Writer Spotlight: Cindy Williams Schrauben

Pep Talk, illustrating, editor, THIS COULD BE YOU, Hank, and miniature horses: author Cindy Williams Schrauben

Charlie Barshaw coordinates our regular Writer Spotlight feature and interviews writers of SCBWI-MI. In this piece, meet author Cindy Williams Schrauben.

Author Pep Talk YouTube@Cindy-Williams-Schrauben. What kind of peptalk do authors need? What’s it like being on YouTube?

My YouTube channel, Author Pep Talk, is just a few weeks old, so right now I am in the learning/development stage. When I began my quest to become a traditionally published author, I promised myself that I would give back to the kidlit community once I was in a position to do so. That time is now. 

There are already a wealth of wonderful people offering webinars, classes, organizing conferences, etc. to help with writing craft. I decided that my focus would, instead, be encouraging writers to persevere. This is driven by my passion for growth mindset. 

Publishing is a tough business and we all need camaraderie, support, and reminders to keep pushing. That is where Author Pep Talk comes in. I provide daily inspirational posts as well as chats with others in the industry including authors, illustrators, agents, editors, publishers, etc. I hope this will become a thriving community of publishing folks supporting one another.

Diving into YouTube feels a lot like the early days of writing. I have a lot to learn and progress is slow, so it would be easy to give up. This is perfect though, because new writers are experiencing similar emotions and we can go through it together. Win-win. I hope readers will subscribe and tell me what they would like to hear on the channel. https://www.youtube.com/@Cindy-Williams-Schrauben

 I write books for kids ranging from truly serious to seriously silly. As a former teacher, administrator, and children’s museum developer, empowering kids has always been my thing. Tell us about being a children’s museum developer, please.

About ten years ago, I worked with a group of individuals to start a children’s museum in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. I was the assistant development director and worked to procure local support for the initiative as well as plan the new building, exhibits and programs. It was an exciting time and the museum is thriving.

I look forward to Illustrating my own picture book someday… so, come along and dream with me! Are you illustrating? Care to share any samples?

This is scary for me, because I definitely feel like an imposter when it comes to art (POV - me cringing). But, I always tell people they have to ‘put themselves out there’, so here goes. When I’m stuck on a manuscript I often turn to writing and drawing fun ridiculous poems about growing older. Here is a silly example.

Illustration by Cindy

Illustrating might never happen for me, but playing around with different creative forms helps to inspire me, especially when I get stuck.

 

CindyWilliams Schrauben is an educator and former magazine editor who is working tofulfill the lifelong dream of becoming a published author for children. What was your experience being a magazine editor?

I loved editing a magazine! It was my first “professional” writing experience. I launched the Central Michigan Edition of Healthy & Fit Magazine out of Lansing. 

These issues served the upper lower peninsula. I wrote articles, selected Health and Wellness topics, recruited other writers, secured advertising, etc. These were all new roles for me, but it was exciting and I learned a great deal. It’s funny how one step in our lives leads us to the next.

 

And for some reason, I always seem to get my best ideas while riding in the car. TIP: I keep a text message open and send myself voice recordings. By the end of the trip, I often have a full-blown idea ready to go. If I can decipher my ramblings, that is.
How has your car dictation changed with technology?

It has changed! I still get lots of ideas while I drive, but now I can just tell my phone to ‘take a memo’ as if I am talking to my real-life assistant.

 

Her latest book “This Could Be You” is her first picture book and features themes such as activism, diversity, andschool graduation throughout the book. Your first published book, after how long you’d been working on writing? What hoops did you have to jump through to get paid and published?

I ‘aspired’ to publish picture books for about 8 years before my offer from Cardinal Rule Press. As a retiree, I treated it like a full-time job. 

But, it took me a while to admit to anyone what I was doing. It was more of a silent goal (because I didn’t believe in myself). I took classes, went to conferences, and devoured everything I could find online. 

THIS COULD BE YOU was plucked out of the slush pile, so no hoops. Cardinal Rule Press was wonderful to work with and I think we changed one word from the initial submission.

