I feel honored to celebrate Women’s History Month with Lisa Rogers, the super accomplished author of JOAN MITCHELL PAINTS A SYMPHONY, just out from Calkins Creek; HOUND WON’T GO, BEAUTIFUL NOISE: THE MUSIC OF JOHN CAGE, and ELVIS PRESLEY, A LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK BIOGRAPHY. 

Lisa has another upcoming picture book biography WOODY’S WORDS: WOODROW WILSON RAWLS AND WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS, out on September 9 from Calkins Creek.

She also has a poem in Irene Latham and Charles Waters’ anthology, IF I COULD CHOOSE A BEST DAY: POEMS OF POSSIBILITY. All of the poems start with IF and Lisa’s poem is the title poem. That will come out on March 4.

Welcome Lisa and thank you for taking the time to chat with me about your writing journey.

I love all your books and am so happy that you have more coming out in the world! JOAN MITCHELL PAINTS A SYMPHONY is certainly the perfect book for Women’s History Month. 

Lisa: Thank you so much, Patricia! I’m so excited to have this book out in time for Women’s History Month! 2025 is also the centennial of Joan Mitchell’s birth, and her foundation is planning celebratory events around the globe!

Me: Do you have any special plans for the Women’s History Month?

Lisa: I’m partnering with accomplished author Alison Goldberg for a Women’s History Month storytime and art activity on March 8 at An Unlikely Story, in Plainville, MA, the beautiful bookstore created by the super-duper worldwide bestselling author Jeff Kinney.

I’ll be sharing JOAN MITCHELL PAINTS A SYMPHONY and Alison will be sharing her beautiful book EIGHTEEN FLOWERS FOR GRANDMA.

We’ll be on the stage where I’ve seen authors Kate Messner, Heather Cox Richardson, Kwame Alexander, and so many other fabulous presenters, and then we’ll lead fun art activities that relate to our books.

On March 26, I’m sharing JOAN MITCHELL PAINTS A SYMPHONY and moderate a women’s artists chat through the arts organization ArtWellesley at the Wellesley Free Library in Wellesley, Massachusetts.

I’ll be speaking with Carolyn Mackin and Crystalle Lacouture, both abstract artists, about how they conceptualize and approach their work. I’ve admired both of these artists for a long time and am eager to learn more about what inspires them and how they bring that inspiration to canvas.

Me: You have such wonderful things planned for Women’s History Month! So, do you have a favorite season? Is it spring?

Lisa: Spring is such a beautiful season! With longer daylight and warmer temperatures, I take lots of walks through the woods and around ponds, sketching blossoms and leaves as they appear. I love chronicling the progress of the seasons, but I wish spring would last a little bit longer! Here in Boston, it’s usually so cold it’s hard to enjoy spring; it seems as soon as it arrives summery heat withers the blossoms.

The event I always look forward to, like many citizens of our Commonwealth, is the Boston Marathon. The marathon is held on Patriots Day, which commemorates the beginning of the American Revolution, and 5 miles of the route is in my town. After the searing tragedy in 2013, many daffodils were planted along the route. That year was the first time I ran a marathon, and though it’s an emotionally tough day, I‘m always thrilled to cheer on the runners. I choke up just watching the enormous dedication and effort that goes into running this storied race. It’s a high point of spring for me.

Me: How long have you been writing?

Lisa: I took the first step toward my lifelong goal of becoming an author in 2010 when I joined SCBWI; two years later, I was a founding member of the 12 X 12 Picture Book Challenge. But I didn’t fully dedicate myself to that goal until the fall of 2015. In early 2016, I signed with my agent, and she sold my debut almost immediately. That partnership has led to a career I hadn’t dared to imagine.

Me: What/who inspired you to write this book?

Lisa: I researched Joan Mitchell for DISCOVER HER ART: WOMEN ARTISTS AND THEIR MASTERPIECES, a look at 24 women artists and their paintings from the 1500s to 1960. While researching, I learned that Mitchell painted a group of massive artworks, inspired by a valley she’d never even seen.

The beauty of her work and power of that inspiration was something I wanted to explore and share with readers—how do artists use their emotions and memories to create visual art, music, dance, theater, literature? What can we learn from them to inspire our own creations?

