For those OPB readers who’ve asked for more behind-​the-​scene stories about debut picture book authors—this one’s for you!

It’s with great pleasure that OPB has been asked to debut the cover of Antonino’s Impossible Dream by first-​time picture book author Tim McGlen. The book is being published after winning the Second Annual Prize for Original Children’s Book by by Minneapolis publisher Beaming Books. About the manuscript, Development Editor Naomi Krueger said, “Antonino’s Impossible Dream is such a fresh portrayal of how art and the willingness to learn new things can bring people together. Our team was captivated by the unique storytelling voice and the possibilities for vibrant art to go along with this artsy story.”

Tim McGlen teaches at a Montessori school, where he enjoys seeing children discover their potential as learners, creators, friends, mentors, teammates, and community members. His involvement in Florida’s SCBWI community makes him a happy writer. When Tim’s not teaching or writing, you can find him working out stories on his bicycle, cooking up flag football plays, or reading.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TimMcGlen
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tim.mcglen

---

RVC: What were the biggest challenges you encountered when first trying your hand at writing picture books?

TM: As a short story author, I had no idea how to write a picture book. My first manuscripts clocked in at 1,200 words. Sound familiar, anyone? It took committed study and deconstruction of good picture books, learning at SCBWI conferences, and reading books like Ann Whitford Paul’s Writing Picture Books to begin to gain competency.

RVC: What are a few of those picture books that proved most useful to you early on?

TM: My Red Balloon, by Kazuaki Yamada. Salina Yoon’s Be A Friend. Where the Wild Things Are, of course. All are spare with their language.

RVC: So let’s get to the big story here. Antonino’s Impossible Dream—your debut picture book—is coming out in spring 2019. What’s it like being a debut picture book author waiting for your book to hit the shelves? (Though it is available for pre-​order already!)

TM: A lot of work is being done by other people, so I just keep to my routine of writing, revising, and studying. At the same time, random little gurgles of “Oh, yeah, this is really happening!” bring excitement. I’m mostly eager to see Sophia’s finished spreads. She’s a talented artist.

RVC: How did Antonino’s Impossible Dream come about? What’s the story of how that story came to be?

TM: It’s a book about what making a friend looks like. A little more than a year ago, I knew I needed to write something that would rise above my other manuscripts. I hopped on my bicycle, pedaled away from humanity, and started speaking first lines. Another good manuscript came from that same ride. Now the manuscripts from “before” sit in a file cabinet, and I work on new material. I wonder if that line has to happen in every writer’s life.

RVC: What’s been the biggest surprise in terms of the manuscript-​into-​final-​product process so far?

TM: The revelation that as picture book author I am one third of a collaborative project was something I never thought that deeply about. And in saying that, I’m thankful to work with an editor who has such a strong vision for this book.

RVC: Describe what it’s like working with an editor who has a strong vision for your book.

TM: I submitted a honed manuscript with zero art notes to leave plenty of room for visual interpretation, and Andrew figured it out. He saw the book around the words. He envisioned a distinct setting and how it integrates into character. He saw an artistic style.

RVC: This is Only Picture Books’ first cover reveal. Thanks for that, by the way! But tell me—what’s the big deal about cover reveals for picture book creators? What does it mean to you personally to finally see the fully-​imagined cover?

TM: The cover is the portal into the story world. It’s what every child sees first, what launches their imaginations. Setting, protagonist. I would like to spend some time here, with this person who could even be me. The cover is the agent of the experience awaiting inside the book.

So to see Antonino’s cover rendered so expertly fills me with hope that children will want to climb into the book and stay there.

RVC: What did you edit out of Antonino’s Impossible Dream?

TM: Good material that did not belong in the book, discovered primarily through dummying.

RVC: Three words that come to mind when you look at the cover of Antonino’s Impossible Dream?

TM: POSSIBILITY. (Isn’t that ironic? Thanks, Sophia!)

CREATIVITY.

WOW.

RVC: What’s the next picture book project for you? A sequel to Antonino? Something else?

TM: Anthropomorphism. Fish out of water. And yes, a sequel. Thank you, Ryan.

RVC: Thanks, Tim. Best of luck for you and Antonino!