The Book Deal
Motivation and inspiration for emerging writers, helping them pave their own pathway to publishing success.
The Book Deal
Kidlit superstar Kate Foster on managing multi-publications, co writing, celebrating diversity and being a good industry citizen
Host Tina Strachan dives deep into the world of publishing, interviewing international multi-published Kid Lit author Kate Foster. Kate discusses her most recent book, 'Camp Spooky,' co-written with Pip Harry, and shares insights into the co-writing process, the importance of diversity in children's literature, and her dedication to promoting awareness through initiatives like the Danz Awards and the Author Pen Pals Program. This episode is a treasure trove of advice, experiences, and behind-the-scenes details for aspiring authors at every stage of their writing journey.
00:00 Welcome to the Book Deal Podcast
00:56 Special Christmas Episode Announcement
02:25 Interview with Kid Lit Superstar Kate Foster
09:18 The Joys and Challenges of Co-Writing
14:22 Promoting Neurodiversity in Children's Books
16:44 The Dans Awards: Celebrating Diversity in Literature
24:03 Author Pen Pal Program
24:43 The Magic of Author Visits
25:15 Launching the Free Author Pen Pals Program
26:36 Personal Experiences with Author Pen Pals
27:40 The Importance of Literacy and Storytelling
29:39 How to Get Involved with Author Pen Pals
30:39 Being a Good Industry Citizen
31:16 Navigating Rejection and Building Community
34:41 Top Tips for Aspiring Authors
42:53 Managing Time and Staying Motivated
46:19 Looking Forward to the Future
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Natasha Rai:We interview seasoned and debut authors, as well as publishing industry professionals to bring you the best tips and advice on
Tina Strachan:how to get that elusive book deal. So no matter what's. Stage of writing your at. We've got you covered. I'm Tina Strachan. I'm Madeleine Cleary. And I'm Natasha Rai. And join us as we pull back the curtain of published authors
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So everyone with that exciting intro, Tina, Madeleine and I, Natasha are gonna be together in person to record a very special Christmas episode of the book deal. Um, we are going to be together in Sydney on the 25th of November at 6:00 PM. We're so excited'cause um, Hayley Scrivenor bestselling Australian author is gonna be with us on stage. Um, and she's gonna be our resident agony aunt for the episode. Um, and we have a way for you to submit anonymous questions. So if you go to our show notes or our Instagram file, you'll be able to submit anything you wanna ask on stage. No question is too outlandish, so go for it. And not only that, if that's not as exciting enough, we have a huge signed debut book Bonanza to give away to somebody in the audience. There will be 20 books by debut authors all signed, and they could all be yours if you come along on the. So to get tickets, um, visit our Instagram page. Check out the link in the show notes, um, or through the writing New South Wales website. Hope to see you there.
Tina Strachan:Welcome to episode 60 of the Book Deal podcast. My name is Tina Strachan and I am very excited to bring you this week's interview with Kid Lit Superstar author Kate Foster. Kate is an internationally multi published author whose most recent release is called Camp Spooky. She is one busy lady with four books out next year, as well as organizing the author pen pals program and the Dans Awards promoting diversity in children's books. In this interview, I pick Kate's brain about the importance of celebrating diversity in books, what it means to be a good industry citizen. What has helped her navigate the rejections and ups and downs of the publishing industry, the joys of co-writing and how on earth she fits this all into her day to day life. Kate. Kate Foster, it's such a pleasure to have you on the book Deal podcast with me today. Oh, thank you, Tina. Strachan. It's very, very exciting to be here. Thank you for inviting me. Oh, anytime. We have been trying to do this for a little while, haven't we? But we've finally managed to get each other in a room. That's not too loud. Well,
Kate Foster:that's right. And I think just because we are so incredibly busy and successful and incredible, you know,
Tina Strachan:very hard, very hard to pin us down, isn't it?
Kate Foster:Exactly. How do
Tina Strachan:we fit all this in? We're so amazing. I know, but that is a question that I am gonna ask you pick your brain about actually, because you are very busy. Because I wanted, so I wanted to chat to you today. About so many things. Um, you obviously, your name is huge in the kid lit world, Kate Foster, uh, and I wanted to talk to you about your most recent release camp Spooky, uh, your upcoming series, Freddie Jones. Uh, I also wanna talk to you about the Dans Awards. Okay. That, uh, you have created and managed, uh, the author Pen Pal program, which you also run. Um, I wanna know how you fit this all into your schedule with your family and your kids, and also just being a bloody good industry citizen, Kate. So. I feel a bit exhausted. Just,
Kate Foster:well, you know what? I feel like that'll do, should we just leave the podcast there? I think like you've done enough work for me. You've really big me up there and I'm, I'm happy to leave it at that so much to cover.
