Introducing the Diversity Dialogue Blog by Isabel O'Hagin

Artwork created by Rebecca Howe

Welcome to our SCBWI-MI Diversity Dialogue blog! As chair of the DEI committee, I’m happy to author this first post with committee member and Blog Co-host, Angie Verges. Our aim is to engage members in what we hope will be stimulating dialogue that will build community and make a difference. We encourage you to contact us if you’d like to suggest a topic for discussion and/or have resources to share with our members. Our blog posts will include information on various projects that our committee will undertake with your support and allies in our communities.

Our mission, as stated on our chapter’s website, is to welcome and celebrate writers and illustrators who represent a broad spectrum of backgrounds and who seek to create quality literature that reflects the lives of all young children. We understand the power of children seeing themselves represented in books. Such diverse reading experiences can lead to empathy, understanding and respect. It is vital that we do all we can to implement initiatives that will address issues of diversity, inclusivity and accessibility for our kidlit community that will in turn help us write books for all children.

We believe in bringing about change in a three-fold vision: Include, Engage, and Embrace.

INCLUDE: We strive for the inclusion of marginalized and underrepresented communities in children’s literature within our membership.

ENGAGE: We aim to fully engage members, communities, and allies by identifying resources and support available and other professional-growth activities.

EMBRACE: We provide a ‘welcoming place’ to nurture and better support communication and networking within the diverse voices of our members, the community and potential members. Everyone has a seat at the table.

Artwork created by Rebecca Howe

Our committee’s focus on diversity is aligned with #WeNeedDiverseBooks:
We recognize all diverse experiences, including but not limited to LGBTQIA, Native, people of color, gender diversity, people with disabilities, and cultural and religious minorities. Because of the breadth of this focus, we will be particularly conscious of the intersectionality of oppressions and identities.

I recently read an article about a young designer breaking into the field who in addressing issues of equity and inclusion and access hung up a sign in his studio: YOU’RE OBVIOUSLY IN THE WRONG PLACE. For me, the subtext served as a challenge: stake your own place in the world, renegotiate your own self-identity, and define your own positionality. Be courageous!

There have been times in my professional life where a sense of exclusion permeated my existence. I often had to pinch myself and say, “You belong here.” Fortunately, I didn’t experience this sense of displacement within SCBWI circles. I’ve been a member for six years and am grateful for the camaraderie and support I consistently receive from my SCBWI friends—and it is reciprocated. However, we need to assure that all current and potential members feel valued and affirmed. Our goal as a committee is to make sure there is space for everyone at our ever-expanding table.

As the DEI committee, we look forward to collaborative partnerships with allies throughout the state to actualize our vision. As the Kalamazoo Area Shop Talk Coordinator, I will bring this message to my local community and encourage you to do the same. Together we can make everyone feel they are indeed in the RIGHT place and that their voices are valued in SCBWI-MI. By doing so we will continue to develop and nurture all kidlit creators to produce quality literature that reflects the lives of all young children.

 – Isabel O’Hagin

Greetings from Angie:
We encourage you to join our dialogue and hope that you find value in something expressed through our blog posts. Any nugget of inspiration or encouragement you take away is like finding a diamond in the rough.

The Diversity Dialogue will be a monthly feature on the SCBWI-MI Mitten Blog. Stop by the Diversity Dialogue Blog Page anytime and look for our next post in December. As writers or illustrators have you thought about giving yourself a gift for the holidays? Are there unique traditions that you incorporate in your writing life? In December, we'll explore holiday traditions, seasonal traditions, and just plain old kidlit stuff.

Learn more and meet the DEI committee members here: 
https://michigan.scbwi.org/2019/09/11/announcing-the-scbwi-mi-diversity-and-inclusivity-committee/

Let's get our dialogue started! 

Your opinion is important to us. Join our dynamic dialogue this month and leave a comment below as we pose this question:

What two actions can members take to make SCBWI-MI more accessible, equitable, and inclusive?

Michigan Publishers: Fifth Avenue Press by Debbie Taylor

The Mitten Blog is launching a new series to explore local publishing options right here in Michigan. First up is Fifth Avenue Press - an interesting venture run by the Ann Arbor District Library. They're celebrating their Fall 2019 list this weekend, and here to tell us more is one of their newest authors, Debbie Taylor. You can read Debbie's Book Birthday interview to learn more about her new picture book, Over in Motown, but read on below to learn more about her experience working with Fifth Avenue Press.

