Penny Klostermann writes a story that's "out of this world"

by Sue Heavenrich

 If you’ve ever wondered what celebrating Christmas on Mars might be like, Penny Parker Klostermann has a book for you! Her newest picture book, Merry Christmas, Dear Mars (Godwin Books/Henry Holt) is an “out-of-this-world” story about the night before. Christmas, that is. And it hit the shelves with plenty of time to find its way under trees on Earth and beyond…

I’ve been wanting to chat with Penny about her newest picture book ever since I learned that her first draft was an entry to Susanna Leonard Hill’s Very First Holiday Contest! Way back in 2011. That’s like … a long time ago in human years, but not so long ago in book-creating years. So I had to know more. And Penny graciously answered her phone when I called.

Me: What inspired you to come up with the idea of Christmas on Mars?

Penny: I came up with the idea while participating in PiBoIdMo – Picture Book Idea Month – back when Tara Lazar hosted that in November. It was actually my twenty-fifth idea. I jotted down “outer space night before Christmas.” And then, in December Susanna Leonard Hill challenged folks to do a rewrite of the Night Before Christmas for her holiday story contest.

Me: I remember PiBoIdMo. It eventually morphed into StoryStorm and moved to January. It’s so much easier to focus on ideas when you’re not distracted by turkeys and pies… you can find out more about StoryStorm at Tara’s blog here. Susanna Leonard Hill’s winter holiday story contest is usually announced around this time of year – check her blog here.

I confess: this is possibly my favorite spread!

Penny: I started getting serious about my writing in 2011, and that’s one reason I wanted to enter the story contest. Also, I really like writing in rhyme, so a parody of Night Before Christmas seemed like a good way to start. I began with a question: what if that night happened on Mars? I wrote a draft, but the only “hook” was that the story took place in space. And it followed the original story pretty closely. So I created some word lists to help me find creative language. My story won second place. What a boost of confidence that gave me! I thought, hey, maybe I could get this published. I sent it to five publishers in 2012 and heard back from only one. They declined.

My next submission was to the SCBWI Barbara Karlin WIP grant, where I was a runner-up. I also got involved in a critique group which really helped me in the revision process.

Me: Submitting manuscripts is a long game. Did you have an agent? 

Penny: I got an agent in 2013 – Tricia Lawrence at the Erin Murphy Literary Agency. She sent the book out on submission, and boy did we rack up rejections. But Trish always believed in it. Later, I got some feedback from an editor at a SCBWI event suggesting that I give the narrator and Santa more agency. When I revised with that in mind, it took my story to a new level. Trish sent it out again in 2019 – and then the pandemic hit. Then, in 2021 it was acquired and the editors, Laura Godwin and Courtney Nash, brought wonderful energy to this book. I think we had 55 rejections before they acquired it. It’s all about the right editor seeing your book at the right time. And believing in your story.

Me: Do you still participate in StoryStorm and story contests?

Penny: I never miss a year of StoryStorm. I love the excitement and the inspiration behind it. But contests? No, I don’t submit to them anymore, though I do donate prizes.

I really believe in the value of contests. Back when I first started writing, I would enter anything to get words on paper. With contests, you’re given inspiration (prompts/words), parameters (word limits), and a deadline. It forces you to get that first draft down. It may not be good, but the goal of having a contest entry really makes you write. I would never have written Merry Christmas, Dear Mars without the push from a contest.

Me: I love the idea of creating Word Banks, and earlier you mentioned creating word lists. Can you talk about that a bit more?

 

Penny: The word lists reflect the project I’m working on. Because Merry Christmas, Dear Mars happens in space – or at least on a different planet – I needed a “space words” bank. And the sled had technical problems, so I needed a “mechanical words” bank. Plus there are the challenges related to solving problems, so I needed a list of strong verbs. And then there’s the holiday… so obviously I had a list of Christmas-related words. I taped my wordlists to the bottom of my manuscript so I had them right in front of me while I worked!

Me: Thank you so much, Penny. What a fun book – and folks, seriously, go find a copy to read. It’s a wonderful read-aloud and the rhythm and rhyme are spot-on!

Penny has been previously featured on the GROG in this post celebrating her book, There Was an Old Dragon Who Swallowed a Knight, and in this post where she talks about rhyme and her book, A Cooked-Up Fairy Tale

She has a new book coming out in 2025 from Calkins Creek called Spider Lady: Nan Songer and Her Arachnid WWII Army, illustrated by Anne Lambelet. You can find out more about Penny and her books at her website, where you can also subscribe to her newsletter and find her social media links.