Could you do something to help save the planet? Have you wondered why so many people around the world turn off their non-essential lights for one hour a year? Learn how a single author turned her passion into her business and why an editor signed on the dotted line in this behind-the-book interview of EARTH HOUR by Nanette Heffernan and Bao Luu.

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EARTH HOUR author, Nanette Heffernan, is a children’s author, sustainability consultant, author marketing coach, and founder of Authors Posse (a marketing group for children’s authors). Her lifelong goal is to make the Earth a better home for children by making them laugh or addressing environmental issues that will affect their generation. Nanette is most fulfilled while dressed in school lunch trash (sneak peak of this near the bottom of the interview) visiting schools and festivals to talk to thousands of kids about the importance of protecting our environment. She is the recipient of three Environmental Awards of Excellence and a talented member of the Perfect2020PBs (@Perfect2020PBs) picture book crew. We’ll pick Nanette’s brain first and then we’ll hear from her editor at Charlesbridge, Julie Bliven, on why EARTH HOUR made the cut.

Author Nanette Heffernan

Nanette, it takes grit to make a book. Even beyond grit, it takes faith, hope, and love. A story is a uniquely personal creation that, when shared with others, becomes an extension of ourselves. Sharing stories and ideas makes us vulnerable and at the mercy of others’ judgement. How did your book come to exist? How did you go about overcoming the fear of rejection that ultimately led to acquisition? What does this book getting published mean to you?

My first experience with Earth Hour was while driving over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, CA at 8:30 on a cold March night. Suddenly the lights went out for Earth Hour. I later learned Earth Hour is a worldwide movement for environmental conservation sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund. Homes everywhere and major monuments, from the Eiffel Tower to Christ The Redeemer, go dark in solidarity for the planet. I pitched the idea for the book to my agent who said, “Yes, write that!” Given the visual nature of the event, I knew the book would rely heavily on illustrations, but I was having trouble capturing the emotion on paper.

It took two years of feedback from my critique partners and agent until it finally clicked. I never worried about the rejection during that phase. I knew as long as the words were slowly coming together then it was just a matter of time. I come from a sales background where we’re trained to trust that “every no is one step closer to yes!” Now that the book is here, I get to share this amazing environmental movement with kids everywhere.

Nothing brings people together like a great book. Not only for those of us reading it, but you and the incredible team necessary to create and publish it. What was the publishing process like for you? Where there any ups or downs? Any surprises? Is there anyone special you’d like to mention that helped make this book a reality?

My book title is Earth Hour, a lights-out event for our planet. The moment I learned about this event, I knew I would write a book about it. After many revisions, I finally had something I loved. And my agent loved. And my editor, Julie Bliven at Charlesbridge loved. But unbelievably, during all of this excitement I completely forgot to secure permission from the World Wildlife Fund to use the name! The approval process took quite a long time and pushed back the publication date. There were moments I felt it would never come together, but it did and since then the publishing process has been fantastic. Everyone at Charlsebridge is accessible, kind, and supportive. A dream really.

Many book creators began their creative journey in childhood, though some find it for the first time later in life. How far back can you see life experiences taking you along the author/illustrator path? Was there an “Aha!” moment that you knew making books was the life for you?

I’ve always been a storyteller. My author career started as a tea-party-hostess for stuffed animals at age five. Eventually I graduated to spinning stories about myriad products—from software to ice cream—as a sales and marketing executive. Then one day my husband and I sold our business and I was finally free to tell the stories that matter to me most; the ones that bring environmental awareness to children.

Making picture books is a skill and an art. What was/is your process for taking your ideas and turning them into a beautiful story? How do you know which thoughts are worth spending time on and which should be left in your notebook of ideas?

The first thing I do before I write a single word of a manuscript is write the pitch. If I can’t think of how it will stand out in a crowded market and how I will sell it then it goes back to the concept pile until I gain clarity. After that I make a “dummy.” Nobody, not even my critique partners, will see the dummy but it helps me find the heart of the story. Then… I write the first draft.

Editor Julie Bliven

Julie, there’s something uniquely special about this story. Many manuscripts are submitted yet only a few pass through the trials by fire. What is it about this story that made you have to have it? What impact do you hope it has on readers everywhere?

It’s true. Unfortunately, there are only so many books we can publish a year! A select few move to acquisition. Given this, while I read submissions, I constantly ask myself, “what about this project will stand out?” For Earth Hour, the subject matter and Nanette’s sparse narrative style stood out to me immediately. I wasn’t able to find other children’s titles about the annual, worldwide Earth Hour event, and I was also moved by the way Nanette’s manuscript encouraged individuals, communities, households, and businesses to join the movement and turn off their non-essential lights, as a symbol for their commitment to the planet.

I especially appreciated how the narrative voice felt accessible—initially sharing ways people on each continent use energy. And then exploring the simple ways we can work together to conserve this energy by participating in the Earth Hour annual event. Conserving and sustaining energy can feel impossible at times, or we may feel that as individuals we can’t make much of a difference. But this manuscript detailed how we can all take a pledge one day a year, and then let this day inspire our efforts throughout the rest of the year. Ultimately, the project felt all at once personal, global, and inclusive. Not an easy feat!

My hope is that readers of all ages, from all over the world, will feel empowered to participate in this annual event and that, throughout the rest of the year, we’ll continue to find ways to conserve energy. I also hope that this title will point readers toward the World Wildlife Fund, which organizes and supports so many conservation efforts, including Earth Hour.

Though unique in its own right, a book has to fit on store shelves somewhere. What comparable books might this story sit beside and in what ways is it similar to them?

What’s pretty amazing and rare is that we can’t seem to find another published children’s book out there right now that is specifically about the Earth Hour event. I would say, though, that the books in the Sydney & Simon series are comparable titles in some ways, particularly the title Sydney & Simon: Go Green! This series puts the A (Art) in STEM, exploring the ways in which a hands-on approach to learning, focused on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math), can help us interact with our world in productive, innovative ways. For example, in Go Green!, the fictional characters grow to understand why trash in the ocean is harmful and then they determine new ways to cut down on trash and/or reuse trash at their school. Ultimately, now more than ever, given the effects of global warming, we can use more books that inspire us to rethink the status quo and get proactive.

The publishing process from rough draft to finished product is chock full of revisions, changes, and new directions. What changes were made to this story that helped it along the way or what aspects were left unchanged because they were simply perfect the way they were?

Nanette’s voice is lyrical and inviting. It flows with ease and captures the unity of this powerful world event. At the beginning of the editing/revising process, though, I did encourage her to be a little less lyrical and to contain some of her ideas to one spread/locale. We also decided it was best for her not to rhyme. Her voice felt even more accessible, memorable, and strong in straight prose.

I agreed with Nanette’s clear vision to let the art do a lot of the heavy lifting when it came to celebrating each continent. She knew that the main text didn’t need to name each landmark or continent across each spread. She wanted it to sound like the book was in a breezy conversation with the reader, so to speak; and she really nailed this approach.

Nanette and I were both so thrilled when we found out Bao Luu would illustrate the project. Bao really understood the vision—moving the art across the globe, from light to dark—and he was more than onboard with celebrating diversity throughout. I’d say Nanette and Bao were a real dream team! They’re both passionate, talented creators who fully recognize the importance of Earth Hour.

Be sure to grab a copy of this wonderful book, EARTH HOUR, and stay up to date with Nanette Heffernan and Julie Bliven on social media.

If this behind-the-book interview resonated with you, would you leave a comment below letting us know? Do you have any questions for Nanette or Julie?

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