Learning how couples work together professionally on books was definitely of interest to me, so I was excited to meet Andrea and Brian Pinkney, Sean Qualls and Selina Alko, Betsy Lewin and Ted Lewin. Betsy Bird, Youth Materials Specialist at NYPL, as usual, moderated the panel discussion in the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building. These events occur about once a month, usually on a Saturday at 2 pm. 

Why Create a Book Together

Bird asked how the couples began collaborating on children's literature together.

Qualls met Alko in 1999. He started to get noticed by publishers in 2003, and then they did sample pieces together to sell their ideas to publishers.

Betsy Lewin stated that people asked her and Ted for years why they did not work together. However, they could not figure out how to combine their different artistic styles. Over the years, they have come to a solution. Usually, when they are on a 30-hour airplane ride, they use the time to collect ideas and discuss the work.

Ted Lewin stated that they made the connection between their styles while they were writing about a trek they made on a wildlife tour. One of the their books, How to Babysit a Leopard: and Other True Stories from Our Travels Across Six Continents, which is due to be published in June of 2015, is the culmination of 40 years of travel.

Brian Pinkney stated that he and Andrea started working together without thinking about it much. If she wrote a story that he liked, it was almost second nature that he would illustrate it.

Bird mentioned that there are quite a few pairs who have collaborated on children's books throughout the years. She noticed a fair amount of nonfiction books, but also some fiction that the panelists write. She wanted them to describe how they collaborate on the writing process and how they get their linguistic styles to mesh. 

Keeping a Professional Distance

Andrea Pinkney said that part of the job of publishers is to keep writers and illustrators separate. She used to work for a publisher, and she was the intermediary between writers and illustrators. She did not allow them to speak directly to each other. Brian's studio used to be in their house with their kids. However, he moved it to an outside place, which she rarely visits. She wants him to be free to have his own ideas, which is the traditional publishers' model of lack of direct interaction between the storytellers and the artists. They have one meeting per week at their favorite diner from 10:30 am to 3 pm on Saturdays. He reads the manuscript, and she looks at the sketches. There are rules for the meeting. She must say that a drawing looks "unresolved," if she does not like it in order to avoid hurting Brian's feelings. When commenting on her writing, Brian must say first, "Honey, you're off to a great start." no matter what the tactful subsequent comments might be. Also, discussing each other's work in between weekly meetings is prohibited.

Ted Lewin has a studio on the top floor. Betsy's studio is on the floor below his. 

Betsy Lewin told us that she is the detail-oriented fact-checker of the couple, while Ted is the storyteller.

Selina Alko and Sean Qualls just completed their first book together. She opined that they are still in the process of perfecting their creative fusion. Sean got a studio outside of the house so that they can keep a professional distance. It is difficult to work together at home while raising two kids.

Qualls enjoys having a studio outside the house because Selina used to give feedback when he was not ready for it.

Ted Lewin admits that collaborating at home without kids is a lot easier than dealing with the little ones when you are trying to work.

The Joy of Working Together

Betsy Lewin said that writing a story from two different points of view is enjoyable.

Bird commented that all of the panelists have worked with authors and illustrators who were not involved with them personally. She asked them if there existed projects that they wanted to work with their partner on and projects that they never wanted to do jointly.

Ted Lewin believes that their books naturally came together from their shared experience. He has never thought about books that he would not want to do with Betsy.

Betsy Lewin opined that creating a book with someone else is akin to opening a Christmas gift; it opens up possibilities for things that she has never thought of before.

Brian Pinkney mentioned that they usually create nonfiction works, but Andrea recently suggested that they work together on a fiction book.

Qualls commented that both of them have done books on their own. If the story is right, they will continue to collaborate on works.

Ted Lewin said that they both began as illustrators, but they both love to tell stories, as they previously did in a pictorial sense.

Betsy Lewin was illustrating works for a children's magazine called Humpty Dumpty.  One of the articles for the magazine spurred the genesis of a book, and then she also created a book about subtraction at the suggestion of an editor. 

