Did you know that lighthouses used to have their own tiny, traveling little libraries?
Jessica Iwanski is a lyrical children’s writer with a passion for all things books and reading. She loves drawing inspiration from true stories and enjoys the challenge of bringing new life to overlooked historical and cultural gems. As a second-generation homeschooler, Jessica can often be found planning literature-based learning for her children and their homeschool co-op. In her free time, Jessica enjoys spending time with her family, baking mediocre sourdough loaves, and trying to find her next favorite read – or else, trying to write it! Jessica lives in Arizona with her husband, three children, and one curly dog (who the family agrees is probably a cat in disguise). You can learn more about her at her website or follow her on Instagram or Facebook.
STORIES BY SEA: A LIGHTHOUSE LIBRARY’S JOURNEY is a picture book that steps into the past to show what it was like living in a lighthouse, while focusing on the little libraries that would travel between them. It’s a fascinating slice of history that is told with a lovely lyrical text. Multiple characters weave their way throughout in this loving ode to the impact that books can have, even when they are borrowed.
Welcome Jessica!
Me: Can you tell us a little bit about your writing journey. When did you start writing kidlit? How has that brought you to writing this picture book?
Jessica: Like many of us writers, I have loved books and reading since before I can remember. I don’t think there was ever a time where I didn’t want to be “a real author!” But I spent decades skirting around that dream because I didn’t fully believe it was possible. Then, one day, I decided that I’d rather hear a thousand “no’s” than spend the rest of my life wondering if I could’ve found a “yes.” I finally got out of my own way and started writing seriously.
I joined SCBWI and 12×12 in 2023, found a wonderful critique group, and spent every free moment learning about the craft of writing picture books through webinars, conferences, and reading a TON.
Later that year, I won Susanna Leonard Hill’s Kidlit Holiday Writing Contest which gave me the opportunity to submit a manuscript to Sandra Sutter at Gnome Road Publishing. To my everlasting shock, she made an offer on a certain lighthouse manuscript I had written! I fired off a query to my dream agent on a hope and a prayer and she got back to me just two days later, wanting to set up The Call. The rest, as they say, is history.
Today, and every day, I wake up amazed and so grateful to God that my dream actually came true. It’s a blessing I don’t take lightly.
Me: I had never heard of lighthouse libraries! What gave you the idea for this book?
Jessica: That’s not surprising at all! Lighthouse libraries are sort of a hidden historical gem.
I got the idea for STORIES BY SEA while reading an article about lighthouses (as one does, when one loves lighthouses). A tiny fact was buried within the article, something I almost skimmed right over: lighthouse families in the 1800s received books by boat!
I knew the concept could make a delightful and unique picture book, especially for fellow book-lovers and history-enthusiasts. But it took me a while to get the structure just right. I finally settled on tracking one library case as it journeys from lighthouse to lighthouse, connecting families through the stories they share and celebrating the power of books to light the way.
Me: I love the way you’ve written the text, developing different characters at every lighthouse. Were they based on real people? How did you decide what each lighthouse keeper would look like (family versus single keeper, etc.)?
Jessica: Thank you, Jena! I appreciate that. I really wanted to show the many different types of people who lived and worked in lighthouses and how books served them all. There were families with children, single adults, co-lightkeepers, and many women.
Some of the characters are loosely based on real people. The children in the opening and closing pages are based on a family I learned about while researching at Point Fermin Lighthouse, CA. The women shown tending the lights were inspired by women like Ida Lewis, Abbie Burgess, and sisters Rebecca and Abigail Bates. And the children sword fighting with “Treasure Island” in the background are my very subtle nod to Robert Louis Stevenson, who came from a family of lighthouse engineers (although he himself never lived in one).
That being said, the credit here really goes to my fantastic illustrator Angela C. Hawkins, who truly brought my characters to life.
Me: The illustrations by Angela C. Hawkins are pitch perfect. They’re so soft and appealing. I love the details she has included in every scene! Any illustration surprises for you? Any favorites?
Jessica: Angela is absolutely incredible! I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with her. She intrinsically understood my story and did so much research behind-the-scenes to make sure every detail was historically accurate, yet enjoyable and accessible to children.
I love the adorable mice she hid on every spread, the funny animal characters throughout (especially that silly puffin!), and the way she added so much personality to every character she drew.
It’s tough to pick a favorite illustration because they’re all so beautiful. But two standouts for me are the stunning rescue scene and the spread that Angela created for my words “The world all around gathered in the pages of books.” She chose a bird’s eye perspective and it works perfectly to mirror the words and the rounded shape of a lighthouse. Brilliant!
Me: It’s actually hard to tell where your writing ends and her illustrations begin. Did you have art notes about titles, families, or log book passages, etc.? Or did she create some of those things all on her own?
Jessica: I did have quite a few art notes. It was really important that we got the historical aspects right, so my editor encouraged me to be fairly detailed. I included notes about which books were common in the library cases, what types of families might have been living in the lighthouses at the time, and how the books might have been used. I wrote all of the logbook entries, as well, but Angela added the character names you see sprinkled throughout and included so many delightful and historically-accurate books for the library case.
Angela and I also emailed back and forth several times throughout the illustrative process and even met once on a video call to swap research notes and questions. I had gathered a lot of extra information from several interviews with lighthouse professionals, so I made sure Angela had those details, too.
I feel so lucky to have been part of such a collaborative project as I know that’s not often the case!
Me: What is one thing that surprised you in creating this book?
Jessica: There were so many surprises along the way. I especially loved learning fun facts about lighthouse life. Did you know that the job of lighthouse keeper was actually one of the first non-clerical U.S. government positions that women were allowed to hold? And it was not an easy job! I was blown away reading about the brave women who kept the lights.
Me: Do you have any advice for new or aspiring picture book writers?
Jessica: My absolute best advice for aspiring picture book writers is to read a LOT of picture books. Join groups that inspire, uplift, and educate you (SCBWI and 12×12 are my recommendations).
Start writing before you think you’re ready. Really, just start! Write some terrible first drafts. Words are cheap, after all. And never be the thing that’s standing in the way of your “yes.”
That is great advice Jessica. Thank you so much for stopping by my blog today.
Dear readers, this book publishes next week. It combines history, lyrical text, imagination, and lovely illustrations in the way that the best of picture books do. Trust me when I say, you won’t want to miss it.