Writer Spotlight: Colby Sharp

Nerdy, Donalyn, Camp, DiCamillo, MRA,

running, The Yarn, and Game Changer:

Author/read-aloud specialist Colby Sharp

Charlie Barshaw coordinates our regular Writer Spotlight feature and interviews writers of SCBWI-MI. In this piece, meet author/educator Colby Sharp.

[Note: the items in italics are from my research into Colby Sharp. My questions follow the italicized items.]

Kristin:You're involved in some special projects that have grown and attracted a passionate following. Tell us more about the Nerdy Book Club and Nerd Camp. 

Nerd Camp logo by Laurie Keller

Colby: The Nerdy Book Club is a blog that I co-founded with Donalyn Miller. We started it because we were hoping to create a list of book awards filled with books that our students would love. People seemed excited, so we decided to keep it going. We asked our community what they wanted on the site, and we developed a weekly schedule around their feedback.

Nerd Camp is an extension of Nerdy Book Club. It is sort of like our annual meeting. Last year we had people from more than 35 states come to Parma for camp.

That was Kristin Lenz interviewing you for The Mitten back in 2017.

Colby and Donalyn

Photo courtesy of the Horn Book 

I was never aware that you and Donalyn Miller co-founded The Nerdy Book Club. You and Donalyn go way back. When did you first meet? When did you decide to work together?

Donalyn and I first met on Twitter back in the summer of 2011. I had read her book and seen her speak, but we didn’t meet in person until that fall in Chicago at a conference. 

We sort of dreamed up Nerdy Book Club in a hotel bar at the conference. It started out as a joke on social media before the conference, but it was at the conference where we explored the idea of turning it into something more.

I feel like such a dullard now. Of course Nerd Camp (correct spelling: nErD Camp--the ED for Educational Development) was an extension of The Nerdy Book Club. It’s in the name. Ruth and I were excited to be part of Nerd Camp, and by 2017, it was in its full glory. People from 35 states attended! When was the first Nerd Camp? How many people attended? Who were the first authors invited?

The first Nerd Camp was in Battle Creek in 2013. It was a one day event when it started. We put the invites out on social media, so everyone was invited, but mostly teachers and librarians attended that first year.
 

The first year we specifically invited authors and illustrators was in 2014 when we started Nerd Camp Junior for kids.

Each year, Nerd Camp grew in size and prestige. At what point did you realize you had created a Monster? Was it when the gathering grew so large, it threatened to burst the Parma High School building at the seams?


I think the third year we knew it had become a bit of a monster. After that we had to start turning people away. It was really hard to not let everyone come who wanted to.

Nerd Camp assembly (FB)

2019 was the last year for Nerd Camp, right before the Pandemic hit. When the last light was turned off at Nerd Camp 2019, did you know it was over then?

I think we all had a pretty good idea that 2019 would be our last year during the 2019 conference. It was eating up half of all of our summer breaks, and we were getting pretty burned out.

Nerd Camp was a wildly successful venture, but it consumed your professional and home life after a while. Yet you learned a lot by doing. Michigan teachers and authors thirst for another chance at community. What would you recommend to a group who’d like to start their own annual gathering?

I think I would tell people to go for it, have fun, and don’t worry about anything other than the message you are trying to spread. It doesn’t have to be something that explodes like Nerd Camp to be awesome.

My most memorable experience at Nerd Camp was when Kate DiCamillo made a surprise appearance in front of an audience of a thousand teachers. The heavens aligned to allow her to be there, and her speech was magical. What do you remember about that day?

I think what I remember the most was the buzz leading up to the moment. It was a very difficult secret to keep. I remember hearing one teacher saying something about how she thought she saw Kate walking around near her hotel that morning. I love how much teachers love Kate DiCamillo. It gives me hope for the world.


After Nerd Camp, you were recruited by the Michigan Reading Association. You served as a conference chair and then president of the organization during the depths of the Pandemic. Out of the frying pan… What was your takeaway from your years with MRA?

I love attending state reading conferences, and I have been lucky enough to have been to about a dozen of them. Being a part of MRA really showed me how much love and hard work goes into making those events as meaningful as they are.


