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Chodakiewitz Susan is a writer, composer and producer. She is the founder Booksicals Books for Children - promoting the love of reading through the arts. Through her ​​company Booksicals she created on stage Booksicals literacy program that is currently the musical performances of the picture too many visitors for a small house in the schools, libraries, and special events. Too many visitors for a small house is Susan's first book.

Thanks for this interview, Susan. Can you tell us briefly what is your latest book, too many visitors for a small house, is all about?

too many visitors for a small house of children's picture book about 3 stubborn neighbors, a new family on the block, a big family reunion and the importance of inclusion.

Can you tell us who or what was the inspiration behind your book?

too many visitors for a small house is based on the crazy summer we moved into our new house in Beverly Hills, and all of the visitor came to stay.

First my sister arrived in the giant boor (the largest mobile home on the market) with 4 children, a husband, a housewife, a set of grandparents and uncle from Russia. They brought tons of blankets, pillows, piles of clothes, toys and lots of clothes.

then my sister-in-law called that she had come from Houston. She is getting a divorce and moved to LA. Where else could he go? She arrived with 3 children, housewives, tons of luggage and a lot of psychological baggage.

Then my mother-in-law, who was in a wheelchair moved in with her ​​nurse.

Things are not quite complete until scraggly dog followed me home from the supermarket one day while I was walking home from pushing the giant wagon full of food for all visitors! Dog decided to camp on our front lawn for two weeks while we're was brought in.

neighbors were not at all happy to see their quiet neighborhood when you transform into a cacophonous carnival celebrations. The police were called anonymously on several occasions.

It took 16 years for the story to germinate and eventually be released as a book:. Too many visitors for a small home

Is this your first published book, and if so, can you tell us your experiences in finding a publisher for it?

I am delighted to say too many visitors for a small house was my first published book.

I wrote a few stories before the visit, including the first story I wrote with her ​​niece, Lauren Grabois who is a writer and teacher. Lauren and I had a quirky Beta fish. My fish, jaw, was anorexic and would spit up his food. Lauren is a fish, Mr. Blueberry is paranoid and would always hide under rocks. It became the foundation for our first story: Mr. Blueberry and fish from down the street

We have received very good feedback after the presentation of Mr. Blueberry to showcase the SCBWI conference in Los Angeles. I started pitching the story of the publisher. I just got back rejection letters. I got discouraged and decided to move to a new project. When the inspiration for writing too many visitors for a small house he came to me I wrote it as a counting story from a family perspective.

I sent him from several publishers, but only received rejection letters back. I was very disappointed, but I believed in the story. I did not give up.

At the next SCBWI conference I was determined to get advice on how to improve the story and was happy to get a critique from the editor Allyn Johnston, while she was at Harcourt. Allyn advised me to get rid of the count and take all the character names.

, I talked with her the problems I had with the point of view, and together we discovered that the story is really about neighbors and their need to be involved. I asked Allyn whether to consider the book for Harcourt after I made ​​changes. She said yes. I was elated.I went home and revised the story, changed his stance, took out the counting and tweaked the language. I sent a revised story Allyn at Harcourt. She sent me back a nice letter saying Harcourt decided to pass. I was really quite disappointed. But I still believe in the story. I did not give up. I continued to search the book, but now I began to think seriously about yourself publishing.

One day I turned for advice to a former editor of New York, which now has a free-lance company called picture-book people. I sent her some of my stories and asked me to advise. If I had just published a story that she is worth the effort. She reads all the stories and said that in his opinion, too many visitors for a small house is a powerful story with heart and had the greatest potential for success.

Now all I had to decide whether and when to publish the plunge.

As I compose music and lyrics for musical theater I was looking for a way to combine my passion for musical theater with his love of writing picture books. The review process for one too many visitors to Little House, I began to think up songs for the characters. One morning I woke up BOOKSICALS words in my head. Suddenly I realized that he had found his way!

So I decided to start her own line of books called Booksicals with a mission to create and publish books that will inspire a love for reading through the arts. Too many visitors for a small house will be Booksicals first picture book.

, which is how I found my publisher.

As a publisher to work with?

Although I am a Publisher I am very strict about the revision and rewriting. I get outside help from a free-lance editor and a business partner that is criticism of my work and helps me get to the heart of the story.

I really enjoyed the publishing process with too many visitors, and especially enjoyed working with illustrator Veronica Walsh.

When you work with outside writers, publishers and illustrators rarely get to consult with each other. Since I played both the roles of author and publisher I had to work closely with the illustrator.

in preparation for the character sketches, along Veronica and I discussed the characters, their relationships to one other, the character flaws, pet peeves, and a lot of things that I put in the actual story. It was a very interesting process for me and taught me a lot. I compare the process that the director work with actors to develop a back story in order to better understand the characters and bring your shades.

Can you tell us how long you write and publish your book?

I wrote an actual story in one sitting. Then I spent a year revising and rewriting to get to the level at which they would consider publishing it.

Once the decision to publish a decision was needed about a year before the book was published.

Do you have any words of inspiration of other writers who would like to wear shoes?

If you believe in her story. Do not give up.

In my case, rejection is a catalyst that led me to create Booksicals and set me on this exciting new way.

I understand that you are touring with Pump Up Your Book Promotion in July through a virtual book tour. Can you tell us why you chose all of the virtual book tour to promote his book online?

Virtual book tours are a great way for writers to on-line readers, parents, consumers, educators and anyone who loves books. Pump Up Your Book Promotion is all the research and knows which blogs are most appropriate for your genre of books. I think it'sa great publicity and marketing opportunity.

What's next for you?

In order to inspire a love for reading through the arts, I recently formed Booksicals Repertory Company, and created a musical version of too many visitors for a Little House. We had the debut performance of too many visitors for a small house in the Robertson Library in Los Angeles, 2nd lipnja.Mama, who was on the performance of my e-mail that evening that she was two years too prayed to visitors for a Little House read it 4 times before going to bed. She told me that her older daughter, age 9, went Booksicals web site as soon as he came home to hear excerpts from music and wanted to get a CD-book (soon to be available on iTunes .)

This level of excitement about reading is exactly what I accomplished with the Booksicals. In the near future I hope to partner with both corporate and individual sponsors to help bring too many visitors for a Little House plays and books for children in poor school districts, homeless, and children's hospitals.

The decision to write a sequel too many visitors for a small house there in an interesting way. The two readings by the Arizona children asked me to them what my next book will be about. When I asked them whether they want to read more books about the family on El Camino street, they said that! I asked them to tell me that they wanted to sign more books about and unanimously shouted - dog

So, when I decided I would write a sequel. BUT scraggly dog needs name! I announced a competition on Booksicals web sites for kids to help me name the dog for the next book. The contest can be accessed in.

Thanks for this interview, Susan, and good luck to you!