 As an editor, can you answer me this? Which is the correct title format: Italic Name, or ITALIC SHOUT NAME, or PLAIN SHOUT NAME? With or without quote marks?

Do you mean for listing the title of the book? I have seen/heard differing opinions, For me it is THIS COULD BE YOU - no italics or quotes.

 

My journey has definitely been winding and sweet and I’d say… longish. All thecredit for my perseverance goes to the amazing kidlit community – what agenerous group of people. From websites and blogs like this, to contests,critique groups, twitter parties, etc. children’s book authors have lifted meup and propelled me forward.  When was this quote written?

That was an interview in Kidlit411 the year my first book came out.

Since then, you’ve published two books. What’s changed in the intervening years?

Not much has changed in the past few years with the kidlit community. The generosity and team attitude still amazes me. Changes in the publishing industry are a given, but having others to lean on makes all the difference.

 

From an interview:

Really??! That is so cool! *runs off to find that page*

Picking my favorite is tough, but I think it is this:

Who has keen-design flair,

an artist’s time-to-shine flair,

a sketch-and-then-refine flair?

Create. It could be you!

Why? It shows a character who tries and fails, but doesn’t give up.

Anything to add nowadays? 

This is the one illustration for which I offered input. I suggested that the illustrator, Julia Seal, add the crumpled up pieces of paper to emphasize the fact that the character’s drawings weren’t perfect the first time. Just like the writing process, right?

 

Hank’s Change of Heart! Hank’s Change of Heart! HANK’S CHANGE OF HEART! HANK’S CHANGE OF HEART! Tell us about Hank’s heart.

My new book HANK’S CHANGE OF HEART, was released November 4, 2025. The book features a boy who loves hearts of all kinds. He makes, collects, and hoards them until he discovers that they have a more important purpose.

I have lots of fun events planned including a big launch party and setting a Kid’s World Record with a local elementary school entitled “The Longest Chain of Children Sharing their Hearts”. It should be great fun.

Planning events reminds me of one of my favorite cheers for authors…’ If you don’t ask, the answer will always be no’. I have benefitted from many great opportunities because of that mindset.

(Read about Hank's Book Birthday HERE.)

 

What’s next for Cindy Williams Schrauben?

I always have a few manuscripts in the works. Right now I am also working on a chapter book series about my sister’s rescue farm for miniature horses. (Fanciful Farms in Eaton Rapids, Mi).  I hope I have many more opportunities to inspire kids with books and empower other writers to do the same.

 

List any social media you care to share:

https://www.youtube.com/@Cindy-Williams-Schrauben

https://www.facebook.com/cindy.w.schrauben

https://www.instagram.com/cindyschrauben/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Studio Tour with Trena Brannon

Trena's Illinois Studio

As a child growing up in Michigan, I have always loved drawing and coloring. As much joy as I found in art, when it was time for me to decide on a career direction, I did not even consider it. I did not know any artists, and I did not know what career types were possible. I took the technical route and ended up in Illinois after graduation. I continued to doodle and color on my meeting notes, the grocery list,  and with my children.  In 2004, my dear friend Marge introduced me to rubber stamping and card making, which was the beginning of my art (supplies) obsession. I started with a shoebox of stamping supplies and a spot at the kitchen table to do my art. Eventually, I moved to an area in our basement and bought one of those plastic drawer organizers to hold my supplies. From there, it was just a colorful explosion. I spent all my allowance on art supplies and storage for art supplies. Over time, I acquired a hodgepodge of containers, bins, baskets, cabinets, and shelves. Michaels, Joanne’s, and Hobby Lobby were my favorite places to go on the weekend. All I needed was a coupon.  As with many artists, my creativity evolved. Over time, I expanded my art supplies beyond rubber stamps, ink pads, pencils, and markers. I started drawing more and building my confidence. The Donnas’ - Dewberry and Downey, helped me get comfortable with acrylic paint. Carol DuVall found her way to my TV, and TiVo captured every episode. With encouragement from my family and friends, I started a business selling my greeting cards at art fairs and in local shops.

