The Picture Book Buzz - Interview with Danielle Sharkan

Mint chocolate chip ice cream, goldendoodles, hot yoga, and exploring nature with her kids are some of Danielle’s favorite things, in addition to reading and writing picture books, of course.

Danielle’s stories are inspired by her lived experiences, natural wonders, and her commitment to Tikkun Olam, making the world a better place. She has taught English, Spanish, and Social Studies to kids of all ages. She rediscovered her love of picture books when her daughter was in preschool, and set out to become an author shortly after. Hailing from the suburbs of Chicago, she now resides in Boulder, CO.

Her debut picture book, Sharing Shalom, releases on September 17th.

Welcome Danielle, thank you for coming to talk about your debut book!

Hi Maria, thank you so much for having me here!

Tell us a little about yourself. (Where/when do you write and/or illustrate? How long have you been writing and illustrating? What is your favorite type of book to write and/or illustrate?)

I have always loved writing. In 3rd grade, my father encouraged me to enter a contest in my local newspaper, and I won first place! Ten Spooky Ghosts was published just before Halloween, and I still remember the pride I felt when my teachers and even the principal congratulated me after it was printed. Fast forward to my Sophomore year in High School. We were assigned to write and illustrate a children’s book and given the option to send it out to publishers! I didn’t get an offer, but later that year, my teacher nominated me and one other student to team up with a software company to create original early reader stories, which they would then digitalize (this was in the 90's 😊) That year of High School rekindled my love of creative writing.

However, my most recent journey into the world of kidlit began just before the pandemic. I learned about PJ library, a Jewish publisher, which offers incentives for original stories. In the spring, I was sick with pneumonia and decided to write some fun, rhyming stories that I thought would instantly sell! I sent it out without an agent, without a critique group, without having studied the art of writing picture books or rhyming. Needless to say, I didn’t get an offer, but it did motivate me to write more and keep trying.

The next year, my friend posted that she had just gotten agented and sold her first story! I reached out to her and she told me what to do: join Twitter (X), Kidlit 411, 12x12, all the things! That was in mid-2020, and I’ve been writing and involved in the kidlit community ever since!

I like writing upbeat, fun, creative, and lyrical stories (even though my debut is a more serious topic). I like word play and lyricism. I like to write stories inspired by events in my own life that I would have liked to have when I was younger.

It is so good to meet you! Who was your favorite author, illustrator, and/or your favorite book as a child?

As a child, I loved Dr. Seuss and Shel Silverstein. I loved Dr. Seuss’s eccentric characters, his rhyming, word play, and how his words brought me to alternative realities that were so improbable yet believable all at the same time. Yet, I loved how there's a deeper truth that speaks to even the youngest of kids.

Dr. Seuss was an amazing talent and did so much for kidlit. What was your inspiration or spark of interest for Sharing Shalom?

Book cover - kids with arms locked together.

The seeds of the story were planted over several years. After writing for about a year, I thought to myself, what is something meaningful I can write about from my own life? It was 2021 and antisemitic events and hate-crimes in general were increasingly in the news. Around that time, my daughter was in preschool and there was a false bomb threat. Luckily, she was not there at the time, but the teachers had to quickly move the children to a safe location. I couldn’t imagine what they told the preschoolers. It was then that I remembered the one time a hate crime happened in my community. I thought back to that event, and Sharing Shalom was born.

I am so sorry for the kids, but grateful it was a false threat and everyone was okay. How long did it take from the first draft to publication for Sharing Shalom?

It took a little less than a year. First, I had to get agented, which happened a lot quicker after writing Sharing Shalom. I wrote the story in the summer of 2021, and got agented in November 2021. Our first two subs were different stories. We subbed Sharing Shalom in March, and got interest right away from one editor. A few weeks later, we got an R & R request from my current editor. The first editor couldn't’ give us an offer, but my editor loved the R&R and made an offer around April 2022!

You're right, that is relatively quick. Congrats. Says a lot about the manuscript. What was the toughest aspect of writing Sharing Shalom? And what was the most fun part of creating this book?

The toughest part of writing Sharing Shalom was when Leila asked her mom why someone would vandalize their synagogue. The most fun part of creating this book was getting the offer and then watching my words come to life in art form!

That would be a lot of fun! What is one of the most fun or unusual places where you’ve written and/or illustrated a manuscript?

It may not sound that unusual, but during the pandemic, I would stay up late at night and just write in my bed. (not recommended for maintaining good posture and/or relieving back aches!)

Maybe not, but comfy and quiet. When you first saw Selina Alko’s illustrations, did anything amaze or surprise you? Which is your favorite spread?

Selina’s art blew me away. The color palette is incredible. She did an amazing job of capturing the heart of the story through pictures.

Internal spread - on the left a girl holding her machberet, Hebrew notebook. On the right, an imagined treasure map.

Text © Danielle Sharkan, 2024. Image © Selina Alko. 2024.

I just love the drawing of Leila with her machberet, Hebrew notebook. Her deep yet innocent gaze, and beauty and strength shines through.

I also love the spread of the children holding hands and singing together, along with the Hebrew prayer. You could really get a sense of solidarity, friendship, and love through that image.

I wasn’t sure how Selina would depict the most difficult section, in my opinion: Leila asking her mother why their synagogue was vandalized. I think the way she paired such a difficult, heavy topic with a simple illustration and symbol of love was a great decision.

I agree that the illustrations are gorgeous, powerful, and very emotionally sensitive and poignant. Is there anything special you want your readers to know about Sharing Shalom?

When I wrote Sharing Shalom, there was an uptick of racism and hate-crimes happening across the country. When my critique partners or other writers read earlier drafts, many said they could identify with Leila’s experience, even though they weren’t Jewish, and they would tell me their stories. That was meaningful to me.

I would love for both Jewish and non-Jewish parents and teachers to read Sharing Shalom to their children and students. I hope it will increase understanding and empathy for the Jewish experience. And I sincerely wish that it will sow the seeds of peace for young people and help fight against racism, stereotyping, and intolerance.

I wish for that too, for everyone. Are there any projects you are working on now that you can share a tidbit with us?

I have a few stories in the works in different genres, nonfiction, and creative nonfiction.

Best of luck with all of your projects. What is your favorite National Park or Forest, regional park, or city park (anywhere in the world)? Or the one you’re longing to visit. Why?