Practically Porcupine Laura Renauld

Laura Renauld's first picture book Porcupine pie comes out on October 9th. Laura told me about her book and showed me the cover. I just had to know more. What's in the pie? Who is this wonderful writer who writes about porcupines and pie? Are there more pies in Laura's future? I just had to interview Laura to learn all I could!

You can buy Porcupine Pie here: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/porcupines-pie-laura-renauld/1127620420?ean=9781506431802 or at anywhere online that sells her book. If you pre-order from the US now Laura will send you a signed book plate!

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Dani: Who influenced you most in your writing career?

Laura: When I was a teacher, I had a colleague who encouraged my writing. She gave me Georgia Heard’s book Writing Toward Home and was a valuable source of quotes and texts that she called ‘literary gifts’. With her by my side, I found the courage to begin. That was over ten years ago, but I will always be indebted to my friend for supporting me as I took my first baby steps as a writer.


Dani:  What kind of pie is Porcupine's Pie?

Laura: Good question! I decided that Porcupine’s specialty for Fall Feast Day was her Famous Cranberry Pie. But when she loses an important ingredient, her friends support her and together they create a new tradition: Friendship Pie! There’s even a recipe for Friendship Pie at the back of the book.

(As a side note, my first inkling of this idea was a jot in my notebook that said “How to Make Porcupine Pie”. That sounded a bit too macabre! Needless to say, I pursued a different angle, making Porcupine the protagonist, instead of the victim.)


Dani:  Can you tell us a bit about the #KidsNeedMentors initiative and why you joined?

Laura: #KidsNeedMentors is a way for educators and authors to team up in pursuit of our common purpose: exciting kids about reading and writing! Authors Ann Braden and Jarrett Lerner, and fifth grade teachers Kristin Crouch and Kristen Picone, are the team behind the movement. During this pilot year, author/teacher pairs are encouraged to connect by mail, by video chat, and maybe even in-person. Students build a relationship with one author over the course of the school year.

I signed up to participate because #KidsNeedMentors sounded like a game-changer to me. Teachers and school districts often lack the resources they need to bring authors to schools. And writers feel isolated at their desks or amid the book-signing crowd where connections with readers are fleeting. With this partnership program, authors can bond with the very people they write for: kids! I am looking forward to sharing my writing journey with the learning journey of the students I’m paired with.


Dani:  What do you wish you knew about writing when you were younger? 

Laura: Oh my! Where do I start? I wish I knew that writing a “breakfast to bed” story is not very satisfying. It took me a very long time to realize (and I still need reminders!) that a picture book develops from one key moment; one emotion; one unexpected circumstance. It has to be super-focused in order to explore the heart of the story with insight and depth.

My foundation for creative writing actually came from teaching Writer’s Workshop to my third graders. I learned as much from those mini-lessons as they did!


Dani:  What's next for you?

Laura: Now I get to enter the world of book signings and school visits! Visit my website to see where I’ll be next: www.laurarenauld.com.

My next book is a picture book biography called Fred’s Big Feelings: The Life and Legacy of Mister Rogers. It is scheduled to release in Fall 2019 from Atheneum, with Brigette Barrager illustrating.


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Connect with me online at: laurarenauld.com and on social media:

Twitter - @laura_renauld

Facebook – @kidlitlaura

Instagram - @laurarenauld




Bio:

Laura Renauld is a former third grade teacher who now spends her days imagining and creating. When she is not writing picture books about porcupines, pirates, and pickles, Laura can be found on a trail, at the library, or in the kitchen. She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and their two story-telling sons. This is her debut picture book.