Writer Spotlight: Laura Stewart

 Appalachia, Clucky's Week, Shutta, homeschool, NY, and backyard chickens: author Laura A. Stewart

Charlie Barshaw coordinates our regular Writer Spotlight feature and interviews writers of SCBWI-MI. In this piece, meet author and homeschool teacher Laura Stewart.

What was life like for young Laura? How did you come to love reading and writing?

Unlike Laura Ingalls Wilder, my favorite author as a child, I was not outgoing by any means. Second daughter and very comfortable in the shadow of a sister who seemed to excel in almost everything, I found comfort and refuge immersing myself in worlds far away from reality.

Not that reality was bad. Books were way more interesting and engaging. We lived a very average family life in the suburbs of Detroit. Home, public school, church, neighborhoods bursting with other kids both older and younger. Now my sisters and I kind of feel like, looking back, we lived in a safe bubble. Grateful. 

In my early years, I really had no desire to become a writer. I had no idea I even had a talent for writing until I was in high school and began writing papers for my classes. Somehow I would get good grades without trying very hard. Maybe I was lazy, but eventually I realized how beneficial it was to be able to articulate through writing what I couldn’t say in person. 

After college I volunteered with the Jesuit Volunteer Corp. and taught children assessed with dyslexia at the Hindman Settlement School in Appalachia.  That experience must have been a story in itself. What do you remember most fondly about your days as a young Appalachian teacher?

Having a job that fed you. No, seriously. I love any job where someone else cooks for you. But the best part was the small community during the time I lived there. I learned what it means to have community, to live in community, and to take care of your community.

I learned from my community roommates, support people, and the Appalachian culture in that small town, how to speak love through food, fellowship and through my Catholic faith and worship of Christ Himself.

My next job was teaching with HeadStart. They fed me too. See a pattern? 

Living along the banks of the peaceful River Raisin has blessed my family with many opportunities to experience nature. Each season brings new adventures for my husband, myself and our four children, and now our grandchildren. 

Tell us about some of the ways you experienced nature. 

We spent most of our time outdoors. Blessed beyond measure to live in a rural area where my children could roam and explore the fields and woods was truly a wonderful area to raise our children. We canoed, kayaked, experienced and saved wildlife. Life felt grounded in nature.

I still experience the most solitude and healthy thinking when my feet are in our yard touching the ground that is filled with so many wonderful memories.

I also love to camp with my family. One of my camping stories will be released in 2027. A fun story that exaggerates some of our camping experiences with our furry masked friends that sneak around in the night.

You launched a CLUCKY book in November of 2025. How goes the book promotion? What have you learned about promoting your books?

Clucky's Week

I don’t love promotion. It sucks up a lot of time. It distracts from creating. It’s so open-ended. How far do you go? I guess I just try to do my best and if it’s going to “take”, it will. 

My next story has thankfully earned me a publicist and marketing team. It’s amazing and a relief to have someone take the helm. I am a little freaked out that I have to speak “live” for interviews. Calling upon the Holy Spirit to guide my words will be essential. 

You’ve done enough school visits to have garnered some testimonials. How have you tailored programs for the youngest students? Who’s your target audience?

The target audience depends on what book they want presented. My background is early childhood, so I pull from experience to make it fun for the peabodies. When I get in the zone, my natural hamminess comes out. It’s like an adrenalin surge and then afterwards, I’m zapped. 

I've always enjoyed reading children's books as a teacher and a mom, and now as a "Ya Ya".  I began writing my first children's story when my oldest son was only 2 yrs. old.  That was a long time ago... 

Take us back to when and how new mom Laura found time to write.

Making fun memories with my oldest son going out for walks at night was where the writing first began. I’d wait until he fell asleep in my arms and then grab a notebook. Lots of handwritten drafts later and then I’d plug it into our old computer.

I had no idea what I was doing. I don’t even remember the process I used to find publishers to submit to through mailings. I’d have a stack of manila self-addressed envelopes and find a day to get them to the mail.

