Condensed Soup for the Creative Soul

By Kathleen E. Clark

If there was one gift I could share with you all, it would be just a bit more time. Which—of course—I can’t, as my magic wand is in for repairs from stirring up spooky, spicy gumbo. So—I’ll do the best I can with these few tips compiled from the participants at our Query Letter Workshop hosted by the Lansing Area Shop Talk on Zoom. We hope you glean at least one magic ingredient to add to your “Creative Cauldron.”

1. Make the time to connect with other creatives. One quick and easy step is to sign up for the MichKids listserv, where you can post questions, observations, and look for announcements of upcoming events.  

2. Those with more time-tested experience will tell you that Parts of a Query Letter are important, but not necessarily in a particular order- if you are querying a manuscript you won an award for, mention it early on.

   
   
   

3. Also consider matching the tone of the letter with the tone of the manuscript.

4. Follow the guidelines. which shows you did your homework. And if they say to nudge after a certain time period, add one week and nudge.

5. Do your research on agents, editors, comps, and the market.

6. We discussed comp titles and their use when highlighting specific elements of your story. Always use current titles (non-bestsellers) when stating where your book fits into the market. But, there is room to choose a more familiar story for shorthand descriptive purposes—such as mash-ups of X meets Y—to get the idea across quickly. Just remember that BALANCE is key. Like in the "Karate Kid," proving you can picture a whole concept using very few words.

7. Search out good comp title sources:  Imagination Soup; librarymom.com; susannahill.com; childrenslibrarylady.com; https://www.edelweissplus.com/.

8. Double-check ANYTHING you get from AI searches, Co-pilot, etc. Those can give helpful leads, but stick with actual source info.

9. Adjust your bio to various submissions. What makes YOU the perfect person to share this with the world?

10. Don’t be shy in seeking help improving your query letter among peers, through your critique group, or professionals offering critique services.  Watch for reasonably priced webinars and workshops with bonus offerings, which members have found well worth the investment.

11. You can keep track in a variety of ways: Card File; MSWL (Manuscript Wish List); QueryTracker (which you can filter); handwritten; assigning File Names that are significant to you; spreadsheets. One member uses a lovely shade of blue to denote a “no” on his spreadsheet (much more cheerful than red!). 

12. This member also shared that he chooses a day for the task of querying—going to a local establishment, and treating himself. Thus, combining a not-so-fun task with a reward. We all appreciated THAT tip!

13. We also discussed the choice of mentioning- Back Matter; Questions for Reader engagement; and Teacher/Librarian Materials in our query letters, and/ or just including those in the manuscript itself.

14. At the close of our meeting, this wonderful tip and bit of encouragement was shared. As we all, at times, struggle with the business side of this creative life, remember to “Keep Writing What You Love.” Yes, query letters can be a time-consuming and draining necessity, but keep creating with your heart and mind focused on your goals and dreams. Time doing what you love is never wasted.  

    
    
    

In these crisp October days of simmering soups, as we bundle up and buckle down, back in the querying trenches, we encourage you to move that pot from the back burner and dish out those query letters—seasoned with just the right spice to whet the appetites of agents and editors alike. We would love to hear YOUR tip, bit of advice, or word of encouragement. Just add it to the “Comment Crucible” below. 

Bon appétit,

Kathleen E. Clark

Kathleen Clark enjoys country life on a sesquicentennial farm with her family, where the adventures never cease and where there is always a story just waiting to be written. Never outgrowing her love for children's books, she now finds herself helping the next generation of young readers check out their favorites at the local library. You can follow her on 

on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest @kathleeneclarkauthor.

📚 Little Free Library Day: Celebrating Literacy, Diversity, and Inclusion Across Michigan

By Naomi V. Dunsen-White, Chairperson, Equity & Inclusion Team SCBWI Michigan Chapter

As the end of the year quickly approaches, we want to look back and share one of our SCBWI Michigan highlights. On September 27th, the Michigan Chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI-MI) celebrated the third annual Little Free Library Day — a grassroots initiative I launched three years ago to champion literacy, diversity, and inclusion in our communities. 

