tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4731283261130322492024-03-29T06:37:07.002-04:00The MittenSociety of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Michigan Chapter BlogThe Mittenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06858406896934434583noreply@blogger.comBlogger644125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473128326113032249.post-54761950719617727512024-03-29T00:00:00.017-04:002024-03-29T00:00:00.134-04:00Ask the Editor by Katherine Gibson Easter<p><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">Hi everyone! Big thanks as always to all the people who sent me their questions! I hope everyone, whether you asked me a question or not, finds this post helpful and informative.</span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-8245d11c-7fff-8e99-618d-20980e08cf9b"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Yzy5BiiF2dtinDmtxrso4g3C8-c58fol-CkRe8T6zUa2lsoF7S-_-qpYWTxFz2MfD30u0fCKKgXqcbsaAx9vC_ZPdNfmDOpRG1YI9Hf0tmhK6V9dcffuLcDQlGtWcNhmptNHo3zz5FibXc2gqz7oXJTT-y-hAZwXLJrDAEesYF1yQmv5jdV_CXDyYhU/s275/Ask%20the%20Editor%20graphic.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Yzy5BiiF2dtinDmtxrso4g3C8-c58fol-CkRe8T6zUa2lsoF7S-_-qpYWTxFz2MfD30u0fCKKgXqcbsaAx9vC_ZPdNfmDOpRG1YI9Hf0tmhK6V9dcffuLcDQlGtWcNhmptNHo3zz5FibXc2gqz7oXJTT-y-hAZwXLJrDAEesYF1yQmv5jdV_CXDyYhU/s1600/Ask%20the%20Editor%20graphic.jpeg" width="275" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">As with my previous Ask the Editor posts, I humbly ask that you take my comments in the spirit in which they’re intended. The advice here is meant to be friendly and helpful; I sincerely hope no one finishes this post feeling vulnerable or discouraged.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">And of course, a general disclaimer that my thoughts are my own; I do not speak on behalf of my publisher or the publishing industry in general. I wouldn’t be surprised at all to learn that you’ve heard an editor or agent say something that directly conflicts with my perspective. Everyone in publishing has their own views and preferences, and I can only represent my own.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">Finally, if you have any questions about writing or publishing that aren’t addressed here, please feel free to email me. I’m always happy to gather questions for my next post!</span></span></p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">Thanks so much, and happy writing!</span></span></p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Can a manuscript be </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">too</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> polished? We've heard that you should leave room for the editor. If an editor can't find anything to improve, will they pass on the project?</span></span></p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Such a great question! I’d personally say no, a manuscript can never be too polished, though it </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">is </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">a weird sensation to acquire a book that needs very little editing! At least for me, there’s a knee-jerk panic of, “Wait, there’s nothing to fix? Am I even doing my job??” But I get over it pretty quickly when I look at how much time the writer has saved me, haha!</span></span></p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">Really though, while I’ve worked on some books that hardly needed any editing, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a manuscript go completely unchanged from the initial submission to final publication. Maybe it’s because it’s really true that masterpieces are never finished, only abandoned, or maybe it’s because editors just can’t help but meddle a little, but it seems like there’s always something that could be tweaked, or tightened, or tinkered with.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">I’m wrapping up the final edits on my debut book, but my idea for my second book isn’t nearly as polished. Would it be appropriate to bring what I have to my editor and ask for her thoughts, or should I work on developing it more on my own first?</span></span></p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">I think it’d be totally fine to reach out to your editor and ask her this directly—this kind of thing tends to be subjective, so I’d recommend getting clarity on what she prefers. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">For me personally, as long as the project is something we may want to publish (and not, say, a totally different genre), I’m happy to look at early materials and help to brainstorm or give suggestions. Not only because it’s fun, but also because I’m invested in my authors and their writing careers. It’s my job (and privilege!) to help writers with their work, no matter what stage it’s in.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">What makes you, as an editor, really excited about a book? Is there anything that makes you think, “I HAVE to have this?” </span></span></p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">When I’m reading a submission, I think the first jolt of excitement comes from the elevator pitch; if the idea’s really strong and aligns with my interests, I definitely sit up and take notice! But after that, it’s all about the writing—they have to deliver on that initial excitement and really pull me into the story. If those two things are there, I’m hooked!</span></span></p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">Of course, there are a lot of other things that get considered when we’re looking at acquiring a project: platform, market demand, how well it fits in with our list, etc. So as much as I want to, I don’t get to acquire every project I fall in love with, but I never forget the ones that get away! </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkFW5j60UiCMoNN4odXdi21o6k5gcGUffX5myeAbb31wlQjXd5yuVQojKr5_GJRzfWxJNsrxLv-J8Ao78K06m33a3RjUJfvhz4Qd0chn_6CYfiHy6dCoFZtmHWAz4n0hXr4zfvicFfI13bxpgezPHz90FkiECqq-lqpFgM83DOIv3bvPlKYUT3GKe8KPY/s1920/Katherine%20Gibson%20headshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkFW5j60UiCMoNN4odXdi21o6k5gcGUffX5myeAbb31wlQjXd5yuVQojKr5_GJRzfWxJNsrxLv-J8Ao78K06m33a3RjUJfvhz4Qd0chn_6CYfiHy6dCoFZtmHWAz4n0hXr4zfvicFfI13bxpgezPHz90FkiECqq-lqpFgM83DOIv3bvPlKYUT3GKe8KPY/s320/Katherine%20Gibson%20headshot.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Katherine Gibson Easter is an acquisitions editor for Zonderkidz, having previously worked for Eerdmans Books for Young Readers. She graduated from the University of Denver Publishing Institute in 2013 and has spent the last ten years editing and publishing award-winning children’s books.</span></i><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></span></p><div style="background-color: white;"><p><b><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">Thank you, Katherine!</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><b><br /></b>To submit a publishing question, <a href="mailto:sarah.prusoff.locascio@gmail.com" style="color: #3d5e15; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">email Mitten blog editor Sarah LoCascio </a>with "Ask the Editor" in the subject line, and she'll forward your question to Katherine. Or, stay tuned on the SCBWI-MI MichKids listserv – Katherine will ask for questions a few weeks before her next post.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><br />If you missed any of Katherine's previous Ask the Editor posts, go <a href="https://scbwimithemitten.blogspot.com/search?q=Ask+the+Editor" style="color: #3d5e15; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">HERE</a> to browse through all the questions and answers.</span></p></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div></span>Sarah Prusoff LoCasciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03325900884643863060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473128326113032249.post-34813326792388231372024-03-22T00:00:00.024-04:002024-03-22T00:00:00.141-04:00Celebrate Women’s History Month with Quality Children’s Literature <p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">by Isabel Estrada O'Hagin</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">March
is Women’s </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">History Month! Interested in delving into books for this
month and beyond? ALA’s got you covered!</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">In
early February, I received fabulous news in a letter of congratulations from
the co-chair of the ALA 2024 Rise: A Feminist Book Project Committee. The
committee shared that they selected my debut picture book, LA MARIACHI,
illustrated by Addy Rivera Sonda, to be honored this year on the 2024 Booklist.
Thrilled with this news, I didn’t know much about the Rise project and wanted
to know more. I went to their website and saw our book <a href="https://risefeministbooks.wordpress.com/2024/01/15/current-booklist/">listed</a>
in the Early Readers: Fiction category.</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Receiving
this honor as a debut picture book author and seeing it on their website was
exciting! I had many people to thank, including SCBWI, my critique group
partners, editorial consultants, and the great team at Sleeping Bear Press. </span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Included
in the site’s Introduction page is a quote from our book</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="ES-US" style="background: white; color: #7f8d8c; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: ES-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">“Remember, always play <em><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">con todo tu corazón.</span></em>”
(Estrada, <em><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">La
Mariachi</span></em>)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #7f8d8c; font-size: 14pt;"></span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVFKJzm5zZOF3oxQ3ojyOZgH5LxQx59PXAgXCN1Vr0y_n97CUq1AvJlINKWWQn0NsxwKuQOCJ6xyEHdHyrqa4wvAe5SnHA40X7tK_ay7sX1-LlYLIarRcdfLjAxr8EYkc4f-zo_aGf_yt-bSR4BS5bN2hF6c_zsF3KUsnkjQHd896jUCINEgc-qWlubKE/s3375/la%20mariachi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3375" data-original-width="2775" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVFKJzm5zZOF3oxQ3ojyOZgH5LxQx59PXAgXCN1Vr0y_n97CUq1AvJlINKWWQn0NsxwKuQOCJ6xyEHdHyrqa4wvAe5SnHA40X7tK_ay7sX1-LlYLIarRcdfLjAxr8EYkc4f-zo_aGf_yt-bSR4BS5bN2hF6c_zsF3KUsnkjQHd896jUCINEgc-qWlubKE/s320/la%20mariachi.jpg" width="263" /></a></i></div><i><br /><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><br /></span></i><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #7f8d8c; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">In a barrier-breaking story set in the 1970s, Tuchi is
passionate about mariachi, but she’s told that it’s only for boys. With the
help of her grandmother, she’s determined to prove that mariachi is for
everyone. </span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">So,
what did I find? According to their website, Rise: A Feminist Book Project for
Ages 0-18 has been promoting quality feminist literature for young readers
since 2002. Rise is part of the American Library Association’s </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.ala.org/rt/srrt/feminist-task-force"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Feminist
Task Force</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"> and
the </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.ala.org/rt/srrt"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Social Responsibilities Round Table</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">. </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Each year Rise recommends recent books with significant
feminist content for readers from birth to 18 years old.</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">I
also discovered a bevy of book titles that will go on my TBR list. Looking for
a book? I encourage you to take a look at this list!</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">The
website answered my question about how books are <a href="https://risefeministbooks.wordpress.com/criteria/">selected</a> for this
honor. Rise: A Feminist Book Project selects well-written and well-illustrated
books with significant feminist content for young readers each year. Books may
be recommended by anyone through the field recommendation process, but books
can only be officially nominated for the list by regular Rise committee
members.</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #7f8d8c; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">Feminist books for
young readers must move beyond merely “spunky” and “feisty” young women, beyond
characters and people who fight to protect themselves without concern for the
rights of others. Feminist protagonists call out and work to eliminate sexism
and other systemic prejudices, actively shaping their destinies. They break
bonds forced by society as they defy stereotypical expectations and show
resilience in the face of societal strictures. . . . feminist books show women
solving problems, gaining personal power, and empowering others. They celebrate
girls and women as a vibrant, vital force in the world. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">March
is Women’s History month is a great time to introduce children to historical
stories, biographies, and fiction that highlight incredible women through the
years. If you’re looking for book titles, the Rise website includes this year’s
bibliography and archives of past years. The complete list can be found on the
official </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://risefeministbooks.wordpress.com/"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">RISE blog</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"> and </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.ala.org/rt/srrt/feminist-task-force" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">FTF’s
official website</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">.
The categories are: Early Readers: Fiction/Nonfiction; Middle Grade:
Fiction/Nonfiction; and Young Adult: Fiction/Nonfiction.</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Here
are the Top Ten titles for 2024 (featured in a School Library Journal article):</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">FLOWER
GIRL by Amy Bloom, illustrated by Jameela Wahlgren</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">SPIN
by Rebecca Caprara</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">THE
BLACKWOODS by Brandy Colbert</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">BIG
by Vashti Harrison</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">I KICK
AND I FLY by Ruchira Gupta</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">AUTUMN
PELTIER, WATER WARRIOR by Carole Lindstrom, illustrated by Bridget George</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">MY
POWERFUL HAIR by Carole Lindstrom, illustrated by Steph Littlebird</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">BARELY
FLOATING by Lilliam Rivera</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">THE
MOONLIT VINE by Elizabeth Santiago</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">ALL
THE FIGHTING PARTS by Hannah V. Sawyerr</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">Happy
Reading in March and anytime of the year!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="background: white; color: black;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpYWyZVEPibGJAwiAaZd80EU3O9r9hNAIy0625GnSqC2CmJWcLvAqD8YYoLvDuRMgI3JEKT0_4ymWiLNTO6D3-_dXhBTK_y1pPsmwXvO6eVjJjwp65mHf9MXBTJmsyN5yaffrOhlJ38NkHl-ACfp3h5wVJI6JBDkRhZy_tTS5-mVl02CkoUu6hS1ObZi4/s5705/Isabel-12%20(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5705" data-original-width="3803" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpYWyZVEPibGJAwiAaZd80EU3O9r9hNAIy0625GnSqC2CmJWcLvAqD8YYoLvDuRMgI3JEKT0_4ymWiLNTO6D3-_dXhBTK_y1pPsmwXvO6eVjJjwp65mHf9MXBTJmsyN5yaffrOhlJ38NkHl-ACfp3h5wVJI6JBDkRhZy_tTS5-mVl02CkoUu6hS1ObZi4/s320/Isabel-12%20(3).jpg" width="213" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Isabel O’Hagin, who
writes as Isabel Estrada, is the author of the picture book, LA MARIACHI, published
by Sleeping Bear Press, and serves as the SCBWI-Michigan Outreach Coordinator
and the Kalamazoo Area Shop Talk Coordinator (Where everyone is a star!). She
is also a member of Las Musas,</span></i><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background: white; color: black;"> a collective of Latinx women and
otherwise marginalized people whose gender identity aligns with femininity,
writing and/or illustrating in traditional children's literature.</span><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"> <br /></span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"> </span></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Sarah Prusoff LoCasciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03325900884643863060noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473128326113032249.post-4403124321453906512024-03-19T06:00:00.001-04:002024-03-19T06:05:17.698-04:00Book Birthday Blog with Kate Rietema<p> </p><p> </p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span>Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!</span></span></span></h2><h3 style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span>Where we celebrate new books from Michigan's authors, illustrators and translators. <br /></span></span></span></span></h3><h3 style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span> </span></span></span></h3><h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span>Congratulations to Kate Rietema on the release of When God Makes Scribbles Beautiful </span></span></span></h1><p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuN_d6CkQRIN5baqd-ysIn2IGrWP20R7mRbLdz4x_ByzLHb3PDfbofD1loVSyA7uvcY-I7c-PNfG-UsWZhqXGss8h4fVEiUNZgXopGi9yoSsAdWOmkIAh2Mcl69j3ixAAVzKSMLCI7Ys2CkpjMi9gwnbe88zrQm2J5pTpAi-hzMQfaEHp9AwcJ8z-iAqEl/s5154/When%20God.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5126" data-original-width="5154" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuN_d6CkQRIN5baqd-ysIn2IGrWP20R7mRbLdz4x_ByzLHb3PDfbofD1loVSyA7uvcY-I7c-PNfG-UsWZhqXGss8h4fVEiUNZgXopGi9yoSsAdWOmkIAh2Mcl69j3ixAAVzKSMLCI7Ys2CkpjMi9gwnbe88zrQm2J5pTpAi-hzMQfaEHp9AwcJ8z-iAqEl/s320/When%20God.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b>How did you come up with the idea for your book?</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">One day, I was feeling particularly overwhelmed by one of our foster children’s difficult situations. Feeling helpless and a bit hopeless, I sat down and typed out all the things I needed to be reminded of, and all the things I wanted him to know.</span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b>What inspires you to write?</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">Emotions, my kids, reading, nature, and setting goals! <br /> <br />I feel most inspired when I experience strong emotions, like wonder, delight, fear, or hope. Often, these are moments I want to savor, remember, overcome, or share—and picture books feel like the perfect medium to express big feelings. <br /> <br />Having a house full of kids and being intentional with their tiny hearts helps me see life through their eyes and with their language. Having young kids also gives me lots of excuses to read picture books (which are so inspiring)! My library account tells me we check out about a thousand books a year. <br /> <br />Our family also loves to be outside, hiking and exploring. Even if I’m not working on a nature themed project, beauty and fresh air always spark creativity!</span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheFYqcc62wgu4hJVTG18qtWIKckYSgx-eOhPrTE8xiswhEJd1jSI2v_SgfN94NSRYgMJIoVTq_FS3F9PrIaqWwpHfmQZD6pEO5yaLX3sE9VWqfZPGum-yjqNRy8-4UUpiNNFFCiD1bl_hmKppohElEhtw3zDmvrcazZ-ZBgXE1cqFDZXmkNHUrYOEQVnMK/s281/Picture2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="210" data-original-width="281" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheFYqcc62wgu4hJVTG18qtWIKckYSgx-eOhPrTE8xiswhEJd1jSI2v_SgfN94NSRYgMJIoVTq_FS3F9PrIaqWwpHfmQZD6pEO5yaLX3sE9VWqfZPGum-yjqNRy8-4UUpiNNFFCiD1bl_hmKppohElEhtw3zDmvrcazZ-ZBgXE1cqFDZXmkNHUrYOEQVnMK/s1600/Picture2.jpg" width="281" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">Goals are also necessary to keep me focused when inspiration feels lacking. I maintain a running monthly ‘goals and to-do’ document on my computer. Items include learning activities, writing tasks, research needs, submission deadlines, and whatever else requires my attention. A few years ago, I purchased a book display stand as a tangible reminder of my goal to be a published picture book author. For a long time it sat empty, but now it holds this!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5lJuSL8rd-TsICFKjO_kt9QsQbAmV5rkkpTNZiReehbT2pvGqP_LIYtRWQgdib8c1AqG4UjnKLlxxFwsc4Ye6DPpBLc0GNKNo7eRpgLr7R9kfExiWhesdLwzJI8_G9fbwXZsjS19y7-ZQdTcrHdnCmdEi7NeyQUEDTMOVjUUrtI-3RFd_roLpditGbI1Z/s4032/IMG_9878.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5lJuSL8rd-TsICFKjO_kt9QsQbAmV5rkkpTNZiReehbT2pvGqP_LIYtRWQgdib8c1AqG4UjnKLlxxFwsc4Ye6DPpBLc0GNKNo7eRpgLr7R9kfExiWhesdLwzJI8_G9fbwXZsjS19y7-ZQdTcrHdnCmdEi7NeyQUEDTMOVjUUrtI-3RFd_roLpditGbI1Z/s320/IMG_9878.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGXVrN-pxeCtWMeuI1ZjPTTFzYfszMhnp8pCX4kg-rVinppc_GJwFf7Q6EbP_-ZbW4anxuBG6K_IhT-I2iZfzdtgYfzd3rDmJ09OE91WfB7wZ9rAmIdP3fTsOqXbxgZOAkmjqr7L8dIbFUqMdH3B-3AU4t5IqRNCkAW2oPniE21aswMdoY6lAKTpx7ov8/s4032/IMG_9879.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGXVrN-pxeCtWMeuI1ZjPTTFzYfszMhnp8pCX4kg-rVinppc_GJwFf7Q6EbP_-ZbW4anxuBG6K_IhT-I2iZfzdtgYfzd3rDmJ09OE91WfB7wZ9rAmIdP3fTsOqXbxgZOAkmjqr7L8dIbFUqMdH3B-3AU4t5IqRNCkAW2oPniE21aswMdoY6lAKTpx7ov8/s320/IMG_9879.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b>How do you approach the creative process? Plotter, pantser or combination of the two?</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">Hmm, for me, this varies project to project. Story ideas come to me in various ways: a new bit of information, an emotion, or a title idea. For me, emotion based projects tend to come out quickly (pantsing). If I start with a title, I find myself thinking next about a structure—so this leans more towards plotting. No matter what I’m writing, my first drafts are always pretty sparse and the text needs to be bulked up during the revision process. </span><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;"></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b>What are your marketing plans for the book and where can we find it?</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">My book is available online at Amazon, Target, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Christianbook.com, and in many local Christian book stores. <br /> <br />Some things I’ve done to get ready for my release:</span></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">Updated my website</span><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;"></span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">Created a book trailer with my first grader, see it <a href="https://www.katerietema.com/" target="_blank">here</a></span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">Joined a picture book launch group called #PBbuds24 (find us on X and IG)</span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">Set up some book signings and story times (both in Michigan and in Florida while there for spring break)</span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">Organized a fundraiser event to donate books to an organization that distributes first night bags for children entering foster care</span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">Worked with my publisher to create printable bonus material, secure endorsements, send out advanced copies for review, and promote on social media</span></li></ul><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">Phew! It feels like a lot, but most of it has been fun.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl0iAE9fpG4k6r0YW4bi3xUGCDS3qPeiU65zBs48MePE0-cBkLKdqoGxQCaRe42XMdBBp8crYYCS-eiYLvKVYklYcAB6IzJgITjUoc0vaU-s_YpkLXk4hEPQ6We7Zb4mYYW9sGw9W0CIlGE5Z6yrApQFWOUkHKfNZfbTR4Ut2bz8coZvnKMn2R6U0WdDdR/s432/Picture1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="432" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl0iAE9fpG4k6r0YW4bi3xUGCDS3qPeiU65zBs48MePE0-cBkLKdqoGxQCaRe42XMdBBp8crYYCS-eiYLvKVYklYcAB6IzJgITjUoc0vaU-s_YpkLXk4hEPQ6We7Zb4mYYW9sGw9W0CIlGE5Z6yrApQFWOUkHKfNZfbTR4Ut2bz8coZvnKMn2R6U0WdDdR/s320/Picture1.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>What's next for you?</b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">I’m thrilled to have a board book releasing in October titled, <i>All the Babies: A First Book About Adoption</i>. This book, illustrated by Judi Abbot and published by B&H Kids, is a sweet celebration of how God makes every baby and family special. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-NBFE0GZ1NdgcFyBoQuIlOxw8ESK4ppeyDYqZBLzbPlVWouxTbCSHnWngQn3e4lN9RNIWB7D6JDCbc_oJM-3ZoxjBEnq1xh4KbzGf8rOjuWWS81TR9U8n24lLhuFaBsLIposdGMB1DVXmko460Qep6Zp8eaYsZhZsTmiITcsbt-ulL5MN-9nTIo3BMba/s1123/image_123650291.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1113" data-original-width="1123" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-NBFE0GZ1NdgcFyBoQuIlOxw8ESK4ppeyDYqZBLzbPlVWouxTbCSHnWngQn3e4lN9RNIWB7D6JDCbc_oJM-3ZoxjBEnq1xh4KbzGf8rOjuWWS81TR9U8n24lLhuFaBsLIposdGMB1DVXmko460Qep6Zp8eaYsZhZsTmiITcsbt-ulL5MN-9nTIo3BMba/s320/image_123650291.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;"> <br />I’m also on pins and needles about a couple other projects that are currently on submission—fingers crossed! In the meantime, I’m always subbing to magazines and working on new picture book ideas! </span><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;"><b></b></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxEjkW7Ql3j0hAr48y1U_4Ke9EMJ4cpilTwHHANou76XYmm_YuaHGgBhu8F4_TmRiG_7PbYIiv8BXDaUBBKvhOxhqEVc0D_UyvsBzESnsFeJj0M-6dNtXbkcNNsi4t1Vs_xB13iDM8f2iY0JrHIf9yJQDZKknVlIoz-TismpkAiCx7kA1UGGIsig0BYteg/s2703/Magazines%202023+.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1985" data-original-width="2703" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxEjkW7Ql3j0hAr48y1U_4Ke9EMJ4cpilTwHHANou76XYmm_YuaHGgBhu8F4_TmRiG_7PbYIiv8BXDaUBBKvhOxhqEVc0D_UyvsBzESnsFeJj0M-6dNtXbkcNNsi4t1Vs_xB13iDM8f2iY0JrHIf9yJQDZKknVlIoz-TismpkAiCx7kA1UGGIsig0BYteg/s320/Magazines%202023+.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span><p></p><div><p><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b>More about the book . . .</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">A child’s struggle—portrayed as a dark scribble—follows him everywhere. But when he asks God for help, he discovers new hope as his scribble turns into something beautiful. <i>When God Makes Scribbles Beautiful</i> presents layers of Biblical truth that take the reader on a gentle journey of God’s promises—inspiring hope and faith in His good and redemptive plan.</span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;"><i>Publisher: B&H Kids </i></span></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b>More about the author . . .</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">Kate Rietema is the author of <i>When God Makes Scribbles Beautiful</i> and a forthcoming board book, <i>All the Babies: A First Book About Adoption</i>. She has also authored over 50 stories, poems, and articles for magazines like <i>Highlights</i>, <i>Cricket</i> <i>Media</i>, and <i>The School Magazine</i>. Kate is the mother of five girls, works as a nurse, volunteers in her county jail, and lives at the campground she and her husband operate in West Michigan. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">Website: <a href="https://www.katerietema.com/" target="_blank">katerietema.com</a></span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">Twitter: @katerietema (I'm most active here!)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">Instagram: @katerietema</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">Facebook: Kate Rietema - Children's Author </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixze5hnBbDvq8zkLSvCbS3kPqJYFn2HwMf9-UIbMyUhQdZc5qYwLPxRFEohH4GUA3An02-1NZOrGawFhWRtPEzILsHnmPpu-ttFRa1I9vLFLY9L4RCc-D9dYMwDtkEPbwFRKcFelqNuv5dwCBS-ipIAprlpZui40Do4A4Q5xch86RPC0qV9fL0PD6iwQKR/s3503/K_Rietema.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3503" data-original-width="2496" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixze5hnBbDvq8zkLSvCbS3kPqJYFn2HwMf9-UIbMyUhQdZc5qYwLPxRFEohH4GUA3An02-1NZOrGawFhWRtPEzILsHnmPpu-ttFRa1I9vLFLY9L4RCc-D9dYMwDtkEPbwFRKcFelqNuv5dwCBS-ipIAprlpZui40Do4A4Q5xch86RPC0qV9fL0PD6iwQKR/s320/K_Rietema.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b> </b></span> <br /></p></div>Christy Mattheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02038240579399809745noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473128326113032249.post-3437797252964662662024-03-15T08:00:00.001-04:002024-03-15T08:00:00.137-04:00Writer Spotlight: Jeff Stone<p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: x-large;">Martial arts, homemade business card, five-house auction, and a black belt test at the Shaolin Temple: novelist Jeff Stone</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-c83a1108-7fff-707b-1149-106b8417024e" style="font-weight: normal;"><span face="Montserrat, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Charlie Barshaw coordinates our regular Writer Spotlight feature and interviews writers of SCBWI-MI. In this piece, meet middle grade writer and kung fu black belt Jeff Stone.</span></span></b></div><p class="Body"><b style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;">Many 70</b><span dir="RTL" style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;"></span><span dir="RTL" style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;"></span><b style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;"><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span>s
kids were obsessed with martial arts movies and shows. We all recall David
Carradine in </b><span dir="RTL" style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;"></span><span dir="RTL" style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;"></span><b style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;"><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>“</span></b><b style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;"><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">Kung
Fu.</span>” </b><b style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;"> Which series or movies influenced young Jeff enough
that he would pursue Kung Fu and Tai Chi throughout his life?</b></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">My parents were pretty strict about how much time they’d let me
sit parked in front of the tv, so there wasn’t a specific series or movie that
captured my imagination. I was just fascinated by any snippet of whatever
random kung fu movie or tv show episode I managed to catch. <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068093/" target="_blank">Kung Fu featuringDavid Carradine</a> was definitely one I recognized and was always excited to see,
and of course anything featuring <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bruce-Lee" target="_blank">Bruce Lee.</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Body"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbK887dyHIoOaGYrfsJ_P8E1sAyJciN_erE6-CkRSbJ3BLaQ1ZzNgTcpsNKIGfc3PtXC8OOGqd1VfmSQexu0_Ee7wOjAojtu4Fh20k54LU9tTeFXox54qpsXSTqY8XViU9N_DXN9kOUfZCngg5FHpEV8EUfz9QgAC_eYw0c188WJFWfeIsxUwpzoRCO-n/s320/thumbnail.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbK887dyHIoOaGYrfsJ_P8E1sAyJciN_erE6-CkRSbJ3BLaQ1ZzNgTcpsNKIGfc3PtXC8OOGqd1VfmSQexu0_Ee7wOjAojtu4Fh20k54LU9tTeFXox54qpsXSTqY8XViU9N_DXN9kOUfZCngg5FHpEV8EUfz9QgAC_eYw0c188WJFWfeIsxUwpzoRCO-n/w400-h300/thumbnail.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="Body"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="Body"><b><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">When did you stop watching and start practicing martial arts?
Was there an incident or instructor that changed you from a dabbling hobbyist
to a lifelong disciple?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I never got the opportunity to learn martial arts as a kid
because the classes cost too much. I’ve been fortunate, though, to have played
many other sports throughout my life, some at quite a high level. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAWzgYW_32XFO0QmCgx7gKDsNtuITG_WdZMU8XqhIj6jMTnnfwfa3xnxwH9QGvQnNtZ92sK03FDgv59RyuJLEajhfgO680AOWWGo4z_wwdobrQEEbczzsnz9T5oigiscEvbz2m-_4bTwQj9b1au4DrQV54F5xlQPNru0wsoE4RkcJrIuGhhAXTE4iya0dO/s284/thumbnail%20(3).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="241" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAWzgYW_32XFO0QmCgx7gKDsNtuITG_WdZMU8XqhIj6jMTnnfwfa3xnxwH9QGvQnNtZ92sK03FDgv59RyuJLEajhfgO680AOWWGo4z_wwdobrQEEbczzsnz9T5oigiscEvbz2m-_4bTwQj9b1au4DrQV54F5xlQPNru0wsoE4RkcJrIuGhhAXTE4iya0dO/s1600/thumbnail%20(3).jpg" width="241" /></a></span></div><p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I didn’t take
my first martial arts lesson until I was 30 years old. It was kung fu, and I’ve
been hooked ever since—nearly 25 years. I no longer practice the kung fu system
in which I earned a black belt, but I’m currently studying tai chi with a
renowned master from Hong Kong.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><b style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;">You</b><span dir="RTL" style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;"></span><span dir="RTL" style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;"></span><b style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;"><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span>ve
got a list of various jobs you</b><span dir="RTL" style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;"></span><span dir="RTL" style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;"></span><b style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;"><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span>ve
held over the years, including photographer, maintenance guy, ballroom dance
instructor and concert promoter. Aside them all being jobs you found yourself
doing, was there a common denominator to them?</b></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I get bored easily. That’s why I tell kids that being
a writer is a great vocation because you can constantly change the content you
focus on while still putting food on the table. </span></p><p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Once I found writing, or
perhaps once writing found me, it became the common thread between jobs. In
addition to writing and publishing fiction, I’ve held multiple corporate
technical writing leadership roles, primarily in <a href="https://me.engin.umich.edu/research/areas/mechatronics-robotics/" target="_blank">mechatronics</a>. </span></p><p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I’m currently
leading a global team of nine technical writers in the creation of software
documentation for autonomous warehouse robots. You just never know where
writing will take you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b>At one point, married with a child, you were let go from one
of these jobs and at a low point. Your four-year-old daughter handed you a
scrap of paper, calling it your new business card. On the paper the words, </b><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><b><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>“</span>Daddy Write Books.” Was your daughter</b><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><b><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span>s belief in you what gave you the courage to launch this
long-shot career?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">My amazing daughter’s belief didn’t give me courage, it gave me a
desperately needed boost of life-sustaining energy, like strapping on an oxygen
mask at high altitude. With her at my side, I was able to complete the climb.
My son is pretty amazing, too.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b>You wrote </b><b><i><span lang="DA" style="mso-ansi-language: DA;">Tiger</span></i>, the first of a seven book </b><b><i><span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;">Five Ancestors </span></i>series. The manuscript
went to auction, with a number of big publishers competing for the rights.
Describe for those of us who dream of such an unlikely occurrence, what that
experience was like.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">It was surreal. There was a five-house auction: Random House,
Penguin Putnam, Scholastic, Harper Collins, and Harcourt. I assumed the auction
would be one insane day with my agent fielding multiple, simultaneous phone
calls while frantically typing emails and calling me with updates. It wasn’t
like that at all! </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxyoJwfE2DzYTB6PhkYV7Wzy0Gev5S-BEy2GQP-vyPw0gYhFSEbKbE3ybRjfpTJSCf-cyHkuW70JLT8Um6sqMJd7f3tgwQ4dPMbhLuVqllKI2CaW-onviL6PyBWYKgayA1nCCmsntoA28oAa4C_utIz0FiX6KlaIIxhhhuzZmMm5E7CWiQ7OwWYYrtvIYp/s1080/thumbnail%20(5).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="482" data-original-width="1080" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxyoJwfE2DzYTB6PhkYV7Wzy0Gev5S-BEy2GQP-vyPw0gYhFSEbKbE3ybRjfpTJSCf-cyHkuW70JLT8Um6sqMJd7f3tgwQ4dPMbhLuVqllKI2CaW-onviL6PyBWYKgayA1nCCmsntoA28oAa4C_utIz0FiX6KlaIIxhhhuzZmMm5E7CWiQ7OwWYYrtvIYp/w400-h179/thumbnail%20(5).jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">It was glacially slow, taking nearly three months, like the
world’s longest, lamest poker game. Every time one company made an offer, the
hand was shown to all the others who then had to decide if they were going to
fold, call, or raise. In the end, Random House made the most sense for reasons
that went beyond the life-changing advance. </span></p><p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Chief among them was the fact that
they had a gaping hole in their list. Scholastic had Harry Potter, and most of the
others already had an established middle-grade franchise. Random House did not.
In their offer letter, the Random House team said, “We want Jeff to be our
<a href="https://www.lemonysnicket.com/" target="_blank">Lemony Snicket</a>.” So, yeah, they won.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b>You were adopted by a loving family,
but began a fifteen-year quest to find your birth mother. A week after you
completed the manuscript for </b><b><i><span lang="DA" style="mso-ansi-language: DA;">Tiger</span></i>, you found her and reunited. Please paint for us how this
real-life drama came to pass.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I won the lottery
by being adopted by my parents. They’re the absolute best. At the same time,
was always extremely curious about my genetic roots and my life before my
parents picked me up at the orphanage. </span></p><p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Long story short, after my 15-year
search some laws changed in Michigan that allowed me to hire a court-appointed
confidential intermediary, who in my case was a social worker with a private
investigator’s license. I knew exactly where the records were housed, but I
wasn’t allowed access to them because I was adopted during a time of closed
adoption. </span></p><p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I told the intermediary what I knew, and she found my birthmother in
less than an hour. My birthmother enthusiastically agreed to a reunion, and the
rest is a wonderful history that is still being written. If my birthmother had
wanted anonymity, it would have been granted, and I’d still be searching.</span></p>
<p class="Body"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b>Your </b><b><i><span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;">Five
Ancestors </span></i>series features five orphan monks, residing and training
at the secret <a href="https://fiveancestors.fandom.com/wiki/Cangzhen_Temple" target="_blank">Cangzhen Temple</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
temple is attacked and destroyed, and only the youngsters escape with their
lives. They are now on a quest for survival and to uncover the secrets of their
past. Was it eerie coincidence how closely your life mirrored those of your
protagonists? Or fate?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixzccy4u3OBi3zkiEN-UB8gtJgY7hQtpdqmGOBzzDopS5E8fQNMryf-KlAGRTpqGgZWnefmFTU-yVywDh3yQtC0loODjnYWBN47b_K6mFwDbSY36erhL2CJBrZ-Zm7ts4D9Gw_QPgoezS09o89TArx8oUzkyP3bepScq9Szokpae30BqlqQn7SVu-SvYN8/s773/monkey-jeff-stone-five-ancestors.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="773" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixzccy4u3OBi3zkiEN-UB8gtJgY7hQtpdqmGOBzzDopS5E8fQNMryf-KlAGRTpqGgZWnefmFTU-yVywDh3yQtC0loODjnYWBN47b_K6mFwDbSY36erhL2CJBrZ-Zm7ts4D9Gw_QPgoezS09o89TArx8oUzkyP3bepScq9Szokpae30BqlqQn7SVu-SvYN8/s320/monkey-jeff-stone-five-ancestors.jpg" width="207" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><br />No coincidence, I put my life into these books. I am the
characters, and they are me. </span><p></p><p class="Body"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">A prime example of this is the villain’s
frustration over his name having been changed. I never realized this, but I had
a different birth certificate. Every child born in a hospital in the USA is
issued one. If they’re adopted, the name is changed, first name included. That
hit me pretty hard. </span><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">It hits the villain even harder. He’s also an orphan, and
his name change is a key element of what drives him to become the antagonist. </span></span></p><p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">The name given to each temple orphan reflects their true nature—their animal
spirit—and by extension, the animal kung fu style they study to mastery. Get a
child’s name wrong, or worse intentionally change it, and you change who the
child becomes.</span></p>
<p class="Body"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b><i><span lang="DA" style="mso-ansi-language: DA;">Tiger </span></i>(200</b><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">5</span>), <i>Monkey </i>(200</b><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">5</span>), <i>Snake </i>(200</b><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">6</span>), <i>Crane </i>(200</b><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">7</span>), <i>Eagle </i>(200</b><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">8</span>), <i>Mouse </i>(</b><b><i><span lang="FR" style="mso-ansi-language: FR;">Mantis </span></i>in the U.K. and
Australia) (2009), and </b><b><i><span lang="FR" style="mso-ansi-language: FR;">Dragon
</span></i>(2010) followed. What did it take to produce a middle grade novel a
year? What was your writing routine?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">It was brutal. My original contract was to deliver two novels per
year. TIGER, MONKEY, and SNAKE were all released six months apart, but then I
was unable to keep up that pace and thankfully Random House allowed me to shift
to one manuscript delivered every 10 months or so. </span></p><p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">The books aren’t overly long
as far as page count, but the plot in each is extremely dense, equating to that
of books with 2-3 times as many pages. </span></p><p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Also, I was doing 30-day book tours,
dozens upon dozens of school visits,</span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLp5iO45mlWDreO_TRi7s8xlZk7HutyTcXifKUup5LZLpFhjh99nG81DjMaMOwqrW8fnuq5dEMHY2lu8q1zPdS84uV6tyBHc1cFv0woydeYeaANcu4FeRDVKpB_0lZ7E4ghN671qFpWgk0Cw_hyphenhyphenhWvT8TQy6PzzMLbn4_SCq4AxYvf2auVgmRIf9ljlTU9/s320/thumbnail%20(2).jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLp5iO45mlWDreO_TRi7s8xlZk7HutyTcXifKUup5LZLpFhjh99nG81DjMaMOwqrW8fnuq5dEMHY2lu8q1zPdS84uV6tyBHc1cFv0woydeYeaANcu4FeRDVKpB_0lZ7E4ghN671qFpWgk0Cw_hyphenhyphenhWvT8TQy6PzzMLbn4_SCq4AxYvf2auVgmRIf9ljlTU9/s1600/thumbnail%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">School visit, Shanghai, China</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">conferences keynotes, media several times
each week, and a million other things—all while being expected to write. Take a
look at the </span><a href="https://www.jeffstonebooks.com/events" style="font-family: Montserrat;" target="_blank">Events page</a><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"> on my website and you’ll get partial glimpse of the
madness. </span></span><p></p><p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I had no choice but to write on the road in hotel rooms and on
airplanes, which I hated. Don’t get me wrong, Random House never forced me to
do any of this. I just knew how important these things were to keep the
momentum going. It was my efforts OUTSIDE the writing that actually helped
Random House decide to relax my deadlines. </span></p><p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">When I wasn’t traveling, I binge
wrote at home to catch up. I rented an office a few miles from my house, and I
would sometimes write 48 hours straight without sleep. I need absolute focus to
do anything, writing included. I have no concept of what multitasking is.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="Body"><b><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Your wife was born in Hong Kong and fluent in several Chinese
languages. But what kind of research did it take to accurately portray 1650
China?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">My former wife and I had a traditional Chinese wedding ceremony
in Hong Kong in the mid-nineties, and I returned to both Hong Kong and mainland
China multiple times to scour many different temples and other historic
locations that are far, far older than 370 years. </span></p><p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I did my best to get the
locations and day-to-day things as accurate as possible in my books, but the
language is neutral and modern, which is why the stories work just as well
today as they did nearly 20 years ago. </span></p><p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">The most complicated historic things to
convey were time and measurements, neither of which can be translated directly
into feet or meters or minutes or hours. Even the calendar was different, as
you can see in the opening of each book: <a href="https://www.jeffstonebooks.com/tiger" target="_blank">4348—Year of the Tiger (1650 AD</a>).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b>Then you started a new series, </b><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><b><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>“</span><i>Out of the Ashes</i>,”
based in present-day America. Did it take some real effort to extricate
yourself from Chinese history?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I wrote a present-day trilogy precisely because I wanted to
extricate myself from historic China! Ha ha! Seriously. I was so tired of
saying things like, <i>The hole was as deep as a man is tall,</i> or <i>He
stood an arm’s length away.</i> </span></p><p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghf7oCaVNl1JxkGXI_JdxXRUGGUxSg0bojVWgXy3fmawbZQfWWGtfADrJEv48w7fo0OaIsaFBpOTGcyxzAMU3Ts7DzUK1JB8ep74kfjDFGggOVeTedi1KsFbTNYSiKR6Jp44Kl11lNCQHmq_8hw3qUzY9pSPhX6P_grz6t9mFM9PU2JJRTwS96Hd1ztsUm/s773/jackal-jeff-stone-five-ancestors.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="773" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghf7oCaVNl1JxkGXI_JdxXRUGGUxSg0bojVWgXy3fmawbZQfWWGtfADrJEv48w7fo0OaIsaFBpOTGcyxzAMU3Ts7DzUK1JB8ep74kfjDFGggOVeTedi1KsFbTNYSiKR6Jp44Kl11lNCQHmq_8hw3qUzY9pSPhX6P_grz6t9mFM9PU2JJRTwS96Hd1ztsUm/s320/jackal-jeff-stone-five-ancestors.jpg" width="207" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><br />Despite needing a respite, the trilogy wouldn’t
be a Five Ancestors spinoff without some serious connections to the past.