Everything took longer. It wasn’t my time. God knew I wasn’t ready to compartmentalize my parenting or family time. I’m kind of an “all in” sort of person. It took years to understand and trust that my time would come. I don’t regret waiting patiently.

You published your first picture book in 2013. What happened in your writing life in the decade between your first book and the next one?

After I published Puddle Jumper, I met some significant people at Writer’s on the River through the Monroe County Library System. Nancy Shaw, Cynthia Reynolds Furlong, and Michael Monroe.

Nancy and Cynthia invited me to a Newbury Book Club that was forming and they also very emphatically encouraged me to join SCBWI. I took them up on both suggestions and from 2014-2020 our Newbury group thrived.

Since 2014, I have attended various conferences, workshops and other events. I am not the same writer I was in the “green” days. Since I have a terrible memory, I enjoy continuing to increase my writer’s tool box through many different resources.

You’ve leaned into SCBWI, getting advice from some of Michigan’s writing stars. How did you find the Society? What are some memorable SCBWI moments?

Some of the other incredible people and friendships I’ve made through SCBWI have been invaluable. Deb Gonzales was also a part of our Newbury group and she and I have forged a friendship based not only on writing, but faith.

I have kept in touch with others from our original group and fondly remember each of them and their kind encouragement. Shout out to the original Newbury Peeps! Shutta, Patrick, Kathy, Lindsey, Kristin and anyone else I may have missed,  thank you.

Memorable moments. Ooh the memory thing... Mackinac Island 2014. New York 2019 (Shutta’s scholarship). Marvelous Midwest 2024 in Iowa. Super cool.

You researched and wrote a fact-filled fictional account of the construction of the Bridge School. What are a few things you’d highlight about how to do historical research on the ground you’re walking upon?

Talk to real people. Spend lots of time with knowledgeable reference librarians or in the museum archives. Double check your facts. Spend time at the location.

I had to be very specific: Laura Stewart MI children’s book writer. Turns out “Laura Stewart” is a name that exists in publishing, and even YA authors who are different people. Of course there’s a Laura Stewart in Glasgow, Scotland. How best to distinguish yourself from all the other Laura Stewarts?

The homeschool credit:)

"Homeschool mom pens book about Michigan's first public school." (The headline of a local newspaper story about your Bridge School book.) You had four kids. Did you homeschool all of them?

All four were homeschooled, graduating my youngest son a year early June 2025. They are all amazing adults that have good heads on their shoulders and all value family and faith. Super proud of our brood.

When did you decide to become a teacher?

I first began teaching at eighteen at a local pre-school and then after college and JVC, I began teaching for Head Start. 

You graduated from Madonna College. Did you write much as a college student?

Only when necessary, and some journaling, although I did write one fun story for a Children’s Lit class that isn’t too shabby for a first try.

Something big is brewing for April. What’s happening?

One of my family’s stories will be released on April 17. The title is Orchestra for Oliver: Even the Shortest Lives are Special. The social media interviews begin on March 10th. I’m nervous.

The following is a blog post entitled "A Leap Year Lent."

https://lauraastewartstories.com/f/a-a-leap-year-leap-during-lent

Lent, Madonna College, Jesuits. Religion obviously plays a part in your life. How does being Catholic intersect with your writing?

Hugely with this next story. The story highlights how a family’s faith plays a significant role in how they move through life especially during tragedies. I have other faith stories still in the submission process.

We have backyard chickens too. They’re kind of secret, though the crowing rooster is a giveaway. Tell us about your flock.

We have raised chickens since 2009. Did you know that is what Laura Ingalls Wilder and her husband did? Chicken farmers. Sadly, I personally am a chicken egg snob at this point. I have to try not to think about it when I’m eating store bought eggs! 

My one and only beautiful rooster named Rusty was murdered last year by a hawk. No more.

You did a presentation at an Ann Arbor Library. Which presentation that you’ve done was your favorite?