I follow you on FaceBook, and I always get short reels and videos of your book recommendations. When I used to visit Ed Spicer in Algonac, he always had boxes of books, and piles of unboxed books. Do publishers recognize your strong voice and send you ARCs and review copies?

I am blessed to receive quite a few books in the mail from publishers.


You are in front of a camera or behind a microphone a lot. How have you used your voice for literacy? How have you had to adapt to these technological forms of communication?

One of many YouTube videos

I try to share as much as I can about the power of falling in love with reading. I’m not the guy anyone should listen to on small group instruction, the science of reading, or specific reading programs (not a fan of any of them). I know what is possible when kids love to read, and have time to read what they want.


You and your wife are avid runners. What kind of routine do you perform daily? When you’re gearing up for a big race?

I have run every day since August 4, 2019. 98% of the time I run first thing in the morning. If I didn’t do it right away, I am sure that the craziness of the day would get in the way. Nothing on the race calendar at the moment. I did run a 55K with my wife at the beginning of August. It was hard!

What excites a fifth-grade classroom when you’re reading to them? Do you do voices?

I think just about everyone loves a great story, so it isn’t really that hard to get them excited about reading when you flood them with amazing read alouds. I try to do voices, but I wouldn’t say I am great at it. I am great at being passionate and excited about the stories we read.


You and Travis Jonker both teach at small town Michigan public schools, are authors, love books, and work together on The Yarn podcast. I asked Travis about his favorite Yarn episodes. He said: So many great conversations. Gary D. Schmidt, Jason Reynolds, Kate DiCamillo, and Mo Willems stand out. Any you’d care to add?

When I was a kid Hatchet was my favorite book, so interview Gary Paulsen before he passed away was pretty darn special.


How did The Yarn come about? How many years have you and Travis been interviewing kidlit authors and illustrators? What were some of your most fascinating takeaways?

I kept asking Travis to do a podcast with me until he said yes. It took a while! My biggest takeaway is how hard it is to write a book. These authors put so much into the books they send out into the world.

You seem to have mastered social media, with accounts on Bluesky, and Instagram, YouTube and Facebook. Which do you prefer?

I probably spend the most time on Instagram and YouTube. Mostly I just miss Twitter 2012.


You recently had a time-lapse post about your first day at Parma as a student, versus present day. How has the Parma school system changed over the decades? What do you remember most fondly about your early days as a student?

The biggest change was closing down our three elementary buildings last winter to move into one giant elementary. At the end of day, things are pretty much the same: awesome teachers, amazing kids, and supportive families. I feel very lucky.

Obviously, some teachers influenced you to become a teacher, too. Who were some of your influential mentors?

Ms. Frey was my third grade teacher. I loved her. She made me feel so loved. It was the only year that I cried at the end of the school year.


You’re still doing Sharpread! And you’re on Substack! How do you keep them all separate?

I have no idea. I try to do a Substack newsletter once a week, I do one episode of The Yarn each month, and try to post about books on the rest whenever I can. I don’t really have much of a plan.

Game Changer is your collaboration with Donalyn Miller. How does one co-write a book?

Google Docs! Donalyn is brilliant, so working with her made it go a lot smoother than I anticipated.
 

What’s next for Colby Sharp?

Year 21! I’m answering these questions the night before I head back to school!

Please list any social media you care to share:

@colbysharp -instagram

Writer Spotlight: Erin M. Brown

 

 Tripods, Amber, NDA, Yes!, Cornerstone, conferences, Aquinas, and romance: Author Erin M. Brown

Charlie Barshaw coordinates our regular Writer Spotlight feature and interviews writers of SCBWI. In this piece, meet author Erin M. Brown.

[Note: the items in italics are from my research into Erin Brown. My questions follow the italicized items.] 

Who was young Erin? Who most greatly influenced your love of reading, writing, and teaching?

I was a quiet book nerd who rode my bike to the library three times a week to stuff my backpack with as many books as allowed. My Side of the Mountain, A Wrinkle in Time, The Witch of Blackbird Pond, and John Christopher’s classic YA series The Tripods inspired me to fill notebooks filled with scenes and daydreams. When not outside climbing a tree, I was reading or writing.

