Welcome Author Vivian Kirkfield – Giveaway Alert

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Today’s guest is the amazing Vivian Kirkfield. I am lucky enough to count on her when I need writing advice, a critique, and someone to share the ups and downs of our lives. I’m pretty sure she would agree our friendship means a lot. Over the past few years, we discovered how much our lives paralleled each other and the overlaps make it easy to feel like I’ve known her forever. Her recent book FROM HERE TO THERE, was recently published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and PIPPA’S PASSOVER PLATE, was released in paperback in time for Passover next month. She’s also the host of #50PreciousWords which is an inspiring writing contest with incredible prizes coming in March. Details below.

Vivian is generously offering a 30-minute Zoom chat – it can be with a writer about a WIP or the path to publication. Or with a teacher and their class. Or with a parent and their children. Comment on the blogpost to enter the giveaway. Please share on your social media to help spread the word.

Vivian with her grandson Jeremy on her recent birthday

What were you like at the age of your target audience?

I have several target audiences…the target audience for Pippa’s Passover Plate and for Four Otters Toboggan is probably 4-6 years-old. But the target audience for my nonfiction picture book biographies is probably 7-11 or 12 years-old.

What inspires you?

I’m inspired by the lives of ordinary people who accomplished extraordinary things. I’m inspired by people who keep doing what needs to be done even when they don’t get recognized for it. I’m inspired by kindness and compassion. I’m inspired by people who help others, even when no one knows they were the ones who helped. And most of my stories, even stories like Pippa’s Passover Plate, are all about those things that inspire me.

What’s something you hope your readers take away from your books?

For Pippa’s Passover Plate, I hope readers will walk away filled with joy – proud of Pippa that she faced her fears and her natural enemies – and with the realization that friends can look different and still be our friends – and that when we all work together, we can accomplish our goals.

I’d love to share this amazing anecdote: When Pippa’s Passover Plate first launched in Feb 2019,  a parent wrote to me. She said her two sons loved the story so much, she and her husband had to read it over and over and over. Isn’t that exactly what we hope and pray for when we write our books? In fact, her sons loved it so much, she translated it into French so that she could read it to them in French also! 

I was so excited to read that! And now that the paperback edition of Pippa’s Passover Plate has just launched, I am going to send her one of the paperback copies with a couple of bookmarks for her sons.

What can we look forward to next?

What’s next? I’m not sure I have enough room on the page. 😊 

I do have another nonfiction picture book biography that will launch in Spring 2023 from Calkins Creek/Boyds Mills & Kane: PEDAL, BALANCE, STEER: Annie Londonderry, First Woman to Bike Around the World. 

I also have two R&Rs with that same editor – all I need is the time to work on them. And my agent just sent out a different picture book biography about a Spanish-American sculptor. She paired it up with art from one of her illustrator clients who lives in Spain. I’ve seen his storyboard thumbnails and they are exquisite! So, fingers crossed for that. 

I also submitted a different picture book biography – about three inventors and a President – to the SCBWI Winter Conference Manuscript Gallery – we’ll see if any editor finds it worthy of her attention.

And of course, on March 2-7 – #50PreciousWords International Writing Contest is happening on my blog. There are FORTY amazing prizes – opportunities to get your manuscript in front of editors and agents who are closed to submission – critiques with published authors – seats in picture book writing classes – and lots more. The guidelines are the same as previous years – a story for children ages 12 and under – 50 words or less – post in the comment section of the contest-specific blog post between March 2 and March 7. Last year we had 392 entries and although I am thrilled to see the contest grow, my judges and I have decided to limit entries to one per writer for this year. So please, sharpen your pencils! I can’t wait to read your precious words. 😊 

Thank you so much, Laura, for having me on your blog! You are a joy to have as a friend – it was such a pleasure to spend time with you in Denver in 2019…here’s to a healthier world and the chance to get together again.

To connect with Vivian and learn more about her books:

Website: www.viviankirkfield.com
Facebook www.facebook.com/viviankirkfield
Twitter: www.twitter.com/viviankirkfield
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/viviankirkfield
Instagram: www.instagram.com/viviankirkfield

Published by authorlaurablog

I'm a reading specialist from Chicago, now living in the beauty of the Roosevelt National Forest in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. My first book "Aliana Reaches for the Moon" features a creative and curious girl who loves science, her little brother, and her very patient parents. I'm currently writing a MG novel and several picture books with STEM elements and dogs.

87 thoughts on “Welcome Author Vivian Kirkfield – Giveaway Alert”

  3. Love the pictures of Vivian as a little girl. Her joy is still apparent and looks just the same as it did back then in her eyes and smile. What a generous soul.

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    1. Virginia, I love the picture, too! It’s my favorite part of my author/illustrator blogposts! Make sure to check out the other posts with giveaways and feel free to comment on the ones you like. Good luck with the giveaway.

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    2. Thanks so much, Ginny! You are a sweetheart! I was a pretty joyful kid…just wanted to play with my friends and dolls and read books and color in my coloring book. My sister called me Pollyanna because I was always finding some good in every situation.

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  5. My students loved hearing Vivian read part of From Here to There on Zoom. I think my favorite kindergartner question for Vivian was “How were buildings invented?” I think their takeaway from the book is that Vivian knows how EVERYTHING was invented.