Probably my Bridge School Launch. It was like I was in a whole other realm of operation. So many friends from near and far came to support and cheer me on. I felt very loved.

Family

On the eve of flying out for the 2019 N.Y.C. conference I was a jumble of feelings. A healthy amount of nervousness, excitement and pure exhaustion. I had just returned 52 hours prior from Arizona after seeing my first grandbaby in the NICU born by an emergency c-section. With jet lag alive and active, I conserved my energies over the next day and a half to prepare for my next adventure.

That’s the opening of your New York experience piece in The Mitten. Is there anything you’d like to add about SCBWI-National NY and your experiences there?

Thankful for getting the experience. Thankful that Leslie H. and Carrie P. were there as familiar faces. New York is not my jam.

What’s next for Laura? 

I’ve decided to put a hold on submitting for a few months so I can fully focus on successfully promoting the stories I have and for the one coming up. We also have a new granddaughter on the way. Another life-threatening pregnancy that requires the grandmas to be on call. Prayers appreciated.

Any social media you wish to share:

laurastewartstories.com

 https://www.instagram.com/laurastewartstories/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100051336663206

https://www.pinterest.com/laurastewartstories/historical-picture-books/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNQ6EsyiqJ7DLAw120FVDCQ

Book Birthday Blog with Laura Stewart

 

Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!

Where we celebrate new books from Michigan's authors, illustrators and translators.

 

Congratulations to Laura Stewart on the release of Orchestra for Oliver: Even the Shortest Lives Are Special

 

 

How did you come up with the idea for your book?

After our family experienced a negative prenatal diagnosis in 2019 for our second grandchild, we banded together as a family to pray and make lasting memories. My original story has been compiled into a beautiful family photo book (using Snapfish) that I made for my son and his wife. Orchestra for Oliver: Even the Shortest Lives are Special is based on our story. It is a gentle way to prepare siblings and other family members of an unborn baby that may not survive. It thoughtfully guides families through making memories and opportunities for prayer during and after using a musical motif.

What is something you hope your readers will take away for your book?

That they have more choices than they know. That continuing a pregnancy that is diagnosed “incompatible with life,” doesn’t mean termination. Families can find support if they aren’t receiving it from their medical community or from their extended family and friends. Education is vital and continuing a pregnancy even when the outcome may be tragic, helps the healing in the long term.

What was the most difficult part of writing this book?

Staying sensitive to the topic in general and honoring my family’s story. Many of the families that will read this story may have already gone down this road and had a vastly different outcome. I also revised this many, many times to broaden the scope for marketing purposes. It goes from our family story to “based upon” our family story. Originally, I wrote it from Oliver’s perspective. It eventually was revised to come from his older sibling’s perspective to make it more child friendly and to enhance a broader marketing approach.

What are your marketing plans for the book and where can we find it?

On March 16, 2026, Orchestra For Oliver became available through all of your favorite bookstore places.

Pauline Books & Media has hired a publicist and has a marketing team, so my job is to make myself available for interviews and forward any social media posts. I am used to putting myself out there because I’ve had to for the past two books. It still challenges me. The radio and on camera interviews totally freak me out, and I find myself going blank even though I practice. I can get in front of an audience for presentations no prob. But say the word interview, and "um, and so, and ya know" comes out of my mouth. I tank. I freeze. I go blank. It's humbling to say the least. Word of the year for me: Humility.

What's next for you?

Pauline Media will promote for one full year. During the next six months, I’ve decided to hold off on new submissions so I can fully give to the stories already published as well as the next family camping caper story that will be released in 2027. We also have a new granddaughter on the way, so I like to make myself available for whatever comes up. 

More about the book . . .

Camile is delighted that she is going to be a big sister! But sad news from the doctor makes the family realize that they may not have much time with little Oliver after his birth. They decide to focus on spending well the time they do have, making intentional memories with him through trips and experiences tied to music.  

Published by: Pauline Books & Media 

More about the author . . . 

