Interview: Author Brittany Pomales - It Started With a P
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Author Brittany Pomales lives in sunny Arizona with her significant other, daughter, and spunky dog, Pepper. When she is not writing, she might be found scrolling social media, making pizza, or enjoying her role as a new mom. Her hilarious debut picture book, It started with a P , illustrated by Andrew Joyner, was released in April of this year by Flamingo Books. It is a playful and uproarious tale about a young king who, on the morning of his birthday party, decides everything that starts with the letter P must go!
Because It started with a P has been out for a few months, I was especially keen to ask Brittany about her book launch experience. I found her responses fascinating and insightful, and I hope you do, too!
SR: Hi Brittany! I'm so happy you're here. Thank you for chatting with me about It Started With a P. How does it feel to have your book out in the world?
BP: Validating. I get to tell younger me, “Don’t worry. Someday you’ll find the right words.” I feel like I have lived my whole life trying to find them.
As a kid my words always got me into trouble. Sometimes they still do.
SR: Ah, the power of words. How validating indeed, to be able to go back and comfort and inspire younger you. In the case of It started with a P , your words did you so right!
Congratulations on a successful launch. I've been so excited to see It started with a P "in the wild" at my local bookstores. Could you talk to us about what goes into launching a book, from your (author's) perspective?
BP: Community! I had so many people help me with my launch.
Friends and family that joined my launch team, my publicist who helped book my launch event, booksellers that welcomed me into their stores for storytimes, bloggers, reviewers, my local newspaper and PBS station and so many more.
SR: That is fantastic. In all aspects, the kidlit community is simply the best. And it’s so satisfying to see someone who gives a lot to the community (you) receiving abundant support.
What else have you learned from this launch? What might you do differently the next time around? What would you definitely do the same way?
BP: Getting your book in front of the right people (the families/teachers/librarians who will enjoy it) is VERY difficult. It feels like standing in the middle of a crowded arena and shouting look at me but without a spotlight or microphone.
Social media isn’t what it used to be. Neither is television or print media. Next time around, I would focus a little less on social media and more on direct connections via email and lean a little more on my local community.
SR: This is SUCH good insight for writers, thank you so much for sharing it.
In addition, even before you have a debut to promote, writing humor books is hard! Does humor come naturally to you? Have you used any resources and exercises in particular to improve your humorous writing? (Also please tell us about Kidlit Haha Week!)
BP: So hard! That’s an interesting question. I feel like humor has been nurtured in me since I was young so it’s hard to say whether it comes naturally or if it’s just years of practice.
When I was young, my dad and I would imagine funny situations together. I used to call him ‘the exaggerator’ because he would start by saying “imagine if” followed by something completely absurd. And we would just go down the rabbit hole of what could happen.
There are a lot of resources for writing picture books, very few are about writing humor in picture books and even fewer go deep enough.
I love clever humor and found myself picking up books that used the word hilarious in their jacket copy but they were only mildly funny. When I see the word hilarious I want to laugh until I cry. (Like when I read THE BOY WHO CRIED POOP.)
So I created Kidlit Haha Week to elevate the humor in children’s books. It’s a FREE week-long event every year from April 1st - April 5th on my website, Brittanypomales.com where funny authors share their knowledge. Each day has a new post with the goal of building up an archive of humor writing content. Right now there are ten posts (two years worth) that you can revisit whenever you need to.
And for those who want to dive deeper, I’ve created The Picture Book Humor Lab which is a 4-week course that’s part lab part mentorship designed to get you funnier faster.
SR: Was there one sentence, phrase, or page in It started with a P where you really cracked yourself up? On the flip side, was there one section that was especially challenging?
BP: There is a scene when the princess asks if she also needs to go and he answers, “Sorry, Sis but you’re a princess.” It’s the point where we really see how irrational he is because up until then a lot of the P items weren’t really personal.
I think the reveal, the heart of the story, was especially challenging because it didn’t finally click until after it sold and I was working with [my editor] Claire. Before then, it was falling a little flat.
SR: I absolutely love Andrew Joyner's whimsical, funny illustrations. And I noticed (is it just me?) that they are in Primary colors! Do you have a favorite spread or part of an illustration?
BP: I think the primary colors come from the reds blues and yellows commonly associated with medieval and royalty. Purple is also associated with royalty but because it begins with a P, it was a conscious choice not to use it. The color palette may have looked different if it weren’t for that.
I think my favorite illustration might have to be the end pages. They feel like the perfect way to start and end the book.
SR: What are you excited and buzzing about these days? It could be writing-related, personal, really anything!
BP: We are half way through summer which means Halloween decorations will flood the stores soon. It’s my favorite time of year!
Suddenly a regular trip to Target with my littles becomes instantly more fun. I also collect plastic animal skeletons for our yard and bringing them out every year is like seeing old friends.
SR: Hooray for old friends, annual traditions, and Halloween!
It has been a great pleasure getting to know you a little better, Brittany; thank you again for joining me. Where can people find you?
BP: My preferred social media at this time is Instagram (@brittanypomales).
Other links:
GIVEAWAY!
Brittany is graciously giving away a signed copy of It started with a P .
To enter:
1) Please follow both Brittany (@brittanypomales) and me (@staceybrbooks) on Instagram (if you haven’t already), and
2) Drop me a line via the form on my contact page, requesting entry. (Also let me know how you’re doing - I’d love to hear from you!)
Winner will be announced on August 29, 2025.
Thanks for joining us, friends! Have a wonderful rest of your summer!