Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month with Jacqueline Alcántara!

By Isabel Estrada O’Hagin

It’s time to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, Sept. 15-Oct.15! In recent years, I have focused on the book titles of some of my favorite authors such as Donna Barba Higuera, Yuri Morales, and Elizabeth Acevedo. This year, I spoke with author-illustrator, Jacqueline Alcántara, whose work, which often features diverse characters, has already earned her plenty of kudos. 

We’d love to learn more about you and your background.

I’m from Chicago but spend a lot of time in Southwest Michigan, and I lived in Detroit for a year (2021). I was part of the SCBWI Michigan for a brief time! [I remember sending Jacqueline our Welcome to SCBWI-MI letter back then]. I studied art education at DePaul but only taught for a year before I was laid off and then started to pursue illustration while simultaneously doing a lot of random jobs - framing, art gallery, hospitality, TV (Chicago Fire, of course). I took the dive into focusing full time on illustration around 2016. I also teach illustration at Columbia College Chicago. 

I’m curious. . . when did you know you wanted to be an illustrator? Was there a turning point where you “didn’t look back?”

After I was laid off from teaching, I discovered “illustration” from a website a friend shared with me. I decided then that I wanted to give myself the time and space to find out who I was as an artist. I took a summer intensive at Parsons in New York and then took Continuing Educations classes at SAIC when I returned that fall. I took a handful of classes but really think my education in publishing and illustration came from SCBWI conferences and critique groups and a WNDB mentorship I landed in 2016. That was the year I “didn’t look back.”

 

Several of your Instagram posts are about upcoming publications and receiving recognition for past publications. For example, Solimar: The Sword of the Monarchs by Pam Muñoz Ryan sat on my shelf. Solimar’s stunning portrait on the front cover was one of the reasons I picked it up from the bookshelf. Only recently, did I learn you illustrated the book cover! What are some of your past and future projects our readers will want to know about?

My forthcoming book, titled Just Shine, released 9/9/25 was written by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Also published this year was my author/illustrator debut titled Tíos and Primos (published simultaneously in Spanish as Tíos Y Primos). I have illustrated 9 books in total, my 10th book is the one I'm currently finishing up titled Wifredo's Jungle, a biography of Cuban artist Wifredo Lam written by Margarita Engle. My past titles that I've illustrated include The Field and its companion Climb On!, both written by Baptiste Paul; Freedom Soup, written by New York Times bestselling author Tami Charles; Jump at the Sun, written by Newbery honoree (and Detroit native!) Alicia D. Williams; Your Mama, written by NoNieqa Ramos, which was a finalist for the Kirkus Prize; Jam, Too written by Janay Brown Wood; and Ordinary Days, a biography of Prince written by Angela Joy. 

 

Quite an impressive list! Congratulations on your many honors. You’ve worked with several well-known authors. Did you get to meet any of them in person or virtually? Also, I’m wondering if your agent was instrumental in making these connections or did editors or authors request your work directly?

Yes! To answer your first question: I have met Justice Sotomayor as I was invited to her office at the Supreme Court to look through her family photo albums while doing research for Just Shine. It was incredible— I never thought a career as an illustrator would bring me to collaborating with someone so impressive and beloved. I have met most of the authors I have worked with— I love to do events with them during book launch and still have great friendships with a number of them today.

But yes, my agent, Adriana Dominguez, was very instrumental in all of these book deals. While perhaps it was the editor who shared my work with the authors directly, it was my agent who is always out there advocating for us, sharing our work and fostering relationships with editors to keep us top of mind when the perfect manuscript falls onto their desk.

Amazing! Meeting Justice Sotomayor in her office at the Supreme Court! And how fortunate to collaborate with Super-Agent Adriana Dominguez who believes in you and your work.

Describe your typical workday in the studio.

Well, I now have an 8-month-old baby so my workdays are very different than they used to be! Long gone are the mornings where I sit with coffee, jot down my daily goals, do a little sketch, write down some thoughts, and take my dogs for a relaxed stroll before having a long day in my home studio playing around with materials, ideas and then maybe heading out for some research at a museum, gallery, bookstore, or bar. 

My workday now consists of jotting down ideas in my phone whenever a spare moment allows and squeezing an 8-hour workday into maybe 3 or 4 hours! But wow I feel like I'm getting more efficient with my time and perhaps actually appreciating how my art style is changing with limited time. I've long wanted to have more of an intuitive approach to making my final art and with less time to mull over details, I think I'm naturally achieving that! Ha! 

I’m glad to hear you’re making it work and that your stylistic approach reflects these changes in your lives.

Who are some of the major influencers on your work, and who are some of your favorite illustrators?

Illustrators I love: Patricia Polacco— her people are illustrated with such personality and movement. I've loved her books since I was a kid. Chris Rashcka - same as above. I've long been obsessed with his style, people, and characters. Not to mention his style of writing is what I hope to achieve— he has a contagious rhythm in everything he creates. Olivier Tallec— his artwork made me fall in love with using gouache. Picasso/Matisse—I know what a cliché to list them as favorite artists but I did a study abroad in Barcelona and spent a lot of time looking at Picasso sketchbooks and just love his way of drawing. I think too a lot about his famous quote: " It took me four years to paint like Raphael but a lifetime to draw like a child.” So many other artists and illustrators I'd like to keep mentioning. For each book I do, I love the research the most, and in the process I’m always discovering other artists that become inspirational for that and future projects. 

In addition to SCBWI, you’re a member of Las Musas, a collective of Latinx women and otherwise marginalized people whose gender identity aligns with femininity, writing and/or illustrating in traditional children's literature. What does being a member mean to you?

