Book Birthday Blog with Gail Kuhnlein

 

Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!

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

 

Congratulations to Gail Kuhnlein on the release of Into the Thicket

 

Please share a little about this book's journey. How did you come up with the idea?

Into the Thicket has had a long journey. I originally wrote it shortly after our son found an injured baby rabbit in our backyard when he was about 8 years old (he turns 30 this year!). He and his older brother were playing catch. A throw went over his head, he ran to the football and noticed a small creature lying in the grass. Thus begins the story. Most of the rest is fiction.

 
At the time, I was the new communications coordinator at the University of Michigan’s Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. One day, my phone rang and on the line was an editor from New York state who needed to verify some information about an animal. We were affiliated with the Museum of Zoology and their well-known Animal Diversity Web. I was able to connect him to someone for the information he needed, but more noteworthy (for me) was that as we talked, I learned that he was a writer and book editor (including children’s books). This fortuitous connection led to me hiring him (twice) to expertly help me edit the manuscript that became Into the Thicket. The original name was Small Rabbits, Big Hearts. He was an excellent editor/teacher who asked me questions to help me to come up with my own answers. 

What was the most difficult part of writing the book?

One of the most difficult parts of writing this book was that it was based on a real-life experience. Originally, I’d included several plot points that mirrored what actually happened. I ended up removing some of these and further fictionalizing the story. It was a classic case of “kill your darlings,” or in other words, you may have to delete parts that you love if they don’t serve the story. My editor was invaluable with his guidance. 

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

I hope that readers, especially children, will be inspired by the compassion for wildlife inherent in the story. Further, I hope they learn some strategies for helping to save animals and just as important, to know when it’s best to let them be. I hope my book helps children to overcome some of their own fears. Perhaps they’ll realize that even small acts of kindness really can make a difference in our great big world. I think this can be empowering. 

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

I’ll concentrate on marketing Into the Thicket on social media (posts, stories, reels), by attending author events and readings, blogging, printing promotional items including giveaways (I’m thinking stickers). I’ll contact libraries (where I’ll donate my book) and bookstores, especially the local bookstores that carried my first book. I plan to reach out to more Michigan bookstores this time. I’ll enter a few contests and request several literary reviews. I’ll send a press release about the book’s release to local newspapers, something I had a positive response to last time. Given the book’s subject, I’ll include wildlife rehabilitation and conservation organizations on my press release list. 

What's next for you?

This year, I’m excited to share Into the Thicket with children and their adults. While I have possible ideas brewing for my next book, including previously written manuscripts that need work, I don’t have definite plans. I was fortunate to bid on and win the production of three videos through an online #KidLit event on Bluesky to provide support after the California wildfires. So, I have a couple of cool videos on the new book to help with promotion. 
 
Who knows what tomorrow will bring? Many of my experiences have taught me just how unpredictable life can be. I’ve developed a deep appreciation for each day’s small joys. I hope to continue to soak in nature’s beauty and life’s adventures.

More about the book . . .

Into the Thicket is based on a real-life adventure when my (then) young son found an injured baby rabbit. The fictionalized story follows the journey of a young boy and the rabbit one springtime in Michigan. 

The book beautifully portrays an appreciation for wildlife. The universal emotions of compassion and loving and letting go are central elements of the boy’s experience. In addition, he is challenged with overcoming his fears — not only of entering and walking through the dark thicket to get the rabbit the help it needs quickly, but also his fear of losing the rabbit that he loves. Readers will see how even small acts of kindness make a difference in a great, big world. Illustrations of ink and watercolor are by Ann Arbor artist John Megahan.

Published by: BookBaby

More about the author . . .

Gail Kuhnlein has been writing stories since she was young.

Gail majored in journalism and public relations at Michigan State University. She worked in the communications field for over 30 years, most recently at the University of Michigan’s Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. People met serendipitously at UM were instrumental in publishing her first picture book, How Happy Is a Lark?, a long-awaited dream come true. Her second picture book, Into the Thicket, is available at the BookBaby Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, Powell’s City of Books and Amazon. 

She lives with her husband, Tim, just outside Ann Arbor, Michigan. Gail loves walking outdoors, practicing yoga, meditation, reading, writing, watching good television and movies, listening to music, and their darling cats. She’s been volunteering at the UM Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for over a year. She especially loves spending time with and holding the babies who need extra tender loving care. They adore their two adult sons, Davey and Trevor.

