AND THEN CAME YOU: Interview with Author Christina Shawn + AMA GIVEAWAY!

I’m excited to share with you today And Then Came You by Christina Shawn and Shahrzad Maydani. This delightful book spans several years as a young child’s family expands to incorporate more members—and more love! This book brims with charm, warmth, and giggles, and I’m thrilled that author Christina Shawn is here today to share more about And Then Came You!

Sara: And Then Came You feels so heartfelt and relatable. Where did the idea for this book come from?

Christina: Thank you, Sara. I got the idea the way most of my ideas come, with big feelings. I was thinking about how my own children were growing and changing. It felt like the little bubble of “me and you” was expanding out into the world of other people and experiences and that came with a mixture of emotions.

Sara: I can so relate! One of my favorite things about this book is the way the humor and heart in this story complement each other so beautifully. How did you achieve this compelling balance?

Christina: I think the balance reflects my personality: a lot of heart with a touch of humor. I love making kids laugh and speaking their language, as it’s often my language too. The humor also makes the book more fun to read aloud (at least for me). 

Sara: I’m a firm believer that rhyme only works for certain stories. I’m not talking about “good rhyme” versus clunky couplets and wonky meter. I mean topics and concepts that are actually enhanced by a rhyming structure. And I think the rhyme works wonderfully well here. What made you decide that this story needed to be told in rhyme and is this something that changed along the way?

Christina: Thank you, that means a lot coming from you. I love your rhyming books. The first line of this book came to me in rhyme. An early version read like this: 

“Me and you, me and you

All I need is just us two.”

But also, I liked the way the rhythm and rhyme felt age appropriate and like the cadence of a rocking chair. I imagined those first few stanzas happening while rocking a baby to sleep. Then later, swinging a child, and those motions felt right in this rhythm and rhyme. 

Sara: Shahrzad Maydani’s chalk pastel and watercolor illustrations are so lush and dreamy. Can you tell us anything surprising or delightful you discovered as your words met the art?

Christina: I agree. Shaz is amazing! I love all the hidden animals in her art. There is so much to look at and I find something new every time I read the book. When I first saw the first spread I was so moved by the striking and beautiful colors. One of my favorite spreads is the series of winter spot drawings as the girls become friends. Shaz’s art evokes so much whimsy and delight I want to just right onto the page with them.

Sara: Is there anything else you would like to share about And Then Came You?

Christina: And Then Came You is such a special story for me. So much of my own personality (and my child’s) is reflected in the main character. Writing the story helped me validate my own hesitations with change, and just in time because we are about to move through some new big changes over the next few years. This book is for children, but also for all of us who need a little time to adjust to change, or need help understanding someone who needs that support, at any stage in our lives. 

Thank you so much for sharing your story with us, Christina!

Christina Shawn is offering one lucky winner a 30 minute Zoom AMA session. Comment on this post to enter. Thank you Christina, for this generous offer!