There’s enough history in the trilogy to meld multiple styles of modern bicycle
racing with ancient kung fu. </span><p></p><p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">It may sound like a huge stretch, but it’s
actually not. Kung fu is as timeless as it is all-encompassing. <i>Kung fu</i>
literally means, <i>acquired skill</i> or <i>accomplishment through effort</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="Body"><b><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">All the while you pursued the rigorous training and discipline
of Kung Fu. You tested for your black belt at the Shaolin Temple in China. That
must have been exciting and nerve-wracking. What do you remember about this
challenge?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I don’t remember anything! Ha ha! No joke. The test took well
over an hour, and I honestly don’t remember one single thing. I was so <i>in
the zone</i>. </span></p><p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPSB65mpVKSX4WGrug1V4aHMtDrx4xAaJhfQlZd9WRMq6GPf8wRGqJRHcBVW2y019OX_fzoK18xhKouj71dRU8cFS1URca0_LnNVeebPacrNg8osADUiNo17nYhbGh4X7p88jWDqeZ_j-zNfMpoG6QxmNyqK6L1NYbh3C8bpKPEjCAC9pSItZneUABCNJ2/s320/thumbnail%20(4).jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="216" data-original-width="320" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPSB65mpVKSX4WGrug1V4aHMtDrx4xAaJhfQlZd9WRMq6GPf8wRGqJRHcBVW2y019OX_fzoK18xhKouj71dRU8cFS1URca0_LnNVeebPacrNg8osADUiNo17nYhbGh4X7p88jWDqeZ_j-zNfMpoG6QxmNyqK6L1NYbh3C8bpKPEjCAC9pSItZneUABCNJ2/s1600/thumbnail%20(4).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kung fu black belt test, Shaolin Temple</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">When the test started, there were just the twenty or so black
belts that I was traveling with, as well as a young woman from our association
who tested along with me. When we finished, I came out of that hyper-focused
tranced and saw close to a hundred spectators and five Shaolin monks! </span><p></p><p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">To be
clear, I tested for my black belt at the temple, but the monks didn’t issue it
to me. The style I learned is based in the USA, and the Grandmaster had a
strong enough relationship with the Abbot of Shaolin Temple that our group was
allowed to visit and I was allowed to take the test there, along with my
co-tester. </span></p><p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I wish I remembered at least a little bit! Thankfully, there are
some pics. I do remember touring the temple compound after the test and also
climbing the small mountain behind Shaolin Temple to visit Bodhidharma’s cave,
which is at least something. I was so tired at the end of that day!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b>Your alma mater is Michigan State University. What major did
you pursue? How did young Jeff Stone</b><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><b><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span>s
plans for the future line up with what happened?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I entered MSU as an engineering student and came out 3.5 years
later with a bachelor’s degree in English/Creative Writing, and I also
fulfilled all the requirements for a second bachelor’s degree in Journalism,
plus I have a cognate in dance (long story). </span></p><p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Additionally, I managed to squeeze
in a six- month, full-time technical writing internship at General Motors
Advanced Engineering Staff, which paved the way for ALL my writing adventures.</span></p><p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I’ve received accolades from the American Library Association/YALSA,
International Literacy Association, Children’s Book Council, and many other
organizations for my books’ ability to resonate with reluctant middle-grade
readers. The truth is, it’s just clear, concise technical writing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="Body"><b><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">You were a writing coach and a college writing instructor. Is
your writing success something you can teach others?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I still am a writing coach, but now it’s mostly mentoring the
nine technical writers on my team at the W-2 gig. I also still occasionally do
SCBWI critiques, which I’ve been doing for 20+ years. I’d teach or coach
fiction more often, if I had time. </span></p><p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">As for teaching others writing <i>success</i>,
I’d say, no. It can<span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span>t
be taught. Success is something you earn. You have to put in the work. You, and
you alone.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="Body"><b><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Your last book was published in 2014. Finally, almost a decade
later, the rights reverted back to you, and you had a plan. What is it? What
does it take to become your own publisher?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Yikes! Answering this is a novel unto itself! Owning your own
small press takes MUCH more work than I realized, especially since I’m doing
everything myself. </span></p><p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">This includes typesetting, cover design, ebook programming,
website creation, marketing, PR, sales, accounting, media relations,
advertising…the list goes on. I’m fortunate in that I’ve done most of these
things at one time or another in the 35 years I’ve spent in and out of
corporate America, but lumping them together simultaneously is almost too much
to manage. </span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxA7aKO4L4lRTlCgCHK_ftwVLDx3AKCZJKTEtI2wm6o4RVs2qXHx4DtyFObwdMM22OK3_DU82GOpWhTtI_KJjghqR-tch8BWCb8Zdj5IZFGsf3u2HntFCKlsMEk2736uU0p1RA81lwUAkhS6FLdWUFk7uRsC-HfYXyf-TO8wIwSO8b02mgBFPtFL1SAtfi/s773/tiger-jeff-stone-five-ancestors.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="773" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxA7aKO4L4lRTlCgCHK_ftwVLDx3AKCZJKTEtI2wm6o4RVs2qXHx4DtyFObwdMM22OK3_DU82GOpWhTtI_KJjghqR-tch8BWCb8Zdj5IZFGsf3u2HntFCKlsMEk2736uU0p1RA81lwUAkhS6FLdWUFk7uRsC-HfYXyf-TO8wIwSO8b02mgBFPtFL1SAtfi/s320/tiger-jeff-stone-five-ancestors.jpg" width="207" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cover redesign by author</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">In my case, every function is 10X because there are 10 novels to
re-release. It’s difficult for me to believe I’m saying this, but a<span lang="DA" style="mso-ansi-language: DA;">fter </span>spending well over a year
slaving away, weeknights and weekends, TIGER was re-released on Amazon in early
January 2024! </span></p><p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">The remaining titles are scheduled to release roughly every six
weeks for the remainder of the year. The last one comes out on Christmas Eve!
So. Much. Work. But absolutely worth it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="Body"><b><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Please list any social media platforms you wish to share.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I’m currently knocking the rust off my socials, but I’m
@jeffstonebooks everywhere. That would be FB, IG, X, and soon TikTok and YT.
The place I’d most like to share is my website with its newsletter signup:
<a href="http://www.jeffstonebooks.com.">www.jeffstonebooks.com.</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="Body" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><br /><p></p>Charlie Barshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09500271053109489021noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473128326113032249.post-68917983858405457132024-03-12T06:00:00.001-04:002024-03-12T06:29:54.181-04:00Book Birthday Blog with Leslie Helakoski<p> </p><p> </p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span>Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!</span></span></span></h2><h3 style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span>Where we celebrate new books from Michigan's authors, illustrators and translators. <br /></span></span></span></span></h3><h3 style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span> </span></span></span></h3><h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span>Congratulations to Leslie Helakoski on the release of When the Rain Came Down </span></span></span></h1><p> </p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZa73e6T7RItiFJdcJGGFsHW6bqe5BFBKXsJQQXkuzX72ykcIq6saqMzyhgOH28sr5L21rDW0foJUXzzdCTqz6eWkXBI0yHujhEhDhcNoEvt9RyfhY09rnnUX2FybE81QTS-w4zMmq6GllvgXKMr0n9gzgEsXHlU9DBdxOS6Ia9KPOloQSY7G_awUa_nkA/s1032/RAIN%20cover%20jpeg(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="796" data-original-width="1032" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZa73e6T7RItiFJdcJGGFsHW6bqe5BFBKXsJQQXkuzX72ykcIq6saqMzyhgOH28sr5L21rDW0foJUXzzdCTqz6eWkXBI0yHujhEhDhcNoEvt9RyfhY09rnnUX2FybE81QTS-w4zMmq6GllvgXKMr0n9gzgEsXHlU9DBdxOS6Ia9KPOloQSY7G_awUa_nkA/s320/RAIN%20cover%20jpeg(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /><p></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b>How did you come up with the idea for your book?</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">I grew up on a bayou in south Louisiana where my family lived through many storms, one of them leaving 5 feet of water in our family home. WHEN THE RAIN CAME DOWN was inspired by those storms and Hurricane Katrina and Rita in particular. In the aftermath, everyone I knew had taken people into their homes. Everyone volunteered in some capacity, everyone spoke of before and after the storms and noted water marks that are still there today. The phrase, ‘When the rain came down and the water rose up,’ came to me when I was trying to write a story about neighbors.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Bnxzr43OHo4TM7BasndZlCH3q14kdtgsvo2ScxghBlmoQxSqLMIqLkXWNQ0aorr4St1C7-YTSNDrcvkUKltx2QVK9zQeK_e-9TtseoxgBCjJnnajdAPtJj9vtX3RznXiuSe8OJbgIlNKnjgd5I9MrC_KDAIAt3h69tIP88pTEvYFmgeMCctFlUcI025l/s2016/flood%20interior.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Bnxzr43OHo4TM7BasndZlCH3q14kdtgsvo2ScxghBlmoQxSqLMIqLkXWNQ0aorr4St1C7-YTSNDrcvkUKltx2QVK9zQeK_e-9TtseoxgBCjJnnajdAPtJj9vtX3RznXiuSe8OJbgIlNKnjgd5I9MrC_KDAIAt3h69tIP88pTEvYFmgeMCctFlUcI025l/s320/flood%20interior.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4eGK73n4bvoR3WwQ6COltO2EzHXvKL8vHAmmgqqE5ScNTXK0cmrva46_rkWG_7CvclfzUBXvyzb1p_hMGfwA5PTwJfKrQPKJLHwD8EtJU2bJGBeXXU7spnv4tAWgaud85jM3AAPJg59R214WhL_HeuQQ3nz3PWmtj7ZGdwnawyLsIw07nGJtB4kpW0B6N/s2016/flood%20exterior.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4eGK73n4bvoR3WwQ6COltO2EzHXvKL8vHAmmgqqE5ScNTXK0cmrva46_rkWG_7CvclfzUBXvyzb1p_hMGfwA5PTwJfKrQPKJLHwD8EtJU2bJGBeXXU7spnv4tAWgaud85jM3AAPJg59R214WhL_HeuQQ3nz3PWmtj7ZGdwnawyLsIw07nGJtB4kpW0B6N/s320/flood%20exterior.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">At the same time I was working on RAIN, I had another idea involving hurricanes in a more whimsical way. GATOR’s BIG MOUTH is also about a storm displacing locals –alligators this time. It was inspired by a trip through the marsh after a hurricane. The storm damage made me wonder what happened to the alligators when their homes were destroyed. </span></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b>What inspires you to write and draw?</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">The work of other artists and other writers inspires me all the time. Finding work I love and respond to, makes me want to do the same thing.</span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b>How do you approach the creative process? Plotter, panster or combination of the two?</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">I don’t consciously plot out picture books. I get an idea about a character or a problem and start writing about it. Once I have something down, I may do a bit of plotting to see what is missing or not working.</span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b>What are your marketing plans for the book and where can we find it?</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">I’m lining up school visits and speaking at Michigan Reading Association this spring. There are many festivals and book fairs where I will promote the book. It will be available at most bookstores and online. You can get a signed copy or pre order from Book Bug, a great indie, here:</span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b> <a href="https://www.bookbugkalamazoo.com/book/9780374390204" target="_blank">WHEN THE RAIN CAME DOWN</a></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b>What's next for you?</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">I just sold a picture book to Putnam that will be out in fall of 2025. <br />And GATOR’S BIG MOUTH will release in April–you can pre-order it here:</span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: medium;"><b> <a href="https://www.bookbugkalamazoo.com/book/9781455627820" target="_blank">GATOR'S BIG MOUTH</a></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b>More about the book . . .</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">WHEN THE RAIN CAME DOWN is about the strength that arises when a community bands together to overcome immeasurable hardship. It was inspired by Hurricane Katrina and influenced by Leslie's personal experience living through rising waters on a bayou in south Louisiana. WHEN THE RAIN CAME DOWN follows the devastating effects of flooding and the enduring heart of the community. </span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;"><i>Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux (Macmillan)</i></span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b>More about the author . . .</b></span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">Leslie Helakoski is the author and sometimes illustrator of 18 picture books. Her books like BIG CHICKENS and WOOLBUR are known for their humor and wordplay and have won many state book awards and starred reviews. Her recent title, ARE YOUR STARS LIKE MY STARS? was chosen as a best diverse book in 2021. Leslie served as Regional Advisor for SCBWI Michigan for 11 years and is now RA Emeritus. Each summer Leslie also runs the PB&J picture book workshop at the Highlights Foundation.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/leslie.helakoski" target="_blank">Leslie Helakoski</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">Instagram: helakoskibooks </span></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyEdupvzFRtAq3VCmD2ds_0I9x13i7EKbRnXEfYmPKYYAOxuKFcVMh_soZ3rR12u22G7FDSQLeghdwtpXGfiO1PLTmk94rkFDI112CTlnE7ZSLNxZ2cZrQCS6wEWHQt4ZXNIZSAbYNCMmys6c8NtKLVp5r71wCINGsA3pfpi2qpJ1MDZFcAXzNewv6L1tc/s4032/Lel%20bayou%20pic.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyEdupvzFRtAq3VCmD2ds_0I9x13i7EKbRnXEfYmPKYYAOxuKFcVMh_soZ3rR12u22G7FDSQLeghdwtpXGfiO1PLTmk94rkFDI112CTlnE7ZSLNxZ2cZrQCS6wEWHQt4ZXNIZSAbYNCMmys6c8NtKLVp5r71wCINGsA3pfpi2qpJ1MDZFcAXzNewv6L1tc/s320/Lel%20bayou%20pic.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p> <br /></p>Christy Mattheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02038240579399809745noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473128326113032249.post-73491672716231810992024-03-05T06:00:00.001-05:002024-03-05T07:18:17.517-05:00Book Birthday Blog with Lisa Wheeler<p> </p><p> </p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span>Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!</span></span></span></h2><h3 style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span>Where we celebrate new books from Michigan's authors, illustrators and translators. <br /></span></span></span></span></h3><h3 style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span> </span></span></span></h3><h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span>Congratulations to Lisa Wheeler on the release of Dino-Earth Day <br /></span></span></span></h1><p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6mift2fi2wGZzmAc-qW_JvcQyJOtEYSH0zD4kunkedVioQQfRVqgXZKRLKzK5EFOebZeFH6lIxXz0qTXOs4S4o_FZhVfPuU0op19MNQcVEyVlg6eik-shI-gb1Ol0dSC7sdCuy0ubqCIYIBhyW9oeM_oCdp8scGv4GejR_4x-cMjd3vWDbJdeaZPB0XpM/s402/dino-earth%20day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="337" data-original-width="402" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6mift2fi2wGZzmAc-qW_JvcQyJOtEYSH0zD4kunkedVioQQfRVqgXZKRLKzK5EFOebZeFH6lIxXz0qTXOs4S4o_FZhVfPuU0op19MNQcVEyVlg6eik-shI-gb1Ol0dSC7sdCuy0ubqCIYIBhyW9oeM_oCdp8scGv4GejR_4x-cMjd3vWDbJdeaZPB0XpM/s320/dino-earth%20day.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b>The book is part of a series. What are the unique challenges or benefits of writing a series?</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">From the time I started writing for kids, I heard that you should never count on a series. When I wrote the first book (<i>Dino-Hockey</i>) it was a stand-alone title. But during the revision phase, I was asked to change the ending. I thought it would be fun to end the book with the promise of another season of sports—<i>Dino-Soccer</i>. After the revision was accepted, it occurred to me that it would be wonderful if they made this into a series. But I didn’t count on it.<br /> <br />It wasn’t until just before the release of <i>Dino-Hockey</i> that I was asked to consider writing <i>Dino-Soccer</i>. <br /> <br />I was thrilled! And then reality struck. I knew nothing about soccer. So, just like <i>Dino-Hockey</i>, I started researching. <br /> <br />Every one of the Dino-Sports books have gone the same way: excitement followed by terror, followed by research and the realization that yes, I can do this.<br /> <br />The first few books in the Dino-Holiday series were not research-heavy as I had experienced those holidays my whole life. But when asked to write <i>Dino-Hanukkah</i> and then <i>Dino-Earth Day</i>, I had to dig in, just like writing the sports books.<br /> <br />For <i>Dino-Earth Day</i>, I wanted to add lots of ways that kids could help clean up the environment. I went online and checked out books. Then, I had to narrow it down! I’m excited to add this book to my school visit programs.</span></p><p><b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">What is something you hope your readers will take away from the book?</span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"> </span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">Environmental issues are overwhelming. I want kids to know that they don’t have to solve the whole problem. They can help in small ways. Reuse shopping bags and water bottles. Recycle bottles, can and glass. Plant gardens. Compost. Shop in thrift stores. These are just some of the ways I show the Dinos helping out.</span><b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"></span></b></p><p><b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">What are your marketing plans for the book and where can we find it?</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;"><i>Dino-Earth Day</i> will be featured on #Seasonsofkidlit.com. I’m also planning to incorporate this book into my school visits, which always helps with sales. Of course, I’ll promote on my social media. </span><b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"></span></b></p><p><b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">What's next for you?</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">This year I have 4 more My First Dino board books coming out. Spring 24 will bring <i>My First Dino-Swimming</i> and <i>My First Dino-Boarding</i>. Fall of 24 is when we’ll see <i>My First Dino-Thanksgiving</i> and <i>My First Dino-Hanukkah</i>. Then, in Fall of 2025, I have a title coming out with HarperCollins tentatively titled, <i>It Takes A Family to</i> <i>Serve</i>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4OKLOq0AUUXDvqbHqJN2u1DQqTYjgpkcBalQITDoSC9M63ctBYqGTsEB9XG6bGFA-mcH9SHmJOCVJuJOmxaIy7D6R20VCfX6DR8JpRxNxh7p-m2bJ3VWKi7B0WFlZGzgMHkVoimH_OqVffOLgG3JUU93BBWy3zDVRTAipUDTxj8jgN7ZXojMFTkeDRLg7/s402/MFDinoSwim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="345" data-original-width="402" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4OKLOq0AUUXDvqbHqJN2u1DQqTYjgpkcBalQITDoSC9M63ctBYqGTsEB9XG6bGFA-mcH9SHmJOCVJuJOmxaIy7D6R20VCfX6DR8JpRxNxh7p-m2bJ3VWKi7B0WFlZGzgMHkVoimH_OqVffOLgG3JUU93BBWy3zDVRTAipUDTxj8jgN7ZXojMFTkeDRLg7/s320/MFDinoSwim.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;"><br /> </span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxJ-dyPU4MCnt2Vs7hqulxidFDNJxivMJFUTXXRAeTTbOTpsAy3dnZuAlK_vZZ1ifhTiOBY2k1AW0YWjxlF83V1MhKSYDWv36iTiBeDPSWId6_s1Tj0gSMyK9ZAO5cPPIlWe129OyBUSncCvXMgWp7usvCe2WeJeAj3jCGN865fikufn4aljhltENTly6r/s402/MFDinoBoard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="345" data-original-width="402" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxJ-dyPU4MCnt2Vs7hqulxidFDNJxivMJFUTXXRAeTTbOTpsAy3dnZuAlK_vZZ1ifhTiOBY2k1AW0YWjxlF83V1MhKSYDWv36iTiBeDPSWId6_s1Tj0gSMyK9ZAO5cPPIlWe129OyBUSncCvXMgWp7usvCe2WeJeAj3jCGN865fikufn4aljhltENTly6r/s320/MFDinoBoard.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;"><br /></span><p></p><p><b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">More about the book . . .</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">The world needs help to keep it clean.<br />It’s Dino-Earth Day. . .<br />Let’s go green!<br />These dinos take care of the environment all year long—especially on Earth Day! Today they’re cleaning up a park, planting trees, learning how to recycle and compost, and using their creativity to turn junk into treasure. Go green. . .dino-style!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;"><i>Publisher: Carolrhoda/Lerner</i> </span><b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"></span></b></p><p><b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">More about the author . . .<br /></span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="font-size: small;">Award -winning author, Lisa Wheeler is passionate about children’s books. “I love everything about them, including the smell!” She’s written over 55 picture books in prose and rhyme, an easy reader series, four books of poems, and creative nonfiction for the very young. “As far back as I can remember, I’ve been a rhymer. Wordplay excites me!” Lisa's newest books are <i>Baby Shower</i>, <i>My First Dino-Swimming</i>, <i>Dino-Earth Day</i>, and <i>Someone Builds the Dream</i>. Lisa is a local author from, Addison, Michigan. Check out her website at <a href="https://www.lisawheelerbooks.com/" target="_blank">https://www.lisawheelerbooks.com/</a></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="font-size: small;">Instagram: @littlelisais6</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="font-size: small;">Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=lisa%20wheeler%20children%27s%20books" target="_blank">Lisa Wheeler Children's Books</a> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOU2tqEAUAPHl-SML2yybuHx4MNZq4QM1w1iBcPN7rWIvY-okhMZ0i9cSZkIFeWzY0FDUZ9EdFqIsYw4T3eYuTAzoOT2l57F7H5STVdlnJcz8j-CHvfBXpvBUL28IBp9HIIGKqy3GI00qPc7C9zg0KdPADdXBToduARRYbvhsnEXt8No3mo301ilxTXVGb/s2426/2021lisapic(3).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2426" data-original-width="2262" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOU2tqEAUAPHl-SML2yybuHx4MNZq4QM1w1iBcPN7rWIvY-okhMZ0i9cSZkIFeWzY0FDUZ9EdFqIsYw4T3eYuTAzoOT2l57F7H5STVdlnJcz8j-CHvfBXpvBUL28IBp9HIIGKqy3GI00qPc7C9zg0KdPADdXBToduARRYbvhsnEXt8No3mo301ilxTXVGb/s320/2021lisapic(3).jpg" width="298" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span> <br /><p></p>Christy Mattheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02038240579399809745noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473128326113032249.post-46207104235463286042024-03-01T10:41:00.001-05:002024-03-01T10:51:27.348-05:00New Series Idea: What I Wish I'd Kown<span style="font-family: Montserrat;">As members of SCBWI-MI, we are at different stages of our writing and/our illustrating careers. Some are you are well-known published authors and illustrators. Some of you may have just started out on your kidlit journey and joined SCBWI to find out more. And many are somewhere in between. But everyone was new to writing/illustrating at some point. And most of us have made mistakes or felt surprised along the way.</span><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">So, in the spirit of being able to look back at our past with humor and wisdom and sharing that hard-won wisdom with others, I'd like to propose a new series to be published here on The Mitten:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">What I Wish I'd Known...</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">My hope is that you will look back at one of your firsts like your:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">First submission</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">First shoptalk</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">First critique </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">First conference</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">First portfolio review</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">First contest</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">First published article</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">First published book</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">First school visit</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">First fair or book-selling event</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">And share went right, what went wrong, and what you'd have done differently, or <i>what you wish you'd known</i>. These memories can be funny (I hope some will be!), sad, or optimistic (maybe you wish you'd known that something was easier or more fun than you expected!). </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">Like <a href="https://scbwimithemitten.blogspot.com/p/submissions_18.html" target="_blank">usual</a>, aim for around 400-600 words (but as anyone has read this blog recently, I'm not too strict in either direction if it takes more or fewer words to say what you want), include an image or two if you have them, and send your posts to me at: <a href="mailto:sarah.prusoff.locascio@gmail.com">sarah.prusoff.locascio@gmail.com</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">I hope to hear from you soon!</span></div>Sarah Prusoff LoCasciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03325900884643863060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473128326113032249.post-50629173213560718692024-02-23T00:00:00.003-05:002024-02-23T00:00:00.148-05:00Attending a Multi-State Conference by Dave Stricklen<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">Hi, Dave Stricklen here, former SCBWI-MI Indie Coordinator, Grand Rapids Shop Talk Coordinator, and overall Michigan Shop Talk Coordinator. I’m here to talk about the upcoming multi-state Marvelous Midwest conference in Davenport, Iowa on April 12 through April 14. Many of you have already registered, have your hotel and are looking forward to it. I suspect there is also a large number who are on the fence as to whether the time and expense justify what you will get out of it.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">I have attended several of these conferences and the popular saying is that this is a way for us to enjoy a large conference similar to the national conferences in New York and LA, without the long travel distance. Allow me to share my own experience and perhaps you can fall on one side of the fence or the other. My first multi-state conference was in Ft .Wayne. I was honestly overwhelmed by the number of attendees and the maze of classes on topics that I knew nothing about. So much to learn… <u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0FuVB80kqyDJrYeELk3kmbFVSXD3qxC4f_hTwm8zyy9py01nndViH9eH3BsDfmqnBDb3G1E4DkpzfnSwG9JUMpiGGMhuV0dbPCtAHmt2yM_T-Y5NJu8r3LUHa3XC-UNns82NLl1jy0TiCwyuDXHEbIgv6pTVUzhjBgdB2mopqFOZc7x7QXYj4zU6RSdU/s954/MMW1.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="954" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0FuVB80kqyDJrYeELk3kmbFVSXD3qxC4f_hTwm8zyy9py01nndViH9eH3BsDfmqnBDb3G1E4DkpzfnSwG9JUMpiGGMhuV0dbPCtAHmt2yM_T-Y5NJu8r3LUHa3XC-UNns82NLl1jy0TiCwyuDXHEbIgv6pTVUzhjBgdB2mopqFOZc7x7QXYj4zU6RSdU/s320/MMW1.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="252" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">Dave at the "carnival" at the multi-state<br />conference in Naperville, Illinois</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">Above and beyond the learning experience was interacting with fellow creative people. I came from a law enforcement management background. I was the lone outside the box creative thinker. Suddenly with this group, I was thrown in with people with like minds. Coming from a sports background, I am also very competitive. However, in this instance, I learned very quickly that we are all on the same team. Each of us make the other better…. we are truly much stronger together. <u></u><u></u></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig67fPJxPgvC26UKUKxul5gzCLHZ_zWwFnzzlyDs68ttsHnXGsqerxU67WPzAyuaZS9_ySXtZZJuHI8nHuilUQAG3JTk8rFUC9NsVM8CcIukJN73HGU9u3lTFCoDlRlvYqng1HdrArpYZ-77EATuYZObDi8B4FutLp6JrZB_H4BGyA1DBGQM6umpF5t5o/s4032/MMW%202.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig67fPJxPgvC26UKUKxul5gzCLHZ_zWwFnzzlyDs68ttsHnXGsqerxU67WPzAyuaZS9_ySXtZZJuHI8nHuilUQAG3JTk8rFUC9NsVM8CcIukJN73HGU9u3lTFCoDlRlvYqng1HdrArpYZ-77EATuYZObDi8B4FutLp6JrZB_H4BGyA1DBGQM6umpF5t5o/s320/MMW%202.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><br /></span></p>I found the entire experience to be empowering. You cannot underestimate the power of like minds coming together. The conference is a gold mine of inspiration, thoughts and ideas. <span lang="EN" style="color: #202124;">When we are inspired, we can run with our passion for new concepts or ideas and build on them.<u></u><u></u></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #202124;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"> <br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #202124;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">In our new world of zoom, a face-to-face meeting has greatly increased in value. Yes, there are advantages to zoom in connecting people from vast distances. However, nothing can take the place of sitting down and having a conversation with other writers. <u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #202124;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #202124;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAKLFd4j-gkJOXYje8CMxGHWlMcklhcbOGDTFIVpNtAPFyUO3DhNs40ju5khDR-1SMs_SHluILcfta-JWlmedVZRSes5K0v_UNSbt7SyhrwOK_D9JkIzHEYY16RFgHAtI8QMDYhZ9sLClhiAqc-_mCwbgydK6Xhrd7sFr33Uq4tu8y4ZAUFSwVvIbryjg/s3261/MMW%203.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3261" data-original-width="2308" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAKLFd4j-gkJOXYje8CMxGHWlMcklhcbOGDTFIVpNtAPFyUO3DhNs40ju5khDR-1SMs_SHluILcfta-JWlmedVZRSes5K0v_UNSbt7SyhrwOK_D9JkIzHEYY16RFgHAtI8QMDYhZ9sLClhiAqc-_mCwbgydK6Xhrd7sFr33Uq4tu8y4ZAUFSwVvIbryjg/s320/MMW%203.jpeg" width="226" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">Friendships are built from face-to-face interaction. I am the same guy who walked into my first conference somewhat overwhelmed. Conferences have made me part of the SCBWI writer community. I have made many lifelong friends, all of whom I met face to face sharing a cup of coffee and a funny story (writers are the best storytellers). Zoom may have kept us together, but it’s time to see each other person to person and shore up our creative relationships. The value of getting writers together in the same room cannot be understated. I always leave with my creative batteries fully recharged.<u></u><u></u></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #202124;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"> <br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #202124;">For more about the Marvelous Midwest Conference April 12-14, click here: </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.scbwi.org/events/marvelous-midwest&source=gmail&ust=1708290120109000&usg=AOvVaw25i86Zb6FNmAlTrL9erbJ4" href="https://www.scbwi.org/events/marvelous-midwest" style="color: #954f72;" target="_blank"><span lang="EN">https://www.scbwi.org/<wbr></wbr>events/marvelous-midwest</span></a><span lang="EN" style="color: #202124;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #202124;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #202124;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #202124;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #202124;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><br /></span></span></p>Sarah Prusoff LoCasciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03325900884643863060noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473128326113032249.post-55239191181778330842024-02-16T00:00:00.009-05:002024-02-16T00:00:00.128-05:00Writer Spotlight: Lisa Wheeler<p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: x-large;">Rejections, Dino-Sport research, the worst one, and puppet arm: prolific picture book writer Lisa Wheeler</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><b><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><i style="font-weight: 400;">Charlie Barshaw coordinates our regular Writer Spotlight feature and interviews writers of SCBWI-MI. In this piece, meet writer, presenter, puppeteer Lisa Wheeler.</i></span></b></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">The <a href="https://www.lisawheelerbooks.com/about" target="_blank">“About”</a> section of your website is what turns out to be
a harrowing story of No Thank Yous. 225, at least. Surely, or don’t call you
Shirley, you’ve turned some of those oft-rejected stories into real published
books?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">The Young Lisa in the "About" story was nothing if not
tenacious. Did Young Lisa have 225 book ideas? Or did she send her one idea to
225 people?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I’ll answer both questions here, Charlie.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">The 225 rejections were for many stories going out to
many publishers. Back then, my ideas came hard and heavy. I followed all of
them! I didn’t know what I was doing. I threw things at the wall to see what
would stick. In other words, I did everything wrong.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSwvlhf_Ea8HaaiSZHSP-EsC2IwMs2W2Zqx-c8ezR6CLzpzWtB9O7PJf4u2mJOwud7Igl1S-55uYqLnn6qyahwYHDm6TmOVr-EZQfT55ZPy5eODszCnjv_1GO5gi-LeuLqlKQ0l8-kFEaNYfirqR54HlaFPX20uJXMYxuoCh-c8SXtHgF284VGl-UIywyn/s1158/thumbnail.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1158" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSwvlhf_Ea8HaaiSZHSP-EsC2IwMs2W2Zqx-c8ezR6CLzpzWtB9O7PJf4u2mJOwud7Igl1S-55uYqLnn6qyahwYHDm6TmOVr-EZQfT55ZPy5eODszCnjv_1GO5gi-LeuLqlKQ0l8-kFEaNYfirqR54HlaFPX20uJXMYxuoCh-c8SXtHgF284VGl-UIywyn/s320/thumbnail.jpg" width="298" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">For instance, desperate to be published, I read an
interview where an editor was looking for foreign adoption stories. I decided
to write one, even though I knew nothing about adoption, let alone foreign
adoption. (Easy to see why my rejections piled up!)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I kept writing what I thought publishers wanted instead
of listening to the voices in my head.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">One morning, as I got myself and the kids ready to go out
the door, I heard/saw this pirate sitting on my shoulder, whispering in my ear.
He told me his tale.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I had fifteen minutes before I had to leave for work. I
jotted down as much as I could. I thought about it all day and took notes.
Returning home, I went right back to it. I wrote a 350 word story about a
pirate who got lost. I submitted it to <a href="https://uskidsmags.com/magazines/jack-and-jill/" target="_blank">Jack and Jill Magazine</a> and it was my
first sale!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">What did I learn? Stop listening to what you think
editors want and start listening to yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Unfortunately, I had a hard time taking my own advice and
it was another 3 1/2 years before I sold my first picture book.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">BTW, I still get more rejections than acceptances. I
don’t keep count anymore.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;">How much do you have to get into the wrestling weeds when
wrestling (boarding, basketball, football) is the topic of your next
sport-in-series volume?</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Good question! Each of the Dino-Sport books took
research. I am not the most athletic person. <i>I know!</i> Shocking isn’t it?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I spend about six month researching these books.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNyC0kbpRNhXK58rG7OLw5oXbqbfkAsmEjKF6bX6lN7MJde6eAk7CuqgPuXVC9rEzCI6Yh9Vs9j2V-Olbvtv63-4cmDEzYMHVx6Wu9q4o1n-nQ5T30u-2iZsK7fKwXajNKhZ-Tbt9BNKaN_W-pFMt3-FhoqjESnUFo48x-TrtVy6mHssEvQF5YRCeUKlk/s957/dino.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="760" data-original-width="957" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNyC0kbpRNhXK58rG7OLw5oXbqbfkAsmEjKF6bX6lN7MJde6eAk7CuqgPuXVC9rEzCI6Yh9Vs9j2V-Olbvtv63-4cmDEzYMHVx6Wu9q4o1n-nQ5T30u-2iZsK7fKwXajNKhZ-Tbt9BNKaN_W-pFMt3-FhoqjESnUFo48x-TrtVy6mHssEvQF5YRCeUKlk/s320/dino.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I start by reading. I buy or check out NF<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>kids’ books on the sport or holiday. (We’ve
been doing Dino-Holidays for a few years now.) Non-fiction books are helpful in
choosing words that are commonly used in the sport. They also point out rules
and all the pertinent information I need to write a play-by-play. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I watch lots of YouTube videos of games. When I can, I attend
actual sporting events. (I prefer watching kids play, of course.) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I speak to experts on the topic. For instance, when
researching <i>Dino-Hockey</i>, my cousin’s hubby read through the manuscript
to make sure I got the hockey terms and play-by-play right. He’s played hockey
for well over 20 years and loves the book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For <i>Dino-Dancing</i>, I sat in at a dance studio for three practices.
I asked the kids and instructors questions about different steps and styles of
dance.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I also research the sports online. My kids were swimmers,
but I couldn’t recall the exact order of events. When I researched it, I found
they were pretty similar across the board, but could change depending on the school,
ages of swimmers, and other factors. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Most recently, I got help from two SCBWI-MI members.
Lerner was adamant that I write <i>Dino-Hanukkah</i> as the sixth book in the
Dino-Holiday series. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://buffysilverman.com/" target="_blank">Buffy Silverman</a> and
<a href="https://lisarosewrites.com/home/#:~:text=Lisa%20Rose%2C%20PJ%20Library%20Author,include%20children%20with%20special%20needs." target="_blank">Lisa Rose</a> were kind enough to answer a questionnaire about their own personal
traditions. I also sent one to my niece’s family, who are Jewish. Then, the
Lerner crew looked over my first draft, asked for revisions, and we all worked
together to make sure the book was sensitive and that I didn’t mess anything
up. It was totally a team effort!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;">Are all your book titles traditionally published?</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Yes. When I started
out, self-publishing was expensive. (I
knew a gentleman who paid $40,000 to have his book published!) We didn’t have
that kind of money and I also knew that I really wanted to get that YES from a
publisher. So I persisted and guess what happened? As I continued writing and
wracking up rejections, my writing improved. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I’ve thought of trying out independent publishing for
some of the unsold titles sitting in my computer. But I am not a marketing
person and I get tired just thinking of all the work it would take to make the
book successful. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;">You've had lots of experience with school visits. Decades? Ruth and I
have shaved off some of the rough corners lately, but our Reading Month is still
grueling. Do you still travel nationwide?</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I love the kids, and the performance aspect of school
visits, It’s also a great way to keep books in print.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0Tg7VypGT1fMe452iAjZ0SERpvp6JcCCMatOiIOUo1NeIYLTDkxh2-rtKH7CdIMbMdT_BgsaoCjLFUokqy65MfZ0DH9ysawQYQW01jBP3WMnJbTRUg2N_xDFFrESp8k_PxfW3w5kUId8PU1xZmT9bQHZ1MD4inHe9V4jo30Zcxv3PrlsXAG0Vp1mvwcF/s225/school%20visit.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="225" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0Tg7VypGT1fMe452iAjZ0SERpvp6JcCCMatOiIOUo1NeIYLTDkxh2-rtKH7CdIMbMdT_BgsaoCjLFUokqy65MfZ0DH9ysawQYQW01jBP3WMnJbTRUg2N_xDFFrESp8k_PxfW3w5kUId8PU1xZmT9bQHZ1MD4inHe9V4jo30Zcxv3PrlsXAG0Vp1mvwcF/s1600/school%20visit.jpg" width="225" /></a></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">But, I’ve cut back quite a bit. Due to health issues that
came on in the last two years, I don’t feel confident that I could handle more
than three days in a row. So I decided to limit how many schools I’ll do in a
month. That said, I have my first 3-days-in-a-row visit schedule for late Feb.
in Virginia. If I don’t feel that I can
give the same energy on day three as I do on day one, I may cut back again. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b>I imagine you have too many stories about travel and weather
and vehicle mishaps, but mostly getting there on time, and not leaving the
place worse than you found it? Care to share any?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Oh, the stories! Any author or illustrator who visits
schools or does conferences has stories. I’ve had too many wonderful
experiences to narrow it down to just one. Can I tell you about the worst one?