I'm thrilled to be a part of Las Musas. While as an illustrator I have a nice number of books under my belt, I'm a debut author this year and so I finally applied to be a part of the group. It's wonderful to know you have a network of fellow creators to ask questions, get advice, read each other’s books to get ratings/reviews, etc. I'm looking forward to meeting many Musas at the upcoming Latinx Storytellers conference in NYC.

[Note: The Latinx Storytellers conference met Sept. 12-13 at the NYC Scholastics Headquarters.]

The Las Musas collective spotlights the new contributions of Las Musas in the canon of children's literature and celebrates the diversity of voice, experience, and power in our communities. I, too, am a member of Las Musas and identify as Mexican-American. Would you care to share your ethnic identity?

I’m Latinx (Honduran/ American) I'm 100% born and raised in the USA. I’m first generation on my father’s side - he is from Honduras where all of my Tíos and Primos still live. My mother is from Chicago (Irish/German). 

Under the current administration, there’s an ongoing effort to dismiss or downplay people’s heritage, ethnicity, and related celebrations of culture and cultural traditions, including art and literature (re: book bans). Some would call it an erasure. National Hispanic Heritage Month— should we keep it going? 

Of course! While I hope that one day the Latinx representation in books (meaning Latinx creators and Latinx main characters) is greater, it still feels important to highlight the month dedicated to highlighting these stories. Of course, I wish these stories weren’t only pulled out during this month, but I think the time with attention to them is still valuable and helps to put new titles on everyone's radar. 

I'm still overjoyed when I see someone who looks like me on the cover of a book— I'm more likely to pick it up, to buy it, and read it. I'm still going to be able to connect with characters of any background when reading— that's the beauty of books of course—but seeing someone who looks like me illustrated still makes my stomach jump and gives me a shock of excitement.

[Me, too, Jacqueline!]

The stories with specific cultural or language elements are of course important and we're still making up for lost time in having books and stories that represent the huge Latine population. I think we ( myself included!!) need to keep assessing our home libraries, school/local libraries, museums, curriculums, etc., to make sure we are seeing ourselves illustrated in the pages of books and painted on the walls of our world.

What do you see on the horizon? Any new directions for kidlit in relation to diversity on the page? Any predictions?

In regard to diversity, I think we are finally moving away from thinking about all Latino people as a monolith, and so we are finally seeing stories with more nuance in cultural representation. 

For example, in my book Tíos and Primos, I wanted to SHOW Honduras in the illustrations but I didn't think it was necessary to be mentioned in the story itself. As the illustrator I got very specific— down to the mountains of coffee, the Ceiba trees, the skinny dogs, and the architecture, etc. But I was also wanting to share an experience that is very universal— a kid trying to bond with their family who lives far away and they are meeting for the first time. 

As an illustrator, I love working on books where the story is just a great story, but I'm able to illustrate it with diverse characters.  It's equally important to be creating books where black and brown kids are the main characters but their skin tone or heritage isn't the main theme of the book. I believe this helps to show parents just as much as it shows children— that all are equally as innocent, adventurous, silly, curious, kind, mischievous, creative, and full of potential.

I hope to receive more books that give me this opportunity as an illustrator. 

Your perspectives differ from those who are leading book-banning efforts across the country. Any thoughts?

Books that are being “Banned” and contested are disproportionately books by or featuring diverse characters— BIPOC and LGBTQ. So, we have to keep showing our support for them by supporting libraries and librarians. Checking out their books, sharing them on social media, gifting them, and buying them if possible. 

Books are some of the safest places we can think about, reflect, and digest life experiences before we may be faced with them head on. We need to protect children's freedom to read. 

While shying away from creating and advocating for diverse books isn't the right thing to do in the long term, perhaps a lesson for us all in the short term would be to start identifying ourselves simply as authors and illustrators, versus “Latinx/e/a Author/Illustrator.” Identifying ourselves alongside our heritage— in relation to our creative output—  can perhaps leave us out of conversations, bookshelves, lessons, story times, etc. where our work belongs. 

 

 I’m in agreement! Thank you, Jacqueline, for sharing your insights with us. I encourage our members to click on your portfolio and check out your Instagram posts that feature your fabulous illustrations.

May our celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month extend through the rest of the year! 

Isabel Estrada O'Hagin grew up in the desert borderlands of Arizona, dancing and singing her way through life. Always a dreamer, she blends her life experiences as a performing arts educator with her love of Mexican-American culture & folklore into stories. When she’s not writing, she loves to dance, cook, read, daydream, and play with her two gatitos, Dante and Cosmo. She also loves her volunteer work for SCBWI-Michigan as Outreach Coordinator and K.A.S.T. Co-Coordinator. LA MARIACHI is her debut storybook.

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Reminders about Upcoming SCBWI-MI Events

• SCBWI-MI's BIPOC Scholarship- Sept.1st-Oct. 1st
• SCBWI-MI 2025 Critique Carousel- Registration: Sept.18th-30th
• 
  Little Free Library Day hosted by SCBWI-MI's E&I Team- September 27th
• Fall webinar with Sheela Chari- Oct. 22nd at 7:00 pm Registration period: Oct 1-22
• Fall webinar with Cate Berry- Nov. 12th at 7:00 pm Registration period: Oct 22-Nov 12
  
  
  

Writer Spotlight: Janet Ruth Heller

 

Bullies, Surprise, FTA, U of Chicago, midrashim, and Isle Royale: Poet and author Janet Ruth Heller

Charlie Barshaw coordinates our regular Writer Spotlight feature and interviews writers of SCBWI-MI. In this piece, meet poet , educator and author Janet Ruth Heller.

