Friday, December 21, 2018

Happy Holiday Hiatus


Photo credit: American Booksellers Association

The Mitten blog team is taking time off for the holidays! Thanks to Nina Goebel for giving us a temporary blog banner for a few weeks. She'll be back to kick off the new year with an interview and a new blog banner created by our new Featured Illustrator on Friday, January 11th.

Our SCBWI-MI chapter has so many authors and illustrators who are talented, hard-working, and generous. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and inspiration with us every week. We appreciate all of your contributions and couldn't do this without you.

We've published 235 posts since the Mitten blog began in August 2014! Here's a look back at a few of our posts with the highest number of page views:

Our collaborative 7-day series on MFA programs was a big hit. Read the first one here:
http://scbwimithemitten.blogspot.com/2016/08/back-to-school-mfa-week-day-one-7.html
Or, go here to read the final post to see links to each day in the full series. 

Emma Dryden's post about the Resonant Roar of Quiet Books resonated with many writers.

* We haven't had many posts about writing non-fiction picture books, and this post by April Pulley Sayre shows how much it was needed: http://scbwimithemitten.blogspot.com/2016/07/from-song-to-book-writing-non-fiction.html

* Promotional events can be nerve-wracking, and these tips were appreciated: http://scbwimithemitten.blogspot.com/2017/09/nine-tips-for-successful-book-signing.html

Do you have an idea for a future post? We'd love to hear from you. Find our submission guidelines here.



Thank you to all of the SCBWI-MI chapter volunteers who devote so much time and energy to nurturing our community of writers and illustrators.

With gratitude,

The Mitten Blog Team

Kristin Lenz
Nina Goebel
Patti Richards
Charlie Barshaw
Jodi McKay





Friday, December 14, 2018

Writer Spotlight: Selene Lacayo





Writer Spotlight: Selene Lacayo


Selene and her daughter
in Baalbek, Lebanon 2012


Describe your childhood in Mexico.

I had a very happy childhood filled with traditions and family time. My favorite of such traditions were the Christmas parties called Posadas where we sang carols, had punch and tamales and broke piƱatas.

My family was big in getting to know and love my country, so we traveled quite a bit growing up. Some of my favorite places to explore were Mexico City, Guanajuato, Zacatecas and of course, my native Guadalajara.

Did you learn English in school while you were growing up?

While I had a very basic English class at school (similar to the Spanish ones taught here), I was very lucky to have had a tutor from a young age. My English was conversational and my grammar was OK but when I was in high school my dad transferred to Costa Rica for work where we attended an American International School. That was definitely what challenged my grammar the most. I learned to write papers and English literature there. That is what helped my English the most.

What led to your decision to go to college in the United States?

As I was finishing high school in Costa Rica, my school held a college fair where universities from all over the US and England were represented. Grand Valley State University was there and I really liked listening to what they had to offer. I wanted to study abroad, though I didn’t think of any place in particular until the acceptance letters came. GVSU offered me a great scholarship thus opening a terrific opportunity to me.

You were 19 years old when you arrived on the campus of Grand Valley State University. If your worldly-wise self could have given your naive international student self some tips, what would they have been?

It’s gonna be tougher than you think. Take time to mourn the loss of what you have left behind, but then get ready to embrace all the great things that are coming your way.

When you arrive at a place completely new at such young age, many times you feel that the obstacles and the hardship are endless. In reality, you are just going through a transitional phase after which you will be able to adapt and find things that you love.

What were some of the difficulties you faced as a freshman student from another country?

My fellow students were pretty harsh. They looked down on me because I spoke with an accent and many shied away from doing projects with me thinking that I wasn’t academically fit. I had to prove myself in many classes for people to see that I too was accepted to college because of my grades and capabilities.

It was very tough to connect with most students. Many of them would ask me questions such as: “Do they have Internet in Mexico?”, “Did your family have a car where you are from?” I found them so out of touch with the world.

Learning local etiquette was another hurdle. Luckily for me, I had 3 terrific roommates who were patient and fun. The toughest thing to learn was the personal space barrier. We tend to stand much closer and be more physical in Latin America than in the States. I would stand close to people in line and then wondered why they stepped away from me. I also did not get why they did not greet each other with a kiss on the cheek.

I found shelter in some terrific professors who took an interest in me and in my fellow international students who were also learning how to be in Michigan.

The winter weather was also a shock! Our coldest months resemble the Fall weather so when the snow came and I had to walk from my place to the different classrooms, it felt like I was going on an expedition. That too got much better.