At 14, I began teaching music and eventually earned a music ed degree from WMU. This led to teaching music students for about 30 years. During that time, I also earned a master’s degree in rehabilitation, worked clinically in a VA hospital teaching patients, and returned to work at home, teaching young kids. 

I started designing curricula in the 80s and, eventually, was asked to teach and design university courses in writing, English, communications, and leadership and management. So, reading, writing, and teaching is a three-strand cord running through my life for over 50 years now.

You’ve earned a slew of letters after your name. How did you manage schooling combined with raising children and your prodigious writing output?
 

Truth is, my mind is constantly “on fire”—and creativity doesn’t take energy; it gives. The same dynamic filled grad school and learning: it’s incredibly enjoyable and energizing. (I love learning.)

Erin has 30 books published; is a lover of coffee; has multiple collies and a mini–Australian Labradoodle; reads voraciously (and loves re-reading Roger Zelazny’s Amber Chronicles yearly, both cycles, of course); and is passionate about speaking and one-on-one coaching for writers of fantasy, science fiction, dystopian, romantasy, and quirky contemporary, out-of-the-box romance novels with a twist.

What is it about Roger Zelazny’s Amber Chronicles (both cycles, of course) that brings you back for an annual re-read? When did you first read the Chronicles?
 

Speaking circa 1990's

Wherever I go, I love to sing Roger Zelazny’s praises. He was a master storyteller who won the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers’ Association (SFWA) Nebula Award three times (and was nominated 14 times). He also won the Hugo Award six times (and was nominated 14 times for this award, as well).

I first read the Amber Chronicles (a series of 10 books) between 1970 and 1991, when they were published. For me, Zelazny is right up there with Asimov, Rodenberry, Rice Burroughs, MacDonald, Morris, Lovecraft, Lewis, and Tolkien. I also love reading today’s spec fic greats. It’s fun that Kevin J. Anderson (Dune), Brandon Sanderson (Stormlight Archives, Mistborn), Gaiman, and GRR Martin openly cite Zelazny’s Amber Chronicles as a key influencer of their own works.

Zelazny has an uncanny ability to create reader intrigue, to immerse readers into the setting, and to write fast, powerful dialogue. His stories make me completely emotional. I don’t know anyone else who introduces characters like he does—simply remarkable. I can only hope he influences my writing—because every time I read the first five books of Amber, I’m undone.

With some SCBWI friends

From advising A-listers on season arcs and screenplays to working one-on-one with authors on novels, Erin helps both pros and beginners as a story consultant. What are some of the screenplays you’ve been involved in? Which season arcs in TV series are your proudest achievement?

I can’t name many of the screenplays for NDA/privacy reasons, but I can say I’ve had the honor of working with well-known writers, indie film makers, and even a few A-list actors. 

If you know anything about writing in Hollywood, you know that it takes a lot to buy a script or TV show, to greenlight a project, and to get it into production. Anything can crumble at any step of the way. 

I say this because my favorite project was with John Rhys-Davies (LOTR) on a sci-fi TV show reboot proposal that lasted two years before re-licensing issues made the project fold. Working with John made me realize how much I love ideating and outlining big story arcs (and he’s such a gracious guy).

Each year, Erin judges multiple national and international storytelling contests for author organizations (e.g., RWA, SCBWI) and anthologies. She has also been featured in articles, blogs, columns, websites, webinars, conferences, and on the radio since the late 80s.

Tell me about judging. And what has your decades-long involvement in radio wrought? 

I’ve been judging contests and anthologies for 30 years and absolutely love it. Whether it’s for the three rounds of Romance Writers of America’s yearly awards, or speculative novels, or flash fiction contests, for me, contest season is a rush. As a former university writing instructor, it “feels like home” to give comments and suggestions helping authors publish even better books.

Speaking in Las Vegas

Speaking is another fun story. In the 80s, someone asked me to speak at a small conference. I said, “Why not?” Well, the word got out and I ended up speaking multiple times a year. 