What has changed since we completed your interview a month ago?

I have stage 4 cancer. I do not have a lot of energy to send out my unpublished manuscripts of children's books and other writing. I have never been able to find an agent to represent me.  I am looking for someone to assist me in sending out my work. I can pay for this assistance.  My unpublished work for children is ten picture books and a couple middle-grade stories.

 

If you are interested in this opportunity or know someone who can help me out, please contact me at janetheller@charter.net or janetruthheller@gmail.com with your credentials, and we can discuss the matter fully.

 

Thank you for any help that you can give me.

 

I would like to express my gratitude to SCBWI-MI for its support of writers like me over the decades!

How the Moon Regained Her Shape, your breakout debut picture book, was inspired by the bullying you endured as a child. Has the success of the book helped to ease the sting of your past injustice? Have you been able to make peace with some of your former bullies?

Writing How the Moon Regained Her Shape (Arbordale, 2006; 7^th edition 2022), doing subsequent creative writing workshops for children and adults, and speaking about my book for schools, libraries, bookstores, and conferences have been very healing experiences. 

Teachers tell me that their students are more likely to report bullying after I have read How the Moon Regained Her Shape for their classes and discussed the book with the students.

I have also done research about bullying and published an article about some books for children that help young people understand and cope with such abuse: “Using Novels for Children to Combat Bullying,” International Journal of English and Education, vol. 2, no. 2 (April 2013): pp. 514-23. 

I discovered that many individuals get bullied as children and as adults for a wide variety of attributes. My bullies targeted me because I was a new skinny student in my elementary school, but other kids get bullied for being chubby, being tall or short, wearing glasses, having a different religion, speaking a different language, coming from a poor family, being a person of color, being GLBTQ, having a disability, etc. 

I feel strongly that we need a multicultural society that treats all people with respect and values our differences, rather than punishing people for being unique.

You’ve published as a Jewish writer; you've tackled Jewish themes in your middle-grade chapter book The Passover Surprise; you proudly acknowledge your faith. How much is your body of work influenced by Jewish culture?

I have been active in synagogues and other Jewish organizations since I was five years old. I have served on synagogue boards, been a teacher and the principal of Jewish schools, served as president of Sisterhood, organized speaker series, etc.

Also, I have promoted equality for women in Judaism. For example, I have urged synagogues to promote more women to leadership positions. Traditional prayer books refer to men and boys but do not refer to girls and women. I have advocated for prayer books that use gender-fair language that includes all individuals. 

I organized a group of women at the Congregation of Moses in Kalamazoo who examined different options and then had synagogue members vote. The result was that the synagogue chose a new prayer book entitled Siddur Lev Shalem that is egalitarian.

Like most Jews, I have experienced discrimination, and this makes me sympathize with anyone who gets treated unfairly, including women whose voices go unheard, starving children, people of color, and immigrants. I support many organizations that strive to make our world more just and compassionate.

What was life like for young Janet, growing up in Milwaukee? What influences do you credit for your love of language?

My mother grew up in Milwaukee, but she was an English major at the University of Michigan. She shared her love of literature with me and read me wonderful books, including Rudyard Kipling’s Just So Stories, A. A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh books, Robert Frost’s poetry, etc.

I always loved to read, and my early ambition was to read every book in my elementary school’s library. I never reached that high goal, but I did read many books. 

In college, I double-majored in English and Spanish, and I also studied Hebrew literature. I took linguistics courses, which taught me how different languages are structured and organized into families. All of this knowledge helps me to write both poetry and prose.

Your father played an important role in your life, but your middle-grade chapter book The Passover Surprise was based partly on an incident when he favored your brother over you based on your gender. Were you able, over the intervening years, to convey your feelings over his latent sexism? Maybe convince him to adopt a more enlightened worldview?

My father taught me to love the natural world, and when I took walks with him, he explained the names of different birds, animals, and plants. Many of my poems and prose works refer to the natural world, especially my poetry book Nature’s Olympics (Wipf and Stock, 2021).

However, my father had a very difficult relationship with his mother, and that shaped his biased view of women and girls. I do not think that he ever realized how much his sexism hurt me when I was a child and a young adult. 

When I was a child, I did not confront him about his favoritism for my brother. I did talk to Dad about this discrimination when I was in my twenties, but he never apologized for his treatment of me.

I hope that my chapter book The Passover Surprise (Fictive Press, 2015, 2016) can help other families to avoid favoritism and to treat children of all genders with love and respect.

You earned a Ph.D. in English Language and Literature from the University of Chicago. Did you always plan to teach?

school visit

When I was very young, I wanted to become a veterinarian because I loved animals. However, as I got older, I realized that a veterinarian needs to operate on dogs and cats and horses, not just play with them. I dislike cutting into living creatures, so I decided to pursue a different career.

By the time I was twelve, I wanted to become a teacher. Because I was the oldest of five children, I frequently served as a teacher for my younger brothers and sisters. 

I spent a lot of time assisting younger siblings with homework, explaining difficult concepts to them, and entertaining them. I enjoyed this interaction, and I think that being a big sister prepared me well to be a teacher.

When I was in high school, I joined Future Teachers of America (FTA), a club for students who planned to enter the field of education. During my senior year, I was the president of the FTA. 

I assisted Barbara Gensler, my favorite English teacher at my high school, and learned a lot from her. She emphasized that a teacher needs to have good relationships with students in order to encourage them to improve their work.

At first, I wanted to teach at a high school, but then I decided that I wanted to teach at the college level. This required my getting a doctorate. I chose to attend the University of Chicago to obtain a doctorate in English language and literature. Courses there were very challenging, and I learned a lot.

