Author Chat with Kelsey Garrity-Riley (Fritz: A Mushroom Story), Plus Giveaway~ US/CAN ONLY!

Join Fritz, an introverted chanterelle mushroom, and his friend Pip, an exuberant fly agaric mushroom, on a day of fun and adventure in this adorable picture book from the illustrator of the New York Times bestseller My Little Brave Girl!

Meet Fritz. He likes rose hip ice cream on warm days and cream of chestnut soup on cold ones. Sometimes, Fritz likes to play with lots of friends. Sometimes, he likes playing with his extroverted best friend Pip (who likes blackberry bramble ice cream on hot days and spicy nettle stew on cold ones). But most often, Fritz likes to spend time all by himself. Time to be quiet. Time to do lots of things or nothing at all.

One morning, Fritz decides to have a very Pip-like day, to see what it’s like being Pip. The day starts with an exciting morning of berryball, followed by a swim in the puddle pond — and then blowing bubbles in the violet patch!

But as the day goes on, Fritz starts getting more and more frazzled — it’s exhausting work being so social when you’re an introvert! How can Fritz get the quiet time he needs when there’s so much going on? Find out in this sweet new picture book by talented author-illustrator Kelsey Garrity-Riley.

YABC:  What inspired you to write this book?

The approach for this book was a little bit different because I had the visuals ready in my mind, but wasn’t sure about the story. There were lots of things I felt I wanted to talk about in a book but they were all too big. Once I started thinking about what mattered to me not generally but rather very personally it clicked together so naturally. (The incredible editors at Tundra were amazing with their patience and help along the way with that process!) It felt like a story little (and big!) me would have felt like I saw myself in. The nature of mushrooms too felt like a perfect fit in that they can be both beautifully austentatious or incognito on the forest floor.

YABC: Is your main character like you?

Yes absolutely! Although a great irony of creating this book is that within the span of the first idea of it and its publication I had both of my children, and with that my access to alone time to recharge has been very limited. Although maybe that was part of the journey for me recognizing it as something that needs to be talked about and normalized. Everyone has a different range of needing time to themselves, and it’s important to understand too that being alone for a little bit doesn’t necessarily equate to being lonely.

YABC: How do you plan to celebrate the launch of your book?

I’m really thrilled that the book launch is happening at The Doylestown Bookshop- a great community/ book hub near us. Maybe the thing I’m most excited for is that Owowcow (The best local icecream! Literally always on USAToday’s top 10 best ice-cream list!) is hand crafting Fritz‘s favorite ice cream from the book- Blackberry Bramble that we will have at the launch. It’s a total dream come true! I’m looking forward to celebrating there with friends, and then hopefully taking a moment with family after the book is finally out to really pause and celebrate together.

YABC: What hobbies do you enjoy?

Gardening is the hobby that brings me the most calm, I’m especially passionate about growing different varieties of berries ( I’ve got a dozen different raspberry and blackberry varieties as well as lots of currants and gooseberries), fruit, and English Garden roses. Traveling ( especially to places close to my heart from growing up) in Europe with my family is the most meaningful reset. I’d love the opportunity to travel farther to new places too!

YABC:   What’s your least favorite word or expression and why?

The silliest, but first thing that comes to mind is that I always prickle a little bit when people say a dessert was good “because it isn’t too sweet.” I think it’s my sweet tooth feeling like it’s a little under attack, but I love a full flavored sweet dessert!

YABC:  What fandom would you write for if you had time?

Jane Eyre! I’ve created a few pieces for fun but would love to do more. I think I’d have a lot of fun creating for the world of British mysteries too, like revisiting a classic Agatha Christie.

YABC: What is your favorite holiday or tradition and why?

I’m a big fan of Christmas. The coziness, the family centered moments, and the continued traditions.

YABC:   What’s up next for you?

I’ve got some story ideas percolating that I’m really excited to develop out of my head and on to paper. I’m also really looking forward to focusing in on creating some more work with Red Cap Cards and a few other clients that are outside of the children’s book world- making cards and wrapping paper and giftables. It stretches a different part of my creative brain and always feels really rewarding to switch back and forth between different creative outlets.

YABC:   How do you keep your ‘voice’ true to the age category you are writing within?

With a lot of help from working with my wonderful agent and such fantastic editors and art directors! It’s a tremendous gift to have their brilliant creative eyes helping talk through how things are reading. In the picture book genre there’s a walking of a fine line figuring out how much you can get away with showing instead of telling with words.

YABC:   What is your favorite reading space?

In bed at night with my kids! Pajamas all on and everyone tired from the day, There’s nothing greater.