Laura Stewart lives in Michigan with her husband and has homeschooled her children for over twenty-eight years. She is steadfast in her commitment to uphold the dignity of live by participation in life-affirming events, and by making and distributing “Life” bracelets to local pregnancy centers and individuals. Orchestra for Oliver is inspired by the short life of Laura’s second grandbaby. Laura’s other stories include Puddle Jumper (2013), Building the Bridge School (2024 Mission Point Press), and Clucky’s Week (2025 Lawley Kids). 

https://laurastewartstories.com/

https://www.instagram.com/laurastewartstories/

https://www.facebook.com/laura.stewart.952050/ 

https://www.pinterest.com/laurastewartstories/historical-picture-books/ 

YouTube @LauraStewartStories

https://www.youtube.com/@laurastewartstoriesauthor

 

 

And the Mentorship Goes to…

This year we had 18 incredible submissions of Middle Grade and Young Adult novels. Our panel of judges explained that there were some really great stories in the mix, and they had quite a time narrowing down the list. 

Sheela Chari, our mentor, was given the top three applicants and explained that it was hard choosing, as all three were strong and held merit. 

With that, a drumroll please…

Heather Shumaker is this year’s mentorship winner! 

Heather is a Traverse City-based author and proud member of SCBWI. She writes books for both children and adults, concentrating on Middle Grade. Her books include: THE GRIFFINS OF CASTLE CARY (Simon & Schuster BFYR, 2019), a slightly spooky MG adventure, and SAVING ARCADIA, a Michigan Notable Book about Great Lakes land conservation. She’s also the author of two early education books IT’S OK NOT TO SHARE and IT’S OK TO GO UP THE SLIDE. Heather co-coordinates the Up North Shop Talk and is a staunch defender of books, children, nature, and libraries.

As Heather said in her application, “I’ve come to realize that every critique and reader reaction is a gift. I appreciate frank feedback and serious brainstorming. I’d like to work with someone who understands the tender responsibility that comes with kidlit, and seeks to push a story until it’s worthy of a child’s time.”

Heather will work with Sheela from April 10th to November 20, 2026. After their time together, she will have an opportunity to submit to an acquiring editor using one of SCBWI-MI's "golden tickets," which means no slush pile! 

The first-place runner up is Kelsey Gross, who will receive one free entry to the 2026 Critique Carousel. 

Anita Fitch Pazner is the second-place runner up, who has won a $25 gift card to the SCBWI bookstore. 

Thank you so much for our incredible judges for their hard work, and congratulations to all of our applicants! It was a tough competition this year!

Picture book authors get ready - submissions for the 2027 Picture Book Mentorship will open in January, 2027!

Jessica Zimmerman

SCBWI-MI Mentorship Coordinator 

Featured Illustrator: Amy Lynn Spitzley

 Viola, Scrapbook, Wall Drugs notepad, scoliosis, "the Englishman," and covers: Author/illustrator Amy Lynn Spitzley

Charlie Barshaw coordinates our regular Writer Spotlight feature and interviews writers of SCBWI-MI. In this piece, meet writer/illustrator  Amy Lynn Spitzley.

Banner for The Mitten for 2026. Amy describes it as follows: It's mixed media, and the original piece is called The Long Journey. I may have been influenced by 

childhood memories of Leo Lionni, and my love of Redwall books. Fun fact about this one--the mice are made of homemade paper, some of which I made myself. 

Viola Doyle or An Unconventional Gift

3.83 avg rating — 52 ratings — published 2014 — 3 editions

I hadn’t heard of this title, which I think you wrote first but published after The Scrapbook of My Revolution?  Decent ratings, too.  How did a hatpin play into Viola?

Well, originally because I was going to this writing group every week, and they did stream-of-consciousness writing. This was back when my 26-year-old daughter was an infant, playing on a blanket in the corner of Horizon Books, where we used to meet. 

One time the facilitator brought in a bag of jewelry and told us to pick one and come up with something to write without stopping to think about it. As stopping to think isn’t something I tend to do, I immediately came up with this young woman, riding her bike through a park with her hair streaming behind her and not caring what her fellow park-people thought. That was the beginning of Viola Doyle. 