Bird wanted the panelists to tell the audience about their recent works, how they generated the ideas, and how they navigating working together.

Ted Lewin mentioned that their forthcoming book, How to Babysit a Leopard, is a collection of stories spawned from 40 years of travel. It was their dream to put this book together. It comprises 72 stories in 144 pages.

Selina Alko spoke about their book, The Case for Loving: The Fight for Interracial Marriage, which is based on a true story. Interracial marriage used to be illegal in some states, including Virginia. One such case went to the Supreme Court, and the couple won the right to be married. When they heard this story, it was important to them and resonated with them. They wanted to tell the story to kids. 

Brian Pinkney stated that their collaborating has changed over the years. He reads a book and gets a visual idea of how it could be laid out. Since they have been together for so many years, they know how each other think. Andrea sometimes plunks a complete manuscript on the table for him to work on. She sometimes puts devices in the words (such as a map) for him to play with. They know each other's strengths well; they almost have a sort of mental telepathy.

How to Work Together Successfully

Bird asked the panelists to give couples or potential couples who wanted to collaborate advice as to how to accomplish that feat.

Betsy Lewin said that she and Ted have respect for each other. However, each can get excited about and protective of his or her ideas. Emotions can get entangled in the process; therefore, it is important to step back and regroup.

Ted Lewin pointed out that since they know each other well and have been together forever, it is easy for them.

Betsy Lewin encouraged anyone who is interested in collaborating to try it, and the project may succeed.

Selina Alko said that working on books together is like making a marriage work. It is about letting go of control. Working together on books has strengthened their marriage.

Betsy Lewin thinks that when the collaboration goes well, it feels great.

Sean Qualls feels that there is no better match than to collaborate together on a book. It's great to have surprises. Selina leaves him gems to work with, and he greatly enjoys working with his wife. They have much knowledge of each other and appreciation for each other. 

Audience Questions

Bird opened the floor up to audience questions.

The first person mentioned that all of the panelists are well-established authors and illustrators. He or she wondered if they have been told by publishers not to collaborate.

Ted Lewin said that just the opposite has occurred. Since the publishers know them, they know they work well together, and they want them to collaborate. However, in some cases the illustrator is terrific, but the story is not good. His advice was for illustrators to sell themselves as artists first to publishers and worry about collaborating with particular authors later.

Brian Pinkney wanted Andrea to sell the book, Seven Candles for Kwanzaa, for herself first. However, he did end up illustrating the book.

Andrea Pinkney told us that there have been books that they wanted to work together on, such as The Red Pencil, but the publisher wanted a different illustrator. Shane Evans ended up illustrating the cover of the book. 

Brian Pinkney stated that Evans did something wonderful for the book that he might not have done. It is indeed a gorgeous cover.

Betsy Lewin stressed the importance of having faith in your story. You can sell it on your own. It is very risky to submit author and illustrator work together if both of the parties are inexperienced. Published are not inclined to take a chance on two people who are new to the business of children's book publishing.

A second audience member asked the authors and illustrators if they comment to each other on projects that they are not working on during the process of creation.

Ted Lewin constantly provides feedback to his wife in a friendly manner.

Sean Qualls mentioned that Selina Alko only comments when she is asked for it. Sometimes, he has a nebulous view of the direction in which the work needs to go. In this case, he needs his own emotional energy to push himself forward. However, sometimes he needs commentary from another person in order to progress. He knows himself and his creative process.

Andrea Pinkney said that they always ask each other for feedback. However, sometimes she gets in the zone, and she tells Brian that she cannot talk now.

Upcoming Children's Literary Salons

Accuracy and Illustration in Children's Nonfiction
Saturday, March 7 at 2 pm
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
South Court Auditorium

• Books by Andrea Pinkney
• Books by Brian Pinkney
• Books by Betsy Lewin
• Books by Ted Lewin
• Books by Selina Alko
• Books by Sean Qualls