Then, in 2000 (when my first book was published), the publicity team put me on a ton of radio shows and podcasts. Go figure, I really liked it. Again, meeting people who love storytelling as much as I do and talking craft is invigorating (the shy, bicycling book introvert has come a long way). 

My father always said, be open and kind, share what you know, and when something new comes along, even if it feels awkward and you’re scared, say yes. It was great advice.

In what turned out to be a unique twist of fate, Erin was recruited years ago as a writer-designer for a college writing program, which evolved into the development and oversight of three university writing and communications programs. 

Describe this unique twist of fate. How did this writing program turn into an award-winning national project?
 

In early 2000, I was speaking at a conference and was approached by someone representing Cornerstone University’s Professional and Graduate Studies Division who said they needed a writing, research, and leadership instructor. So, on their prompting, I applied. Again, my dad’s advice to “say yes” led to something I never imagined: 17 years of college teaching at three universities.

I found that teaching college part time worked well with raising my kids. Life became a game of “creative time management” (waking at 5 AM or working till midnight), and that led to with a passion for organization (my calendar front and center, always).
 

After working part time at Cornerstone for seven years, it happened again at another conference: a small college from the Washington DC area had a booth, and the person manning it approached me to say they were looking for someone to develop writing courses for a distance learning program. Would I be interested? 

I ended up designing their online program’s writing courses, as well as the college’s online AP English Language and Composition program. Then I taught writing and research there for five years. 

This was during the explosion of online learning, and more writing program development followed, including as a full-time position as the Communications Curriculum Lead for General Education with Western Governors University. Oh, by the way: go to conferences. You never know what’s going to happen there!

About 16 years ago, I “ran into” a new (at the time) online curriculum group called Homeschool Connections. There, I made a single writing course for teens… and another… and another—which turned into an entire online writing program for teens called Aquinas Writing Advantage (AWA). 

There, I created and now oversee about 50 courses as the Executive Lead, with a leadership team of six guiding 25 instructors. It has truly been an honor, with the program winning first place in the iLearn Awards for the past four years in a row. The most fun is when university graduates message me that, after taking the AWA courses and getting their college degree, the book they’ve written has been picked up by one of the Big Five.

In the last decade, Corporate America came calling, and I was asked to apply as an International Writing Strategist. Again, I said yes. 

I ended up training dozens of international writing professionals and marketing copywriters, met daily with writers all over the world, and worked with Fortune 500 companies like H&M, Bayer, Walgreens, and Eli Lilly. In January of this year, I decided to retire from the corporate job and cut back my hours with AWA to write and consult with authors. People often ask, “Why did you work so much?” Remember, I had 11 kids (13, if you counted step kids), and kids are expensive!

Would you consider yourself a script doctor? A writing coach? How many professional hats do you wear?

With AWA’s excellent leadership team in place, I can now take more time writing my own books and taking on select coaching for novelists, screenwriters, TV writers, and working on a few scripts and story edits with directors. 

After so many years of wearing many hats, it’s nice to focus on storytelling—period! I do get to work with novelists (all genres) and specialize in romance, fantasy, and YA. For a somewhat quiet person, I enjoy speaking in front of audiences way more than I should and count it an honor to speak to author groups many times a year. I love it.

Your two newest books deal with writing in the romance genre. How did you find yourself in the romantic field? How does writing a romance novel differ from writing standard fiction?

Though I’ve judged contests and anthologies for 30 years, this past fall I realized I’d been serving as a judge for romance writing contests for at least 15 of those years (RWA’s Diamond/Heart awards, the Big Apple/NYC contest, historical and spec fic romance writing contests, etc.). The time was right to take expertise and put it into books novelists can use.

Writing romance is unique because of the need to create an emotional through-line. That through-line pushes and pulls in tandem with both the external plot arc and internal character arcs. 

And subtext is a huge part of creating satisfying momentum (especially in dialogue and the juxtaposition of what a character says versus what they do). Even if a story isn’t considered a romance, any story with a romance element can benefit from understanding how to masterfully use the elements that drive romance.

