Author Tory Christie on the Seeing the Bigger Picture- plus a GIVEWAY! « Lydia Lukidis
Author Tory Christie on the Seeing the Bigger Picture- plus a GIVEWAY!
Hello world!!
Welcome to my kidlit blog, Blissfully Bookish. I have done a few work-for-hire projects with Black Rabbit Books and that’s where I met Ali Bryniarski, who works for The Creative Company. They’re coming out with a slew of fascinating kidlit books and for today’s Q & A, I got to interview Tory Christie. She’s here to chat about her new book A Speedy Little Cheetah on the Big Blue Earth, illustrated by Luciana Navarro Powell and published by Amicus Ink.
BUT first- YAY! Tory is generously giving away a FREE copy of the book! Simply comment on this blog- contest ends June 19, 2026. (USA only)
Please describe the journey to publication and inspiration for A Speedy Little Cheetah on the Big Blue Earth.
The concept started with a map. I was noticing some young people struggling with spatial awareness and directions. My thoughts were that the availability of GPS was hindering their ability to understand locations in relation to each other—because the GPS changes with you and doesn’t stay static like a map. So, the first book in the Big Blue Earth series, A Tiny Brown Monkey on the Big Blue Earth, was meant to give very young children a sense of perspective. I met Rebecca Glaser, the editor at Amicus Ink at an SCBWI conference and she requested the manuscript. When Luciana Navarro Powell was selected to illustrate the series, she gave a wonderful new perspective to the story.
What message would you like the book to impart to children?
I think the message is that we are part of a bigger picture, a bigger ecosystem. But also that we each have our own special place on the planet.
The book zooms outward from one cheetah to the entire planet. How did you come up with that storytelling structure?
I wanted a circular story and to come back to the small animal at the end. With the first draft, I told the story like “The House That Jack Built.” It was a cumulative structure. But through edits, we decided that a simpler structure would be better for this book and the books in the series that followed, but still always coming back to the small animal on the Big Blue Earth.
Please paste a short and compelling excerpt from your book.
I love the sounds in this line and the illustration that Luciana Navarro Powell created to go with it!
“…Where stampeding hooves splish-splash-splish
Through rains and muddy puddles…”
What is your writing process and does it vary depending on the project?
I write every morning until the coffee is gone. During these mornings, I am usually writing a chapter from a longer project. But with picture books, it varies. I can pause when the inspiration strikes and play with words and stories until they sound right. This can happen any time of day.
Please share your favorite books that inspired you.
For picture books, I love rhyming and poetic books! Some of my favorites are those that I read to my kids. Time for Bed by Mem Fox, The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson, Altoona Baboona by Janie Bynum, and my absolute favorite is Jamberry by Bruce Degen.
What is the best piece of advice you would give to other writers?
Think like a kid and have fun.
And a bonus question just for kicks! If you could be an animal, what would it be?
A kangaroo.
Bio
Tory Christie is a scientist, published poet, and writes children’s books about science and nature. She is the author of the Big Blue Earth picture book series, the Curious McCarthy chapter book series, a middle grade novel, and many non-fiction books. She loves doing school visits, talking about science, and visiting national parks. Her home base is in North Dakota but she loves to explore other places on the planet.
www.torychristie.com
https://www.facebook.com/authortorychristie
https://www.instagram.com/torychristie
https://www.pinterest.com/torychristie/
The Big Blue Earth books are available anywhere books are sold, but buying from the publisher or from bookshop.org are best for supporting authors and local booksellers: https://thecreativecompany.us/products/a-speedy-little-cheetah-on-the-big-blue-earth?_pos=1&_sid=e2fd45b45&_ss=r&_fid=880884267 and https://bookshop.org/a/96117/9798889880080
