Writer Spotlight: Christy Matthes

 

Book Birthdays, CA woods, young writing, toads, and animal rescue: Christy Matthes

Charlie Barshaw coordinates our regular Writer Spotlight feature and interviews writers of SCBWI. In this piece, meet writer and Promotions Coordinator Christy Matthes.

How do you handle all of the Book Birthday blog posts? Seems like there’s more new titles than ever. Do you have shortcuts, let the author do some of the work, in producing at least a couple of Book Birthdays a week?

Everyone has been great to work with! They send me their information by the deadline, and if I have questions, they are quick to get back to me.

Once I get the Book Birthday prepared, I give Molly David, the Co-Communications Coordinator, a blurb and the book cover and she creates the social media communication to blast the Book Birthday news across several platforms. Celebration time!

When I started working on the Book Birthday blog posts, the former coordinator Lauren Nyquist, sent me her tips, including a spreadsheet for tracking. There are multiple steps to pulling together the interviews, and that spreadsheet helped me understand the process and keep everything organized. Kristin Lenz, who filled in after Lauren left, helped with the Blogger learning curve. This was my first time working with the Blogger platform, and Kristin walked me through creating my first few posts, showed me some shortcuts, and helped troubleshoot issues.

While there aren’t too many shortcuts, everyone works together to get the Book Birthday postings ready on time.

You’ve been doing the Book Birthdays for years. You must have made dozens of new writing friends during your tenure. Who are some of your repeat customers?

I can’t believe it has been four years! I enjoy helping others promote their books and each Book Birthday is an opportunity for me to get to know someone. I do research before creating the questions, and you’re right, I’ve made new writing friends along the way. There are many people who have worked with me several times. The list is long which is great!

(From your website): I grew up in California where I roamed the woods and hillsides looking for wildlife. One time, I found a wounded toad and took care of it until it could hop again. If there was a stray dog or cat in the neighborhood, I was quick to bring one home. 

Do you still approach wildlife with the same sense of wonder?

I do! I always keep an eye out for wildlife and can spend hours watching out our window. We live in the city, but see a variety of wild animals. One morning, we had wild turkeys perched on the roof of the garage! We had a praying mantis land on our porch where it stayed for several days. 

I kept asking myself questions—why did she stay in the same spot for days? Is she scared of the person staring? Is she looking for a place to lay eggs? So of course, I had to write a story about a praying mantis. It is a fiction story, but I spent time researching this fascinating creature.

On a hike in Maine, I found a turtle. I almost missed seeing it in the bushes!

(Also from your website): For as long as I can remember, I have loved telling stories. I carried a pocket-size notepad everywhere to scribble ideas. When I was young, I co-wrote a play with friends so we could perform for the neighborhood kids and parents. When I was a little older, I wrote my autobiography and short stories. But it took many years (and a couple careers) before I pursued writing for children.

But you were writing for children when you were a child, and even the autobiography was kid-friendly, I bet. When was the moment you discovered yourself writing for kids and liking it?

Good point! Maybe those were the seeds. My imagination flourished over the years, and I used to joke at work about “having a story in me” while I wrote dry communication and business plans.

The defining moment when I knew I wanted to write for kids was five years ago. I had just left a company and started thinking about what my next move would be. There were a few options, but nothing felt right. Staring out our window one morning (I do a lot of that), a story idea popped into my head. So, I sat down and wrote it, not sure why or what to do with it. I’ve learned from my new writer friends this is not unusual. 

A few months after writing that first story, I decided to write for kids. The excitement built, and I have never looked back.

(Website) When not writing, I’m spending time with family, enjoying nature, and volunteering. I currently volunteer for a pet loss grief support organization and SCBWI-Michigan as the Promotions Coordinator. With the human kids grown, my husband and I are now raising fur kids, four mischievous cats.

Please tell us what a pet loss grief support volunteer does.

I had no idea about this type of support until our Yorkie, Buddy, passed away in 2014. The loss hit me harder than expected, so I researched pet loss support. I found Rainbow Bridge and tapped into the articles and set up a virtual memorial (Rainbow Residency) for Buddy, where I started to write stories on his site. It was like keeping a pet journal. 

There were many adventures with Buddy, and it helped to write about those fun memories. We also have a Rainbow Residency for our Australian Shepherd, Molly. About six years ago I began to volunteer for the organization.

Each volunteer receives a daily list of new pet memorials. We write condolences, leave a note at the virtual memorial, send e-cards, and leave virtual treats or flowers at the memorial site. Occasionally, someone will ask for resources, and we’ll show them where to find them on the website.

Rainbow Bridge donates a portion of their proceeds to aid homeless animals.

Link to website:

https://www.rainbowsbridge.com/

Other stories are about trees and toads with a bit of a twist. Can you tell us what twists toads and trees can take? (Say five times fast!)

Ha! That’s funny, Charlie! I like to take ordinary things in our world and put them in unexpected settings or situations. I’ll ask myself questions until I come up with something that interests me, and I think might be fun to write about. 

One story is a spin on camping and the other explores the interconnectivity and communication between trees. These are fictional stories, but I did significant research for both.

The toad starts a fun chain reaction in a child’s backyard that leads to discovery. A nod to my own experiences with a toad years ago.

As a member of the SCBWI-MI leadership team, I'm currently serving as the Promotions Coordinator.

Wow, Is this position of Promotions Coordinator in addition to your Book Birthday position?

Starting out, I created the Book Birthday blog postings and worked with Suzanne Jacobs Lipshaw to plan the book selling events. Then, Carrie Pearson and Jodi McKay asked if I wanted to take the lead and create a book promotion poster for new releases. Of course, I said yes! 

I create the poster quarterly, and Jamie Bills, our Website Coordinator, posts each poster on our website. After three years, my schedule became super busy, so I needed to step away from the book selling events last October. But I continue to handle book promotions through the Book Birthdays and book promotion poster.

On SCBWI.org you are identified as Author, Illustrator?! (punctuation mine) Would you care to show us some of your favorite artwork?

Wow! I’m not sure how that happened because I’m not an illustrator, so I’ve made a note to update my profile. [She did.] I wish I could illustrate!  My mom is an artist, but I can’t draw a straight line with a ruler. 

In 7^th grade, I struggled in art class. My teacher saw how hard I worked and probably factored that into the grade, and I passed. I guess I’ve followed in my dad’s footsteps. He was a writer.

What’s next for Christy Matthes?

I’m polishing many picture book manuscripts, and I’ll keep writing picture books and perhaps try a chapter book or middle grade. I’ve had a scene in my head for about 10 years that has stayed with me, so I’ve started to ask myself questions about the character to see where that leads. But I don’t think this is a picture book.

My critique partners are incredible, and we meet often and swap manuscripts. Because of their encouragement and help, I have several manuscripts on submission now.

 

Please share any social media platforms:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christy.matthes.7/

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/christymatthes.bsky.social