Facebook: gail.kuhnlein

Instagram: @gkuhny

Bluesky: @gkuhny

Website and blog: https://authorgailkuhnlein.com/

  

What I Wish I'd Known: Gail's First-Ever School Visit

 by Gail Kuhnlein

Wednesday, March 20, 2024 — I was so happy to receive a “real” email through the contact link on my author website. It was from Michelle Cox, a Title I teacher at Brick Elementary School, Ypsilianti, inviting me to participate in their Literacy Night. Her enthusiasm radiated off the computer screen and it was contagious. 

We decided that I would read my book, How Happy Is a Lark?, twice over the course of the evening, which ran from 5 - 6:30 p.m. And that I’d lead the activity from the back of my book with the children. This was my first in-person school visit (I’d done one via Zoom to a school in North Carolina, where my niece is the curriculum coordinator) and I was both nervous and excited. I pushed myself, and it all ended up feeling very natural. Initially, I was in a small classroom just inside the main school entrance. I had a number of parents, grandparents and students stop in. 

We started with the activity: 

1. Think of a simile like “You’re as silly as a goose” or “She’s as cute as a button” (with help, if needed)
2. Turn the simile into a question “How silly is a goose?” “How cute is a button?”
3. Brainstorm and answer the question in a fun way 
4. Draw a picture to illustrate your answer 

One girl, Bella, polished off two so quickly and would have done a third if she’d had more time. Her third idea was “How elegant is a swan?” I would love to see that one!

A fifth grader, Lucas, came up with the sayings, “let the cat out of the bag” and someone who has their “head in the clouds,” both great sayings and while they’re actually metaphors rather than similes, I’m all about flexibility and creativity, so he decided to draw the cat coming out of the bag.

For my first reading, I had about eight to ten people. I try to read with emphasis and emotion and occasionally ask the children questions about something in the book. Some of the things I engaged the children with were: having them laugh along with the hyenas and yell “BUZZ OFF” with me for the angry wasp. I ask if they can find the black cat in the drawing on a dark night, and how many of them have cats or dogs, when I’m reading the pages about cats or dogs. Lots! 

After my first reading, Lucas told me he really liked my book. This made my night, especially since he is older. It’s nice to know that children of different ages enjoy the book. 

Later, a couple of teachers asked if I wanted to move to the cafeteria, where many activities were happening. 

In the cafeteria, there was a tent set up with a paper bonfire out front and lots of pillows inside. My second reading of the night was inside the large tent in the cafeteria. I thought it would be fun to read inside. That seemed to be a popular draw for the kids, who kept on climbing in, to my delight. 

At Brick Elementary School
(Photo credit: Brick Elementary School Teachers.
Shared with permission)

During my readings, I loved to hear laughter, see smiles, and one little girl kind of shrieked and threw herself down on the ground when she heard that the hungry hippo could eat a whole elephant. 

I think that events like these are what it’s all about for authors, introducing more children to our books. If they/their parents like the book enough, they just might purchase one. But that’s sort of a side benefit, a nice one for sure, but not the main point, at least for me. 

Michelle was so kind and appreciative from the beginning — ours was a mutual appreciation club. I donated and signed a book to the Brick Elementary students. Throughout the evening, I met many sweet children and their parents or grandparents and dedicated teachers. 

What I wish I'd known was how comfortable and relatively easy the night would be. As a person who leans toward introversion, I'm accustomed to having a hurdle to get over on occasions like these, especially for the first time. Everyone was kind, and being referred to as "our author" was a bit unreal. 

Michelle invited me to read at two more upcoming events, Reading in the Park and their STEM Career Day. Michelle’s email after the event read, in part: “ … It was a privilege to have you in our school! … I can’t wait to share your book with my students tomorrow!” The following day she told me she’d read my book about 20 times to her reading groups and that the kids love it. Absolutely priceless.

A longer version of this post recently appeared on Gail's Outta' This World blog.

Gail Kuhnlein published her first children’s picture book, How Happy Is a Lark? in late 2022. Gail majored in journalism and public relations at Michigan State University. Most recently, she was the communications specialist for the University of Michigan’s Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. The publication of this book is a dream come true for Gail. She lives with her husband, Tim, just outside Ann Arbor, Michigan. They have two adult sons, Davey and Trevor. Lark is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, at several local libraries and shops, and a Trinidad bookshop. Her next picture book, Into the Thicket, is anticipated fall 2024. 

What I Wish I'd Known is a new series on The Mitten. If you have a kidlit-related "first" that you'd like to share - the good, the bad, the funny - we'd love to hear about it! Please email Sarah.Prusoff.LoCascio@gmail.com if you have one you would like to share.