I figured it out. It’s about the son of a famous father in history who was a complete mischief maker.
Tantalizing teaser there. Is there anything about writing, illustrating, or publishing you know now that you wished you had known when you started? Or anything you’re glad you didn’t know about in advance?
It takes a long time to learn the craft of writing. All those manuscripts that will never be published were worth writing. They were learning tools. That’s the answer to both questions.
If you are in a critique group or have critique partners, what have you learned from them?
I have been working with two members of my critique group for fourteen years and the other members for about two years. They tell me things about my manuscript that I don’t see and then I think: why didn’t I see that? They also tell me exactly what they think and don’t sugarcoat their opinions. It’s so important to let go of what won’t work in a manuscript. They help me do that. My other “critique partner” is my husband. He really tells me what’s wrong.
That’s special, it doesn’t always happen. What is your favorite animal? Why?
I love dogs! I only have cats now but had two wonderful dogs at different times. Dogs are just special animals who give love unconditionally.
Thank you, Barbara for stopping by. It was wonderful to chat with you.
My guess is you already know the stars of the book Sparky & Spike: Charles Schulz and the Wildest, Smartest Dog Ever. You don’t think so? Well, maybe these two clues will help: Charlie Brown and Snoopy.
This book, written by Barbara Lowell and illustrated by Dan Andreason, takes us to the childhood of Charles M. Schulz and introduces us to one very special dog.
This is what Kirkus had to say about the book:
“A fetching story, perfect for budding artists and lovers of the funnies.”
And, in a starred review, Booklist called it:
“Doggone fun.”
Nice, huh?
I’m so happy to welcome Barbara to Picture Book Builders!
Barbara, congratulations on Sparky & Spike being named a Junior Library Guild Selection. What an honor! How you did you come up with the idea for this book?
Thank you, Tammi! I’ve always loved the comic strip Peanuts. I thought that a biography of Charles Schulz would make a fun picture book. I was surprised and happy that no one had written one before.
I first wrote a manuscript about Charles that began when he was about six years old and ended on the day Peanuts first appeared in print. Charles was an adult for a good part of the manuscript. I sent it to a freelance editor who suggested that I focus on Charles as a child and his relationship with his dog Spike. So, I did. Amy Novesky, my editor at Cameron Kids, asked me to add sections from the first manuscript, when Charles is a child, into the second. This turned out to be a great idea.
You’ve written many nonfiction books (biographies, narrative nonfiction, etc.) for kids. Please share some advice for those of us who might want to give nonfiction a try.
I grew up reading lots of nonfiction books. I think a writer needs to have a passion for nonfiction and research. It can take a long time to research a subject and having that passion makes researching fun, not a chore.
Of course, as with any project, a writer needs to read books in their genre. I primarily write picture book biographies and have read hundreds of them. It’s a good idea to take online and/or in person classes about writing nonfiction for children. The Highlights Foundation has excellent classes and does offer scholarships. And subscribe to MelissaStewart’s blog. She is a great resource. Her blog address is: http://celebratescience.blogspot.com/
What are three fun facts that you learned in your research that didn’t make it into the book?
Charles Schulz named several characters after his friends: Charlie Brown, Linus and Frieda.
He always thought that he would write an action-adventure comic strip not one about children. In Peanuts, Snoopy seeks adventure by leading his Foreign Legion patrol through the desert and fighting the Red Baron atop his dog house.
At first, Charles decided to name the dog in Peanuts, Sniffy. But he discovered there was already a dog with that name in a comic magazine. He chose Snoopy because his mother had once suggested that as a good name for a dog.
You have an upcoming event at the Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa, California. Tell us alittle about this opportunity.
Cameron Kids, an imprint of Cameron + Company is located in Petaluma, California, not far from Santa Rosa. I have been working with Cameron Kids’s publicist, Emma Kallok. She approached the museum about hosting me. During my research for the book, I visited the museum’s online website many times. I’m excited that now I will be visiting the museum in person.
Scoop time! What’s next for you?
My Mastodon, based on a true family that lived in a natural history museum with their “pet” mastodon, will be released in Spring 2020. Behind the Bookcase: Miep Gies, AnneFrank and the Hiding Place will be out in Spring 2021. It’s a biography of Miep Gies and her relationship with Anne Frank. Miep was one of the people that helped hide Anne Frank. She is responsible for saving Anne’s diary. I recently finished a picture book about a mischievous kid, and I am working on two more nonfiction picture books.
Reading to my brother
My artistic daughter when she was three. The illustrations on this website are hers.
![booker3[2]](http://www.barbaralowell.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/booker32.jpg)