Welcome to KidLit Works everyone! Grab a beverage and join us for our Something to Talk About series this September. KidLit Works’ Marzieh Abbas reached out to one of her editors, Chris Krones at Clarion Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, for an interview.
Let’s hear from our own Marzieh Abbas and her guest Chris Krones…
I’ve been fortunate to work with Chris on two picture books so far. The first book we worked on together was AWE-SAMOSAS! (illustrated by Bhagya Madanasinghe), which released in March 2024.
The next one, a PB biography titled, YASMEEN LARI, GREEN ARCHITECT, THE TRUE STORY OF PAKISTAN’S FIRST WOMAN ARCHITECT, (illustrated by Hoda Hadadi; releases in October, 2024).
Thank you so much for being our guest today Chris, let’s jump right in! How long have you been in this business/role?
I’ve been in children’s publishing since about 2006. I had a design internship at Candlewick Press while working on my MFA in Writing for Children at Simmons University, then another internship in the marketing and publicity department at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and finally moved into an editorial assistant position at HMH.
Is children’s publishing what you’ve always wanted to do?
Growing up, when I was very young, I wanted to be a teacher, then later, an anesthesiologist, and then a foreign language translator. What remained consistent throughout these years was my love of language, writing, and reading, so my job now feels like a perfect fit.
What does a typical work-day look like for you?
Each day brings something new, which is why I love my job! I will usually start the day by getting up-to-date on email. There are often weekly meetings to attend, but my favorite part of the day is time I block out to edit projects.
What is the most exciting part about your role?
The most exciting part about my job is working with creators. I love the creative parts of shaping and building a book at every stage of the book-making process.
It truly must feel magical to help authors get published! What story element makes you immediately fall in love with a manuscript? Voice? Plot?
Strong writing, voice, and storytelling that sparks a magical feeling.
Any words of advice for aspiring, unpublished, un-agented authors and illustrators?
Keep writing, don’t give up, and stay hopeful!
That’s great advice. Are there any resources you would recommend to someone looking to improve their craft?
Being a member of the SCBWI community is a great way to find other creators who are standing in your shoes, build strong relationships, and receive feedback from industry professionals.
Now, something fun! What’s your favorite ‘desk snack’ (if you have one)?
Lately, strawberries and cold brew flavored Icelandic Skyr!
HaHa! Sounds Yummy! Chris, it was a pleasure.
If you enjoyed this interview, subscribe to Marzieh’s newsletter and follow her on Instagram.
Thank you, dear readers, for taking time to join us. See you in September.
Marzieh is an award-winning children’s book author. Raised between the bustling cities of Dubai, U.A.E and Karachi, Pakistan, Marzieh loves traveling, reading, and samosas. She is a member of SCBWI, 12×12, and a graduate of the Lyrical Language Lab, Children’s Book Academy, and Storyteller Academy. She loves teaching fellow creatives and has conducted several classes online for writers. She is active on Twitter, Bluesky, and
Threads where she continues to form connections with the writing community. Marzieh also runs a kidlit review group on Facebook and blogs about her author journey and life in Pakistan on Instagram. Marzieh dreams of owning a talking parrot someday. But, until then, she lives in Pakistan with her husband and children who inspire her every day. A DUPATTA IS… (Feiwel & Friends, 2023) is her debut picture book in the traditional American market. She is also the author of the popular NADIA & NADIR series, which has twelve books out so far and six more are on the way. Visit her on the web at www.marziehabbas.com
Discover more from KidLitWorks.com
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Leave a Reply