With me on the blog today is the marvelous Mary Winn Heider, another Secret Gardener classmate, who is here today to talk about her picture book, The Unicorns Who Saved Christmas, which was published by Running Press Kids. Mary Winn is represented by Tina DuBois.
El Space: How on earth did you come up with this concept? Why unicorns?
Mary Winn: And of course the flip side to that coin, how could it possibly be anything but unicorns!
El Space: Good point!
Mary Winn: The truth is that I didn’t come up with the idea—my editor pitched me the premise and I thought it just sounded like so much fun. So I started with the idea that Santa has to use unicorns instead of reindeer, and then I experimented with a variety of scenarios explaining why it had to happen and how it ended up like that, which included both a Magical Animal Temp Staffing Agency and a parody version of The Night Before Christmas. I really love the wild brainstorming phase. But the more I worked on it, the more I was drawn to this very sweet unicorn troop who were absolutely bowled over to be invited to audition as reindeer substitutes. There is something so adorable to me about these fantastic, magical, stylish unicorns being so gaga about Santa.
El Space: Your book is so funny and quirky—a really tough balancing act to pull off. I can’t help thinking of Santa Cows by Cooper Eden, though your book isn’t about cows. 😄 I also think of Elf, a movie I love watching each year. It seems to take just the right balance to keep the humor from sinking into the sea of coy. How do you achieve that balance? I can’t help thinking of your novel, The Mortification of Fovea Munson [click here for the interview with Mary Winn about that book], which also has that balance.
Mary Winn: That’s such a lovely compliment—thank you for that, Linda. I agree with you that the balance is important, and while I’m drafting, I definitely err on one side and the other. That overstepping is a really useful part of my writing process—and I think for how I write, the metaphor really works: it feels exactly like being on a balance beam. I start off making big swings and toppling into the tries that don’t quite work, and then gradually making more nuanced adjustments until I feel a sort of intuitive rightness. I don’t have an algorithm so much as a very, very loose recipe. I like to make sure that as absurd and ridiculous as I get (and I like to get real absurd and ridiculous—my writing partner on my current project just sent me comments on a chapter today, which included the note, Mary Winn, this is preposterous. And to be clear, I consider that a really positive note)—as absurd as I go, I make sure that the story always stays grounded in something true and real. In this case, it’s the unicorns’ sincere need to not let Santa down.
El Space: So glad to hear about your process and the hard work you put into your books. And I love the illustrations! How much input did you have with the illustrator, Christian Cornia?
Mary Winn: I didn’t talk to Christian until after the book was out, but I adooooooore the way he drew the unicorns. All the little details, like that How to Rainbow book that one of them is reading at the top—just to die for. And the crocodiles! That crocodiles spread is among my favorite things ever.
El Space: That is a great spread in the book [which you can see part of if you click here and scroll down]! What Christmas book, if any, did you love to read when you were a kid or as an adult? Why?
Mary Winn: Hmmm. . . . Good question. I don’t actually recall one that I liked to read specifically at Christmas. I was a weird, indiscriminate kid, and loved to read seasonal books all year. But I do associate Christmas with reading, because I’d be off from school and I could just read the entire break!
El Space: What will you work on next?
Mary Winn: My next novel—The Losers at the Center of the Galaxy—comes out in March, so I’m starting to think about that book again. It’s funny how they sort of hibernate in your brain between the time that you finish them and they come out. And I’m working on a really exciting hybrid graphic/prose novel with an illustrator pal. It’s definitely the most exciting part of my days right now!
Thanks as always, Mary Winn, for being my guest.
Looking for Mary Winn? You can find her by clicking on one of these:
Website, Highlights, Twitter, Instagram, and Barrel of Monkeys.
Looking for The Unicorns Who Saved Christmas? Look here: Indiebound, Barnes and Noble, and Bookshop
But one of you will receive a copy at your home! Ho-ho-ho! (After Christmas, sadly, but something to look forward to.) Comment below to be entered in the drawing. Winner to be announced early next week.
When my copy of The Unicorns Who Saved Christmas arrived, Henry quickly commandeered it. “And look how nicely it fits under the Christmas tree,” he said, I guess as a hint for me to get him a copy of the book since I snatched mine back.
Random squirrel meme:
Mary Winn’s book covers are from her website. Author photo by Popio Stumpf. Santa Cows cover from Goodreads. Elf movie poster from Ebay. Random squirrel meme from sayingimages.com. Balance beam image from HuffPost. Henry photos by L. Marie, who is grateful for her copy of The Unicorns Who Saved Christmas.
