Dreams Do Not Have an Expiration Date by Cindy Williams Schrauben

Sitting down to write this post, the old adage, shoulda, woulda, coulda, came to mind. We’ve heard it all before… “I could never do that,” “I should have done that ten years ago,” or “It’s too late now.” Regret and unanswered dreams seem to go together, but that doesn’t have to be the case. Sometimes, time is your best friend.

First is the obvious fact that dreaming alone isn’t enough. The bottom line is this… a dream without action is just fantasy. Realizing a dream requires risk, gumption, and perseverance. But, there’s more. I certainly don’t have all the answers, but am happy to share a few insights from my own journey.

Recently, I was a guest on the NOT YOUR AVERAGE GRANDMA podcast with Laurie Wright (listen HERE). Laurie is a coach who inspires people (especially those over 50) to find their SPARK. Talking with her gave me some valuable insight. The key to finally realizing a dream is the WHY. WHY do you want to write children’s books? How important is it? If the intrinsic motivation isn’t there, it simply won’t happen. My WHY? Sharing my passion with children (after all, being rich and famous will never pan out). Finding your own WHY can take a bit of introspection, but will definitely move the process along.

Laurie’s wisdom also helped me discover that the WHEN was a crucial component in my journey. I have always had the desire to write books for kids, but for years it was a dream without action. Combining that crucial WHY with the appropriate WHEN was the answer for me. As soon as my WHEN was right, everything clicked. The correct timing included my life position (empty nest), enough time and mental bandwidth, confidence, and the wisdom that can only come from age. It was important for me to realize that not achieving my dreams earlier was not a failure – I was gaining valuable experience and wisdom that would be beneficial when the time came to write. As I look back, I can see that every step along the way afforded me what I needed to achieve this goal.

In addition to the WHY and the WHEN, there is also the HOW.

 

One of my biggest hurdles early in life was the fear of failure, feeling unworthy, or looking silly (imposter syndrome). It wasn’t until after my picture book, THIS COULD BE YOU, was published that I started seeing the stark connection between its message for children and my own growth mindset as an author. THIS COULD BE YOU encourages children to shoot for the stars, to go for their dreams, to learn from their struggles, and bounce back.

Authors need those same growth mindset qualities to succeed.

●      Negative critiques are an opportunity to learn and improve.

●      I’m not published YET means you’re still trying.

●      Rejection proves that you are submitting your work and without that you will never get published.

I asked the amazing children’s author, Vivian Kirkfield, for some inspiration. Vivian wrote her first book in her mid-60’s, has several more under her belt, and isn’t stopping any time soon. She said, "It's never too late to follow your dreams because nothing is impossible if you can imagine it," and "The only failure is the failure to keep trying."

That brings me to the WHO. I am positive that I would not have persevered in this business without the support and guidance of the kidlit community – find your people!

So, if you aren’t there YET, don’t despair. As my book says, “Believe. It could be you.”

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Cindy Williams Schrauben lives in central Michigan where she writes books for kids that range from the truly serious to the seriously silly. Before embarking on this path, she held positions as a preschool administrator, teacher, and assistant director of a children’s museum -- always striving to empower kids. When not writing or honing her craft, Cindy might be found dissecting her grandsons’ shenanigans for story ideas, reading on the floor in the bookstore, or eating ice cream… ideally all at once. Her debut picture book was published in 2022 by Cardinal Rule Press and she is a speaker for their Bucket Fillers series of books.

You can connect with Cindy at www.cindyschrauben.com or www.direct.me/cindywilliamsschrauben.

Book Birthday Blog with Cindy Williams Schrauben

Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!

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

 

Congratulations to Cindy Williams Schrauben on the release of This Could Be You

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

 

As is the case with many of my manuscripts, the idea for This Could Be You came while interacting with my grandsons – I wanted to empower them and other kids with a growth mindset. Though it morphed from early drafts, the intention was always to use a poem format, no storyline, and universal experiences that would resonate with every child. 

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

 

As I mentioned in question #1, I hope to inspire kids AND adults to use a growth mindset to tackle challenges. It was also important for me to include a guide to equip adults with the tools needed to cultivate this process. That is one reason why Cardinal Rule Press was the perfect publisher for This Could Be You. My book aligns closely with their mission to produce high-quality children’s literature that empowers children through timeless messages of hope, courage and the Golden Rule and they are extremely passionate about providing resources.

One of my dreams for this book is to share it with children’s hospitals, counseling practices, and other support services.

 

What inspires you to write?

 

Kids! I have always marveled at their wonder, their acceptance of others, and their open minds. I wish we could all hold on to these perspectives as we age – maybe books can help.  

On your website, you share what’s next for you is illustrating your own picture book. How has having a ‘growth mindset’ help you become an author and stretch yourself to become an illustrator too?

