It’s hard to believe I started my #KidLit journey in 2012, nearly ten years ago. So I’m thrilled to announce:
My debut nonfiction picture book, RIVER OF DUST: How North African Nutrients Nourish the Amazon, is now scheduled for release in July 2023. The manuscript sold to Chronicle Books at auction in June 2020. Picture books take a LONG time, folks!
The story is told in the form of a lyrical love letter from one continent to another, continents that have been separated for millions of years, but remain connected via wind-borne dust, and will be physically connected once again millions of years in the future.
Back matter includes a ton of info about the nutrients dust carries, how scientists use satellite data to estimate the quantity, how dust feeds the Amazon and the ocean, how scientists are still analyzing the source(s) and impact of the dust on the Amazon/ocean, how dust alters hurricane formation, how geologists came to understand that the continents were once a supercontinent, and more!
Eugenia Mello is illustrating. And I’ve got to say, I am smitten by her work! She has taken this manuscript and given it wings! Here’s her Instagram. For some reason, Instagram isn’t letting me tag the individual post where she shows a snippet of a spread. You’ll have to page down through her posts to find it, if you’re interested.
I can’t wait to share the cover soon! And eventually the book…
I’m taking a break from the blog to get my son prepped for his freshman year of college. (Who am I kidding? I just want to give him a bunch of hugs before he leaves.)
See you in September!
Jilanne Hoffmann 
Congratulations and looking forward to reading your book
Thank you! I can’t wait to share it with the world!
Superb news: a love affair between continents long estranged (and a happy ending if you are patient enough); and who’d have thought – dust will see us through!
Thank you! Dust to dust, yes?
I am thrilled for you! I love that is a bond between to continents. Congratulations!
Thanks, Patricia! I still have a year to go!!
I think you’re about to have a Perfect Picture Book on your hands! Congrats, my friend! I can’t wait to buy my copy!
Thanks, Mike! It’s been forever, as you well know….
I can’t begin to tell you how happy I am for you!
Thank you!!!!
Ooh, such exciting news, Jilanne! The book sounds fantastic and I’ve already learned things I didn’t know just from the little you’ve shared here. Will it be published in the UK too? Good luck saying goodbye to your son – make sure there’s plenty of ice-cream, wine and chocolate in the house, for medicinal purposes, for after he’s gone…
Thank you! I would hope it’s available. They have world rights in English. I’ll know more after I have a meeting with my editor on the 25th. We’ll be talking a bit about marketing then. I’ve already started stockpiling the chocolate and wine, LOL.
Best wishes to you for professional and personal events that are occurring in your life. See you in the fall.
Thank you!