Catch of the Day: A SEASON FOR FISHIN': A FISH FRY TRADITION with Pam Courtney by Kathy Halsey

Imagine Pam Courtney and I having a sit down on our virtual porch in Louisiana looking at the Cane River as we chat about her debut book, family, and fishin’. I've known Pam for about 15 years as a friend and  critique partner, and I’ve manifested this day since her debut book was a small fry! It is a thrill to be able to share Pam’s story with you all after all these years. Settle in for awhile and share your family tradtions with us in the comments!

Book Review: A SEASON FOR FISHIN': A FISH FRY TRADITION

I have on my librarian-teacher hat to share my thoughts on this picture book that I’ve known through many iterations as one of Pam’s critique partners.I might be a bit biased, but  A SEASON FOR FISHIN’ is a delight, from illustrator Toni D. Chambers’ engaging illustrations to the thoughtful backmatter author Pam has provided a dictionary of terms of endearment from Louisiana parishes. 

The fresh, active illustrations married to Pam’s poetic, unique Louisiana-influenced words make this the perfect book for a new season, summer and fish fry Fridays.

Main character Cher is excited to become part of her family tradition as she joins her Papere on the Ol’ Cane River along with uncles and a desire to bring in a mess of bream for her Mamere to fry up. 

Young readers will identify with that desire to “measure up” to a family ritual . . . are they ready, can they do it?  All readers will feel immersed in the loving family fun inspired by Pam’s Louisiana upbringing. Educators and librarians will appreciate this joyful read aloud with oodles of onomatopoeia and fresh phrases. As Cher would say, “Howwwwweee, get you a copy of this book and some crispy bream now!

Craft Chat with Pam Courtney

Kathy: Pam, I'm interested in the origin story for this wonderful debut picture book. Please share where this story came from, how it's changed, and what you've learned from “catching this big fish” of a book!

Pam: Actually, this story started as a poem in Renee LaTulippe’s Lyrical Language Lab class in 2014, or maybe 2015. Anyway, it was initially called Fish Fry Friday. Then Fish Fry Friday, A Cane River Upbringing. Then Fish Fry Friday, A Cane River Tale until it had to be changed.

It was initially being groomed for a NIV. It was Renee who nudged me and said, “Why not think about a young protagonist, cut some words, and make this a picture book?” I didn’t want to but I got feedback from other kidlit professionals that were certain this would make a better picture book. 

But as you know, it is a page out of my own childhood. I didn’t go fishing often. Actually, I can count on one hand the number of times I actually fished. I just like going, being with family and friends; eating the snacks that were packed. Like my Uncle Teddy Boy’s home-roasted peanuts. There were a few versions of Fish Fry.

Kathy: Lucky us! Pam’s sharing a few stanzas of an early version!  

Fish Fry on Fridays? 

Let Grand-mere tell it, down on the Cane River,

everybody fries fish on Fridays.

Matter of fact, just travel down any

dirt road in any rural town in

Louisiana on any Friday and

everybody who’s anybody worth

their weight in mudbug is cleaning,

frying, and eating fish. Buffalo fish.

Alligator Garfish. On special

Fridays, Redhorse. 

Fish Fry onFridays?

That’s bayou upbringing

not catholic upbringing.

Down on this river, people been

criss-crossin, speakin and livin like

ta’ otherin forever." says Grand-mere. 

Down on Cane River is the

safe place, the birthplace of my

Grand-mere, my Pa-ran, my Na-nan, 

and my Tante'. 

Yessir. Lot of mystery 

in the history down the road, 

down on Cane River.

Kathy: Oh, I love the roll and rhythm of this language. I can feel your setting and picture the characters! Thanks, Pam!

How did your hometown, Natchitoches, LA, inspire your story? I know you share poignant childhood memories in your author's note. (Readers make sure to check out the Author's Note when you get this book.) What makes Natchitoches unique?

Pam: The story takes place on Ol’ Cane River. Cane River is actually a man-made lake and it runs smack through the middle of our town. Nearly all of our outdoor events happen on that riverfront. Cane River is also a place within Natchitoches, where the most interesting and complicated history resides. I went fishing down on Cane River. Everyone did. You’d find people casting lines off of the bridge or wrangling for their prized spot on the riverfront. 