This special day is more than a celebration. It’s a call to action. We raise awareness not only about the importance of free access to books for children but also about the critical need for diverse representation in those books. As Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop so eloquently reminds us, children need mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors — stories that reflect their own identities, offer glimpses into others’ lives, and invite them to step into new worlds with empathy and curiosity.

 What We Do

Each year on Little Free Library Day, we invite authors, illustrators, families, educators, and community members to:

• Donate a book featuring characters from underrepresented groups to a local Little Free Library

• Capture the moment with a photo or video

• Share it on social media and tag SCBWI-MI to amplify the message

This year’s celebration was a resounding success. We saw participation from children’s book creators across Michigan and beyond — authors, illustrators, families, and literacy advocates who believe in the power of inclusive storytelling.

 Community Spotlight

A heartfelt thank-you to the Detroit Chapter of the Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc., whose members donated books and participated across Wayne and Oakland Counties. Their commitment to literacy and community service added a powerful layer of impact to this year’s celebration, and we are deeply grateful for their support.

 Why It Matters

Books are more than stories — they are tools for identity, empathy, and empowerment. When children see themselves reflected in the pages they read, they feel seen, valued, and inspired. When they encounter stories that celebrate differences, they learn to honor the humanity in others. That's also why it's important that we support authors from underrepresented groups - the world needs to hear their stories.

Little Free Library Day is a joyful reminder that we all have the power to shape a child’s world — one book, one story, one act of kindness at a time.

 Join Us

Whether you’re an author, illustrator, parent, teacher, or book lover, we invite you to be part of this growing movement. Mark your calendar for next year’s celebration (late September), and in the meantime, keep donating diverse books, supporting diverse authors, sharing your stories, and modeling inclusion for the next generation.

Together, we’re building a legacy of literacy, equity, and love — one Little Free Library at a time.

Because of Mentorship Moments By Danielle DeFauw

Editor's Note: Danielle DeFauw won the SCBWI-MI Mentorship in 2018-2019 for her book Victory Stumbles (Non-PAL novel category).

There are moments we hold onto as writers, moments we know we are meant to share our stories, moments we know that no matter how many “no’s” we receive, we will always say yes to our characters and their experiences to impact our readers. A moment that centers my writer’s heart is the day I received a very special phone call from Ann Finkelstein, former SCBWI-MI Mentorship Coordinator, who shared with me that I won the 2019 SCBWI-MI Chapter’s Non-PAL mentorship writing contest with novelist Kelly Barson. As my heart quickened, my mind remembered how I had applied to the mentorship at a very low point in my writing journey, thoroughly believing I did not have a chance.

I took the chance anyway because of a moment of encouragement.

Feeling very defeated after a sleuth of rejections, I thought I might give up on my dream of becoming a published children’s book author. Then, I met a student who changed my life. As a professor of reading and language arts at the University of Michigan – Dearborn, Robin Wilson was in my elementary writing methods course during Fall 2016. I still have the email she sent me on January 20, 2017, letting me know she thought I should submit my writing. I submitted by the March 2017 deadline and, over a year later, on August 31, 2018, I emailed Robin to thank her for her encouragement and suggestion that I apply.

It was such a proud moment to learn I had won the mentorship!

The amount of growth I experienced in 2019 with Kelly Barson as my mentor still astounds me. For our first and only in-person meeting, she and I met at the Westgate Branch of the Ann Arbor District Library, and she told me we should divide the year in half to go through my completed work in progress twice. My June 30th birthday wish came true as I finished my first full pass through the manuscript with Kelly. I continued to revise and resubmit throughout the second half of 2019 and made Victory Stumbles—an upper middle grade, contemporary fiction, 52,000-word novel about grief-stricken, twelve-year-old Sarah who must choose between obeying her alcoholic father and keeping the dog she loves—even stronger.

