We are thrilled to celebrate the publication of Tic-Tac-Toe Chicken by Kimberly Tso! Kimberly has taken multiple workshops with us and we wanted to chat with her about her new book and her Highlights experience.
How are you feeling about the publication of this book?
Right now, I’m feeling so well-supported, because the book is getting so much love from my friends and family. It’s really great to have that kind of reception to counter the fearful inner critic.
Describe how the idea for the book came to you. What was your process for getting it on the page?
Originally, I joined SCBWI to learn about illustration, but I quickly felt like I didn’t have a story to practice illustration. That’s when I remembered the Tic-Tac-Toe Chicken from my childhood and thought it would make for a good story to draw – except I had to write it first. In the end, my writing skills were more developed than my illustration skills, so I found myself as an author rather than an illustrator.
Do you have a favorite moment or scene in the book?
Illustrator Louie Chin’s paintings are all so beautiful that it’s hard to pick just one. The opening spread of Chinatown is definitely one of my favorites, as is the spread of Beatrice and her father in Columbus Park.
What do you hope kids will take away from your book?
I hope that kids will be encouraged to use their creative thinking to solve problems. Children are resourceful, resilient, and less encumbered by “the way things have always been done.” I hope they and their parents see that as its own kind of intelligence and nurture it.
What was the most challenging part of writing this book? How did you overcome that?
The most challenging part was when I got the call from Third State Books (my publisher) to see the manuscript. I had just thrown out a year and a half of manuscripts, because I was frustrated that I couldn’t quite land the story. I wanted to start over with fresh eyes. But then an interested publisher called! I wrote a new manuscript in four days, sent it in, and thankfully the publisher actually liked it.
Were there any surprises along the way – things that changed from your original idea as you wrote?
Absolutely! Everything changed along the way. The main character alone switched from a chicken to a boy to a girl. Even once the manuscript was with the publisher, I changed it to help the illustrator have more engaging and varied scenes. It was a very collaborative process.
Can you talk about your journey as a writer and how the Highlights Foundation played a part in it?
The Highlights Foundation has been a huge part of my journey. I attended the Asian and Asian American Voices Retreats for the last three years, and through that met the person who introduced me to the publisher. In addition, I’ve made great friends and colleagues from those retreats who gave me advice, critiques, and encouragement. The hosts Grace Lin and Debbi Michiko-Florence have been generous with their assistance, too. The Highlights retreats have been incredibly generative for me to build relationships, and the classes also helped build my confidence. In particular, the School Visits class has increased my confidence as I get ready to do more virtual and in-person visits.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to aspiring writers, especially those working on their first book?
If you are an introvert, consider doing a Highlights retreat instead of or in addition to a conference. The retreat format gives you more time and opportunity to develop substantive and genuine relationships with other writers. Relationships with editors and agents are important, but more business-like. It’s the writer relationships that will last and be meaningful support as you start out and grow.
What’s next for you? Are you already working on another project?
I’m in the process of looking for a new agent (my original agent is on a medical leave of absence), and I’m participating in Highlights’ Whole Novel Workshop to revise a middle grade novel I wrote during 2024’s NaNoWriMo challenge.
