Book Birthday Blog with Shutta Crum and Ruth McNally Barshaw

 

Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!

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

 

Congratulations to Shutta Crum and Ruth McNally Barshaw on the release of 

Grandma Heaven and Grandpa Heaven 

 

 

 

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

Shutta: Actually, I wrote Grandma Heaven and Grandpa Heaven about ten/eleven years ago. I had read Cynthia Rylant’s Cat Heaven and Dog Heaven and loved both those books. Then, one day while snuggling with my 4-year-old granddaughter she suddenly asked, “Are you going to die?” I told her not for a long, long time. That seemed to satisfy her, and we went back to snuggling. I’m not sure what precipitated that question, but it got me to thinking about young worriers who might wonder where do dead loved ones go. What happens after they die? It took years and years to sell these companion manuscripts, as they’re not exactly classroom books, nor story-time books. They are books that are needed individually for children who might be worrying, wondering, or who have had an experience of a death in the family.

Ruth: Shutta called me asking if I would illustrate these two books. She had a vision for the art, and she has been an inspiration to our fellow writers and illustrators in Michigan for decades. I learned SO much from her over the years. How could I say no to illustrating these books from her heart?

 

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

Shutta:  My main hope is that a child will be reassured that grandma and grandpa are going to be all right. Yes, they will be missed, but in the afterlife they are having a good time and shouldn’t be worried about. I also hope that children of all faiths, and from around the world can recognize a family member here. I really wanted the books to be non-religious and multi-cultural. This also made for some difficulty in finding a publisher as the Christian publishers were not interested in books that did not adhere to a strongly Christian view of heaven. Finally, I want readers to enjoy Ruth’s boisterous and lovely illustrations! NOTE: the bio page drawings have sketches of our actual grandparents and family elders! I love that Ruth included those. (Lots of twinkly hearts here!)

Ruth: I hope readers will see that what comes next will be plenty of laughs. I hope when I pass, my grandchildren will believe I am someplace joyous.

 

Will you walk us through your creative process working together?

Shutta: Actually, this was the most collaborative experience I’ve had in my 20+ years of getting books published—and the most fun. Because the manuscripts ended up getting taken by a small publishing company out of Arizona (Lawley), they allowed me input into who should illustrate. And since the action takes place in heaven I felt there needed to be lots of white space.  I could envision Quentin Blake-ish dancy figures against all that white. So, of course, Ruth McNally Barshaw came to mind. I love how she draws people—all curvy, all oozing with love. As soon as they saw Ruth’s website, it was a resounding YES! So, I was able to work with one of my dearest friends! Also, Lawley has a policy of collaborative work. They wanted, and set up, several zoom meetings with Ruth, the art director, the editor, and me—all together to talk through how we saw the book developing. Believe me, that doesn’t happen with the big NY companies! I know from experience. This was heavenly. (Pun intended.) I got to see Ruth’s artwork at several stages. It was a lot for her to handle—two books at once. But I had faith in her, and I love the results. I’ve also worked closely with the Spanish translator. The Spanish edition will come out next January. The nice thing about working with a small publisher like Lawley is that they kept us informed all along the way. I really enjoyed the making of these two books. Now, I hope, others will enjoy the books.

Ruth:  The manuscript was complete when I was brought on board, so my job was to research ideas for the art and put my best ones on the page in a way that I wouldn’t find disappointing later. I was nervous to share the art with Shutta at every stage – what if she didn’t like it? What if she wanted anything redone? I wasn’t getting paid a ton of money for this, and of course there are opportunity costs for every job. I had to be efficient and creative and pull from deep places. Also, my elderly mother in Detroit needs twice weekly visits from me, and I live 90 minutes away. I figured out early that I could do the art in the car and occasionally at Mom’s house on my iPad if I worked digitally. Otherwise I would have done it all by hand, ink and watercolor.

 

What inspires you to write/illustrate?

Shutta: Being alive. Living in the moment. And reconnecting with my younger self.