As for what the pin does in the story? It’s magical, of course. What else would it be? 

I was a beta reader for your Scrapbook. Seems I remember the Malians were tall and strong, and good-hearted people who took on some blatant racism and alienism from bad hombres.

How badly did I mis-remember?

Not bad. That’s the Athletics. They were the physical ones. All of them tended to be super-healthy, though. There were Athletics, Sensitives, Camos, and Manipulatives. Amber, the MC of Scrapbook, was a Sensitive. She could read emotions. 

I may as well say it up front. I'm Malian. Yeah, one of the freaks. I've got gold skin and the ability to read emotions. It's great fun, too, believe me. Yeah, right. Anger. Frustration. Desire. Try reading those all day. But I'm not the only one who's frustrated. We're all mixed-up and sick of the bad press and attacks and everything else from Regulars. Things are changing, though. I'm getting other Malians in my school together. We might be able to show people that we're just as human as they are...unless one of my best supporters is really public enemy number one.

Did you have plans for future Malian stories?

I don’t. I feel like that field is all played out, you know? When I came up with Scrapbook it felt different. Now YA is crawling with angsty power-people. I’m not complaining about that–I’ve read quite a few of those books myself, and my daughter (same one from the bookstore baby blanket!) is a teen librarian, but I don’t want to do what everyone else is doing. I never liked that idea.

I know I entered a story in the Young Authors competition in 6th grade. That same year, when I was 12, we went out west for a vacation and I got a little notepad with blue flowers on it at Wall Drug Store and started writing. I kept track of the amount of animals I saw—several herds of buffalo, 20 prairie dogs, that sort of thing. That was really the beginning.

A Wall Drug notepad w/blue flowers. What did having that notepad on that exciting trip awaken in the writer and artist in you?

Bathtub Gnome

Um. Well. I guess it just showed me that writing could be fun. I loved that notebook. I looked for things to write about. I guess observation and the act of putting pen to paper hadn’t really been linked till then. 

Revising a story called The Midnight Trees. It’s the edgiest thing I’ve ever done, about people in a society where the rich ones live high in the trees and the regular ones live on the ground. There’s a drug called Stem that’s distilled from the same trees, and it’s getting most of the society hooked. A few people are trying to figure out how to combat this, including a brothel-owner’s daughter named Angel.

You said you liked drawing trees? What do you find about trees that’s so alluring? Would you be a treetop dweller or a “groundie”?

I love trees! Trees, wind, clouds, water, books. Those are my Things. I need them to be anything like a functional Amy. Well, and my people, too, of course, but that’s a given. I think I’d like to live in the treetops because of the wind, but in that story, the upper levels were for the elite, and I wouldn’t be that. Really I’d want the freedom to move between the two. I wouldn’t do well in Hierro. 

My character, Angel, comes out all right in the end, after tackling elitism and drug abuse. It’s a bit dark. I think I’d have to go in with a humor brush and lighten things up a bit. I do not believe this world needs more gloom and doom. Nope, nope, nope! 

I haven't worked much on the Midnight Trees story, just because it is so dark. I like elements of it, but I've been gravitating more towards a retelling of an old Russian story I wrote about 15 years ago. I'd like to clean that up and get it out in the world, probably more than the Midnight Trees story. It feels lighter, more fun, and even more wholesome--though ick, what a word--and more like something I'd like to read myself nowadays.

All this without mentioning your portfolio. You’re a prolific artist with a large toybox of tools. Are you supporting yourself as a freelance artist?

I am not. I’d love to though! Man, the retail world is NOT where it’s at. I’m on disability for severe scoliosis too. Being able to support myself doing something I actually love would be  absolutely wonderful.  I am open to partnerships/advice and even perhaps a bit of soul-selling, should anyone be interested. I’m sure I’ve got extra soul stored away somewhere! 