Tina Strachan:Um,
Kate Foster:there is, but yeah, the, the way that I fit it in, I, I don't, this is my job. This is what I do. So, um, I am very lucky in that respect. So my days, my, my kids are older, so I've got two at uni, one at college. Um, and so really it's just the dogs that I have to, you know, do on 24 7, which, you know, that's tiresome. Mm-hmm. Um, but bless'em, uh, they give a lot back. So, yeah, basically this is, this is my job. So from writing and editing, yeah. Um, obviously that takes up a lot of time. Um, but I, you know, I enjoy running the Downs Awards. I enjoy putting author pen pals together. So, um, yeah, it doesn't, I mean, obviously there's some days that feel like, like, why have I done all this? Why have I said yes to all these things? Why have I taken it all on? Um, but ultimately it's, it's. Selfish.'cause I enjoy it.
Tina Strachan:That's good. It doesn't, it's one of those things, it doesn't, it doesn't feel like work if you're enjoying it or whatever that saying is. I dunno.
Kate Foster:Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. I mean, I, yeah, but it, it doesn't, it doesn't feel like work. I mean, I know it is work, but it, it doesn't feel like work. It's a pleasure to do so, um, yeah, winning.
Tina Strachan:Yeah. Yeah. No, it sounds like, it sounds like a pretty good deal. You've got yourself on there, I have to say. But I do wanna come back to that'cause I have some other questions about. You know, fitting it in and time management and all those sorts of things. Um, but I wanted to start, uh, by asking you about your wonderful new book, camp Spooky, which released just last month, which was October. So, um, perfect timing for Halloween. Um, it was also co-written with the brilliant Pip. Harry, can you tell me first a little bit about Camp Spooky?
Kate Foster:Yeah, so Camp Spooky is super fun, super funny, um, a little bit creepy, um, but not too scary. So anyone who is easily scared, you probably won't be with this, this little guy. Um, it is just fun. That was the whole point. So Camp Spooky is about two very different kids who are going on a sports camp in, uh, the middle of the Outback. Um, and. From the moment they're on the bus on the way there, some strange things start happening. Um. When they get there, things get weirder. Like there's strange, actually quite repulsive smells that are everywhere. Um, weird flashing lights at nighttime. Kids that are acting like zombies and lots of devices that are going missing from, um, yeah, people's cabins and whatnot. So, um, yeah, it's basically about these two kids, Archie and Isla, who, um. They seem to be the only ones noticing anything weird going on. So they decide to team up and figure it out. Um, and I feel you, who knows what they're gonna find? Maybe they go behind a bin and maybe they go under the bin. Maybe they find something beneath the, the ground behind that bin, um, that leads them to solve a mystery. Um, but ultimately it's, it's a great fun read. Um. Beautifully illustrated throughout black and white illustrations by Joanna Bartel. Um, and yeah, it's perfect for reluctant readers, readers who are really into kind of the, the graphic novels, but maybe wanna move on to something a bit different. Um, yeah, it, it was an absolute joy to write and I hope it's
Tina Strachan:a joy to read. Yes. Well, it is, I can attest to that. Uh, both my kids have read it. My 12-year-old read it on his own and my 7-year-old I read to him. But he, it thoroughly enjoyed it. And, um, illustrations were, um, yeah, it, it certainly helps them, doesn't it, when they're making that transition from like, um, you know, picture books and, and things like that. And moving and junior fiction up to,'cause it is class as middle grade, isn't it?
Kate Foster:Yeah, I think, well, junior fiction, middle grade. Yeah. Is there a, i I get very confused with all the chapter books, early readers, you know, like teen books, when tween books, what, what are all of these things? Um, so yeah, it is the, the illustrations, the shortness of this book. It's a short read. Um, it does help like it's, um, if. It offers kids that opportunity to read an entire novel, you know, entire chapter book pretty quickly. Um, and gives them that lovely feeling of satisfaction, um, and fulfillment. So hopefully they'll go on and they'll pick up more
Tina Strachan:books. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. No, I think it definitely does all of that. But I wanted to ask you, Kate, um, about co-writing. Mm-hmm. So this isn't the first time you've co-written a book with somebody. You co-wrote small acts with Kate Gordon. I did and yeah, I have, I have many questions about co-writing. I've never done it before. I, I don't even, I've heard people talk about it though. Um, other authors talk about it and they all seem to have sort of different methods or tricks and ways of getting it to work. So can you tell me more about it? Like, who comes up with the idea? Do you like ask them? Would you like to co-write with me or is it just something that you come together with? Tell me, tell me about it. How do you do it?
