One small spark, that’s all it takes, and it’s inside of us all.

Melissa Coffey has visited my blog before. She is the award-winning author of FRIDGE-OPOLIS (2022). She grew up in Wisconsin toting around an overstuffed book bag and a dog-eared spiral notebook of poetry and stories. Unsurprisingly, her first job was at the public library. After earning a journalism degree from UW-Madison, she moved to Atlanta and called CNN Center home. Melissa was a freelance writer for Fortune 500 companies, CEOs, and magazines before pursuing her passion as a children’s author. She now lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and two teenagers―who thankfully inherited her book-loving genes. You can learn more about her at her website or follow her on Instagram.

ONE SPARK is a picture book that takes an abstract concept and develops it with a lovely rhyming text that whisks the reader along. If every child has just one spark (which can look a lot of different ways: kindness, imagination, etc.) it can change the world. The darling illustrations are soft and welcoming with many elements of nature that truly make this a book worth collecting.

Welcome back Melissa!

Me: You’ve created such a lovely poetic book that deals with an abstract topic in a way that kids can understand. What gave you the idea?

Melissa: Decades ago, I had the privilege of taking a wonderful theology class taught by a Vedantic monk in which we studied the spiritual teachings of enlightened mystics: Mirabai, Thomas Merton, Helen Luke, Rumi, Eckhart Tolle, plusnmany others. 

What struck me so profoundly was they ALL were essentially saying the same thing—just in different and eloquent ways.  My clear takeaway was that everything is interconnected, and all is One.

I’m certain quantum physics can explain the science behind the concept, but in ONE SPARK, I wanted to distill down this universal truth, if you will, in a gentle, metaphorical way that children could relate to. I honestly believe kids know this intuitively, and the book’s imagery of a spark is simply a reassuring reminder to the reader of universal light and love. It’s essentially a poetic prayer.

Me: Your rhyming text is deceptively simple. It weaves so melodically from page to page. Did it take a lot of revisions to reach this finished state? Or was this always like this from the beginning?

Melissa: ONE SPARK’s text went through several rounds of revision. I tried different directions, and I played with various titles and symbolism in the process. (ONE FORCE, for example, felt too Star Wars, too active.)

The version subbed to Ryan Van Cleave at Bushel & Peck had morphed into placing a greater external emphasis on co-existence, different religions, faiths, rituals, etc. He asked for an R&R to focus the story more on the individual. The published text is actually very close to my very first draft, so it’s lovely to see how the manuscript came full circle back to its original inspiration through the revision process.

As far as its rhyming text, I worked extremely hard to ensure each and every word was the strongest choice possible, placed in the right line.  From the “sshh” sound of share and shimmer to the long “o” of glow and glimmer, I’m very proud of how the alliteration, consonance, assonance, internal rhyme, rhythm and cadence all come together in what I hope makes for a magical and soothing read aloud.  Someone recently said it reminded them of the feel of GOODNIGHT MOON, and I took that as the highest compliment ever!

Me: Did you receive any pushback from critique partners, editors, or agents that your story didn’t have a traditional arc? Any problems selling the manuscript?

Melissa: Pushback–no. As an author, however, I do enjoy pushing the boundaries of storytelling and format, whether in a metafictional way, a hybrid format like early GN or creating something just…different. I wanted ONE SPARK to feel like a lilting lullaby, a soft pillow to lay your head upon.

While there isn’t a traditional narrative structure, there is a slight arc when we get to the spread where the seeds are planted within each of us. And there’s also a shift in POV after that to reinforce the connection.  I did place a question at the very end, which some might say is the story’s subtle “call to action,” but overall, the words work in tandem with Bernadett’s gorgeous art to give the story its music, its vibe.

Me: Can you talk about your book’s journey to publication? How did it come to be published by Bushel & Peck Books?

Melissa: Bushel & Peck under David and Stephanie Miles is a very small, family-run publishing house that makes exquisite, gorgeous, artistic books. They acquired the manuscript back in 2023, so it’s been a three+ year road to publication, and we actually switched illustrators midway. Their team and list are small but mighty. I love their “Book for Book” promise in which they donate a book to a child in need for every book purchased. It’s wonderful to be part of that.

Me: The illustrations by Bernadett Urbanovics are beautiful! They have such a classic feel and all the critters are absolutely adorable! Were there any illustration surprises for you? What was your favorite illustration?

Melissa: Oh, my goodness. Isn’t Bernadett’s art utterly sublime!?!? It has such a timelessness to it; the color palette is soothing and soft; and her woodland creatures and flowers are precious.

When I wrote ONE SPARK, I would never have originally envisioned the story being told through tender, tiny forest creatures with their hygge/Scandinavian fairy-tale feel, but it’s absolutely 100% perfection. Bernadett truly brought her vision to this project in the most magical of ways.

There’s a juxtaposition between the words and the art that reinforces the overall message seamlessly. I’m seriously in love with so many of Bernadett’s gorgeous watercolor illos, but I have a particular penchant for the “seeds planted in you” spread, as well as the patchwork quilt, the bunny’s leg being bandaged and the fire circle at the end which reminds me of sitting together in storytime.

And here’s a little Easter egg: Bernadett put a mouse on the cover. My family’s nickname for me is “Mouser” which she couldn’t have possibly known. Let’s just say it makes my heart sing.

Me: Aww! I love that. Your text is open to interpretation in many places within this book. Did you have any art notes specifying any particular scenes? Or did you leave all the illustrative creativity up to Bernadett?

Melissa: There was only one art note in the entire manuscript, which is both cool and kind of odd for me. (I like to stage direct, ha!)

I had a very specific vision for the “planted in you” seeds spread that included a list of 8-10 words with the suggestion that each word could represent a seed. Bernadett ran with that idea and turned each one into flowers, which I adore.  I hope readers and listeners will want to return to this book again and again just to pour over all its interwoven, glorious, comforting details.

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

Melissa: I was blown away when David said they were going to invest in gold foil—not only on the cover, but ON EVERY SINGLE SPREAD. I knew that art decision would add even more beauty and depth to ONE SPARK’s story. It’s just such a gorgeous, giftable splurge to have the gold that you don’t usually see these days in the print process. I’m beyond delighted.

Wow! That’s awesome! Congratulations and thank you for stopping by my blog today Melissa!

But wait, dear readers, there’s more! Melissa has agreed to giveaway one copy of her book to one lucky winner! (US entries only.) You can enter the giveaway here. Good luck.