When a healer of mythical creatures meets a sea serpent she can’t cure, she struggles to find a solution.
Christine Baldacchino’s books include Violet Shrink, illustrated by Carmen Mok; and the Stonewall Honor recipient Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress, illustrated by Isabelle Malenfant, winner of the CBC Bookie Award for Best Picture Book and finalist for the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award. Christine lives under a mountain of books and unfolded laundry with her husband and two cats. You can follow Christine on Instagram.
MONSTER MENDER is a picture book about the most fantastical nurse of all time. The main character of this story is a healer of gryphons, chimeras, and dragons among others! Even monsters need help after all. But when she meets a sea serpent who struggles with sadness, she doesn’t know what to do. It’s so rare to find a fantasy picture book that I admit I fell in love with the book instantly from the premise alone and the book delivers!
Welcome Christine!
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?
Christine: I sort of stumbled into writing picture books by accident about fifteen years ago, give or take a year or two. I was working as a teacher, and when a dress was permanently removed from the dress-up center at one mother’s behest because she didn’t want her enamored son to wear it anymore, I was motivated to write Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress. The story wasn’t meant to become anything more than a semi-silent protest when I couldn’t financially afford to do a full-on, not-silent-at-all protest. I showed it to a friend who pushed me to try to get it published. As a cis girl who grew up being bullied for leaning more towards traditionally ascribed “boy” clothes, interests, and behaviors, telling Morris’ story and having people resonate with it felt so good and so validating. Who wouldn’t want to feel that again, and again if they could? Writing stories drawn from my own lived experiences that might ease a child’s loneliness by making them feel seen and more understood by the grownups in their life brings me joy and a sense of purpose. And so, I hope to keep doing it.
Me: It’s incredibly rare to find fantasy picture books. I love that you have a story about a monster healer! What gave you the idea for this story?
Christine: Morris (Micklewhite) and Violet (Shrink) both escape into imaginary worlds when they need a reprieve from the real one. I wondered if things would be greener on the other side. You’re a mythical creature in an imaginary world where things can be exactly the way you dream them up to be. You can be the most beautiful, the strongest, the smartest, the most graceful. You can fly. But you still feel wrong. What do you do when you start to believe that even at your best, you’re still “broken” and even literal magic in a cup can’t fix you? Monster Mender just sort of took off from there.
Me: How many drafts did it take to get to the final state of this story? Were there a lot of revisions or was this a gift from the Muse?
Christine: I think the Muse gave me a 500-piece puzzle of a landscape, rather than a framed print of one, and left it up to me to put it together. I had all these images in my head of sea serpents and krakens, and a handful of favorite words I’ve always loved the sound of, like slither and tincture. It took me forever to actually start writing the story, but once I did, things progressed relatively smoothly. I struggled quite a bit with the end, though. I didn’t know where or when it needed to stop, so I just sort of kept going. If I’m being completely honest, I think that may have been because I knew that once the story was done, I’d have to submit it to my publisher, and that’s always scary. My friend JonArno Lawson was the one who read what I thought was just “all I’ve got so far” and basically said, “This here. This is the end. You’re done.” Most of the revisions that came afterwards involved tightening things up, removing redundancies, et cetera. I tend to ramble. I’m probably doing that right now!
Me: Not at all! I love your dedication for this book. Why dedicate your story to three storytellers who don’t know you?
Christine: Thank you so much! Normally, I dedicate the book to friends and family who helped me in some way during the process of writing and publishing it. When it came to Monster Mender, though, I was struggling with my mental health even more than usual, so I was isolating a lot. While I was writing and revising the story, I had the Magnetic Fields’ “The Death of Ferdinand de Saussure” on an endless loop. When I wasn’t writing, I was playing Baldur’s Gate 3. The character of Astarion and his story really resonated with me. So, when it came time to write the dedication, it only made sense for me to include songwriter Stephin Merritt, actor Neil Newbon, and writer Stephen Rooney. They’ll likely never know that out there somewhere there’s a picture book about a very sad sea serpent dedicated to them. I did it for myself more than anything else, I think. Sort of like a “documented for posterity” thing.
Me: What is one thing that surprised you in writing this book?
Christine: That I didn’t want to leave! I didn’t want to say goodbye to Dot and Sea Serpent! I don’t know if it’s that I don’t want to say goodbye to them specifically, or to writing picture books in a fantasy setting, but it’s a mystery I’m very interested in solving. I’m motivated to try, at least.
Me: Ilona Iske’s illustrations in this book are gorgeous. I love how she made the creatures and all of the swirls she has all throughout the book. Did you have any illustration surprises? Any favorites?
Christine: Ilona did such an incredible job as illustrator! I’d never be able to guess it’s her first children’s book. The first of many, I hope. The final two-page spread still sparks such joy no matter how many times I see it. My favorite surprises were things like the Guinea pigs on Dot’s cup while she’s eating her breakfast — a loving little tribute to Ilona’s own Guinea pigs. She also loves seals, and so Dot has her own seal plushie resting on her hammock. Monster Mender has always been our book, but little Ilona-specific easter eggs like that somehow make it feel even more ours, if that makes sense.
Me: Do you have any advice for new or aspiring picture book writers?
Christine: I’ve been asked so many times about my writing process, and I don’t think I’ve ever really had one, so I’ve always struggled to answer that question. Three books in, the impostor syndrome remains ever present. A little voice whispers, “A real writer would have a real writing process by now.” So long as you’re writing, it doesn’t matter how, where, or when. You may never do it the same way twice. You’re getting it done, though, and that’s all that matters. You’re at your local library before noon, seated at a table and surrounded by all your favorite picture books for inspiration. Or it’s 3 AM and you’re balancing your laptop on your actual lap because your desk is buried beneath stuffed animals and Funko Pops and your desk chair is now a clothes horse for your late-night laundry. It doesn’t matter! You’re writing! You’re doing it! Keep going!
I love that and it’s a very valid point of view Christine. Thank you so much for stopping by my blog today.
Dear readers, this book published last week. If you haven’t had a chance to read it yet, I highly recommend it. Fantasy combined with heart is sure to win over the youngest of readers. Trust me when I say, you won’t want to miss it!