The Backstory: AND THEN CAME YOU

I am excited to welcome Christina Shawn to The Backstory today. Christina joins us with her picture book, AND THEN CAME YOU (Chronicle) with illustrations by Shahrzad Maydani. This beautiful, hearftfelt book is hitting shelves on April 22. Keep reading to get.an early look at what it is all about as well as for your chance to win a copy and an AMA with Christina!

AH: Welcome to The Backstory and thank you for joining us and sharing the inspiration behind AND THEN CAME YOU.

CS: Thank you so much for having me, Andrew. I love hearing the back stories of books and I am so happy to be a guest here to share my story.

AH: First off, please tell us a little bit about your story.

CS: And Then Came You is a heartfelt and humorous story about a reluctant child in a growing family. She isn’t initially ready to welcome in a new parent, a messy pet, or a baby sister who cries a lot and is leaking goo. Change can be scary. But she soon finds that even full hearts have room to grow.

AH: Christina, you successfully cover so many of life's changes throughout this story in a gentle, heartwarming way. I love the voice and how relateable the child's worries will be to all young readers and listeners who are experiencing change in their own lives.

AH: What’s the story behind the story? What was your inspiration? Where did the idea come from?

CS: The inspiration came from my experiences in my own family. I think change can be scary too. The story started to form when I was reflecting on the changes happening with my children. As babies they only wanted me for cuddles and kissed boo-boos.But as they grew older they saw the magic in hanging out with Dad or playing with friends. These changes were both challenging and exciting for all of us. We went from me and you, to us, and more. 

AH: Your response brings all of my own family's changes flashing back. You did an amazing job capturing this inspiration and honing in on the child's perspective. What a perfect book for any family who is gearing up for change!

AH: How did you approach going from this seed of an idea to what is now AND THEN CAME YOU? 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?

CS: This story came in the way we hope most stories do, almost whole. I was drifting off to sleep one night and the words were floating around in my mind. I wrote them down little by little, night by night, and thought about them a lot in between. A few days later when I sat down to write the story, it flowed out in the most beautiful way. I know that doesn’t always happen (certainly not for me) but from the start I knew this one was special.

AH: I LOVE that feeling! And you are right, it doesn't happen often. But there is a magic to when the words are just flowing, like you've known them all along and you are meant to write that story.

AH: Did AND THEN CAME YOU undergo any major changes/revisions from the original version? If so, what led you to make these changes?

CS: When the manuscript went on sub, Ariel Richardson and her editorial assistant at Chronicle Books offered a revise and resubmit. They asked for a possible refrain (which we tried but didn’t keep), and they offered the suggestion of the fun “Who’s that!” type of surprises at the page turns (which I LOVE). They also had me rewrite the ending a few times and I’m so glad they did, because the ending is one of my favorite parts. The title changed a few times too.

AH: It is always interesting what items stick through revisions and which do not. I agree that the page turn surprises were a great addition! It is so successful at drawing the reader in and then building anticipation for each additional change.

Are there any books/authors that you feel influenced your work?

CS: I have always been a big fan of Amy Krouse Rosenthal. I love the way her books speak directly to kids and also tug at the heartstrings of adults. I hope my love of her writing influenced this book in that way. 

AH: I can certainly see the influence in your work. Those attributes you admire about her writing have been beautifully woven into your book using your own unique voice!

Where do you tend to find your inspiration or your sparks for ideas?

CS: Often my inspiration comes from my emotions. I write about how I feel and images begin to appear in my mind. The experience becomes more and more sensory as I keep writing until somewhere in there a story, complete with characters and a setting, takes shape. 

I also find inspiration from the sounds of words. I like to just start writing and see what sounds want to be on the page. I actually have a manuscript that was recently acquired (more to come about that) that started that way, with just fun words on a page and no other agenda.

AH: These are both great places to start from!

Do you have any upcoming projects or news you would like to share with us?

CS: Yes!

And Then Came You (Maydani, Chronicle) comes out April 22, 2025!!!

No Love Potion (Miller-Gass, The Little Press) September 2026

A not yet announced title with Sleeping Bear Press Coming 2027

AH: So much for us to look forward to! That is wonderful that you have this lineup on the way and hopefully there is even more waiting in editors' inboxes.

Where can people connect more with you?

CS: The best place to connect with me is

Instagram: @christinashawnbooks

Email: christinashawnbooks@gmail.com

or my Website: https://www.christinashawn.com/

Also here:

Facebook:@christinashawnbooks

LinkedIn: Christina Shawn

X:@christinashawn2

Threads:@christinashawnbooks

Bluesky:@christinashawnbooks.bsky.social

YouTube:@christinashawn664

AH: Readers be sure to connect with Christina 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

Christina, thank you so much for sharing all about AND THEN CAME YOU with us. I loved learning how it came to be.

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GIVEAWAY!

Christina is happy to offer a 30 min AMA and a signed copy of And Then Came You (US only) to one winner.

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!

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ABOUT CHRISTINA SHAWN

Christina Shawn is a reading specialist, literacy coach, and author who writes heartfelt and humorous stories about magical moments in our everyday lives. She is the author of picture books AND THEN CAME YOU (Maydani, Chronicle Books) and the upcoming NO LOVE POTION (Miller-Gass, The Little Press, 2026) and LUCAS PLAYS (Yu, 2017). Her current projects focus on early literacy foundations while helping children feel seen, heard, and understood. Christina lives in Richmond, Virginia with her husband, three kiddos, and two fluffy bunnies, who provide a constant supply of support, humor, and inspiration. She loves yoga, beach bike rides, mountain hikes, and adventuring to new places. Mostly, she loves the spark of learning something new and passing it along.

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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.