Today we are very excited to share an interview with author Stacy Lynn Carroll and Illustrator Molly Ruttan!
Read on to learn more about the two, the book, and a giveaway!
Meet the Author: Stacy Lynn Carroll
Stacy Lynn Carroll (StacyLynnCarroll.com) has written several young adult and adult novels, and The Yowlers is her picture book debut. Stacy loves chocolate cake, Dr Pepper, corgi butts, and making up stories for the amusement of her children. She and her husband live in Utah with their five kids and a small zoo of pets.
Meet the Illustrator: Molly Ruttan
Molly Ruttan (MollyRuttan.com) grew up making art and music in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, and earned a BFA from the Cooper Union School of Art. Molly now lives in the diverse and historic neighborhood of Echo Park in Los Angeles. Molly plays drums, sings in a community choir, and has recently dabbled in learning the viola. She also loves exploring all kinds of fine art and illustration mediums, including making her own animated book trailers. Her life is full of art, music, family, friends, and various pets and urban animals. Molly’s titles include The Stray and Something Wild, which she wrote and illustrated, and I Am a Thief! and Violet and the Crumbs: A Gluten-Free Adventure, both written by Abigail Rayner.
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About the Book: The Yowlers
The Yowler family is always in a monstrously bad mood: Papa grumbles, Mama yells, Sara and Sonya bicker, and the baby fusses day and night. They’re so used to being grumpy that when their new neighbors smile at them, the Yowlers are puzzled and are immediately suspicious. And when the new kids ask Sara and Sonya to play? Well, that’s just plain odd. Then again, it does feel good to be treated kindly . . . and all of a sudden the sisters start acting nicer themselves, causing Mama and Papa to wonder if they’re coming down with something. But as it turns out, even the smallest acts of kindness can be powerful. The weather may have been stormy— but there is friendliness is in the forecast!
~ Author Chat~
YABC: What gave you the inspiration to write/illustrate this book?
Stacy: I think there is an epidemic of anger and selfishness right now. I am the mother of five kids, and I’d be lying if I said this epidemic of anger and yelling hasn’t made it’s way into my own home. I wrote this story many years ago for my young children, to teach them the power of kindness. Serving others, even with just a smile, can instantly put both of you in a better mood. Kindness is catching!
YABC: Who is your favorite character in the book?
Stacy: I’ve always had a special place in my heart for Mama. Probably because I relate to her so well.
YABC: Which came first, the title or the book?
Stacy: The title! I knew they were going to be called The Yowlers before I even had the story fleshed out.
YABC: What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?
Stacy: When the baby giggles. He never says anything throughout the entire book. He’s a background character almost. So I think it makes his giggling that much more poignant.
YABC: Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer/illustrator from then to now?
Stacy: Don’t ever, ever, ever, ever give up! Publishing is hard. But if you have a story to tell, then there is someone in the world who needs to hear it.
YABC: What do you like most about the cover of the book?
Stacy: I love how Molly put a rain cloud over the family! What a beautiful way to illustrate on the outside, what the family is feeling on the inside.
YABC: What new release book are you looking most forward to in 2024?
Stacy: Can I cheat a little bit and choose a book coming out in 2025? I’m really looking forward to: “The Gorgon’s Fury (Tales of Newel and Doren, a Fablehaven Adventure)” by Brandon Mull. My kids and I all enjoyed the Fablehaven and Dragonwatch series and Newel and Doren were our favorite characters! So we can’t wait to read their very own book!
YABC: What’s a book you’ve recently read and loved?
Stacy: “The Last Book Shop in London” by Madeline Martin
YABC: What’s up next for you?
Stacy: I have several other picture books, currently being illustrated. I can’t wait to share them with the world! I’m also working on my ninth novel.
YABC: What would you say is your superpower?
Stacy: Organization and time management. Between having five kids and writing ten books, you have to be organized! I’ve definitely earned my cape.
~ Illustrator Chat~
Molly Ruttan:
Hi YABC! Before we begin, I would like to take a moment to thank you for having us on your blog! I feel forever indebted to all you hard working reviewers and bloggers who support our KidLit community. I also want to thank Stacy Lynn Carroll for writing such a delightful and fun-to-illustrate book!