Trena's studio at her 2015 Michigan apartment

Fast forward to 2015, I moved back to Michigan to work.  We lived in an apartment for two years until we found a house.  I shared the small dining area with my husband. I had about 75% of the room, and he had 25%. It was working for me, but I needed a better storage solution. A trip to IKEA was necessary.  My creativity expanded to digital art - a new rabbit hole of exploration and fun!

Welcome to the studio

When we moved into our house, we continued sharing a common space - about twice the size of the area in our apartment. I maintained my 75%, but it wasn't enough, and my husband needed his own larger space, so he moved out. He found another spot in the house.  Soon after, we moved all of our belongings to Michigan. The art supplies I had in boxes, just waiting for me, were ready to be put in their own spot in our home. Over the years, my creativity has changed, and my style has evolved. I ended up giving away a lot of my supplies which at first was hard, but I found it freed me up to move in new directions. Organizing my creative space is a cycle. I embrace it. 

Trena's studio in her Michigan home

 

Trena Brannon advocates kindness, inclusion, and positivity.

She is an engineer by education, a project manager by experience, and an artist by joy.

Trena has various identities, including illustrator, surface designer, and freelance artist. She finds inspiration everywhere and develops her artwork using a variety of art supplies, found objects, and digital tools. Trena’s illustrations and designs show up in The Brannon Factory® greeting cards, children's books, via licensing, and in teaching. Trena has served on various art and craft design teams and has been published in art and craft magazines.

One of her favorite things to do is talk about possibilities! Trena lives in Southeast Michigan with her husband and art supplies.

Book Birthday Blog with Steve and Beth Boughton

 

Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!

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

 

Congratulations to Steve and Beth Boughton on the release of Emus on the Loose

 

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

This is a fictional work inspired by a true story. On November 30, 2022, a windstorm swept through Oshtemo Township- just a few miles from Kalamazoo, Michigan. At the Llama Woods Farm, while Christee and Randy Dyk were away at work, a strong gust blew open the gate to the emu enclosure and a crashing tree branch gave the six emus just the scare they needed to make a break for it.
 
Soon, a Kalamazoo County sheriff’s deputy spotted one of the giant birds strolling down the road. The chase was on! With help from the Dyk family, they were able to round up the feathered fugitives.

 News outlets around the world pounced on the peculiar story, and it went viral on social media, with people marking themselves safe from stampeding emus.  One of those people was Steve's aunt (Mary Lou Boughton, a lifelong Kalamazoo resident). Beth saw the post and commented, "Is this your next book?"
 
Turns out, it was.

Steve's aunt introduced Steve to Christee Dyk, and even though the real emus didn’t make it all the way to downtown Kalamazoo, they decided it would make the perfect setting for a wild and whimsical “what-if” adventure.  

 

 

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

We wanted this to be a fun story that shows off some of our favorite spots in Kalamazoo, but also demonstrates the importance of compromise and working together to solve problems.

What was the most difficult part of writing this book? 

Steve: The most difficult part of writing the book was finding the time to write it! Working full-time as a television producer, along with other side jobs, I found that the only time I could really write is when I had insomnia. I would often lie awake late at night, trying not to wake Beth up while I searched the internet for fun emu facts. 
 
Beth: For me, the difficulty was in the editing portion. Steve has a lot of brilliant and creative ideas, but much like an emu, he is prone to flights of fancy. Corralling those flights of fancy can present a unique challenge, but the end product typically strikes a balance that seems to resonate with kids. 

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

We are going to be working with the Kalamazoo Public Library and bookstores in the area to get it on the shelves, and hopefully putting together some events. The book is available right now through our website: https://franciscoandfriends.com/

What's next for you?

We’re currently in the middle of working on a sequel to our first book Francisco Takes Flight, which is about a flamingo at the Detroit Zoo who wants to learn to fly. In the sequel, Francisco Flies Home, the reader will follow Francisco’s journey to Chile for a family reunion. This project is currently in the illustration phase. We have many other ideas in various stages of development for Two Ton Press, many which center around animals, since we are big animal lovers! 