I make art that amuses, beautifies, and maybe inspires a little thought. I use whatever is fun for me--collage, acrylic, watercolor brush pens, pencil, colored pencil, and gel pens. I've done woodburning and murals and sidewalk art. I specialize in portraits, trees, and anthropomorphic animals.

Tell us what it takes to conceive a giant piece of art, find a wall to paint it on, and then deal with ladders and paint and weather? 

Honestly, I’ve never done an outdoor mural, and I can’t really do indoor ones or sidewalk art anymore, because of the aforementioned Stupid Scoliosis.

As I age, my art changes. My portrait women have gray hair now, and my animals are more intricate.

How intricate are your animals?

Huh. Fairly intricate. I’m not a photorealist, though I admire the level of detail they get! I like putting human expressions on animals. I’d give myself a good B or B+ for my animal art.

I'm very influenced by Redwall books, as well as people like Jan Brett for the beauty and Leo Lionni for the collage look of things. 

You lovingly refer to your husband as “the Englishman,” and your son and daughter are the apples of your FB eye. Despite the plague of tourists, you’ve got a pretty good life in Traverse City. Are you a traveler, or a home-body?

Ha! They have their moments. My husband and son are on the autism spectrum, and my daughter probably touches the tip of the scale, too. I like to say that the Godfreys are Autistic and the Spitzley is Artistic. It makes for an interesting, though sometimes frustrating, household! 

I like the idea of travel, but I have anxiety. I don’t like not knowing where I’m going to eat or how things are going to play out. At the same time, I tend to be impulsive and restless. It can become kind of a mental mess. I’d love to figure it out a bit more and try to travel, but there’s also a money issue at play. So…I guess I’m not really a traveler or a homebody. I’m just an Amy.

What’s next for Amy Lynn Spitzley?

Good question! Let me know if you figure it out before I do. 

Also, I should have mentioned somewhere that I would really really LOVE to get work as a book cover illustrator, and I think my work would be suited to that, but I cannot seem to break into it to save my life! Most frustrating. 

Please share any social media:

Instagram Amy Spitzley, artist

Facebook Amy Lynn Spitzley 

Website: amyspitz.wixsite.com/artwork-of-amy-lynn.  

Illustrator Spotlight: Gijsbert (Nick) van Frankenhuyzen

Horses, sketchbook, Dad's contract, Sleeping Bear, Isle Royale storm, and Erica the welder: Illustrator Gijsbert (Nick) van Frankenhuyzen

Charlie Barshaw coordinates our regular Writer Spotlight feature and interviews children's book creators. In this piece, meet illustrator Nick van Frankenhuyzen.

I’ll admit, I don’t know my geography. Netherlands is a country, and Amsterdam is its capital, and the people are called Dutch; I learned all that on Google. You were one of seven van Frankenhuyzen siblings, what do you remember of growing up in your native country?

One of 8 siblings, 4 boys and 4 girls. I remember spending all my time outside as a very young boy, even playing in the rubble from World War Two. We had moved  from Goes where I was born, to Wageningen in 1956 because my Dad got a job as an entomologist at the Plant Protection Service based in that city. Four years later we moved to the outskirts of the city, to a new home, very close to the woods. We all spent a lot of time there, good memories.

Always drawing as a young boy, his father encouraged Gijsbert to make art his career. After high school, he attended and graduated from the Royal Academy of Arts in Arnhem, Holland. That’s a big step, supporting your art. Do you remember your first piece of art? What did you like to draw when you were a young artist?  

One thing Dad told all us kids growing up: Make your hobby your career.  My hobby was drawing. Especially horses, but I drew everything that looked interesting to me.

This is what happened:  On my fifth birthday,  my Grandma gave me a Big Box full of crayons, big fat juicy ones.  And I produced a 3 feet high by 12 feet long “mural” in the hallway of our home. My first piece of art. I was proud of it, my Dad was not, to say the least.  

The next day he gives me a sketch book and says; Next time you want to draw,  do it in here. No more drawing on the wall!  A week later my sketch book was full. What should I do? Back to drawing on the wall?  Dad had a better solution. "When your sketch book is full, you give it to me and I will get you a new one.”   