Celebrate with Debbie and the other Fifth Avenue authors this Sunday in Ann Arbor!

Here's Debbie:

Debbie's first picture book published by Lee and Low in 2004

The differences in my experiences with a trade publisher and Fifth Avenue Press range from minor to profound. Each one provided magic. My first picture book was published in 2004 by a trade publisher. My most recent book, Over in Motown was published by Fifth Avenue Press, a publishing imprint of the Ann Arbor District Library dedicated to publishing local authors.

In 2017, a critique group member encouraged me to submit Over in Motown to Fifth Avenue Press. In just two weeks after I submitted the manuscript, I received an invitation to meet to discuss the book with Erin Helmrich, an editor and librarian, and Amanda Szot, the graphic designer. Erin asked if I was willing to make some revisions. I agreed and was immediately informed that Fifth Avenue Press would like to publish the manuscript. When I worked with my wonderful editor at a trade publisher I received an offer by phone after six months of revisions. During the process, I met with Erin and Amanda in person to discuss revisions, while in the past, my interactions with an editor were by e-mail and telephone.

My trade publisher selected an illustrator my book. The artist selected was without a doubt, a great choice. I certainly did not expect to be asked for input. Fifth Avenue Press identified an initial illustrator immediately, but eventually decided to move in a different direction with a new illustrator. Erin and Amanda scoured the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators directory and solicited my suggestions for an illustrator. In short order they settled upon Keisha Morris and requested some sample sketches based on the manuscript. Erin and Amanda shared a few of Keisha’s sketches and we agreed she had captured the essence of the book. Fifth Avenue Press paid the illustrator's fee just as trade publishers do.

My trade publisher managed the printing and distribution of the book. As a Fifth Avenue Press author, I was responsible for selecting a printer and also choosing the book size, format and paper. Fortunately, they had a great relationship with a local printer, McNaughton-Gunn. I met with a representative who provided book samples with various styles of paper. I felt out of my depth, but after talking with Erin and Amanda, I made my selections.

My trade publisher published the book in hardback for almost nine years and released it in paperback a few years ago. With Fifth Avenue Press, I had to make those decision since I would be paying for the printing. After conferring with other authors and having a lengthy conversation with my sister, a first grade teacher, I settled on paperbacks for the initial run.

The most unusual feature of Fifth Avenue Press is that authors retain the rights to their books. Any profit, after paying sales taxes, is mine. With my first publisher, I received an advance and I receive a royalty check every six months.

Both of my publishers secured the ISBN and provided graphics for websites and other purposes. Fifth Avenue Press has provided opportunities for the authors to meet, mingle and share information and resources. It also generously hosts a book launch for each crop of authors.

At a Fifth Avenue Press book launch in May of this year, I ran into a critique group member who asked if I knew that Spider Magazine had reprinted a story of mine. We rifled through back issues of Spider and found the reprint. The illustrations were different from the original and captured different elements of the story. I peered at the illustrator’s name. It was Keisha Morris. Neither Erin nor Amanda had known that of all the illustrators who could have been chosen to illustrate a reprint, it would turn out to be the illustrator they would select to illustrate Over in Motown!

Working with my first publisher was a great experience. Working with Fifth Avenue Press was remarkable. Having personal access to a "dream team," my terrific editor and our splendid graphic designer, provided  a unique and truly rich experience. I would urge anyone with a good manuscript and a dream to visit the Fifth Avenue Press website. 

Debbie Ann Taylor is a picture book author and magazine writer. Her work has been published in children's magazines including Spider, Cricket, New Moon and Pockets Magazine. Taylor is the author of the acclaimed picture book, Sweet Music in Harlem (Lee and Low 2004) and books for the Toggle Talk educational series. She contributes to local, regional and national literacy efforts as an author, speaker and volunteer. Her hobbies include visiting museums and botanical gardens with her family. Taylor and her husband live in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Learn more at https://sweetmusicinharlem.weebly.com/.

Coming up on the Mitten Blog:

All about book reviews, the upcoming non-fiction mentorship, Book Birthday celebrations, a Writer Spotlight, and our quarterly round of Hugs and Hurrahs. But first, come back next Friday to meet the new SCBWI-MI Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity Committee!

Book Birthday Blog with Debbie Taylor

Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog! 

Where we celebrate new books by Michigan's children's book authors and illustrators

Congratulations to Debbie Taylor on the release of her new book,  OVER IN MOTOWN!