More about the book . . .  

Emus on the Loose is a fun and beautiful children’s book about six self-involved emus who get loose from their farm and go on a thrilling adventure in Kalamazoo, Michigan. They visit some of the city’s most iconic locations all while doing their best to avoid capture by the local Sheriff. In order to get back home to their family, they will need to learn to work together. Emus on the Loose is beautifully illustrated by our friend Marissa Tawney Thaler, an absolute rock star of an artist here in Lansing.

Published by: Two Ton Press, LLC (self-published) 

More about the authors . . . 

Steve Boughton grew up in the small, western Michigan town of Whitehall, and as the son of two teachers, creativity was always encouraged. He studied film at Michigan State University, where he also played trombone in the marching band.
 
After a few years of working in Iowa in film and as a television producer, he was able to move back to Michigan and put his story-telling chops to work at MSU for more than ten years, producing award-winning content for the MSU Alumni Association, College of Music and WKAR television.
 
He has always loved to create, whether making films and videos, drawing, or writing fun stories! 
 
Beth Boughton grew up in Brooklyn, Michigan, and was also the child of two teachers.  Reading was always encouraged in her household, and weekly trips to the Carnegie library were some of her favorite days. 
 
She studied English with a focus on Creative Writing at Michigan State University, where she was also in the Spartan Marching Band Color Guard.  During her time there, she was published in several editions of The Offbeat, and held an editorial internship at a regionally distributed magazine spanning 10 Michigan counties. Upon graduation, she began writing weekly features for The Exponent, located in Brooklyn, Michigan. 
 
She currently works for the Library of Michigan, and enjoys writing poetry, short stories, and putting her editing skills to work.  

 

 

Writer Spotlight: Doris Holik Kelly

 Lifetouch, bossy, Niles, Copper Turtle, Summer Rain, and girls and mules: author/photographer Doris Holik Kelly

Charlie Barshaw coordinates our regular Writer Spotlight feature and interviews writers of SCBWI. In this piece, meet  author  and photographer Doris Holik Kelly

In a Goodreads bio, it mentions a portrait you photographed of Joanne K. Hill, who wrote Rainbow Remedies for Life's Stormy Times. How did you come to photograph Joanne? Why is this portrait among your favorites?

Joanne Hill was a smart, funny, great friend from the Bethel College writer’s club. She wrote Rainbow Remedies during a very tough time in her life. If I remember right she had a whole series of deaths (6?)in her family in a very short time, starting with her husband and ending with one of her sons. 

She was in so much pain that she slipped into a deep depression and one of the ways she worked out of it was by writing her book. I was happy to gift her with a portrait and she was beautiful. 

I just saw it a few days ago on her obituary. She passed away a few days before Dave (David Kelly, Doris' husband). I didn’t see it until a few days ago.

Although you’ve got five published book titles, you are also known for your talent taking photographs. How did you hone your skills with a camera? What equipment do you prefer to use for the best results?

Just give me any camera and get out of my way! 😊

I had an old stainless-steel Canon from 1972 that could take pictures of anything and make it look good. It weighed about 7 lbs and was a bear hanging around my neck. Now I have a much lighter weight digital Sony with Zeiss lenses and it takes great pictures, too. But my cell phone’s camera is pretty spectacular and so handy too.

You worked for Lifetouch doing portraits. What were some of your more memorable photo sessions?

Oh Lord. You would ask that.

I worked for Lifetouch three different times. Sears Portrait studio, Lifetouch school traveling photographer, and the Senior Portrait division. Each one of these had its challenges. 

The Sears Portrait studio ranged from birth to -- drag them in—wheel them in—carry them in. And group photos. As many people as I could squeeze into the room. 

But my greatest challenges there were 2 year-olds. Keep them on the table and keep them from screaming. My favorite prop was a rubber duckie. I balanced it on my head a lot and I’d sneeze- ha-chooo! And drop it into my hand and make everybody crack up.