 

It’s funny because writing this book made me realize that I didn’t always embrace a growth mindset in my own life – I have been known to give up too easily. The message in This Could Be You has helped me to be more intentional, to consciously talk myself through uncertainties, and to keep pushing. A key growth mindset principle is… ‘I can do hard things.’ This has become one of my mantras. Attempting to publish my first book at 60+ drudged up thoughts such as ‘I am too old’, ‘it’s too late’, and ‘no one will take me seriously’. Now, I remind myself that anyone at any age can have similar doubts and to view them as ‘excuses’. So, upward and onward. 

 

What are your marketing plans for the book?

 

Educating and developing relationships. I am using social media and my own website to establish the importance of having a growth mindset and to share other picture books as well as activities, and actionable content for parents and educators.  

https://cindyschrauben.com/ 

 

I am a member of two debut groups, partnering with other authors to market our work. You can find them here:

https://www.picturebookpals.com/ and https://pb22peekaboo.weebly.com/

 

I am having a Launch Party at Impression 5 Science Center (https://impression5.org/) in Lansing on April 2, 2022 with a reading, activities, treats, and more. I am also scheduling events at bookstores and other kid-friendly locations.

I will be appearing on numerous podcasts and blogs before and after my release date - April 1, 2022. 

I am also planning a series of interviews with kids who have exhibited a healthy growth mindset. These interviews will be featured on my site and on social media. I would love to hear your ideas. 

 

A little bit about the book . . .

 

Will you be an astronaut? Farmer? An Artist? A Nurse? No matter where your dreams take you, your own unique flair will get you there. Keep pushing...it could be you!

Mistakes help me learn vs. I’m a failure! A growth mindset -- believing that drive can outshine natural talent -- helps us envision endless dreams and possibilities. The diverse characters in This Could Be You, empower readers to believe in themselves, identify their own valuable traits, and persevere.

Who applies a try mind,
an engineer’s but-why mind,
an always-aiming-high mind?
Invent. It could be you! 

 

A little bit about the author . . .

 

Cindy Williams Schrauben lives in Michigan where she writes books for kids that range from truly serious to seriously silly. As a life-long educator, inspiring kids has always been her passion. Using the growth mindset principles she writes about, Cindy now encourages other adults (especially writers) to follow their dreams, as well. Learn more at:

https://direct.me/cindywilliamsschrauben  

 

 

 

 

You think the vocabulary in my picture book is challenging? Thanks for the compliment. By Cindy Williams Schrauben

I recently received a review of my new book, This Could Be You, that stated, in part, “... the vocabulary is advanced for a typical read-aloud picture book audience. 7-8 year olds may enjoy.” After initially scoffing at the 3 out of 5 rating, I smiled and thought, “Perfect! I am stretching little minds. I’m okay with that.” 

As a former educator and growth mindset fanatic, I love to challenge kids – both in their educational endeavors and their everyday lives. I want kids to know that it is important to dive into the unknown, to make mistakes, and to try again. Do we, as adults, only read novels that contain words we are familiar with? That would be a short reading list – for me, anyway. Do we only speak words to a baby or toddler that they already understand? I hope not. Growth mindset principles teach us to replace an “I can’t” attitude with a “not YET, but I’m still trying” outlook  – in other words, to strive and persevere. Bravely facing the unfamiliar, experiencing failure, and learning from our errors are valuable assets. 

I agree that Easy Readers and Chapter Books shouldn’t be packed full of difficult words – we don’t want to discourage children when they are just beginning to read independently. However, picture books are different in a number of ways.

• Illustrations help with context. One of the first comprehension skills we teach is to ‘read the pictures’. To use them as clues to unknown words and to assist in decoding. 

• In most cases picture books are read to the child first, or at least in the presence of an adult. The adult can guide, encourage observation, and define unknown words when necessary. 

• Picture books are often read multiple times, which makes them the perfect tool for building vocabulary. Recollection and retention of new language is supported through repetition, and with each subsequent reading, the adult can decrease their involvement and encourage the child’s own memory and decoding skills.

Though the word ‘persist’ may be difficult, seeing it in the following context makes all the difference:

Empowering children to tackle challenging vocabulary will also help them to be more comfortable doing so in the future. There is no question that they will encounter newspapers, directions, and other informational text that requires extra effort – they need to know that’s OK. 

I am surprised every day by the moxie and curiosity that kids possess – so don’t underestimate them. Go ahead and use challenging vocabulary in your picture books. A teacher will thank you.

Cindy Williams Schrauben lives in Michigan where she writes books for kids that range from the truly serious to the seriously silly and is currently working on a Partners in Literacy Program to get books in the hands of kids - especially in low-income areas. Before embarking on this path, Cindy held positions as a preschool administrator, teacher, and assistant director of a children’s museum -- always striving to empower kids. When not writing or honing her craft, she might be found dissecting her grandsons’ shenanigans for story ideas, reading on the floor in the bookstore, or eating ice cream… ideally all at once. 

You can connect with Cindy at www.cindyschrauben.com  

For more information see www.direct.me/cindywilliamsschrauben