You chose to study for one semester in Guadalajara, closer to family and friends. Were you tempted to stay? What brought you back to Michigan?

Yes, I went back home for a semester for many reasons.

First, I thought that my little brother and my friends were having so much more fun living at home and having the weekends to attend parties and doing some traveling, that I wanted some of that.
Guadalajara, Mexico 2018


Second, though I had a great scholarship, I was running out of money and studying abroad in Guadalajara allowed me to take care of my theme requirements while saving a lot of money.
Third, I had just gotten engaged in Michigan and being back home allowed me to plan the whole wedding in person.

Was I tempted to stay? Sure! But I had a far greater reason to return to Michigan: the love of my life.

You met another international student at GVSU, originally from Lebanon. In early 2007, you married him. What attracted you to him?


Family photo 2017


I could write so much on this topic. He was, and still is, my motor. He drives me to be the very best person I can be. He was full of positivity and achievements. He always had great advice and at the same time, could relate to me when I was homesick or when I was feeling that I was never going to fit in.

We met at the Padnos International Center (the study abroad office) when he was working there. He thought I was Lebanese and started talking to me in Arabic. I thought that was funny.

I ended up working at the PIC alongside with him. Between working together and having  mutual friends, our paths began to cross constantly. I really liked how positive he was, how gently he talked and how caring he was about everyone around him. I also loved learning that he had fought his whole life to achieve the never ending list of goals he had set up for himself and how little, by little he achieved them all.

When we started dating, I knew I was renouncing to going back to Mexico. We were so in love that nothing mattered anymore so long we could be together. We now have three children and are very happy.

You were hired as an Executive Director of the West Michigan Chamber of Commerce, and then an Admissions Coordinator for National Heritage Academies. Then in 2010, you decided to become a stay-at-home Mom. Tough decision?

That’s right. The job at the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce was tough and fun at the same time. I was their first Executive Director and had a somewhat moderate outreach but it allowed me to make great life-long connections in the community. I was able to work on their communication strategy and to make an impact.

I left for NHA because I wanted more stability. I was thinking about going back to school to get a Masters in Retailing at that point. Then we welcomed our first daughter into this world and that rocked me.

It has been a tough decision but one that I will never regret. At the beginning, staying home with a newborn was quite isolating so I became involved with an organization named MOMS Club (Moms Offering Moms Support) designed to break that isolation. It wasn’t too long after I joined that I became the president of the local chapter.

I also started a blog because I felt this great need to write about the big and little things that motherhood brings your way. Additionally, I kept busy in my professional life by becoming a freelance translator and by staying in touch and helping out former colleagues with their events when they needed me.

It’s true that I didn’t imagine that professional life this way, but the profound satisfactions that growing with my children makes up for everything.

Coincidentally or not, 2010 is also when you became a freelance translator. Any kind of freelancing has challenges. Have you been able to find paying gigs?

Yes, definitely. It can be a very interesting field as you are always reading materials from different clients and learning a lot.

You were offered a position as a translator/editor for a respected global company, yet you ultimately turned it down to be present for your three children. Hard to turn it down?

That has been the toughest decision that I have had to make so far. It was my dream job, honestly. But at that point my third child was still a baby and I could not see myself not giving her the same attentions, the same opportunities that I had given her older siblings.

It was a decision that I had to mourn over for a bit but I do not regret in the least. I have been able to travel, to explore, to play, to be my children’s first teacher. That time with them has been the greatest investment and I wouldn’t trade it for any title or career.

Also in 2010 you started your blog “Foreign Mom” https://foreignmom.wordpress.com You’ve kept it active for eight years and counting. What keeps you writing?

I love to write and will continue to do for as long as I live. The blog started as a way to reach out during those days lacking adult conversation. It was a way to explore through my writing, the feelings and experiences that were shaping motherhood and life for me.

I find so many things worth talking about, but no time to share them in live conversation that my blog becomes this catch-all receptacle for my thoughts and my feelings.

In May of 2017 you became a United States citizen What did the process of becoming a citizen entail?

Becoming a US citizen was a 12 year-old process, I feel. It started when I came here with a student visa that then turn into an OPT (optional practical training) and later into a work visa and a green card.

The process was quite long and cumbersome. After you find a company willing to sponsor your green card, there are so many steps to the application process. We were lucky to finally have gotten approved. After you are a green card holder for 5 years, you are able to apply for your citizenship. We had made the US our home so we wanted to take all the responsibilities and enjoy all the benefits of becoming citizens.

We applied, did our test, got approved and sworn in. It was neat to be able to bring my oldest daughter as a witness of my naturalization ceremony.