Kate Foster:Yeah. Oh, well, it was, it, the, the prob process was very different with Kate as it was to Pip. So, um, with Kate, um, we had actually been discussing for a super long time to do something nice, to do something that puts kindness out there in the world. And we were coming up with all of these ideas. Look, I live in Queensland, Kate's in Tassie, and um, we are both really busy. So we just, everything idea that we came up with was like, oh, it says quite a lot. That's quite a lot. I dunno if we can make that work. And then weirdly, we just kind of went, well look, should we just write something together? You know, it took us that long to remember that we're authors and, and that's what we do. Um, so, uh, yeah, we just kind of came up with this idea that we wanted two kids, two neuro kids who wanna do kind of things, but they just dunno how, um, you know, they, they don't have. The confidence. They're not socially outgoing. They don't have money. So how do you do these big, wonderful, kind things without all of those things? Um, so yeah, that was kind of how it started with Kate. We had this rough idea of what we wanted to happen, um, and then. We just wrote. So back and forth chapter to chapter i'd, I had Ollie, um, sorry. I had Josh and Kate had Ollie, and we just kind of, yeah, I wrote a chapter. She wrote a chapter and, and so, and so on and so forth. Um, and with Kate, like we didn't plot much, so I was often like, woo, what's coming back? Um, and very often was really surprised, like, oh, okay. But I really enjoyed the challenge of it. Writing with Kate was a joy. So with Pete it was a very different process. Um. Uh, we both have worked with the amazing Christina Schultz as an editor, and years ago Christina said to me, oh my gosh, you would love Pip. She's just absolutely brilliant. You'd be such good friends. Um, if you ever, you know, meet you, you gotta chat. And so it just so happened that I was, um, at the CBCA conference, um, a few years ago, and, um. Pip was there and I was all fan girly and you know, oh, I can't talk to her. It's Pip Harry. Uh, but I did, I just made myself had Christina's words ringing in my head. So, um, I just kind of went up to her and just like, oh, hi Pip, my name's Kate. We should be friends or something, you know, along those lines. Um, and the conversation just. Um, went really easily and then I think I just said, should we write something together? Um, and she said, yeah. Okay. So we had some, um, zoom meetings, um, and'cause um, pip's down in New South Wales, obviously I'm up in Queensland. Um, we had some Zoom meetings and we kind of said to each other. What would you all, what have you always wanted to write, but like, never sort of had the opportunity And so Pip said, well, I, I'd quite like to write sports and a camp. And I said, well, I'd like to write comedy and horror. Um, and so we just kind of mushed it all together. Um. We plotted a lot more than, as I've previous, previously done. So Pip and I had these conversations, we really plotted in detail so we knew exactly what was gonna happen and when. Um, and so the process was, was different, but equally as fun. Like I loved it, you know, Pip's such an extraordinary writer, so getting her chapters back was fun and seeing how she bounced off my character. Um, and that was it. Yeah, it was. Just a joy and I highly recommend it. And look, it's half the work.
Tina Strachan:That sounds their pip so fun. Their Pips words, by the way. That's, yeah. Yeah. Still a lot of work though. Yes. Um, that sounds so fun. I love that idea of getting the chapters back and being like, Ooh, where's this going? That's so cool. Okay. Do you wanna write a book together?
Kate Foster:Yeah, let's do it. I would love that, Tina. And it would have to have, but it's gonna have some dogs in it, like as long as you're good with that. Absolutely. And hey, look, we, we've both got a dog that looks exactly remarkably similar, so maybe that could be at the core of the story. Yeah, mine's called Millie. And what, who's
Tina Strachan:your one that looks like Millie? Uh, Claude. Claude Could, Claude my little, um, spoodle, um, I'm trying to think of a name of, to mold together. Clearly, clearly, Lord,
Kate Foster:yes. No, that is, that isn't, I didn't ring to it, actually. Let's not do that. Okay. We'll workshop that. We'll workshop that.
Tina Strachan:Uh, I love that. Um, so you touched on it just briefly before Kate, um, and all of your books, uh, do feature neurodiverse Charact. Neurodiversity. Um, which is fantastic. Um, can you chat a little bit about that, why it's so important to you and, and why it's important for children to read these books with diverse characters?
Kate Foster:Oh, a hundred percent. I mean, you know, there's that famous saying, um, which I'm not gonna get right'cause I get it wrong every time I try and say it. Um, windows, mirrors and sliding tools. Is that right? I, yeah, I don't know. Could've got it wrong. Sounds good. Sounds good. Yeah. So anyway, yes, there, there's this, um, books, you know, have this ability to transport, allow us to live in the, the lives of others. Um, but they're also a reflection of us. Um, and so. We need books with as many different characters from different backgrounds, living different lives to reflect every reader. Um, and particularly in Australia, you know, it's so multicultural. It's such a wonderful, um, you know. Beautiful, colorful array of people with different lives from different origins. And so, you know, we need, there isn't the number of books out there currently with diverse representation to cover all of these beautiful people. Um, and so neurodiversity is just one small section of that. Um. And having an autistic child, being autistic myself. Um, and just hearing the community talk about the lack of representation of seeing themselves in books. Um, and when they do, it's usually stereotyping or it's trauma based books. Um, you know, it's pigeonholing us where we don't wanna be. Mm-hmm. So, um, that is why I just wanted to write joyous happy books. Um. Still balanced, still covering some of those tricky topic topics and how it can be hard day to day. Um, but also, yeah, just to say, look, we're we're really cool people and we, we wanna do really like normal or some things. So, um, yeah, that's really at the heart of why. I do what I do, um, is to offer this representation, um, and to offer other kids the chance to step in the shoes of someone who doesn't see the world in the same way they do.
Tina Strachan:Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. And, um, because of your passion, uh, Kate, you have also, um, in promoting awareness, you have also, this is I'm assuming why you also created the Dans Awards.