While I was studying at the University of Chicago, I tutored and coordinated the Writing Tutor Program, which employed doctoral students like me to help undergraduates improve their writing. 

I enjoyed working directly with students, and they told me about confusing assignments from professors. This helped me to shape my own assignments later when I taught college courses so that students could understand them better.

Your collection of poetry Exodus, is based on biblical characters and stories, often updated for modern times. What enduring truths do you find still resonate thousands of years later?

I identify strongly with many of the universal situations and people in the Jewish Scriptures. For example, Genesis includes stories about favoritism, family conflict, love, etc. 

Other sections of the Bible present tales about close friendships (David and Jonathan), prophets confronting powerful kings and queens, and an exodus from oppression to freedom. Such themes mean a lot to me and still have resonance in 2025.

Jews have written updated versions of Bible stories for centuries, and we call such pieces midrashim. Christians also write similar work and call this process exegesis. So my poems are part of a long tradition.

My poetry book Exodus (WordTech Editions, 2014) often presents a feminist viewpoint, and many of my poems focus on the women in the Bible and their struggle to achieve their goals in a male-centered society.

You’ve often credited your writing group with helping you sharpen and reshape your manuscripts.  Who helps to critique your work?

I have created writers’ groups since I was in graduate school at the University of Wisconsin and the University of Chicago in the 1970s. My current group consists of four women who are published authors. Three of us have doctorates in different fields, and all of us try to give constructive criticism to one another. 

We meet once a month via Zoom or in-person. Before each session, we e-mail one another manuscripts that we think need more work and get suggestions for revision from the other writers. I have found the feedback from my colleagues invaluable. Often, I substantially rework my poetry and prose, improve the pieces, and get them published.

You are writing a memoir. Prose? Poetry? Or a combination?

Janet reading

My memoir is mostly prose, but it will have some poems included. The chapters are self-contained, and I have already published three chapters of my memoir. 

My essay “Returning to Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin” appeared in Midwestern Miscellany, volume 35 (Spring/Fall 2007) on pages 55-59. It concerns my family’s long association with this beautiful lake. 

Another memoir chapter, “A Visit to Isle Royale,” got aired on Morning Edition and All Things Considered on Michigan Public Radio, WUOM, Ann Arbor, on May 3, 1999. The Toho Journal online published this chapter in its winter 2020 issue (January 9, 2021). This essay concerns a trip that my husband and I took to Isle Royale. We spent a lot of time canoeing and got to see a moose, loons, mergansers, white-throated sparrows, etc. We enjoyed our time away from city life. 

Tikkun published my chapter “Sexual Harassment in the Synagogue: A Case Study and Recommendations” on September 7, 2023 online at https://www.tikkun.org/sexual-harassment-in-the-synagogue/ This essay concerns my efforts to convince my former synagogue to restrain a male member who sexually harassed me for fourteen years and my recommendations to houses of worship for combating such abuse. 

Currently, I am a member of Temple B’nai Israel in Kalamazoo, a synagogue that will not tolerate sexual harassment, and I helped develop its policy for ethical conduct of all members. Of course, sexual harassment is one form of bullying.

Please share any social media platforms:

Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/JanetRuthHellerBooks and https://www.facebook.com/janetruth.heller/

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/janet-heller-395a2a37

Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/hellerjr8/

Amazon Central Author Page:  https://amazon.com/author/janetruthheller 

Twitter/X—username is @janetheller1949

Instagram page is https://www.instagram.com/janetrheller/

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Reminders about Upcoming SCBWI-MI Events

• 
  SCBWI-MI's BIPOC Scholarship- Sept.1st-Oct. 1st
• SCBWI-MI 2025 Critique Carousel- Registration: Sept.18th-30th
• Little Free Library Day hosted by SCBWI-MI's E&I Team- September 27th
• Fall webinar with Sheela Chari- Oct. 22nd at 7:00 pm Registration period: Oct 1-22
• Fall webinar with Cate Berry- Nov. 12th at 7:00 pm Registration period: Oct 22-Nov 12

Book Birthday Blog with F.P. LaRue

 

Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!

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

 

Congratulations to F.P. LaRue on the release of The Pet Shop Nightmare

 

This is your fourth book in the award-winning Scary Shivers Mystery Series. What was the inspiration for this new story?

I heard several stories about animals that were found, and no one knew who they belonged to. That, along with the compassionate actions of some friends of mine, who are constantly taking in and feeding animals they come across, gave me the idea for the story. I wanted to write about helping animals in some way. The main characters of the book like to solve mysteries, so a story developed.  

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

I hope kids will realize that reading can be fun. This book and all of the books in the Scary Shiver Mystery series are fast-paced and easy to read. They have short chapters, 3-7 pages, and I strive to end each chapter on a cliffhanger. This keeps the story engaging and leaves kids eager to find out what happens next. 

What are your marketing plans for the book and where can we find it? 

I am active on Facebook. People can follow me at https://www.facebook.com/FPLaRue. I will be doing personal appearances and book signings. The book is available at Amazon.com and can be ordered at any bookstore. 

What's next for you? Any events coming up or new books in the works? 

Upcoming events include: 

• Funky Ferndale, September 19-21, 2025, Ferndale, MI
•  Michigan Trail of Authors, September 27, 2025, Muskegon, MI
•  Shipshewana on the Road, October 18-19, 2025, Jackson, MI
•  A2 Community BookFest, November 9, 2025, Ann Arbor, MI
•  Motor City Comic Con, November 14-16, 2025, Novi, MI – Featured MI Author
•  Shipshewana on the Road, November 22-23, Waterford, MI

I am just starting to gather my thoughts for a fifth book in the Scary Shivers Mystery series, but do not have a timetable yet.  