You mention often in your blog your commitment to raising a multicultural family. Are your children fluent in Spanish and Lebanese as well as English?

Yes, that is one of the biggest drivers of me staying home. My kids are definitely multicultural; however, they are only bilingual in English and Spanish. As babies, my husband would talk in Arabic to the first two, but as soon as they started talking, we realized that keeping up two languages was challenging enough, adding a third one seemed impossible to attain at that time.

We often talk about sending them to an Arabic tutor when they are older so that they can learn everything from speaking it to reading and writing properly. We shall see how that goes?
Selene and her Mom teaching the kids to make pinatas, Christmas 2016


What is true, is that we do make it a point to teach them about their heritage with food, traditions, music and of course by traveling.

You mention that your oldest daughter is the the most fluent in other languages. What are the challenges in raising your children to appreciate different cultures?

I think she had the advantage of being the first one in the Spanish island that I had created. We only listened to music in Spanish, read in Spanish and I spoke to her 100% in Spanish. As she grew and we enrolled her in different activities such as swimming lessons and library story times, she got more and more exposed to English. By the time she was speaking, her vocabulary was mainly in Spanish but she knew enough English to participate in activities outside of the house. 

Her little brother came around when this transition was happening so he’s exposure to English was far greater. He preferred to speak mainly in English from the get go.

By the time our third child was born, both of her siblings were in preschool and our day was peppered with English-speaking activities. I think she is the one who got the less exposure to Spanish.

It is very challenging to keep up with the language that is not used outside of the home -especially when children don’t have use for it. That is why it is really important to me that we visit family often and that when we do, we fully immerse in the language and culture.

You’ve been back to Mexico several times. One of your blog posts is devoted almost entirely to photos of food. Hard to find authentic Mexican food in the States?

I wouldn’t generalize in the States but it was definitely hard to find 100% authentic Mexican food in West Michigan. There is also the challenge of finding specific regional dishes that are only found in the city or the state that you are from.

Food is a big part of cultural tradition and the second thing, after people, that I miss the most about Mexico.

What else do you miss? What do you love about your adopted country?

I miss not being a part of big celebrations: weddings, birthday parties, baby arrivals of dear friends.

I love so many things about the US, but if I have to pick one it would be Fall.
Meijer Gardens Fall 2017


Fall is my absolute most favorite time of the year. We enjoy picking apples and baking traditional apple pies, carving pumpkins, going on hayrides, Halloween… but one tradition that I would have to continue no matter where I end up is Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving reminds me of the first times I got invited to an American house where I was welcomed, where I took part in the cooking and then partook in the eating of this magnificent feast. I learned and loved its history and I think that through the years, we have shared this holiday with such a variety of friends and people of all kind of cultures, that it continues to symbolize the unity of breaking bread with friendly neighbors.

Your family has been to Lebanon only once. Is it the distance and the political unrest that makes visiting your husband’s family so difficult?

Traveling to Lebanon is very hard with small children. The distance, the cost of the tickets and the political unrest make it a tough choice. My husband is thinking about going with our oldest daughter next year. I think she’s at the perfect age to visit with him and get that one-on-one time with him while getting to know that side of her heritage.

As for the whole family traveling there, we are waiting for our youngest who’s currently 4 to be a little older before we make the trip.

How and when did you find SCBWI?

I have always wanted to write and publish something. After a trip with a dear friend an idea for a children story kept floating in my head. That prompted me to contact a few people who I knew had been published before and a few of them brought up the SCBWI. I joined in 2017.

You entered a short story in the 2017 “Write Michigan” contest, sponsored by Schuler Books and the Kent District Library. Your short story “Tomas Y Otelo, una historia de amistad gatuna” placed second in the competition. What inspired this story?

When I lived in Costa Rica, my best friend’s home became like my second home. I had a strong bond with the whole family.

Later in life, my friend’s mom moved to Chicago. At the beginning she was lonely so I started calling her on the phone regularly to cheer her up. Every time I called, she had these wonderful anecdotes about her cats. I ended up writing a story of friendship between cats based on these tales.

Do you have other stories in you?

I do! And I’m constantly jotting down ideas and working on some more stories.

You moved from West Michigan to Pennsylvania just before Christmas of 2017. How is the family settling in to their new surroundings?
Philadelphia Art Museum April 2018


We are really enjoying West Chester, Pennsylvania. The kids are doing great and have already found a great network of friends. I was a little lost until I found a Masters Program in Creative Writing at West Chester University. I’m loving my first semester there.

