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INTERVIEW:<\/h3>\n
GoodReadsWithRonna:<\/span> Welcome, Leah. Congratulations on your debut picture book, Freedom at Dawn: Robert Smalls\u2019s Voyage Out of Slavery<\/em><\/a><\/span>. It\u2019s terrific to have this chance to chat with you on the blog. I\u2019m guessing most people don\u2019t know about the courageous escape to freedom made by enslaved boat pilot or wheelman Robert Smalls during the Civil War. Can you tell us how you first learned about him and what inspired you to write about this historic event?<\/strong><\/p>\n Leah Schanke: <\/strong><\/span>I first learned about Robert Smalls when I was researching another US Civil War story. Smalls was a Civil War hero, yet he was forced out of a streetcar in Philadelphia because of the color of his skin. I made a note to myself to learn about Smalls because I was not familiar with this important figure in US history. I was inspired by his daring, dangerous plan, his fearlessness, and his accomplishments after the escape to freedom. I also feel a personal connection to his story because of my family roots in South Carolina.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n GRWR:<\/strong> <\/span>I love how you\u2019ve made Lizzy Smalls, the oldest of Robert Smalls\u2019s two children, the narrator. It brings the reader right on board the Planter<\/em> with the family. Did you try other approaches?<\/strong><\/p>\n LS: <\/strong><\/span>In 2012, I wrote a picture book biography of Robert Smalls. There were already other picture book biographies, and mine didn\u2019t stand out or offer anything unique. I put the story aside until 2020. My critique group did a brainstorming exercise, and one of the items was to tell a story from a different perspective. That is when I decided to try telling the story from Smalls\u2019 daughter\u2019s perspective.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n GRWR:<\/strong><\/span> Readers learn from Lizzy that soon the Union will launch an attack on Charleston, meaning the harbor will be harder than ever to escape unless they leave right away. It helps that Smalls knows the secret whistle code to pass Confederate boats. You build tremendous tension in these scenes as Mama, Lizzy, and baby Robert wait for Papa\u2019s boat to arrive. Then, once on board the Planter<\/em>, Lizzy\u2019s descriptions make my heart race with every read. \u201cThe guards on shore must think Papa is the real captain.\u201d What would they do if they saw he was not white?. Was this one of the most challenging parts of the book to write, or was it when they raised the white flag?<\/strong><\/p>\n LS:<\/span> <\/strong><\/span>Writing the suspenseful elements of the story was a lot of fun. It was more difficult writing the part about raising the white flag. In an earlier version of the story, I gave Lizzy more agency in which she shouts to the crew to pull down the Confederate and South Carolina flags (and replace them with the white flag of surrender). I agreed with a critique I received that this deviated too much from the historical facts.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n GRWR:<\/span> What was your reaction the first time you saw Oboh Moses\u2019 stunning artwork? He manages to capture the atmosphere on board and the strong emotions all the escapees are feeling as they hide below deck in this life-or-death situation. Do you have a favorite spread?<\/strong><\/p>\n LS:<\/strong> <\/span>When I first saw black and white illustrations, I was impressed at how Oboh Moses captured the story, but when I saw them with color, to say I was absolutely amazed is an understatement. My favorite spread is the battle at Fort Sumter (top illustration). The spread really shows a very important battle in US history in an engaging way. I hope it sparks curiosity in learning more about the US Civil War.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n GRWR:<\/strong><\/span> How long did it take you to write Freedom at Dawn<\/em>, and then how long to find an agent and sell the book? I applaud you for making it look easy.<\/p>\n LS:<\/span> <\/strong>Writing Freedom at Dawn<\/em><\/strong> took about one month for the first draft because I already knew the story well from the traditional biography I had written years earlier. I had an agent when I wrote the story, who showed little interest in it and with whom I parted ways. I submitted to agents in the hopes of another agent relationship, but it didn\u2019t lead to an offer. I sold Freedom at Dawn<\/em> on my own through the fall 2023 Savvy Authors Pitchfest and engaged a literary attorney to negotiate the contract on my behalf.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n GRWR:<\/strong> <\/span>I learned even more about Robert Smalls from the backmatter. Are there any interesting facts that stand out to you after all your research?