I am so blown away when a story can be told both backwards AND in a lyrical style!

Lynn Baldwin is a picture book author who lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with her husband and teenage son. She writes in a purple office with a “Create with Joy” sign on the wall or on her deck surrounded by trees. She’s happiest outside–and loves hiking, biking, paddleboarding, kayaking, cross-country skiing, and snow shoeing. Lynn is an avid traveler and has been to more than thirty countries (so far!). You can learn more about her at her website or follow her on Instagram or BlueSky.

MY BACKYARD USED TO BE is a picture book that gets readers to think about the past. It goes backwards through time as it examines what one backyard used to be layer by layer. It has a deceptively simple text that propels the reader through the story, wondering what each page turn will reveal, just like an archaeologist might reveal strata of the past. It’s truly a wonder to behold AND it’s a debut picture book for the author! What a debut!

Welcome Lynn!

Me: Can you tell us a little bit about your writing journey? When did you start writing picture books? How has that brought you to writing this picture book?

Lynn: I’ve considered myself a writer since elementary school and previously held marketing and communication positions that relied heavily on my writing skills.

I started playing around with writing picture books when my son was in preschool….and he’s now in high school! So, it’s been a long journey to publication with a lot of stops and starts along the way.

Over time, as I’ve focused on learning the craft of picture books, my writing has become more concise and lyrical (although not all of my stories are lyrical) and I think My Backyard Used to Be showcases that evolution.

Me: I love that your story goes backwards in time to show what came before generation by generation. What gave you the idea?

Lynn: I read the amazing picture book biography BEFORE SHE WAS HARRIET by Lesa Cline-Ransome, which details Harriet Tubman’s life going backwards in time. I knew I wanted to write something using a similar framework and tried a few other stories that didn’t work before arriving at this idea. 

Me: Your text is short and deceptively simple, yet progresses forward multiple times in a cohesive order. Did it undergo a ton of revisions to get to the finished state? Or was this story a gift from the muse that was good from the first draft?

Lynn: Honestly, no. I have been revising and rewriting many of my stories for years. But this story was different: I actually signed the contract for this book ONE YEAR TO THE DAY after writing the FIRST DRAFT without too many revisions during the critiquing process. Of course, I did make some revisions during the editing process, but not all that many.

Me: Wow! That’s incredible. I am a huge fan of history and love to wonder about stuff like this everywhere I go (especially when I see an old house falling down with age). Why focus on something like this for young readers? Why show them the history in a place where they play?

Lynn: One day, I was in my backyard and just happened to think about how a neighbor had mentioned that our neighborhood used to be a farm. I also thought about how much I’d enjoyed playing in my backyard as a kid. And, like I mentioned, I’d been trying to find an idea for a story that could be told backwards. Those things came together, and – voila! 

Me:  The illustrations by Megan Elizabeth Baratta are absolutely perfect! I love the textures and the variety of things happening on each spread. Any illustration surprises for you? Any favorites?

Lynn: I absolutely love the illustrations! Megan added in a seasonal angle that I hadn’t thought of, and I adore how she carried through some elements over time. It’s hard to pick a favorite spread but I really like how the colors change dramatically toward the end of the book when the story shows the creation of the cosmos. 

Me: What is one thing that surprised you in writing this story?

Lynn: How quickly it came together, which is definitely not the norm!

Me: Any advice for new picture book writers?

Lynn: Keep reading, writing, revising and engaging with other writers and the kidlit community.  Your time will come if you don’t give up!

Here, here! That is great advice Lynn. Thank you for stopping by my blog today.

Dear readers, this book publishes in two weeks. It’s a fascinating approach to a place we might all take for granted: our backyard! Trust me when I say, this is one you won’t want to miss!