The school visit where I left crying?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Over fifteen years ago, I was hired by a principal to do
a half-day visit after lunch. When I booked it, I didn’t realize this was right
before Easter break.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At arrival, I was
informed the principal had already left for vacation. No one seemed to know why
I was there. (The secretary was filling in for the school secretary who already
left for vacation, as well.) The vice-principal was called in. She ordered me
to go to the cafeteria. Yes, ordered! She must’ve been a drill sergeant in her
previous life. (More on this later in story.)</span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg17ABpQmepXLs37Hrf1pkVuSgfIPiMFXyQXa2HXf9zfHuLnNDeWtoO6IYlpdy-NrNbBtWbFRaNbcKm54Ndz8jaeUvV9Cpv7N_m047naPBSUZxc-BeQJUYusTfy9d13TfXp4HCCf8y1y5Kze2SVDg7Lp5cDahLlyTUeWLPynCYQ6W_vlR43cjsB9o4Yo9LU/s537/lisa%20and%20mom.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="403" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg17ABpQmepXLs37Hrf1pkVuSgfIPiMFXyQXa2HXf9zfHuLnNDeWtoO6IYlpdy-NrNbBtWbFRaNbcKm54Ndz8jaeUvV9Cpv7N_m047naPBSUZxc-BeQJUYusTfy9d13TfXp4HCCf8y1y5Kze2SVDg7Lp5cDahLlyTUeWLPynCYQ6W_vlR43cjsB9o4Yo9LU/w240-h320/lisa%20and%20mom.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Infant Lisa and Mom</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">In the very tiny cafeteria, the custodian mopped the
floor. She kindly asked me where I would like to set up so she could clean that
spot first. I thanked her and she replied, “The last author gave me a free book
for helping.” I had no books with me! I mumbled, “That was very kind of them.”
Awkward!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">The first group went okay. It was lower el and although
they were a bit wiggly, nothing memorable happened. Then came upper el. I knew
something was off right away because no one was telling the kids where to sit. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">A group of rowdy 3<sup>rd</sup> grade boys were all together in the front row,
pushing and shoving each other. I asked them who their teacher was. They said,
“We have a sub.” I asked sub to split up the group. She only knew a few words
in English. Sooooo, I went to the drill sergeant.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">“Can we
split up the group of boys in front row? They have a sub and. . .” Before I
could finish, she screamed at the boys, “This lady says you’ve been acting up!”
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">She’s pointing
at me! “If I hear one sound coming from this group, you’ll all get detention!” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">Those kids hated me. I pushed through the program on
automatic pilot. I’m used to kids enjoying my schtick and giving out hugs, not
glaring at me from the front row. Plus, I felt bad for the students whose </span><span style="font-family: Montserrat; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">vice-principal was in the wrong profession.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Afterward, I stopped by the office and asked for my
check. You guessed it. No one could find it. It was six weeks and three
reminders before I got paid. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I called my husband from the car in tears. “You’re taking
me out to dinner!” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;">Years ago we met in person, maybe an MRA thing? You had a
white plastic getup like a karaoke belt and mic. Have you changed sound
equipment? Just curious about the tools you use for school visits.</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">It’s a black belt, Charlie. (I don’t mess around!) I’ve
been using this sound system since 2014 and have only had to replace it once.
It’s a<a href="https://pyleusa.com/products/pyle-pro-pwma50w-50-watts-portable-waist-band-portable-pa-system-with-headset-microphone-rechargeable-batteries-white" target="_blank"> Pyle-Pro 50 watt portable sound system with waist band and headset</a>. It’s
a game changer! If you need to keep your hands free, the headset is terrific
and you won’t need to clip on the ineffective collar mics. I also purchased my
own clicker, to advance the Power Point. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;">Tell us about some of
your puppet’s stories, where they came from, their personalities and voices.</b></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrOTMSPAMTnyfjHMoD_vLAX_bvstEMAmxxRBCDtlKHIur8pZtKgIJYLEgF25AXJsCTaQyssJOXel_Y5Lcrll9mgstUZZ2ruIAe3ACrm-6a7N-q5hAfWyeQjDtYL-fKSd_9F8aQZOtNO5cC7sUlBowTNUgT0-GhY-P3KsVssl0gBvwpWcb1vAoq55qbqu_B/s1200/bubble.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1200" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrOTMSPAMTnyfjHMoD_vLAX_bvstEMAmxxRBCDtlKHIur8pZtKgIJYLEgF25AXJsCTaQyssJOXel_Y5Lcrll9mgstUZZ2ruIAe3ACrm-6a7N-q5hAfWyeQjDtYL-fKSd_9F8aQZOtNO5cC7sUlBowTNUgT0-GhY-P3KsVssl0gBvwpWcb1vAoq55qbqu_B/s320/bubble.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-size: 14.6667px; text-align: left;">In the Bubblegum photo I am holding Little Lisa. <br />She is me at the age of 6.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;">I</span><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">’ve always given ‘voices’ to babies and pets. When my
kids were small, they’d have full conversations and even arguments with our
beagle. I noticed that my youngest would forget that the dog wasn’t actually
speaking and her mom was.</span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">When I decided that I would do school visits, I needed to
find my comfort zone. Puppets didn’t come to me immediately. But when <i>Porcupining</i>
came out, I knew I wanted to build a program around the book. I found an adorable
porcupine puppet and my husband made a small banjo for him. Cushion the
porcupine was my first attempt at using puppets. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I worried because I am not a
ventriloquist. But I realized that once the puppets start speaking, kids go
along with it. I’ve only had a few students yell out, “That’s you talking!” I
also realized I needed larger puppets because Cushion was small and hard to see
unless you were in the first few rows.</span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtx4FgTH1Pr6TibRwSCRz-VhUmKbNfopdxEk5ZaDKFKmkTsDKFoyfc8d7a6-icYxAC-ZupoOfS9IAOdVSUDHAWInXpOskJCqP9T3JPxUmJts2MfNHhlOIy2-L8ORu_aTriG1aAWVZtqqloDlpiu9NRsQlTSMtPnD46ue9etRzM-47Xo07x10sTEPG9jZY/s1080/bear.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="608" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtx4FgTH1Pr6TibRwSCRz-VhUmKbNfopdxEk5ZaDKFKmkTsDKFoyfc8d7a6-icYxAC-ZupoOfS9IAOdVSUDHAWInXpOskJCqP9T3JPxUmJts2MfNHhlOIy2-L8ORu_aTriG1aAWVZtqqloDlpiu9NRsQlTSMtPnD46ue9etRzM-47Xo07x10sTEPG9jZY/w181-h320/bear.jpg" width="181" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p class="yiv6465388291MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none; text-align: left;">The bear is Ol' Bear, star of Ugly Pie. </p><p class="yiv6465388291MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none; text-align: left;">He is Huge and yes, part of </p><p class="yiv6465388291MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none; text-align: left;">the puppet arm problem. </p><p class="yiv6465388291MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none; text-align: left;">Little Lisa is also heavy.</p><p class="yiv6465388291MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none; text-align: left;"> </p></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">An unfortunate side-effect of doing this for over twenty
years is that I have developed what I call “puppet arm’. I still use puppets,
but have to set them down more frequently, as my arm and shoulder start to
throb. It sucks getting older!</span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;">Ever considered writing a memoire: </b><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large; font-style: italic; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Why I Like to Write Books So Much</i>?</span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Not really. I’m kind of private and don’t let many people
in. My daughter said I’m an extroverted- introvert because I can be social when
I have to be. But the real me likes being at home with the people I love and
trust most—including my dog!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b>When do you get to rest on your book legacy? Just say,
that’s enough writing, I’m going to retire? But does one retire from children’s book writing?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Never and nope. I look to friends who have passed like
<a href="https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/tompert-ann-1918" target="_blank">Ann Tompert</a>, <a href="https://www.harpercollins.com/blogs/authors/shirley-neitzel-880000057917">Shirley Neitzel</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Brooks_Wallace" target="_blank">Barbara Brooks Wallace</a>. All were still writing
in their 80s and 90s. As long as I can write, I will. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;">You’ve got Dino Books, a series about sports and another about holidays. And your Ready to Read series for beginning readers. But then there’s your picture book collection. Nine standalone titles, including <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Seadogs</i></b><span style="font-family: Montserrat; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">, </span><span style="font-size: medium;">a kind of musical theater opera sea shanty in a book. What inspired you break the mold of picture books?</span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5eN0ZCdO0eJdj0xhtPG0_plCZ3HyDxGkr2_Q2XJtF22c6L2DbQOkGLKNbsUoAr_4Plu-k9JhNpwiXzaAKLz5rVNgIEwyQD-v9-Dx2WicqfWRf_J5RvdgZIOE_UoeVrXO4nDwfMpUX9kAaNWTVryaHWKNzorO-cADL_X8AWyml7tppoTo5Pfm4KKfO2r1i/s400/seadogs.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5eN0ZCdO0eJdj0xhtPG0_plCZ3HyDxGkr2_Q2XJtF22c6L2DbQOkGLKNbsUoAr_4Plu-k9JhNpwiXzaAKLz5rVNgIEwyQD-v9-Dx2WicqfWRf_J5RvdgZIOE_UoeVrXO4nDwfMpUX9kAaNWTVryaHWKNzorO-cADL_X8AWyml7tppoTo5Pfm4KKfO2r1i/s320/seadogs.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"> actually have at least twenty-five standalone titles, Charlie. Before the Dino books, most of my books were one offs. </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Seadogs</i><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"> is near and dear to my heart. I’ve always loved musicals. My mom had the record albums of a few of them and I grew up listening and dancing around the living room. </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">When I began writing Seadogs, I didn’t know that it was a musical. I was halfway through when I realized I wasn’t writing poems, I was writing songs. </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">When <a href="https://marksiegelbooks.com/" target="_blank">Mark Seigel</a> added his amazing artwork, I swooned. It’s still one of my favorites and I dream of seeing it performed onstage one day. Since I don’t have a musical background, I don’t know how to make this happen.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b><i><a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Boogie-Knights/Lisa-Wheeler/9780689876394" target="_blank">Boogie Knights</a></i> is another favorite. A rollicking tale full of puns and wordplay, it's a fun and funny picture book. But what's with <i>People Share with People </i>and <i>People Don't Bite People</i>? These seem to be message books. Your idea, or someone else's?</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;">Boogie Knights</i><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;"> came to me around Halloween when I’d been
reading Poe’s </span><i style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;">The Raven</i><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;">. That meter was a catalyst for the book’s
tempo. I also love puns and cracked myself up coming up with the knight’s
names.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I got the idea
for <i>People Don’t Bite People</i> after binge-watching<a href="https://walkingdead.fandom.com/wiki/Season_1_(TV_Series)" target="_blank"> season one of <i>The Walking Dead</i></a>, followed by a trip to the dentist. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">As I sat in the chair staring at a
poster of a wide open mouth, the first lines came into my brain. <i>“It’s good to bite a carrot. /It’s good to
bite a steak.? It’s bad to bite your sister.? She’s not a piece of cake.” </i>I wanted it to be a fun book for parents to
enjoy as much as the kids. I cracked myself up writing some of the mildly
subversive lines.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcjBtO60q4_y5maZlSR68YvVmfwPBuR5bMIOu78OqWQhlOuqJ6EihkNtnS4zF4baPsiCuVpZbioe-tvG_FMaENvgf-uC1AVjaOrdfUZMum_AsC1icPXtt79Syo61m6qveTd2IdPjI6GrwvRSRSf9GyAVSXEA5ZmerNtW_LRFfkohohxWTWWNum9pHpnOm/s350/bite.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcjBtO60q4_y5maZlSR68YvVmfwPBuR5bMIOu78OqWQhlOuqJ6EihkNtnS4zF4baPsiCuVpZbioe-tvG_FMaENvgf-uC1AVjaOrdfUZMum_AsC1icPXtt79Syo61m6qveTd2IdPjI6GrwvRSRSf9GyAVSXEA5ZmerNtW_LRFfkohohxWTWWNum9pHpnOm/s320/bite.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">When my agent sent it out, we had lots of interest and an
auction ensued. Simon & Schuster gave me a two-book deal and I wrote </span><i style="font-family: Montserrat;"><a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/People-Share-with-People/Lisa-Wheeler/The-People-Books/9781534425590" target="_blank">People Share With People</a></i><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">. But, my wonderful editor left S&S just
as the books came out. So sadly, no more in the series. But I still chuckle
when I read them aloud. (Also, in the last ten years, I’ve had more luck
selling concept books than stories. So there’s that.)</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b>How many of your
books are out-of-print? How do you handle rights reverting back to you? Do you
ever buy any titles when remaindered?</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">You’re testing
my braincells, Charlie. I think I had about 9 or 10 books go OP. (Most recently
the first manuscript I ever sold—<i><a href="https://www.harpercollins.com/products/one-dark-night-lisa-wheeler?variant=39936786169890" target="_blank">One Dark Night</a></i>—along with <i>Ugly Pie</i>.) In two cases I was able to get my rights back—<i><a href="https://www.purplehousepress.com/products/bubble-gum-bubble-gum?variant=37310814683301" target="_blank">Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum</a></i> and <i>The Christmas Boot</i>. My
agent handled <i>BGBG, </i>and then the illustrator and I sold it to
<a href="https://www.purplehousepress.com/" target="_blank">Purple House Press</a>. They’re a small press who re-print classics and books that
have had a strong run. The book has always been a favorite at school visits and
does well with the Preschool/Kdg kids.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNWwtC_rc28" target="_blank">The Christmas Boot</a></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> was originally published by Mitten Press, who
were out of Ann Arbor, and illustrated by Michael Glenn Monroe. They went
out-of-business a few years after the book released. I asked for my rights to
the text back and they were very good about it. My agent re-sold the text to
Dial and it was re-illustrated by <a href="https://www.justjerrypinkney.com/" target="_blank">Jerry Pinkney</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDFLaeImM-mAcJTzQ2drzS1Kw7kpCL9u9PiFKl0u8EjbVoRE1XETY_5TC8WtjSbeV64uB6CGvaq0XA_Eofk08UojMkUNeOa74JY1DrU6q6H1Tcz985qNauilAm7xDUGw51uD3nib9kbcRJcLUWxLKV8Burj8gf3-OKJFukEaqdIVVrRka3LuR4ELcLHKi/s290/porcupining.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="220" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDFLaeImM-mAcJTzQ2drzS1Kw7kpCL9u9PiFKl0u8EjbVoRE1XETY_5TC8WtjSbeV64uB6CGvaq0XA_Eofk08UojMkUNeOa74JY1DrU6q6H1Tcz985qNauilAm7xDUGw51uD3nib9kbcRJcLUWxLKV8Burj8gf3-OKJFukEaqdIVVrRka3LuR4ELcLHKi/s1600/porcupining.jpg" width="220" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><div><br /></div>I’d love to get </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Porcupining </i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">back, but it is still in print with <a href="https://www.tumblebooks.com/" target="_blank">Tumblebooks</a> (digital) and as long
as they keep renewing their contract, that can’t happen.<o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I have bought
remaindered titles when I could. Lately, publishers print less and by the time
they decide to tell me the book is OP, there are no books to buy. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I hate when my
books go out-of-print. It’s the exact opposite feeling of release day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b>What’s next for
Lisa Wheeler? Events? Different income streams? Is it possible, more books?</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Thanks for
asking, Charlie. Other than schools, I have no events coming up. As for
different streams of income, I see nothing happening in that department either.
I, of course, have more Dino books coming out over the next few years. I’m in
talks with <a href="https://lernerbooks.com/pages/our-imprints" target="_blank">Carolrhoda/Lerner</a> now about extending the Dino-Sport and Holiday to
a third Dino series. Keep an eye out for those.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">But I also have
a stand-alone title coming out Fall 2025 with HarperCollins. <a href="https://www.davidsoman.com/" target="_blank">David Soman</a> will
illustrate it. It is tentatively titled, </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It Takes A Family To Serve.</i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">
That’s quite a lot of title, so my publisher may change it. I’m very excited to
share it with the world. I got the idea on Veteran’s Day 2020. I worked on the
book and sent it to my agent in 2021. So between the sell and the release,
you’ll notice lots of time. That is because there are lots of steps, including
finding the right illustrator. Of course, the wonderful David Soman has a
schedule to keep. Thus, the 2025 release.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrt4tt6qvxYwPGRKKIoN8VO9ihFtfDV4Zn8r4NJ0-VTZJVz0Mi1RRVuSnJifsNwsYoORPq5q7iLmcBtxccsCgNBdLhh4iFwTmMcFDLkBrwo6da9Q9IZMQuFFJmeLJAaCpY8dtcZMCqHDJtk_e_IjGMEz8KtW6Z6RRzCqU1WGHZBLiPGNL3WugyvNSnFYag/s290/young.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="210" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrt4tt6qvxYwPGRKKIoN8VO9ihFtfDV4Zn8r4NJ0-VTZJVz0Mi1RRVuSnJifsNwsYoORPq5q7iLmcBtxccsCgNBdLhh4iFwTmMcFDLkBrwo6da9Q9IZMQuFFJmeLJAaCpY8dtcZMCqHDJtk_e_IjGMEz8KtW6Z6RRzCqU1WGHZBLiPGNL3WugyvNSnFYag/s1600/young.png" width="210" /></a></span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I’m always
working on something. Whether that something sells or not is out of my hands. I
had to learn this lesson a long time ago and it is still true today. As
creators, we have to follow our stories, follow the art. That is what we <i>can</i> control. Once we send that baby out the door, we have to let it go.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>Charlie Barshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09500271053109489021noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473128326113032249.post-17635910012022943762024-02-09T10:42:00.002-05:002024-02-12T14:22:39.292-05:00Celebrating Black History Beyond the Usual Heroes: Embracing Diversity in Stories by Naomi V. Dunsen-White<p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">As February unfolds, so does Black
History Month—an annual celebration that invites us to reflect on the profound
contributions of Black Americans to the fabric of our nation. While iconic
figures like Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and Malcolm X are commonly
celebrated (as they should be), it's imperative that we expand our knowledge
and delve into the lesser-known stories of Black American trailblazers. In
discussing Black History Month, I am honored to highlight the importance of
diverse stories, particularly in children's literature, proud to stress the
need for year-round recognition, and delighted to help you discover a new hero
or two.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><b>Discovering Hidden Gems</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">Black history is a treasure trove
of resilience, innovation, and triumphs, which are often overshadowed by more
mainstream narratives and common figures. This Black History Month, let's
challenge ourselves to explore the lesser-known stories—those of individuals
who have left an indelible mark on American history but may not have ever
received the spotlight they deserve. At the end of this writing, I will share
the stories of two great Black Americans whose names you may have never heard.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><b>Importance of Diversity in
Children's Literature</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">One of the most powerful ways to
instill a sense of pride and understanding in young minds is through
literature. Children's books play a pivotal role in shaping their opinions
about the world and those in it, and it is crucial that young readers encounter
characters in their books who look like them and share similar experiences.
Representation truly matters, and diverse literature fosters empathy,
understanding, and a more inclusive worldview.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">Black children, like all children,
deserve to see themselves reflected in the stories they read. This goes beyond
historical figures to include a wide array of characters in both fiction and
nonfiction. From adventure tales to everyday stories, children's literature
should be a mirror that reflects the rich diversity of our society. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><b>Supporting Black History All Year
Round</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">While February is designated as
Black History Month, the celebration and acknowledgment of Black contributions
should extend far beyond those 28 days (29 this year). Incorporating diverse
perspectives into our daily lives is an ongoing commitment that fosters unity
and appreciation for the truth and richness of our shared history.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">So, this Black History Month, let's
make a conscious effort to broaden our understanding of Black history by
exploring stories beyond the familiar names heard this time each year. By doing
so, we not only honor the unsung heroes, but we also broaden our own
perspective. Remember, the celebration of Black history is not confined to a
single month; it's a year-round commitment to recognizing, appreciating, and
uplifting the diverse voices that contribute to the American story.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">Allow me to introduce two
outstanding Black Americans who made great contributions that have benefitted
us all. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"> </span></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><b>Virginia Hamilton (1934-2002):</b> A Trailblazer in Children's
Literature</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlO04pBJRRgizaS7NCJzcbJc766SB-e38kI6cYvIzJQOXYMhJ2kUJ7u7fZr7s-K5-YuDyp9do03vpTZzH1WcR3OvptWSvo8hVNVzjFP6ghFk6Zy193JAHk1m3P5vzKXo6HZgjmMvY2W5qeaT4EwNAQ8ZK-bJPM0WhMIEMltqo7qjwLigpHxjvNkHwWPkk/s466/mc%20higgens%20the%20great.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="312" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlO04pBJRRgizaS7NCJzcbJc766SB-e38kI6cYvIzJQOXYMhJ2kUJ7u7fZr7s-K5-YuDyp9do03vpTZzH1WcR3OvptWSvo8hVNVzjFP6ghFk6Zy193JAHk1m3P5vzKXo6HZgjmMvY2W5qeaT4EwNAQ8ZK-bJPM0WhMIEMltqo7qjwLigpHxjvNkHwWPkk/s320/mc%20higgens%20the%20great.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">Virginia Hamilton was a pioneering
Black American author who made significant contributions to children's
literature, enriching the literary landscape with her impactful storytelling.
Born in Yellow Springs, Ohio, she dedicated her career to creating diverse and
authentic stories that engaged and resonated with young readers.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">One of her most acclaimed works is <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/M-C-Higgins-Great-Virginia-Hamilton/dp/1416914072" target="_blank">M.C. Higgins, the Great</a></i>, which earned her the prestigious Newbery
Medal in 1975. This novel explores themes of family, heritage, and
environmentalism, showcasing Ms. Hamilton's ability to tackle complex subjects
in a way that captivates and educates young minds.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">Throughout her career, Hamilton
received numerous awards for her outstanding contributions to literature,
including the coveted Coretta Scott King Award. She was not only a prolific
writer but also a trailblazer who paved the way for future generations of Black
authors in children's literature. Through her dedication to portraying diverse
characters and exploring important social issues, she has left an indelible
mark on children's literature, emphasizing the importance of representation and
inclusivity in storytelling for young readers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><b>Bayard Rustin (1912-1987):</b> The Architect of the “March on
Washington”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN8IgxgKL2RilYYjrDee3KfjSmZoz4ARSY7RavC6crc-AvCaIjA0DBAi4kezn1P5OOUNae8sAFq1OFGCVRyNTM2WRwTAR3AAKBgaEzCcErkdmWOX3dh1_PQ0zqmA9nTiOrKEvdSEIqKjsysLeY94lYQhqDXmdHyF7VVNY84CbDmTxnn07KrxJmvyptmGY/s942/800px-BayardRustinAug1963-LibraryOfCongress_crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="942" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN8IgxgKL2RilYYjrDee3KfjSmZoz4ARSY7RavC6crc-AvCaIjA0DBAi4kezn1P5OOUNae8sAFq1OFGCVRyNTM2WRwTAR3AAKBgaEzCcErkdmWOX3dh1_PQ0zqmA9nTiOrKEvdSEIqKjsysLeY94lYQhqDXmdHyF7VVNY84CbDmTxnn07KrxJmvyptmGY/s320/800px-BayardRustinAug1963-LibraryOfCongress_crop.jpg" width="272" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Bayard Rustin <br />(photograph by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayard_Rustin#/media/File:BayardRustinAug1963-LibraryOfCongress_crop.jpg" target="_blank">Warren K. Leffler</a>)</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />While Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is
credited as the face of the Civil Rights Movement (and rightly so), Bayard
Rustin played a pivotal, yet lesser-known, role in organizing the historic 1963
March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. An openly gay African American man,
Rustin was a skilled strategist, organizer, and advocate for nonviolent
resistance, in full support of Dr. King. Despite his significant contributions,
Rustin faced discrimination because of his sexual orientation, leading to his
often-overlooked role in shaping the trajectory of the Civil Rights Movement.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">It is true that Black History <i>is</i>
American history. History is always worth learning. History should always be
told.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">Naomi V. Dunsen-White,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">Chairperson, Equity & Inclusion
Team,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">Michigan Chapter<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"> </span></o:p></p>Sarah Prusoff LoCasciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03325900884643863060noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473128326113032249.post-30889098470967724832024-02-02T02:32:00.002-05:002024-02-02T02:38:07.867-05:00Why Illustrators Should Attend the Marvelous Midwest Conference in 2024<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgssHVzAApKKnNL35zAzUU5Qr-HwbwiiaI-ypgmIciV9nxQ5Gfxb68XviFkecfC8NQmN9K77SUd6kQBztuHORRFVDKmF6XpzLHOhB0Fe7WGwomUghXFbqAgvY6JHPjqUPpydgPbroTDyK1Ym89TVpB3lWxqLbdtfU7XocpA6GGLNegR1CxQY2BBg2EdMGs/s3018/8%20REASONS%20BADGE.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2597" data-original-width="3018" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgssHVzAApKKnNL35zAzUU5Qr-HwbwiiaI-ypgmIciV9nxQ5Gfxb68XviFkecfC8NQmN9K77SUd6kQBztuHORRFVDKmF6XpzLHOhB0Fe7WGwomUghXFbqAgvY6JHPjqUPpydgPbroTDyK1Ym89TVpB3lWxqLbdtfU7XocpA6GGLNegR1CxQY2BBg2EdMGs/s320/8%20REASONS%20BADGE.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13pt;">After years of postponement
due to Covid, we are SO EXCITED the highly anticipated <a href="https://www.scbwi.org/events/marvelous-midwest" target="_blank">Marvelous Midwest Conference</a> is finally just around the corner!</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 13pt;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13pt;">The best part?</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 13pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13pt;">It’s chock full of
amazing opportunities for illustrators to perfect their craft, meet industry
professionals, get their work seen, and connect with one another.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 13pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13pt;">It’s no secret conferences are an excellent
way to advance your career and make the necessary connections to move closer to
that coveted book deal.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 13pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13pt;">If you haven’t
already signed up, here are the reasons you should!</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 13pt;"> </span></span><p></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"> </span></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8MYGJGQMOVH4QH8l_13JnkGfmeR_WlT3iStGBTIBSYNUBoHW1ke-jv82IGb_m-_VnCaCclYBhXGqPTl-5BcA6_kMmBqSdsWo7vN7vKT3764X6U6gPyQQFkMyxi68s06rHdey_hOZh03tn4dw92uwIT5Js9QBGylYcYt5DePDkawqBVYcSSrOcTuu_JgA/s714/1%20-%20portfolio%20reviews.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="714" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8MYGJGQMOVH4QH8l_13JnkGfmeR_WlT3iStGBTIBSYNUBoHW1ke-jv82IGb_m-_VnCaCclYBhXGqPTl-5BcA6_kMmBqSdsWo7vN7vKT3764X6U6gPyQQFkMyxi68s06rHdey_hOZh03tn4dw92uwIT5Js9QBGylYcYt5DePDkawqBVYcSSrOcTuu_JgA/s320/1%20-%20portfolio%20reviews.png" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"></span></div><p></p><p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 13pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVUynMnutk5CGPzK4JZQVbcFtoKMfT801jcDVmW1nPE7JNAISTnvlEVL7HZB_JJWX56OLNueVbTrfrKbWIjyRtve4jdn8AhvjqqQkyZKAxeA34VHyuD6ixNGYjAfeU6oXOvN8KHZwB_QDreeZeSV-dnoif1tUv4uegzTw2U1Y4lyUZStTSIBUzl7_H7rU/s497/PortfolioReviewsSPOT.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="497" data-original-width="483" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVUynMnutk5CGPzK4JZQVbcFtoKMfT801jcDVmW1nPE7JNAISTnvlEVL7HZB_JJWX56OLNueVbTrfrKbWIjyRtve4jdn8AhvjqqQkyZKAxeA34VHyuD6ixNGYjAfeU6oXOvN8KHZwB_QDreeZeSV-dnoif1tUv4uegzTw2U1Y4lyUZStTSIBUzl7_H7rU/w191-h197/PortfolioReviewsSPOT.png" width="191" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="font-size: medium;">1. PORTFOLIO REVIEWS: Choose from EIGHT marvelous industry professionals for an in-person, 15-minute portfolio review. This kind of feedback is invaluable to your career! </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><p></p><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><br /><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9heI6ziblZfUevKkiGWDM95YD5FZt8elzYNr1LlH27ytH659TqDlA2cyM2D3njJ8EnEi9wHdyE2xzZIwPbWB1EJuUkF4VtQscvw-w39wS8SrQ9kq8iV5E9TMKt9rWZSEb-Ft_OdvmvtLOwB2cAxzgtQhl6Dw6li1Ens6sh9H387wVTe9cX1fCRQKef38/s714/2%20-%20mix%20&%20mingle.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="714" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9heI6ziblZfUevKkiGWDM95YD5FZt8elzYNr1LlH27ytH659TqDlA2cyM2D3njJ8EnEi9wHdyE2xzZIwPbWB1EJuUkF4VtQscvw-w39wS8SrQ9kq8iV5E9TMKt9rWZSEb-Ft_OdvmvtLOwB2cAxzgtQhl6Dw6li1Ens6sh9H387wVTe9cX1fCRQKef38/s320/2%20-%20mix%20&%20mingle.png" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"></span></div><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 13pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKjwCz1a2SltioNmalHBGRTE99dDE2CMOia2hIeRECk2ZMEe0K67lNVO7u5aL3PIAS80BAJdqV0D99TubWr_N8d_b_Ehvund6K5cR_YODE52_2OM-48rxO3px8Tx0Z6IaoFynkf7vGASFjv1Y3tT6NjVksTA2ttD0RjwpwNq9AtXNg9BvtPxJDwt6cZDg/s495/Mix&MingleSPOT.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="495" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKjwCz1a2SltioNmalHBGRTE99dDE2CMOia2hIeRECk2ZMEe0K67lNVO7u5aL3PIAS80BAJdqV0D99TubWr_N8d_b_Ehvund6K5cR_YODE52_2OM-48rxO3px8Tx0Z6IaoFynkf7vGASFjv1Y3tT6NjVksTA2ttD0RjwpwNq9AtXNg9BvtPxJDwt6cZDg/w250-h145/Mix&MingleSPOT.png" width="250" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="font-size: medium;">2. MIX & MINGLE: In
addition to an Illustrator Social Saturday night, the weekend is filled with
opportunities to meet and learn from fellow illustrators with similar goals and
interests.</span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSY-P7wlNO7Qn1kc06H3SgbaOOQAqErwhchmR3U9D1z32kECO7SbiexmU2m6PKhDdK40C00RzNHLB-j74jFffA7rXR6AFKRhw1hFf94m00HifKHjF32onvXXxgNIN88N8HKZj7tTcDY-1RxzZt8jjFT8g4BQ6axIJ49hbnCvuH_uWjgsPvJVqtM8hUyw/s714/3%20-%20perfect%20your%20craft.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="714" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSY-P7wlNO7Qn1kc06H3SgbaOOQAqErwhchmR3U9D1z32kECO7SbiexmU2m6PKhDdK40C00RzNHLB-j74jFffA7rXR6AFKRhw1hFf94m00HifKHjF32onvXXxgNIN88N8HKZj7tTcDY-1RxzZt8jjFT8g4BQ6axIJ49hbnCvuH_uWjgsPvJVqtM8hUyw/s320/3%20-%20perfect%20your%20craft.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-TAxJTwTKGy9L-aucQV24ZuQ0wZKtP9EgHZfs6GQrJn4p5ATwKV4B2sk7df4I0v8VRJ-p-lpsv03ZI0B_RoVnqP1ZUQVTfIOE0syY4yZbEg6FgUlHiJqwx7JtyG_4gOIt9Xi_z41OoC_8KsxJfqKkhgWR69zaC0qoElVH1WZAhldVXEYLjlp5-jM_pI/s822/PerfectYourCraftSPOT.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="660" data-original-width="822" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-TAxJTwTKGy9L-aucQV24ZuQ0wZKtP9EgHZfs6GQrJn4p5ATwKV4B2sk7df4I0v8VRJ-p-lpsv03ZI0B_RoVnqP1ZUQVTfIOE0syY4yZbEg6FgUlHiJqwx7JtyG_4gOIt9Xi_z41OoC_8KsxJfqKkhgWR69zaC0qoElVH1WZAhldVXEYLjlp5-jM_pI/w196-h157/PerfectYourCraftSPOT.png" width="196" /></a></div><p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 13pt;">3. PERFECT YOUR CRAFT:
Multiple classes geared toward illustrators explore topics such as
character design, marrying pictures & words, overcoming artist's block,
building an eye-catching portfolio, and MUCH MORE!</span></p><div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizBlSCKrqtK2nVh4Koxbds9W3qBrAbRVx9dWe64y1iK4ADHAVLNExRcek75i7TsGKWswvf-kmolR3e8TkyBx8zYxS0QxgfRJ2K449DchF5GibYiZv53r19XJlUkqDKxfG_YNQp7Ycop-AcPOQhMxSjN5AwdUNlppS1e0Susj2lwC0OnuCnaxV-BsjrvAw/s714/4%20-%20art%20show.png" style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="714" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizBlSCKrqtK2nVh4Koxbds9W3qBrAbRVx9dWe64y1iK4ADHAVLNExRcek75i7TsGKWswvf-kmolR3e8TkyBx8zYxS0QxgfRJ2K449DchF5GibYiZv53r19XJlUkqDKxfG_YNQp7Ycop-AcPOQhMxSjN5AwdUNlppS1e0Susj2lwC0OnuCnaxV-BsjrvAw/s320/4%20-%20art%20show.png" width="320" /></a></div><p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><o:p></o:p><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13pt;"></span></p><p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD90NDJ1ua0miKV4n2HzCLDY8vlCtn-ZxQuBWmabHU1oEmG48vTGj7NAN63cL54ySZVEOpPRXbtzvsSgDF6SxuxFwshisw1_w9WQZ1V8SBfBhnxPj1auYhaT5XwxEZBjUBM_IQbEjhyphenhypheniSC72XAva5wi8WZHl2RiRHtqcczcqMoS7bkSNltAjQO0GrfewE/s369/ArtShowSPOT.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="369" data-original-width="365" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD90NDJ1ua0miKV4n2HzCLDY8vlCtn-ZxQuBWmabHU1oEmG48vTGj7NAN63cL54ySZVEOpPRXbtzvsSgDF6SxuxFwshisw1_w9WQZ1V8SBfBhnxPj1auYhaT5XwxEZBjUBM_IQbEjhyphenhypheniSC72XAva5wi8WZHl2RiRHtqcczcqMoS7bkSNltAjQO0GrfewE/w226-h228/ArtShowSPOT.png" width="226" /></a></div><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">4. ENTER AN </span></o:p></span><span lang="DE" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 13pt;">ART SHOW: </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 13pt;"> Let your creativity loose and show off your work with a fun illustration prompt - with two chances to win a gift card to the bookstore! The best part? It's FREE to enter!</span><p></p><p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><br /><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivbA1XaG2eb0D3X7hiHX1CL9FD1bRGkYB-qIcHH4MBI2pHlJ9g4ltwfgiLZmfWt0yG-HMjce5DDEy1z7QEAv5QyP_jZdrrhJ6Mkno3RNaclcLXqlCsz-_RkjOE0lSlYPhYe3FHIr6LCr4-AZdNXsiNn4zqagY2BDHRWj1RBovs396IDBwdqSUP52byryw/s714/5%20-%20portfolio%20showcase.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="714" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivbA1XaG2eb0D3X7hiHX1CL9FD1bRGkYB-qIcHH4MBI2pHlJ9g4ltwfgiLZmfWt0yG-HMjce5DDEy1z7QEAv5QyP_jZdrrhJ6Mkno3RNaclcLXqlCsz-_RkjOE0lSlYPhYe3FHIr6LCr4-AZdNXsiNn4zqagY2BDHRWj1RBovs396IDBwdqSUP52byryw/s320/5%20-%20portfolio%20showcase.png" width="320" /></a></div><p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVq4y_ZvTow3TsT73dHiAeQYJMsBEiIOV6uq_ssSTkQChfHIdxL1JIGSwgn2vNZH9ltWeNQEl-Ey-fmrJqyEPuzs2ZFIT7K3iHA3g7mFyG1EyC5JD0FeEYXL0c6r5kJupFe2z0L17thosE7RqAtPTY1jMxZl5JddGHI15mBPyxM0UWnWV0oi-9hl6dJ_g/s331/PortfolioShowcaseSPOT.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="331" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVq4y_ZvTow3TsT73dHiAeQYJMsBEiIOV6uq_ssSTkQChfHIdxL1JIGSwgn2vNZH9ltWeNQEl-Ey-fmrJqyEPuzs2ZFIT7K3iHA3g7mFyG1EyC5JD0FeEYXL0c6r5kJupFe2z0L17thosE7RqAtPTY1jMxZl5JddGHI15mBPyxM0UWnWV0oi-9hl6dJ_g/w213-h172/PortfolioShowcaseSPOT.png" width="213" /></a></div><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"> 5</span></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 13pt;">. <a href="https://scbwimithemitten.blogspot.com/2024/01/portfolio-field-guide-by-jen-and-katie.html" target="_blank">PORTFOLIO</a> SHOWCASE: </span><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 13pt;">Display your work to industry professionals (the people who hire you!) and your peers all weekend! Bonus: One winner will receive THREE 15-minute meetings (2 ADs and 1 agent).</span></p></span></o:p></span></o:p></span><p></p><p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p><br /><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><br /></span></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk5os8DvGF0PXPJ1pL25MKu72fKyE3-QTp7Gov192-iLzQJcM5NOZYa2pbPK8KQlee3GcG0C_tZHb_qwTHSta6k1yKPHYRJe8F9Kxlc1Ve8D2I10k28RPEYdJCKXKZ09oUGQwyanvq-5oE_IT_wf1McnppEM8HU8wIo5BNy-4kb6wwUWS6KAb0bFLAPB4/s714/6%20-%20website%20review.png" style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="714" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk5os8DvGF0PXPJ1pL25MKu72fKyE3-QTp7Gov192-iLzQJcM5NOZYa2pbPK8KQlee3GcG0C_tZHb_qwTHSta6k1yKPHYRJe8F9Kxlc1Ve8D2I10k28RPEYdJCKXKZ09oUGQwyanvq-5oE_IT_wf1McnppEM8HU8wIo5BNy-4kb6wwUWS6KAb0bFLAPB4/s320/6%20-%20website%20review.png" width="320" /></a></div><p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJbNx_tvqh6xz9IQBdW4hGOSmXWMmqUvk27FRm1KHMgJrZVs6k7fvpvnvomQ8s-prLmtyHAAhjH70PCuDGtrw0r1_kXPhFAP5dzybW0XuIiOxDQRVotR_2zHVbECqr7sz6SbjQ8CvQZfUG-57xrwyLcYQy0DUL8T3qCXsn_f3wnqCNGOn4aT9Oa0iPCzQ/s410/WebsiteReviewSPOT.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="387" data-original-width="410" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJbNx_tvqh6xz9IQBdW4hGOSmXWMmqUvk27FRm1KHMgJrZVs6k7fvpvnvomQ8s-prLmtyHAAhjH70PCuDGtrw0r1_kXPhFAP5dzybW0XuIiOxDQRVotR_2zHVbECqr7sz6SbjQ8CvQZfUG-57xrwyLcYQy0DUL8T3qCXsn_f3wnqCNGOn4aT9Oa0iPCzQ/w214-h202/WebsiteReviewSPOT.png" width="214" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13pt;">6. </span><span lang="DE" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13pt;">WEBSITE REVIEW: </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13pt;"> Submit your URL at registration for a chance to have your site reviewed by 2 ADs!</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="font-size: 17.3333px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="font-size: 17.3333px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="font-size: 17.3333px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="font-size: 17.3333px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="font-size: 17.3333px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><br /><br /><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_hMgPtGLCx57vlCqpRTr8NSs4vRipTruV54cn9cK6aJs_f7BoyIgIA2bDQP3dIWPYSuXry59do-sm48Y_sFlhstdMnFujHMBWQsLq86-1135cj9xhD_J6pjQsJy8gZqtA-e5ZIJoP7Po9zHWqKWRQuVjMwOo9T8IHS3TePwtFa_PwfE_atX7aI2neqgM/s714/7%20-%20deep%20dive.png" style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="714" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_hMgPtGLCx57vlCqpRTr8NSs4vRipTruV54cn9cK6aJs_f7BoyIgIA2bDQP3dIWPYSuXry59do-sm48Y_sFlhstdMnFujHMBWQsLq86-1135cj9xhD_J6pjQsJy8gZqtA-e5ZIJoP7Po9zHWqKWRQuVjMwOo9T8IHS3TePwtFa_PwfE_atX7aI2neqgM/s320/7%20-%20deep%20dive.png" width="320" /></a></div><p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiANWoh3CJEAtdKx7Y3F5r82_yPWhczTbo0nBXo89RgodrxOnJo-3BxxDS0hAAbjlvOj7Zb7KA-bDNWPm4og5ozCT5vhALCYY161z5S74xU5iSj8Py1qrHh6tbizSaawqNlg7t8xwimEQOaGRQklEPXKpWD9C3sEj_SMa9RZwXxnfL_4uQI306lWWrrZCE/s541/DiveDeepSPOT.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="541" data-original-width="360" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiANWoh3CJEAtdKx7Y3F5r82_yPWhczTbo0nBXo89RgodrxOnJo-3BxxDS0hAAbjlvOj7Zb7KA-bDNWPm4og5ozCT5vhALCYY161z5S74xU5iSj8Py1qrHh6tbizSaawqNlg7t8xwimEQOaGRQklEPXKpWD9C3sEj_SMa9RZwXxnfL_4uQI306lWWrrZCE/w136-h205/DiveDeepSPOT.png" width="136" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 13pt;">7. DIVE DEEP: Not