Kate Foster:Yeah. So the Dans Awards was, um. A thought that I'd had, or some, not Dan specifically, but an award that really focused on, on different people and different lives. Um, a long, long time ago, but I was like, no, you know what, I'm, I'm far too green. I'm too new. I don't have enough contacts or knowledge. I'm not the right person to set something like this up. Um, I'll, I'll leave it to someone else. And I, you know, I know that we've all been. We've all had that, that happen, I'll just leave it to someone else to, to fix or someone else to do. Um, but, you know, fast forward a few years and there was still nothing really here in Australia. Um, and so I just weirdly enough put a tweet out on X when it was Twitter, um, and basically saying, you know, is anyone, would anyone support this? If I set it up and I got it? A message back almost immediately from who the then president of the Australian School Library Association, who was like, yes, I would like to talk. Um, and it just kind of steamrolled from there, really. It went, it went fast. Steamrolled, is that the right word? Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yep. Um, so I've always in my head that steam rolls rollers are quite slow, so maybe not they are, but
Tina Strachan:they're forceful. Uh, and they do move forward most of the time. Right?
Kate Foster:Yeah. Okay, so we'll go with it. Yeah. Yeah. So anyway, steamrolled from there. Um, and yeah, the awards, so it snowballed. Sorry. Snowballed. That's much better. Snowballed just came to me. Yeah. Steam rolling. The steam rolling. Snowball. I don't know. Anyway, um, yeah, and it just went from there. So the idea of the award, um, was to celebrate groundbreaking books, really Books which, which, um, yeah, celebrate different people that offer people that. Chance to step and sit at the table with someone different to them, um, and go, well, look, this is how I do things. This is how I live. This is what happened to me once, you know, this is how I see the world. So really, you know, what I consider proper inclusivity, you know, just everybody equal, everyone's sharing a little piece of themselves. Um, nobody's saying, oh, I'm, I'm better, or whatever. It's all a case of, look, we're all just humans. You know, with different approaches to life or different experiences of life, and let's all just kind of learn about each other. Um, and so that was, yeah, that was how Dans was born. Um, and I always have to tell the story about the, the name. So I was trying to come up with this name. The wards. Um, and I thought, well, diversity in Australia and New Zealand, Dan's perfect. So I ran it by my family. I ran it by my husband, and I said, what do you think of this, Dan's? And he, and he pressed a hand to his heart and he said, are you naming it after me? Because he's called Dan. And I was like, oh, yes. Yes, with naming it after you, because I love you so much. Um, so yeah, I think maybe he still believes that it's named after him. I'm not sure. It's just a happy coincidence
Tina Strachan:that also Australia and New Zealand, um, also spells that. But of course you didn't realize that till after you named it after.
Kate Foster:No, poor guy. So, um, yeah. So he's still living in this. This blissful, uh, knowledge that I, I the name the awards named after him. Yeah. So that's lovely. Um, so yeah, Dan's is going from strength to strength. We're into our third year. Um, and, you know, we are collecting lots of, um, figures and statistics as we go, which I'm finding quite fascinating. Mm-hmm. Um, and I think soon we'll put it together so we can feedback. To the publishing industry, um, and into education to really say, look, you've got some gay holes, which you really need to fill. Um, but you need to fill not necessarily fast, but well and properly and correct. So, um, it's been a great experiment as well.
Tina Strachan:Mm-hmm. Really, I love it. It's a joy. Yeah. And that's a really important point that you make in don't just fill these gaps with anything because they aren't all well done and correct by any
Kate Foster:means. Are they indeed? Absolutely. And that's it. You know, maybe it is better to have no representation as opposed to offensive, you know? Harmful representation. Exactly. Yeah. So, um, yeah, that's, that's really the message that we are trying to do with Dan's is that it's, you know, we, these are books which celebrate, which avoid all of the, the done and dusted nonsense. That's, yeah. That is harmful. Um, this is about celebration. Um. So, yeah, it's great and oh
Tina Strachan:gosh, what beautiful books there are out there.
Kate Foster:Yeah,
Tina Strachan:yeah. No, it's incredible. And I love how you just put it out on Twitter and the Library Association was like you, you could tell they were probably, I. Or had already noticed that gap themselves, but were also sort of had, just had of taken that step maybe to do anything and, and I love how you just put it out there and it just sort of attracts
Kate Foster:Yeah. The right
Tina Strachan:energy back and look at where it is now.
