Today we’d like to introduce you to Danny Schnitzlein
Hi Danny, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I moved to Atlanta in 1993, working as a freelance writer/producer for television. I began writing for GPTV children’s television, including “Salsa” a show that teaches Spanish, and “Irrashai” which teaches Japanese. I wrote the manuscript for “The Monster Who Ate My Peas,” based on my childhood loathing of peas. It was rejected by over 30 publishers before Peachtree Publishers in Atlanta decided to publish it. At that time I never imagined what the future had in store. Apparently lots of people can identify with food phobia! The book won readers choice awards in two states. It was included in the Atlanta Mayor’s Reading Club and featured in the Georgia Department of Education’s “Read More” literacy initiative, which included famous Georgians like Jimmy Carter and Atlanta Braves pitcher, John Smoltz. Smoltz performed the book for the DOE initiative. The book was recently adapted into a musical and even . . . a ballet!
“The Monster Who Did My Math” was published in 2007. It was illustrated by Bill Mayer, another Atlantan. The Georgia Center for the Book named it “A Book All Young Georgians Should Read.”
“Trick or Treat on Monster Street” was published in 2008. I’ve recently been adapting it as a musical puppet play to pitch to The Center for Puppetry Arts, or possibly to a streaming service. Writing the music has been a lot of fun.
My latest book, “Gnu and Shrew,” was published in 2020. It received a “Best STEM Book” award from The National Science Teachers Association. When I wrote it, I wasn’t aware there were awards for that. My dad, who was a scientist, would have been proud.
I have been visiting elementary schools for almost 25 years, teaching kids about the creative process and story construction. I love drawing monsters with kids and seeing what they come up with. I still occasionally write songs and scripts for children’s television. Currently I’m working on manuscripts for middle grade stories. I love writing for kids! I’m so lucky to get to do this for my job!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’ve spent months, sometimes years, writing manuscripts that were rejected. Some made it all the way to the publisher’s round table, but were then turned down. Some of my open projects go back fifteen or twenty years. It can be hard to know when to keep revising and when to move on to another project.
I’m the parent of a physically disabled young adult, so that presents challenges. We spend a lot of time at doctor appointments, wheelchair repair appointments, therapies, and providing 24 hour home care. It can be challenging to stay focused on my writing. But we’re working toward helping her achieve more independence, which will be good for all of us.
Even though I’ve achieved a lot in my career, I still sometimes have “imposter syndrome.” I fool myself into thinking my ideas aren’t good enough or that publishers won’t like what I’m writing. I belong to a weekly writing critique group which gives me something to work toward. I’m also fortunate to have a wonderful supportive wife and family. It’s difficult to make ends meet as a writer.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in writing children’s picture books. Most of them are written in verse. Today, most publishers will not even consider a manuscript in verse because they’ve seen so many written poorly. I think it helps that I have a musical background. I was drum major for my high school band, played trumpet, and now play guitar. I also write songs for children’s television. 99% of writing verse is about keeping the meter consistent, which has everything to do with rhythm and music. Dr. Seuss and Shel Silverstein made it look easy, but believe me, it’s not. I’m fortunate to have this skill, which possibly sets me apart from other writers.
I’m also known for writing about monsters. Why do I like monsters so much? As a kid I was nuts about dinosaurs, which are monsters of a sort. As a kid I loved Sesame Street which features monster characters. As I got older I enjoyed watching monster movies with my friends and family. I was also, and still am, a huge fan of Halloween and costume making. There’s a lot of fun and imagination that goes along with monsters. Kids and adults like to be scared in safe and fun ways. That’s what I try to do with my monster stories.
I’m proud of the awards my books have won. I’m proud when I get a thank you letter from a student that heard me speak at their school. I hope I inspire kids to want to create their own stories, or to be creative in some way.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memories are reading books, listening to records, sitting alone in the woods and appreciating nature. Lots of writers are introverts. We charge our batteries and get ideas by being alone with our thoughts.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dannyschnitzlein.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dannyschnitzlein/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danny.schnitzlein
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@dannyschnitzlein9318
- Other: https://bsky.app/profile/dschnitz.bsky.social
Image Credits
Author photo by Allen and Jenny Hansen
