Welcome Author Jilanne Hoffmann- Giveaway Alert

Posted byauthorlaurablogPosted inUncategorizedTags:, , ,

I’m so happy to have a book birthday to celebrate! Please help me light the candles for Jilanne Hoffmann and her picture book which releases today: A RIVER OF DUST: The Life-Giving Link Between North Africa and the Amazon, illustrated by Eugenia Mello. If you are reading this at breakfast time, you have permission to eat cake for breakfast! Are you an adult? You do realize that you can eat cake for breakfast every single day if you’d like to and no one can stop you, right?

Jilanne spent eight years working on this book so I’m having cake to honor that journey and I hope you will too! Plus, I want to mention that I have known Jilanne virtually for about five years and she embodies what the KidLit community means to me: she’s knowledgeable, she shares her expertise, she’s an amazing cheerleader for everyone, and I am honored to call her a friend and be able to celebrate this wonderful book birthday with her! And since we did this interview ahead of time I’ll mention A RIVER OF DUST earned a starred review from Publishers Weekly in the last week which is a big deal and well deserved!

Jilanne’s offering one lucky winner a 20 minutes Ask-Me-Anything for authors and illustrators or a 20 minute virtual classroom visit so this giveaway is good anywhere! Comment on the blogpost to enter the giveaway!

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

Well, this photo is of me a tad bit younger than my target audience, but I love it. I grew up on a farm in the Midwest, and was a free-range child. There’s corn in the field and our shepherd, Kippy, behind me and my baseball bat. I was the only child to hit a baseball through the living room window, something I’m proud of because I have two older brothers. I started kindergarten early, so I was a year younger, more scrawny and shy, and less mature than all of the other kids in my grade. I was fine academically, but always an outsider, and a little bit clueless socially. Still am, LOL!

What inspires you?

I am inspired by the wonders of our planet, and want to experience as much of this glorious world as I can before I turn to dust! That’s one reason why I love your photos of sunsets and flowers so much, Laura. But tell Charlie he’s a favorite photo subject, too, LOL. I’m also inspired by poetry, scientific discoveries, and essays written for adults. A recent memoir called LOST & FOUND: REFLECTIONS on GRIEF, GRATITUDE, and HAPPINESS, by Kathryn Schulz is amazing!

Aww, that’s so kind, Jilanne! It’s a joy to take photos and be able to share them.

What’s the one thing you hope readers will take away from your book?

Only one?! That we’re all connected to everything that happens on Earth. The way we treat each other and our planet matters. Along those lines, I want kids to understand that seemingly small or insignificant things can make a big impact, especially when you pile up a bunch of little impacts. That’s how sun, wind, and water change rock.

Jilanne’s books – so far

What’s next for you?

I have another nonfiction picture book in the pipeline that I can’t yet talk about. I also have a concept picture book out on sub, along with a middle grade novel in verse. And my agent is taking a look at a new informational fiction picture book I sent to her. Plus, I’m in the accumulation-of-characters/plot/themes stage for a new middle grade. I am never bored. 

Thank you so much, Laura, for featuring A RIVER OF DUST on your blog!

Follow Jilanne on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Find out more about her books, and download learning resources on Jilanne’s website or through her linktree. 

Published by authorlaurablog

I'm a reading specialist and award winning educator from Chicago. While living in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado for nine years, I spent time hiking on the trails with my Goldendoodle Charlie and friends, writing, working in a literacy program at the Boulder Public Library, and mentoring writers and teachers. I love visiting schools. My books combine STEM and Kindness. "Aliana Reaches for the Moon" a picture book that draws inspiration from the moon and the curiosity of children, inviting children to be creative, explore, and experiment. "An Accidental Hero: A Mostly True Wombat Story" a picture book told in the form of a newscast which skillfully balances the serious subject of forest fires with compassion and humor to help children navigate this important topic through the real events of 2020. I moved to Northern New Jersey in 2025 and am working on new projects.

23 thoughts on “Welcome Author Jilanne Hoffmann- Giveaway Alert”

    1. Hi Meera! Thanks for reading and sharing in the joy of Jilanne’s wonderful book! I was just looking at our something from our debut group and smiling at a memory of seeing your book at the library for the first time! Good luck in the giveaway.

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  3. Aw. Thanks for sharing that, Laura. So glad we started off together. And totally excited for Jilanne—like you said, she embodies everything wonderful about the kidlit community. My best to you both!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Hi Susan and thanks for reading. This book is really a game changer for me when I think about how everything is so interconnected! I first heard about this book what seems like a while ago and I’m more than thrilled to have been able to share Jilanne’s wonderful book birthday with her! Good luck in the giveaway!

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