What are your personal goals for the future?

I want to publish a series of books on multicultural children and how they navigate the world. I’m hoping to find an agent who shares my interest.

I’m also working with an illustrator to bring the story of Tomas y Otelo to a picture book.








Selene Lacayo grew up in Guadalajara, Mexico. She earned her BA in Advertising/Public Relations at Grand Valley State University. She lived in West Michigan until December of 2018, when the family relocated to West Chester Pennsylvania.
Follow her on her blog "Foreign Mom"  HERE




Charlie Barshaw (pictured here with then-girlfriend Ruth McNally a looooong time ago), interviews fascinating writers for The Mitten, and occasionally revises his YA novel.


Tuesday, December 11, 2018

Book Birthday Blog with Lisa Wheeler

Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog! 
Where we celebrate new books by Michigan's children's book authors and illustrators



BIG congratulations to Lisa Wheeler for the release of her new book, 
A Hug Is For Holding Me!


Question #1: A Hug Is For Holding Me offers a beautiful perspective on what comfort is as seen in nature as well as with the little girl and her dad. Did you choose the father/daughter characters and what do you think it brings to your story? I didn't imagine this as a father daughter book. As I was writing, it was about all the people who love the children in their lives. But I do love what the talented Lisk Feng did with my words. So sweet and lovely. I have a close relationship with my stepdad who raised me. I am a sucker for all things father/daughter.


Question #2: You have so many incredible picture books and easy readers! How do you find your book ideas and what would you say your writing process is once you get that next great idea? Ideas are everywhere. I realized long ago that when I 'hunt' for ideas, none come. When I fertilize my brain with good books, walks in nature, and surrounding myself with loving people (and dogs!) who make me laugh, ideas come out of "nowhere". Once I get an idea, I am on fire. I write snippets on scraps of paper, envelopes, wherever I happen to be, including spin class! Once it feels like it could be a book, I take the snippets to the computer and begin typing.


Question #3: If you could choose one moment (sorry!), what would you say has been your favorite moment as an author? Why? The pressure! There have been many.  
But what is fresh in my mind is one of the most recent.  I wrote a book this summer that came from a place deep inside my soul. It was personal. I figured that if no one else liked it, that is okay because I had to write it. My agent orchestrated an auction for the book and eight publishers sent me wonderful letters and proposals telling me how much it resonated with them. I cried through each one. I couldn't stop crying for three days. They were tears of joy and validation. But I think also the part of my soul that I put into that book, was surprised that others out their saw a bit of the real me, and liked what they saw. That was overwhelming.


Question #4: Would you mind sharing three pearls of writing wisdom for those just starting the journey?
1. Be yourself. It's okay to emulate other authors when you are starting out. I did. But then, when you will eventually find your own voice, be true to that.
2. Be kind. No matter where you are on the publishing ladder, someone is always above or below you. We are all on that ladder together so treat each person you meet along the way with kindness and respect. This goes for all aspects of life!
3. Don't give up. There are very few 'overnight success' stories in publishing. While you are waiting to be 'discovered' hone your craft, join a critique group, take workshops, go to conferences, and write, write, write. I've always said the only difference between a published author and an unpublished one is ONE DAY. 


Question #5: You had three books come out this year, yay! Are you currently working on anything else?
Always! I have three more coming out next Fall. The next Dino-Holiday book--Dino-Halloween--will debut. Plus, there is a sequel to Even Monster Need to Sleep called Even Monsters Go to School. I also have a follow-up to People Don't Bite People for the toddler/preschool set called People Share With People.
I, of course, am working on something at this moment. Whether that idea becomes viable, sells to a publisher and becomes a book remains to be seen. The important thing is the writing!


A little bit about the bookA Hug Is for Holding Me is a sweet, cozy book about love and affection and invites children to engage with the natural world in a fresh, new way. Some hugs are tight and some hugs are snug . . . but guess who gives the BEST hugs?


A little bit about the author: Lisa Wheeler has written many books for children, including The Pet Project, illustrated by Zachariah OHora; Spinster Goose, illustrated by Sophie Blackall; and People Don’t Bite People, illustrated by Molly Idle. She lives with her family in Addison, Michigan. 

Friday, December 7, 2018

Painless Self-Promotion: Confidence by Debbie Gonzales














Confidence: When a Disaster Becomes a Directive

Self-promotion isn’t for the faint-hearted, that’s for sure. Not only does the task seem overwhelming −  what with blogs and vlogs, e-newsletters and Instagram, podcasts and Pinterest − it’s scary to put oneself out there! Truth be told, none of us are experts in this field. We’re all stubbing our toes while learning about this stuff. Each of us have strengths to build upon and challenges to conquer. There will be times that our confidence will flounder. Let me tell you of a time that mine fell flat.