one, but FOUR intensives for illustrators dive deep into varying aspects of the
KidLit industry!</span></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 13pt;"> </span></p><p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_i-mXItn8pgyEONeBVlnYp0La9DmVNIDwCSX1UQHhB_2kg1nLmkjloEsTIUUd_qqPicCepHVqczc85_DxKvqDCHhrjl3dHgTLscmzSrgSQP65p9NQtnS5G_7l3B9NUHifPyBiSnjgnxazljk2ii6o8MzbnjTi43yTV-75pBqW2hP4An2HfmBlz4igCPc/s900/8%20-%20scholarship%20opportunity.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="900" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_i-mXItn8pgyEONeBVlnYp0La9DmVNIDwCSX1UQHhB_2kg1nLmkjloEsTIUUd_qqPicCepHVqczc85_DxKvqDCHhrjl3dHgTLscmzSrgSQP65p9NQtnS5G_7l3B9NUHifPyBiSnjgnxazljk2ii6o8MzbnjTi43yTV-75pBqW2hP4An2HfmBlz4igCPc/s320/8%20-%20scholarship%20opportunity.png" width="320" /></a></div><p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13pt;">8.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The amazing Zeke Peña is generously offering
the opportunity to a traditionally underrepresented illustrator to attend the
conference for free, PLUS a portfolio review, AND a special meet-and-greet with
him!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do not pass up this amazing
opportunity!</span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"></span></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgITFGGrOG7-vcKL2nOq_H1WlhhIN0ZnnIqYpmNwOflKZDzKQ_l1W6bKGFZdgSGGLcU-iNlqzl5FhEjmvexxptzm0XeMF1Feg-krh_OgHkV6X_SfaPhEQt0Nrs1pTxqohNDwZrMKzqRuVeWHygCO4vD5637XXHhgMv4mRqIKk2a_gD-soPfOj_4SNmRFj0/s527/ScholarshipSPOT.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="249" data-original-width="527" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgITFGGrOG7-vcKL2nOq_H1WlhhIN0ZnnIqYpmNwOflKZDzKQ_l1W6bKGFZdgSGGLcU-iNlqzl5FhEjmvexxptzm0XeMF1Feg-krh_OgHkV6X_SfaPhEQt0Nrs1pTxqohNDwZrMKzqRuVeWHygCO4vD5637XXHhgMv4mRqIKk2a_gD-soPfOj_4SNmRFj0/s320/ScholarshipSPOT.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><br /> </span><p></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13pt;">We look forward to seeing
you there!</span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">Katie + Jen</span></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><i><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.katieeberts.com/" target="_blank">Katie Eberts</a>, Michigan Co-Illustrator Coordinator, received her BFA in Art & Design from the University of Michigan with a concentration in watercolor. Her debut picture book, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Hush-A-Bye Night </span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">written by Thelma Godin, was published by Sleeping Bear Press in March 2023. She is based in Cedarville, Michigan.</span></span></i></p><p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><i><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><br style="color: black;" /></span></i></span></p><p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 4pt;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.jenboehler.com/" target="_blank">Jen Boehler</a>, Michigan Co-Illustrator Coordinator, is an illustrator, graphic designer and author working on a hobby farm in Saginaw, Michigan. Before pursuing children’s literature, Jen worked as a freelance editorial illustrator, graphic designer, interior/event designer and owned her own line of Michigan travel apparel. She has degrees in both art/graphic design and interior design.</span></i></span></p></div><div><span face="Montserrat, sans-serif" style="color: #1a1a1a; font-size: 8.5pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i><br /></i></span></div>Sarah Prusoff LoCasciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03325900884643863060noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473128326113032249.post-24756655435075311492024-01-26T05:00:00.211-05:002024-01-26T05:00:00.129-05:00Hugs and Hurrahs<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> <span style="font-family: Montserrat;">Welcome to the first Hugs and Hurrahs of 2024!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #26282a;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9b6vVCb6047WZZ5qPpmtZYHhlXQCVvLBYJO84iSpwl2vyrvQN_OkHPz7e1w5YmmBDY9RBsUhb_6sgyVD6MjuQLM2i4e2Lxwve3cs8G_o1J3RU6mlf2lN8mRTzie6fiSd_SMu1bsmT4lDQa89hB3zVXAfCMKnTWAjW5hqpvhW7ETjXDWufqlzWAyIKwvNX/s2048/IMG_8501%20(1).JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9b6vVCb6047WZZ5qPpmtZYHhlXQCVvLBYJO84iSpwl2vyrvQN_OkHPz7e1w5YmmBDY9RBsUhb_6sgyVD6MjuQLM2i4e2Lxwve3cs8G_o1J3RU6mlf2lN8mRTzie6fiSd_SMu1bsmT4lDQa89hB3zVXAfCMKnTWAjW5hqpvhW7ETjXDWufqlzWAyIKwvNX/w300-h400/IMG_8501%20(1).JPEG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">At the end of 2023, <a href="https://jamiebills.com/">Jamie Bills </a>signed with Agent Amy Nielsen from The Purcell Agency. </span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #26282a;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Way to go, Jamie!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></p><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSMaSinuytSTFzAy43sFUX9ae-LmP63jMdrjEsU15B8gOsgHswG8F8OKjSR7RFVxDHK8KWrATAb0_OlOj2Ezxg_qb8HrGYaDqNoa0w-lPWC5oKIycdcNXTOaRD7s2jLmxK6I40pyXPaJviz8JGVChOybatCgtP3c0gXaFDsgffT1g98Drs2sBQQeZWjULz/s402/MFDinoSwim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3zfcYJFoiKASR0Y0JABb1FsWiUr8YSjrNAWu2iMHDzgFRwDlg3y0xhukfu5WXriSmf4pKKTc-mt0IiSAe2IFI9JHt2X2BEahZZVn2f6VVP8o7mpkM6Tz8GsSxaIQb-Hx6PGBr_pPbH0XmZMK4cBlxHsVHDMgA0aQ581Espr6MTkVKfykepPRW-qG7d7ZX/s402/MFDinoBoard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="345" data-original-width="402" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3zfcYJFoiKASR0Y0JABb1FsWiUr8YSjrNAWu2iMHDzgFRwDlg3y0xhukfu5WXriSmf4pKKTc-mt0IiSAe2IFI9JHt2X2BEahZZVn2f6VVP8o7mpkM6Tz8GsSxaIQb-Hx6PGBr_pPbH0XmZMK4cBlxHsVHDMgA0aQ581Espr6MTkVKfykepPRW-qG7d7ZX/w320-h275/MFDinoBoard.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFIz8OVRZy9Mh4DJZuNWUlK-e2FOVRmgBDc08erSGt2_pYk3DQ_mK6RYuBRoFuj5w0bf2rx1zbP9qeU1YoyEuVqJz-tXhFnzemaaxPzs3X0QMwWPcqMCCjDY0m3RYSVGmJ3O-nWeePe6GsshCUEbsjJvAyKHnnivxyYxEaHsvLSP9P7rM9pKxjzIWwGtPr/s402/MFDinoSwim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="345" data-original-width="402" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFIz8OVRZy9Mh4DJZuNWUlK-e2FOVRmgBDc08erSGt2_pYk3DQ_mK6RYuBRoFuj5w0bf2rx1zbP9qeU1YoyEuVqJz-tXhFnzemaaxPzs3X0QMwWPcqMCCjDY0m3RYSVGmJ3O-nWeePe6GsshCUEbsjJvAyKHnnivxyYxEaHsvLSP9P7rM9pKxjzIWwGtPr/s320/MFDinoSwim.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.LisaWheelerBooks.com">Lisa Wheeler</a><span style="color: #222222;"> is happy to report two more board-book titles in the "My First Dino" series from Carolrhoda/Lerner. </span></span><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large; text-align: left;">My First Dino-Boarding</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large; text-align: left;"> and </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large; text-align: left;">My First Dino-Swimming</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large; text-align: left;"> will be available in February. Both are illustrated by Barry Gott.</span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Congratulations times two, Lisa!</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZe6OAV2AZcI7TFR0ubGaEzc0QmDTMVPZ-XaQnYRpeHSH_APPo3KYO50mVetQDeYFWSaniDsaPtc1Kvrg4RWo6pM3WhUD9jC_cE2afKvQkS0uaEYmyfRMswgY4MwKpzq7n_EwOo565R9jM2v0EjptW8NqbjYyycCHAW5d6bQ6A3AQ8vghxgmLeCtXbiDH/s1024/imagejpeg-0.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><br /></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBFbXoJ1BlwT9xZKPhyc_zfKTyxibipn-Dm-p0Uj3Yhk0CZ1DPIIcHF1Q8617n5KsTDcEY5uqaPtwyONIEMFc6eHNaNK0zXHcVeCqjik4EQNbkQG46CypEeCOs7uR6R2HeYpjpfboUsmuzz3EPjS0OmqMO7Rxp3Ui9-cebINkku8gJdnTFUpg5vbH6igkP/s1024/imagejpeg-0.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXPJbLFPh2AixlHzRQE9sP9BfWH-K_TwI89n5qpwxgyaTmiMjciwaVRNorY_CLfNqtuRyuQ40CggZw_OJw_c8XI4BiPNiuW4wv_v_h7gEcKaeGv-MGvYk2JOKompNp8F-pDbHP7D3kEzO7uj02eSbRafV-awoeNXlUKcuWSFGX5_OJkEqg-cb6ZX-DkrM/s2551/CadyBirchbarkBox_2D_hi-res_cover_promo-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2551" data-original-width="1648" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXPJbLFPh2AixlHzRQE9sP9BfWH-K_TwI89n5qpwxgyaTmiMjciwaVRNorY_CLfNqtuRyuQ40CggZw_OJw_c8XI4BiPNiuW4wv_v_h7gEcKaeGv-MGvYk2JOKompNp8F-pDbHP7D3kEzO7uj02eSbRafV-awoeNXlUKcuWSFGX5_OJkEqg-cb6ZX-DkrM/s320/CadyBirchbarkBox_2D_hi-res_cover_promo-1.jpg" width="207" /></a></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span class="s1" style="color: #dca10d; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large; text-decoration-line: underline;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/473128326113032249/2475665543507531149#">Cady and the Birchbark Box,</a></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;"> by </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/473128326113032249/2475665543507531149#" style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;"><span class="s1" style="color: #dca10d;">Ann Dallman</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;">, was named recently as a finalist in the 2023 New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards (Juvenile category). </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">“This was a challenging book to write as I brought together so many elements—shipwrecks on the Great Lakes, a mysterious birchbark box, the restoring of the reputation of a tribal elder and my young heroine’s struggle with many challenges universal to young people. Uniting it all is her close relationship with her grandmother,” Dallman explained.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Amazing, Ann!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfQc2VztYnq4VmT-jZxf9uMeL1uyLyDMSIIBFM2w6xZYnWOSddK3VSuvZp8tiXkqvV2IB27dWXUHSH4V5RXMaY3p-CBWIKidcgOJEr66ys1fMQCPXjgP28Wr5tvKRJWbcer9JWfzcx1T9NXJ_kX2IVhC9zCGjXXJt68rkIldX4I8eYReYQkwX83yCLHsR7/s1080/Copy%20of%20Firebird%20Winner%202024.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfQc2VztYnq4VmT-jZxf9uMeL1uyLyDMSIIBFM2w6xZYnWOSddK3VSuvZp8tiXkqvV2IB27dWXUHSH4V5RXMaY3p-CBWIKidcgOJEr66ys1fMQCPXjgP28Wr5tvKRJWbcer9JWfzcx1T9NXJ_kX2IVhC9zCGjXXJt68rkIldX4I8eYReYQkwX83yCLHsR7/s320/Copy%20of%20Firebird%20Winner%202024.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Molly David's debut picture book, <a href="https://mollydavidauthor.com/books/my-mischievous-wheelchair/"><span class="s1" style="color: #dca10d;">MY MISCHIEVOUS WHEELCHAIR</span></a>, is a <a href="https://www.speakuptalkradio.com/book-award-winners-3/"><span class="s1" style="color: #dca10d;">Firebird Book Award Winner.</span></a> It won first place in the category of Children's Special Needs.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Yay, Molly!</span></p></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div><br /></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2p54H-D5jdT7OXUni_DIdvgvdYi_BBmjJomr-rE2Qngc0Cu2y015OR-oZ45GqIUS1Pb6KcLNHzcq93QD4j7JWkjhNJMwdP7g203gVVCOdUMZILYmT76OHmeeAo44XsksN0vwKPn32H6Ye2MyNl4RKuXDxKkk4GeXvQ8nCNvjeiP5Z7Y38GzKfb6zF8J1t/s1024/imagejpeg-0.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2p54H-D5jdT7OXUni_DIdvgvdYi_BBmjJomr-rE2Qngc0Cu2y015OR-oZ45GqIUS1Pb6KcLNHzcq93QD4j7JWkjhNJMwdP7g203gVVCOdUMZILYmT76OHmeeAo44XsksN0vwKPn32H6Ye2MyNl4RKuXDxKkk4GeXvQ8nCNvjeiP5Z7Y38GzKfb6zF8J1t/s320/imagejpeg-0.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span class="s1" style="color: #dca10d; text-decoration-line: underline;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/473128326113032249/2475665543507531149#">Lisa Rose</a></span> with new representation from Lary Rosenblatt from 22 MediaWorks, sold her picture book Stand Up! to Row House Publishing. No illustrator has been assigned yet , but this model was presented to help sell the book Click here:<a href="https://youtu.be/qA4lZZxmwuk."><span class="s1" style="color: #dca10d;"> https://youtu.be/qA4lZZxmwuk</span></a></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">That's wonderful, Lisa!</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Congratulations again to all of you! Please send all your good news to Alison Hodgson at aewhodgson@gmail.com for the next Hugs and Hurrahs post. </span></p>Alison Hodgsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579470496473393873noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473128326113032249.post-20887097601841045002024-01-23T06:00:00.003-05:002024-01-23T07:00:55.368-05:00Book Birthday Blog with Nancy Roop<p> </p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span>Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!</span></span></span></h2><h3 style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span>Where we celebrate new books from Michigan's authors, illustrators and translators. <br /></span></span></span></span></h3><h3 style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span> </span></span></span></h3><h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span>Congratulations to Nancy Roop on the release of The Big Aquarium Adventure </span></span></span></h1><h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV0MNjLZXL1ExEcBhCXbREdWSDEZx2iEs25W8hVUeExtB7OBEFozV1ptQ1ZmBxNuojoGzuDMj8zxZHNr3F0Hon8zaVyXqUmcJX6KwNiJPNMWMLGP3hF2PdPcLBftCwja7wlwAjTt04f-k232E498PHjUOd8oRrp5IzpRuu84yNg1ua9hETpqgaB0NGFDHt/s374/The%20Big%20Aquarium%20Adv.%20Cover%20250%20pixels%20wide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="374" data-original-width="250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV0MNjLZXL1ExEcBhCXbREdWSDEZx2iEs25W8hVUeExtB7OBEFozV1ptQ1ZmBxNuojoGzuDMj8zxZHNr3F0Hon8zaVyXqUmcJX6KwNiJPNMWMLGP3hF2PdPcLBftCwja7wlwAjTt04f-k232E498PHjUOd8oRrp5IzpRuu84yNg1ua9hETpqgaB0NGFDHt/s320/The%20Big%20Aquarium%20Adv.%20Cover%20250%20pixels%20wide.jpg" width="214" /></a></div></span></span></span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span><b> </b></span></span></span></h1><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span><b>How did you come up with the idea for your book?</b></span></span></span></h1><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;"><span><span>I have two points of inspiration for <i>The Big Aquarium Adventure</i>. </span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;"><span><span>I was a para-educator in a Special Education classroom for students with autism. One day, a fourth-grade student sat patiently on the floor next to my feet, leaning her arms and head on a shelf. The room was bright, and the books were of a variety of genres, reading levels, and interests. I scanned all the way to the top of the tall bookcase. I was trying to find a book at her reading level that sparked her interest. In complete frustration I thought, somebody needs to write books for neurodiverse kids. Within a few days, I decided to return to school to learn how kids learn to read. I wanted to adapt the book to the child instead of expecting the child to adapt to the book.</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;"><span><span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span><span><span>Then on vacation in Baltimore, Maryland, while walking though The National Aquarium, I noticed how excited and truly interested the kids were watching the marine animals. I knew right then, that visiting an aquarium would be the first topic for the Alex and Jordan Explore Series.</span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">What is something you hope your readers will take away from your book?</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">My goal is for readers to become comfortable with the process of getting meaning out of the words and pictures. Many struggling readers regard books as work, and for them, it is hard work. By presenting the topic in three genres—interview, expository nonfiction, and storytelling—a student can pick the chapter that they like, and then once comfortable, read the other sections. I hope that they discover a little bit of book-joy along the way!</span><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"></span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">What inspires you to write?</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">I love being a substitute teacher in elementary school. When I am at school, I am fascinated with how kids learn. I like to see what kids are drawn to in books, and how they interact with them. I have been tweaking the developmental format and the students are at the center of that.<br /> <br />I also have an eye towards writing blogs for parents and educators of neurodiverse children. I explain how systemized supports common in special ed classrooms can help unique learners in other environments. </span><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"></span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">What are your marketing plans for the book and where can we find it?</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">It is available in hardcover, paperback, and eBook wherever books are sold online. Also, a spiral-bound book will be available on my website for readers that will benefit from a book that lays flat on a table. <a href="https://www.developmentaltexts.com/books" target="_blank">nancyroop.com/books</a> <br /> <br />I have some print ads in <i>ForeWord Review</i> magazine, eblasts to librarians by IBPA (Independent Book Publishers Association), and a launch team made up of friends and family that will get the word out with social media and postcards.<br /> <br />We will have a launch event at the Great Lakes Literary Center in Pontiac, Michigan on January 27, 2024. Go to <a href="https://www.developmentaltexts.com/" target="_blank">nancyroop.com</a> for more information.<br /> <br />I look at the entire year of 2024 as an opportunity to approach readers in different ways—podcasts, articles, and speaking at educational conferences. The book will also travel with <i>ForeWord Review</i> to the Bolonga Children’s Book Fair in April 2024.</span><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"></span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">What's next for you?</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">I will be spending time on Alex and Jordan’s Message Board at <a href="https://www.developmentaltexts.com/kids" target="_blank">nancyroop.com/kids</a>. I can't wait to see what readers are asking, drawing, and writing about in their posts to the board. <br /><br />I am writing and publishing more titles in the Alex and Jordan Explore series which explore the zoo, library, and museums. I am working on two other developmental book formats that are based on how-to do research and discovering various writing methods.</span><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"></span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">More about the book . . .</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">Early chapter book with amazing art! 5th graders Alex & Jordan, explore Stephen’s visit to The Big Aquarium. Alex questions Stephen about marine life, and how frogs helped him handle a very upsetting event. Jordan creates a nonfiction report with animal’s size, habitat, and life cycles. They write a story. Educational resource for comprehension.</span><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"></span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;"><i>Publisher: Developmental Texts</i></span><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"></span><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">More about the author . . .</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">Nancy Roop promotes neurodiversity and inclusion by publishing developmental books and speaking at educational conferences—or to anyone, anywhere. She is also a favorite Substitute Teacher in local Special Ed classrooms. Roop lives with her family near Detroit, Michigan and has a BA in Integrative Studies from Oakland University. Her thesis, Developmental Texts for Students with Autism; a Safe Space in the Written World, is available at <a href="https://www.developmentaltexts.com/" target="_blank">nancyroop.com</a>. </span><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> <br /></span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span><span><span>Instagram: @Developmental_Texts</span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span><span><span>Facebook: @Developmentaltexts</span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span><span><span>Pinterest: @Developmentaltexts</span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span><span><span>LinkedIn: nancyroop </span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span><span><span> </span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span><span><span></span></span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIBvxNrhjy8Sj_u8xvkYf_B2_JvVtf3YDIlV_xJ0yrKpLpMaa_I8U_DdJVd-gEhGcqBAxdPYXoLI1uqIiJKZ0HOiaIIXBPtvzxd2fGEYKgQ6Vlq7OLPGucsk0WLoV55ESqfO43LLOvZxVgKyc31v4eVLi68ZjamPjfPQZkDr8hqUJJ_q5_UQAhNSZmd4gJ/s531/Roop%20Nancy%20Author%20Headshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="425" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIBvxNrhjy8Sj_u8xvkYf_B2_JvVtf3YDIlV_xJ0yrKpLpMaa_I8U_DdJVd-gEhGcqBAxdPYXoLI1uqIiJKZ0HOiaIIXBPtvzxd2fGEYKgQ6Vlq7OLPGucsk0WLoV55ESqfO43LLOvZxVgKyc31v4eVLi68ZjamPjfPQZkDr8hqUJJ_q5_UQAhNSZmd4gJ/s320/Roop%20Nancy%20Author%20Headshot.jpg" width="256" /></a></span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><span><br /> </span></span></span></span><br /><p></p><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span><br /></span></span></span></h1>Christy Mattheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02038240579399809745noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473128326113032249.post-30769971097489897002024-01-23T06:00:00.001-05:002024-01-23T06:56:32.242-05:00Book Birthday Blog with Pen R. Mark<p> </p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span>Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!</span></span></span></h2><h3 style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span>Where we celebrate new books from Michigan's authors, illustrators and translators. <br /></span></span></span></span></h3><h3 style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span> </span></span></span></h3><h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span>Congratulations to Pen R. Mark on the release of The Reminator: 2 Sea & B-Yond</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhli6KeM-2UJ0-RmhqF4EJf_aLYi5qghDoHkf0oTPTxn_vTrkuxIcth128fZa7gfIELVY1F2RIPa5VOa2InT51CDcmbq7eiwZc7CQV77y8dKLF8KYoa4lIeVV-BTQQv21exQST5yjPlHoglvjfkkxKa79FnTbGBNAhK6JlPQ49S901x3kw911dKfkKjwhjW/s1012/Screenshot_20240116-161455~2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="885" data-original-width="1012" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhli6KeM-2UJ0-RmhqF4EJf_aLYi5qghDoHkf0oTPTxn_vTrkuxIcth128fZa7gfIELVY1F2RIPa5VOa2InT51CDcmbq7eiwZc7CQV77y8dKLF8KYoa4lIeVV-BTQQv21exQST5yjPlHoglvjfkkxKa79FnTbGBNAhK6JlPQ49S901x3kw911dKfkKjwhjW/s320/Screenshot_20240116-161455~2.png" width="320" /></a></div><span><br /></span></span></span></h1><p><b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Your first book in the series was a family collaboration with your daughter editing and your son illustrating. Did the three of you work on the second book? Please describe your collaborative process.</span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"> </span></span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="font-size: small;">I released my first book in September of 2022. That October I took a road trip with my family and we brought Remi along. While we were visiting Boston I shared a moment with a stranger watching an octopus tank at The New England Aquarium. We discussed our travels and our love for Europe. Right then it hit me that my next book would take place in Europe and my characters would be an octopus and a turtle. I have a special love for turtles. The pictures my son illustrated in this book are from my collection of pictures from my visit to the New England Aquarium. This book is very special to me because the character of Turtle is based on my cousin's son who died from diabetes at a young age. Melody the octopus in the book is based on my best friend's granddaughter, who she only met a few times before passing away. My cousin's son, Brandyn, loved Rubik's Cubes so the R2Square in the book is symbolic of a Rubik's Cube. I've also been taking singing lessons and I decided to write a short song to include in the book. I rewrote this book about five or six times before I felt satisfied with it. The book was then edited by my daughter before finally being illustrated by my son. Overall, the book took months to complete because I wanted it to be perfect for my readers. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: medium;">What is something you hope your readers will take away from your book?</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="font-size: small;">My hope is that my readers realize that every individual has something to offer this beautiful world we live in! </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">What are your marketing plans for the book and where can we find it? </span></b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="font-size: small;">You can find this book on Barnes and Noble, Abe books, and Amazon. I just did a book signing at Cole's Bookstore in Canada and plan on doing many more. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: medium;">What's next for you?</span></span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am working on an activity book now for elementary kids. I'm not sure when I want to release it. It will be sometime in the fall or Black Friday!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">More about the book . . . </span></b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="font-size: small;">When Remi, also known as Nator, embarks on a European adventure with his Grammie, little does he know that it will turn into a mission to reunite a sea turtle family and find belonging in unexpected places. This charming children's story unfolds in the magical backdrop of undersea condos and mystical water circuses. Nator, a recent Super-Hero Camp graduate, is equipped not just with super-hero gear but also a heart full of empathy. His tale gets tangled with Turtle, his camp friend who's grappling with a family rift. Turtle's sister, Melody, is a disillusioned octopus who's causing havoc in the ocean. Using his cleverness, courage, and a magical collar that can play music, Nator takes on Melody's wrath and bridges emotional gaps. Filled with thrilling escapades and touching moments, the story also delves into the importance of family</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">—</span><style>@font-face
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{page:WordSection</style><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="font-size: small;">blood-related or otherwise</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">—</span><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="font-size: small;">and finding one's purpose. From flying over the ocean for the first time to spinning around in capes for rescue, Nator navigates highs and lows to bring a family back together. Dive in to experience how heroes come in all shapes and sizes, even with wagging tails! </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Publisher: Pen R. Mark</i></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">More about the author . . .<i> </i></span></b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="font-size: small;">Adventurous and unique is the best way to describe Pen R. Mark. She was born and raised in the Port Huron area and spent a lot of time at the local library as a child where she fell in love with books. Books are full of adventure and can take you to far away worlds! Pen R. Mark took the lessons from these books as a template for life. She likes to try new experiences, travel to faraway places and go on new adventures. Eventually, when her grandpup Remi came into her life, she knew she had a new sidekick for all her adventures. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/The.Reminator" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/The.Reminator</a> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnV3yB13KjvivBa1lXYaCUUSxRzkLkArWwwif5qcnpvuxZ2wrx7KuTpjjUmDXq89E4VTzkEt9CNhdncklrQpWyV6hdmTIaKWPlWJgPHxIadUCH4QLwKtGpPQIOpYh4SSzLzDdPkne9shQnw-9u1XmbfmyjnriyRgO8HhMdw0sNzOYIB35M8kFWifOZudcC/s1459/received_2503670939804877.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1459" data-original-width="1059" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnV3yB13KjvivBa1lXYaCUUSxRzkLkArWwwif5qcnpvuxZ2wrx7KuTpjjUmDXq89E4VTzkEt9CNhdncklrQpWyV6hdmTIaKWPlWJgPHxIadUCH4QLwKtGpPQIOpYh4SSzLzDdPkne9shQnw-9u1XmbfmyjnriyRgO8HhMdw0sNzOYIB35M8kFWifOZudcC/s320/received_2503670939804877.jpeg" width="232" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p><br /></p>Christy Mattheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02038240579399809745noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473128326113032249.post-1682453708292380202024-01-19T00:00:00.005-05:002024-01-20T10:58:44.385-05:00Author/Illustrator Spotlight: Heidi Woodward Sheffield<p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="Body"><br /></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="DE"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: x-large;">Switching things up, name dropping, a bonus awards show, and breast cancer: </span></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: x-large;">Author/Illustrator Heidi Sheffield</span></p><p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div><b><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><i style="font-weight: 400;">Charlie Barshaw coordinates our regular Writer Spotlight feature and interviews writers of SCBWI-MI. In this piece, meet author/illustrator and dear friend, Heidi Woodward Sheffield.</i></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><i style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></i></span></b></div>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b><span lang="DE">I</span></b><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><b><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span></b><b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">m going to switch things up and ask, at the
beginning of the interview, what is next for Heidi Sheffield?</span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioxWfjlSntTyaTqx_TEov9usMl51TacXU1KdI-jjkde86dsPBKcM1btqbXOYVgAwH8TOPbpWOF0jL0kwZzhHe-_owBHQtFYPAp8jz8Cyhy4B5O-vrw1Oo0FjOWGRkXoG51sbw1We9-MEZrcnaDlVIWU8v-wnpNwHF2_icJAmIy5JVpCdGzT0XXl6gTHWJZ/s956/library.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="956" data-original-width="826" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioxWfjlSntTyaTqx_TEov9usMl51TacXU1KdI-jjkde86dsPBKcM1btqbXOYVgAwH8TOPbpWOF0jL0kwZzhHe-_owBHQtFYPAp8jz8Cyhy4B5O-vrw1Oo0FjOWGRkXoG51sbw1We9-MEZrcnaDlVIWU8v-wnpNwHF2_icJAmIy5JVpCdGzT0XXl6gTHWJZ/w345-h400/library.jpg" width="345" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In front of the Brooklyn Public Library</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The
Brooklyn Public Library invited me to speak in 2022 to kids who had
participated in the Ezra Jack Keats Bookmaking Competition. I was the first
speaker they had since Covid. It was extra special to me because my mom was
born in Brooklyn and spent most of her days at the library growing up. :))<o:p></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Planting lots of seeds!
This week, I’m submitting a mockup to the publishing gods of a book from many
moons ago. I won’t say the name as I’m a little superstitious, but I have a
very soft spot in my heart for this story. I also have an even older story
(uhhhhh…one of my first SCBWI stories from around 2000 that began as a picture
book, then I tried writing as a novel—I got about 100 words in. I’m thinking
about rewriting that one.) There’s also a mockup for a picture book
collaboration that I’m creating with another illustrator, too. Lots of secret
somethings…</span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Your latest publication
on May 23, 2023, is </span></b><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><b><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>“</span></b><b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Good Night,
Little Man,</span><span lang="DE">” </span></b><b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">written by Daniel Bernstrom and illustrated by you. A picture book of 40
pages, it required more illustrations than the standard 32-pager. What else did
you find challenging about illustrating this manuscript?</span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTSfCy5NjXW8Km8OVY-4WfpAQpQjOKARAHp-55z076rKBBYXqImy4npqjigEsg3UFcsMV0g5jYNx49bzosM0FPXcWYoKLBnWIcq4dlPS-u57rgJw9xsGZG-EXCvGOUP1PjU6L5pEmVBNeYj0nEyK39m0tMKxKQKP6i3wbZ4OeKWHovmZSJGEM0Aq61p2RQ/s1081/GNLM.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1081" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTSfCy5NjXW8Km8OVY-4WfpAQpQjOKARAHp-55z076rKBBYXqImy4npqjigEsg3UFcsMV0g5jYNx49bzosM0FPXcWYoKLBnWIcq4dlPS-u57rgJw9xsGZG-EXCvGOUP1PjU6L5pEmVBNeYj0nEyK39m0tMKxKQKP6i3wbZ4OeKWHovmZSJGEM0Aq61p2RQ/s320/GNLM.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />The thing that gives me the
greatest joy in life is creating collages. There were some background textures
that I used in GOOD NIGHT, LITTLE MAN that were especially important to me, as
they had a narrative of their own that I felt made the story even stronger. </span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">When I create a collage,
it’s a very organic process. If something is changed, it can upset the
composition in a major way. It’s kind of like that game you’d play as a kid
with sticks…I think it was called “Kerplunk.” Anyhow, you have this tube and a
bunch of sticks that run from one side to the other. There are marbles that sit
on top of the sticks. But if you choose the wrong stick, the marbles will all
drop down. </span></span></p><p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikMKxQIX9vZM5an42Zgisg-YCqYcoAMBgz7IsgAfHqOpp90uvL04U8PSck7RrR4lxjOzo9YGRCVuW1AJP5nF2ZMzk2_awVXj_Vkf7OEId0TyUeshnwZe-tcBU9zGLYHEfFjEgAQmnwJTwdnNH6DwiYd3RGr77lI_tPSQk1ftU4PyQPUhfrlHcJ5K_VqxpJ/s8200/GNLM_page38,39._rev3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4200" data-original-width="8200" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikMKxQIX9vZM5an42Zgisg-YCqYcoAMBgz7IsgAfHqOpp90uvL04U8PSck7RrR4lxjOzo9YGRCVuW1AJP5nF2ZMzk2_awVXj_Vkf7OEId0TyUeshnwZe-tcBU9zGLYHEfFjEgAQmnwJTwdnNH6DwiYd3RGr77lI_tPSQk1ftU4PyQPUhfrlHcJ5K_VqxpJ/w400-h205/GNLM_page38,39._rev3.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />That’s how I feel about collage. You remove the wrong piece and the
whole thing falls flat. I gave it my all, but the publisher didn’t want the
background texture to play as important of a part as I did. Creating books is a
group endeavor, so sometimes there are things you give up as a creator. </span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhThRQgJLDRejcGFYYV-dDzmt3huPPyDUPTlP5naCGEhc6YXF8m_BHdsVWlOl2lPNJYESsm6Z9-T6drAOBGq4FiVS5R-jHsra1gm5Xd6ZRW6BOPJWmBDIxgsBg_s-DKdSahKbS5HSYi9eB4iO6wQH7e4zCuIpM-uguy6sLajDKFydYKfm1jDzsoAEis0V3a/s8200/GNLM_page34,35_rev4.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4200" data-original-width="8200" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhThRQgJLDRejcGFYYV-dDzmt3huPPyDUPTlP5naCGEhc6YXF8m_BHdsVWlOl2lPNJYESsm6Z9-T6drAOBGq4FiVS5R-jHsra1gm5Xd6ZRW6BOPJWmBDIxgsBg_s-DKdSahKbS5HSYi9eB4iO6wQH7e4zCuIpM-uguy6sLajDKFydYKfm1jDzsoAEis0V3a/s320/GNLM_page34,35_rev4.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The other challenge
creating the illustrations for GOOD NIGHT, LITTLE MAN was COVID. Usually, when
I get a green light regarding the storyboard, I go out in the world to find
some models who fit the characters I have in my head. But I couldn’t do this with
the pandemic going on.</span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">One day, Daniel was sharing
some family pictures with Harper’s publishing team and they were sooooo
adorable. GOOD NIGHT, LITTLE MAN was a story Daniel wrote about his son, Haven.