You’ve composed ten volumes to Word Mastery Skill Building. Did you plan to break up Mastery into easily digestible portions at the start, or did you find more to write about the more you wrote?

Back when homeschooling 10 of my kids, a couple of my teens wanted to learn vocabulary in a new, fun way. So, we created a workbook together. The workbook’s contents sat on an old hard drive for 20 years. 

Then, a couple of years ago, my daughter who’s now in her mid-30s and a mom herself said, “What happened to that workbook? I loved it so much!” My girls credited the workbook to be a main influence in their love of reading.

So, I dug out the old computer, found the file, re-worked the workbook, and expanded the book’s format into a complete series for middle- through high-school students. 

It’s an easily consumed series with vocabulary, synonyms, homonyms, homophones, roots, prefixes, and understanding the difference between easily confused words (effect, affect). Yes, the entire 10-book series was planned, and all the content was outlined “first thing.”

Most of your titles seem to be non-fiction, DIY-help books. But then you’ve got Miracle in the City of Angels . What is the story behind Miracles?

Presentation examples

Quite a few of my nonfiction books are for writers. That’s because many of the books go with courses I designed (such as Simplified Writing 101: Top Secrets for College Success, which is used all over the world in classrooms). But I’ve written and published in many genres, including children’s stories.  

Miracles is a creative nonfiction book that began as a ghostwriting project and turned into co-authorship. As a long-time writing educator and speaker, I continue to write how-to-write books—and I also am writing fiction, with upcoming titles in science fantasy and romance.

Your love of coffee might be a clue, but how did you accomplish so much in your lifetime?
 

Ha! Yes, coffee rules! But more than that, if something has been an interest, I go for it. I’m sure that some reading this can relate to the feeling that, as a writer, one simply MUST write. For me, writing and its ensuing catharsis are an undeniable passion, an identity, and motivation to find out what drives us as people.

Which of your keynote speeches was the most memorable?

I once spoke at a huge conference in Chicago about teaching teens how to write. Aquinas Writing Advantage was only a few years old at the time (with a handful of courses), but it was gaining in popularity. 

The owner of the most famous how-to-write program for kids and teens was also speaking at that conference and intentionally sat in the front row of my talk, arms crossed, his face the most un-emotional mask—trying to rile me. Because I clearly have different ideas on how to teach writing than he does, I’d be lying if I didn’t say that his sitting there six feet from the podium threw me a bit.

But now, years later, with AWA taking the iLearn Awards’ First-Place award for Online Writing and Composition Programs the last four years in a row—a spot that his program held for the previous 15 years—I’m trying to be humble. If you find me smiling, it’s because…well, karma.

What’s next for Erin M. Brown?
 

With Kevin J. Anderson at a comic con

This fall, The Romance Novel Blueprint: Crafting Stories Readers Fall in Love With is included in Kevin J. Anderson’s famous Novel Writing Tools/Story Craft Bundle of books on sale through the beginning of December. (Kevin is the writer of “Dune” and almost 200 other books, and one of the most prolific writers today.) 

I’m also speaking October 17^th online at the Romance Writers of America (RWA) Indie Author Weekend on “Beyond Craft: 10 Hidden Marketing Techniques That Can Make Your Romance Novel Unforgettable.”

The nonfiction books I’m working on right now include a co-authored book with Russell Davis (on how to write Genre Fiction) and a “Master Story Map” book (to make sure your plot complete, crisp, and enticing to readers). 

My fiction works include a science fantasy series and a romantic comedy. And I’m also working on finishing a digital offering that you can get, with with some of my most popular how-to author/writer content.

I'm taking on select story consulting clients.

 

Please share any social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinmbrownwriter/
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@erinmbrownwriter
Facebook: Erin M. Brown, MA, MFA/erinmbrownwriter
Blog: Focus, Create, Repeat (https://erinbrownconroy.blog)
Blog: https://storyarcromanceediting.blog
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-m-brown-ma-mfa-baa3b09/
Substack: https://nowthestoryresonates.substack.com

 

 

Writer (and Puppeteer) Spotlight: Kevin Kammeraad

Pine Creek, suitcases, roast, Grandma Ethel, collaboration, Wimee, and stamina: Author and puppeteer Kevin Kammeraad

Charlie Barshaw coordinates our regular Writer Spotlight feature and interviews writers of SCBWI. In this piece, meet author/puppeteer Kevin Kammeraad.