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    1. Oh Sara! I love this story. As a longtime teacher, I have so many fun stories about my students. Thanks for sharing. You might want to check out the other author/illustrator posts with giveaways. Feel free to comment if you like and good luck in the giveaway!

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  6. This was a wonderful interview. Vivian you are an inspiration. Your kindness and generosity sincerely shine! Thank you for the #50preciouswords contest.

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    1. Thanks for reading, Cathy. Vivian is definitely an inspiration. 😊 You might want to check on the other author/illustrator giveaway posts and feel free to comment to enter those giveaways too. Good luck in the giveaway for Vivian’s zoom call.

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    2. I’m excited that your students are enjoying the book…so far, I’ve found the same thing in the school visits I’ve done…the kids are really engaged…and inspired…and they start thinking about what they might invent one day. And if we ever travel again (which I know we will), maybe I can head out to Denver again and we can go have sushi at Sushi Den right down the street from 2nd Star to the Right Bookstore.

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      1. If you do that Vivian, let me know? I have been waiting 2 yrs to get to Denver& want to go now more than ever. I also love 2nd Star to the Right Books. I have ordered 3 times from them so far. Their shipping is fair and it always arrives with something fun, useful, pretty or smelly (Yes! I have a Beth Anderson scratch and sniff avocado sticker sheet to go with Smelly Kelly…..) (I glued it to my keyboard like a ten year old. I love it.). You’ll have to teach me to like Sushi. I don’t even like Lox. I starve at break the fast,lol. I do like california crab roll, however. Great….now I’m hungry😆 Be well & creative friends.✌🏼🎶🎨📚

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    2. I love to share my journey, Mrs. Dinh…and hope what I say will help others who are on a similar one. Because we all have hopes and dreams and plans of what might be…and it’s helpful to hear how someone else traveled the path.

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    2. So glad you stopped by, Jany. When my kids were very little and they had trouble sleeping, I’d come into their room and tell them I had magic dust in my pocket that would help them fall asleep with sweet dreams…I’d stick my hand in my pocket and pull out the imaginary dust and sprinkle it all around. And I guess I’m still trying to do that for kidlit writers. And the same concept is at work…if you believe it can happen, it will! Nothing is impossible if you can imagine it.

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  11. I loved working with Vivian as my critique guru on a recent PB! She is one of the friendliest faces and voices in Kitlit these days and I’m a BIG fan of her work. Keep it up Vivian!
    XO
    Dianna

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  12. I have so much admiration for your passion and energy Vivian, your love of meeting and helping others, and then learning about them personally. Your book characters all seem to share the traits of not taking no for an answer, and continuing on their often brave journeys, to find or create something meaningful & often beautiful. I hope to be as good and determined as many of your characters. Thank you for your friendship and mentorship, not just of me, but the writing community. See ya late tonight, lol!😉💙🌻

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  13. come join the party on messenger!!! Vivian and I are night owls and get to chat late at night. We both like to talk to our friends & clients in other countries. If we write them at night, there’s an answer by morning. I do this with some of my Aussie teachers. Vivian has friends, of course world wide. You’ll find us up until 2 a.m. most likely. Come visit!💙🌻

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  17. Wonderful post Laura Aronberg Roettiger in your blog about Vivian Kirkfield! Especially loved hearing about the different projects, submissions, and what we can look forward to next from Vivian. So inspiring to hear about all the amazing submissions that she is involved in! Glad to find your blog!😊

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      1. I’m glad I persevered as well. Now that I’ve started to pay more attention to blogs I must say that yours is the only one so far that has photographs of the author as a young child. It was wonderful to see Vivian now with her family and younger as a kid. Well done! Thank you for helping me write my comment when I couldn’t do so at first.

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        1. Thanks for your sweet comment, Judy! I’ve always had photos of me as a child in my home alongside my children’s pictures, so I wanted to see other kidlit friends as children. 💜

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      1. It’s not just being busy, Vivian. It’s what you do when you’re engaged and creative that is so amazing. Not only are you researching and writing and talking about your work, but you are involved in the children’s lit community and supporting everyone else’s work as well. Thank you so much for all your contributions. You help others smile too.

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    1. Thanks for reading, Katie! Definitely no shortage of inspiration from or for Vivian! Good luck in the giveaway and feel free to check out the other open giveaways and look back every Saturday and Tuesday for more.

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  20. Thank you for sharing! Those photos are too sweet. I wish I had childhood pictures like that!
    Here’s hoping that Ms. Kirkfield isn’t crushed under the weight of 758 x 50PreciousWords.

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    1. Thanks for reading, Leah. Yes, the picture of little Vivian are beyond adorable! All of my author/illustrator interviews have a throwback photo and they are my favorite part of each blogpost! Don’t forget to check out other giveaway posts and look for new ones every Tuesday and Saturday. Good luck in the giveaway.

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  26. Vivian’s an amazing author, teacher & friend. I am so happy for all her successes & I LOVE all the photos!! Please don’t ever stop filling the world with great stories, Vivian!

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  27. Laura and Vivian, thanks for this post. Always love a dose of Vivian-writing-wisdom! ( And Laura, enjoy the snow coming our way today and tomorrow. It just this minute turned over from rain in Golden.)

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  29. Love the pic of you and your grandson and the ones of you as a child, Vivian! Have added, From Here To There to my collection. It is as amazing as your other works!

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