Release Day: Toaster Haiku

It's here, it's here! Today is the official release day for my first illustrated poetry book, Toaster Haiku!

 

This book is adorable and silly, which is why I picked April Fool's Day for its release! 

I began working on Toaster Haiku right after I finished Counting Toasters 1 to 10. Even though Counting Toasters is a young children's counting book, many fans of my toasters are adults. I didn't want to leave them out, so I thought about how I could come up with a book written for all ages when I came up with the idea of a poetry book!

Technically, in the publishing world at least, Counting Toasters is classified as illustrated poetry because it rhymes. I wouldn't introduce myself as a poet by any means, but I can certainly play by the set rules of haiku poetry (except the one where traditional haiku is written about nature).

I mentioned the idea of a toaster-themed haiku book to some artist friends, and their responses were all along the lines of "YES 100% DO IT!" When I told Jon and my stepsons about my idea, they groaned, rolled their eyes, and said "Please don't." It's that love and support that made me dedicate Toaster Haiku to them (although if you ask them now, they deny it.)

When I wrote the dedication (I tried unsuccessfully to make the dedication a haiku as well) I laughed so hard that I just knew it would set the tone for the rest of the book. It's lighthearted and fun, definitely silly, with lots of drawings of toasters - because it's mine so of course there are toasters! If you haven't heard the story of why I draw toasters yet, you can read it here. 

I'd like to thank everyone who read through my poems during the cutting stage and gave me their honest opinions about which poems should be cut, which should be kept, and which ones needed to be rewritten! I got advice not only from my normal creative critique group and critical family members, but I also had a few members of a haiku Facebook group who volunteered to help me out, too. :) Thanks everyone for your assistance! 

You can purchase a copy of Toaster Haiku (available in paperback or ebook format) at all major online booksellers, as well as locally at Books & Bakery in Carroll, IA.