 

[Note: the items in italics are from my research into Kevin Kammeraad. My questions follow the italicized items.] 

You have a Dutch name that’s hard to pronounce and spell. I saw your solution for pronunciation (comrade with an ‘er’ in the middle). Do you have any tips for spelling? How do you optimize your searchability?

I’m afraid I’ve got nothing for you, Charlie! No spelling tips. No searchability secrets. Not sure I have tips for much of anything. Hopefully the next question goes better!

Do you remember your first experience with puppets? When did puppeteering call to you? 

It definitely called! My love of puppetry began when I met Betty Essenburg and saw the puppets she made for Pine Creek Elementary in Holland, Michigan. I was working for the school district and just beginning college. The puppets appeared alongside kids on the school’s morning news program.

At the same time, I was creating The Tomato Collection book and album. I thought, “Hmm…what if I use puppets to bring this work to audiences?” And that was the call.

Here's the summary of what I do:
"One performer. A few suitcases. Endless possibilities. Kevin brings his cast of puppets and toe-tapping, interactive songs/poems together in a high-energy show that sparks connection, lifts spirits, and leaves audiences inspired and wanting more. Simple setup—huge impact!"

School visit

You have to bring in the stage and the actors, sound and light, and a program to delight your audience. How do you fit it all in “a few suitcases”?

Over the years, I’ve simply pared things down. I finally realized that more isn’t always better. I used to haul around lots of “needed” stuff. These days, I find a lot of joy in working with less.

Although, to be fair, the sound system does not fit in a suitcase. I still have to lug that thing around—unless the venue has a good one!

My goal in all I do is to ignite imagination in kids of all ages—and to remind them that their ideas are powerful, meaningful, and worth sharing. I do it with puppets, poetry, music, movement, and humor. (Sometimes with technology, if we must.)​

Some of your higher impact work is done with technology. I’m talking about your two television shows, and your YouTube videos. But your point is that, for a live audience, the performance is also live. What are some of the oddest venues you’ve appeared at?

I was once hired to do a puppet “roast” at a small family reunion dinner in a restaurant. I was given inside information about various family members, with the goal of getting everyone to laugh at themselves.

It wasn’t—and still isn’t—something I normally do, but it was surprisingly fun. And it went well!

Over the years, I’ve also learned not to take myself too seriously. I try to be more comfortable with the vulnerability and unpredictability of the moment.

Kammeraad grew up in Holland, next door to his grandmother, and graduated from West Ottawa High School in 1994. He earned a communications degree from Grand Valley State University four years later. The possibilities began when his grandma, Ethel DeMaat, gave him a blank journal for Christmas when he was 19. He filled it with random thoughts and little poems. "Grandma, the journal's filled," and "so we bought another one together." Five journals later, The Tomato Collection was published in 1999.

Kevin and Grandma Ethel

Your Grandma Ethel was a big part of your young life. What is it about you that prompted her to gift 19-year-old you with a blank book? How instrumental was she in your choice of careers?

Most likely, the journal was on sale. Otherwise, I really don’t know!

My grandma and I spent a lot of time together. We lived next door to each other, and I remember sitting at her kitchen table drawing with her, working around the house and yard, and watching wrestling on TV.

She was an important part of my life. And apparently, maybe she knew something about a blank journal that I didn’t know at the time.

Your first puppet was born out of your first collection of songs, The Tomato Collection. How many drafts to perfect Jacob?

Kevin and Jacob

The drawing came pretty quickly. He was inspired by several drawings from books I was reading at the time. I had NO idea he would eventually become a puppet.

For years, it was just Jacob and me on the road.

I saw you mentioned as a “Master Puppeteer.” Is that an actual rank you attain? How does one become a puppeteer? 

My understanding is that “master” basically means you’ve put in more than 10,000 hours. At some point, people started calling me a Master Puppeteer when promoting my visits.