More about the book . . . 

Ollie receives a frantic call from his cousin, Claire, who is in a state of panic. Her best friend, McKenna, has disappeared without a trace. She has not been seen for days, and all attempts to contact her have failed. When Claire recruits the help of Ollie and his friends, she receives a mysterious note telling her to mind her own business and gets the feeling she is being followed. 
 
As Ollie, Mellie, and Scotty delve deeper into the mystery of McKenna’s disappearance, they uncover strange activities and dark secrets connected with the pet shop. With the disappearance of animals from the pet shop, they soon realize that something sinister is at play, and the evil forces involved will stop at nothing to protect their ominous plans. Just when things seem hopeless, Ollie receives assistance from an unexpected ally, a twist that leaves the trio astounded and intrigued. 
 
In The Pet Shop Nightmare, Ollie, Mellie, and Scotty find themselves navigating a thick fog of danger and mystery. Will they survive long enough to find McKenna and unravel the mystery of the shop before they become the next ones to disappear?  

Publisher: Mascot Books 

More about the author . . . 

F.P. LaRue is the award-winning author of the Scary Shivers Mystery series, a collection of spooky and thrilling stories that captivate young readers. There are currently three books in the Scary Shivers Mystery series. The Weeping House won First Place Awards for Juvenile Mysteries and Juvenile Fantasy & Magic in the Spring 2024 BookFest Awards. The Curse of Shadow Park won a First Place Award for Juvenile Action & Adventure in the Fall 2024 BookFest Awards. The Legend of the Serpent Witch won a Second Place Award in the Mystery category in the 2025 Purple Dragonfly Awards. The fourth book of the Scary Shivers Mystery series, The Pet Shop Nightmare, will be released on September 9, 2025. F.P. is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. 
 
Before writing children’s books, F.P.’s career had been in education, where she progressed from a teacher to the Dean of Academic Affairs for a small Michigan college. She also authored an article titled Ten Tips to Get Children Reading More, filled with practical advice to foster a love for reading in children. For more information, visit FPLaRue.com.   

https://www.fplarue.com/

https://www.scaryshivers.com/

https://www.facebook.com/FPLaRue

 

 

Book Birthday Blog with Carrie Pearson

 

Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!

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

 

Congratulations to Carrie Pearson on the release of Watch Them Grow: The Fascinating Science of Animal Beginnings

 

  

How did you get the idea for your book? 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I watched the streamed stage play Hamilton six times. I loved everything about it — the plot, historical information, actors, and music. On the sixth viewing, I listened to the song “The Room Where It Happens” (again), but this time, I had a light bulb moment. I envisioned writing a book called The Womb Where It Happens that would include the latest research and understanding of animal beginnings. It would combine my love of science, babies, and animals, and share a world that most of us don’t know or think about but is happening around us every second of every day. During the editorial process, we changed the title because we didn’t think it would resonate with middle-grade readers. But we received A LOT of positive feedback about it during the submission stage. Title takeaway? Traditionally publishing authors will likely take part in modifying their titles. It happens all the time. But a grabby title is essential for the submission process.  

This is your first middle grade book. Did the research require a different approach than your non-fiction picture books? Please describe. 

Great question! Yes, this is my debut middle-grade book. (WOW, novelists get so many words!) But the research process wasn’t different from writing a picture book. I go very deep into research, regardless of the age category or format, for three reasons: I want to provide accurate information, I enjoy discovery, and I never want to be caught off guard during the vetting process.

Lest anyone thinks the creator’s journey is straightforward, here’s an inside story about Watch Them Grow. I initially wrote it, and we submitted the manuscript as a picture book. Then, a bucket list editor, Carol Hinz at Millbrook Press/Lerner (the amazing Buffy Silverman’s editor), expressed interest in it as a middle-grade book. We said yes, and I rewrote it for middle-grade readers and the educational market rather than the commercial market. These changes required extra work to align the text with science curriculum standards and to connect with the mindset of independent readers.  

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

I hope readers will develop a more profound sense of empathy for our animal family. The book shows how all animals, including humans, start life in a similar way, which is striking when we think about how different we all become. I hope this connection encourages young people to care about animals and their environments that need our protection. 

What are your marketing plans for the book? 

Marketing kicked off a few months ago with new Watch Them Grow Pinterest boards and pins and an educator guide, all created by Debbie Gonzalez and PinLit. These assets set the stage for integrated blog posts and my newsletter book launch issue today. The free educator guide has been kept under wraps until the newsletter drops and subscribers have first access.

You are all invited to the book launch at Peter White Public Library in Marquette, MI, on Saturday, September 13, at 2:00 PM. I’ve created a new school and library presentation that I look forward to sharing (aka: trying out) with middle-schoolers. I’ve reached out to all the teachers I’ve presented to or connected with over the years to share the news of the book. You are keeping a list of people you’ve connected with, right? If not, start today. 

What's next for you? 

I am hoping that a nonfiction picture book we have on submission finds its home. I’m working on a nonfiction middle-grade proposal on a challenging topic, but if I do it correctly, I believe it can be hopeful in the end. Fingers crossed for that. I have several ideas rattling around, so we’ll see what ends up being sticky enough to become the next book! 

More about the book . . .