Believe it or not, public speaking gives me the heebie-jeebies. I get a weird, putty-like blockage in the base of my throat just thinking about it. Yet, we all know to succeed in this book business, one must befriend the microphone. There’s no way around it. So, rather than shy away from the podium, I jump at the chance to speak. And when I do, I over-prepare by practicing until I’ve got the message down pat. However, there once was a time when preparation did not pay off and my presentation literally left me with a raging case of PTSD.

If something could go wrong during that nightmare of a presentation, it did. Tech trouble. Scheduling snafus. Awkward podium arrangement. No connection with the audience. My voice locked up. When I finally regained to ability to speak, I rushed the presentation so much that I was done twenty minutes early! All of this in front of a crowd of close to two hundred people. I was utterly humiliated. The disaster left me two options – quit or try again. I chose the latter.

You see, we all have aspects of this self-promotion platform-building that feels awkward and uncomfortable. I want to encourage you to lean into those areas. If I can do it, you can, too. When my spirit was damaged, I relied on my SCBWI-MI family to build me back up. I reached out to several of the Shop Talk leaders and volunteered to do a talk about the book publicity work I was engaged in at that time. They didn’t know that I was actively licking my public-speaking-disaster wounds. And, guess what? The presentations went well. Now, you must grab a hook to get me off the stage!

Friends, if you desire to establish or raise your visibility, start with your SCBWI community.

  • Volunteer to write an article for The Mitten.
  • Put together a presentation for your local Shop Talk meeting.
  • Post shout-outs about good things that are happening within SCBWI-MI on social media.
  • Share announcements and posts from the chapter’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts. 
  • Respond to messages posted on the chapter’s listserv.

Doing so will not only help to make your name more recognizable within the community, you’ll gain confidence every time you do.

Who knows… We might need to use a hook to get you off the stage, too.

Debbie Gonzales is a career educator, curriculum consultant, former school administrator and adjunct professor, and once served as the SCBWI RA for the Austin Chapter.  She's the author of six “transitional” readers for New Zealand publisher, Giltedge, and the forthcoming non-fiction picture book Girls with Guts: The Road to Breaking Barriers and Bashing Records (Charlesbridge, 2019). Deb creates teacher guides for new releases and is the host of The Debcast, a podcast dedicated to the tenacious spirit of the female athlete. Deb earned her MFA in writing for children and young adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Subscribe to her podcast on iTunes and/or stop by www.debbiegonzales.com or www.guidesbydeb.com to check out her painlessly promotable content.



Coming up on the Mitten Blog: a Book Birthday, a Writer Spotlight, and a break for the holidays! But first, here's an important message from our SCBWI-MI Mentorship Coordinator, Ann Finkelstein:



Attention Picture Book Writers!

SCBWI-MI is happy to help you with your New Year’s Resolutions.

Resolution 1: Figure out your membership status. (so easy)
If you are pre-published, you are an associate member.
If you are published, it depends on the publisher.
If your publisher is on this list of traditional publishers, you are a PAL member.
If your publisher is not on that list, you are a full member.
To check your official membership status, go to www.scbwi.org and click the Member Search box at the top right hand corner. Enter your name to look yourself up. If your listed membership status is not correct, contact SCBWI by email and explain the situation.

Resolution 2: Finish and polish your favorite picture book text. (significantly harder)
Remember we’re setting a limit of 600 words. We did this to save wear and tear on our super-secret, superstar judges and to increase your chances of publishing the manuscript.

Resolution 3: Apply for one of the SCBWI-MI Novel Mentorships (super easy)
The submission window for the PAL mentorship with Kelly DiPucchio is April 1-22, 2019.
The submission window for the non-PAL mentorship with Lisa Wheeler is June 3-24, 2019.
For additional information go to the SCBWI-MI website mentorship page. Click on  the submission instructions link to download a pdf of detailed instructions.
Make sure you apply for the correct mentorship! SCBWI-MI can do wondrous things, but we cannot yet turn back time – if you miss your submission window.

We will accept 30 applications for each mentorship, so don’t wait until the last minute to apply.

For questions, contact SCBWI-MI Mentorship Coordinator, Ann Finkelstein.


Last but not least, the SCBWI-MI Merry Mitten events wrap up this weekend at Pages Bookshop in Detroit: