Book Birthday Blog with Debbie Diesen

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 Diesen on the release of her newest Pout-Pout Fish book, THE POUT-POUT FISH CLEANS UP THE OCEAN!

Q#1: Congratulations on the release of the newest Pout-Pout Fish book, The Pout-Pout Fish Cleans Up the Ocean! What can we expect from Mr. Fish in this story?

Thank you!  It's been fun accompanying Mr. Fish on his many adventures over the years.  In the newest Pout-Pout Fish book, the eighth in the series, Mr. Fish and his friends encounter a mysterious mess in the ocean. Unsure of what it is, they work together to study it and identify its causes.  Then they join together again in a commitment to cleaning up ocean pollution.  The book ends with a call to action for readers:

"Problems have solutions,

So we learn what we can do.

Together, we're the answer...

Would you like to join us, too?"

Q#2: The Pout-Pout Fish books were a favorite in my house when my son was little. Can you share some of your secrets to creating a series that will keep kids asking for more?

I'm so grateful for the enthusiasm with which the series has been received!  I've enjoyed writing the stories, but the secret to the success of the series is Dan Hanna.  From the very first book, his delightful illustrations brought the characters to life in a fun and full way.  That paved the way for their further adventures.

Q#3: You have quite a few other books out as well, (Click here to see all of Debbie Diesen's books: Books!). What would you say has been the hardest and easiest part of your writing journey?

Every writing journey has its challenges and joys, and they intertwine together in interesting ways.  Spontaneous moments of inspiration are a sheer delight; in contrast, revision can be a discouraging, dispiriting slog.  But you can't really have one without the other.  Keeping that in mind makes the hard parts a little easier.  The occasional dose of dark chocolate doesn't hurt, either.

Q#4: As you know, being an author has its ups and downs. Is there anything in particular that you do to celebrate the "ups" and deal with the "downs"? 

For both the ups and the downs, nothing beats a supportive writing group.  I've been in mine for seventeen years and I can't imagine my life without it.

Q#5: What is one piece of advice you would pass down to aspiring writers?

Bring the whole of yourself to your writing:  your diligence; your playfulness; your confidence; your insecurities; your hopes; your fears; your joys.  You may not always know where you're headed, but if you follow your writing path with openness, authenticity, and trust, your path will take you exactly where you need to be.  (Bonus advice:  Don't forget your rhyming dictionary and a snack.)

A little bit about the author: Deborah Diesen is the author of many children’s picture books, including the NYT-bestselling The Pout-Pout Fish.  She loves playing with words and rhymes and rhythms.  She has worked as a bookseller, a bookkeeper, and a reference librarian.  She and her family live in Michigan.

A little bit about the book: Mr. Fish and his friends have noticed something strange in their ocean―a big, big MESS! How did it get there? What can they do about it? The closer they look, the more they see where the mess came from . . . and they'll have to work together to get rid of it. This newest jacketed hardcover in the New York Times–bestselling Pout-Pout Fish series will teach little guppies how to take responsibility for their actions and for the environment.