The more I looked at the pictures, I decided under the circumstances, it made
sense to have Dan, his wife Heather and Haven as inspiration for the main
characters, if they were willing to do so. </span></span></p><p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiouW0cHqtN1WXIdaBoWchl0WwFwLekLEJM7W4-CzzB6LzgAkSvNRvpKsVl-HwgtcBDNV5Jpj6JyiFmLhm5sZ2daHzXTo5G6Kzd9OynCuALKh5WfhttGEmAIEvxab6Ij25C_GGoQ26ybjMGxru2J3gVpf5Djhr9WPYVr4NbCZjOQVJs3drHvdjKnk9TCLoB/s4187/GNLM_page36,37__hug.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4187" data-original-width="3918" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiouW0cHqtN1WXIdaBoWchl0WwFwLekLEJM7W4-CzzB6LzgAkSvNRvpKsVl-HwgtcBDNV5Jpj6JyiFmLhm5sZ2daHzXTo5G6Kzd9OynCuALKh5WfhttGEmAIEvxab6Ij25C_GGoQ26ybjMGxru2J3gVpf5Djhr9WPYVr4NbCZjOQVJs3drHvdjKnk9TCLoB/s320/GNLM_page36,37__hug.jpg" width="299" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />Luckily, they said “Yes!” They were
super easy to work with, even though it was a virtual exchange. I gave them a
list of different poses and emotions and they emailed oodles of great shots. I
had these photos above my drawing table for two years. </span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">When it was time to take
these photos and sketches down, I was a little sad. This family that I’d never
met had left such an impression on me. But this summer I had the opportunity to
meet them taking my daughter to camp out west, so that was very special. And I
got to meet the original Little Man, Haven! Dan and I also appeared at the
Minnesota Children’s Book Festival this past fall and it was wonderful! I would
love to work on another book with Dan.</span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="Body"><b style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;"><i></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5wGsEw2zGPK2pJAeuXu1vYQvIXCmQzMBa-eT6At5cmOIda0nOpGUv5rGZ0e9FXW-Rcr53jsyrOKpMDe5NwJbwZLGQYtpoW7v8SJ2rLAyhrP5zIwMNJ_U9cH-BdWP0ufFV97X21ZctvE6xwmxMkogjEG5RZdrMic6mA4LMG2R3KLNtsLcJlXxLwXCeftrV/s256/ice%20cream%20face.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="197" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5wGsEw2zGPK2pJAeuXu1vYQvIXCmQzMBa-eT6At5cmOIda0nOpGUv5rGZ0e9FXW-Rcr53jsyrOKpMDe5NwJbwZLGQYtpoW7v8SJ2rLAyhrP5zIwMNJ_U9cH-BdWP0ufFV97X21ZctvE6xwmxMkogjEG5RZdrMic6mA4LMG2R3KLNtsLcJlXxLwXCeftrV/s1600/ice%20cream%20face.jpg" width="197" /></a></i></b></div><b style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;"><i><br />Ice Cream
Face</i>, <span lang="DE"> </span></b><b style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;">a
picture book you wrote and illustrated, published in 2022 The cover image of a
boy holding a fully-loaded ice cream cone was, in some form or other, a
portfolio piece of yours over the years. What was it that kept this story vibrant
and beckoning in your heart and head?</b><p></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It’s still a favorite of
mine. It was one of those pieces that came about so fast. There was such flow,
where you’re in the zone and all of the nay-sayers in my head were out to
lunch. I had simply banished them for the day. I remember creating a version I
didn’t really like initially, then changing it in unexpected ways, which both
felt scary and exhilarating. That’s the test for any collage that I create. If
I feel what I’ve created is different and slightly unsettling, I know I’m on a
good path.</span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">A little background—the ice
cream face boy was in my portfolio for the Nevada Mentorship Program, which
accepted illustrators, at the time. (It’s also a program <b>any</b> SCBWI
member can apply for. The amazing <a href="https://www.ellenhopkinsbooks.com/" target="_blank">Ellen Hopkins </a>suggested I apply when she came
to speak at our Michigan conference way back when.) When my mentor <a href="https://www.harpercollins.com/blogs/authors/david-diaz-82385" target="_blank">David Diaz</a>
saw the ice cream boy he said something like, “You cracked the code!” It was a
pivotal moment for me. I had finally created both a character and the idea for
a story that stood alone, so it was a major breakthrough. <span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkW4s7HPmPru5480vCTcJjxxMurENwendc00W_ibYTMF6r_PvG0p5uVht8wLPGa_wo2Bur3xu1t01fgMqICuopUvxej3UfFh5zxMBNAbq51JewBO2ixaA290K5uO44XWnV1Y0m4xZ8dYO8LDEd0DUcdSyU9y2PYMtpTFtBP3-LHw811fo2I0xZcA_vOCO/s837/STARS_cover.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="837" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkW4s7HPmPru5480vCTcJjxxMurENwendc00W_ibYTMF6r_PvG0p5uVht8wLPGa_wo2Bur3xu1t01fgMqICuopUvxej3UfFh5zxMBNAbq51JewBO2ixaA290K5uO44XWnV1Y0m4xZ8dYO8LDEd0DUcdSyU9y2PYMtpTFtBP3-LHw811fo2I0xZcA_vOCO/s320/STARS_cover.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></b></span></div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />You exploded on the
kidlit scene in 2020. Both </span></b><b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i>Brick by
Brick</i>,</span><span lang="DE"> </span></b><b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">which
you wrote and illustrated, and </span></b><b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i>Are Your
Stars Like My Stars</i>,</span><span lang="DE"> </span></b><b>written by former SCBWI-MI R.A. <a href="https://www.helakoskibooks.com/" target="_blank">Leslie Helakoski</a> and illustrated by you, premiered that year. Great to have two books
out in the same year. Not so great to have them out in the height of the
pandemic. But what did it take to produce those two works at virtually the same
time?</b></span><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">There was overlap
between the two projects. When I was about half way through <i>STARS</i>, I began work
on <i>BRICK BY BRICK</i><b>. </b>It
was a little stressful creating my first two books <i>for
the first time! </i>I basically put on blinders and did just what I had to do
at that very moment, with each day. The amount of work that I completed grew
little by little. Do you remember that quote about writing a novel? </span><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><p></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"> <a href="https://quotationcelebration.wordpress.com/2017/03/20/its-like-driving-at-night-you-never-see-further-than-your-headlights-but-you-can-make-the-whole-trip-that-way-e-l-doctorow/" target="_blank">“It’s like driving at night. You never see further than your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.” (Novelist E.L. Doctorow)<span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://quotationcelebration.wordpress.com/2017/03/20/its-like-driving-at-night-you-never-see-further-than-your-headlights-but-you-can-make-the-whole-trip-that-way-e-l-doctorow/" target="_blank"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://quotationcelebration.wordpress.com/2017/03/20/its-like-driving-at-night-you-never-see-further-than-your-headlights-but-you-can-make-the-whole-trip-that-way-e-l-doctorow/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1624" data-original-width="1282" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjId0M_8EBl-8Y47SkQAvgs08cv2vvoVR7RUkCq3xGoPANzOtXtYQlVNq4-Lz0I848ctNoOYSGyw8M-XhZMBSjQDbfB3XdBfJ9HLpzKT13r0gz1nSceqGUhDinuygIxIDh0rRRnOgKVPDFnGHtgB2uHJdOMfeU0Fce4hg6leAF-HQ4S6U1xL-SYziOIZHIj/s320/Brickbybrick_cover_2%20logos.jpg" width="253" /></a></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /><i>BRICK BY BRICK</i> and <i>STARS</i>
were also different styles, and that helped. For <i>STARS</i>, I used my pencil
drawings as the holding lines for the collage, so that technique was a little
faster. But I did a TON of research, to make sure the children and their surroundings
were authentic. BRICK BY BRICK had some finished art that I just had to tweak,
and other pages that I had to create from the bottom up. It was a more
time-consuming style because anything I drew in pencil had to be painted
digitally.</span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Our book launch for stars
at <a href="https://www.schulerbooks.com/" target="_blank">Nicola’s</a> was during an incredible snowstorm, so much in fact, Leslie
couldn’t come. In terms of Covid affecting things, STARS really suffered<span lang="DE">.</span> Leslie and I are still
in the trenches, trying to get word out about <a href="https://www.unionsquareandco.com/9781454930136/are-your-stars-like-my-stars-by-leslie-helakoski/" target="_blank">STARS</a>. Librarians discover the
book through our efforts, simply love it and are surprised they had not heard
about it before. <span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">As <a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/leslie-helakoski/are-your-stars-like-my-stars/#:~:text=Design%20flaws%20aside%2C%20the%20book's,is%20a%20highly%20relevant%20one.&text=No%20matter%20how%20different%20our,look%20closely%2C%20full%20of%20wonder." target="_blank"><i><span lang="DA" style="mso-ansi-language: DA;">Kirkus</span></i><i><span lang="DA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></i></a>said ”...the book's timely message of universality among diversity is a
highly relevant one.” I’ve always felt i<span lang="DE">t</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span>s a book not just for kids, but adults could
benefit from reading it, too.</span></p><p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/bookbeat/photos/colleen-kammer-co-owner-of-book-beat-was-given-a-distinguished-service-award-on-/10152709124482100/?paipv=0&eav=AfY4hB-xGuxn7aBvQzNNoSzyMCGY2Tcaq7o2-PQSWnJpYZKNrbPEPAIMe-Jmf9FbPU4&_rdr" target="_blank">Colleen Kammer</a> of <a href="https://thebookbeat.com/" target="_blank">The Book Beat </a>shared with me
that STARS was a book she took under her wing and often suggested to customers
during Covid. I was so touched to hear this.<span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="Body"><b style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i>Brick by
Brick</i></span><span lang="DE"> </span></b><b style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">earned
you the Ezra Jack Keats Award. What does the award mean to you? What was the
ceremony like? How did you find out you had won?</span></b></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Z1HCFXkbpOsEGKGB7wBV-2zRRwwEi24wa1C7irpTSWhEB9E_vT8zrOLifWO7RDVFLBzNupde1N3NDgtdrhzluCm7hgenbmm9WMOluBan7ZuuMoyanDagl0VrYBOHNhw7WSV5AmoRq26yyiMVosHoX5YOnJbuLTFWellU-w_6wJrtuxulJo5yp8Fjx1bj/s1080/ejk.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Z1HCFXkbpOsEGKGB7wBV-2zRRwwEi24wa1C7irpTSWhEB9E_vT8zrOLifWO7RDVFLBzNupde1N3NDgtdrhzluCm7hgenbmm9WMOluBan7ZuuMoyanDagl0VrYBOHNhw7WSV5AmoRq26yyiMVosHoX5YOnJbuLTFWellU-w_6wJrtuxulJo5yp8Fjx1bj/s320/ejk.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />Receiving the<a href=" https://www.ejkf.org/ezra-jack-keats-award/" target="_blank"> Ezra Jack Keats Award</a> was, and still is, a heart-stopping moment. To think that <i>BRICK BY
BRICK</i> would become part of the EJK Award’s legacy of books to spread hope,
encouragement and empowerment to all children was beyond wonderful.</span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The award also gave <i>BRICK
BY BRICK</i> visibility. Great literacy programs like the Dolly Parton Imagination
Library and First Book wanted to create paperback versions to be given to kids
who need them most. It was a lifelong dream of mine to have books accessible to
children who might not otherwise afford them, so when BRICK BY BRICK became a
Dolly Parton Imagination Library Book and First Book, it also was a dream come
true.</span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=the+snowy+day&oq=THE+SNOWY+DAY&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqEAgAEAAYgwEY4wIYsQMYgAQyEAgAEAAYgwEY4wIYsQMYgAQyDQgBEC4YgwEYsQMYgAQyBwgCEAAYgAQyBwgDEAAYgAQyBwgEEC4YgAQyBwgFEAAYgAQyBwgGEAAYgAQyBwgHEAAYgAQyBwgIEAAYgAQyBwgJEAAYgATSAQc1OTlqMGo3qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:1339a12d,vid:FmZCQfeWjeQ,st:0" target="_blank"><i>THE SNOWY DAY</i></a> was, and
still is, a favorite of mine. I think it’s perhaps the best picture book of all
time. The first page of Peter in bed, with his pillow and quilt looking like
snow itself, with him gazing out of his window, seeing the new snow, is amazing.
I’ve had this page on my bulletin board by my computer for 15 years or so. Each
day I look at it and discover something new. </span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-gwvHGInq-ijbxtmLdFotQgfcx0LWKlvwnGKJM8f97vHPLX1UPaQvl3KydrqvHJc_Ac1uh06yF3duilVCT-RZxyVyJne9BSyRAL1qNSK-ce7g0AKryS1Oqut2COXGFalhriOy8hsQ640p1likalmL5f8cWSSveO09Et1jUo9g1yHY7n09rTq7GUqYLknz/s1080/from%20Ice%20Cream%20Face.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-gwvHGInq-ijbxtmLdFotQgfcx0LWKlvwnGKJM8f97vHPLX1UPaQvl3KydrqvHJc_Ac1uh06yF3duilVCT-RZxyVyJne9BSyRAL1qNSK-ce7g0AKryS1Oqut2COXGFalhriOy8hsQ640p1likalmL5f8cWSSveO09Et1jUo9g1yHY7n09rTq7GUqYLknz/s320/from%20Ice%20Cream%20Face.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Ice Cream Face</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />The morning I received the
phone call from Nancy Paulsen and Cecilia, I couldn’t believe it. Originally, I
was nervous, because I was working on I<i>CE CREAM FACE</i> and thought I must have
screwed up pretty badly for them to call me at home. When I found out I’d won
the Ezra Jack Keats Award for Illustration, I cried and thanked them for giving
me the opportunity to have <i>BRICK BY BRICK</i> published. I flipped back and forth
between happy tears, and laughing at the same time. Even my dog was dumbfounded
by my reaction. </span></span><p></p><p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I know my parents were looking down from above, smiling and
sobbing with me. They always believed in my dream of becoming an
author/illustrator for children, that had taken me</span><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD;"> a l</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">iteral lifetime for me to achieve. It took an entire week for me to calm
down.</span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The ceremony was via Zoom,
since it was during Covid. I have to say presenting online was more difficult
for me than it would have been in person! This was my first virtual event and I
was more than nervous. Even though it was online, the organizers of the event
were so wonderful and really went out of their way to make it feel special.</span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Okay. Those are your
many well-deserved successes. But Ruth and I have known you for more than a
decade, and your career was just a mirage on the horizon back in 2009 when I
first met you. You were fresh from working as a graphic designer.<strike> </strike></span></b><b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">You had some stunning collage pieces, but also a yearning to write. How
did you come to find SCBWI?</span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I’d like to give a little
more context to my professional background. When I began college, I had the
same ambition to eventually become a children’s book author, so I got a degree
in English at the University of Michigan and later a degree at <a href="https://www.ccsdetroit.edu/" target="_blank">College for Creative Studies</a>. (My first day at CCS, they disbanded the entire illustration
department. There were teachers literally crying and people saying illustration
was dead. I had enrolled hoping to study illustration and was a little miffed
the admission team hadn’t shared their plans to dissolve that department.) </span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8RBZEY9IYguTbM-lLxSGTtBXNYr9SeWwQpWuqLv0zqjHc-6XiVJpplOCZagrEqjSk6qRxm9_A03Yo0c6Z40kZnDGhRu9ZVFxwX0Oc8CyweJjfBBK49L22jejVZiGbGrqJ2nXxv1brO91ofFh-1e2c6qX3cc2jNxLxA8bVgb07JFfW33SpqApzNiFg6yf/s2016/heidi%20and%20books.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8RBZEY9IYguTbM-lLxSGTtBXNYr9SeWwQpWuqLv0zqjHc-6XiVJpplOCZagrEqjSk6qRxm9_A03Yo0c6Z40kZnDGhRu9ZVFxwX0Oc8CyweJjfBBK49L22jejVZiGbGrqJ2nXxv1brO91ofFh-1e2c6qX3cc2jNxLxA8bVgb07JFfW33SpqApzNiFg6yf/s320/heidi%20and%20books.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heidi and books</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />Then I took some graphic
design courses and learned about copywriting and art direction and that I had a
</span><span lang="SV" style="mso-ansi-language: SV;">knack</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> for both. I figured getting a job in
advertising would let me build a nest-egg, so one day I could break away and do
my children’s book thing. Very early on, I realized the best ads had the best
stories. They were short, compelling, with an emotional hook. All great
qualities I would need to create children’s books. </span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">When my daughter was born,
I hopscotched over to freelancing work as a copywriter and graphic designer. At
the time, I took a Photoshop class from a friend of mine, <a href="https://www.johndinser.com/" target="_blank">John Dinser</a> who was a
fantastic illustrator and amazing teacher at Washtenaw Community College.
(Still is—take his class!) At the time, I had a portfolio chock full of
traditional work—lots of pen and ink and line drawing which he liked, but
something seemed to be missing</span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I brought a collage to John
one day that I’d made by cutting out shapes from magazines, arranging them on a
wood background and taking a photo of it all. He said, “Now <i>this </i>will
get you noticed. Do more of <i>that.”</i> </span>I flip out
when I get paste on my fingers AND I CAN’T GET IT OFF!!<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">, so I started messing around with making
collages in Photoshop. Something funny— my style came about in part because I
only knew a few tools and not the whole program. I liked the wonky shapes I was
coming up with and just kept going. </span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigHaJwSkjKhbcLO9kWWuS-5bBV75gLYpRoJpZVcsxInNkauXWqS5dNHLFBkAgicYzNl-YFaVKV3c4yrEzyJ4tFfwoT6T1PX4dCgGndnoS_c3bs4eGe6JBzYpSVk0RTJfgva_9OSCKCNZQy6GfT2DGaGx2mdBU0g4hJgImnhORB3jY5JOJ82anMcNTgYcPN/s1440/gig.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigHaJwSkjKhbcLO9kWWuS-5bBV75gLYpRoJpZVcsxInNkauXWqS5dNHLFBkAgicYzNl-YFaVKV3c4yrEzyJ4tFfwoT6T1PX4dCgGndnoS_c3bs4eGe6JBzYpSVk0RTJfgva_9OSCKCNZQy6GfT2DGaGx2mdBU0g4hJgImnhORB3jY5JOJ82anMcNTgYcPN/s320/gig.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Daniel Bernstrom and I spoke at the Minnesota Children’s
Book Festival in September, which was so fun! We also read the book to a
trolley full of kids in Stillwater. (I promise they were there!) It was like
riding <a href="https://www.interestingfacts.com/fact/620c5c66c0eb7b0008c466c4" target="_blank">Mr. Rogers’ trolley.</a></span></p><p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />To start building an
illustration portfolio, I volunteered for the <a href="https://www.ktbookfest.org/" target="_blank">Ann Arbor Book Festival </a>to
illustrate and design their posters. Through that, I met the folks from the Ann
Arbor District Library. They liked my illustrations for the book festival and
asked if I’d like to design and illustrate their children’s activities calendar
of events, “JUMP: Fun stuff just for kids.” </span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In my contract, I asked to
keep the copyright of all of my illustrations. This project meant so much to
me, since kids would be taking these home, reading them and most of all,
looking at the illustrations, not unlike reading a book. It really helped bridge
the gap of time it took before I had a book published. And believe it or not,
one of those illustrations inspired the story that I’m pitching to a publisher
this week!</span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As a freelance graphic
designer, I was always looking for clients, so I joined a networking group in
Ann Arbor. Once a week, you’d ask the group for a lead for a particular
project. The group would respond with a person that they knew who might be
helpful. I thought it a long shot, and even felt embarrassed to put it out
there to a roomful of business types, but I asked if anyone knew someone in
children’s book publishing. A woman introduced me to<a href="https://scbwimithemitten.blogspot.com/2023/09/writer-spotlight-shutta-crum.html" target="_blank"> Shutta Crum</a>, who invited
me to her summer schmooze that she used to have. And THAT is the deluxe story
about how my collages came about and how I found SCBWI!</span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">To this day, you use
textures, manmade and natural, in your art work. What drew you to details that
many people don</span></b><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><b><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span></b><b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">t even see? How has your collage craft evolved
over time?</span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I’ve always been attracted
to old things. My mom collected antiques and I often went to different shops
with her. My grandparents also lived in a Victorian house that was full of
mystery. As a result, I like to use items that are old and have character. I
also see objects within other objects and it gives me a great deal of joy. It
feels a little like a super power. For example for the Ann Arbor Book Festival,
I saw the UM clocktower, which reminded me of a stack of books. And a concept
was born for the next poster I did for them. :)</span></p><p class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I think the attraction to textures was the discovery part. They are like a whole world among themselves and so inspiring. Whenever I travel, I collect whatever new textures I see. My husband has taken to taking texture snapshots during family vacations.</span></p>
<p class="Body"><b><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Early on, anxiety seemed
to be your constant companion. How have you learned to quash the paralyzing
effects of fear and find success?</span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe6fyZAWEbjk_sGruqLeJg9c68AYcq2yKrV8FXx7LzoKZwru8ifiOWzTVAyYirsdTgtrP9vb_69OaxVH6PmZYVjbC0UdLgUlmZTXft_gq5Ox3_cjToxEZd29TdIuSm96dnTssRJ9E5Z18fmexED3pqPzV_kh8T_n2wDc43vP0pT549Nm3CEw8NVXa-9syi/s2016/little%20door.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe6fyZAWEbjk_sGruqLeJg9c68AYcq2yKrV8FXx7LzoKZwru8ifiOWzTVAyYirsdTgtrP9vb_69OaxVH6PmZYVjbC0UdLgUlmZTXft_gq5Ox3_cjToxEZd29TdIuSm96dnTssRJ9E5Z18fmexED3pqPzV_kh8T_n2wDc43vP0pT549Nm3CEw8NVXa-9syi/s320/little%20door.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wild Rumpus bookstore</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />Anxiety disorder and
depression both run in my family, so this is something I have faced since I was
a child. Anxiety appears on my doorstep most every day. So every day, I
exercise. Because when I run, I concentrate on the world outside myself and
literally putting one foot in front of the other. It gets me out of my head.</span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">After exercise, I do a kind
of prayer, where I give thanks for the day. I also visualize actual problems I
might face while working and getting through them, which really helps. I also
take a moment before I start to write anything that’s bothering me or any
particular fear I’m having. Then I give it a 1-10 rating of just how bad the
anxiety is. </span></span></p><p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Then I work on my stuff and record how hard (or easy) it was to do
xyz. Most times, the fear is wayyyy higher than any actual anxiety I thought
I’d have from doing that particular task. It</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">s the everyday
exercise of just keeping on, keeping on.</span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I also submit my book
projects to my online illustration critique group (a group of five other women
from the 2017 SBWI Summer Conference Illustration Mentorship), even when I’m
scared to do so. </span></span></p><p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Just recently, I thought a picture book of mine needed a major
rehaul. I sat on it not wanting to submit it to <i>anyone,</i> but I went ahead
and finally submitted to my critique group. They loved it, so it’s going out
this week. I also have a small group of Michkid Illustrators (including your
beloved <a href="https://ruthexpress.com/" target="_blank">Ruth</a>!) who used to meet each month, but Covid put the kibosh on it, so
I’m trying to revive the group.</span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Success is a relative term.
It’s a day when I can create without answering the perfectionist rapping at the
door, I guess.</span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="Body"><b style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">While working on </span></b><b style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">your middle grade novel, your father died. Not
long after you found you had breast cancer. And yet, at a fall weekend SCBWI-MI
conference, you attended, despite the fact you knew that your luxurious hair
was about to fall out because of chemo and radiation. </span></b><b style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Why did you go when so many other cancer patients might wisely choose to stay home</span></b><span lang="ZH-TW" style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: ZH-TW; mso-fareast-language: ZH-TW;">?</span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFiDEE_gHRzOQM1Tv71onJGFu0Ozgl2NnRzHkPMYynpi4-wmwvjJaZ52xl_7nQALDu0A_j9P3GrPneQECNigqv-U-zKNCgYAdyTOTpEBhT1PSNyJVSybrNxa_feyXkANMyF9n6PXDfHV5mJgXXF00ksHw3nIqz_-r8Z1mdDUvNhUSRWFG-TU-ZB2eDTLd9/s4679/Heidi_headshot_cropped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4679" data-original-width="4005" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFiDEE_gHRzOQM1Tv71onJGFu0Ozgl2NnRzHkPMYynpi4-wmwvjJaZ52xl_7nQALDu0A_j9P3GrPneQECNigqv-U-zKNCgYAdyTOTpEBhT1PSNyJVSybrNxa_feyXkANMyF9n6PXDfHV5mJgXXF00ksHw3nIqz_-r8Z1mdDUvNhUSRWFG-TU-ZB2eDTLd9/w343-h400/Heidi_headshot_cropped.jpg" width="343" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />I needed to be with my
tribe. To be with people I loved and to visualize myself as having a future. I
don’t know if Ruth told you, but I had asked if she would complete my middle
grade novel if I didn’t make it through treatment. I think going to the conference
was one of the few things I could control. </span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I took a shower before the
evening event and my hair fell out. The water started to back up and I was
trying to fish the gobs of hair out, but I just got so overwhelmed. Luckily the
hotel staff was very understanding. I left a large tip for someone to help
clean it up. </span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">It was a western theme, so
I wore a hat, as I had just an odd halo of hair still left. I felt pretty
mixed-up, but was still glad I had come to the conference. Throughout the
years, I had a variety of other equally harrowing moments personally and they always seemed to happen
just before a conference. I remember crying at sooooo many conferences, just
because of one stressful thing after another was always in my wake.<span style="color: #5a8a39; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span>SCBWI was the rock that got me through them
all. Being surrounded by others pursuing their dreams always revived my own.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In 2007 you won the
SCBWI-MI mentorship. Who was your mentor? How did that mentorship affect your
craft?</span></b><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="https://susanhartung.com/" target="_blank">Susan Kathleen Hartung</a> was
my mentor. She had started the mentorship program for SCBWI-MI some years ago.
It was incredibly generous of her to give back in this way. I remember being so
happy! Lin Oliver was visiting our chapter and presented the mentorship award
to me. </span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I embraced the opportunity
full-force. There were some exercises that Susan had me do which were helpful.
If I recall right, I wanted to submit my picture book to an editor I met from
the SCBWI NY Conference, but Susan didn’t think it was ready. I think she was
doing her very best and I was doing my very best, but sometimes, the chemistry
didn’t feel right. But I truly appreciated her effort and the opportunity to
work with her. </span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I was inching toward what I
hoped would be a publishing deal, but not for 10<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>more years. My husband had felt the whole
kids book thing was more of an expensive hobby than a business. It was
difficult justifying the years of workshops and conferences I was taking
through SCBWI.</span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="Body"><b><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">You were going for it,
writing, illustrating, searching for agents, submitting for mentorships. Where
do you think was your turning point, when you crested that final mountain on
your road to publication?</span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There were a couple turning
points: Receiving the honorary mention for the Portfolio Award at the <a href="https://scbwimithemitten.blogspot.com/2017/03/the-2017-scbwi-annual-winter-conference.html" target="_blank">2017 SCBWI Winter Conference</a> and then receiving an Illustration Mentorship at the
SCBWI Summer conference. (I almost didn’t go, because it seemed excessive to do
two conferences in one year, but my friends said, “GO!” you’ve got people’s
attention!) So glad I went! Preparation <b>FINALLY</b> met opportunity! The
Illustrator’s Mentorship was a two-day affair, if I remember right. </span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The first day consisted of
a speed dating round with the amazing <a href="https://www.penguin.com/nancy-paulsen-books-overview/" target="_blank">Nancy Paulsen</a>, <a href="https://www.scbwi.org/members/cecilia.yung" target="_blank">Cecilia Yung</a>, <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Laurent-Linn/518835152" target="_blank">Laurent Lin</a>,
<a href="https://www.patcummings.com/" target="_blank">Pat Cummings</a>, and <a href="https://www.paulozelinsky.com/" target="_blank">Paul Zelinsky</a>, among others. Two riveting moments: Editor
Nancy Paulsen reviewing my two mockups <i>BRICK BY BRICK</i> and <i>ICE CREAM FACE</i>, and
really enjoying them. Another “Pinch me” moment was Art Director Cecilia Yung
giving me some wonderfully positive feedback about my work. About a week after
the conference, Nancy called to offer two contracts! </span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaR9tvqdziYOO3vSePK3FhoHPtnjHKfP3vjLTRZp0ASiPH97hSqHtm12msDAlgS4LI_9Pg2Bsa5prHZRq0cl0lxweaC0vQy9BYUFU53OoN5sWduO9dGueVJDrGH5aMBHgua_Fg98dXYarrIBKY97b1m6nza0AlJKuLgiu-9df1tRuu_RFL3afnTIeyHjgF/s2150/green_umbrella_collage11stars.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2062" data-original-width="2150" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaR9tvqdziYOO3vSePK3FhoHPtnjHKfP3vjLTRZp0ASiPH97hSqHtm12msDAlgS4LI_9Pg2Bsa5prHZRq0cl0lxweaC0vQy9BYUFU53OoN5sWduO9dGueVJDrGH5aMBHgua_Fg98dXYarrIBKY97b1m6nza0AlJKuLgiu-9df1tRuu_RFL3afnTIeyHjgF/s320/green_umbrella_collage11stars.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Are Your Stars Like My Stars?</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />Then, I interviewed a
number of agents. This was the nerve-wracking part! I had no problem finding
interested agents with a contracts in-hand. The question was, who would be the
right fit? I finally decided on<a href="https://www.andreabrownlit.com/Team/Laura-Rennert" target="_blank"> Laura Rennert of Andrea Brown Literary Agency</a>
who agreed to work with me, not just based on those two contracts, but on other
mockups and ideas I’d worked on, as she wanted to help me build a career and
not just publish a couple of books. She’s been a wonderful agent!</span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p>
<p class="Body"><b><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">To the SCBWI membership,
unsure of their potential, what would you say your experience taught you?</span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Most of the
SCBWI folks I talk to who are published say it took them about 10 years or so
to break in. It may take you sooner? Longer? Mine was not a publishing journey.
It was an odyssey. I joined in 2003 and my first two contracts for books were
in 2017. That’s not a typo. Yup, 14 years. The thing that opened that
opportunity was not only a solid portfolio, but two solid mockups. For
illustrators, find your writer’s voice. If you can write and illustrate equally
well (not an easy thing), that might be the thing that opens the door for you,
too.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Body">
</p><p class="BodyA"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Also for the
illustrators—If you attend SCBWI conferences pay for a portfolio review, if you
can get one with an art director, even if you feel you don’t need it, do so.
It’s an excellent way to meet an art director, make a connection and leave them
samples.</span><span style="color: #5a8a39;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Jump at every chance you
have to go beyond your comfort zone. I used the deadlines of conferences,
application for mentorships, workshops, etc. to give me deadlines when I had
none. Deadlines are your friends! It gets you out of the hobby category and takes
you one step closer to treating it as a business and one day realizing your
goal of getting published. </span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I had many roadblocks along
the way, including huge health problems besides having cancer and major family
difficulties. All of us have our own setbacks and difficulties in life. It’s
the ability to keep focusing on the horizon, to walk toward that goal, even if
it’s small steps, sometimes. And it helps to have friends like Ruth. Go find
your Ruth!</span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWZkqcFH6xy_2copemlKJmRuy355YgCf4UDsD9soHN_Ytidelo1yfo-yKKN_itm_zSD3gr_3xhgS4_wEQ04raVOZJo1cn-EcXjx9Is2TeuqlZ_WpfODpp6xMqYG93As9b1DA0bZ-kCF7YeCbZJMnc53NNpl-3occAEo83O4ThZ1ADaHBNRLq-a_v_RWAY/s4950/Page%208,9_seven%20light7B.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="4950" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWZkqcFH6xy_2copemlKJmRuy355YgCf4UDsD9soHN_Ytidelo1yfo-yKKN_itm_zSD3gr_3xhgS4_wEQ04raVOZJo1cn-EcXjx9Is2TeuqlZ_WpfODpp6xMqYG93As9b1DA0bZ-kCF7YeCbZJMnc53NNpl-3occAEo83O4ThZ1ADaHBNRLq-a_v_RWAY/s320/Page%208,9_seven%20light7B.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Brick by Brick</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />Also, there are so many
other resources today, like workshops and classes you can take online. None of
that existed years ago when I was coming up. Above all else, I believe SCBWI
has made me what I am today, not just through the mentorships and conferences,
but especially through the FRIENDSHIPS that you gain. These are the people who
will have your back when you’re in the trenches, trying to get discovered. So
if you haven</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">t joined, do it!</span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p>
<p class="Body"><b><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Please list any social
media platforms you wish to share.</span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="Body"><b><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Facebook</span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span class="Hyperlink0"><b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/heidi.sheffield.5/">https://www.facebook.com/heidi.sheffield.5/</a></span></b></span><b><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="Body"><b><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Twitter</span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="Body"><b><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="https://twitter.com/i/flow/login?redirect_after_login=%2Fwwwheidibooks" target="_blank">@wwwheidibooks</a></span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="Body"><b><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Instagram</span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="Body"><b><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://@heidi.kids.books">@heidi.kids.books</a></span><span lang="DE"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="DE"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="color: #365b9d; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Heidi’s books
are in the Eric Carle Museum</span><span dir="RTL" style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;"></span><span dir="RTL" style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="color: #365b9d; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span><span style="color: #365b9d; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">s
Reading Library and the American Writers Museum Children’s Literature Gallery
reading space. (There’s a wonderful squirrel mural by Paul O. Zelinsky
there—you must check it out if you go!)</span></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b>BRICK BY BRICK </b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Penguin/Random House<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Written &
illustrated by Heidi Sheffield<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: #365b9d;">Ezra Jack
Keats Illustrator Award</span></i><span style="color: #365b9d;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: #365b9d;">Dolly
Parton Imagination Library Book</span></i><span style="color: #365b9d;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: #365b9d;">First Book
Special Edition</span></i><span style="color: #365b9d;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: #365b9d;">Scholastic
Book</span></i><span style="color: #365b9d;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><i><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></i></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b><span lang="DE">ICE
CREAM FACE</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Penguin/Random House <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Written &
illustrated by Heidi Sheffield <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: #365b9d;">Dolly
Parton Imagination Library Book</span></i><span style="color: #365b9d;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><b><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></b></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b><span lang="DE">ARE
YOUR STARS LIKE MY STARS?</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Sterling Publishing<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Written by Leslie
Helakoski & illustrated by Heidi Sheffield<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: #365b9d;">BBC for
CBeebies Bedtime Story</span></i><i><span style="color: #365b9d;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: #365b9d;">Book
Riot’s Must-Read Picture Book</span></i><i><span style="color: #365b9d;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><b><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></b></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b>GOOD NIGHT, LITTLE MAN</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Written by Daniel
Bernstrom & illustrated by Heidi Sheffield <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">HarperCollins<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #365b9d;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Junior
Library Guild Gold Standard Selection</span></span></i><o:p></o:p></p></div>Charlie Barshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09500271053109489021noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473128326113032249.post-7993979538384741642024-01-12T00:00:00.022-05:002024-01-12T00:00:00.144-05:00Portfolio Field Guide by Jen and Katie<p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"> <span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Hooray! </span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-ef0830c6-7fff-1cba-6e68-b6d1068c4467"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">2024 is here, along with TWO very exciting SCBWI opportunities! In addition to the annual <a href="https://www.scbwi.org/events/scbwi-in-person-winter-conference-2024" target="_blank">Winter Conference in NYC</a>, registration is just around the corner for the (drumroll) <a href="https://www.scbwi.org/events/marvelous-midwest" target="_blank">MARVELOUS MIDWEST CONFERENCE</a> in Davenport, Iowa! We will both be there, and hope you will too.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">As an illustrator, one of the biggest benefits of a conference is the opportunity for your work to be seen by industry professionals. We know first-hand how daunting the preparation for this can feel - </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">What should a KidLit portfolio look like? What type of criteria should we use to select images? Do we include contact information? </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">What kind of book should they go in? </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Years after attending our first conferences, we both discussed our very similar experiences of scouring the Internet for some direction on what exactly our portfolios should look like. Our frantic searches were extensive, and we could clearly see the benefit of assembling all our findings into a single, simple Portfolio Field Guide. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We hope this eases the preparation stress for your upcoming conferences a bit, and we hope even MORE to see you at the Marvelous Midwest Conference April 12th-14th!</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Katie + Jen </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><div><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #bf9000; font-size: 25pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 249px; overflow: hidden; width: 573px;"><img height="231" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/VSi1143iUACoyr1a5YRG0tIpOAo8ywFCU3WlzldXY_9vtzP7eCF9S_ZBOpGWQR9RmT3PfdLzFPfae6Irns0VeaXAJsQXY7czD4osuagTALH05MP0T1DDD3F2wKQZHvcK6kDlXqyh8jw60qG4rj2Jl5Y=w532-h231" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="532" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline;">SIZE</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">The size and orientation can vary depending on content, just as a picture book’s can! Be sure to check the requirements at each conference/showcase, but a general maximum at SCBWI events are open dimensions of 15”H x 32”W. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline;">BOOKS & BINDINGS</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">There are so many options available to be the vehicle for your work, but honestly don’t stress about this too much. Just remember: It is very likely that whomever is looking at your portfolio will have something in their hands (i.e. beverage), so making sure your pages turn very easily and your book lies open flat is essential. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Some options include:</span></p><br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #bf9000; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-wrap: nowrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">PRESENTATION BOOK</span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">A very easy, cost-effective, versatile way to present your work. A basic book of bound sheet protectors that will lay flat and allow you to change out images as you wish. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><a href="https://www.dickblick.com/products/blick-basic-series-presentation-books/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Presentation Book Example</span></a></p><br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #bf9000; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-wrap: nowrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">STAPLED BOOKLET</span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">A professional-looking nod to an actual picture book! Generally made at your local print shop or from online printing services, these have a very custom look, but do not allow for image-swapping.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><a href="https://www.staples.com/services/printing/copies-documents-printing/booklets/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Stapled Booklet Example</span></a></p><br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #bf9000; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-wrap: nowrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">SPIRAL-BOUND BOOK</span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">A great option for laying flat and ease of flipping pages (very helpful at a conference). Also made at a local print shop or from online printing services, these are not quite as professional-looking as a stapled booklet, and also do not allow for image-swapping.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><a href="https://www.printvie.com/coil-bound-books/?dfw_tracker=164048-99&srsltid=AfmBOoob3edosp3r71aH61wsFMYWfG87zn4cCrehZ9OSbVbufAI_xrILCDM" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Spiral-Bound Book Example</span></a></p><br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #bf9000; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-wrap: nowrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">SCREW-POST PORTFOLIO BOOK</span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">This is generally the priciest option, but has a nice professional look that allows images to be changed out. Can be customized with your logo, and can even be hand-made by you (if you’re up for that)!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/189934350/portfolio-book-case-bamboo-amber-11x17?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=wood+portfolio+book&ref=sr_gallery-1-1&frs=1&edd=1&referrer_page_guid=f78e0467ea3.3e7e5cf18b1a69ec4d9f.00&organic_search_click=1" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Screw-Post Book Example</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline;">PRINT QUALITY</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">This is important for your work to be seen in its best light. Do use a nice paper, and do make sure that the colors are correct and not too saturated or desaturated. This is not the time to print on your home printer using old ink on regular computer paper! Some options include:</span></p><br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #bf9000; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-wrap: nowrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">PRINT SHOP</span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Check your local listings</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #bf9000; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-wrap: nowrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">HOME</span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Only if you have a professional-quality printer</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #bf9000; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-wrap: nowrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">LIBRARY</span><span style="color: #dd7e6b; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">They may have a professional-quality printer</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #bf9000; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-wrap: nowrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">FRAMER / GALLERY</span><span style="color: #dd7e6b; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">There may be printing services available</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #bf9000; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-wrap: nowrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">ONLINE PRINTER</span><span style="color: #dd7e6b; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">If there are no local options available</span></p></li></ul><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline;">COVER</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">This can be dictated by what type of book/binding you choose. Covers can be an illustrated piece, your contact information (illustrated beautifully, of course!), a logo, or a blank decorative cover such as wood (if you chose a screw-post option). </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline;">CONTACT INFORMATION</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Always be sure to include this in an easily accessible location. Either on or inside the front cover is recommended, however the exact location doesn’t matter as long as it’s easy to find and legible.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline;">CONTENT</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Important items to consider when selecting your work include:</span></p><br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #bf9000; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-wrap: nowrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">KIDLIT APPROPRIATE</span><span style="color: #dd7e6b; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Include work that is </span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">appropriate for board books, picture books, middle grade cover/b&w spots, and young adult cover art. This is not the place to show off your logo design, surface pattern design, or nakey model studies</span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">(no matter how incredible they are).</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #bf9000; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-wrap: nowrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT</span><span style="color: #dd7e6b; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Include one or more characters with varying poses, facial expressions, and surroundings to show that you are able to take a character through a story. </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #bf9000; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-wrap: nowrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">YOUR BEST WORK</span><span style="color: #dd7e6b; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">There is always room for improvement, but think about this as a showcase of where you are at this moment in your kidlit career. </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #bf9000; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-wrap: nowrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">WORK YOU WANT TO GET HIRED FOR</span><span style="color: #dd7e6b; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">If you love drawing crowd scenes, DO include. If you have trouble drawing elephants, DO NOT include.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #bf9000; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-wrap: nowrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">DON’T BE SCATTERED</span><span style="color: #dd7e6b; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">If you work in different styles – YES it’s ok to include all of them! However, keep them in separate sections so as not to confuse and disrupt the flow. Make sure you have enough portfolio pieces in each style to show that you would be able to illustrate an entire book like this. If you are not at that point yet – table it for later and include when you are ready.</span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline;">NUMBER OF PIECES</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">The general rule of thumb is to include 10-15 pieces. Editing is tricky for everyone, but try looking at your portfolio with a discerning, fresh eye. Fewer high-quality pieces of artwork are better than a large amount of ok-ish work. Consider these questions:</span></p><br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #bf9000; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-wrap: nowrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">WHAT ARE YOUR STRENGTHS?</span><span style="color: #dd7e6b; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Are you really good at drawing hands? Make sure you get a few pieces in there that highlight that. </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #bf9000; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-wrap: nowrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">WHERE ARE YOUR WEAKNESSES?</span><span style="color: #dd7e6b; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Is there a particular piece that would be the reason to not hire you for a book? Get it out of there and make a note to work on it later. </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #bf9000; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-wrap: nowrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">ARE YOU INCLUDING IT JUST TO REACH 10 PIECES?</span><span style="color: #dd7e6b; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">If you are, leave it out. Remember, your talent will be judged on your weakest piece. </span></p></li></ul><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline;">POSTCARDS</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">There is generally an option to bring a stack of postcards to conferences for ADs and agents to take if they’re interested in your work - do not overlook this very important advertising opportunity! Things to consider when making postcards:</span></p><br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #bf9000; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-wrap: nowrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">HOW MANY?</span><span style="color: #dd7e6b; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">50 - 100 postcards will suffice. There is usually a rule of no more than 100 placed by your portfolio. </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #bf9000; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-wrap: nowrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">ARTWORK</span><span style="color: #dd7e6b; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">The front should have one very strong image. One or two smaller, supporting and related spot images should be included on the back. Always have artwork presented on both sides.</span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 13pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #bf9000; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-wrap: nowrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">CONTACT INFO</span><span style="color: #dd7e6b; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">This can be placed on the front or back, and should include your name, website, phone number, email and (possibly) IG handle. Remember: ADs often hang these on bulletin boards, so be sure to include it somewhere that will be visible along with your art. </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #bf9000; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-wrap: nowrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">DON’T INCLUDE</span><span style="color: #dd7e6b; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">A mailing or physical address - there is no reason for this information to be there.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #bf9000; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-wrap: nowrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">BLANK SPACE</span><span style="color: #dd7e6b; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">A little breathing room on the back for recipients to make notes about your work is something you may want to consider.</span></p></li></ul><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">(scroll down…)</span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 144pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline;">BOOK DUMMY </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">If you’re an author-illustrator and have a dummy book, great! Many conferences will allow you to display these next to your portfolio, but they aren’t mandatory if you don’t have one. Items to consider when creating a dummy:</span></p><br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #bf9000; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-wrap: nowrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">FORMAT</span><span style="color: #dd7e6b; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">This is your manuscript sketched and laid out in the size you envision your book being published in. It should include a title page, end pages, room for copyrights/dedications in a (generally) 32-page, stapled format. Each page sketch should convey the vision you have for your book, with text laid out on each page accordingly.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #bf9000; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-wrap: nowrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">ARTWORK</span><span style="color: #dd7e6b; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Though most of the dummy book should simply be sketched, one or two pages should be fully-fleshed out color artwork. This will show what your vision is for the final look of the book.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #bf9000; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-wrap: nowrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">CONTACT INFORMATION</span><span style="color: #dd7e6b; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"> Be sure to include this on the front or back cover!</span></p></li></ul><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline;">OTHER HELPFUL STUFF</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Here is a great article written by the wonderful Eliza Wheeler about her SCBWI portfolio journey. It is from 2011, but the information in it is still very relevant:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><a href="https://wheelerstudio.com/2011/08/22/portfolio-comparison-what-made-an-scbwi-winner/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Portfolio Comparison: What made an SCBWI Winner</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Photos of the Portfolio Showcase from the 2023 NYC Conference:</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 331px; overflow: hidden; width: 257px;"><img height="331" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/lZdDXeYJ7vDTCoyNPZCjCqIzdJD0SRjVKt9tvfofX_D_wphNiHLygPB6njy4b-J54akCDHJSLQLaAnybDeaHEAH4SRfiNj95WKQ-MYU0kT70xzqMg-A6PGCYsU934ONRj-3q5R0V3nhysLHTeju57dY" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="257" /></span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 329px; overflow: hidden; width: 290px;"><img height="329" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/hmeAsX65fT15wKuWevDsmjJsC2qPvulGqESineUbyqxcMg3GTGPMxodu-aPSEbxRAfz6cT1Q9Rat0-5pI9pyG76O6HWud8Tsl5TPnu8bUc0NVnnjCfNO5cZXm88f39LFOsaIhq43QW8D2KlDaSAmiUQ" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="290" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #bf9000; font-size: 19pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">We can’t wait to see all your beautiful work!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #bf9000; font-size: 19pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #bf9000; font-size: 19pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 4pt; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i>Jen Boehler, Michigan Co-Illustrator Coordinator, is an illustrator, graphic designer and author working on a hobby farm in Saginaw, Michigan. Before pursuing children’s literature, Jen worked as a freelance editorial illustrator, graphic designer, interior/event designer and owned her own line of Michigan travel apparel. She has degrees in both art/graphic design and interior design.</i></span></p><div><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><i><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 8.5pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Katie Eberts, Michigan Co-Illustrator Coordinator, received her BFA in Art & Design from the University of Michigan with a concentration in watercolor. Her debut picture book, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 8.5pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Hush-A-Bye Night </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 8.5pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">written by Thelma Godin, was published by Sleeping Bear Press in March 2023. She is based in Cedarville, Michigan.</span></i></p><i><br style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 14.3px; white-space-collapse: collapse;" /></i></span></div></span></div></span></span>Sarah Prusoff LoCasciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03325900884643863060noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473128326113032249.post-35112873698121033612024-01-03T10:38:00.000-05:002024-01-05T04:45:38.906-05:00Featured Illustrator: Jennifer Bruce<p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">CCS, zombie caterpillars, art shows, maps, AI, and TV shows to binge while creating: Jennifer Bruce</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">By Charlie Barshaw</span></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><br /></span></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicqVpYMFtDHAg3jREL8vU17rhgOx_fesCCARuQCeTyJop96p0LlFl9IliG7aFup3P0Qy6eifG57Udp9Hlzg0IS52-FE5vk3OXmIS5PPHZ7BV8bphKgfD9ZWkkaS7kWOQNEzsaNmtwYoqy3Odb48FfoiWBOZdhTHbYooWmkn9g2yWmtsxCNPt9Zhoitkk8/s6170/Mitten%20banner%20Jan%202024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2206" data-original-width="6170" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicqVpYMFtDHAg3jREL8vU17rhgOx_fesCCARuQCeTyJop96p0LlFl9IliG7aFup3P0Qy6eifG57Udp9Hlzg0IS52-FE5vk3OXmIS5PPHZ7BV8bphKgfD9ZWkkaS7kWOQNEzsaNmtwYoqy3Odb48FfoiWBOZdhTHbYooWmkn9g2yWmtsxCNPt9Zhoitkk8/w400-h143/Mitten%20banner%20Jan%202024.JPG" width="400" /></a></b></div><b><br /><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><br /></span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">What major were you pursuing in college before you
decided to take a few art classes at your community college? What finally
convinced you that illustration could be a job?</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUVb7p-37QIuYgjJcyqhw3TYqPPsV7OnNea8pS7VKrQSKeCKMfKNCXTXlkYGHWyCgoAmNtSzqbCowPXN6SzxiaHcz4i7-FlWAhC1B2xy1CYv5gh2mgH8j-0x9p5VfBf3jP1WlAr29gmVCdppP3FSODKroKagPTxpCHqhiUu7dsa3W1nj4CQD4U__kWhfVl/s1667/JB%20Headshot.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1667" data-original-width="1333" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUVb7p-37QIuYgjJcyqhw3TYqPPsV7OnNea8pS7VKrQSKeCKMfKNCXTXlkYGHWyCgoAmNtSzqbCowPXN6SzxiaHcz4i7-FlWAhC1B2xy1CYv5gh2mgH8j-0x9p5VfBf3jP1WlAr29gmVCdppP3FSODKroKagPTxpCHqhiUu7dsa3W1nj4CQD4U__kWhfVl/w320-h400/JB%20Headshot.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></b></div><b><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I had NO idea. I went to Spring Arbor University right out
of high school on a general studies track, hoping I would figure it out along
the way. I had a bad year for my GPA and ended up staying home the next
semester, and taking classes at my local community college for a few years
while I tried to make a decision. I almost went for a business degree, and then
almost a graphic design degree. I like business, so I thought: “Graphic Design
is the middle between art and business – perfect!”. It didn’t really give me
the creative freedom I wanted, so I soon realized it wouldn’t work. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Then I found out about the Illustration major at the <a href="https://www.ccsdetroit.edu/" target="_blank">College for Creative Studies </a>in Detroit, and I realized it was just right where I
wanted to be on the spectrum of the business and art combination. I wouldn’t be
a starving artist (HA) because there were actual jobs (HA) for this. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Years later I would be living the starving artist if it
weren’t for my husband’s job, but I love what I do and there are good things on
the horizon.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Reading from my notes, I see these three names: <a href="https://timothyscottcurrey.com/" target="_blank">Timothy Scott Currey</a>, <a href="https://www.dennisavelar.com/" target="_blank">Dennis Avelar</a> and Grant Smith. How do these names intersect with
you?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx2C9gXNrJkRiDx45ub0CoYnEasxAiqTXRGHsbJvXFdpJ91zUuHiqIX5ZvS3MF7M12y7ajY_jDdODKaomy_hksYR1pPDWjLXAFb36ngYZZMJCJ-02nxNJOGfkjXMSWuvPol520D5JFCYraNpbGU0LeW4pAAF_HPIuapuIHEHLj0YQiU_mcs8tQI3SkJO_t/s1674/Screenshot%202023-12-10%20at%2010.35.35%20PM.png" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1674" data-original-width="1648" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx2C9gXNrJkRiDx45ub0CoYnEasxAiqTXRGHsbJvXFdpJ91zUuHiqIX5ZvS3MF7M12y7ajY_jDdODKaomy_hksYR1pPDWjLXAFb36ngYZZMJCJ-02nxNJOGfkjXMSWuvPol520D5JFCYraNpbGU0LeW4pAAF_HPIuapuIHEHLj0YQiU_mcs8tQI3SkJO_t/s320/Screenshot%202023-12-10%20at%2010.35.35%20PM.png" width="315" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">Cover of "Death of the Tree Path" by <br />Timothy Scott Currey, my first book cover!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"></span></div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Three people that I have professional affection for – some
of my first book cover clients, and all return customers! Timothy Scott
Currey’s cover was actually what I consider my first professional commission. I
had been advertising on Reddit and he reached out to me to illustrate the cover
of his upcoming fantasy novel. I was so excited to have my first real
commission. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">These people – and the of other independent authors that
I’ve worked with – have been amazing clients and great to work with, and
they’re all passionate about their work. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Likewise, Zombie Caterpillar?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Ah yes, good ole’ Ophiocordyceps. I was approached earlier
this year by Nautilus Magazine to create the cover image of their print Issue
51 – which corresponded to the feature article <a href="https://nautil.us/the-last-of-the-fungus-370460/" target="_blank">“The Last of the Fungus”</a> (see
what they did there?), which is about the dying Ophiocordyceps trade in Nepal.