But the Friday fish fries is where the magic of my childhood lives. Folks would leave out early morning, return late afternoon with their catch. By early Friday evening everyone was out front in their yard scaling, cleaning fish, and frying fish. Our entire street was perfumed with the aroma!! Oh and the music that accompanied this scene! While I grew up with Prince and Funkadelic, the adults in control of the music had Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, and, of course, gospel music rang out. Howweeee, what memories I have of that time.

Kathy: So what's the best way to cook up a mess of fish and why bream? 

Pam: Well, bream is my mom’s favorite fish. I can’t tell you the number of times our doorbell rings and someone has dropped off freshly caught bream. What’s even sweeter, they’ll also clean and filet them for my mom. But that’s just our way down here in the boot. As for the best way to fry bream. I cheat. I use Zatarain’s fish fry season to coat our fish. It’s the spice in that breading for me. I pan fry. So only quality oil will do. I test the temperature of my oil by sticking the handle of a wooden spoon into the oil. If it bubbles immediately, the temperature is just right for frying up a batch of bream.

Kathy: Yum! I’m hungry now. And to think I grew up with fish sticks as a Catholic! What's the best way for you to cook up a story? Can you share a bit of your process?

Pam: A story idea springs from anywhere. The idea for A Season For Fishin’ came from a specific childhood experience. Anything can inspire an idea. Once I have an idea for my story, it lives in my head (longer than it should) as I think about the “promise of the premise.”  

It takes me an awfully long time to get the idea on paper. I sit at my mom’s dining room table, aka my office, and stare out the glass patio doors smiling at the wildlife that entertain themselves in the backyard. I consider why I’m choosing to share this particular story or experience with readers. 

When inspiration hits me to pull out the laptop I ask myself, what will be the intimate moments that moves my story forward? For that matter, what moves my character to respond as they do? I’m all about creating intimacy in a scene. For me, it’s important to create specific emotional incidents that set up the reader’s relationship with my main character and the people who’ll share the character’s stage. 

In each scene, I consider the purpose of pacing because I want to, on purpose, use language, rhythm, and sentence length to hold a reader in a moment. I’m still in the process of accurate pacing. In a lesson I learned from an amazing teacher on pacing, if it’s done well, it informs tempo, encouraging that effective page turn. 

And yes, I do all of this in my first draft. THIS is why it takes me so very, very long to get my first draft down. I’m learning y’all.

Kathy: You talk a lot about being a good critique partner. How does that skill enhance your own writing and ability to create new stories.

Pam: I’ve had the GREAT fortune to be in the company of some amazing writers in my critique groups. The idea for new stories is always front and center each session whether we actively discuss story ideas or not. Someone will say something that sparks an idea, or someone will have an idea they think is perfect for your brand of storytelling. This is just one small part of a great critique group. 

Being able to look at a story and ask its creator what exactly is their intent for their story is something I always ask. I ask more questions rather than give advice. However, I’m the oldest sibling and we think we know everything, so being slow to offer feedback is still a work in progress. 

What I find is the more questions I ask, out of genuine curiosity for the “promise of the premise,” the more everyone is able to hear specifics about the writer’s intentions for their stories. Many times I’ll ask the writer about their story’s promise. I’ll then ask, “Show me where that lives on the pages of your story?” 

It might be that I’ve completely missed it, or the writer might visualize a scene or moment in their head and that is where it lives. These questions inform how I move through the pages of my story. Though it is much harder questioning your writing strategies than others. LOL

Kathy: Pam, that is a juicy piece of advice about how to critique. Folks, I’ve been a recipient of Pam’s skillful critiques for years! Blessed by it. 

Where can we find you online, on podcast, on blogs as you celebrate this season of your debut book? 

Pam: You can find me on the following artist’s blogs: Susanna Leonard Hill, Sara Holly-Ackerman, Black Voices, and KidLit Works.

Find Pam on the River or Here: Social Media Contacts

 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/pam_is_mylmnop/

Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/pamismylmnop.bsky.social

Threads https://www.threads.com/@pam_is_mylmnop

Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@pam_is_mylmnop?lang=en

Now join Pam and me on our virtual porch and share YOUR family tradition in the comments! Mine has to do with my Hungarian grandmother, Otelia Wolslagel and her spicy sausage and paprika. My mouth is burning now!