Watch Them Grow: The Fascinating Science of Animal Beginnings


Have you ever wondered how animals develop the traits they need to survive? Or how they grow from a single cell at conception to complex, unique creatures? The answer is complicated―there are so many ways to grow! The tammar wallaby needs a strong grip at birth so it can climb into its mother's pouch. And the great white shark needs a special set of teeth. Watch Them Grow explores genetics, gestation, and development with twelve animal examples. Discover animal beginnings and watch as they grow what they need to survive. 

Published by: Lerner/Millbrook Press 

More about the author . . . 

Carrie A. Pearson is an award-winning children’s author who writes nonfiction books that connect young readers with science, nature, and hidden histories. As an early childhood educator, Carrie knows how to break down big ideas in fun and accessible ways. Her authored books, such as Watch Them Grow: The Fascinating Science of Animal Beginnings, spark curiosity and support learning in the classroom and at home. 
 
Her authored books have received distinctions such as Junior Library Guild Gold, School Library Journal Best Books of the Year, and CCBC Choices listing, as well as state honors and awards. Her greatest honor was receiving the 2019 Michigan Reading Association’s Gwen Frostic Award for literacy development.
 
Carrie lives on the sandy shore of Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where she writes, researches, and occasionally rescues stray ideas from the woods. Discover more about Carrie and her books at https://carriepearsonbooks.com/.

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Facebook author page: pearsoncarrieann

 

 

Writer Spotlight: Anita Fitch Pazner

 

Dr. Pazner, riding the bus, White Rose, cousin Burgermeister, and castles: Author and SCBWI-MI Co-RA Anita Fitch Pazner

Charlie Barshaw coordinates our regular Writer Spotlight feature and interviews writers of SCBWI. In this piece, meet  author  and an Co-RA Anita Fitch Pazner

Your bio is sparse on young Anita. When did young you know you were a writer?

The first time I felt I had the knack for putting words on paper was during a 7^th grade English class. We had a sub. She gave us the first few sentences of a short story about a yellow crocus, and we had to finish the story. I loved it! And she read it out loud to the class as an example of a well thought out story.

When I got to high school we didn’t have a school newspaper. I went to the principal and asked if I could create one. Apparently, it’s hard to say no to me once I’ve decided to do something.

 

Anita deciding to do something

You’ve earned the letters after your name. What were your academic achievements?

My major academic achievement is my master’s in writing for children and young adults degree. I got the degree just so I could put those little letters behind my name. 

I’ve always wanted to earn a doctorate degree, but they don’t offer one in writing in the U.S. I would have to get that degree in England. (Poor me!) 

It’s the only way I could make everyone call me Dr. Pazner. It isn’t out of the question. Especially, if I win the lottery and get to live in a castle while I’m there.

You were in SCBWI for a long time before your picture book was published. I know, because I was there, too. You helped engineer the two Mackinac Island conferences, because you knew some people. What did it take to pull off not one, but two island weekends?

Anita and me
Mackinac 2014
She knew someone in costuming

I loved helping facilitate conferences. Getting to know the speakers. attendees and setting up activities have always been my jam. Yes, things often went sideways, but that was part of the fun. 

And as you pointed out, I have a knack for finding people to help make the magic happen. If I remember correctly, the year you and I worked together, my go to phrase was “Hold on, I got a guy” whenever things went amuck. The guy was often a woman, but still.

I’ve always found most people want to be helpful. I spent time on the island with my kids for a couple of decades and being a bit curious, I got to know so many of the full-time residents on the island. They became my guys!

As much as I loved the Island events, I also enjoyed being part of two Downtown Detroit conferences. My favorite was the Humor Conference at the David Whitney Building. I brought in a local Detroit Comedian to talk about his process and do a bit of his stand-up routine at the end of the day. It was the perfect ending to a craft-filled conference.

Your first picture book, The Topsy-Turvy Bus, has a long origin story before it even became a book. Give us your pitch for “The Making Of…” How does the phrase Tikkun Olam inform your worldview?

Anita says, "Don't let the author drive the bus."

The first Topsy-Turvy Bus (the real bus, not the book) was commissioned by Ben Cohen from Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream fame. He drove it around during a political cycle with a big chart on the side showing people how much was spent on military versus education and health services. 

This was back in 2007 and his non-profit that funded the project was called Business Leaders for Sensible Priorities.  At that time the U.S. was spending 900 billion dollars on the military. Much of that funding was going toward nuclear systems that were capable of blowing up major cities twice over. (The statistic come from articles about the bus, the non-profit and Ben Cohen. Not from me.)

Ben, as I now call him even though we’ve never met, donated his bus to a non-profit environmental organization out east after the election was over. That organization was linked to one in the metro Detroit area, run by my friend Wren Beaulieu-Hack. Wren ran lots of programs. This included delivering food to food banks, and seeds and compost to anyone who wanted to plant a home garden. 

I volunteered to help her make deliveries during the pandemic, and she offered to pick me up in Detroit’s version of the Topsy-Turvy Bus to make those deliveries.

Now, I’m not one to enjoy diesel fumes from stinky buses so I was less than thrilled to take a ride on the real Topsy-Turvy Bus. That is, until she told me it ran on veggie oil. I’m not going to lie-- the French fry smells coming from the exhaust made me a little hungry. 

And I may have said, “This would make a great picture book.”

But—yes, there is usually a but associated with everything I do. The most important part of the book is the phrase Tikkun Olam. In modern times, it basically means to repair the world with acts of kindness, charity and helping those in need. 

Doing good deeds like delivering food to the needy or planting trees to combat deforestation are ways we repair our world. Since it’s a Hebrew or Jewish construct there are layers of meaning that date back a long, long time. I would have to do an entire essay to give you all the info I have and that still would leave room for more interpretations and debates.