The dried caterpillar + zombifying fungus (which takes control of infected caterpillar
young and uses them as food source) is an apparent medicinal delicacy in some
parts of the world, but it is increasingly dangerous to harvest due to warming
temperatures in their mountain habitats. Scientists have tried to cultivate
this fungi in controlled environments, to no avail. I’ll let you read the
article for the rest of the story!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJD2H8si1T-DzkrgL3v4OpNT55OSCdBGnBebILdNpy8SfsQtUyzW0pVRG8E2HCT_4aLB0QbAyVVs-beh6rTKKInSgpAaiY6N6snFoPrqUAzHH_sA74mX6LPvv89f1TukG2THB3MuA7mcvwTU2yXqaIfA8QmA3DDtbaTH0x64fODawXfEuedXTNVQHdXUCO/s1722/Screenshot%202023-12-10%20at%2010.36.01%20PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1722" data-original-width="1714" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJD2H8si1T-DzkrgL3v4OpNT55OSCdBGnBebILdNpy8SfsQtUyzW0pVRG8E2HCT_4aLB0QbAyVVs-beh6rTKKInSgpAaiY6N6snFoPrqUAzHH_sA74mX6LPvv89f1TukG2THB3MuA7mcvwTU2yXqaIfA8QmA3DDtbaTH0x64fODawXfEuedXTNVQHdXUCO/s320/Screenshot%202023-12-10%20at%2010.36.01%20PM.png" width="319" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">Photoshoot in the woods with an art piece </span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"></span></div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><br />It was the idea of the Nautilus art directors to put the
Nepalese landscape in a lab beaker to illustrate the tale, and I’m honestly jealous
that they thought of it first. They were great to work with, and I got to do an
interview for their online magazine.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Did you transport, display and sell your artwork at the
Art Show in Reading, PA? What does it take for you to make an art show happen?
What logistics are required (i.e., vehicle, secure packaging, display
techniques?)</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Yes! I’m a relative newbie at art shows, actually, and my
setup is pretty simple. One of the very helpful things to bring with you if you
are showing at a convention is a helper, and my darling husband Steven is one
of the best! We drove ourselves and my art work 9 hours to Reading, PA, for
IlluxCon. He helped me set up and would occasionally man the booth for me while
I took a bathroom break or checked out the other artists’ booths. That’s one
thing that people showing at conventions don’t always account for – you can’t
really leave your booth unless you’re willing to possibly lose a sale or two.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7eUY6_EJLv9kd9oci7ovZB42N2BRQaAN_TZWBlNqpJJL5SOLTQrUjxEwIQwjBusRB8Gk0AMqXt_VGRRJ-jcyhZ5VWGWqP3Bo6urKqSr57g71rw0HvdqC2A8RPrcpCr8VyeR9mgyZIbrTjsqC3Z0lkUkZWrNb4jHPu5HU5S91xXatil-uH07dRY1DVu3Ev/s1720/Screenshot%202023-12-10%20at%2010.34.17%20PM.png" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1290" data-original-width="1720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7eUY6_EJLv9kd9oci7ovZB42N2BRQaAN_TZWBlNqpJJL5SOLTQrUjxEwIQwjBusRB8Gk0AMqXt_VGRRJ-jcyhZ5VWGWqP3Bo6urKqSr57g71rw0HvdqC2A8RPrcpCr8VyeR9mgyZIbrTjsqC3Z0lkUkZWrNb4jHPu5HU5S91xXatil-uH07dRY1DVu3Ev/s320/Screenshot%202023-12-10%20at%2010.34.17%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />Jennifer at her booth at Illuxcon in Reading, PA.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"></span></div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><br />Like I said, my booth set up is pretty simple. I use a
retail store supply company for packable grid wall panels and accessories, I
have a custom table runner with my name and logo, and lots of containers from
home to hold prints and other goodies.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">It’s the prep, travel, and mental toil that makes it
hardest. I want to sleep for a week after we get back! I did better this year
with the prep, thankfully. In 2022 I made up 50 or more block-printed t-shirts,
sewed pencil bags, and purchased prints and other media with my work on it. For
better or worse, I had a lot of stock left over, so I only had to stock up on a
few prints and stickers this year.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Do you do commissions? How does that normally work?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What are some of the most unusual projects
you’ve been tasked with?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I do, of a sort. I don’t list my commissions as “open” on
social media, because I’m not currently interested personal commissions, which
tend to be low budget and don’t match the portfolio I’m cultivating. I also
like to have a little more control over the subject matter.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I do take commissions for book covers, random board game
art, fantasy mapmaking, and other professional jobs. Essentially, anything that
is commissioned by a serious person with a budget and a willingness to trust my
creative expertise. Good art takes work and time, and should be compensated
accordingly!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Do you have an agent or an art rep?</span></b></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAs31jQR2pOSubRFMMDL_kOgFoWXugEcMg7NLVXQNywOWkFOe5OKpuUcftdcrNgVrOB2Cwjox40SB3ik7ohQcBFA5pF8iIAcKAwHrwaqc_wTM3BKHvmucmkcFtmobGEYHbsvPnHa-JT3fDAfpKSuuR2589ETRwKCJ4QeWVkNbkBkjCsZDvD4T-gmT_YJ1/s1440/studio.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAs31jQR2pOSubRFMMDL_kOgFoWXugEcMg7NLVXQNywOWkFOe5OKpuUcftdcrNgVrOB2Cwjox40SB3ik7ohQcBFA5pF8iIAcKAwHrwaqc_wTM3BKHvmucmkcFtmobGEYHbsvPnHa-JT3fDAfpKSuuR2589ETRwKCJ4QeWVkNbkBkjCsZDvD4T-gmT_YJ1/s320/studio.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hands-on studio</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I don’t – but
I am actively looking for one! If you’re reading this and you are an agent
looking for new clients, hit me up!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Which instructor most influenced your artwork?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">There are two: <a href="https://www.francisvallejo.com/" target="_blank">Francis Vallejo </a>helped me to love figure
drawing, and <a href="https://kirbifagan.com/" target="_blank">Kirbi Fagan</a> was a positive force and great help in my senior year.
They’re both fantastic artists, instructors, and just generally awesome people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Were your parents receptive to your drawing ability? Did
your artwork end up on the fridge?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Yes and yes! I even remember my dad asking me to go grab the
paint by number paintings I had made to show a friend he had over at the time.
My mom, who homeschooled my sister and I, always encouraged our creativity, and
my dad would look very carefully over any drawing presented to him while
praising it. My sister is also an artist, and we were ALWAYS drawing or
creating something.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">After expressing some concern (normal parental concerns over
future starving artist daughter), my parents were fully behind me as I started
art school, and continued helping me to pay for classes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Ruth says she likes your maps. How difficult is it to be
accurate and fanciful at the same time?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihjiGULq4SiLfp_aJQmxMKzZNupbDnSveKTFlEumpVFXL1or2POYXSfKT6wZWfH-S4lOiCsbs-ujCMJ-CPsDPGfOsUGp_10g3MRUrPJn1j6TgGPv-u3tXnZn-6twe2zzN1PiHN8-vlvJuFs80sE5NS-H2OahhAXNMmYh982a5Ty5nVfYE4VZ1CF-C5R4D7/s735/Morgan_NJ+Map_LoRes.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihjiGULq4SiLfp_aJQmxMKzZNupbDnSveKTFlEumpVFXL1or2POYXSfKT6wZWfH-S4lOiCsbs-ujCMJ-CPsDPGfOsUGp_10g3MRUrPJn1j6TgGPv-u3tXnZn-6twe2zzN1PiHN8-vlvJuFs80sE5NS-H2OahhAXNMmYh982a5Ty5nVfYE4VZ1CF-C5R4D7/s320/Morgan_NJ+Map_LoRes.jpeg" width="218" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the maps</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Thank you, <a href="https://ruthexpress.com/" target="_blank">Ruth</a>! In truth, making maps is a bit of a mental
break for me – I get to play with pretty colors and draw sea monsters, but I
don’t have to concentrate on ideation or composition much. Thus far I’ve only
worked on maps that existed already – the map of Narnia and New Jersey – or
something that my client came up with. Sometimes it’s nice to just do mindless
work.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">The part I find most tedious is putting the location labels
in, because I have to make them fit around other landmarks or locations, and
sometimes they’re close together.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Did the College for Creative Studies prepare you for
marketing your art? Are the courses at CCS aimed more at creativity or
business?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">They tried, and mostly succeeded. We had one class that
entirely focused on our futures after school and promoting our work. It was a
good class, and I’m sure I still use some of what I learned.</span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLrHdQoANYaEOJXg5XZRdwU8Dn7WKOCMdTKnsdQWItso6KjROovCTJCSgLXRD8-KI9enG_rnB4e1F6lMCXwv5SKtTjdAMYoLbvi40754exN849Fz4fuOmiInwYuNNHyz3UD0HaIbMrUfrSwT3cZb4FZMDCV8LgXm6OYAVEsRz5oVp25A2-zWDx585D3m4N/s1374/studio3.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1374" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLrHdQoANYaEOJXg5XZRdwU8Dn7WKOCMdTKnsdQWItso6KjROovCTJCSgLXRD8-KI9enG_rnB4e1F6lMCXwv5SKtTjdAMYoLbvi40754exN849Fz4fuOmiInwYuNNHyz3UD0HaIbMrUfrSwT3cZb4FZMDCV8LgXm6OYAVEsRz5oVp25A2-zWDx585D3m4N/s320/studio3.jpg" width="252" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Virtual art studio</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">In general, the majority of classes are focused on improving
artistic skills, as I think it should be. It takes a long time and a lot of
work to cultivate skill as an artist. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">In Junior and Senior year, they would mix more business
education in with art instruction, so that I had a pretty good road map for
when I left. What I wasn’t prepared for, however, is how long and how much
effort it would take to be where I’m at now. It’s been 4 ½ years since I
graduated, and I still don’t feel like I’ve hit “the big time”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">How do you feel about AI?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">For starters, please see previous section on how much time
and effort it takes to become an artist. Then, teach a computer to copy my work
and pump out “art” in my style for someone else’s profit. Now, do that to
thousands more artists, and sell the resulting work to big companies who used
to hire artists but now want the “same” thing for a fraction of the price. I’m
a little bitter, to be honest. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I’ve heard a lot of people say that it’s just another “tool”
for artists to use. But it seems to me that this is just like someone holding
up a page from a coloring book that they colored in and calling it an original
piece of art. Yeah, they made your own marks on this page and colored it in a
unique way, but they’re still using someone’s work as the base framework and it
didn’t take much skill or effort on their part to do the rest.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAys8wYL9Ki64KF0_wnV4QbcMmJzcDq2-GBn5NesN12mJDgigJK0S6oKrDbJE69wz6IiWuHCD1ucTnr3YTm15tu1zAbMJW_WSL34khCeKaVX1tW6-fqJQetuUKUZ6vx8KgO3GNpYqeB7xisZTnVIQit02QhCzSwfuxYEFhzHcY4AqBA44Ul8VaGqEcOCR7/s1816/family.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1794" data-original-width="1816" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAys8wYL9Ki64KF0_wnV4QbcMmJzcDq2-GBn5NesN12mJDgigJK0S6oKrDbJE69wz6IiWuHCD1ucTnr3YTm15tu1zAbMJW_WSL34khCeKaVX1tW6-fqJQetuUKUZ6vx8KgO3GNpYqeB7xisZTnVIQit02QhCzSwfuxYEFhzHcY4AqBA44Ul8VaGqEcOCR7/s320/family.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Essentially, my view is that it will inevitably be a part of
the future of commercial art, but it needs to be regulated appropriately so
that human-made art and at least some art careers have protections. We are at
the crucial point where we can still define how that future looks. Human-made
art is valuable just for the reason that it’s made by humans. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">You say you binge on movies and TV shows while painting.
Which binges for which art projects?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Ooh that’s a great question, but I can’t remember exactly
what I was watching for each project, partly because I’ve watched so many and
they sometimes repeat. So, instead let me list a few of the favorites. In
college, I watched a LOT of Gilmore Girls. Watching a show with a lot of
seasons and that doesn’t require too much attention could help to keep me going
through long nights of painting. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0386676/" target="_blank">The Office</a> is very bingeable of course, and I really like big
movie series like Harry Potter or Hunger games, the kind that is easy to watch
in succession. I’ve been through several period piece shows, like<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4786824/" target="_blank"> The Crown</a>,
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3636060/" target="_blank">Poldark</a>, and <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1606375/" target="_blank">Downton Abbey</a> (some of these multiple times). I was on a moody
streak a year or two ago, watching <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8290362/" target="_blank">The Head</a>, <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2249364/" target="_blank">Broadchurch</a>, and other
small-town-murder-type shows. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I like sci-fi; Stargate Atlantis was a good low-engagement
watch for a while. I think I started watching<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3230854/" target="_blank"> The Expanse</a> as a background show,
but it got too good and I had to save it for TV nights with Steven. <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4179452/" target="_blank">The Last Kingdom</a> ended the same way. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">All in all, I’ve watched WAY too much TV. But at least I’m
only half-watching!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">You say you’re inspired by C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien.
Is it their stories, or the subsequent movie and series treatments that helped
paint mental images?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">The books and the movies, for sure! Narnia is near and dear
to my heart, and has been since I was young. Faith is a big and important part
of my life, and C.S. Lewis’s allegorical depictions of God and Jesus were
always so appealing and comforting to me. I also loved his colorful and diverse
cast of characters, the adventures they went on, and the world they lived in.
I’m pretty sure I saw one of the movies 3 times in theaters.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">The Lord of the Rings trilogy came to the big screen before
I was allowed to watch it as a kid, but once I was able I adored them. There is
so much gorgeous imagery, so many characters with moving stories, and an
incredible sense of adventure. The movies are impeccably made, and they will be
on my re-watch list for the rest of my life. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">In your freelance work you’ve done a number of book
covers, enticing pieces of art that are tasked with selling a whole novel. Do
you read the novel, or simply get a synopsis? How much back and forth with the
author is enough?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I have worked primarily with freelance authors thus far, so
the art direction process is a bit different than if I were working with an Art
Director at a publishing house. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I have direct co</span><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">ntact with the author, and they have the
final say over the art. However, I do my best as the stand-in art director to
steer them in a direction that I think will best serve their work.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6UABFR0fSIBLEnPEhuDrWxSFlCXnGY9JTbqC2a82nYwJQm1W2-5pNovE8IGqACbc44Ep1_TDshKDVdinvewysqMP42oR_yBOrV2suEwWZQab4AgXI-SugQixrTLIrQARr_EATYqMYTl2c6vgL9sRqKXs-Eos9Qvkm0QNo8iHXcRHpsLfvhCls6MvlQNvv/s1726/Screenshot%202023-12-10%20at%2010.34.57%20PM.png" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1720" data-original-width="1726" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6UABFR0fSIBLEnPEhuDrWxSFlCXnGY9JTbqC2a82nYwJQm1W2-5pNovE8IGqACbc44Ep1_TDshKDVdinvewysqMP42oR_yBOrV2suEwWZQab4AgXI-SugQixrTLIrQARr_EATYqMYTl2c6vgL9sRqKXs-Eos9Qvkm0QNo8iHXcRHpsLfvhCls6MvlQNvv/s320/Screenshot%202023-12-10%20at%2010.34.57%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Writers and Illustrators of the Future Awards Gala <br />in 2020 with Finalist Award and the illustration <br />for Sara Fox's story "Death of a Time Traveler</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">They usually come to me with a loose idea or a few thoughts
on direction already formed, and I’ll make a few sketches from that and their
synopsis/descriptions of the story. I don’t usually read the whole book. I have
done this for just a few clients, either because they felt a synopsis wouldn’t
give me enough information, or because I was interested in the work. In general
I don’t do this because it adds too much time to the production schedule.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I ask a lot of questions in the beginning of the process
during the sketch phase, but after a sketch and color scheme have been
selected, and any adjustments made, I go to work and let the client know that I
will contact them part way through with an update. Tweaks can be made at this
point, and after I send the completed work to them. This is their last chance
to make changes, but I make sure that they are aware of the whole process
before we start, so that there aren’t any surprises.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Generally the process has been very smooth, and these
independent authors have been great to work with.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">What would your dream project be?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Probably getting hired to do covers and interior drawings
for a giant book series that becomes super popular and is made into a movie.
And then I would get asked to help with art direction on the film and
promotional materials, visit set, and meet Harrison Ford (who would obviously
be the hero of the story). Oh – and of course, it would include a lot of pay
and a lot of time to complete the projects. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">What’s next for you? What are you currently working
on?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you have any of your own stories
you long to tell?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Primarily, I’m working on making this my primary career so
that I can “quit my day job”. I’m reaching out to art directors in young adult
publishing, editorial, and board gaming for commissions. I’m also adding more
works to my portfolio and social media, and trying to cover my bases so that
art directors see what they’re looking for. Generally, all that self-promotion
and marketing stuff.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwVeFH5zc-Q4aqMGyXur-o8hYnICehOilYE7F0d6CDMR7_FqZCccvf2Lm4jX42nUCDZJXnM_CTnu1xicmlgzdYkqb-GSJV1xdB398yemSyQd-UakXCEdUY7HfuwFY2u-K9XPozIvq3E5byBA4qeguPr96V48j9jGjQo7Mx6sKrC5knQj1ZhVu1_wxATLgN/s1814/Screenshot%202023-12-10%20at%2010.14.06%20PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1814" data-original-width="1812" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwVeFH5zc-Q4aqMGyXur-o8hYnICehOilYE7F0d6CDMR7_FqZCccvf2Lm4jX42nUCDZJXnM_CTnu1xicmlgzdYkqb-GSJV1xdB398yemSyQd-UakXCEdUY7HfuwFY2u-K9XPozIvq3E5byBA4qeguPr96V48j9jGjQo7Mx6sKrC5knQj1ZhVu1_wxATLgN/w400-h400/Screenshot%202023-12-10%20at%2010.14.06%20PM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="outline: none;"> Me and my sister - who is also an artist - I'm the older sibling.</div><div style="outline: none;"><br clear="none" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; outline: none; text-align: left;" /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><br />As for stories of my own that I long to tell – yes, I do
have one, and I love that you asked! It’s going to take a long time to pull
together, but I have a graphic novel developing in my head that I would love to
publish one day. It’s a space opera that pulls from all of the greats in that
genre – <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0303461/" target="_blank">Firefly</a>, Star Wars, The Expanse, and others, and it’s inspired by some
daydreams had while listening to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBYHwH1Vb-c" target="_blank">Fleetwood Mac – “The Chain”</a>, in particular.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p></div></div>Charlie Barshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09500271053109489021noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473128326113032249.post-90806760518242675672023-12-29T00:00:00.002-05:002023-12-29T00:00:00.132-05:002024 Is Your Year by Jay Whistler<p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">You may recall that in my 2022 New Year’s post, I mentioned
that I am not big on resolutions because they feel…like work. Add in that they
rarely succeed because life gets in the way. I also tend to berate myself the
first time I mess up, blame my lack of willpower (to exercise, eat better,
write every day, etc.) and immediately give up.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/d48u1PD8lzNH2fx6/giphy.gif"></a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/d48u1PD8lzNH2fx6/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="480" height="270" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/d48u1PD8lzNH2fx6/giphy.gif" width="480" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"> </span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">It stands to reason, then, that for my 2023 New Year’s post
I am not going to suggest you make a resolution to work on your craft. Instead,
I’m going to suggest that you set aside time every week, actually scheduled in
the calendar like an appointment, to get your portfolio ready for the next
SCBWI Mentorship, or finally get that picture book dummy together. Why? Because
in 2024, we will have an illustration mentorship in which you can focus on
either/both a dummy and/or your portfolio with your mentor’s guidance. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/Fo1cy8mqGDvbjpJBB7/giphy.gif"></a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/Fo1cy8mqGDvbjpJBB7/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="480" height="480" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/Fo1cy8mqGDvbjpJBB7/giphy.gif" width="480" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"> </span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">While we aren’t ready to spill the name of our mentor just
yet, rest assured it is someone you will want to work with! In addition, there
will be some changes to the format of the mentorship. A lot of the mentorship
will remain in place, but we are adding some extra bonuses for our top three
entrants. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/QnfRbaghcDZFnf59ma/giphy.gif"></a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/QnfRbaghcDZFnf59ma/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="318" height="258" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/QnfRbaghcDZFnf59ma/giphy.gif" width="318" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"> </span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">Our goal is to make the mentorship meaningful to everyone
who enters, not just to the chosen mentee. Illustrator co-coordinators Katie
Eberts and Jen Boehler surveyed our membership. We’ve reached out to other
regions with mentorships for their suggestions. We’ve had conversations with
co-RAs Jodi McKay and Anita Pazner about our big overhaul plans, and I can tell
you that we are all excited about the new and improved mentorship. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">In addition, we are in the process of creating a shiny new
website page for the mentorship. We had a lovely one for the 2023 mentorship,
but then HQ created a whole new website, and whelp, there went all our hard
work. But we are rebuilding and will have all the info you need ready to go
well before registration opens in June. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">So whether you call it a resolution, goal, mission, sense of
purpose, or even a cheese sandwich, you now have at least six months to work on
your portfolio and prepare for the new and improved 2024 Illustration
Mentorship. Make it your year!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/SiGg4zSmwmbafTYwpj/giphy.gif"></a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/SiGg4zSmwmbafTYwpj/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="480" height="480" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/SiGg4zSmwmbafTYwpj/giphy.gif" width="480" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"> </span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">Jay Whistler is the mentorship coordinator for SCBWI-MI.
She promises that no cheese sandwiches were harmed in the writing of this post.
</span><o:p></o:p></i></p>Sarah Prusoff LoCasciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03325900884643863060noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473128326113032249.post-29586323987494724732023-12-22T00:00:00.007-05:002023-12-22T08:57:05.501-05:00Writer Spotlight: Deborah Halverson<p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: x-large;">#mobileeditingoffice, SO much paper, not THAT Big Mouth, and Dummies: Writer/editor/mom Deborah Halverson</span></p>
<div><b><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><i style="font-weight: 400;">Charlie Barshaw coordinates our regular Writer Spotlight feature and interviews writers of SCBWI-MI. In this piece, meet 2013 Conference co-presenter Deborah Halverson.</i></span></b></div><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;">Your FB posts seem to indicate that you live in an
impossibly sunny and calm part of California, where you often take day-trips to
the water to set up a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/deborah.halverson/" target="_blank">#mobileeditingoffice.</a> </b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFAg0dtRhYNf0mjg4xJfprOwdQgm-6X31tl2mZFBvFXz0zYB5yUzNYic0coxA13wk7s7nYsrN7hJDjW_BENEJfyKg0KBQxOu9vGlTwXlEPpV-3SbVxPdqNvA3C-e-6q1VRCM0j63PbkQ9fxRw08xXoEfVuNcSUkGL0vO_Kths28ViW4ypRmnFD7Uc6t-xL/s2048/Editing%20at%20Hotel%20Del%20Coronado.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="946" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFAg0dtRhYNf0mjg4xJfprOwdQgm-6X31tl2mZFBvFXz0zYB5yUzNYic0coxA13wk7s7nYsrN7hJDjW_BENEJfyKg0KBQxOu9vGlTwXlEPpV-3SbVxPdqNvA3C-e-6q1VRCM0j63PbkQ9fxRw08xXoEfVuNcSUkGL0vO_Kths28ViW4ypRmnFD7Uc6t-xL/w400-h185/Editing%20at%20Hotel%20Del%20Coronado.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mobile editing at Hotel del Coronado </td></tr></tbody></table><b style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;"><br />Yet in your website, an FAQ
states “you write about extreme places.” Where, besides Michigan, have you
found extreme places to visit?</b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I found Michigan and the SCBWI folks there to be quite
welcoming and wonderful, so that doesn’t qualify as extreme. My real interest
in “extreme” is really about situations. I am intrigued by the way people react
to things and events that push them waaaay beyond the everyday routine, forcing
us to find strengths we didn’t know we had. Normal people in extreme
circumstances. The difficulties move me, the triumphs inspire me. I like to
explore that in my characters.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQid7pKJGJe2EICvkJm_eX9nioVAFoKm5Z-_la208_WVA_fpp9Mpbym8eUYmpIb2mJGt2XBRwFPP01TVqn8iBqTDdqTk1l1SGCyehPQgF9t9kQKiclBxM_d1PbOTXJmZHH3kS8RLQjEcVJAqzYnt3j6ic26jXtwl7btSjFdq5ztkP3o2oZH8oQ8TQ2soif/s784/DeborahHalverson_credit_TheresaStanton_color_small.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="784" data-original-width="560" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQid7pKJGJe2EICvkJm_eX9nioVAFoKm5Z-_la208_WVA_fpp9Mpbym8eUYmpIb2mJGt2XBRwFPP01TVqn8iBqTDdqTk1l1SGCyehPQgF9t9kQKiclBxM_d1PbOTXJmZHH3kS8RLQjEcVJAqzYnt3j6ic26jXtwl7btSjFdq5ztkP3o2oZH8oQ8TQ2soif/w286-h400/DeborahHalverson_credit_TheresaStanton_color_small.jpg" width="286" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><br /><b><o:p></o:p></b></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b>Your bio on your website starts with your ten-year stint as
editor with Harcourt Children’s Books. But tell us about 9-year-old Deborah. What
was her family like? What did she love to do then that you still love to do
now?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Nine-year-old Deborah was the second oldest in a house of
four sisters. It was loud and busy and I liked that. But I also liked the
escape of books – of stories. I read voraciously. Usually my parents books, as
they had a huge library in the garage of mostly spy novels. I didn’t write for
myself then, though I loved writing on assignment as school. It wouldn’t be
until several years into that 10-year stint at Harcourt that I tried my hand at
writing for myself, a yearning I’d secretly had and finally dared to try and
then shared with others. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b>In the professional arena you’d had some successes. But you had achieved what few people anywhere have: triplet boys. How old were they (they’re off to college now) when you hopped on a jet plane with their greasy hugs leaving prints on the bomber jacket?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt3o9gpKNL3Io54H89-MuC1-cmTx2K-cCtxLs3KZTDysJtNNnwONOpiFduTcpwGCF4wzR3nLzc4OfNb3IT8Iq00YcKMywQPrIqfzJ7BShxBD_wWTjOxnKkXJG7CsJjnUKm7iW23DWbe23gOEzP4ckEtfPKajJ464FPyj0PRECPeBn_zo0TyFl0XRxK_ZY0/s2100/Balboa%20Park%20IMG_5548.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt3o9gpKNL3Io54H89-MuC1-cmTx2K-cCtxLs3KZTDysJtNNnwONOpiFduTcpwGCF4wzR3nLzc4OfNb3IT8Iq00YcKMywQPrIqfzJ7BShxBD_wWTjOxnKkXJG7CsJjnUKm7iW23DWbe23gOEzP4ckEtfPKajJ464FPyj0PRECPeBn_zo0TyFl0XRxK_ZY0/s320/Balboa%20Park%20IMG_5548.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The early days with triplets</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><br />My sons were six at the time. Just as I loved my busy house growing up, I loved my busy house with triplet boys—but I was glad to have time away, I will admit. Talking to grownups all weekend, about books and writing… yes, that was for work, but it was also Vacation.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b>You were a West Coast editor for NY-based Harcourt
Children’s Books. What was editing like, back in “the day”? Lots of stamps and
envelopes and paper, so much paper, I imagine. And cutting-edge technology considered
primitive today. Can you take us back a normal day as a children’s book editor
back then? What do you remember about your first day?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><i>SO </i>much paper! My first day at Harcourt, someone
said to me, “We have this new thing called email. Have you heard of it?” The
designers were just learning to do all the book design on the computer. I’ve experienced
much change in this industry in the 28 years since. Ebooks. Amazon and online
retailers. Social Media. The growth of self-publishing. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">But let me tell you about that first day, because it was
Everything: There was an “art show” that day. That’s what we called it when
finished art arrived for a picture book and the editor laid it all out on the
conference table with the book’s text on scraps of paper beneath the
corresponding images. Everyone who knew the book as a name on this or that
report was invited to “meet” the book – finance people, contracts people, the
mail room. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Of course, the folks who’d worked more deeply with the book were
there too, including those of us in the Managing Editorial department, which
was my first position. The oohing and ahhing! Such joy. Such camaraderie. Such
appreciation of storytelling and creators. I knew I’d found my place and my
people.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b>You are a prolific author in many genres, but you published
one, and only one, picture book. (And <i><a href="https://www.deborahhalverson.com/books/letters-to-santa/" target="_blank">Letters to Santa</a></i>, as well as the
novel <i><a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/deborah-halverson/honk-if-you-hate-me/" target="_blank">Honk If You Hate Me</a></i>, qualified you for our bonkers writing retreat
in Michigan.) How did <i>Letters</i> come about?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEQx7A4J6CsiZwMnQl8vI5GKVGbCyf0gaRIe0IhUMXtv2lA7G1MbNrLj0U4JG_yRHmr38M7_tZ-kcvZNuf5oDpZIavqkLvSieO64D6uQFHmbSY1tIjSg1l2pafetL5w5BGYuS0Rhzerljc7EhPK2jbWc6ma_ftiMn3I37MMmhDeQxxh8Dx8JIZ4FAvK6jE/s149/letters.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="149" data-original-width="90" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEQx7A4J6CsiZwMnQl8vI5GKVGbCyf0gaRIe0IhUMXtv2lA7G1MbNrLj0U4JG_yRHmr38M7_tZ-kcvZNuf5oDpZIavqkLvSieO64D6uQFHmbSY1tIjSg1l2pafetL5w5BGYuS0Rhzerljc7EhPK2jbWc6ma_ftiMn3I37MMmhDeQxxh8Dx8JIZ4FAvK6jE/w193-h320/letters.jpg" width="193" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><i><br />Letters </i>came to me. A book packager was creating
it with the US Postal Service to mark the 100<sup>th</sup> anniversary of their
Letters to Santa program. They wanted a story about the process of mailing a
letter and about the Christmas spirit and Santa, and it had to have a <a href="https://www.bestpopupbooks.com/" target="_blank">pop-up</a> at
the end! I did my best to give them that, with an emotional element that kids
could relate to. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I’m now working on another picture book, from my own
head, with my own mission. Perhaps it will join<i> Letters</i> on the shelf
someday. Regardless, I believe that writing picture books enriches me as an
editor. One needn’t be a writer to edit well, but I feel that writerly connection
when I work with authors, which is important to me. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b>On your “About” page, you claim you always wanted to write
novels. While completing your debut novel, <i>Honk If You Hate Me</i>, you and
your spouse agreed that you were “typing,” so as not to put pressure on your
actually writing a story. You seem to be a combination of timidity and courage.