Me: Tell me a little bit about this book’s journey to publication, were there any bumps and bruises along the way, obstacles you had to overcome, aha-moments? You can share the good, bad, ugly lol, or not.

Lisa: This was a dream of a journey—almost unbelievable. I sent the brand-new manuscript to my agent in September 2021. I felt that it was something special. She responded right away: “Love it.”

The offer came in early February 2022 from editor Carolyn Yoder, the editor of Calkins Creek, an imprint of Astra Books for Young Readers that focuses on US history.  in early February 2022. Only a few weeks before, I had accepted an offer from her for WOODY’S WORDS: WOODROW WILSON RAWLS AND WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS. That picture book biography, about Rawls’ very difficult journey to publication, comes out in September, with glorious illustrations by Susan Reagan. I am so grateful to my agent, to Carolyn, and to Astra, for believing in me!

Me: What is one piece of advice you can give to writers who are just starting out, or who are still in the query trenches?

Lisa: Write from your heart. Write not to a trend, but what is important to you. That deep-seated emotion is what will make your manuscript unique and stand out.

Me: What are your plans for the future? Writing or otherwise, traveling, hobbies, etc.

Lisa: I lose myself in making art, mostly painting and drawing. I’m taking a printmaking class and love it; I’ve done a lot of traveling and look forward to exploring more of the world; I like challenges, so I’ve been taking ballet classes though I was born to run; and I’m tackling some important writing projects that I’d love to see in the hands of readers someday.

Me: I’d love for you to share a recipe with me, I have a collection of recipes from friends and family that goes back many years. I would love to include yours, as well as share it with my readers.

Lisa: Fruit is my go-to for many recipes. This rice salad, Riso e Frutta, is easy and delicious. It’s best when made with strawberries fresh from the field. I’ve adapted it from Cucina Fresca by Viana LaPlace and Evan Kleiman. I first tasted their thoughtfully prepared food long ago at the Los Angeles restaurant Angeli.

The recipe calls for ½ cup sugar; I don’t use that as the fruit is sweet enough for me, but that’s up to the cook!

Riso e Frutta

2/3 cup arborio rice
1 pint of strawberries (I always use more!)
2-3 nectarines
2 kiwi
Juice of 2 oranges and 1 lemon
Fresh basil

Cook the rice until al dente, drain, and run under cold water to stop the cooking. Dice the strawberries, nectarines, and kiwi. Add the fruit and juices to the rice and toss. Chill. I like to chiffonade fresh basil and sprinkle it over the chilled rice and fruit mixture.

Delish! The perfect salad for a warm spring or summer day!

Me: Thanks so much for your time, it’s always fun getting to know writing friends, I hope you have a wonderful day. I am so inspired by your writing journey, and I can’t wait to try your Riso e Frutta recipe!

Lisa: It is so great to connect with writing friends. Our writing community means the world to me! Thank you, Patricia!

Bio: Lisa Jean Rogers is the award-winning author of JOAN MITCHELL PAINTS A SYMPHONY, called “simply marvelous” by Kirkus Reviews in a starred review; BEAUTIFUL NOISE: THE MUSIC OF JOHN CAGE, which received the Golden Kite Honor Award, the Julia Ward Howe Notable Book Award, and three starred reviews; 16 WORDS: WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS AND “THE RED WHEELBARROW,” which received two starred reviews and was called “a fine introduction to a celebrated American poet” by The New York Times; and the bestselling ELVIS PRESLEY: A LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK BIOGRAPHY.

She’s also authored RONALD REAGAN: A LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK BIOGRAPHY; HOUND WON’T GO; and DISCOVER HER ART: WOMEN ARTISTS AND THEIR MASTERPIECES. She has poems in several anthologies, including the title poem in the just-released IF I COULD CHOOSE A BEST DAY (Irene Latham and Charles Waters, eds.).

Lisa was inspired to write for children during her career as an elementary school librarian. A former news reporter and editor, Lisa lives just outside of Boston, Massachusetts, with her husband and hound. Find her at https://lisarogerswrites.com/ and on IG & Bluesky @ LisaLJRogers.