Kate Foster:Exactly. And it is a lot, you know, that that whole thing of right place, right time, you know, university is ready and it obviously just was so, um. Yeah, it, the Asler have just been extraordinary. Martha and Sonya, who are the current, uh, president and secretary are, I couldn't have asked for a better team to work with on this award. Um, and we really are growing and growing, going from. Strength to strength. You know, it's, there's a new website being built, um, and there's lots of other things behind the scenes, which I can't talk about yet, which hopefully is gonna really just inject some big open conversation and change in the industry. So I am very excited. That's so exciting. And it's open now, isn't it? It's open for submissions now. No. So we are currently in the midst of judging Oh. So, um, nominations closed, um, a month or so ago, and all of the books now are with our young judges because we have children who judge our books as they should. Mm-hmm. Uh, it's children's books, children's awards. So, um, they are our judges and so they are, yeah. At the moment, reading and judging and returning their checklists to me so I can input scores and, um, we announce our long list,
Tina Strachan:um, early next year. Mm-hmm. Okay. And then there's usually like a, like a actual awards night. There is, yes,
Kate Foster:absolutely. We've, um, our first year we had a little, um, event at some story fest on the Gold Coast. This, uh, sorry, the last year's award, which we, um, had the event this year was in, uh, the Geelong Kat Stadium as part of the Azla Biannual Conference. Um, and next year watch this space.
Tina Strachan:We are. Sorting the out as we speak, let's say that.
Kate Foster:Well,
Tina Strachan:very exciting news to come. Can't wait to find out more. Um, so also talking about kids and, um, and reading and writing. Also, you ha are involved in the author Pen pal program.
Kate Foster:Yay. Tell us more about that, Kate. Uh, so there's some that is, uh, oh, look, I not, I didn't steal it. Okay. Mm. That's just, that's just clear that up right now, Kate. I borrowed it. Yeah. Um, but no, I did actually reach out. There's, there was a program in the UK called Book Pen Pals, um, and I was a part of it, so I wrote basically to some students in year. Five or four in the uk, some classes, um, back and forth over the course of the school year. And I just thought, what an incredible program. What an amazing, simple idea. You know, snail mail, um, handwritten letters. Um, and just that personal connection with an author or an illustrator. Um, you know, we hear from teachers, teacher, librarians that when an author or an illustrator visits a school, it is like magic, you know, the kids. Who aren't big readers suddenly wanna borrow the books. They wanna read, they wanna know more, they wanna tell their stories, they wanna write stuff. And so, um, I just thought, there's so many schools, this country's so massive and there are so many schools, um, rural, regional who so, you know, disadvantaged who will never have the money to bring in authors to pay. So let's. Create this free program here. Um, and it, we are now into our fourth year, I think. Um, I run it with the brilliant author, uh, D White. Um, and so we are just, people can sign up now, authors, illustrators, and also schools. Um, they can sign up and basically we just match an author or an illustrator with a school, a cohort class, whatever it may be, and they write back and forth. Across the school year, and that's it. And it's just incredible. Um, you know, you can authors tell the kids about their writing process, about where they write, where they get their ideas from, they can give them writing prompts, you know, whatever it might be. Um, and then the kids write back and tell them, you know, little bits, snippets about themselves and stories they've written. And yeah, it's all in all, it has just been. The, one of the most positive experiences. Um, I mean, I think last year we had over 12,000 students.
Tina Strachan:Wow. That,
Kate Foster:that we reached through the program. So yeah. I love
Tina Strachan:it. Yeah. Yeah, it's incredible. I was part of the, um, I was one of the authors last year and that was my first year and that was, it was so nice. It was just so lovely. I had, um, St. Lutheran's primary school in Victoria. They had their grade four, five, and, uh, it was so great. I think I got like. Um, all, pretty much every student sent me, you know, a little bio about them and it was so nice just seeing what they do and, you know, their spare time'cause it's completely different area to where I grew up and where I live. So it's so nice seeing that and then just talk about stories and books and they just had the most incredible questions. Most lovely questions. Um, and I just received like my last letter from them the other day. And it, some of them had written some stories that they'd sent. To me, so I'm gonna have a, can't wait to have a little read of them and, um, yeah, yeah. Send them something back. So it really is a beautiful way of, um, yeah. Yes. Just making contact and touching those other schools that, that sometimes don't have availability or access to other authors.
Kate Foster:Yeah, totally. That's it. It's just, um, you know, we're constantly being told literacy levels are dropping, you know, people aren't reading for pleasure. Uh, and it's like, well, this is just a little attempt at trying to reach many of those kids who just need to see that authors are normal people. Mm-hmm. And that anybody can be an. Or an illustrator or storyteller, you know, it doesn't not necessarily have to be the written word. Mm-hmm. Um, and you know, anybody can do that, but everybody's stories are important. Um, and, you know, hopefully in that process, they reach for a book. Who cares what it is? Who cares if they're 12 and they're picking up a picture book? I read picture books. I, I read middle grade. You know, I'm four, six years old. I'm not ashamed. All of them are wonderful stories. All the things you can learn about different people in the world. And, um, and that's really yeah. What, what the whole program is about. Just making it a celebration mm-hmm. Of story.