How do you see yourself?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiKHH-87Z8auAsA7ZNnyuQvogd7i87NB8gLsE0EGdU0d7xWjVBlQBLhavrVJbnnXeWgz9NHDdz_5jXv1uS7wzQS1wqWxlP3SzTiOcn5QFAkxjwio0lTFNAI_i93DpADN8BuEJr8qJ7oaQjeMjYuoK9BJB5OfiRtQzjpFMTX4ps9jXTzH7964EFG5c4CTYQ/s466/516bRCyfrZL._SY466_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="308" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiKHH-87Z8auAsA7ZNnyuQvogd7i87NB8gLsE0EGdU0d7xWjVBlQBLhavrVJbnnXeWgz9NHDdz_5jXv1uS7wzQS1wqWxlP3SzTiOcn5QFAkxjwio0lTFNAI_i93DpADN8BuEJr8qJ7oaQjeMjYuoK9BJB5OfiRtQzjpFMTX4ps9jXTzH7964EFG5c4CTYQ/s320/516bRCyfrZL._SY466_.jpg" width="212" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><br />You said it well. I don’t know why I had that fear with
my own writing, but it gives me insight into the courage of writers when they
open themselves up to critique in order to improve a particular manuscript or
their overall craft. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b>You’ve written two mid-grade novels, <i>Honk If You Hate Me </i>and
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://www.deborahhalverson.com/books/big-mouth-book/" target="_blank">Big Mouth</a></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">.</span> You’ve branched out into so many other writing-related fields:
editing, writing coach, columnist, presenter, numbers person. Do you still have
some mid-grade stories in you that you’d "want to type"?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I do! I have
more ideas and works in progress than time to write them! I know other writers
can relate to that. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><b>Big Mouth</b></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><b> is about a boy who aspires to become a
hot-dog eating champion. You used the title first. How do you feel about the
popular animated show by the same name?</b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiImT8aaFPEciKy_TQirqvC6J3slbYVLRw7Kf_DHZFUIRLuLTiNhfWqS87Bmrxh1Bhp9JvoX9K_pYiq77u_Lc-JUS1o0MQS1qqCPQt4cyPaUkkHa2dlfAdB_ZuYgn2WINic7s9cSDLICMA2oxR_MHJEWW45ExR67lYCEz2K6oeyi0psBPaOlo4pyvlVyvrh/s1933/big%20mouth.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1933" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiImT8aaFPEciKy_TQirqvC6J3slbYVLRw7Kf_DHZFUIRLuLTiNhfWqS87Bmrxh1Bhp9JvoX9K_pYiq77u_Lc-JUS1o0MQS1qqCPQt4cyPaUkkHa2dlfAdB_ZuYgn2WINic7s9cSDLICMA2oxR_MHJEWW45ExR67lYCEz2K6oeyi0psBPaOlo4pyvlVyvrh/s320/big%20mouth.jpg" width="212" /></a></b></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><b><br /></b><o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I know of the show, but I haven’t watched it. It’s a fun
title either way, right? I do love a clever title. In fact, I was known
in-house for my ability to come up with titles when a book needed one. Some
faves that authors have expressly allowed me to share: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/150185" target="_blank"><i>Much Ado about
Grubstake </i>by Jean Ferris</a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/157055" target="_blank"><i>Once Upon a Marigold </i>by Jean Ferris</a>, and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/640476" target="_blank"><i>Harvesting
Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez </i>by Kathleen Krull. </a><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b>You’ve got a long-running post “<a href="https://www.deareditor.com/meet-the-editor/" target="_blank">Dear Editor</a>” that has
answered writing and publishing questions for decades. What are the different
problems that people write to you about now versus the topics you used to have
to cover?</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">The most common questions I get at DearEditor.com are
about the submissions process. That hasn’t changed. It’s always felt like a
black hole to writers: You do all that hard work, then you send it off, then
you… wait. And hope. And second-guess. I do my best to shed light into the
black hole and to cut down on second-guessing by helping writers feel confident
about the materials they submit. I do get plenty of questions about craft,
which are the most fun for me to answer. I get to drop tips that I hope will
help writers improve their craft. That’s the best part of my job.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b>You are a writing coach. A drill sergeant who can help a writer
pummel their manuscript into shape. You’ve had clients, famous and less-so. Are
there any clients you have permission to talk about?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Some authors have shared testimonials for my website,
including <a href="https://aishasaeed.com/" target="_blank">Aisha Saeed</a>, <a href="https://www.jeff-hirsch.com/" target="_blank">Jeff Hirsch</a>, <a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-authors/article/85350-obituary-kathleen-krull.html" target="_blank">Kathleen Krull</a>, and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/86265.Jean_Ferris" target="_blank">Jean Ferris</a>. You can
check them out if you like at <a href="http://DeborahHalverson.com">DeborahHalverson.com</a>. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I love that I work with new
writers as well as veterans. Every project is rewarding. If you’d told
book-hungry, nine-year-old Deborah that she’d be helping writers shape stories
one day <i>as a job</i>, her head would’ve exploded with glee. Imagine that! </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">But
I’ve learned how to build a story and how to expand and deepen stories through
mechanics and creative intuition. I believe I help people with those skills.
And I’m still as book-hungry as ever. I did find my place and my people.<i style="font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;">“Do, don’t talk.” Explain.</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">It’s a mantra of mine. I need to goose myself with it
right now, actually. It means don’t just talk about writing the book, DO it.
Life throws lots of obstacles in the way of getting a book done, including day
jobs and family obligations. But our stories are still at work in our heads,
brewing and blossoming, and we’ll talk about it with friends and fellow
writers. We must get it onto the page. Find your way to make that happen –
writing groups, routines, NaNoWriMo. <a href="https://www.hillarydepiano.com/2019/11/what-does-butt-in-chair-mean/" target="_blank">Butt in chair</a>, as the old saying goes. Do.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;">Do you wish your writing craft books were not “for Dummies”?</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj0XhfS4e1c6Vt2phA6NvGU2FxM_YbSglw5xx9UywzOUG8FF-RuqDUkDdpxOTTVPTtTcei1wOHKe24YuGgN-QXlJrf_GdIzKo2lVdxEyxODmXmAuEo-TiM4AnNZUEwrWh47bnE37evL4Ng2hgv1cmreMBFkNnFSRP-rGN9Zh5Nt6HdJ4Q7ep165vmKtIeI/s149/dummies.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="149" data-original-width="90" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj0XhfS4e1c6Vt2phA6NvGU2FxM_YbSglw5xx9UywzOUG8FF-RuqDUkDdpxOTTVPTtTcei1wOHKe24YuGgN-QXlJrf_GdIzKo2lVdxEyxODmXmAuEo-TiM4AnNZUEwrWh47bnE37evL4Ng2hgv1cmreMBFkNnFSRP-rGN9Zh5Nt6HdJ4Q7ep165vmKtIeI/w193-h320/dummies.jpg" width="193" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><br />Ha! One of the first things the <a href="https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=580203348&sxsrf=AM9HkKlAORf8gwanJucBLzAex8xWyW4CbQ:1699382474045&q=For+Dummies+book+list&spell=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj4qs-FxbKCAxXCrYkEHfXSChcQirwEKAB6BAgKEAE&biw=1132&bih=712&dpr=1.1" target="_blank">For Dummies </a>editor said
to me was that their audience is anything BUT dummies. These are smart,
information-gathering people who want to improve. With that in mind, she said,
have fun! Then she cut me loose to do what I do, because she knew I knew what I
was doing and that what I was doing was my kind of fun. I hope writers feel
that playfulness and joy when they work with the book. I want them to feel
supported and energized as I arm them with tools, techniques, and strategies to
improve their craft. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b>You must do a ton of research so that every six months you
can report on the state of publishing. How do you gather your info? Are you
always a numbers person, or do you just play one on the stage of SCBWI NY and
LA?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP17K884AaRj0ie4uFaZXNnyUjxCVwxJmqO6cCp2Afw7OsRq7slYaQU0BYWyuOLRiIKEfF1b9gCn1RqJjhZfjDM2wJqFcw4RzUxvwzsn55KpwC9sH1ZFrPpopOxWDzuCw7gA0YOCbz2x_iLgvF-3fBfgreujJqjhvccjai1fNyXU2WfXEMEKj519h4bQxN/s960/presentation%20SCBWI.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="960" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP17K884AaRj0ie4uFaZXNnyUjxCVwxJmqO6cCp2Afw7OsRq7slYaQU0BYWyuOLRiIKEfF1b9gCn1RqJjhZfjDM2wJqFcw4RzUxvwzsn55KpwC9sH1ZFrPpopOxWDzuCw7gA0YOCbz2x_iLgvF-3fBfgreujJqjhvccjai1fNyXU2WfXEMEKj519h4bQxN/s320/presentation%20SCBWI.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Presenting at the San Diego SCBWI</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><br />I’m a words person, through and through, but numbers give
me valuable context so I embrace them in those “state of the publishing
industry” presentations. I stay up on the industry by reading <i><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/" target="_blank">PublishersWeekly </a></i>and free daily and weekly newletters: <i><a href="https://lunch.publishersmarketplace.com/" target="_blank">Publishers Lunch</a></i> by
Publishers Marketplace, <i><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/email-subscriptions/index.html" target="_blank">PW Daily</a></i>, and <a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/index.html" target="_blank"><i>PW Children’s Bookshelf</i>.</a> Anyone
can sign up for those. </span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I follow agents, editors, industry experts, and writers
and illustrators on social media to follow the chatter. And my secret
ingredient: I interview a bunch of industry insiders before each presentation,
from editors to supply chain experts. I do my utmost to make that a useful
presentation for creators. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b>What’s next for Deborah Halverson?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Like every writer: finishing those WIPs!<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>Please share any
social media contacts:</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">With social media in flux and so many platforms opening
up shop, the easiest thing to do is share my linktr.ee so we can connect on
your favorite platform: </span><a href="https://linktr.ee/deborahhalverson" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" shape="rect" style="background-color: white; color: #196ad4; outline: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">https://linktr.ee/deborahhalverson</span></a><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;">.</span><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"> I post videos,
tips, industry news, and fun personal stuff on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook,
Twitter/X, Post.news, and Threads</span><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;">.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b>For those</b> <b>wondering about the paradise-like settings Deborah encounters in her #mobileediting workday, here are some examples, provided by Deborah: </b></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"></span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1OmkKdxBMHYEARygBFQCSBBIEiUqgYcwib-UHR0cPHsTaWJm6DQQTRRRZFA5nlzRfhUUivOEBoNDmkpALiS0eXzbpV8ylxjRKioFmXYDv_010z94XdKSslW5IE4i3lQhc7jtI1HK8gPrsmIJyP0rnTcQ9LSXGmLzI6Di1HkndXkTJqMPmdLeO_Q9y6Sk/s1363/Editing%20at%20East%20Lake.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1363" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1OmkKdxBMHYEARygBFQCSBBIEiUqgYcwib-UHR0cPHsTaWJm6DQQTRRRZFA5nlzRfhUUivOEBoNDmkpALiS0eXzbpV8ylxjRKioFmXYDv_010z94XdKSslW5IE4i3lQhc7jtI1HK8gPrsmIJyP0rnTcQ9LSXGmLzI6Di1HkndXkTJqMPmdLeO_Q9y6Sk/w400-h188/Editing%20at%20East%20Lake.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mobile editing at East Lake<br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><br /><b><br /></b></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikWTIiCcVsGIt5tL3ZG8BbAXmMO3jSliKhbmSwwx6F9g9E3Jtltz9wOlJnEy7eLmeSyE6XrHarVb8bfJWxXatqwJ8UgxNcjD2tHygLzXLGzoQn2Snfuo8kcg_sFnayIuL8D240ewMnTtt5TZXXV3K0XPJPsmLSFlWgpX1FE9SzanJtTYWlnqgcebMxreYV/s405/editing%20at%20San%20Diego%20Central%20library.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="405" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikWTIiCcVsGIt5tL3ZG8BbAXmMO3jSliKhbmSwwx6F9g9E3Jtltz9wOlJnEy7eLmeSyE6XrHarVb8bfJWxXatqwJ8UgxNcjD2tHygLzXLGzoQn2Snfuo8kcg_sFnayIuL8D240ewMnTtt5TZXXV3K0XPJPsmLSFlWgpX1FE9SzanJtTYWlnqgcebMxreYV/s320/editing%20at%20San%20Diego%20Central%20library.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Editing at San Diego Central Library</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlBhYbAZLgaKV5Q5qF5mWPWm9ZGwXoz6JkutOjL9zz-lES7xX0caJ9EF4CTn88Ta8Fi8FEsXUrwkVQEXmKaoewCAENjIJ3nNYkcqV5merx2GlpY-aio_lfxMNfmz0CtBg0bcWJITxJIHvfoH4bwM27HM_HE7zI3-uSNLsSzjcJsg6i1Ujy2ehV9fv1vMUj/s960/Editing%20at%20Otay%20Lake.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlBhYbAZLgaKV5Q5qF5mWPWm9ZGwXoz6JkutOjL9zz-lES7xX0caJ9EF4CTn88Ta8Fi8FEsXUrwkVQEXmKaoewCAENjIJ3nNYkcqV5merx2GlpY-aio_lfxMNfmz0CtBg0bcWJITxJIHvfoH4bwM27HM_HE7zI3-uSNLsSzjcJsg6i1Ujy2ehV9fv1vMUj/w400-h300/Editing%20at%20Otay%20Lake.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mobile editing at Otay Lake</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Charlie Barshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09500271053109489021noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473128326113032249.post-68744995142309870822023-12-20T06:00:00.002-05:002023-12-20T11:43:37.349-05:00Book Birthday Blog with Kelly Bixby<p><br /></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: Montserrat;"> <br /></span></p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span>Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!</span></span></span></h2><h3 style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span>Where we celebrate new books from Michigan's authors, illustrators and translators. <br /></span></span></span></span></h3><h3 style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span> </span></span></span></h3><h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span>Congratulations to Kelly Bixby on the release of Phyllis Floats<br /></span></span></span></h1><p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_oVH70BKsFh_qAfEyG6bz7ZDF0oPW5Pnq6_dG5NbKpzxEzdmZkEW7inMpxKg76Ee9Q44ayueuJ3hQw8wskg1ltDiVdvHFsirbp2QBzyixnRmQdgBtrJZd5vF-kBQz1o4GV15nH3xhceOJmdVokodB_5EyB9vUR-DSEWpyxX3RPHV2vANHkBvLkPWTQsnv/s6250/phyllis%20cover%20for%20bookstop.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6250" data-original-width="4792" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_oVH70BKsFh_qAfEyG6bz7ZDF0oPW5Pnq6_dG5NbKpzxEzdmZkEW7inMpxKg76Ee9Q44ayueuJ3hQw8wskg1ltDiVdvHFsirbp2QBzyixnRmQdgBtrJZd5vF-kBQz1o4GV15nH3xhceOJmdVokodB_5EyB9vUR-DSEWpyxX3RPHV2vANHkBvLkPWTQsnv/s320/phyllis%20cover%20for%20bookstop.png" width="245" /></a></div><br /> <br /><p></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">How did you come up with the idea for your book?</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">On South Beach in Miami, Florida, I found a Portuguese man-of-war that had been washed ashore and lay dying in a bed of sargassum. The marine animal fascinated me. As I studied it, my daughter came to look too and tried to help the creature by pouring ocean water over it. She and I watched the animal respond to the stimulation, but sadly, there was no practical way for us to save its life. <br /> <br />Inspired by that encounter, I wanted to introduce this amazing creature—whose scientific name is Physalia physalis—to children. (Can you see why I named my protagonist Phyllis?) But after writing the story’s text and beginning to work on illustrations for the book, I struggled to create a representation of Phyllis that I thought would appeal to children. So, I made Phyllis a more common and recognizable animal: a jellyfish. She looks much cuter and cuddlier than my original portrayal of a Portuguese man-of-war. But this holds true: NEVER! EVER! touch a jellyfish, unless you have learned to do so safely and have good reason to.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggyM_N1QB5Yg6Qt_75QriefqqkS4-bsKrT2Nl9Xz4RFjfuVFv3ZlOKE85072mTVIKIchnv_0skeuLt2MxixsGmUPe45sM0KyUNQftKHWGQnE-pOIQ2vB0Hf7AeUhqBWsf02cptQ2kIeD1i3CSWzGdpPa8ClMLn_-OO01NwwNf-2JfHNUzSnRiXXNUE7AaP/s4030/man%20of%20war.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3004" data-original-width="4030" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggyM_N1QB5Yg6Qt_75QriefqqkS4-bsKrT2Nl9Xz4RFjfuVFv3ZlOKE85072mTVIKIchnv_0skeuLt2MxixsGmUPe45sM0KyUNQftKHWGQnE-pOIQ2vB0Hf7AeUhqBWsf02cptQ2kIeD1i3CSWzGdpPa8ClMLn_-OO01NwwNf-2JfHNUzSnRiXXNUE7AaP/s320/man%20of%20war.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;"><br /> </span><p></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b>What is something you hope your readers will take away from your book?</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">I hope readers will view home as a place of safety and recognize that at the heart of a healthy home are the family and friends who love and care for us. We’re not meant to navigate life alone. Even as we pursue independence, adventure, and personal success, we thrive when surrounded by genuine kindness and love. </span></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b>You wrote and illustrated the book. What was the most difficult part of creating your book?</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">Illustrating <i>Phyllis Floats</i> was an amazing experience, but because I don’t consider myself an artist, I found illustrating much harder than writing the text. I used an online resource, Canva, and graphically created each page to best represent my vision for the story. Learning to use Canva’s tools and comply with licensing took commitment on my part to get things right, but I could not have gotten the project done before my self-imposed deadline if I had tried to use any other platform. Also, by illustrating the book myself, I had opportunities to identify places in my text where word choice needed to be stronger and more succinct. I found that difficulties in illustrating resulted in better writing. </span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b>What are your marketing plans for the book and where can we find it?</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">Marketing started with a post to my Facebook author page and sharing that post with friends on my personal page. Most of my sales have originated from that post, which tells me that I have the best friends and family. They’ve been excited and supportive, and I’m extremely grateful. <br /> <br />I’ve also shared on LinkedIn and Twitter, purchased a page in SCBWI’s BookStop, and participated in an author signing event during a holiday sale at my sister’s store. I’m currently trying to get libraries to accept <i>Phyllis Floats</i> and would like to distribute the book to select teachers in local schools. Eventually, I may make the book available on Amazon, Ingram Spark, and Lulu. But first, I’d like to offer the books to gift shops in Florida, where the ocean-themed book may spark interest among beachgoers. Marketing and distribution are extremely time-consuming and since publishing the book, I’ve not had enough time to do all that I would like. I’ll be following up on my plans for quite some time. </span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">Books are available for purchase online through my publishing company </span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;"><a href="https://telltale-heart.com/books/phyllis-floats/" target="_blank">Telltale Heart Publishing LLC</a></span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;"><b> </b></span><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">and in store in Allen, Michigan at my sister's business, <a href="https://hogcreekmall.com/" target="_blank">Hog Creek Antique Mall</a></span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">.</span></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"></span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b>What's next for you?</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">I truly feel blessed to have the opportunity to do what I love, but the solitary act of writing takes me away from family and friends for long periods of time. I look forward to a brief hiatus from writing so I can celebrate Christmas with my loved ones and worship and praise God for all He has provided. <br /> <br />As the new year approaches, I’ll continue promoting <i>Phyllis Floats</i> while working on another fictional story that combines my love for golf with my love for nature. The undone manuscript is currently too long for a picture book format, so I would like to break the story into multiple books and create a series. It’s hard to focus on only this one project and see it through to completion. The other ideas I have are vying for my attention, but getting the series off and running is my goal for 2024.</span></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b>More about the book . . .</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">Phyllis is a young, adventurous jellyfish who floats away from her ocean home to visit a beach, forbidden to her by her parents. Turtle, Pelican, and Octopus each tell Phyllis, “Don’t go!” but Phyllis ignores all advice and warnings. She is pushed by Wind toward new sounds, sights, and smells and has fun exploring until a lifeguard sees her and alerts beachgoers. People flee from Phyllis. She feels unwelcome and sad and asks Wind to push her home. But Wind is gone, and the ocean current carries Phyllis dangerously close to shore. Phyllis grabs onto seaweed to keep her in place, but the seaweed is not anchored. It is floating toward shore too. Phyllis is in grave trouble, feels lonely and worried, but doesn’t give up. She keeps searching for a way home and stretches toward a sailboat. The boat is too slippery to hold onto, but Phyllis doesn’t give up. She wraps her tentacles around the rudder and steers the boat in the direction of home. Even when hunger tempts her to let go and eat, Phyllis holds tightly to the rudder. She remains determined to hold on and navigate home. When she finds it, she relaxes, floats back among family and friends, and is surrounded by love.</span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;"><i>Publisher: Telltale Heart Publishing LLC</i></span></p><p><b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">More about the author . . .</span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><i> </i></span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">Kelly Bixby writes to inspire and entertain generations of readers. She is the author and illustrator of the fictional picture book, <i>Phyllis Floats</i>. Kelly is also cofounder of Remembering Janet—a nonprofit charitable organization; a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators; an entrepreneur; webmaster; blogger; publisher, and a grandma. She and her husband hail from Michigan (Go Blue!) where their four children and many other family members live too. Seasonally, Kelly soaks in the sunshine and blue skies of Florida. Her pastimes include golfing, biking, traveling, snorkeling, and playing Euchre—all of which are sweeter when shared with family and friends. Above all, Kelly loves God, studies His Word, and knows her way home. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">Kelly is on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KellyBixbyAuthor" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/i/flow/login?redirect_after_login=%2FKellyBixby" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellybixby/" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>, and <a href="https://kellybixby.com/" target="_blank">https://kellybixby.com/</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm315p8TMkp4GsttqXsQuN14noZjH044CdYr5E98Q9yBEKRy3CIV-YSU08vitQ06yH_0ZMQf59MObda9sqGhbYQ3hLuqM9CaTmJ5Ke33lZVXSz5R1dUytMnnPmvpNeGGMoxi3p8SjKE7cYsi95bHP3tm2x_C9_KMrgBHa4LqMzHRGZnSBoCuLIDDc5W8LG/s2191/Kelly%20headshot%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2191" data-original-width="2012" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm315p8TMkp4GsttqXsQuN14noZjH044CdYr5E98Q9yBEKRy3CIV-YSU08vitQ06yH_0ZMQf59MObda9sqGhbYQ3hLuqM9CaTmJ5Ke33lZVXSz5R1dUytMnnPmvpNeGGMoxi3p8SjKE7cYsi95bHP3tm2x_C9_KMrgBHa4LqMzHRGZnSBoCuLIDDc5W8LG/s320/Kelly%20headshot%202022.jpg" width="294" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><br /></p>Christy Mattheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02038240579399809745noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473128326113032249.post-70309189717109935772023-12-15T09:06:00.002-05:002023-12-15T11:33:43.000-05:00Writer Spotlight: Audrey Glassman Vernick<span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">Gross assumptions, <i>The Morning Glory War</i>, why baseball? and teaming up with Liz: MG and PB writer Audrey Vernick</span><br /> <br /><br /><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><i style="font-weight: 400;">Charlie Barshaw coordinates our regular Writer Spotlight feature and interviews writers of SCBWI-MI. In this piece, meet 2013 Conference co-presenter who's gone on to write amazing things, Audrey Glassman Vernick.</i></span></b></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"></div><br /> <br /><b style="font-size: large;">You grew up in Whiteston, NY, with two sisters in the Glassman family. In the bio you take pains to describe a pet as being “a not very bright small white dog”. Surely this intellectually-challenged-but-with-redeeming-qualities canine tunneled into some of your stories?</b><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">There are dogs in my books, but none based on him. The most famous example of his intellect: he routinely hid under a glass table.·</span></span><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><b style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;">Let’s deal with the buffalo in the room: you are height-challenged. Apparently, your school lined up kids by height, and you were always toward the front. What was your childhood like, always being the short one? You’ve absolutely overcome that bump in the road. When and where did you find your “tall” attitude?</b><br style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;" /><br style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: large;" /><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Well, Charlie, you have fallen victim to a gross assumption right here. I was not always the short one as a child. In fourth grade, I was just about the height I am now, and in the taller half of girls in my class. Also, I always felt large and awkward because my two older sisters are tiny little dolls.</span><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJYRIH06Ef7t0OzU5jHpeEjpPA70abf_EC5cTaM4l3fEGtdR583KSA8z9g_36RRmLOqOo_lVVnFXu-w1YOrumhTFm3TPqy4_anKyF8ddSSQbMhJJ8iKUoN2WbGaJmWayjWMIUSQ1Zinnn3mSmffGK3xr7sKFus_McvcqIaYjESMAWgHpF-NLU1QxGNT70/s4895/Audrey%20Vernick%20headshot%202023.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4895" data-original-width="3268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJYRIH06Ef7t0OzU5jHpeEjpPA70abf_EC5cTaM4l3fEGtdR583KSA8z9g_36RRmLOqOo_lVVnFXu-w1YOrumhTFm3TPqy4_anKyF8ddSSQbMhJJ8iKUoN2WbGaJmWayjWMIUSQ1Zinnn3mSmffGK3xr7sKFus_McvcqIaYjESMAWgHpF-NLU1QxGNT70/w429-h640/Audrey%20Vernick%20headshot%202023.jpg" width="429" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Audrey Vernick</td></tr></tbody></table><br />What influenced young Audrey to write children's books?</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">There was a dearth of Audrey-aged kids in my neighborhood--my older sisters were blessed with so many on-the-block friends. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I tended to find my friends in the pages of my books when I was very young. I still think of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harriet_the_Spy" target="_blank">Louise Fitzhugh's Harriet</a> and Vicky and Martha from <a href="https://www.librarything.com/work/679541" target="_blank">Ursula Nordstrom's <i>The Secret Language</i></a> and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/51036-grace-jones" target="_blank">Jane Langton's Grace Jones</a> as the kids I grew up with.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b>What was it like, what were you like, when you first broke into the book writing business?</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I was so stubborn. I believed so strongly in my first children's book, co-written with my sister, and was so deeply frustrated by all the rejections (26). </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">I had started my writing life with literary short fiction, occasionally published in literary magazines no one had ever heard of, so I knew my way around rejection. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">There's a seven-year learning curve in my publication history--2003, then nothing until 2010. And then at least one book a year--I was frustrated and stubborn as hell while grudgingly admitting I had a lot to learn. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">My hunger for getting my books published was acute--I keenly empathize with writers at that earliest stage, when you feel like you just need that first break to get you going.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><blockquote id="yiv3832364203qt" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 8px;" type="cite"><div class="yiv3832364203qt-ydp5e2d79a7yahoo-style-wrap" style="outline: none;"><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b>What is the story of the book you finished with your sister that started your writing career. Was it something your writer Mom had started?</b></span></div></div></blockquote></div><div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKlqwL6QJzYhk8qZ7JAqkMPzOIaTl6avkdiBzs68B6O4-HtEmd-3GVrmgUt11EMgThsAvYjlWk7XWuUrNP7_ABq5wR1rvCqaA1jtCdyct-M6EuqM_FZFvylXyVjx3n7DyX-pzdU5pDAVkOYr4hUi-07xsnrl4s9vd9X3-THtw8BvZQwNC74x4w2Jl4Gm4/s537/audrey%20and%20sisters.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="526" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKlqwL6QJzYhk8qZ7JAqkMPzOIaTl6avkdiBzs68B6O4-HtEmd-3GVrmgUt11EMgThsAvYjlWk7XWuUrNP7_ABq5wR1rvCqaA1jtCdyct-M6EuqM_FZFvylXyVjx3n7DyX-pzdU5pDAVkOYr4hUi-07xsnrl4s9vd9X3-THtw8BvZQwNC74x4w2Jl4Gm4/s320/audrey%20and%20sisters.jpg" width="313" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">Halloween 1967<br />Says Audrey, I'm the littlest one (but currently the tallest <br />of the three sisters on the right), </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />You have conflated two things--but still, what a good memory!<br clear="none" style="outline: none;" /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><br clear="none" style="outline: none;" /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">Before she died, my mother had had her first novel, a middle-grade, accepted for publication by Dutton. With my family's help, I did all the revision editing prior to publication of <a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780525446378" target="_blank">The Morning Glory War</a>.<br clear="none" style="outline: none;" /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><br clear="none" style="outline: none;" /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">My sister Ellen Gidaro and I wrote an unrelated-to-that picture book, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/1417509.Ellen_Glassman_Gidaro" target="_blank">Bark and Tim: A True Story of Friendship.</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"> <br /><br /><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://www.audreyvernick.com/water-ballon" target="_blank">Water Balloon</a> was your first mid-grade novel. You had a few picture book titles out then, too, so you were lucky enough to qualify for our 2013 SCBWI-MI writing retreat. (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fc7PMCg7ksE" target="_blank">I won a what?</a>) Which books had you published by 2013, and what do you remember about the book-selling process ten years ago? </b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhldWC-HkHb14i9YAGJCOQ75tra6mbUen6AwwejRmEg1wRDbbGf3bYzDbjwV545k015Jsn6abgp2onX9nMte_ZkoWbTT5XpSHBvBDG7C7Bi8GUMyawa7pYvIkNj2F9bvHtySX8IrEykbltlYeXHHVg3txBRaxRKkDWOQ05BYUcSJRQYfSYStie5iVSQsH3F/s260/image-asset%20(1).png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="201" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhldWC-HkHb14i9YAGJCOQ75tra6mbUen6AwwejRmEg1wRDbbGf3bYzDbjwV545k015Jsn6abgp2onX9nMte_ZkoWbTT5XpSHBvBDG7C7Bi8GUMyawa7pYvIkNj2F9bvHtySX8IrEykbltlYeXHHVg3txBRaxRKkDWOQ05BYUcSJRQYfSYStie5iVSQsH3F/s1600/image-asset%20(1).png" width="201" /></a></div><br />I had published Brothers at Bat, She Loved Baseball, Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten?, Teach Your Buffalo to Play Drums, So You Want to be a Rock Star. My sense of the book-selling process is that it’s always hard in different ways. And that luck plays a bigger role than you’d think. <br /><br /><b>In 2013, were you already doing school visits? Those who’ve done them know the students can be the toughest audience you’ll ever face. Next toughest, 40 hungry children’s book writers? How were your presentation skills in 2013? </b><br /><br />I was doing visits then, but I have a feeling that I wasn’t doing great ones—or at least not ones I was confident in. That confidence, and the ability to do it better, has developed over time. I think I still got scared before presenting in 2013 and I rarely do now. One thing I’ve learned—which should have been obvious—is that I’m only a nervous presenter if I don’t fully know/understand the subject matter. When I’m talking about my own process, books, etc.—that’s easy stuff these days. <br /><br /><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1NVx-urGMX2QGiU_oMeaw_UgctsM_Xb4nBdK5Y6oenhsL9pG7DvY39UlxEYTjyfJGb3YrfX3xCGK14E0h5ZtoDIY7bqhyrsd4gU_y9aFXdwcjIn3BRKtK0gwRhdBDoivXhhcY2pTE2x9sTgbJBTz8JQgUcd17IssrpIFPgO6bTqeRRgEOjCcxGemxhRWb/s1080/school%20visit.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1080" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1NVx-urGMX2QGiU_oMeaw_UgctsM_Xb4nBdK5Y6oenhsL9pG7DvY39UlxEYTjyfJGb3YrfX3xCGK14E0h5ZtoDIY7bqhyrsd4gU_y9aFXdwcjIn3BRKtK0gwRhdBDoivXhhcY2pTE2x9sTgbJBTz8JQgUcd17IssrpIFPgO6bTqeRRgEOjCcxGemxhRWb/w400-h266/school%20visit.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">school visit Audrey in action</td></tr></tbody></table><br />School visits, if you’re like us, are a major way for an author to earn money and sell books. Do you travel a lot, or do you take gigs closer to home? Are there busy times and slow? Do you ever turn down appearances? How do you handle the school visit part to being an author? </b><br /><br />I was traveling a lot more before the pandemic—visits in more than a dozen states. Thankfully, New Jersey is bigger than it looks and many elementary schools here have long histories of bringing in authors and plan to continue that tradition. These are volatile times and I know author-visit numbers are declining, but I feel lucky to live in a state that, so far, has been less inclined to succumb to the kind of societal pressure that keeps some schools from engaging with authors. <br /><br /><b>You've written a number of books about baseball: forgotten heroes, women players, even a family of baseball players. But, why baseball?</b><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUtGpHMl0rcQCj4E5r3iDz2dsQOepIJyNZABFREEmJAbGmDnZb3w1sQBz60J-wpZm3ak1A48HjMKcN7yH-NkONe69vx-HkS-slYN5etznxMTMttN-mpEit25Yx8GUVmiGRjiK5HBqzweh78T6iKeJXTpwWgi_GRNXWwWJFuxqx5pb97yzivKIU-GseaMt/s350/baseball1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="270" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUtGpHMl0rcQCj4E5r3iDz2dsQOepIJyNZABFREEmJAbGmDnZb3w1sQBz60J-wpZm3ak1A48HjMKcN7yH-NkONe69vx-HkS-slYN5etznxMTMttN-mpEit25Yx8GUVmiGRjiK5HBqzweh78T6iKeJXTpwWgi_GRNXWwWJFuxqx5pb97yzivKIU-GseaMt/w246-h320/baseball1.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><br />I've learned that I'm very inarticulate at explaining why I like anything, including pizza, ice cream, soft pretzels, etc. But I can say that there are many reasons, including genetics (my dad played in high school, college and in the Army during the Korean War). <br /><br />And some legendary stories--my dad was a Yankees fan as a child and his dad rooted for the Cubs. As you can imagine, his dad was baseball-depressed because his team was not a winner, to word it generously. So my dad suggested they switch--my dad would root for the Cubs and his dad could have the Yankees. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">To this day (my dad is 92), he kept up his end of the deal, and one of the greatest things ever is that my sisters and I brought him to a World Series game at Wrigley Field in 2016. That was one spectacular event, even though they lost (it was the last one they lost in that series).<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vWs4mwIzicPtkxHoUGpQuwhySYYdyyA0qNc-X90GIXOc_XGd1Z0LyalP0oRKcZ1RrXEXeXKa-wwLlmrMWp6twVu0gVogQIE99c7hHpNmLUBgSmAakLw_eKdiKRsW3ypQ5reFL-VHk1TLFN4J0ItAnXc1I4gBk6_hKSh_3ixV3zPedRMY_xy-WQWjUZtG/s350/baseball3.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="308" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vWs4mwIzicPtkxHoUGpQuwhySYYdyyA0qNc-X90GIXOc_XGd1Z0LyalP0oRKcZ1RrXEXeXKa-wwLlmrMWp6twVu0gVogQIE99c7hHpNmLUBgSmAakLw_eKdiKRsW3ypQ5reFL-VHk1TLFN4J0ItAnXc1I4gBk6_hKSh_3ixV3zPedRMY_xy-WQWjUZtG/w176-h200/baseball3.jpg" width="176" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Add to that the fact that baseball is a sport filled with the best kinds of stories...there's really no end to them. And that's about the best explanation I can offer.<br /><br /><b>Baseball has been very, very good for you, and you for it. You’ve got a library shelf full of books about the lesser-known luminaries of America’s Pastime. Have you ever considered doing a book about writing your baseball books, and what it took to create them? Can you tell us a story behind the story? </b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi42Mt6foZRl-zfA4DDA5DYumQQNABOt6Vt4u-HPHc2CeMzbGPopbhQmFs5uiMytYSmELjuEzoxoQtNFc6ZYKJtxYPRyNAUjUuolPc9jn4gXhJ35ai4NO4NAEMUq1dr6tzyX71r7VWmnoQ7efAoprV8z6CAK1yDwonGH-JDWEnb9PWGEX3qm6usqOwrFzb8/s400/baseball2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="311" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi42Mt6foZRl-zfA4DDA5DYumQQNABOt6Vt4u-HPHc2CeMzbGPopbhQmFs5uiMytYSmELjuEzoxoQtNFc6ZYKJtxYPRyNAUjUuolPc9jn4gXhJ35ai4NO4NAEMUq1dr6tzyX71r7VWmnoQ7efAoprV8z6CAK1yDwonGH-JDWEnb9PWGEX3qm6usqOwrFzb8/w156-h200/baseball2.jpg" width="156" /></a></div><br />I cannot imagine a person who would want to read a book about me writing baseball books, so no. I’ve always loved the stories in baseball, and feel very lucky to have shared some of the lesser-known ones with young readers. <br /><br /><b>Speaking of baseball, how about them Yankees? As a Tiger’s fan, I know about disappointment, but the Yankees tantalize every spring. And they have, on occasion, wrenched your heart out and then whiffed when trying to hit it out of the infield. So, how about next year? </b><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIaPk9bYUYyW6txsPUdO01psvHthTbpIhCB4EBViT09zeeUpvO0gKd1cd06PzaJpUaPL7RhpNOhF0aohBCKpVF9eC7sGTo9aFUtqNWyqkM-qughP56flghE4Eb8TYxQsuWWkddzkzDEV-ox6GuqNExyko3yMAa3yvg4WUvJocw2CoCJ-sVbkyjO2bI2Gb5/s1707/yankees%20game.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1707" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIaPk9bYUYyW6txsPUdO01psvHthTbpIhCB4EBViT09zeeUpvO0gKd1cd06PzaJpUaPL7RhpNOhF0aohBCKpVF9eC7sGTo9aFUtqNWyqkM-qughP56flghE4Eb8TYxQsuWWkddzkzDEV-ox6GuqNExyko3yMAa3yvg4WUvJocw2CoCJ-sVbkyjO2bI2Gb5/s320/yankees%20game.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Audrey and family at a<br />Yankee's game</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Ugh. I keep bragging about all the free time I have now that my team is awful. I don’t watch every game because they make me sad and angry. My husband and son root for the Phillies and I have a lot more free time than they do. <br /><br /><b>Then you’ve got the picture books with fellow author and agency-mate <a href="https://lizgartonscanlon.com/" target="_blank">Liz Garton Scanlon.</a> You two have collaborated on at least four picture books: Bob Not Bob, Dear Substitute, The World’s Best Class Plant, and Five Minutes: (That’s A Lot of Time) (No, It’s Not) (Yes It Is). Ruth and I have tried to collaborate, with no success. How do you and Liz do it, again and again? </b><br /><br />I think the key to our success is magic. (And there are two more in the pipeline: Homesick, with Neal Porter Books, and The Family Tree with Beach Lane Books, coming out in a couple of years.) <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcgTYKghnvbKrw-1M1bXedT4r-Q23pcdJBy4lB7b5U6P8-oYgvvOqiWAL-4INGaKBXHsxGM3Zpqb4HS-PtPnWSUOLbtGlP2s2ZZ9_v5oBnL-0wEu8LPvQEgX5IojV4YFSWl8MBh4Ajm_hUtulEDT62FOxmuR-ISjlsf02mdGT_Yjj5beGSMtAkHR3ceiz9/s1080/audrey%20and%20liz.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="771" data-original-width="1080" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcgTYKghnvbKrw-1M1bXedT4r-Q23pcdJBy4lB7b5U6P8-oYgvvOqiWAL-4INGaKBXHsxGM3Zpqb4HS-PtPnWSUOLbtGlP2s2ZZ9_v5oBnL-0wEu8LPvQEgX5IojV4YFSWl8MBh4Ajm_hUtulEDT62FOxmuR-ISjlsf02mdGT_Yjj5beGSMtAkHR3ceiz9/w400-h285/audrey%20and%20liz.