Sounds like a cute and fun concept. I agree with how it could be anything other than unicorns.
So true! Either them or llamas magically able to withstand the cold. That’s my theory.
Ha! Linda, I think maybe you’ve figured out a sequel!
I would love to see a sequel! Santa Cows has a sequel! This book should definitely have one!
I love that Mary’s editor pitched her the premise. Thanks for the fun interview, ladies!
I love that too, Jill! I especially love that the editor was thinking about unicorns. 😄
Thanks for reading- Linda is the BEST host!!
Awww. Thank you! It’s easy to host fabulous authors. 😁
I agree!
😄
What a fun story! Thanks for the chuckles and delight today. ✨🎄✨
Glad to provide both, Gwen! 😄
What a fun interview, and book!
It really is, Jennie. Fun to read aloud! The illustrations are a delight. 😄
😀
I like the whimsy in your interview today, a much-needed lift, L. Marie.
Mary, you are lucky to have an editor who knows your writing predilections and you GO with it. Thank you both and wishing you all a Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas to you too, Marian. I also love that Mary Winn’s editor knew that she could pull off a book like this. Nice to have people in your corner. 😄
You nailed it, Marian- I felt SO lucky to get to play around with the story!! (AND of course, to be on Linda’s blog!!)
Glad you had the freedom to work your story. I am now thinking of bread dough and how the kneading is so necessary. (Could go for a cinnamon roll right about now.)
How did I miss this news!!!? I am so excited to order this right now for my Ella for Christmas. She loves unicorns, and we all love MW humor!! Congratulations on this new book!
Typical of Mary Winn–she doesn’t toot her own horn. That’s why I’m doing it!!! 😄
Oh I love the thought of Ella reading it!!!!! (And Shari, ummm…it’s not like there’s been much going on to distract you…) SMOOCH
As for you, Linda- you are the greatest tooter of horns around ❤ ❤ ❤
I was born to do that! 😁
So true.
It will be here tomorrow!! Can’t wait. 😛
So glad, Shari! That is awesome!!!
Congratulations on the picture book and your forthcoming middle grade, Mary Winn! Unicorns are my favorite magical animal. They’re so sweet and sparkly and there to bring happiness to the world, but if you don’t treat them or others right, they can gouge you with their horn. I mean, why else have a pointy horn? 😉
I love them too, Lyn!
Oh my goodness, Lyn- thank you so much and also, that’s a hilarious reminder about the horns! Why else, indeed!!
I am always amazed by people who have such an imagination and can transcribe and draw it .
Love ❤
Michel
Merci, Michel! 😀
I love this sort of thing…and with Henry’s endorsement – a slam dunk of a hit! Thanks for the interview, L.Marie and thanks for following your unicorn muse, Ms Mary Winn!
🙂
Yes, Henry’s endorsement is a great thing to have, Laura! So glad to have Mary Winn on the blog again! 😄
It sounds like a sweet book. I’m sure your love for the adorable unicorns comes through.
Good interview, L. Marie.
Thanks, Nicki! 😄
Unicorns are the right kind of magic for Christmas!
Great interview too.
Thank you, Nancy! Indeed, unicorns are a welcome addition to the season! 😄
It’s only through book blogging that I’ve learned that the authors and illustrators of picture books don’t get together to do it – still amazes me every time! Can Mary Winn please advise if unicorns like carrots too? Or should I put out extra sherry? 🎅
PS As usual, please don’t enter me for the prize draw, L. Marie. I just can’t seem to get the cats interested in reading… 😉
I’ll be eager to know too. 😄 Though I don’t have carrots. They’ll have to make do with chocolate snowmen.
Oh wow, great question! I bet sherry helps with hiccups! And I am willing to be a test balloon for this myself, anytime!!
😁 Such a trooper! Anything to help out!
Unicorns for reindeer is a great idea. Does one of the unicorns have a red nose?
Good question, Andy! 😄 What do you think, Mary Winn?
Ooooh VERY good question. This was a big deal in one of the early drafts! How about a flashlight taped to the tip of a horn?
Works for me! 😁
😂
Thanks for the introduction to Mary and her lovely book. I soooo understand her statement about associating Christmas with reading. Me too. Same here, done while eating many a Christmas cookie.
So glad to do so and to finally read a blog post from you. I commented on my spaciness on that post. 😀