May is Asthma Awareness Month, and we are celebrating it with Jacob Lockett, whose debut picture book My Life as an Asthmanaut came out last month. I’m a huge fan of this book and believe it belongs in every home, classroom, and school nurse’s office.
Welcome, Jake, and thank you for taking the time to chat with me about your writing journey.
Me: Do you have any special plans for the spring or for Asthma Awareness Month? Or are there any activities that you participate in related to the season?
Jake: I’m currently planning my book launch for Asthma Awareness Month, specifically around World Asthma Day on May 5th. For the rest of the month, I’m considering additional author events.
Me: Do you have a favorite season?
Jake: As someone who lives in the middle of the Allegheny Mountains in Pennsylvania, where it’s quite cold for a lot of the year, I’d say my favorite season has to be summer. Though I do love the feeling of renewal that spring gives.
Me: How long have you been writing?
Jake: Ever since I was little, when I started writing and illustrating my own comic books. As I got older, I came up with plots and lore for fantasy novels that I, unfortunately, never got around to actually writing. I guess I procrastinated a bit! In my 20s, I enjoyed sending letters to podcasts, magazines, and radio stations. Many of my opinions and reviews got published in Doctor Who Magazine and read on BBC Radio. It was also during my 20s that I began to write stories for young readers with the goal of being traditionally published.
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, or aha-moments? You can share the good, bad, ugly lol, or not.
Jake: I had always played around with the notion of writing a picture book about my experiences with asthma. However, I was unsure of what approach to take. Should it be fiction? Non-fiction? Told in first person or third? What themes should I incorporate? I didn’t know where to start. So the project had become more of a far-off dream rather than a set goal.
Then, in 2023, I discovered Free Spirit’s call to authors to submit children’s story manuscripts for the disability book series they were planning. I started to seriously consider writing an asthma picture book, but I first had to apply. I found some bravery and crossed my fingers as I sent one of my published short stories to Free Spirit as a writing sample.
The publisher eventually got back… inviting me to submit a full book proposal! I was over the moon, but still a little reluctant about tackling the project. That same old question returned: “Where would I start?”
But after I read Free Spirit’s series guidelines and mission, I felt inspired. I decided to explore topics like fear and loneliness in the story, things that I’ve experienced living with asthma and other chronic illnesses throughout my life. This naturally led me towards a space theme for the book and using an astronaut metaphor to help explain what it’s like living with asthma.
I wrote the book fairly quickly, and it was a good thing too, because I only had a few weeks to submit it. After I sent the manuscript, I waited. I was on pins and needles to say the least! Then the acquisitions editor got back and said she was impressed by the story! She requested revisions, suggesting mostly to simplify the metaphor, tone down some of the sad language, and devote more text to showing strategies. I was given a couple of deadline dates for the revisions. The closest one… four days away.
I could’ve chosen the date that was further out to give myself more time to consider the feedback, but I wanted to know a bit sooner that my story was going to succeed. So I aimed for the earlier date and was surprised by the amount of creativity that came out of me in such a short time frame. I sent the revised manuscript (two days before the deadline), and the editor took the story to the acquisitions committee for consideration. Soon, it was accepted!
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?
Jake: As someone who’s been in the query trenches since 2018 (yes, you read that correctly), writing and submitting can feel discouraging at times. But you must remember to stay persistent while maintaining a growth mindset. Query widely (your story deserves it) but also pivot when it becomes clear that something isn’t working.
Me: What are your plans for the future? Writing or otherwise, traveling, hobbies, etc.
Jake: I’m currently planning heavy promotion for My Life as an Asthmanaut to make sure it gets into the hands of kids (and adults) who really need it. I hope to travel to other states to spread asthma awareness with the book.
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. I’d love to! When researching material for my children’s story, “Going Ape for Grape Juice,” I found this recipe for making your own grape juice:
What you’ll need:
8 lbs. Concord grapes, washed and stems removed
Water
3/4 cup sugar
2 Large pots
Ladle/large spoon
Strainer
Large bowl
Pitcher
What to do:
1. Add the grapes to the pot and enough water to cover them.
2. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium. Simmer for 10 minutes until the skins are soft, and the purple juices are released. Don’t forget to stir!
3. Ladle the mixture through the strainer set over the large bowl. This separates the juice from the pulp.
4. Pour the strained juice into a clean pot. Bring to a boil. Add the sugar and stir until dissolved.
5. Transfer the juice to the pitcher. Chill. Serve in glasses!
Thanks so much for your time, Jake, it’s always fun getting to know writing friends. I like how you let us follow you on your journey through the submission process of this wonderful, much needed book. You are truly an inspiration to me, and it gives me joy that there is a book in the world that empowers children that have asthma.
You can connect with Jake here:
Pat Brown Books 