<\/p>\n LS:<\/span> <\/strong>It was important to me to give information in the backmatter about Elizabeth (Lizzy) Smalls\u2019 life since I told the story of the escape from her perspective. I was amazed that she lived to be 101 years old and had 11 children.<\/p>\n I had a timeline that had to be removed from the backmatter to maintain the 32-page format. It was very interesting to learn that in the summer after the escape, Robert Smalls traveled to Washington, DC, and met with President Abraham Lincoln, Secretary of the Navy, Gideon Welles, Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton, and Secretary of the Treasury, Salmon Chase. Although the details of the meetings are unknown, it is believed Smalls was an instrumental voice in reminding them that African American men were capable and willing to join the fight against the Confederacy.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n GRWR:<\/strong> <\/span>What\u2019s it like after so many years to finally have a debut? Does it seem surreal at times?<\/strong><\/p>\n LS: <\/strong><\/span>It\u2019s been a thirteen-year journey to reach this point! It does feel surreal, but I\u2019m so glad I stuck with it and kept working on improving my storytelling craft. I hope my long journey to publication helps other writers to not give up. The submission process and passes or no response at all can wear you down. Sometimes it helps to recharge by disengaging from submitting, and focusing on writing stories and reconnecting to the love of writing for children.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n GRWR:<\/span> What is your writing regimen? Do you write daily? And do you have a favorite place where your ideas can flow unimpeded?<\/strong><\/p>\n LS: <\/strong><\/span>I work full-time and commute over one hour in each direction to the office. During the morning commute, I focus on anything writing-related, e.g., writing, revising, critiquing, and catching up with social media. I also go to the library on the weekend to do research and write.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n GRWR:<\/span> Have you always been focused on writing for children?<\/strong><\/p>\n LS: <\/strong><\/span>Yes, I have always been focused on stories for children. I enjoy bringing stories about little-known but important figures and events in US history to a younger audience.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n GRWR:<\/span> Please let me know if there\u2019s anything I didn\u2019t ask that you\u2019d like to mention.<\/strong><\/p>\n LS:<\/strong> <\/span>While the story is focused on the escape and Smalls\u2019 skills and fearless leadership, he could not have pulled off the escape on his own. He needed the crew to operate the ship. There was a community of people on board who worked together and risked their lives for freedom. Everyone on the ship was brave. I\u2019d like readers to understand that there are different ways to be brave, and that in the story Lizzy learns that she is brave too.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n GRWR:<\/span> Thank you, Leah, for sharing your perspective with us today. I\u2019m excited for children to read Freedom at Dawn<\/em>!<\/strong><\/p>\n Purchase copies of Freedom at Dawn<\/strong><\/em> here<\/strong><\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Leah Schanke is a children\u2019s book author whose multicultural heritage and interest in U.S. history inspire her to write historical fiction and nonfiction books for children with a focus on little-known but significant figures and events. FREEDOM AT DAWN, illustrated by Oboh Moses, is Leah\u2019s first children\u2019s book. With family roots in South Carolina, she was especially intrigued by the idea of telling a children\u2019s story about Robert Smalls\u2019 heroic life. Leah lives on Long Island, NY, with her family.<\/p>\n Find out more at https:\/\/www.leahschanke.com<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n e<\/span><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/leahschanke\/<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/leahschanke.bsky.social<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/obohdraws<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/obohdraws.bsky.social<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n![\"Freedom](\"https:\/\/www.goodreadswithronna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Freedom_at_Dawn_int1_attack_on_Fort_Sumter-1024x450.png\" "\\"int")
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BUY THE BOOK:<\/h3>\n
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BIOGRAPHY:<\/h3>\n
FOLLOW LEAH:<\/span>
<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/h3>\nILLUSTRATOR OBOH MOSES INFO:<\/h3>\n