YABC: What is the main message or lesson you would like your reader to remember from this book?
Molly Ruttan:
In this book, grumpiness is the way of life for the Yowler family, until the Nicely’s, their friendly new neighbors, move in next door. The story is about how being kind can be transformative, so naturally I wanted to support and explore that in my illustrations. When I initially read the manuscript, my first thought was, “Why are they grumpy?” I came upon the idea that rain and rain clouds can be a symbol of having the blues, so I introduced that visual motif, loving the idea that it could be both a reason to be grumpy and also symbolic of the family’s mood! I also loved the idea (presented in the text) that everyone can develop the ability to choose “silver linings” over “storms”, when faced with an irritating situation. I’m hoping that people are inspired to laugh as the Yowlers fumble their way to a positive outlook, and to allow themselves to embrace the joy and optimism that, in the end, chase the Yowler’s rain clouds away.
YABC: Who is your favorite character in the book?
Molly Ruttan:
I don’t have a single favorite character – I love the whole Yowler family! As I brought each of them to life, with all their imperfections and extreme emotions, they entered my heart. I knew they should start out as monsters, so it took a while for me to find them— there were so many options! But when I found them, they sprang to life.
YABC: What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?
Molly Ruttan:
One of the scenes I’m particularly happy with is the page where the boys invite the girls out to play. I strive to create visual narratives that are not in the manuscript, and I was able to do that with delight in this scene! The words are simply a lighthearted invitation to “come play!”, but the picture shows the younger Yowler sister looking to the older in panic and the older sister cringing. There is a vase catching water from a leak in the ceiling, and it’s only raining on the Yowler’s side, out the window. There is a picture of a sinking boat framed on the wall. I enjoyed myself coming up with these visual details to show the Yowler girls’ alarm and apprehension, and feel that this scene is successful in that way.
YABC: Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer/illustrator from then to now?
Molly Ruttan:
It was a few years into my writing and illustrating career before I learned how very important emotion is to a book, whether it be in the words, the pictures, or both. I love the quote from author and poet Maya Angelou, who said “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said; people will forget what you did; but people will never forget how you made them feel.” I think this also holds true for books, (and really for any creative expression). It amazes me how long it took me to really grasp this. I now strive to weave expressive emotion into both my writing and illustrating with intention, and I loved the opportunity to do that in this book.
YABC: What would you say is your superpower?
Molly Ruttan:
I would say my superpower is my relationship with the characters I create. As I draw them, they speak to me. This was especially entertaining while I was creating the characters for The Yowlers, because the characters are such grumpy but good-intentioned creatures! As I drew them, they each began a narration in my head about who they were. I listened and let them take me along for the ride!
YABC: What’s up next for you?
Molly Ruttan:
I have three picture books that I’m currently working on; two are manuscripts that I’m illustrating, and one is my next author/illustrator book. I can’t say much more than that, except that if you like worms, grandmas or talking, you’re in for a treat!
YABC: What advice do you have for new writers/illustrators?
Molly Ruttan:
I would say to writers and illustrators who are just starting out: It is important to work hard, visualize daily, and don’t compare yourself to other people—stay focused on who you are. If it’s coming easy to you, you’re on the right path—creating doesn’t have to feel like pounding on a door that won’t open. Find a group of like-minded creators and support each other; you really can’t do this alone (and have any fun!) And don’t forget to move your body. Writing and illustrating can mean long hours in a chair—get up and move! All of this can be hard things to do in a world full of work, family, social media & all the distractions, and believe me, I struggle with all of them. But it makes a huge difference to my sense of well-being.
YABC: Is there anything that you would like to add?
Molly Ruttan:
I would love to share this quote from Albert Einstein that I love, especially since many times while I was creating The Yowlers, I thought a lot about fairy tales:
“If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.”
Title: The Yowlers
Author: Stacy Lynn Carroll
Illustrator: Molly Ruttan
Release Date: 9/24/24
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
ISBN-13: 9780593109885
Genre: Picture Book
Age Range: 3-7
~ Giveaway Details ~
Two (2) winners will receive a copy of The Yowlers (Stacy Lynn Carroll) ~US Only!
*Click the Rafflecopter link below to enter the giveaway*
