The Magic of Collaboration: Kate DiCamillo and Sophie Blackall on Lost Evangeline

In this episode of The Growing Readers Podcast, host Bianca
Schulze brings together two luminaries of children's literature:
Kate DiCamillo and Sophie Blackall. The duo discusses their
collaboration on Lost Evangeline, the third tale set in the
magical world of Norendy. They explore the 15-year journey of
bringing Evangeline's story to life, the intimate connection
between words and illustrations, the therapeutic power of
storytelling, and how creating children's books allows them to
access their best selves while healing complicated relationships
with their own parents.





Transcription: You can read the transcription on
The Children's Book Review.





Highlights:



The Long Creative Journey: How Kate carried
the idea for Lost Evangeline for 15 years before finding the
key—a shoemaker father and a boot—that unlocked the story


The Pull vs. Push Philosophy: Kate's approach
to coaxing stories out rather than forcing them, and the
importance of not giving up on ideas that won't let you go


Perfect Partnership: Why Sophie's secret love
of seafaring made her the ideal illustrator for this story,
even though Kate didn't know it when writing


From Wheat to Bread: Sophie's powerful
metaphor for the writing process as growing, threshing, and
grinding wheat into flour before finally baking bread


Whittling Down to Truth: How writing involves
removing ingredients to create "clear soup" where the essence
remains but readers can insert themselves into the space


Black and White Magic: Sophie's meditative
drawing process using hatching and line work


Healing Through Story: Kate's revelation about
how creating healthy father-daughter relationships in her work
completes and heals parts of herself affected by complicated
parental relationships






Notable Quotes:


"Don't ever let somebody tell you who you are and what you can do
and who you can become in this world." —Kate DiCamillo on
Evangeline's refusal to accept fate


"With each story, I make myself more complete to the point where
I can put a healthy father-daughter relationship in there that
satisfies me." —Kate DiCamillo


"It really feels like I'm living in the story when I'm spending
time...and I do go into a little bit of a dreamy trance and then
I look up several hours later and there's Evangeline on the
page." —Sophie Blackall





Books Mentioned:


Lost Evangeline by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Sophie
Blackall: Amazon or Bookshop.org

The Puppets of Spelhorst by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by
Julie Morstad: Amazon or Bookshop.org

The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by
Sophie Blackall: Amazon or Bookshop.org

The Borrowers by Mary Norton: Amazon⁠ or ⁠Bookshop.org⁠

Thumbelina by Hans Christian Andersen: ⁠Amazon⁠⁠ or
⁠⁠Bookshop.org






About Kate DiCamillo:Kate DiCamillo is one of
America's most beloved storytellers. She is a former National
Ambassador for Young People's Literature and a two-time Newbery
Medalist. Born in Philadelphia, she grew up in Florida and now
lives in Minneapolis.





About Sophie Blackall: Sophie Blackall is the
acclaimed illustrator of more than forty-five books for young
readers and a two-time Caldecott Medalist. Born and raised in
Australia, she now lives in Brooklyn.





Connect and Follow: Learn more about Kate
DiCamillo: https://www.katedicamillo.comLearn more about Sophie
Blackall: https://www.sophieblackall.com





Credits:


Host: Bianca Schulze


Guests: Kate DiCamillo and Sophie Blackall


Producer: Bianca Schulze