Congratulations on your new book release! What inspired Over In Motown?

The text for Over in Motown was inspired by the thrill of listening to the music of Motown and by my affection for the classic Over in the Meadow book. I was moved by the interactions of the creatures in the original poem and recent versions. The parent gives loving instruction and encouragement to her little fishies, turtles, foxes, sea horses, etc. Each mother or father urges the young ones to be themselves, appreciate their abilities and use their unique gifts.

Throughout my middle school years and teen years in Columbus, Ohio, my sister and I, along with the whole neighborhood listened to the local radio stations, WCOL and WVKO, for long stretches hoping to hear Motown music. We could scarcely wait for Motown to release the new Supremes, Temptations or Jackson 5 singles.

Several years ago, I began jotting down words and phrases in an art journal during one of my many journeys by train. After doodling “o”  and  “Mo” for  multiple pages, I started generating stanza after stanza. Revising is a critical part of my process.  At least half of the original stanzas didn’t survive the revision process and others were drastically altered. At one point I resorted to using colored pencils and index cards to keep track.

You’ve spoken before about how family and community are often themes in your
writing. Do you see these themes in Over In Motown as well? 

Yes, indeed the themes of family and community are reflected in the book. The Motown entertainment enterprise has been described as a family venture. The success was not only due to the actual blood ties of the Gordy family, but the family of musicians, coaches, technicians, business professionals, fans and others.

In this book, you highlight not only performers, singers, and musicians, but also
other aspects of Motown and Detroit. You mention record pressing, church choirs,
marching bands, even car assembly lines! What motivated you to talk about all the
different aspects of the musical life in Detroit? 

I wanted to provide a more complex, rich picture of the influences on the development of the music. The rhythms and beats of those people and places all contributed to the Motown sound that was enjoyed and appreciated by fans around the world.  I included the physical production of the actual record because it was an interesting element. The first and last stanzas frame the interior stanzas and reflect the influences, universal appeal and appreciation of the music.

You mention in the author’s notes that Motown music was a part of your
childhood. How was the experience of taking that nostalgia and love of Motown music and writing a story about it? Has it changed the way you listen to the music now?

The music pulled me back to simpler days, happier times and sweeter moments. I found the ballads by various artists very soothing and the bouncy rhythms of other performers energized me. Writing the text and revising the drafts was a very enjoyable and satisfying experience. (I have always appreciated the music, but I now listen to certain songs more often. These days, I also find myself lip-synching to the Supremes' Stop in the Name of Love.)

What’s something you hope your readers will take away from Over In Motown?

I hope readers will appreciate the talented creators of this accessible and upbeat music.  I also would like readers to consider writing their own versions of the Over in Motown. I'd love to have young writers use that structure as a jumping off point for some of their own writing. Readers could use various natural environments, schools or cities. I'd encourage them to think about the elements, features or characteristics of that setting. Consider how multiple voices, creatures or characters could interact, then flesh out the stanzas with descriptions and choose the most effective ones.  I also hope readers will just have fun reading the book and enjoy counting the figures on the pages.

What’s next for you? Where can we find Over In Motown, and how can people
connect with you? 

My sister, a country music fan and I are finishing up Over in Nashville. I am also revising a young adult novel set in Idlewild, Michigan. The book can be ordered through my website and can be found at all of the Ann Arbor Public libraries at the end of the month. Several bookstores, including the Source Booksellers in Detroit, will carry the book as well. Starting mid-November, it can be ordered through my website Sweet Music In Harlem.

A little bit about the book: 

This counting book features studio singers, dancers and choir members as well as guitarists, pianists and drummers making the music of Motown.  These and others, including the automakers and record-pressers who put the "Mo" in "Motown," reflect the energy and influence of Detroit, a distinctive, historic, music-producing city. A timeline of Motown highlights is included.  

A little bit about the author:

Debbie Ann Taylor is a picture book author and magazine writer. Her work has been published in children's magazines including Spider, Cricket, New Moon and Pockets Magazine. Taylor is the author of the acclaimed picture book, Sweet Music in Harlem (Lee and Low 2004) and books for the Toggle Talk educational series. She contributes to local, regional and national literacy efforts as an author, speaker and volunteer. Her hobbies include visiting museums and botanical gardens with her family. Taylor and her husband live in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Check out Over In Motown's Book Release at Ann Arbor's Downtown Library November 10th!