Tina Strachan:Yeah. And it's things like these programs that actually can really change someone's life, you know? Mm-hmm. They'll remember these little things for, it's not little, but you know, they'll remember maybe getting a letter from her. Or just having someone, an author respond back to something that they had written can really stick with them forever. Yeah, and like you said, just be that spark or that change that they need to continue reading or writing or just, yeah,
Kate Foster:exactly. They can do it. Exactly. Yeah. It's just building that confidence and that self-belief. Uh, you know, and we'd really, we'd like to grow the program and perhaps, you know, in some way work with an education body and try and make it so it's actually built into the curriculum. Mm-hmm. I think that would really help the teachers and the librarians as well. Um, because yeah, look, we all know full well that. TLS teachers, they're absolutely, um, at a max with the amount of work that they have to do. So, um, yeah, if there's some way that we can in the future build it into the curriculum, I think it would be, um, it would help everybody. Yeah.
Tina Strachan:Yeah. That would be awesome. So if someone wants to apply as a school or as an author mm-hmm. Uh, that's open now, isn't it? Author Pen Pals? Absolutely. And they can just go to the website. Yeah.
Kate Foster:Author pen Pals.com. Um, and scroll down. Make sure you read the website, you know, through, so you really understand what the minimum commitments are, which are, they are very minimal. Um, and then. There are two links. There's one link, which is to the author, illustrator, signup form, and the other is to the school signup form and signups stay open right through until the end of January. So there's lots and lots of time. Um, we know from experience that's some. Teachers need to be back in the classroom before they know what class they're gonna be teaching or you know, how many kids they've got. So we don't match and start really the writing process until kind of into February. So there's plenty of time. Um, it's very relaxed.
Tina Strachan:Mm-hmm. Yeah. No, that's great. Thank you. Um, so all this. Work that you're doing. Okay. All, all these extracurricular besides just writing, um, you do so much. You are truly the epitome of a good industry citizen, which we've spoken about a couple of times on the podcast. Um, you are always lifting up others and willing to share your knowledge and your contacts and your advice. Can you tell us, um, why is it important to be a good industry citizen? And, and I mean, what I'm saying by that, um, I, I know you understand, but, um. It, you know, and just helping out other authors and other writers on their journey. Um, and can you tell us why, why that's important for you? Oh,
Kate Foster:I mean, it's multilayered really, like it is a solitary job a lot of the time. Um, and. So having community, it keeps you going. You know, this industry is riddled with rejection and disappointment that there's no getting away from it. Um, and they say you need a thick skin, and yeah, you do, but I've, I'm still to grow one. I don't know where this thick skin, I can, maybe I can buy one. I'm not sure. Um, so every rejection, every disappointment. Hurts like a, sorry, I can't get away from it. That's just how it is. And so I think sometimes having community, having other authors, one or two, it doesn't have to be a whole room full, um, to just be able to share, you know, your own experiences and share those emotions and get out in the open without being judged and being told you're so ungrateful. Um, you know, if anyone would dream to be in your position. Yeah. You know, of course. So not being ungrateful, just saying that we're really disappointed in this particular aspect or this particular moment. It passes. So having people that understand that, that don't judge, um, it is, it's golden. It keeps you going. It lifts you back up. It puts you back in front of the laptop. It puts you back into the query trenches or, you know, whatever. Um, and so I've, you know, my journey to being published. Massive. It's, it's, I'm no overnight, you know, success story at all. I had hun, I've had hundreds of rejections over the years. I've had, you know, numerous agents. My agent's life has been just as rocky as they could. And I mean, that's probably like a whole half an hour to tell you about that. Um, you know, I've had almost, I've had contracts offered and then contracts looked at, which have been dodgy, so I can't have that book deal. Um, and, you know, things fall through at the last minute. So, you know, it's, um, honestly, sometimes I look at myself and think, how, why am I still doing this? Like, what, why didn't I just. Break, which earlier on, but hey, um, it was because of community. It was because people shared, people, you know, further up the ladder to me said, look, hey, come along to this. Come and meet this person. Um, here's some advice. Read this blog. Um, and all of that is what just keeps you, has kept me ticking. Um, and. I consider myself still very brand new in this industry. I'm still learning every day. There's always someone new that comes along that teaches me something different that I had never considered before. Um, and so why on earth would I not help other people when I can, you know, if I know something or I know someone that could make a difference, then why would I be precious and keep that to myself? Why wouldn't I share my contacts? Why wouldn't I share my knowledge? I, I think, I just don't understand. That way of thinking when people. Don't, but hey, look, we're all different. No judgment. Mm-hmm. Or maybe a bit, I'm not sure. Um, but yeah, for me, like that is what keeps things ticking. That's, that's being not just a good industry citizen, it's being a good person, isn't it? Being a
Tina Strachan:good human. Yeah. That's always helpful too, I find. Yeah. Well, that does help. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, yeah, like you said, your, your journey to publication was. Um, you know, long and rocky and there's lots of pe, lots of people on that journey at the moment. Do you have like one top tip that could help people, um, yeah. Get through that time? Um, yeah.