We had great excitement one day when 2 women raced into the studio to sign in and when one beat the other one to the sign in sheet, a fist fight broke out between them. 

A knife showed up, and someone yelled GUN, which there wasn’t one, but everyone was on the floor with a lot of screaming. FUN! (Sarcasm in case you didn’t notice) 

It was wonderful when the security guys came and took them both away. Drugs, drinking, and kids photos—never thought they went together.

Traveling school photographer. UGH. One of the worst jobs I ever had. Preschools? Drag 40lbs of equipment up 2 flights of steps and spend up to 4 hours trying to take toddler and preschool pictures. Go to a gym and take 400 to 600 school pictures in 2 hours with rude, sulky uncooperative teens.

Take group pictures of each junior high classroom, and have to redo half the school because I didn’t see rows of kids giving me the finger down at their sides from my perch 50 feet away on a 10-foot ladder. Never said I had eagle eyes.

Senior division was more fun. Studio work was fun with different kinds of props lighting and back grounds. I took most of their outdoor photos with really interesting backgrounds. 

The place the studio was in was an old brewery and had layers of steps, cubby holes, brick backgrounds, and weird windows. I was known (ahem) 😉for being the best outdoor photographer in the division.

You were born in South Bend, Indiana. What was life like for young Doris? What early experiences led you to your present-day passions?

Sixth grade Doris

I’m the oldest of six kids. They still call me the bossy sister. I don’t care. We lived in the country and got to roam several acres. The younger kids had jobs to do but if I’d blink they’d all disappear and I got blamed for the work not being done. But that was ok. I’d take my book and climb up on the shed roof, read, and fight off the ants and bugs for a few hours of quiet. Reading books = writing books! Right?

You grew up in Niles, Michigan, and live there still. What about the place and its peoples makes it home for you?

Niles is a small town of about 12,000 people. We’re the first town and township from the Indiana state line and one of the closest places for the Hoosiers in South Bend to grab their supply of pot and run back into Indiana where it’s not legal. Lots of red and blue lights shine on 933 everyday.

Niles has the best history EVER! We have the Fort St.Joseph (1691) archaeology dig every summer. There are a lot of other festivals, too; Apple, Bluegrass, Jazz, Renaissance, River fest, all summer long.

What’s not to like? We’re 25 miles from Lake Michigan beaches, 30 miles from Warren Dunes State Park that has 3 miles of beaches, and 6 miles dune trails, 3 camping areas, 10 miles from Notre Dame, 10 miles from a great shopping area, two train systems, Amtrak and South Shore, to take you into Chicago if you don’t want to drive 90 miles into the city to the museums and fancy shopping, and 2 baseball parks, and DA Bears!

You graduated from Southwestern Michigan College in Dowagiac, taking classes in creative writing, photography, and Art and Education. As a young college graduate, what was your plan for your life?

I went to college the first time for music. I wanted to be a professional singer. (Many are called…) The second time was as an adult. My plan was to have a job I enjoyed and to help my husband take care of the family. 

After I graduated I worked for a local family portrait studio. That’s where I also took wedding pictures, ( there’s a lot I could tell here too about some weddings),and senior pictures and I took the (shiver) elementary/jr. hi, and high school pictures. And I wrote on the side when I had some peace and quiet.

Your first mid-grade novel, The Mystery of the Copper Turtle, was published on May 22, 2009. By November 2 of that same year, you had published The Mystery of the Voyageurs Rendezvous. How did you accomplish that incredible feat of two published books in six months?

I started thinking about a book I could write for kids that was like the real Mackinac Island. I had a directed study in creative writing at SMC so I wrote a couple of chapters a week and turned them in. (I was also working at Sears in the men’s clothing department, taking pictures for the family studio, and I had a ten-year-old and a 14-year-old and an out of work husband then.)

