Family Literacy Day: Interview with Lacey L. Bakker, owner of Pandamonium Publishing House

Lacey L. Bakker is the owner of Pandamonium Publishing House, which has published over 150 titles to date. Pandamonium has worked with 60 authors and 15 illustrators and graphic designers over the past decade. 

For Family Literacy Day on January 27, we asked Lacey to give us some insights into the Canadian publishing world.

Q. Tell us how Pandamonium got started.

A. Pandamonium Publishing House was officially hatched on October 1, 2015 (a decade ago!) and it started with one book and one cat.

Our family cat, a tuxedo named Panda, had a whole lot of personality. He would get into all kinds of mischief and crazy situations that were chaotic and sometimes unbelievable, like watching a mouse eat out of his dish and doing nothing about it, or the time that he snuck into the back of my dad’s truck without him knowing, and ended up 45 minutes away.

Panda the Very Bad Cat – This is the book that launched Pandamonium Publishing House. There are now two other books in the series, Panda the Very Bad Cat Santa Claws and Panda the Very Bad Cat Farm Frenzy.

One day my mom said, “You should write a book about that cat! He’s crazy!” and the rest is history. That’s why the company is called Pandamonium (yes, I'm aware how it's really spelled :) ) as a tribute to him for getting me started with my first crazy idea and opening a portal to a magical world of possibilities.

Q. What are things you look for when considering which books to publish?

A. What I always look for is a story with meaning, heart, and personality; a story or character with a unique take or perspective that hasn’t been explored before. The characters have to be someone that readers will root for or bet against, but the overall message is that

the reader must feel something by the end of the story.

I want them to ask themselves what they would do if they swapped places with some of the characters that are created in our books.

Q. How do you work with such a large team of authors and illustrators/ graphic designers?

A. With all of the books we publish, it’s important to work with authors and illustrators that I trust, that I know are willing to accept and implement feedback, and are always willing to learn. This industry changes so quickly that it’s important to adapt so that we don’t get left behind and that includes artwork and writing craft.

I also only work with authors and illustrators who put in the work. They show up, they meet their readers, they connect with their communities, and they take their jobs seriously with immense care and responsibility to the reader, their team, and to the standards that the industry demands. 

Q. What are some of your favourite books that you’ve published?

A. This is like picking a favourite child! This honestly couldn’t have been more difficult.

There’s a special place in my heart for the first book that I published after my own, and that is Unfrogged by Tamara Botting (who is the communications coordinator for Lansdowne).

I adore the strength of the main character and that no matter what she’s up against, her belief in herself may wiggle (she’s a “hot mess” as Tamara puts it), but it never wavers. She’s transformative and I think we can all learn something from her. It’s not a story of someone saving her, it’s about her saving herself.

Herman’s High-Flying Adventure: A Seagull’s Tale by Dan Lawrie because the story is such a fun adventure about a seagull with a very special skill! Dan is a talented author who even wrote a special poem that appears inside of the book and it's wonderful. The illustrations by the ever-fabulous Alex Goubar are absolutely incredible and she’s an unbelievable artist (and human) who has been with me since the very beginning!

Peter Little Wing by Regan W.H. Macaulay is another favourite of mine because it’s about a group of animals with their own special challenges that must work together to find ingredients for an elixir that will heal Peter’s sick grandfather. It’s such a wonderful adventure and message of teamwork and there’s so much the reader learns about New Zealand throughout the story and in the additional content in the back of the book. The illustrations by Gordon Bagshaw are movie poster quality. They are so lifelike and they bring so much beauty to the book. 

Easter in Danger by Kennedy N. Kerr is another favourite for so many reasons. The first book in the Swift Kids Mysteries is clever and so fun for kids ages 8-12 plus, the author was only 8.5 years old at the time of publication! It’s a story of four friends (and a dog named Oreo) who have to work together to solve a mystery before time runs out and their town’s Easter Festival is cancelled. There are activities in the back of the book, like how to start your own book club, and a recipe for homemade dog treats that add to the fun. 

Q. Can you speak to your role and responsibilities as a Canadian publisher – in particular, one who publishes a lot of titles for younger readers?

A. Being a proud Canadian publisher who publishes a lot of titles for younger readers is not a responsibility that I take lightly. I am acutely aware how much literacy matters and that reading has to be enjoyable, interesting, and not feel like a chore.

We strive to create stories that matter to kids, where they can see themselves on the page. I’m a huge believer of

kids can’t be what they can’t see. 

To have our stories invited into people’s homes at bedtime while parents read to/with their children during that sacred space together is the absolute honour of my life. To have stories that make kids believe in themselves, inspire them to try new things, and to maybe disassemble some fears is something that we strive for in every book. We want to ignite a lifelong love of literacy as early as possible because we know that reading and writing equal freedom. 

Q. What advice do you have for anyone out there who wants to break into the publishing industry?

A. Learn as much as you can and keep learning. Take as many courses, classes, and workshops as you can get your hands on and stay on top of what is going on in the industry, as it changes pretty quickly.

Read as often as you can in every genre and go through the process of writing your own work so that you can see the ins and outs. You’ll gain a unique perspective as an author first and then publisher, which will serve you immensely over the course of your career.

Work with people who you trust and who trust in you.

Do the work together and always be rowing the boat in the same direction. You’ve got a common goal – to bring stories to readers that change them in some way. Help each other, other publishers, and the people in your industry by being open and answering questions. When I first started out, getting information was next to impossible and I vowed that I wouldn’t be someone who gatekept information.

Q. Anything else you’d like to add?

A. Some days are hard. You’ll think about quitting. But it’s so important that you don’t. That’s why your purpose has to be strong. With my whole heart, this is what I believe I was put on this planet to do. And when the days get rough and I wonder if I can keep going, I remember my purpose and get back to work, because this destiny is so much bigger than myself. 

It is a privilege to work beside this team of incredible creators who make magic every single day and I'm thankful for each one of them.