After a non-fiction picture book, you switch to a middle grade novel-in-verse about historical Germany in the throes of authoritarianism. How did the character’s voices emerge?

I did switch. And doesn’t that make me sound fancy.

In reality, Words Matter is also non-fiction and fully illustrated. Just like my first book. The main difference is no one dies in The Topsy Turvy Bus.

I originally wrote Words Matter as a picture book, but the beheadings didn’t jive with the agents or editors. Go figure.

You asked me about the character’s voices. Their voices were easy for me to understand.

I had access to their diaries and letters--not just the White Rose Resistance leaflets they are famous for distributing. Honestly, I sort of had a crush on Hans while I was researching him. (Don’t tell my husband I was infatuated with a dude who would be over 100 years old. That’s some Twilight level stuff. Am I right?)

Anyway. I felt a connection with Sophie that transcends time and space. She was impulsive and moody at times. I may have been a bit that way in my younger years as well. 

She loved to read, create art, be in nature and dip her toes in rushing rivers. And she wasn’t afraid to speak out. Most of all she was brave, braver than I imagine I could ever be. 

I was privileged to be able to walk on the cobblestone streets she once stepped on. I was there with my adult children who were roughly the age she was when she died.

 

 

Many layers of bus

You’re co-Regional Advisor of the Michigan chapter of The Society of Book Writers and Illustrators. I’ve seen you mentioned as an illustrator. Do you dabble in art?

I dabble dabble do! I once worked as a photographer, so I like to think I have an eye for artistic work. I love to watercolor, and I occasionally play with other mediums. 

But I only wish I could be an illustrator. Art was my love before words. Believe it or not, I was a shy child that spent a great deal of time alone.

I joined SCBWI in 2009. You seem to have been there all along in my memory, but you’ve been a member for quite a while. When they asked you to lead the group, you didn’t have to say yes, and you almost didn’t. 

But now you’re co-running this two-peninsula juggernaut called SCBWI-MI. My question is: why? Why tackle a big organization of children’s book creators when most people are planning for retirement?

Yes, Charlie. I have always been a part of SCBWI—pretty much since the dark ages. And I never seem to age. Right, Charlie? Right?

(Insert the sound of crickets.)

Just to be clear, I avoided the Co-RA position the first time the opportunity came around. I hadn’t been published, and I knew I wanted to continue my education. There was too much about the craft of writing for children and young adults that I didn’t know. Publishing is its own beast of a business, and I would have felt like an imposter.

I took the time to perfect my craft as can be seen by my masterpiece, The Topsy-Turvy Bus. (That’s a bit of sarcasm for those who don’t know me as well as Charlie does.)

I eventually earned my MFA from the Vermont College of Fine Arts, and I jumped at the chance to work with Jodi McKay. Or maybe I was pushed. Either way, it is a challenging volunteer position. 

But it’s a whole lot easier with Jodi on board. I truly am grateful for all the heavy lifting she does with the website and all the technical aspects. And we have a phenomenal leadership team working with us as well. 

If someone out there is questioning whether they should apply for one of the open positions, I highly recommend doing so. We are super fun and as Jodi points out in the monthly email—We have cookies!!!

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention our Illustrator Coordinators, Jen and Katie. They organize retreats and all sorts of fun stuff. As you know, the Illustrator Coordinator position is a lot. 

Having the two of them working together has been a huge bonus for our region. I wish I had the space to thank each of our coordinators here personally, but I better get back to talking about me.

To answer your question, why now? I’ve always been about helping people, and I finally felt as if the time was right to dive headfirst into all aspects of publishing. 

Even if that meant joining Jodi as SCBWI embarks on a new generation of leadership at the tippy top. And as far as retirement goes, I’m just getting started! I like to think I carry a greater sense of wisdom than I once did. But then again, I could be wrong.

Follow-up question: how? How has SCBWI-MI as an organization changed from the early days of 2010-2020, and beyond?

That’s a loaded question. Publishing has changed drastically since 2010. SCBWI has changed along with it. The new website and globalization of the organization has been the biggest change. 

And the ability to hold three-day conferences like we did on Mackinaw Island are no longer possible due to restrictions put in place following the pandemic. Jodi and I hope that changes soon.

That’s the toughest part for me. I’m all about the big, theatrical events. Other than that, the organization is still all about helping fledgling and established writers find their people. 

SCBWI-MI strives to provide more craft-driven webinars at a very low cost to members than they once did. 

Another thing I want to mention is the free Shop Talks. The people running those are bringing in some pretty-great speakers. I hope more people make it a point to attend.

Donna Janell Bowman, how did this published author help you get your second title, Words Matter, published?

Donna and I graduate from VCFA together.

Post-graduation, she ran a six-week non-fiction, picture book course. Being the supportive friend that I am, (And modest, too!) I signed up for the class. I had actually been floundering after graduation. I missed the structure with reading lists, essays, and word count deadlines.

I needed motivation.

I was lost. 

Soooo. I focused on Hans and Sophie and The White Rose Resistance and wrote it as a lyrical picture book. Unfortunately, due to the beheadings of the main characters the picture book version never sold. Go figure!

Donna’s workshop was the impetus for the non-fiction book.

You’re proud of your German heritage, even spent some time in Munich, where you were first inspired to write about Hans and Sophie. How fraught is your personal family history, being descended from a Jewish family who had to flee their homeland?

Interesting question, Charlie. I was born outside of Frankfurt, Germany into a Catholic/ Lutheran family. Mixed religious affiliations have always been a thing for my family. But there was always a connection to Judaism in that small town. 