This was very special. Remember, it’s ten years after World War Two. People were poor. All us kids only got presents for a birthday and Christmas. Twice a year. That’s it.   I return my full sketch book to my Dad, I get a new one? The more I draw, the more new presents I get?  Yes, that’s how this worked out. A new book every week.  Dad dated those many books and saved them.

My drawings at this young age were just like any other kids, it was the ‘every day’ drawing that changed things slowly, I got better and better. My (crayon) grandmother was the first person that bought a “painting” from me, I was eleven years old. It was a painting of a horse in a field near where we lived.

Young Nick

At 17  I am ready to go to art school. And then Dad handed me a contract with 3 points: 

Point 1: I can go to Art school, but I have to choose a profession, I could not become just an artist.  

Point 2: If I got accepted, I  had to finish; I could not drop out (Art school was a 5 years, 8.30 am till 4 pm, 5 days a week.)  

Point 3: I had to live at home.  I could not go live in an old house with a bunch of other art students.  

Without the contract there would be no art school  so I signed the contract. I know now that I graduated 5 years later, because I had to follow those rules. Dad was right. I’m glad I’d signed that contract, even though I did not like it.

Shortly after my graduation I got a good paying job at an advertisement agency, making commercial art, layout, design, type setting, photography, illustrating etc.  I had learned it all in art school.  

I was a working artist, but after a year I knew I did not want to do this much longer.. Commercial art was not for me..( I did learn how to work very fast.)

You immigrated to the United States in 1976. What was the impetus for moving across the ocean to Michigan?

In 1974 I visited a friend in Michigan and loved it. So much room, compared to a very crowded Netherlands. (The Netherlands  has 18 million people and is 6 times smaller than Michigan with 10 million people) 

On my visit I saw a copy of the Michigan Natural  Resources Magazine. This Magazine was what I was looking for, I could do this. One year later after many letters and phone calls I got an invitation to come talk about everything.                                           

I got the job and immigrated to Michigan in 1976 , to become the Art Director of the magazine. For the next 17 years I worked for this Magazine, doing the lay out, paintings, photography, dealing with the printer etc. 17 very good years. 

Till Engler killed the Magazine in 1993 . He called it a ‘useless publication’  After 64 years he killed it. And I am unemployed now.  

I decided to build my own studio and start painting. The next 3 years I worked for MSU, Fort Michilimackinac, Fort Mackinac  murals and exhibits and many other businesses and school and libraries. I was was busy again.

 In 1995, he illustrated his first children's book, The Legend of Sleeping Bear, finally fulfilling his dream of illustrating children's books. Had you wanted to illustrate children’s books all along? Which children’s book illustrators inspired you while growing up?

I was asked by a publishing company called Sleeping BearPress to illustrate The Legend of Sleeping Bear. SBP was a golf book publisher and not doing well. They wanted to get their name out, get noticed. 

They figured that if they did the Legend of Sleeping Bear they would get recognition. They were only going to do one children’s book. Well, it took off and changed SBP to print nothing but children’s books from then on.

When I grew up there were not many children’s books that were illustrated. But at about 12 years old I did see an illustrated book and I thought, that would be fun.  

And one day in 1997 SBP asked me to illustrate their first Children’s book. In about a 20 year span, I illustrated 35 books.

 

I retired from illustrating a couple of years ago. To do things for myself, without deadlines, things just for me. Like working on my prairies and photographing everything in our backyard. I can spend hours in my blinds taking pictures.

"Finally after eight days of blue skies and sunshine, a thunderstorm shook the cabin during the night. It rained so hard, water leaked through the cabin roof... It's nine o'clock and the waves on the lake must be 10 feet tall. It's cold, rainy, and very windy. I asked for it. I got it, but now I don't know if I want it... The lake is very impressive now, white caps everywhere, waves crashing into rocks, places where I was standing yesterday are now under water. I went out and did three paintings during the storm, weighing my easel down with rocks."

