The Vent with Lisa Frenkel Riddiough and EMBARRASSED FERRET
In Which the Author Comes Aboard to Discuss Finding Out What You Didn't Know and the Ever-Common Editor Switcharoo 📚
You know those words or sayings that just tickle you whenever you say them out loud? That’s me this week chatting with Lisa Frenkel Riddiough about the journey to creating her new picture book titled EMBARRASSED FERRET (illustrated by Andrea Tsurumi). Say that title out loud right now. I’ll wait…
Didn’t it just make you literally lol? The good energy continues in this week’s The Vent with Lisa as she reminds us we don’t know what we don’t know until we finally know it and the journey to that knowledge is exactly how it’s supposed to be. Here’s Lisa and EMBARRASSED FERRET (tehe!)!
Jason June (JJ): When you started your writing journey, what was the biggest frustration you encountered as you tried to find an agent and/or went on sub to editors for the first time that you wish you could have vented about?
Lisa Frenkel Riddiough (LFR): Hi Jason June! Thank you for having me on the Ventorship! This is fun.
When I first started out – oh, fifteen years ago – I simply didn’t know what I didn’t know. I had this picture book manuscript that I worked on for years and was certain it was EVERYTHING. When I brought it to an SCBWI conference for critique, I was shocked to discover that I still had a very long way to go. So, I signed up for writing classes at UC Berkeley Extension. At the time, I had never heard of terms like “omniscient narrator” and “denouement.” (There were no creative writing classes in my undergrad degree in finance – but there should have been!). Even after all of that AND an MFA in writing for children and young adults, I was still getting rejected all over the place. However, by this time, I had a critique group, I had friends in the same boat – and we were able to vent about how long the whole process takes. Although it took me eight years from the time I wrote that first manuscript to the time I signed with an agent and got my first book deal, it wouldn’t have worked out any other way. I had to go through all that I went through. I had to hone my craft. It took years for me to find my writing people to suffer and succeed with, venting all the while. And I love that we now have the Ventorship to keep the discussion going.
JJ: How about after you got your first book deal and continued on to publish multiple books? How did your frustrations (if you had any) change, and what would you have vented about or did vent about to author friends?
LFR: My first book came out in 2021, and we were still living in a Covid world. My initial frustration was that I didn’t get to go on the book tour of my dreams. I learned that the book tour of my dreams is EXTREMELY UNCOMMON, even in a pandemic-free world. The multi-city tour! The long lines of adoring fans! The marketing swag – and character plushies! I wanted it all!!! But now that I’ve been through a few book launches, I have realistic expectations. Partnering with my local independent bookstores has been delightful. They treat me like royalty. I order bookmarks and stickers and call it good. It is not a grand splash. But it is lovely. I am grateful that I get to keep writing and that I get to keep launching, but I will never stop dreaming BIG!
JJ: Tell us about your latest book! And (I bet you know where this is going) what’s the biggest vent you’ve got about the process of creating this novel?
LFR: Thank you for asking! EMBARRASSED FERRET is a picture book for ages 3 to 7. It’s my memoir! Just kidding. But it is about all the embarrassing things that happen at school. Thankfully, Ferret is not alone in experiencing the uh-ohs and oopsies. It seems everyone in Ms. Bunny’s class does something embarrassing. You’re going to be blown away by the delightful and endearing illustrations by Andrea Tsurumi. I’ve loved everything about creating this book. The only sad part was that our brilliant editor, Sylvie Frank, followed her dreams to a position at another publisher prior to the release date. She did an amazing job getting FERRET set up as part of a series, THE FOREST SCHOOL OF BIG FEELINGS. I couldn’t be anything but grateful and happy for Sylvie. She passed the project onto a new editor and we are moving forward. This type of adjustment is one that many on the Ventorship have had to make. The longer I’ve been in this business, the more I realize that this happens all the time. It just happened on another one of my projects, too. Everything is going to be OK (keep repeating this!).
JJ: Any words of wisdom you have for writers whether they are at the beginning of their journey or multi-published?
LFR: I know it’s been said a zillion times - and the passengers on the Ventorship already know this - but there is so much in publishing that is out of our control. The only thing we can do is to keep writing. No jumping ship! Isn’t it great to know that there are more stories inside of us and we get to write them? This gives me such hope. I also believe that participating in any artistic endeavor helps. When you are feeling done with it all, go to a museum. Paint a few river rocks. Work on a needlepoint project. Bake a pie! Keep creating. And along the way, offer to help others on their publishing journey. We can do this, people!
Thank you, Jason June, for having me on the blog and for offering this space for discussion.
JJ: Thanks so much for joining us aboard the Ventorship, Lisa! Author-passengers, read below for more info about Lisa and EMBARRASSED FERRET!
About EMBARRASSED FERRET
When every oopsie is followed by an uh-oh, little Ferret’s embarrassment grows. How will she survive the day at Forest School?
Ferret strolled to school in style,
All silky fur and cheerful smile,
Until she tripped on someone’s duffle
And caused herself a slight kerfuffle.
From there her day gets worse and worse.
Embarrassment is Ferret’s curse!
Pencils spilled. Stubborn glue.
Toilet paper on her shoe!
There is one thing that helps her through.
Surprise! She’s just like me and you.
Ferret trips while getting off the bus, makes a gigantic glitter mess at craft time, urgently has to pee at recess, and gets toilet paper on her shoe! But when others in the classroom goof up in equally embarrassing ways, Ferret is relieved to discover that nobody’s perfect.
The first book in the Forest School of Big Feelings series from Lisa Frenkel Riddiough and Andrea Tsurumi is sure to help little ones, parents, and caregivers navigate the many emotions of life.
Book 2 in the Forest School of Big Feelings series, FURIOUS TURTLE, will publish in Fall 2026.
About Lisa Frenkel Riddiough
Lisa Frenkel Riddiough is the author of ELVIS AND THE WORLD AS IT STANDS (Amulet 2021), LETTERS TO LIVE BY: AN ALPHABET BOOK WITH INTENTION (Running Press Kids 2022), PIE-RATS! (Viking 2024), and the forthcoming EMBARRASSED FERRET and FURIOUS TURTLE, books 1 and 2 in the Forest School of Big Feelings Series (Disney Hyperion 2025 & 2026). She earned her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University and is a writing mentor for Society of Young Inklings. Lisa is a former sales executive, an avid squirrel-watcher, and a frequent baker of chocolate pound cake. Learn more about Lisa at www.lisariddiough.com and on IG @lisariddiough.
Authors, the Ventorship is looking for traditionally published writers to be featured with their latest book release in a future edition of The Vent! Email me at heyjasonjune@gmail.com with the subject: THE VENT to let me know you’re interested. All you’ll need to be featured are answers to the same four questions asked above, as well as an author bio, cover image, and book description.
If you’d like to vent about anything author/writing related, write to me at heyjasonjune@gmail.com with the subject: VENTORSHIP. I’ll give you my take in a post, and we’ll crowdsource author opinions in the comments. You’ll remain anonymous, and any haters will be thrown overboard. Ultimately, I think you’re going to be buoyed up by author love and support as we realize we really are all in the same boat 🛳️
What a fun (and funny) interview! Kids are going to adore this book! Thanks for sharing.