Ruth:  I think I just don’t have a choice. I’ve been a professional illustrator since college, so 40 years. If I didn’t have to do this for money I would do it for fun. Creating books for kids seems to be the best place for me in the world. I tried comic strips, graphic design, advertising, surface art, fine art, paper crafts, and more, and each one appeals to just part of where I want to be. Doing books for kids is the first thing I’ve done that checks every box.

What's next for you? 

Shutta: My third book of poetry for adults will be out sometime next January/February with Kelsay Books. Working title: MEET YOU OUT THERE. I have had an offer on another picture book, but the details are still being worked out so I can’t really comment on that yet. In the meantime, I continue to write poetry and get that published in various journals and online poetry sites. I’ve had a love of poetry since I was a child. It’s second nature now to always be working on a couple of poems.

Ruth: My agent has 3 illustrated manuscripts of mine and I have several more in the works. At some point one of them will sell, and then I will know what I am doing for the next year. ;)

A little bit about the books . . .

GRANDPA HEAVEN is a wonderful place. The grandpas there get sloppy kisses from pets, drive fast cars, show off their bowling trophies, paddle canoes, and find all kinds of wonderful things as they walk about, like bungee cords. They visit with the other grandpas and grandmas. Happily, for the grandpas who like to tinker, something always needs fixing. Heaven is like that.

GRANDMA HEAVEN is a wonderful place. The grandmas play hockey, work on airplanes, zip in on zip-lines, jump rope, and always find ribbon and buttons at jumble sales. They visit with the other grandmas and grandpas. Happily, for the grandmas who like to knit, someone always needs a warm scarf. Heaven is like that.
 
Best of all, the grandpas and grandmas in Heaven keep a close watch on all their grandchildren. They slap knees and shout Yow-sa! Or Cool beans! when a grandchild does something exciting. Also, they send down the memory of a hug whenever it is needed. Love is like that. It doesn’t die.

Publisher: Lawley Enterprises LLC

There will be a launch event at  Schuler Books in Ann Arbor Thursday, July 13th at 6:30pm.

Grandma Heaven

Grandpa Heaven 

 

A little bit about the author and illustrator . . . 

Shutta Crum is bi-peninsular, spending half the year in Michigan and half the year in Florida. She is the author of three middle-grade novels and fifteen picture books, as well as many poems, magazine articles, and two poetry chapbooks for adults. Her books have made Bank Street College lists as well as state award lists. THUNDER-BOOMER! was an ALA and a Smithsonian Magazine “Notable Book” of the year. WHEN YOU GET HERE (poems for adults) won a gold Royal Palm Literary Award, (FL). She is also the author of two nearly wordless books MINE! and UH-OH! both published by Knopf. MINE! made the Texas 2X2 list and was a Crystal Kite Award winner for the illustrator Patrice Barton. Of MINE! the N. Y. Times said, “a delightful example of the drama and emotion that a nearly wordless book can convey.” In 2005 she was invited to read at the Easter Egg Roll at the White House. She blogs regularly for the Florida Writers Association, writes a bimonthly column for the Fl State Poetry Association magazine Of Poets & Poetry, and leads the Friday Follies writing group. In addition, she writes and publishes THE WORDSMITH’S PLAYGROUND, a monthly newsletter for writers. For more info: https://shutta.com/. Or https://www.facebook.com/ShuttaCrum/.

Ruth McNally Barshaw received her first sketch-journal from a prescient art teacher at age 15 and has been keeping journals ever since. She wrote and illustrated the six Ellie McDoodle Diaries. And she illustrated the novel There’s No Base Like Home, the picture book Leopold the Lion, and two picture books in 2023 – Grandma Heaven and Grandpa Heaven. She also wrote four short stories for the Amazon Rapids reading app. She and author-husband Charlie travel widely teaching writing workshops at schools and libraries. See her work and author visit information at https://ruthexpress.com/.