The Backstory: READY TO SMILE AGAIN
- Andrew Hacket
- Mar 5
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 5
I am thrilled to welcome Katie Lee Reinert to the blog today. Katie is here to share all about her debut picture book, READY TO SMILE AGAIN (Gnome Road Publishing) with illustrations by Sara Aziz. This is an adorable picture book with an SEL twist that is perfect for young readers. Keep reading to learn about this new title and for your chance to win a copy of your own or a picture book critique from Katie.
AH: Welcome to The Backstory and thank you for joining us and sharing the inspiration behind READY TO SMILE AGAIN.
First off, please tell us a little bit about your story.
KTR: Ready to Smile again tells the story of Dexter, a chipmunk whose home is destroyed. He gathers his remaining belongings and stuffs them in his cheeks for safekeeping, but soon discovers that this prevents him from smiling or talking. With the help of his friends and community, Dexter learns to let go of his fear in order to smile again.
AH: This is an adorable story. I was instantly drawn to Dexter and how he tries to protect his feelings and belongings following his misfortune. You do an amazing job of relaying his emotions through his actions and behaviors. There is a really sweet lesson within this book that all kids could learn from.
AH: What’s the story behind the story? What was your inspiration? Where did the idea come from?
KLR: I remember that I was driving when the initial idea popped in my head. I couldn’t tell you what inspired it. I think it was just one of those ideas that appears out of nowhere when your mind is free to wander.
AH: Those are the best! And good for you for making sure to capture it before it evaporated into thin air.
AH: How did you approach going from this seed of an idea to what is now READY TO SMILE AGAIN? Was it something undeniable you had to write immediately or did you need to sit with this idea and let it grow for a while before it found its way to the page?
KLR: When I first had the idea, I was planning for it to be a humorous book about a chipmunk that kept shoving more and more things into its cheeks. But it never felt quite right. So I filed it away for a while to let it percolate and when I landed on the idea of it being an emotional response, I knew that was what the story had to be and the first draft flowed pretty easily.
AH: Isn't it amazing how differently our stories can turn out from how we first imagined? I can instantly see the draw and humor to a chipmunk overstuffing those cheek pouches. Comedy gold! But, now seeing your twist on the SEL perspective, I can't imagine you having gone in a different direction with it.
AH: Did READY TO SMILE AGAIN undergo any major changes/revisions from the original version? If so, what led you to make these changes?
KLR: There weren’t any major changes. The general storyline remained the same and most of the revisions were minor tweaks to hone in on the emotion of the story.
AH: Are there any books/authors that you feel influenced your work?
KLR: I love reading books that are a combination of humor and heart. Some of my recent favorites include Ashley Belote’s Witch and Wombat; Old Friends by Margaret Aitken, illustrated by Lenny Wen; and Hopefully the Scarecrow by Michelle Houts, illustrated by Sara Palacios. Those stories that make me laugh, but also go “awwww” are my happy place.
AH: I can immediately see their influence on your work and would put Ready To Smile Again in the humor with heart category as well.
AH: Where do you tend to find your inspiration or your sparks for ideas?
KLR: Most of my ideas come to me in my regular daily life. Sometimes it’s a phrase or
expression that might start as a title idea. Sometimes it’s something interesting I learned or read that might turn into a nonfiction or informational fiction idea. Sometimes I feel like I’ll never have a good idea again and something pops in there unexpectedly. I’m a big fan of letting your mind wander while doing a mindless task like washing dishes or taking a walk. And a lot of times, I get an idea for an element of a story, but can’t seem to flush it out into a full story in my head (I tend to get stuck on endings in these cases). When that happens, I jot the idea down in my idea folder and leave it there to revisit later.
AH: I am a big fan of those mindless tasks and the space and opportunity they provide our imagination. As you mentioned, even those tiny bits of ideas are worth saving for later.
Do you have any upcoming projects or news you would like to share with us?
KLR: I do! I’ve got two projects in the works right now. SLOTHS AND THEIR MOTHS is
slated to come out in February of 2026 from Tielmour Press and EMMA WASN’T
READY is scheduled for March 2026 from Lawley Publishing.
AH: Woohoo! I am so excited for you and for these new titles. I will be marking my calendar to make sure I don't miss either.
Where can people connect more with you?
KLR: I’m currently on Bluesky (@katieleereinert.bsky.social) and *insider tip* there’s a
giveaway for preorders (including library requests) to win a crocheted chipmunk stuffy
ending 3/18/25!
I can also be reached through my website, www.KatieLeeReinert.com
AH: Readers be sure to connect with Katie on social media so you don't miss any of her exciting publishing news. And while you are at it please consider supporting her books in any way you can.
This could include:
- ordering from your favorite indie
- marking as want to read on Goodreads
-leaving a review
- making a library request
Katie, thank you so much for sharing all about your latest book with us. I loved learning how it came to be and a bit more about your process.
GIVEAWAY!
Katie is happy to offer a signed copy of the book or a PB critique (up to 800 words) to one winner. (US only)
Ways to enter:
1. Comment on social media post about this blog post. Additional entry for tagging friends!
or
2. Leave a comment on this post. Leave a social media tag where I can contact you if you are selected as the winner.
or
3. Post about this interview on social media and tell me in the comments that you did.
Each method earns an extra entry!
ABOUT CYNTHIA MACKEY
Katie Lee Reinert is a picture book author who loves writing books about the magic of imagination that will inspire kids and make them laugh. She is the author of the forthcoming titles, Ready to Smile Again (2025), Sloths and Their Moths (2026), and Emma Wasn’t Ready (2026). She lives outside of Portland, Oregon with her family where she loves exploring new hiking trails in the summer and trying to stay dry in the
winter.
ABOUT ANDREW HACKET
Andrew Hacket is a writer, second-grade teacher, and father of three. He is also the author of Ollie, the Acorn, and the Mighty Idea, Curlilocks and the Three Hares, and Hope and the Sea. Andrew recognizes that being a kid is hard and he writes to create ways for kids to see themselves in stories and characters, to accept and overcome their insecurities, or to escape for just a little while through the power of their imaginations.
Comments