My grandfather’s first love was a Rabbi’s daughter, or so the story goes. His family owned the local restaurant and farmland. They even had pigs. As you can imagine, the Rabbi’s daughter and the pig farmer was not a story to be written, but the families remained close.

Fast forward to the 1930s and 1940s. Jews were being rounded up. Many escaped before they were taken. One night, my grandfather, in a drunken rant, painted “JEWS CAN EAT HERE” on the outside of his restaurant. 

His cousin the Burgermeister (Yes, most people were related in tiny towns back then.) gave him a fine and made him paint over his words.

But wait. There’s more.

On a trip back to visit my grandparents grave, I stumbled over a little-known fact. The town I’m from was the only town in Germany that refused to dig up and desecrate the Jewish graves under Hitler. 

They removed the headstones but left the bodies intact. Today, there is a plaque that lists the names of the people buried there.

 

“From there, I was linked with illustrator Sophie Casson.”  How much collaboration was there between the artist and the writer?

There wasn’t a lot of collaboration. I got to see and comment on Sophie’s images, but there weren’t many things I wanted changed. Most of our communications went through Groundwood. 

The only thing I really insisted on was the addition of the Ulm Sparrow. It was everywhere in Ulm, and I felt it needed to be in images of the city where Hans and Sophie lived. I needed it there for authenticity. 

After having visited Ulm, I couldn’t imagine the book without the sparrow with a twig in its mouth. Sophie and I have since been in contact with each other and we both have connections to that time and place in history. Her images are emotionally charged. They are incredible.

I wasn’t as careful with my words as I should have been. I often tackle topics that allow me to work through issues. Realizing the power of words is instrumental in personal growth. Words have an energy all their own with the ability to lift us up or to cause harm. And they linger. How many times have we replayed the words carelessly thrown our way over and over in our minds?

A collage of young Anita

Words Matter isn’t just a title. What have you learned as you promote your second book?

The White Rose’s story made me stop and think about the words I use. As you know, sarcasm was my first language. I’ve learned to temper that a bit. Not everyone has a wicked sense of humor that appreciates my words. 

I’ve tried to install a filter and explain my point of view in a way that isn’t insulting. I let people know that I’m speaking from my own personal vantage point. The following paragraph is an example of that vantage point.

We live in a point in time when lies and propaganda invade every aspect of our world. We are constantly bombarded with it. It’s put forth to divide us and turn us against each other. Spreading fear is one of the easiest weapons used to destabilize a country. I would love to see grassroots organizations rise up and refuse to be taken in by this type of attack. Hans and Sophie chose to do what was right because they believed in the goodness in the hearts of the German people who were swayed by fear. I also believe in the goodness in the hearts of people. My well-traveled mother once said, “Most people all want the same thing--a safe place to live, raise our families and prosper.” I know it sounds simple, but that is most people’s core desire. How they get there is an entirely different topic.

 

“I’m working on a science-based middle-grade novel set near a nuclear power plant. It’s been in the works for over a decade.” With the discovery of the radioactive wasp’s nest, do you feel an added urgency for your book?

Holy crap! There’s a radioactive wasp’s nest? I know there are kids with radioactive teeth in Florida, but wasps? Hold tight. I’m asking lord Google.

I see there’s an article in The New York Times. The four wasp’s nests were found in a former nuclear weapons production facility—hydrogen bombs to be exact. But not to worry, the Department of Energy said there wasn’t a leak. It was just some left over residue found in mud and lake beds. 

And the clean-up should be completed by 2065. (Insert shocked emoji.) The article also said the current administration plans to reopen the facility to create more bombs. I have thoughts. Many, many thoughts on the subject, but I’m utilizing my filter for this interview.

To answer your question. I’ve always felt an urgency to finish the book set in the shadow of nuclear facility.  Life got in the way.

I visited the Fermi II Nuclear Facility when I was in college. (Yes, Charlie. That was before the dawn of time—before the internet existed.) The experience was overwhelming. The sheer size and magnitude left me feeling full of dread. 

Then Chernobyl melted down and the Fukushima disaster happened. I channeled those feelings into my main character. My biggest struggle with this book is balancing fear, grief and humor. I know--weird combination.

 

From Angie Azur's post 
https://teazurs.blogspot.com/

Do you satisfy your Inner Princess by staying in castles in Europe?

Inner Queen, actually. And yes, I do so enjoy a good castle visit.

 

Anita earned an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts (VCFA) You’ve hinted that there are some madcap escapades while in Vermont? Care to plead the Fifth?

What happens in Vermont, stays in Vermont!

What’s next?

I’m planning a book launch for Words Matter!

I would love to see everyone there. No purchase necessary. It’s a celebration of WORDS.

Sunday, September 14

5-7 p.m. (After the Lion’s Game)

@The Road Less Traveled Bookstore

Downtown Farmington, Mi

There will be free Words Matter swag, food and bevies and I’ll be holding a free raffle for attendees to win cool stuff, including signed books by authors who are writing about important topics. And there will be young men in lederhosen—who doesn’t want to see that?

As with most things I do, there will be a theatrical aspect to the launch. If you are planning on attending, shoot me an email through my website or my SCBWI or personal emails.

Let me know if you are a librarian or educator. I’ll have something special to celebrate the tireless work you do.

Once that’s done, I’ll continue writing about the people and places I love, and the things that scare me most! 

I’ll also be finding a way to publish my graphic novel. It has so many things in it I love to read about—romance, relationship drama, a possible vampire, gardening, and a dead body! Sure wish I had learned to illustrate!

Don’t worry, Charlie. It’s young adult, not a picture book. I’ve learned my lesson about having dead characters in picture books!

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