I didn’t have a computer then, so I’d write in longhand, give it to friend of mine to type out, then I got a computer and typed my own onto a disc, then the next system came a long, and on and on. I need to roll my eyes here. Just thinking about the different programs it went through was ridiculous.

BUT it took me almost 20 submissions to find a publisher that liked my book and wanted to do a series. I guess it was hard to place, too local, too much Michigan info, and I probably wasn’t the best writer. But I was trying!

That was before 9-11. I actually had a redirection letter reach me from New York City a year after it had been originally sent back to me. It was slightly damaged.

While I kept submitting Copper Turtle I started on The Voyageur’s Rendezvous. My teenaged son says, “There’s got to be a ship wreck!” and I started the ship wreck. I’d read what I wrote to him--- “BO-RING!” 

So I just kept working. So when I found a small Michigan publisher she wanted both books, and she also wanted the third (Mystery of the Bone Scavengers). And then she didn’t… but that’s another story. (That’s when I met Lori Taylor.)

Cover art: Lori Taylor

So I just kept writing about the things that interested me. Archeology, Michigan history, stealing Native American art, diving to shipwrecks and stealing from them, grave robbing native sites; all are white collar crimes that continue all over the world. 

But, some things have changed. What once didn’t get paid much attention, and the bad guys rarely ever got punished, now we have repatriation laws in the US and the world and many things are being returned to the tribes. There used to be wide open Native American graves that people could look at and even buy bones from and now that is completely closed down. Thank God.

By July, 2010 you had written and published a third in the series of Big Mitten Mysteries, this one titled The Mystery of the Bone Scavengers. There was a fourth book planned, but never published. Do you have a draft? What was the title?

The Bone Scavengers had a really small audience. Not supported at all by my publisher. But it’s out now at your favorite bookseller.

I wanted the fourth book to be a story about the Fort St. Joseph archeology dig, but nope, she said it wasn’t a physical place for kids to visit so the idea went to the side. I may still write one for it anyway, just because a dig is an interesting thing for kids to participate in.

So the 4^th book won’t be in Mackinac It’s going to be set in the Traverse area in the town of Glen Arbor. The Lost Cubs of Sleeping Bear. It’s 95% DONE. But not totally finished. I’m struggling with the ending. Too many strings untied.

Do you miss your main characters of the middle grade mysteries? What part of Jared and Sadie are you, your kids, or grandkids

Doris and grandkids

I tried to make the characters after my kids. They are sort of like them. Jared and Jeremy are both pretty laid back, and Sadie and Susana have the same temperament, but Susana doesn’t love makeup.( She’s pretty grown up now but she’d still punch her brother if she could get away with it. ;-) ) 

But my kids are kinda boring. So I had to use my imagination and also remember some of the slightly scary stuff we (I)  did as kids. (Remember, no cell phone or cameras back then to tell on you. .)

In Bone Scavengers you mention the horrifying Native American legend, the wendigo. In Copper Turtle, a monster called a Gi-bi thwarts the children trying to solve the mystery. What is a Gi-bi?

A Gi-bi is almost the same as a wendigo, LOL. Wendigoes almost always come out in the starving days of winter to turn insanely ravenous people into cannibals .(Hi, how are you doing neighbor? Want to come over for lunch?) Not the middle of Main Street Mackinac Island. 😉

Mysteries for kids are difficult to write, what with all the clues you have to drop on the page, and all the research necessary to tell a convincing story of the history and the geography of the place. How did you write three 200-page novels in the course of a year?

They were written over at least 15 years. 😊 But I needed to sell the first one first, so I kept writing the others

The Gift of Summer Rain: An Arch Rock Legend was your next book, published in 2018, and illustrated by local artist Lori Taylor. It clocks in at a trim 58 pages. Do you consider it a long picture book, or a novella?

 

Interior art for Summer Rain

I Love Lori Taylor! Her art rocks!

Eh… It’s kind of a long picture book novella. There is too much story to be a picture book, but Lori’s gorgeous illustrations are so necessary to bring the people and places within the story to life. I eliminated a lot of words from when I first wrote it, though.

