Author Nancy Paris is back with another delightful tale of her now-seven-year-old mischievous character, Lilly Nilly. Readers were first introduced to her in 2021 with Pardon My French — It's the Language of Ballet: The Adventures of Lilly Nilly. The dance student gave kids and adults a hilarious look at her journey into the world of ballet through very relatable studio moments.
This time around, Lilly Nilly is on summer vacation and she's not worrying about her ballet skills over the break. She's ready to share her seven adventures that will have you rolling on the floor in Seven Summer Situations: That Were Not My Fault! And don't worry, Lilly Nilly will be back performing before you know it. Paris has a new experience that she's conjuring for our favorite spirited gal that involves more time in Lilly Nilly's favorite place: the spotlight.
Lilly Nilly is back for another adventure! What gave you the idea to focus on her wild summer vacation and take her out of the dance studio?
When I was younger, I focused on a dance career almost to the exclusion of everything else. My mom used to urge me to “broaden my horizons” (her favorite phrase), which was followed by “Don’t let your young life pass you by,” (her second favorite phrase). In Seven Summer Situations That Were Not My Fault!, seven-year-old Lilly realizes early on that her whole world has revolved around two things - school and ballet. So, she decides to do something about that, and summer vacation seems like the perfect time to do it.
I wanted this to be the focus of my second book because I was so single-minded throughout my high school and college years, and I ended up missing out on a lot of unique experiences. But, in thinking back to the nutty things I did as a little kid with an overactive imagination, I can see how coaxing children - and their parents – to broaden their horizons would be a beautiful thing, and mom-approved.
What has been the feedback from your young readers about Lilly Nilly's adventures? The book series is just as much for adults, too!
Hearing from some of the children, and receiving pictures of them reading the book, has been so gratifying! I found out that one first grader that I met at a book-signing took Seven Summer Situations to school for National Read a Book Day. I later heard from her mom that she told her classmates she had met me “in real life.”
Among my adult readers, most everyone comments on the illustrations, Lilly’s rambunctious behavior, and her storytelling tone. One adult reader told me that Lilly reminds her of Kay Thompson’s Eloise, and I’m so flattered to receive that comment. I’ve had people tell me that reading the book brings back their own childhood memories, which is very cool.
Is Lilly Nilly still headed to Broadway for her third adventure or is she going in a different direction?
Yes, Lilly is now in second grade and off on a Broadway adventure! After Miss Lauren, her ballet teacher at Dance Utopia of Massapequa (or D.U.M for short) hears Lilly belting out a song in the dressing room, she brings our girl to the attention of a friend who is a big Broadway director in the process of casting the title role in his new musical, Little Big Mouth.
Lilly, always her own best cheerleader, thinks that she is a shoo-in because (1) she is little and (2) has the biggest mouth east of the Mississippi. She even contemplates suggesting a title change for the show to Hello Lilly!, a bit more flattering than Little Big Mouth. What she doesn’t expect is the unusual audition process and the other competition - three Broadway kids named Ariel, Jasmine, and Belle, whom she refers to as “The Princesses.” Does Lilly ultimately get the part? We shall see….
Was there anything that you learned from publishing the first volume in the series that you changed for the second volume?
Absolutely. Pardon My French – It’s the language of Ballet was my first foray into this type of writing. I certainly wanted to appeal to kids, but I also wanted to tap into a genre called Children’s Books Written for Adults. For whatever reason, there were a handful of people who took offense to Lilly’s frank observations of the world and herself. I understand and honor this now, although I still feel that children are very honest (and sometimes tactless) in their commentary on themselves and others. So, in the second book, I tried to keep Lilly’s humor and candor intact, while recognizing the current climate of parental sensitivity.
Now that you are a seasoned author, what advice would you give to other people who aspire to write a children's book?
If you are very new at this, my advice would be to write as much as you can - a journal, short vignettes, a blog - any outlet that has you put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard. Take baby steps at first, don’t worry about tackling a whole book right off the bat. I spent years writing promotional material for my dance company, and for special event trade publications.
Using your social media is also a good outlet. I have a friend who posts slice-of-life stories from her childhood on Facebook, and they are delightful. The positive comments she receives gives her the confidence to continue her writing journey. Like my friend, I find it easier to write about what I know. All the incidents in my books are based on personal experience, and I used those memories as a springboard for my imagination.
My last suggestion would be to explore online writing communities. They can be a great resource for getting your work out there and, if you wish, receiving constructive feedback. Everyone has a story to tell, so why not enrich the world with yours?
Before you go, check out: 'Everybody Dance' Documentary Hopes to Inspire Dance Educators to Make the Arts More Inclusive