Kate Foster:Um, well there's like, I've got lots of top tips. I mean, how many can I put out there? Many, um, find people at the same stage as you and clinging to them because, you know, those are the conversations like I've mentioned. Um. Those are the conversations that keep you going because you know, somebody else feels what you do and you're not being, uh, you're not an imposter, you're not over the top, you're not being dramatic. You know, they, every feeling is valid. Um, I would also say that the absolute top tip is to remember why you wrote stories in the first place. You know, most of us, it's because we enjoy telling stories and we enjoy the process of writing. So, um. Always clinging onto that. Always remember that that fundamentally is why you're doing it.'cause you enjoy it and you wanna get these stories out there. Um, the other thing is, which I don't think is talked about very much at all, you know what, if you do wanna walk away, walk away. You know, like there's no, um, shame in deciding that you can't keep going. It's too painful, it's too difficult, it's too much energy. Walk away. Walk away and just go write something else or find another medium to be creative there. Um, you know, I've met lots and lots of people over the last decade or so who, um, yeah. Did step back. You know, it wasn't happening for them. They, they couldn't deal with the rejection that was coming and, you know, there's, what's nothing wrong with that? Like, they just decided they couldn't do it anymore. And I've got absolute respect for them for just turning their back, um, on what is a very difficult and often yeah, rigid. Industry. So, um, yeah, they would probably be my, my three top tips. Mm-hmm.
Tina Strachan:I think,
Kate Foster:no, they were really good top
Tina Strachan:tips. Yeah. It's not worth when the, when the love is gone and you're not having any joy from it anymore, it's not worth your health and your mental health, is it?
Kate Foster:Oh god, no. Absolutely. And that's, that's it, you know, like, um, you've gotta look after yourself because often you're not. Gonna be able to write good stories if you're not in a good place. Mm-hmm. Um, and how you can come back, like, just take a break, go away for a couple of years and do something different. Because you never know when that seed of a new idea is gonna come along. And that could be the one that could be the one that gets you that one Yes. That then, you know, turns into more yeses and everything that you've, that you've dreamed of. You know, I went on submission. I queried so many books and I went on submission several times to editors, um, with books that I thought were the one, this is it, this is it. Um, and got so close and then it wasn't gonna happen. And while all of that was happening, I, you know, decided to sit down and write pause, which was the book, which I probably had been thinking about for a long, long time.'cause it was. Part of my life. It was experiences that I'd gathered over the years for me and my son. Um, and I just sort of sat down and thought, oh, well, you know, while all that's happening in the background, I'm just gonna write a story that I'm passionate about. And that was a whirlwind that clearly it was, again, universe responding and saying, yep, this is the one. Um, I, I left the agent I was with, I queried pause. Within I think maybe six weeks, eight weeks, I got an agent and within about two weeks I went on submission and about five weeks later I had a book deal. Mm-hmm. So, you know, that, that to me is a whirlwind. Um, that was fast, that was furious. Um, so yeah, just, you never know when that the book
Tina Strachan:is gonna come along. Yes. That's great advice. And I think also importantly, um. Not putting everything in one basket or everything on this one manuscript. Like Sure, finish it off. And even if you think it's the one and you're sending it out and querying it, and agents and publishers move on to something else, almost put it to the side and move on. Because I guess for a few, for a few reasons, and one of'em being just, um. You know, there's gonna be ups and downs with it. And if it just doesn't get through, you know, number one, you've already been started to work on something else. So you've got something else sitting there kind of ready to go and to, to keep you busy. And it's maybe gonna hurt a little bit less if you're not just looking. You know what it's like You send, you send it off and you send the email off and then you just keep clicking refresh, hoping that that email's coming back like straight away. Um, but. Yes. It kind of takes your mind off that because it's going, the time is gonna pass anyway. You might as well be putting that time to good use.
Kate Foster:Oh, I couldn't agree more. Um, and you know, like a lot of people will then counter that with, well, you know, I spent so much energy and time on this manuscript, you know, like, um, I, I've got nothing left to give. But I think that maybe is a lesson in itself in very few authors are one hit wonders, you know, that, that, that enormous. Book deal. Um, and that major success to, you know, for one book is rare. Mm-hmm. Um, and so you, you know, if you do want publication, I guess you've gotta look at it as a career. And so you're gonna need more projects, you're gonna need more stuff to put out there on submission. Um, a lot of editors here may sign one book from you, but they're potentially gonna come and say, what else have you got? Mm-hmm. So, um, I think. Treating it as a business in some small capacity as early as possible is a very good idea, you know? Um. Putting that creative brain into multiple ideas projects is not ever gonna be a waste of time. Mm-hmm. Um, I've had people say to me, oh, you know, you've, you seem to write everything and you know you're getting booked deal after book deal. I'm like, well, actually, do you know what, um, pause was being written when I was on submission with something else? The bravest word and Harriet Hound were written. While Pause was on submission. Um, and so no, I wasn't like, like I didn't get the pause book deal and then write all of the other books. Mm-hmm. They were all being written way before I signed any contracts. Mm-hmm. Um, and you know what, there's still some manuscripts maybe in old folders in cupboards that, um, I wrote years ago that I might. I think, Hmm. Maybe it's time for you and plenty more in your mind. I'm sure that have really come out. Um, too many actually. Um, people talk a lot about like not having enough ideas. Um, but I'm that one of like, I've just got too many. Um, and no, not all of them are gonna go anywhere. It's just not enough time in the day to write them all down. Okay. Yeah, exactly. And like, oh God, writing can't. You know, fully formed.