In 2019, I learned that the most exciting part of the writer’s journey is that we never know how much stronger we can write.

In October 2021, Suzie Townsend, Vice President of New Leaf Literary & Media, Inc., selected Victory Stumbles as one of two full manuscripts she reviewed for the Pacific Coast Children’s Writers Novel and Retreat Whole Novel Critique. Suzie’s feedback informed the next revision of the manuscript. As Katherine Paterson stated, “I love revision. Where else can spilled milk be turned into ice cream.” That revision process brought more success! On April 14, 2024, I won the SCBWI-Marvelous Midwest Conference writing contest.

Tiara Kittrell, Editor, Putnam Young Readers, Penguin Random House selected my first five pages of Victory Stumbles and is currently reviewing the full manuscript!

I fully understand that the road to publishing is riddled with no’s. I certainly can relate to writers who may be questioning whether or not they should apply for this mentorship. With everything that makes me “me,” I encourage writers with works in progress to ignore any nagging “no’s” keeping them from taking their chance to apply. Each of us, as aspiring writers, understands it will take one yes from our future agents agreeing to represent us and/or our future editors agreeing to publish our books. At that point, there will be multiple yes’s, but only one yes truly matters right now.

 

Your YES right now to your work matters more than any future yes’s. Apply for the mentoring and seize your moment.

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Reminders about Upcoming SCBWI-MI Events

• Fall webinar with Cate Berry- Nov. 12th at 7:00 pm Registration period: Oct 22-Nov 12
• Mentorship program applications for the 2026 novel mentorship with Sheela Chari open in January.

Hugs and Hurrahs

                            

It's time to celebrate our MichKids friends and colleagues! Welcome to this quarter's edition of Hugs and Hurrahs!

Jessica Dazzo is celebrating self-publising her book Berries for Bruno!

We're celebrating with you, Jessica!

Lisa Wheeler is pleased to announce Nobody Notices Ghost, a humorous book about a lonely ghost, sold to Random House Studios. A Fall 2028 release is expected and the illustrator will be Christopher Thornock.  

Way to go, Lisa!

On September 13th, Carrie Pearson celebrated the launch of her latest authored book, Watch Them Grow: The Fascinating Science of Animal Beginnings, with Marquette-based library and bookstore partners. Watch Them Grow is a Junior Library Guild Gold selection and recently received a strong review from School Library Journal, which clearly 'got' the intention of the book: "VERDICT A great introduction to the science of reproduction in a way that makes animal babies the star of the show."

Well done, Carrie!

Christina Fecher is excited to share the news that her manuscript that she began when her daughter was 5 years old will be released as her debut children's book in the spring of 2026! Her daughter turned 16 last month! She's not ready to reveal the plot or title, only that that it's about Santa in the offseason. 

Congratulations, Christina!

Kristin Bartley Lenz's 2016 YA novel, The Art of Holding On and Letting Go, will be re-released in February 2026 as a 10th Anniversary Edition. Here's the eye-catching, newly re-imagined cover!

Wild Ink Publishing also revealed the cover for her new YA novel, The Door Swings Open, forthcoming in March 2026.

Congratulations times two, Kristin!

Congratulations again to all of you! Please send all your good news to Alison Hodgson at aewhodgson@gmail.com for the next Hugs and Hurrahs post. 

Book Birthday Blog with Kathleen Marcath

 

Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!

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

 

Congratulations to Kathleen Marcath on the release of My Monster Truck Goes Everywhere with Me: Coloring and Activity Book

 

  

This book is a companion to your award-winning debut picture book My Monster Truck Goes Everywhere with Me. What inspired you to create the new book?

Absolutely! Children loved the original story so much that I wanted to create an activity-packed companion, enabling them to dive even deeper into the world of their monster truck. This 77-page My Monster Truck Goes Everywhere with Me: Coloring & Activity Book combines coloring, drawing, mazes, memory games, writing, and even a little math, utilizing American Sign Language number handshapes instead of traditional numbers. I designed each page to challenge and delight children ages 3-9—sparking their imagination, problem-solving skills, and language development.