That’s an excerpt of notes you took while artist-in-residence at Isle Royale in 1992. How do you paint in a raging thunderstorm?

I waited till there was a break in the rain (you can still paint with oils in a little rain) It’s the wind that is the problem. I would hang a backpack filled with rocks under my easel) It worked.

The solitude of this place is the most appealing thing about Isle Royale. I have never painted uninterrupted that much in my life. It was an opportunity of a lifetime and a challenge to transfer such overpowering landscapes to canvas." More than 30 years since, have you been able to focus on art the same way?

No, Isle Royale‘s painting excursion was the best so far in all of my life, 27 paintings in 21 days.

He started illustrating children’s books in 1998 and has done a total of 34 books.  Does Sleeping Bear Press print all your books?

I did a total of 35 books, of which 5 were done by Robbyn and me. Robbyn also wrote an alphabet book about bees, illustrated by someone else because I did not think I could do it justice.   All my books are through SBP. They send me manuscripts and I start painting. SBP was my only publisher.

How did you meet Robbyn Smith? (Please be aware that I asked her that question about you.)

My story would be the same and I like for her to tell it.

It seems like you deliberately chose Michigan. Is it similar in climate to the Netherlands?

It was Michigan because that’s where the Michigan Natural Resources Magazine was located, in the DNR buildings in Lansing.  I also think that Michigan is one of the best States (Great Lakes for one thing)

I love  Michigan.                                                                                   

The Netherlands gets way more rain during the year and less snow than Michigan.

You're an illustrator, but have you ever considered writing?

I don’t write, I only illustrate. There are days that my English, my second language, is not so good, especially when I spent time writing letters in Dutch to my brothers and sisters. That’s the time I speak two languages badly. So no writing for me. 

Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen. How often, and how badly, does your name get mangled?

Daily,  it’s even misspelt on my driver’s license (not my fault).

Van Frankenhuyzen is an unusual-enough name so that one might figure that Kees and Bea, and badass welder Erica, and Colorado dentist Jan van Frankehuyzen were related. Do you know any of them?

The last name van Frankenhuyzen belongs to my direct family. There are more, if they are spelled different it’s not my family, If it is exactly the same it is my family. Like Kees. That’s one of my brothers who lives in SSMarie in Canada.  It has to be just like this: van Frankenhuyzen 

I am pretty sure that I am the only Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen in the United States of America (and I married Robbyn Smith)

I checked the Jan van Frankenhuyzens and all of them are family, one is my brother Jan.  I could not find a Jan who is a dentist. Welder Erica could be but I got stuck looking her up. Since the Internet I have been contacted by several van Frankenhuyzens ... all family. All same spelling. 

I have been out of the country for 50 years and lots of family has been born since 1976, more generations I don’t know about. People I have never met.

You and Robbyn bought some land and returned it to its original prairie.  What’s your philosophy about humans and land management?

We put our whole property (40 acres) in a Mid Michigan Land Conservancy . That means it can never be developed- for ever. Even after we’re gone. We’re doing this for our grandchildren and their grandchildren. 

Nature is very important for us. There will be no gas station or Walmart on this property- ever. We have 5 wildlife ponds with wood duck nesting boxes, prairies, with 50 bluebird nesting boxes, woodlands and about 5 miles of  trails. 

A neighbor with a 106 acre property that is  connected to our property also joined  MMLC. All this land is now safe from ever being developed. I like to get all my neighbors involved in this.( I’m working on it.)

Which are some of your favorite paintings, and why?

A doe and a fawn

I have a couple of paintings that are not for sale. One is of my youngest daughter Kelly, working on a painting, another one is the last painting I painted for the Magazine ( a doe and a fawn) and a painting I did of Robbyn.  Those are some of my favorites  and you probably know why.

What’s next for Nick van Frankenhuyzen and your wife, Robbyn?

To continue photographing everything around us, grow more wildflowers, stay healthy and vote blue.