Tina Strachan:Wouldn't that be amazing if you could just somehow streamline them from your mind
Kate Foster:into Oh, technology. There you go. That's a breakthrough. Yeah. Oh no, maybe not actually.'cause now we're maybe getting into the topic of ai, which is not great. Yeah. Oh God. Okay.
Tina Strachan:Oh, so Kate, so you know. That's a lot. I think I need a little lie down after, after going through all everything that you are, that you're doing. It's so much and it's so incredible. And, you know, we've had a lot of questions recently, um, from authors, uh, that listen to the podcast and just, just catching up and meeting, um, other authors and illustrators recently. And they, they seem to just sort of have the same question and query about how, how does everybody. Do it all. How do they fit it all in? How do they get it all done? Like how are they managing it, you know, with deadlines? Um, you know, some have families, some don't. Some are full-time authors and author illustrators and, and some, you know, have other jobs. Most have other jobs. Um, but even full-time writers are just, they're finding it, the struggle, you know, difficult. And, um, yeah. What advice do you have? How do you do it? Do you have any time management? Tips for us or just staying motivated?
Kate Foster:Oh, oh my gosh. Probably not gonna help anyone by what I have to say about that. I'm, um, look at the beginning of every year, I'm tremendously motivated and driven, and I do, I am like, right here we go watch this space. You know, and the words pour out and, you know, I'm, I'm filling in that form and applying for this, and I'm like, you know. Amazing. And then I reach probably about September. And it's all gone. Um, and, and I'm just exhausted and I don't have much left in the tank. Um, but that's how I work best. You know, it is like these people that would are better off working, um, three, four days a week and they will get like probably six, seven days work worth of work done in those three or four days. So I'm like that with months.
Tina Strachan:Mm-hmm.
Kate Foster:So, um. I don't even know if what I've said just made sense or, um, if it's at all helpful in answering a question. Um, but I don't really have any advice. There we go. I just roll with it and, um. I love what I do, and I think maybe that's a big part of the motivation. Um, deadlines are tough. Um, and you know what? If you're not gonna make your deadline, tell your editor in advance, you know, really let them know as soon as possible and be like, yeah, this is not coming your way in three weeks time. I'm gonna need longer. Um, don't try. And, you know, if you, you are not in a good head space and those words are not coming, don't just presume they're gonna. Um, you know, ask, speak to your editor because maybe you could have a meeting with them and they will fix a problem for you. You know, this industry, it needs to be more collaborative. Um, but that also relies on the author reaching out for help. Um, instead of thinking, right, well, if I don't meet this deadline, there's gonna be another author that comes along and fill my spot. Um. You know, talk to your editor. They took your book for a reason. They wanna work with you for a reason. So, you know, be confident in who you are and what you're doing. Ask for help, reach out to people. Um, but in terms of time management can't help. So I. I've got, I'm terrible with none.
Tina Strachan:It sounds like you, your method is go hard and, and, you know, embrace it and, and go hard and get out as much as you can, as, as soon as you can. And then you just, but you're aware, you're like, come September, I'm kind of done. So that's good. Like you, you know, I'm just gonna front load this.
Kate Foster:Well, that's right. Yeah. And then spend September crying a bit because someone I've got more edits to get done. Um, and, and you just had book Week Week, yeah. That's it. That's, you know, like, yeah. Um, no, it, not, not really crying all the time. Maybe just every now and again. Mm-hmm. Um, but yes, it's, that, that is, that's it. I, I just use when I'm pumped and I'm. Ready and I'm motivated and creative. Yeah. That's when I'll just get, get it done.
Tina Strachan:Just, yeah. Yeah. No, well that's good advice. No. You know what works for you. Maybe try some different things. Yeah,
Kate Foster:there we go. Absolutely. Maybe don't try and do like a whole year's work. Work in six months. Mm-hmm. I don't know if that's, maybe that's the message that's come through from what I've just said. I don't know if that's wise for everyone.
Tina Strachan:No, but that's incredible. But it does seem to be working for you, Kate, like four books out next year. That's an incredible achievement and very exciting, huge year for you. So good luck with everything next year. Kate, I hope you manage some rest and relaxation time now as we're heading towards Christmas and. A bit of a reset so you can go hard
Kate Foster:again in the new year. Most definitely. That is the plan. Christmas for me is gonna be, um, on the sofa, pajamas, festering, watching box sets, playing Mario Kart and, and eating. Yeah. Fest. Festering. Festering. Yeah. Festively festering, I guess. Ooh, yes. I love that festival, festering.
Tina Strachan:I love it. That's what I'm gonna call it from now. I'm just festering away over here. Oh, Kate, it was so great to talk to you. Thanks for coming on the pod. Aw, thank you. It's always lovely to talk
Kate Foster:to you. You're just like my little Gold Coast bestie. Yeah. Oh, okay. Thank you. We'll talk to you later. Bye. See you. Bye.
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