Please describe the process to create this fun companion book. Were there challenges?

The biggest challenge was simply getting started. With the encouragement of my coach, Sue Mohr of The Inner Vizion, I set a  deadline and that gave me the push I needed. I began sketching ideas in Canva, pulling together activities I thought children would enjoy, a little writing, drawing, mazes and puzzles.

Once the framework was in place, I teamed up with graphic designer Praise Saflor and Alexa, who transformed those rough concepts into polished, engaging pages. For the final touches, I called on my “grammar guru” friend, Nancy Rudnik, to review the text, and we arranged the activities and coloring pages so they flowed naturally. Seeing the illustrations originally created by Isaac Liang and Pardeep Mehra repurposed in this new format brought everything full circle.

It was a journey with lots of moving parts, but the structure, teamwork, and child-centered focus kept it fun from start to finish.

 

What inspires you to write?

Children inspire me! Their excitement for life, their imaginations, and their faith that they can do anything—it’s contagious. I never want them to lose that. My goal is to help every child experience inner joy and peace in who they are, while also giving them tools to discover their potential and soar.

You’ve assembled an award-winning team to work with. Please describe how you found this amazing group of professionals and the work they do in collaboration with you to create ASL material.

When writing for children, I’ve learned the best approach is to ask them directly what they enjoy. During my author visits, students shared wonderful suggestions, and several of those ideas made their way into this activity book. To keep myself accountable, I worked with my coach, Sue Mohr of The Inner Vizion, who gave me the encouragement and deadlines I needed to bring this dream to life.

For design, I turned again to Praise Saflor, the graphic designer behind My Monster Truck Goes Everywhere with Me, and her assistant, Alexa. They brought my ideas to life with skill and creativity. Praise has a special passion for children’s books and a gift for designing engaging, lesson-filled storybooks. And when it came time to choose the cover, my grandson, Dylan, settled it in an instant—out of four designs, he pointed straight to his favorite. No hesitation, no second guessing. The bold orange background? Turns out it’s one of his school colors—kids always know what they like!

 

What’s next for you? Any events coming up, or new books in the works? Where can we find your companion book?

The My Monster Truck Goes Everywhere with Me: Coloring & Activity Book officially launched on September 15, 2025, and I’m thrilled with the excitement it has already generated! Readers can find it on Amazon or directly through my website at https://www.aslpicturebooks.com/, where I also share a free ASL Starter Kit, resources and an active blog full of stories, insights, and tools for families and educators.

Looking ahead, I’ll be continuing author visits with schools and libraries this fall, and I’m also pouring energy into new ASL-inclusive projects. While I’m not ready to reveal details just yet, I can promise they will celebrate ASL, foster inclusion, and spark joy for children and families everywhere.

More about the book . . .

This fun-filled 77-page coloring and activity book is the ideal partner to the award-winning picture book My Monster Truck Goes Everywhere with Me – Illustrated in American Sign Language. With activities ranging from mazes and matching games to number recognition and ASL handshapes for telling time, it offers engaging challenges for children ages 3–9. Every page is designed to cultivate creativity, enrich problem solving, and support language development, making learning an adventure.

Published by: ASL Picture Books LLC

More about the author . . .

Kathleen Marcath, founder of ASL Picture Books LLC, is the author of the award-winning My Monster Truck Goes Everywhere with Me – Illustrated in American Sign Language, recipient of a Kirkus Star and Kirkus “Best Indie Book of 2021.” Her work champions literacy, inclusion, and the Deaf community by opening doors to the beauty of ASL in homes, classrooms, and storytime corners. Kathleen’s vision is rooted in her conviction that ASL is an untapped resource with limitless potential—a gift waiting to transform how children learn, connect, and thrive.

 Instagram: @aslpicture books 

Facebook: ASL Picture Books 

Website: https://www.aslpicturebooks.com/