Book Birthday Blog with Rhonda Gowler Greene

 

 

Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!

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

 

Congratulations to Rhonda Gowler Greene on the release of Supergran!

 

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

The idea for Supergran! came from real life.  I got the idea in 2017.  I was a grandma then of three (adorable!) little ones, siblings—ages 5 (boy), 3 (girl), and 1 (girl).  Often, I’d drive the 45 minutes to Pinckney to help my daughter and son-in-law with the kids, or I’d just go to play, or read, with my grandkids. (I always take bags of books!) I had been thinking about writing a grandma story.  Christmas night that year, my grandkids were at my house.  The two oldest dressed up in capes and superhero masks they’d gotten for gifts.  That’s when the idea really took off in my head.

 

The next few months, I worked super hard on the story.  My final version was 412 words, and in rhyme.  My agent began submitting it. Within a week (fast!), a Chronicle editor responded—she liked it, but turned it down.  However, she said if it were shorter, had a refrain, and “if the rhyme scheme were more complex and interesting,” she’d be willing to take another look.  I revised and revised and did everything she suggested.  We sent it back a few weeks later.  But, she had left publishing.  So disappointing.  My story was stronger though, and tighter, now a whopping 315 words. (The refrain- Who zaps a problem with a plan? Who saves the day? It’s SUPERGRAN!)  Too, I cut the number of kid characters from three to two.  I kept the St. Bernard since my grandkids had one, Molly (who’s now in dog heaven).  After more submissions, revisions, and disappointments, it finally sold—Hooray!—in the spring of 2021, to Sleeping Bear Press (my 3rd book with them).  So, from idea to book, it took about six years.

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

Smiles.  And maybe even some laughs.  I hope the story gives readers a light, warm-your-heart feel.  Its theme is family, love, and coming to the rescue to help out if/when you’re needed. 
 
I didn’t have a back matter page in my original story.  My editor wanted one though.  So, after the manuscript sold, I had to come up with a paragraph about how every family is unique and also fun things to do with and for your Supergran, or ‘adopted’ Supergran.
 
I’ve never met the illustrator, Lee Cosgrove.  He lives in England.  His art is hilarious and makes the story even funnier!

What inspires you to write?

Great writing in children’s books inspires me.  Sometimes I read a wonderful children’s book and think, “I want to write like that!”  I LOVE children’s books, especially picture books, poetry books, and novels in free verse.  Lyrical writing takes skill, and it’s one thing I really notice when I read. 
 
Out of college, I was an elementary learning disabilities teacher.  Then, because I love books so much, I got my master’s to be a school librarian.  I ended up staying home with my four kids when they were growing up though.  I read SO much to them.  Now I love sharing books with my four young grandkids.  (They’re 11, 9, and 7.  Plus, I have a fourth one, a 2-year-old grandson, cousin to the other three.)  My house, no kidding, looks like a children’s library.  It is OVERFLOWING with books!  I study them like mentor texts and think, if you want to write, they’re the best teachers of all.
 
I recently had a sleepover at my house for my grandkids and it melted my heart when my oldest grandson, just in passing, called one of my full-of-books rooms “the reading room.”  I loved that.

What are your marketing plans for the book? 

There will be a celebration story time and book launch (with giveaways and prizes!) on Saturday, September 9th at 3:30pm at 2 Dandelions Bookshop (428 W. Main Street, Brighton, MI; note: construction on Main St., but there's nearby parking). It's optional, but all kids (adults too!) are invited to come dressed as superheroes. I'll be in costume as Supergran—lavender wig and all! Too, I'll be reading a couple of my other titles and signing books. The event is outside, weather permitting.
 
Saturday, September 30th, I’m doing a 45-minute presentation at Beverly Park (Beverly Hills, MI) for Baldwin Library’s ‘Read in the Park’ day.  It’s at 11:00am.  I’ll be highlighting my Supergran! book.  (Plus, I was told my This Magical, Musical Night will be posted throughout the park as a StoryWalk book.  Nice!)  The event is geared for ages up to 8, but everyone is invited.  Book Beat is handling the book sales. 
 
Too, I’ve applied to sign at the Buckeye Book Fair in Wooster, Ohio, on Saturday, November 4th.  I won’t hear if I’m accepted until next month.
 
I had bookmarks made a few weeks ago.  I also sent publicity ideas to Sleeping Bear, such as names of Instagram bloggers, online grandparent blogs, etc.  And I’ve been promoting the book on my social media.

Sleeping Bear Press sends books out for reviews.  So far, the Kirkus one was great! 

What's next for you? 

I’ve been writing a lot the last couple of years and also doing online research regarding some of my story topics.  Right now, I have six picture book manuscripts out with several publishers, plus two more ready and waiting in the wings to be submitted.  (Just last week, a Bloomsbury editor asked for a revision of a manuscript, though hasn't offered a contract yet. So, I'm thinking very hard on that.) I love writing in rhyme and all of my published books are in rhyme, but I wrote my latest story in lyrical prose. My agent loved it and already submitted it to a few publishers, so fingers crossed!  I’m hopeful for my other submissions too.  Even though I’ve been published a long time (26 years) and feel very lucky to have several of my stories accepted at major houses over the years, I still get lots of rejections.  Selling a manuscript takes persistence!

More about the book . . . 

Dad’s got the flu.  Mom’s running late.  Little sis is in meltdown mode and brother’s hamsters  are on the loose.  Everything’s going wrong!  Who will they call?  Supergran to the rescue!  Supergran, sis, and brother become a Superteam to battle every problem, like empty underwear drawers and villainous skeeters.  But by the end, all is well, and their fearsome day has actually turned into—fun!

Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press

More about the author . . . 

Rhonda Gowler Greene is the author of 31 children’s books.  Her This Magical, Musical Night was a School Library Journal Best Book of 2021.  Other honors her books have received are ILA/CBC Children’s Choice Book, Bank Street College Best Book, and starred reviews. Barnyard Song won the first-ever Michigan Reads One State One Children’s Book award in 2004.  She’s had books published in French, Chinese, Korean, Finnish, and Polish.  Rhonda is the proud grandma of four beautiful grandchildren who bring her lots of joy (pic is the very hour she became a grandma). She lives with her husband, Gary, in Orchard Lake Village.  They have four grown kids, three sons and a daughter.  You can find Rhonda online at https://rhondagowlergreene.com/

Instagram: @rhondagowlergreene

Twitter: @rgowgreene

Facebook: rhondagowlergreene