Your latest book, The Crow’s Warning: Escaping the Wildfires of 1881, was published in 2024. Like all of your work, it is based on Michigan history. What drew you to write about that tragic event? How much research was necessary?

I heard a little about the family history of the 1881 fire at my aunt’s funeral at least 15 years ago. My created story is truly NOT a biography. It’s based on a series of isolated incidents reported by the Detroit and other larger city newspapers and by my imagination.

There were a lot of little notices in the Detroit paper during that week from little cities and villages all over the thumb. After thinking about it we decided that they were last ditch telegraphed pleas for help as fires approached them. 

It’s very flat up in the thumb and there was literally NO place to see where the fire was coming from. No place to escape to. The fire would just appear. 

My great x4 grandma's grave.
She was Old Order Mennonite
from Lancaster county

I gave the people in my story a heads up with a climbing tree, and the crows warning, and the river. A way to survive, but most settlers who died in the wildfire didn’t have that.

The first Cass City paper, the Enterprise began the week of the fire. It reported the fire at the end of the week and then, to my knowledge, they didn’t bring out another edition until a month later. 

It was a horrendous fire. Almost 300 people died in about 24 hours. Those are the people that were from the area. It doesn’t account for any visitors to the area. My great great-grandparents did spend a lot of time in the river. They lost everything and had to start again.

I asked about the
girls and the mules

The Girls and Mules picture is from the Crows' Warning book. My grandma is on the mule's back. She's wearing a hat and a big grin and my great grandma is driving the plow and standing behind the mule. 

So that's an old picture; probably more that a hundred years ago. 

I guess some of the family had mules. Cheaper than horses but twice as mean. I have this picture in the Crows' Warning just for fun. In the Crows' Warning story the Irish family have mules. That's about all I have. Don't have any horse names. 

I almost sent you a picture of my great grandma Cora Belle Jones -- the one I mention as being the main character in the story. The story is told through a 13 year old Cora Belle Jones' eyes. I used her name. But not the real her. 

She died when I was 4 so I don't remember her much, except the one time I played with the fish in their outdoor horse watering tank.

By the way I do have a sort of story about the kids in the station wagon and it's all about leaving my brother in Saginaw when he got out of the car to go to the bathroom and got locked inside the bathroom and we drove off without him. 

But we did have a trailer filled with chickens and rabbits and 7 more grouchy people to distract us. We didn't know he was missing until we had a flat tire and a cop stopped by to ask if we'd lost a kid.  Whoops! Sorry Dale. 

Janet Seaman contributed watercolor artwork for a second edition of The Copper Turtle. How did this collaboration come to pass?

She was a good friend and a well-loved 2nd grade teacher in our community, who supported me and loved the Copper Turtle story. She read it to her 10-year-old granddaughter on a trip up to Mackinac and her granddaughter begged for pictures so she could see what it looked like. 

So Janet made them just for fun. She gave them to me, but the first publisher didn’t want to put anything in the book but the story, so I hung onto them.

What’s next for Doris?

Next book: Fang and the Fabulous Fundraiser. 5^th graders try to raise enough money for a class trip and everything goes wrong.

The 4^th Big Mitten Mystery book The Lost Cubs of Sleeping Bear.

I think I’d like to get The Gift of Summer Rain onto Amazon. (Big project)

THEN!!! I have an exciting young adult murder mystery 95% finished. It’s called Bobbed Hair and Bloodstained Banners and it’s set within an orphanage in a town near me, pre prohibition, and pre votes for women. 

Two young women decide to be suffragettes and find that the world is very much against them. It’s very disturbing and dreadfully sad at times, too. 

I had to set it aside for a while to decide if I wanted it to be YA or Midgrade. YA won. I believe that some things are too deep for 5^th graders.

That’s all!

Because people who know Doris mentioned her camera work, I asked for some examples:

 

 

Grandkid portraits

Grandpa and grandchild

tree on the edge of the Grand Canyon walkway

the beach when Lake Huron was very high

bleeding heart