At first, I wasn’t comfortable with it. These days I figure, “Sure, why not?” It’s been about 30 years since I first performed for kids. I guess I’ve put in the hours!

Kevin Kammeraad has been a children’s author, illustrator, and performer/musician for many years. He brings his passion of creative thinking, writing, art, and music each year to hundreds of elementary schools, libraries, festivals, bookstores, and conferences all over the country.

You write, compose, and perform the songs. You write stories and illustrate them. You are a puppeteer, and you make some of them on your own. You’re a producer of books and music. Is there any role you haven’t yet done, but want to? Which role do you find most fulfilling? Most enjoyable?

I think creating art is really about expressing ideas and thoughts. Whether it’s words, pictures, music, puppets, video, or something else, I see it all as part of the same process. One form spills into another.

I’m not really looking for a particular role. I’m just following ideas and seeing where they lead.

And honestly, sometimes I feel like I’m doing way too much and have no idea what I’m doing. That’s where collaboration becomes important. I love working with people who have skills I don’t have.

But the most fulfilling? Puppetry. There’s something pretty magical about using a puppet in front of a live group of humans (in person or virtual) and seeing what happens.

Tell us about Danny Adlerman.

Danny is one of my best friends, and we’ve worked together on all kinds of things. He’s a children’s author, musician, and maker of books.  We met more than 25 years ago because I emailed him and said, essentially, “Hey, I like your music for kids. Let’s trade CDs.”

Our families quickly became friends and have supported each other ever since. Danny and I are both very much alike—and very much different. Somehow, it works! The same thing applies to my friend Jim Dague. I’ve been very fortunate to have made great friends with shared goals in life.

I Remember...: Memories of Growing Up , was an early book. How did you convert your childhood memories into a physical book? 

One day I started writing down things I didn’t want to forget. Simple things I thought I’d want to have when I was old. I wrote a bunch, made lists, and went back to add details. Eventually I realized I had a book.

Then I thought it could be useful to kids as an example: What do YOU remember? Write about it!

I do regret not giving it a more playful title. It sounds much more serious than it really is!

What early lessons in book publishing and music recording have carried into your impressive body of work?

Follow your instinct.

Many of your titles are collaborations with various illustrators, and writers, and musicians, and family. You must have gotten pretty good at herding cats. How do you make order out of the creative chaos?

I don’t really know how to make order; I just try to roll with it and follow the way things go.

You’ve had two TV series, Wimee’s World, and Our Show Today. How do you get an idea for a show on the air?

Kevin and Wimee

Pretty much the same way: I follow the ideas, follow the momentum, and pay attention to the synergy of the people around me.

His idea seeds for his books come from his own experiences. He writes on his website: "Ideas come from everyday life: Things I wonder about, things I hear, things I'm happy or frustrated about, from friends, and simply from daydreaming."

Ruth has a literal ton of journals at our house. How do you store and catalog all of your ideas?

I don’t. Yikes! It’s a big mess of journals, paperwork, Post-its, and voice recordings.

Somewhere in that mess, there are probably still a few lost decent ideas. I know for a fact that though there are TONS of mediocre ideas I had to sort through to get to what became completed work.

Kammeraad has captivated audiences for over two decades with his dynamic performances at schools, family events, libraries, and festivals.

Over two decades performing. How do you maintain your stamina? Have you made any concessions to acknowledge the accumulation of time and effort on your body?

The reality is, I’m tired. Getting work in schools is harder these days, not easier, and the world is absolutely overloaded with content.

I’m just trying to keep moving through the ups and downs and remember that nothing is guaranteed or deserved.

Most overwhelming of all, more than three years ago we lost our oldest child to a drug overdose. Things have never been—and never will be—the same. It’s completely devastating.

How does one move forward? Slowly. With family. With friends. With faith. With hope.

What’s next for Kevin?

The next day.

And then we’ll see what it brings and just do the best I can.

 

Please share any social media:

https://www.facebook.com/WIMEESWORLD

https://www.instagram.com/wimeesworld/

https://www.facebook.com/ourshowtoday