When I was 9…my teacher wrote a picture book. She brought it to school to show us and I remember how she went from teacher to goddess that afternoon, with every flip of the page.
Wow!
A real author! In my little town! I was in absolute awe and went straight home that afternoon and wrote (and illustrated!) my own picture book about a couple of kids with a crazed robot that goes off on a rampage through town, flattening hedges and knocking soup cans off grocery store shelves.
Um, yeah. Bestseller, fer shur…
But, a spark ignited in my gut that day. I knew from then on that I wanted to write picture books like my teacher, now an author. I wanted to BE that author more than anything in the world.
Many (many) years passed and about five years ago, I decided to get serious about that childhood dream of mine. So, I wrote a picture book. And another one. And started a novel. And by a very lucky twist of fate, had that novel published. And then wrote more picture books.
And this was one of them (announced today on Publishers Marketplace):
******
CHILDREN’S: PICTURE BOOK
Helene Boudreau’s I DARE YOU NOT TO YAWN, an anti-bedtime story testing the theory of whether yawns are contagious, to Mary Lee Donovan at Candlewick, by Lauren MacLeod at The Strothman Agency (World).******
Yup, that’s me. And yup, that’s my book! Needless to say, I’m BEYOND thrilled!
So, I want to give my shy and awkward 9 year-old self a hug right now and say…guess what?
You did it…
I’d long forgotten that 9 year-old’s book, my first picture book, until last year when I was in my hometown launching my first novel ACADIAN STAR.
Something you should know about my mom: I have 7 siblings and we joke that our mom passes off the same baby picture for all 7 of us. READ: She’s not very sentimental.
Who can blame her, she was too BUSY to be taking pictures. But that day last October, she went into her back cupboard and pulled out a manila envelope.
She’d saved it.
Thirty years later, she pulled out that very first story of mine, each page laminated, each pencil-drawn sketch of my crazed robot, unsmudged, and said, “I knew you’d want this someday.”
And there it was; the defining moment of my decision to be a children’s author, perfectly preserved.
I’ll admit, I’m bawling as I write this. Maybe I’m up too late, maybe it’s the sense of relief that I can actually share this wonderful news with you, but thank you for reading.
And thanks to my teacher for showing me what was possible, to my wonderful agent, Lauren MacLeod, for believing it was possible for *me* and to Mary Lee Donovan at Candlewick for opening a whole new world of possibilities for me and this book.
20 Comments
What a wonderful story, Helene! Yes, you did it . . . you are an author! 
CONGRATULATIONS!!
–Crystal (“writermama” on the Blue Boards)
Comment by Crystal on October 2nd, 2009 @ 2:19 amWhat a beautiful story. Congrats to you and your nine-year-old self!
Comment by Anne M Leone on October 2nd, 2009 @ 8:10 amOh, you brought tears to my eyes. What a lovely gift — smart mom, too. I can’t wait to read your PB!
(nickypicky)
HELENE!!! I want to HUG you right now…and jump around and scream ourselves silly!!!
You did it!
You are completely made of awesome! Congrats. No one deserves it more than you.
Comment by Jennifer Hendren on October 2nd, 2009 @ 8:40 amOh, Helene! These are tears of joy in my eyes! I am so damn proud of you. And I want to hug your amazing nine-year old self too!
This is a happy day!
hilary
Comment by Hilary Sierpinski on October 2nd, 2009 @ 8:49 amThanks SO much, everyone! Hilary, Nikki, Crystal, Shari…the blueboards have been SUCH a safe, supportive place through this whole journey!
Jen, Sharon..where would I be without my kidcrit and B&W forum peeps? NOWHERE, that’s where!
Anne, thanks from me AND my 9 year-old self!
Hugs to all!
Congratulations, Helene! And thank you for sharing the wonderful story about your 9YO self, how touching; I have a tear as well.
Comment by Rasco from RIF on October 2nd, 2009 @ 9:16 amThank you for sharing such an inspirational story, Helene. Congrats on the sale! And such an excellent publisher–I love their books.
Comment by Lizann Flatt on October 2nd, 2009 @ 10:41 amWhat a beautiful story! So, so happy for you, Helene! Hugs and jumping up and down chicken dances in celebration!! Whoo Hooo!!
Comment by Nelsa on October 2nd, 2009 @ 11:57 amMassively HUGE congrats! I am so happy and proud of you! The PB market is TOUGH and you ROCKED IT!!
Comment by Angela on October 2nd, 2009 @ 4:59 pmThat’s so AWESOME, H! You rock! Candlewick’s books are the very best. So excited for you!
Comment by Martha on October 2nd, 2009 @ 5:56 pmThanks, everyone!
Rasco, *sniff*. I think about all the kids out there, writing stories, drawing comics, dreaming dreams..
Lizann and Martha, I LOVE Candlewick books, too! I feel so lucky.
Angela, I’m hoping this means the PB market is on the upswing. There’s nothing like words and pictures, snuggled up with a little one.
Nelsa, I love a good chicken dance!
Comment by Hélène on October 3rd, 2009 @ 9:27 amWhat a beautiful story. It brought tears to my eyes. Mom’s are wonderful. Congratulations on your book. Can’t wait to see it.
Comment by Auntie Flamingo on October 3rd, 2009 @ 9:31 amMoms *are* wonderful! And so are Aunties. Thanks for the good wishes, AF!
[...] a week! I’m shaking my head in total disbelief. First THIS happened and now MORE good news. Far more than I [...]
Comment by Hélène Boudreau » More good news! on October 9th, 2009 @ 9:34 amCongrats on your picture book!
And you paint so well too. So jealous!
Comment by Charles Cozic on November 28th, 2009 @ 3:14 pmLine and paragraph breaks automatic, e-mail address never displayed, HTML allowed: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>
Helene!!! That’s fantastic! And Candlewick – awesome! Congratulations.
Comment by Shari on October 2nd, 2009 @ 12:33 am