Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!

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

Congratulations to Ann Dallman on the release

of Cady and the Birchbark Box

This is the second book in the Cady Whirlwind Thunder series. Tell us a little bit about the series, and how you came up with the idea for your second book?

The idea for my second book, Cady and the Birchbark Box, came to me the same way the idea for my first book, Cady and the Bear Necklace, did—via a gift. I was inspired by a birchbark “basket” given to me by a friend and member of the Sault Ste. Marie Chippewa tribe. It’s bound with sweetgrass and has tiny acorns attached. And shipwrecks! My father was a boat builder by profession, and I set out in boats with him before I learned to walk. I’m fascinated with sailing history and the bravery of the people who venture forth on the Great Lakes for a living.

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

I hope readers will want to explore some of the topics I’ve introduced—birchbark, a respect for the land, and Great Lakes shipping history. Perhaps they’ll visit their local landmarks and those throughout this great state of Michigan.

What inspires you to write?

Writing is something I’ve wanted to pursue since eighth grade when I won an essay contest awarding me a week at camp; in high school I won a gift card to a local department store. I was the oldest of five children and these prizes/awards made life so much sweeter. I was elected editor of our high school newspaper and we went on to achieve Quill & Scroll awards. I majored in Journalism Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and worked for several years in the newsroom of a small daily newspaper. Since then, I’ve done curriculum writing, corporate writing and worked freelance for several national magazines. Turning to novel writing for a primarily middle grade audience was a natural progression after I retired from teaching.

What was the most difficult part of writing this book?

The most difficult part is remaining true to my character’s native culture. I am always cognizant of honoring her traditions in a respectful manner. With this book, a major portion of my research involved interviews with men who had sailed on the Great Lakes. They were invaluable in exploring shipwrecks, how they could occur, and the feelings experienced by the sailors on board.

What are your marketing plans for the book?

Marketing for an author is such an important part of writing, something I wasn’t aware of to the extent I am now. Interviews on our local radio station have helped a lot with area sales. I also reach out to librarians and teachers and scour the internet for low-cost or free methods of promotion. Also, SCBWI websites—Michigan’s and the national’s—provide a wealth of ideas and suggestions.

Reviews like this one are very gratifying!
Critique: A thoroughly original, charming deftly written and entertaining work of fiction for young readers ages 8-12, "Cady and the Bear Necklace" is the winner of the Historical Society of Michigan's book award for children and youth for 2020; the Midwest Book Award for young adult fiction for 2020; and the winner of the Upper Peninsula Notable Books award for 2020. While also available for personal reading lists in a paperback edition (9781615996483, $15.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.95), "Cady and the Bear Necklace" is an ideal and unreservedly recommended addition to elementary school, middle school, and community library fiction collections for young reader. Children's Bookwatch: May 2022

A little bit about the book . . .

In Cady and the Birchbark Box, Cady Whirlwind Thunder solves the mystery behind a weathered journal found inside a very old birchbark box. Why was the box buried behind a deserted garage? This is the question her friend and "crush," John Ray Chicaung, asks her after the two of them find it. And, what meaning do the notes in the book have? Cady's grandma and her ever-present companion, a noisy blue jay, encourage her as she puts together the pieces and ultimately restores the reputation of a deceased elder. Cady does so while navigating through another school year, earning a place on the school's soccer team, and continues to calm down her temper and adjust to life with a new stepmother and baby brother.

Cady and the Birchbark Box is now available from Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

A little bit about the author . . .

Ann has lifelong roots in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. She started out as a newspaper reporter/photographer and returned to journalism after more than 20 years teaching middle and high school English and Title 1 Reading. She loves delving into "the story behind the story." Her first Middle Grade novel, Cady and the Bear Necklace, received: Historical Society of Michigan State History Award, Midwest Book Award, New Mexico-Arizona Book Award and was a Next Generation Indie Book Award finalist and UP Notable Book. Her second book in the series, Cady and the Birchbark Box, will be published the first week in June by Modern History Press, an imprint of Loving Healing Press of Ann Arbor, MI. It is currently available on Kindle Vella.

Website

Facebook