THE PAINTER’S BUTTERFLY by Rebecca Weber

I’m so excited to feature one of my fellow Artemesia Publihsing/Kinkajou Press middle grade authors, Rebecca Weber! Rebecca has a great writing voice and THE PAINTER’S BUTTERFLY has a wonderful premise:

What if art could come alive and guide you home? Twelve-year-old foster child Nova longs to find her one true home. When jealousy of her art ability upends her most cherished placement, Nova’s dropped in the middle of nowhere to live with painter Mr. Russell in his ramshackle farmhouse. While exploring, Nova sneaks into the attic and discovers a magical easel that brings paintings to life. She puts her art skills to the test and gets caught in a whirlwind adventure, complete with rainbow butterflies, a devious leprechaun, and a journey to the rainforest. Following the magic, Nova stumbles upon an underground cellar that houses a startling secret. She’s forced to choose: escape to a prior foster home, or mend her relationship with Mr. Russell. Nova makes a dangerous mistake when she strikes a match of revenge. She must survive the inferno to learn the true meaning of home.

According to your website bio, it took you fifteen years to find the courage to craft your first novel. How did you know you wanted to write, and what finally gave you the courage to put pen to paper?

I’ve always loved to write, but growing up, I put most of my focus into poetry! To write a full-length novel felt unachievable to me because I held authors in such high reverence. I didn’t think I was qualified, but I had plenty of ideas percolating in my brain regardless. The Painter’s Butterfly idea was born when I was in high school. My sister, an avid Johnny Depp fangirl, requested I write a story about a pre-teen girl and a middle aged man so that she could act in the movie adaptation with Johnny Depp. I knew the main character had to be an artist because my sister has always excelled at art (which would ensure she gets the part). I tried writing a chapter or two, but eventually my lack of self-confidence won out and I set the project to the side. Fast forward to 2020 and the pandemic. Quarantine gave me the time and focus to fulfill my lifelong goal of writing an entire novel. There was so much anxiety about the future in 2020 that I didn’t want to wait any longer to achieve my dream. The Painter’s Butterfly was my silver lining to the COVID scare.

And it’s quite the silver lining! THE PAINTER’S BUTTERFLY follows a 12-year-old foster child named Nova. How did Nova first come to you and what about her surprised you the most?

Nova was originally inspired by my younger sister, Sarah, and I pulled some of her personality and physical traits for the character. Short brown hair, favorite color green, impulsive, sometimes guarded, passionate about art and animals, all of these describe my sister. However, that’s where the similarities end. My sister and I shared a wonderful childhood with a supportive family, but Nova has spent most of her life alone. What surprised me most about the character was that despite all of the hardship and emotional upheaval she’s gone through, she still maintained some of her childlike innocence. Nova’s deepest desire is to have a family and belong, and she still believes in that ideal when we meet her in The Painter’s Butterfly. I think everyone can identify with this longing for love and I’m really proud of Nova’s depth of character (she came to life very naturally).

Longing for love and belonging are very relatable themes! What do you wish more authors knew about small presses?

This is a tough question, because no two small presses are the same so I can’t generalize. I suppose if I had to pick something, I wish people realized that publishing through a small press is just as valid a path as any other way to publish your work. The small press route requires the most research because there are definitely “good” and “bad” small presses. If a press wants you to pay to publish your book or limits communication, steer clear. Do your due diligence before signing any contracts. Talk to other authors who have published through the press and have a lawyer review the contract. You sort of have to act as your own agent and advocate. I loved using Artemesia Publishing for publishing my debut. I had a lot more creative input in the finished product and I felt supported through the entire publication process. You’ll have to do some soul-searching to figure out what publishing direction is best for you, but I hope you’ll consider small presses as a legitimate option.

I’m glad I did! What are some of your current projects?

I just signed a contract with Artemesia Publishing/Kinkajou Press for my second book, a middle grade contemporary story called Loophole (unrelated to The Painter’s Butterfly). At the moment, I’m putting together blurb information for Loophole and conceptualizing chapter and cover art. We hope to release it in 2025. I’m also slowly writing another middle grade novel called Foreverland, which is an origin story for the crocodile from Peter Pan. My time to write has been hit or miss because of my sweet 18 month old baby girl, but hopefully I can establish that writing routine again soon. I sorely miss writing on a more regular basis!

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