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Audrey and Liz</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Actually, we really do believe that the way we stumbled into creating manuscripts together works really well. One of us starts, and at some point—after a few lines, after a page—sends it to the other. We do not track changes. When the manuscript is with me, I can cut anything, add anything—it is mine, until I send it back, and then it is Liz’s. It really does work like magic for us. <br /><br /><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDicLIODE_yWYOUm5_r7HUE_4M9OiJMts7GidrtYTcWY9LIy2XvDqCiq3ONxHPAbPeqj2u0vKxlGcg-JTsCjnU8XghDmQbhyphenhyphenEakPaC6aZAceGaRtMvBaJqUa_DTYKnq0Mr0448Ikhd-L9DTYaCTgSQ-5NpbgtFq1eRKLJwA1XaK4eym3X4xtO8xrB_tExW/s350/c3149ead907f136b839a2c2960fe474c7b7d4ce6.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="271" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDicLIODE_yWYOUm5_r7HUE_4M9OiJMts7GidrtYTcWY9LIy2XvDqCiq3ONxHPAbPeqj2u0vKxlGcg-JTsCjnU8XghDmQbhyphenhyphenEakPaC6aZAceGaRtMvBaJqUa_DTYKnq0Mr0448Ikhd-L9DTYaCTgSQ-5NpbgtFq1eRKLJwA1XaK4eym3X4xtO8xrB_tExW/s320/c3149ead907f136b839a2c2960fe474c7b7d4ce6.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><br />And your hilarious book titles, like Take Your Octopus to School Day, and I won a What?, and Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten?, and Edgar’s Second Word. Humor is your not-so-secret weapon. Asking for a friend, how do you do it, come up with a ton of fun picture books that get published? </b><br /><br />Lately I feel like my true talent is coming up with a ton of fun picture books that don’t get published. When I think of my writing life—the challenges, the growth—I am aware that voice was my starting point. I’m often told by writer friends as well as casual readers that when they read my books, they absolutely hear my voice. And I think the humor’s a lucky built-into-voice piece for me. <br /><br /><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK0G0SAiDPk2AmVaX6l59OFKuLPqFyuCiCSX6j3_SCfil-Ub0k5fmnXnyxldR0EZaPx2oy9BHUmY4cvJ0tzta3l8ZFGGuhERXe41yseo1PLf7aAc8zyTOrlKeF4vMVuSnUbUbHN0sQuHhBVDDWt1vZ9wv2KK8rFBDwZ65y8BD05SdPB2EbqgfYrs2NyiES/s350/baseball4.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="234" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK0G0SAiDPk2AmVaX6l59OFKuLPqFyuCiCSX6j3_SCfil-Ub0k5fmnXnyxldR0EZaPx2oy9BHUmY4cvJ0tzta3l8ZFGGuhERXe41yseo1PLf7aAc8zyTOrlKeF4vMVuSnUbUbHN0sQuHhBVDDWt1vZ9wv2KK8rFBDwZ65y8BD05SdPB2EbqgfYrs2NyiES/w134-h200/baseball4.jpg" width="134" /></a></div><br />On top of that, you’ve continued to write middle grade novels, like Water Balloon and (my personal favorite) Screaming at the Ump, Two Naomis and Naomis Too (with O<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Olugbemisola-Rhuday-Perkovich/e/B0031EYLQQ/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1">lugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich</a>) and your latest, After the Worst Thing Happens. How do you pivot from punchy picture book prose to heart-tugging yet humorous mid-grade language? </b><br /><br />I don’t think I’m writing middle-grades anymore. They don’t come as naturally—I think I have a picture-book brain that I stubbornly forced to work on longer works. Maybe I exorcized that demon. <br /><br /><b>What’s next for Audrey Venick? </b><br /><br />I have three books in the pipeline—the two with Liz I mentioned, and <a href="https://www.jamespreller.com/tag/audrey-vernick/" target="_blank">When I Redraw the World</a>, with Random House Studio. I haven’t had a ton of luck in these pandemic and post-pandemic years—I had three books come out in the pandemic and they sank. And it’s been hard to sell new manuscripts. I’ll keep writing, of course, but it’s frustrating. <br /><br />So what’s next for Audrey Vernick is more frustration, most likely. <br /><br /><b>Please share any social media links: <br /></b><a href="https://twitter.com/i/flow/login?redirect_after_login=%2Fyourbuffalo" target="_blank"><br />@yourbuffalo on twitter</a>, <br /><br /><a href="https://www.instagram.com/audrey_vernick/?hl=en" target="_blank">audrey_vernick on Instagram</a>, <br /><br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AudreyVernick/" target="_blank">Audrey Glassman Vernick on facebook</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /></span><br /></div></div></div>Charlie Barshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09500271053109489021noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473128326113032249.post-7268810833809431122023-12-08T09:05:00.001-05:002023-12-08T09:11:49.429-05:00Off the Beaten Path Illustrator Retreat by Jen Boehler<span id="docs-internal-guid-29349994-7fff-309c-af5c-3c70a5499e62"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Montserrat, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10.5pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBPiCrEHbymH90OUvdIh1-4SPl1PBUe4I_HjGryWjaSKrC3bFL9j-qkQH1dZ7b9NG94t_z4_MFF9nKqJj1kBY5mWgYkJbg_rKFPaNXCBZ272YYBdUKLrp9r8wj04GvHyg_aJJ0WHOEe-hkDU3wY0o4uxdLEp3LEkD0fzobZ_On6NUQY0kKXAXCh51rPuw/s2016/illustrator%20retreat%204.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBPiCrEHbymH90OUvdIh1-4SPl1PBUe4I_HjGryWjaSKrC3bFL9j-qkQH1dZ7b9NG94t_z4_MFF9nKqJj1kBY5mWgYkJbg_rKFPaNXCBZ272YYBdUKLrp9r8wj04GvHyg_aJJ0WHOEe-hkDU3wY0o4uxdLEp3LEkD0fzobZ_On6NUQY0kKXAXCh51rPuw/w155-h208/illustrator%20retreat%204.jpg" width="155" /></a></div>October 20th brought unseasonably late peak color to northern Michigan - so perfectly timed, driving through it could be described as delightfully distracting. This day also brought 8 mostly unacquainted illustrators scattered across the state (plus one Hoosier!) to a charming log cabin tucked in the Tustin woods to connect over art, community, and children’s literature. As we all arrived, the welcoming nature of a babbling nearby brook, canopied trail, and logs stacked by the wood stove were surpassed only by the warmth of our company. It was going to be an unforgettable fall retreat. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPcKcHTShrkF1TaJvoY5lVheV5DxeAdl_TYi34_VRfx0_EDQxDzOq13GKAg5VwNZGbfibnNKolpvj0UpsBr8aOH3jmZTNrYKYM9OKWPf7mMQUBsloZ_vNUgZykPlj1jtNVzNgN_wy9VZ1QU9nK01AEc1T4JKqEaRaZstyxDHDXNFPIBTkbivUW1MEHvzs/s2016/illustrator%20retreat%205.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPcKcHTShrkF1TaJvoY5lVheV5DxeAdl_TYi34_VRfx0_EDQxDzOq13GKAg5VwNZGbfibnNKolpvj0UpsBr8aOH3jmZTNrYKYM9OKWPf7mMQUBsloZ_vNUgZykPlj1jtNVzNgN_wy9VZ1QU9nK01AEc1T4JKqEaRaZstyxDHDXNFPIBTkbivUW1MEHvzs/w162-h216/illustrator%20retreat%205.jpg" width="162" /></a></div></span><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Montserrat, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">After our initial hellos and a stroll down the wooded trail, our kitchen was put to work, with food flowing out almost continuously over the next two days. We got acquainted with minimal trepidation and lots of laughter (and flannel and knits and slippers) over dinner. As the next few hours flew by, we ended our first evening on the floor, wood stove blazing, eagerly passing piles of children’s books around to share our favorites. It only ended because one of us prompted the group with shock to “look at the time.” We had a busy schedule the next day.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Montserrat, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygcT7jI_wV2xqLukq3nA3wtzfZ4c_jGwcykO6QO_FCv8cO6tjzfMxbXZOZi3cCxdJ-smKOTyTnfpi8_yquI_4G5V7NVH5kLGRB93Cihd61uN57-NQ3BK0t2n4JJ1PkGuaDIQOEKmGz-DNabM9AWWOvZyloogSqEbFUtw5Bcz3EtgW-I5zHmxaT1rhLBs/s1544/illustrator%20retreat%201.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="1544" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygcT7jI_wV2xqLukq3nA3wtzfZ4c_jGwcykO6QO_FCv8cO6tjzfMxbXZOZi3cCxdJ-smKOTyTnfpi8_yquI_4G5V7NVH5kLGRB93Cihd61uN57-NQ3BK0t2n4JJ1PkGuaDIQOEKmGz-DNabM9AWWOvZyloogSqEbFUtw5Bcz3EtgW-I5zHmxaT1rhLBs/w214-h161/illustrator%20retreat%201.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>After breakfast, all 8 of us piled into one vehicle to make the 20 minute trek to neighboring Cadillac for a library talk. The beautiful fall color made an appearance again with clear skies and plenty of <span face="Montserrat, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">oohs</span><span face="Montserrat, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> and </span><span face="Montserrat, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">aahs</span><span face="Montserrat, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> emanating from our packed car. Our host at the library graciously shared book after book - her favorites, kids’ favorites and parents’ favorites. It was refreshing to hear what our target audience loves to read, and encouraging to know there is a place for each of us out there in the publishing world. We all walked out with knowledge, insight, and an “I can do this” spirit.</span><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ck3wnh6Nd4YX4j-BAZjAHjwbquWUyAHmxLmot_S6GtmHoZZvJ2kh1rdRMAvm-ThsHumktiby-jb0VEpvy1COATrQlxcoJRsMlIugWHNeeUxJvFy2Yd9NzqVMKuG8_Xi8r5Ao2w7qgXVEoXkZvH0PL6MpR_uDlEe0CWGl5KX1BWhzBSFKte7lZKHMTTU/s2016/illustrator%20retreat%2012.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ck3wnh6Nd4YX4j-BAZjAHjwbquWUyAHmxLmot_S6GtmHoZZvJ2kh1rdRMAvm-ThsHumktiby-jb0VEpvy1COATrQlxcoJRsMlIugWHNeeUxJvFy2Yd9NzqVMKuG8_Xi8r5Ao2w7qgXVEoXkZvH0PL6MpR_uDlEe0CWGl5KX1BWhzBSFKte7lZKHMTTU/w252-h189/illustrator%20retreat%2012.jpg" width="252" /></a></div><span face="Montserrat, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The second activity of the day introduced us to Sierra LaRose of Bear Earth Herbals, a forager living closely with the land to educate, create products, and keep the ancient tradition of herbalism alive. Sierra tailored a workshop specifically to our group based on utilizing our senses to view nature through a fresh lens. We tasted and analyzed an herbal brew, deconstructed overlooked features of a single stem wildflower, and wrote correspondence to a plant (then crafted a response from the plant in return). We learned about the plethora of medicinal value held by the trees and weeds just outside our cabin door, arming us with an arsenal of plant-powered takeaways to battle a multitude of ailments.<br /></span><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Montserrat, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmPSNWoJhsoLj002dJR9ZGR-r3zPY9o8_BZgVJkllPJaGrITcxWp-5mKl7ThwSURn6SfhvwJuMLLzpScC_ZwiDCjSSbOziLH-0d4Qm4KO38bZdr-xm9PdwbOyf5EG95Bdunpwg2RvBw9-9dgCHHAvWV6eZhgCg3VxH2ZEXiGSUd8jMIG9POE26ncoNwU/s720/illustrator%20retreat%202.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="540" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmPSNWoJhsoLj002dJR9ZGR-r3zPY9o8_BZgVJkllPJaGrITcxWp-5mKl7ThwSURn6SfhvwJuMLLzpScC_ZwiDCjSSbOziLH-0d4Qm4KO38bZdr-xm9PdwbOyf5EG95Bdunpwg2RvBw9-9dgCHHAvWV6eZhgCg3VxH2ZEXiGSUd8jMIG9POE26ncoNwU/w125-h167/illustrator%20retreat%202.jpeg" width="125" /></a></div>Our second night was much the same as the first, only this time with a portfolio share after dinner. Gathered around the fire and munching on lemon semolina cake, we learned about each other’s accomplishments, skills, and goals. We asked for advice and offered it as needed, ending the night only, again, because of the time. <p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Montserrat, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsNjavnKNgzney7P9PVDTWIJDPPGDRTqzz1HgP6gzr0vxTBGJGnbFp_PxqGhNNuNvG6XFiZxdR9rTbatzfUtmIxYPfueK5y7FcQGxdfAsA1rgGke-BlNlg9LyNK-rE92BabNT6psSVQUL1c66AQwJquv37sRCFImU49M42SIHG94VpI-AZ-H72OXY3Zt8/s720/illustrator%20retreat%2010.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="540" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsNjavnKNgzney7P9PVDTWIJDPPGDRTqzz1HgP6gzr0vxTBGJGnbFp_PxqGhNNuNvG6XFiZxdR9rTbatzfUtmIxYPfueK5y7FcQGxdfAsA1rgGke-BlNlg9LyNK-rE92BabNT6psSVQUL1c66AQwJquv37sRCFImU49M42SIHG94VpI-AZ-H72OXY3Zt8/w165-h220/illustrator%20retreat%2010.jpeg" width="165" /></a></div>This glorious weekend that brought together illustrators spanning 4 decades in age and a vast range of experience sadly had to come to an end the following day. Though we left with fresh creative energy and picture book insight, perhaps the most cherished takeaway were the new friendships formed. As perfectly stated by attendee Nicole Ray, “We started out as strangers but by the end were laughing and teasing and talking over each other in the best possible way.” Until next time, friends.<p></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV62ByQKb5UdGGPRAbvfjb2I5YTdMREMXuLWH3A-HwnEcwJDeshnBiKOATweIz8qzW6EZlim5RhE-KfrSsf-QHJanRI8JDqyQUIgXGL0ec0-EytRKlv3FdSe8PuTKafwGoOpJR_ymY4ceqjBbfu7v1layMwU9Ufj7u6W5JFhuGrYplwQlOd02ND0-u4Kg/s720/illustrator%20retreat%2013.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="720" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV62ByQKb5UdGGPRAbvfjb2I5YTdMREMXuLWH3A-HwnEcwJDeshnBiKOATweIz8qzW6EZlim5RhE-KfrSsf-QHJanRI8JDqyQUIgXGL0ec0-EytRKlv3FdSe8PuTKafwGoOpJR_ymY4ceqjBbfu7v1layMwU9Ufj7u6W5JFhuGrYplwQlOd02ND0-u4Kg/s320/illustrator%20retreat%2013.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 4pt;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i>Jen Boehler, Michigan Co-Illustrator Coordinator, is an illustrator, graphic designer and author working on a hobby farm in Saginaw, Michigan. Before pursuing children’s literature, Jen worked as a freelance editorial illustrator, graphic designer, interior/event designer and owned her own line of Michigan travel apparel. She has degrees in both art/graphic design and interior design.</i></span></p><div><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i><br /></i></span></div></div><br />Sarah Prusoff LoCasciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03325900884643863060noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473128326113032249.post-63889552757654982632023-12-01T06:00:00.003-05:002023-12-01T20:12:35.373-05:00Book Birthday Blog with Rachel Anderson<p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: Montserrat;"> <br /></span></p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span>Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!</span></span></span></h2><h3 style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span>Where we celebrate new books from Michigan's authors, illustrators and translators. <br /></span></span></span></span></h3><h3 style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span> </span></span></span></h3><h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span>Congratulations to Rachel Anderson on the release of Lagatha's Curse<br /></span></span></span></h1><p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhjJD2zuVdjE_HXsBee7nAp4_sAF5aZPY8NuItnEz-JiCsTtOyqjERzPOpqFDOlLEYGFqkJ_8UvKY42YXgRP5tXcHBFUNY205ys7aTLjBPOPmiwEa9NqNErmecVcNXlDa9LwPLCtyI_6EulbGXUjA5eoDBTNw73JTtWxX6MWcHvHTcSNetO4Tx7JHP8oU/s2700/Lagathas_Curse%20Book%20Cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhjJD2zuVdjE_HXsBee7nAp4_sAF5aZPY8NuItnEz-JiCsTtOyqjERzPOpqFDOlLEYGFqkJ_8UvKY42YXgRP5tXcHBFUNY205ys7aTLjBPOPmiwEa9NqNErmecVcNXlDa9LwPLCtyI_6EulbGXUjA5eoDBTNw73JTtWxX6MWcHvHTcSNetO4Tx7JHP8oU/s320/Lagathas_Curse%20Book%20Cover.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">Please share a little about the book's journey. How did you come up with the idea?</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">The idea came to me way back in 1990 or so, and I played around with it. I created a timeline and worked to fill in details of where the story would go and who would be the main players. I picked up the manuscript many times over the years, wrote until I liked that version better than the others, and then put it away again whenever I received a mediocre review or a touchy critique. This year, my editor asked me to pull it out again and work on tightening the story, because she believed in the story and thought it was a great manuscript.</span></span></p><p><b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">What was the most difficult part of writing the book?</span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"> </span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">Pulling together various versions from over the years was the hardest part, and then renaming all my characters so they fit together. I’d been challenged with that in the past. Also, I chose the mountains to be Easth and Westh, even though I know some people may have an issue with that…but I love the names. And then the revision stage is always challenging, but always makes the book stronger. Sometimes I love revisions; sometimes I don’t, but I know it’s a very important part of writing/finishing the book.</span></p><p><b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;">What is something you hope your readers will take away from your book?</span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"> </span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">I’d like them to know that when things go bad, or people treat you wrong, hold on. You were made for a special purpose in this lifetime. Like Dantel, he didn’t know he was going to fight an evil person and break a curse that had been cast over their village years in the past. But he knew what he was capable of, and he knew that he was picked to do something big, as was Letha. So, I’d like the takeaway to be this: know who you are and seek out the role you were created for.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">What are your marketing plans for the book and where can we find it? </span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">I’m planning to set up a number of book signings between December 1 and May 1, locally and within Michigan’s boundaries. My website is being updated.<i> Lagatha’s Curse</i> is available today in both eBook and paperback on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lagathas-Curse-Rachel-Anderson/dp/B0CN313Z9Y/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1X6OOXP6CA6J3&keywords=lagatha%27s+curse&qid=1701479514&sprefix=lagatha%27s+curse%2Caps%2C294&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Amazon</a>. It's also available in paperback at</span><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> <a href="https://latenovemberliterary.com/" target="_blank">https://latenovemberliterary.com/</a> </span></b></span><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">and other on-line booksellers. Note: Your local independent booksellers can order the book for you. Ask them! And perhaps they'll add <i>Lagatha's Curse </i>to their inventory.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">What's next for you? </span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">Over the winter, I’ll be brainstorming ideas for my 2nd middle grade novel, <i>A Dog</i> <i>Dilemma</i>. My first MG novel, T<i>he Puppy Predicament</i>, was a great hit with kids ages 8 – 12. Some of the kids are asking me when the next book will come out. I also want to work on a couple of picture books which have been on the back burner. I’m hoping to breathe life into them and send out some queries.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">More about the book . . .</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">Summer is ending, and winter will rule the land. In <i>Lagatha’s Curse</i>, an ancient tree, Shashra, separates two cursed tribes by summer and winter. When seventeen-year-old Dantel, of the summer Lagaths, crosses the river to explore the forbidden mountain, he finds a red stone on a woven cord. The stone burns him, which ignites a passion to find out what it is, and who it belongs to. He eventually comes face-to-face with a girl from the winter Lagaths. She comes for the stone, for it is her life force. Dantel is compelled to save her life. Together, they uncover answers about their two tribes and the curse that binds them all. Determined to end the curse and bring their tribes together, the duo venture into the unknown, as they learn of a powerful enchanter who controls Shashra. To free their tribes, they must travel to Shashra and confront Rulyen, the evil enchanter holding the strings. Their mission is difficult, and their options are few. Will they prevail, or will the evil Rulyen have the last word?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">Publisher: Late November Literary</span></i></span><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>More about the author . . .</b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">Rachel Anderson grew up on a farm in rural Michigan and now lives in Gaylord, Michigan. On the farm they had cows, horses, pigs, chickens, a dog named Queenie, and many cats and kittens. And that is one reason she loves to include animals in her stories. She is married to Craig, and they have two daughters, one son-in-law, and one grandson. She enjoys spending time with family and friends. One tradition she holds to dearly is hosting a gingerbread house decorating party in late Nov/early Dec. Rachel likes to volunteer in the community and at her church. She has been a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators for many years, having served on the advisory committee and a year as co-regional advisor with SCBWI-MI. She writes picture books, middle-grade, and YA. This is her second published novel.</span><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></span> </p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">Website: <a href="https://rachelandersonauthor.com/" target="_blank">https://rachelandersonauthor.com/</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/rachelandersonauthor" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/rachelandersonauthor</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/rachel_writing_gal/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/rachel_writing_gal/</a> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: small;">Email: </span>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="font-size: small;">rachelandersonauthor@gmail.com</span></span></p><p><span style="color: black; font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLXlVQ00xGxfTCRU2Vn5OmXha8nSnceQxPb3hFmRLWZTjQk0SevoCGNkmxI029A628cuqWe1X4fJdfygXL9UZvDOFinhkq8ATMYft5IzPl5LxBCwbG-N4GwlPDs-wsZIbViHo6Az86j1nKQXa6gV8u2_saurWP3k3zaK_8xWzvWLQrDAEFP304o825D8Oj/s382/RA%20Author%20Photo%20LC.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="382" data-original-width="347" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLXlVQ00xGxfTCRU2Vn5OmXha8nSnceQxPb3hFmRLWZTjQk0SevoCGNkmxI029A628cuqWe1X4fJdfygXL9UZvDOFinhkq8ATMYft5IzPl5LxBCwbG-N4GwlPDs-wsZIbViHo6Az86j1nKQXa6gV8u2_saurWP3k3zaK_8xWzvWLQrDAEFP304o825D8Oj/s320/RA%20Author%20Photo%20LC.jpeg" width="291" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span>
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{page:WordSection1;}</style><p></p>Christy Mattheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02038240579399809745noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473128326113032249.post-5153332084430985662023-11-28T15:41:00.004-05:002023-11-28T15:41:42.465-05:00On the Shelf by Tara Michener: Sierra Blue by Suzanne Morgan Williams and Kindness Is by Kaitlin Johnstone<p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Two reviews today!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sierra-Blue-Suzanne-Morgan-Williams/dp/B0CJH8YC4X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank"><i>Sierra Blue</i> </a>is enthralling, captivating and very well written. Suzanne Morgan Williams penned an incredible novel for the young adult reader this fall. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">When you think of magic what do you think about? I can tell you that thanks to this book I think of a strong and courageous character that does her best as she navigates being different from everyone around her. </span></span></p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSV6FMBvuOTGc2SdAwwEmmAPO8g7wM_3B6w0pvZPsf4r0_TAhfCFMhp6HtJYBjQ2XDuV1X4VIQpKCne0kRIM5nqojTIqglF8X4RDCKouISfRRL3djkj9xQH66ror_ECd0rXb31UCRAUlFEsmvRP4N8JFSmvXMf5BGSZSTiZ9RDPb4RfY9fOKDhmuB6RqE/s960/Tara%20with%20Sierra%20Blue.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSV6FMBvuOTGc2SdAwwEmmAPO8g7wM_3B6w0pvZPsf4r0_TAhfCFMhp6HtJYBjQ2XDuV1X4VIQpKCne0kRIM5nqojTIqglF8X4RDCKouISfRRL3djkj9xQH66ror_ECd0rXb31UCRAUlFEsmvRP4N8JFSmvXMf5BGSZSTiZ9RDPb4RfY9fOKDhmuB6RqE/s320/Tara%20with%20Sierra%20Blue.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Tara holding </i>Sierra Blue</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">My On the Shelf series embraces mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors, and the main character, Magic, gives us all of these avenues wrapped in one heroine. Magic simply does not fit in...for many reasons...oddly colored hair, being from a different town but also...she sees things that other people cannot see. Her gift is both a blessing and a curse for her because in order for her to use her talent she has to expose it, and this draws attention that does not always land in her favor. Her struggles include many of the typical things that young people face...being bullied, wanting to be kissed and coping with uncertainty about friendships. She also has the added dilemma of keeping her special abilities under wraps in order to protect herself from ridicule and judgement. This is not an easy balance and her love for animals and a special horse invites her to wrestle with what is best...being silent or being secure enough to speak up for the most vulnerable amongst us. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">The lessons in this book are endless, and I enjoyed reading it with my family and talking about what we would do in different scenarios. I invite you to read it and I am curious to know after you read it what you think. I am sure that Suzanne Morgan Williams is curious as well...so please be sure to review on Amazon and Goodreads. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br /><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><br /></span></span></p><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">I met Kaitlin Johnstone through Instagram about a year ago and I have been enamored by her ability to connect readers to authors. She makes sure that she gives focus to those of us who showcase windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors. Kaitlin owns a small business dedicated to putting books into the hands of children and she has accomplished this through a business that has soft and beautiful t-shirts and apparel. Her merchandise has slogans, affirmations, and calls to action that remind us to be kind but to be vigilant. This fall Kaitlin became an author herself. </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">I was very happy to be amongst the first to read...</span></div><div dir="ltr"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"> </span><a href="https://kindcotton.com/products/kindness-is-by-kaitlin-johnstone?variant=44193859731690" style="font-family: Montserrat;" target="_blank"> Kindness Is...</a><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"> </span></i></div><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-J_YHHYi3hyi31i3Ll-iXuijAdMKlbf2LrpIYSL81KtCVKUpWk4hIXFGlSXrCMovQCT2tGRV6GyZo6EehNeozOsMcePm8A0iyEEbM4uH3w9EaPoMZIgG9que4h3267LBOjW0jSiqqzjq0AuxwLsebWkRMQh-MU-1GAXOmvIKvqKuSZwJEJkc8TOxHtmc/s629/kindness%20is.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="629" data-original-width="621" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-J_YHHYi3hyi31i3Ll-iXuijAdMKlbf2LrpIYSL81KtCVKUpWk4hIXFGlSXrCMovQCT2tGRV6GyZo6EehNeozOsMcePm8A0iyEEbM4uH3w9EaPoMZIgG9que4h3267LBOjW0jSiqqzjq0AuxwLsebWkRMQh-MU-1GAXOmvIKvqKuSZwJEJkc8TOxHtmc/s320/kindness%20is.JPG" width="316" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">This adorable picture book reminds and educates readers on the beauty of being kind. The pages are filled with opportunities for readers to witness a young girl who is finding her own way and understanding what it means to be inclusive and welcoming. I love that the book allows us to see the dynamic of parent and child in regards to the topic of kindness. Kaitlin has continued her legacy of lifting up amazing authors and now it is our time to lift her up as she enters this world of writing and gives us 1000 more reasons to be kind. This is a great book for the young reader and should be in every class, library, and counseling office. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 16px;" /></span></div><p style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.3px;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><br /><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.3px;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="color: #222222;">On the Shelf is a regular feature</span><span style="color: #222222;"> by Tara Michener, highlighting books and authors that allow readers to both learn about cultures and people different than them but also to embrace the importance of representation and for each reader to have the opportunity to see themselves showcased in books as well.</span></span></span></i></p><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14.3px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><i style="color: black;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpf1C_Jmu8PMadhf1XzzYFMtEcA4XycT-b4TOTgKZHi97BvcG-Q_KyF0N6RE6MYfbaHYazxy2fdCG0_cLhyphenhyphendhLQB5BVCz4S9mcpa7oJsvzDG2Fk24h2ERir3XbprYtZvH5xC2XDFfC9dMnMyU5QazzML_qJ6zm5NoooHtgEwhwJI2PpfSXXQk_s-NngD0/s960/Tara.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="958" data-original-width="960" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpf1C_Jmu8PMadhf1XzzYFMtEcA4XycT-b4TOTgKZHi97BvcG-Q_KyF0N6RE6MYfbaHYazxy2fdCG0_cLhyphenhyphendhLQB5BVCz4S9mcpa7oJsvzDG2Fk24h2ERir3XbprYtZvH5xC2XDFfC9dMnMyU5QazzML_qJ6zm5NoooHtgEwhwJI2PpfSXXQk_s-NngD0/s320/Tara.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #222222;"><a href="https://www.scbwi.org/members/tara-michener" target="_blank">Tara Michener</a> is the author of seven children's books that focus on self-esteem, diversity, and anti-bullying. She is a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6eGy4G94aM" style="color: #3d5e15; text-decoration-line: none;">TEDx speaker</a>, therapist, and owns her own private practice in Novi, MI. Tara has been recognized in publications such as Prevention Magazine, Essence Magazine, FREEP and more! She is the former Committee Chair of E&I at SCBWI-MI. Her favorite days usually include spending time with her hubistrator, Jason, her son Cannon, an</span>d her favorite snack Twizzlers and Diet Coke. You can follow her on Twitter </i><span face="TwitterChirp, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; text-wrap: nowrap;"><i>@Taramichener.</i></span><i style="color: black;"> </i></span></span></div>Sarah Prusoff LoCasciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03325900884643863060noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473128326113032249.post-89350682310022079332023-11-17T00:00:00.071-05:002023-11-17T00:00:00.157-05:00 All Summer in a Day: The Sweet (and SHORT) Journey of a Picture Book by Patti Richards<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 14pt;">(</span><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 14pt;">This
is the final installment of a three-part series. Read <a href="https://scbwimithemitten.blogspot.com/2023/09/all-summer-in-day-sweet-and-short.html">part one</a> and <a href="https://scbwimithemitten.blogspot.com/2023/10/all-summer-in-day-sweet-and-short.html">part two</a> here</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 14pt;">.)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Q5_p5kZhF_qHWFxzAeJI6bnNi6BVI3_3koVGd5-g1nD8PB8m_phsU3tJniF_4sjzje9zLYZHrX56b988kmcjzF8bCa8kJRqMah0QC7GwXxtz62BkX2YbzdN7osyDvtupkj_DCunG40-WqOcjq-6QZ3z-AdgmbUwf1yV7kPn69F7vWBqdQiPCN2jcGJs/s2220/Screenshot_20230803-113007_Amazon%20Shopping.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2220" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Q5_p5kZhF_qHWFxzAeJI6bnNi6BVI3_3koVGd5-g1nD8PB8m_phsU3tJniF_4sjzje9zLYZHrX56b988kmcjzF8bCa8kJRqMah0QC7GwXxtz62BkX2YbzdN7osyDvtupkj_DCunG40-WqOcjq-6QZ3z-AdgmbUwf1yV7kPn69F7vWBqdQiPCN2jcGJs/s320/Screenshot_20230803-113007_Amazon%20Shopping.jpg" width="156" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 18.6667px; text-align: left;"><i>MRS. NOAH <br />goes out of print </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">At the
end of our second installment, I left you with the news that my publisher was
going out of business. That meant my book would be available for a few more
months, but at some point, in 2023, it would go out of print.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">People
who know me know I’m not a quitter, so after receiving the news, instead of
resting on my laurels, I went to one final book-selling event in January of
2023. With my husband’s help (he is the king of schmoozing) I mingled, visited
booksellers’ booths, and even had a radio interview and book signing! </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">After
that event, I stocked up on as many copies of MRS. NOAH as I could afford. I
kept checking Amazon and Barnes and Noble, and on a day in late June I read the
words “out of stock,” and I knew it was over. Approximately 18 months after her
release, MRS. NOAH sailed out of online book retailers and stores. But what a
ride we’d had. My picture book journey truly felt like all summer in a day!</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;"> <br /></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;"><b>Blessings</b></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi739OiRBB24V4lnKxfj0fEOBvPlVZWRjP14LlzUksQk04_4UyNCGvTmf2_aKrI3qB5x0QycS9v2b9Cu7s6tJr4fL8nrujFj3AecEBbrpsZXWVdOAqMjlk81l8b3kjFhBDFj14AE0RVLw4VpaelvRQdcIKOw3nGUuhy30m_tjzj0139vv0tGdZDDXHlonw/s4032/Mrs%20Noah%20awards.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi739OiRBB24V4lnKxfj0fEOBvPlVZWRjP14LlzUksQk04_4UyNCGvTmf2_aKrI3qB5x0QycS9v2b9Cu7s6tJr4fL8nrujFj3AecEBbrpsZXWVdOAqMjlk81l8b3kjFhBDFj14AE0RVLw4VpaelvRQdcIKOw3nGUuhy30m_tjzj0139vv0tGdZDDXHlonw/s320/Mrs%20Noah%20awards.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 18.6667px; text-align: left;"><i>MRS. NOAH all dressed up <br />in her award swag!</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">I
couldn’t possibly share how blessed I have been by this journey. The
frustrations were many, but the reward of getting to see a book you’ve loved
into existence in the bookstore and on the library shelf more than makes up for
them. I’m also pleased to say that in MRS. NOAH’s short life, she won five
awards, including a Northern Lights Book Award for best first picture book. Do
I wish MRS. NOAH’S journey had ended differently? Of course! Do I think I’ll
try to self-publish now that I have the rights back? Ask me again in a few
months when the sting fades a bit.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">The
Takeaways</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 14pt;">When
the life of a book begins and ends at this record pace, it’s important to pause
and reflect.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">Here
are a few of my takeaways for those who are un-agented that might help someone
else:</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">1.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 7pt;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">Do
your homework. If you get an offer for one of your books, find out all you can
about the health of the company making the offer. Use your SCBWI membership,
ask other authors who have published with the same company about their
experience, and check with the publisher’s state business website. None of this
is foolproof. It’s impossible to predict the future ever, but especially in
publishing. Getting as much info as possible can help you make informed
decisions for your book.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">2.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 7pt;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">Lead
the discussion. In the excitement of having someone love your book, the
temptation is to let the offering company lead the discussion. You might feel
like you can’t ask for time to do your research and even to ask for changes to
your contract. But you can! It’s also a good idea to have an attorney who
specializes in contract law look over your contract to make sure you’re getting
the best terms possible. At the very least, an attorney can help you know what
questions to ask. Will this cost money? Unless you have a friend who can help,
yes. But it’s money well spent. The Author’s Guild also provides contract
reviews and other services for their members.</span></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcTL9s8a30YwoXvXzxlospkog_HUe5TCbq79j2WsLsm6P3lmt-tjyg0Im_QS0P5k0mbYrhAu6dwqeSVHXwbS_JvPoXdRSucwglowNb224A2IJWL99JE03vy0i2TEYMl31vUDw3lLqan2YtzRqEAZ2pEwz7f6LDtty0uJaUMuuJpUbTqs2ZXRCBYWzvLHg/s1024/Faith%20Radio%20interview.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="576" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcTL9s8a30YwoXvXzxlospkog_HUe5TCbq79j2WsLsm6P3lmt-tjyg0Im_QS0P5k0mbYrhAu6dwqeSVHXwbS_JvPoXdRSucwglowNb224A2IJWL99JE03vy0i2TEYMl31vUDw3lLqan2YtzRqEAZ2pEwz7f6LDtty0uJaUMuuJpUbTqs2ZXRCBYWzvLHg/s320/Faith%20Radio%20interview.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 18.6667px; text-align: left;"><i>Faith Radio interview at the <br />Christian Product Expo in<br /> Georgia in February</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 14pt;">3.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 7pt;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 14pt;">Learn
how to market! As you can tell from my story, I had to fast-track my marketing
knowledge. If you have the luxury of taking your time with this step, then do
it! Budget some of your weekly writing hours for marketing education. Learn how
to use Canva. Build a professional-looking website. Take advantage of free
services like Pinterest, Goodreads, and Instagram to keep information about you
and your books in front of your audience. When that contract offer comes,
you’ll be glad you did!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">4.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 7pt;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">Get
your eggs out of the basket! Having a book release and then go out of print so
quickly resulted in the entire process becoming almost all-consuming. The fight
to keep MRS. NOAH in front of people for as long as I could forced other things
to take a back seat. Writing, revising, submitting, looking for an agent…none
of those things should stop while you’re in the middle of what feels like a
sinking ship. It’s what keeps us balanced as writers. I’ll admit to losing my
focus in the middle of the flood of work that came with MRS. NOAH’s release,
but I’m grateful I have it back.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 14pt;">5.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 7pt;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 14pt;">You are more than one
book. This takeaway speaks for itself. Your success as a writer should never be
measured by one contract. No matter how much the end of one book can break your
heart, you and your work go on. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">So,
there you go. The story of a book’s journey…All Summer in a Day! I’m so
grateful I got the chance to experience it, and that there are many little
loves enjoying MRS. NOAH. That is the best gift of all.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">And
did poor Margot ever get out of that closet to see the sun? I’m not telling.
You’ll just have to read that story for yourself.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt;"><i style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 14.3px;"></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 14.3px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTj8HH-xkeVC_GFnxfV0U6c91WXyUytdTZTyO2nFfq4yU-ZG2M6zBFgg8lLXb9NTkicH93PkFYXI9z04Tsy-8xPCrO0VuHdxTOtprFsMuEQpue2orz_uQw7cte9Ktg7wvB242jR2qBCfkPpQuWnfDa1VWlGlRHhBiQPbC0CQctAvr2ZbHAcvW2OQbUqiI/s750/Patti.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTj8HH-xkeVC_GFnxfV0U6c91WXyUytdTZTyO2nFfq4yU-ZG2M6zBFgg8lLXb9NTkicH93PkFYXI9z04Tsy-8xPCrO0VuHdxTOtprFsMuEQpue2orz_uQw7cte9Ktg7wvB242jR2qBCfkPpQuWnfDa1VWlGlRHhBiQPbC0CQctAvr2ZbHAcvW2OQbUqiI/s320/Patti.jpg" width="256" /></a></i></div><i style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 14.3px;">Patti Richards has spent more than 30 years writing stories and telling tales. Her first fiction picture book, MRS. NOAH (Little Lamb Books, October 2021) was a Selah Award Finalist, A Northern Dawn Book Award Winner for Best First Picture Book, a Purple Dragonfly Honorable Mention Winner, and a Royal Dragonfly Honorable Mention Winner. As a freelance writer, Patti has provided content for Capstone Publishing, Red Line Editorial, the Foundations Recovery Network, Uptv.com, The Lookout Magazine, Worship Leader Magazine, Songs4Worship.com, Metro Parent Publishing Group, and various other local, regional and national newspapers and magazines. In 2003, her article, “Timing is Everything When Treating Infertility,” (Metro Parent Magazine) won a Gold Medal Award for Special Section Within a Publication (Circulation of 55,000 or more), from Parenting Publications of America. Patti also offers professional picture book critiques. Visit her website, <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.pattigail1.com&source=gmail&ust=1696018128211000&usg=AOvVaw2EncCg5jtnSyvACxUeaaXI" href="http://www.pattigail1.com/" style="color: #0563c1; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">www.pattigail1.com</a> to learn more! <br /></i><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"> </span></o:p></p>Sarah Prusoff LoCasciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03325900884643863060noreply@blogger.com14