Book Birthday Blog with Thelma Lynne Godin and Katie Eberts

  

Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!

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

 

Congratulations to Thelma Lynne Godin and Katie Eberts on the release of 

Hush-a-Bye Night Good Night Lake Superior

 

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

Thelma: The idea for this book came to me one summer evening as I watched twilight fall on the shores of Lake Superior. The quiet and the light at this time of the day has always made me pause and observe the beauty of the lake and its surroundings. The stanza in the book about the fox kits tumbling and playing actually happened one evening. We were sitting on the beach and further down a mama fox ventured out of the woods and onto the beach. Soon after, out came 4 fox kits rolling and running down the dune. We watched spellbound as the kits chased and nipped and tumbled after each other.

 

 

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

Thelma: My dream is that readers young and old connect with the magic of the natural world surrounding them in our beautiful state and especially on the shores of Lake Superior. The sound of the waves, the stars, the Aurora, wildlife, and the flowers are all so unique to this area.
 
Katie: I hope they will be able to identify creatures and plants in the wild that they have seen in the book. Especially the lady slippers!

 

  

Will you walk us through your creative process working together?

Thelma: I have been enthralled and obsessed with Katie’s art since moving back home to the Upper Peninsula. When I finally met her, I told her right away that she needed to be illustrating picture books. I was over the moon when Sleeping Bear Press decided she was the right illustrator for this book. During the creative process we didn’t have a lot of contact over the illustrations since she was working with an art director. But I did share some pictures of a few things that I thought might fuel her creative process. It does help that we are both “Yoopers” and even though that was meant as a joke, I think it really is one of the things that made this book so special. 

 

Katie: Our creative processes were fairly separate. I received Thelma’s manuscript from the publisher and just loved it. Since we both live on the lake (Thelma on Superior and I on Huron) I knew the dreamy quiet vibe she was going for, people and nature coexisting, the beautiful landscape, how the sky and water change colors, etc. I would occasionally come to her with clarifying questions about some random little tidbit, and she sent me some beautiful photos of the northern lights to paint from, but for the most part I just worked with my art director.

 

 

What inspires you to write/illustrate?

Thelma: For me it is the love of language, the magical power of words to evoke emotion. The love of a satisfying story. The allure of creating a world or character where children can see themselves. It is the joy of finding just the right phrase or combination of words to pull a story together. And at the end of it all it is the joy and excitement of sharing those stories with who they are meant for. Who it is all about. Children.

Katie: I just love putting pencil to paper. Having a vague idea in my brain and seeing how it comes to life with watercolor and colored pencil is my favorite part of the process. It never comes out how I expect. 

 

What's next for you?

 

Thelma: More writing and writing and hopefully more books. I am currently working on a middle grade novel and have several picture book manuscripts that I am shopping.

Katie: Promoting the book! Thelma and I are planning to do some library, school, and bookstore visits over the summer, which I think will be a lot of fun. I also am working on a picture book project with my friend Lauren K. Stein about a hungry fox that we are currently shopping. Fingers crossed! 

 

A little bit about the book . . .

 

As the sun sets on Lake Superior and the moon begins to rise, all kinds of creatures--from the solitary loon to a tumble of fox kits to a family like yours--begin their nighttime routines. This lyrical lullaby to the lake, and the flora and fauna that call its shores home, is a beautiful ode to the most beautiful lake. Backmatter includes science and nature facts.  

Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press

 

 

A little bit about the author and illustrator . . .

 

Thelma: I have a degree in Social Work and have worked as a social worker and as a school librarian in a private school. Hush-a-Bye Night Good Night Lake Superior is my third picture book. My other two book titles are The Hula Hoopin' Queen and How to Dress a Dragon. I live along the shores of Lake Superior with my husband Pat and my dog Pip. I have been a member of SCBWI since 2003. 

 

Instagram @thelmalynnegodin

FB:Thelma Godin 

 

Katie: Katie Eberts studied art at the University of Michigan Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design. She lives in Cedarville, Michigan with her husband and their friendly cat in a sweet little red cabin surrounded by flowers in the summer and piles of snow in the winter. As of May 2021, she is the IC (Illustrator Coordinator) for the Michigan Chapter of SCBWI. Hush-a-Bye Night is her first picture book. You can find her work at https://www.katieeberts.com/ and on Instagram @katieebertsillustration.