It Starts with Hello with Kat Higgs-Coulthard

Hello used to be hard for me.

It's one of the reasons I started writing--in the high school cafeteria, bending over a notebook, pen in hand, made me look busy instead of lonely. Creative, not terrified. I wrote words to avoid speaking them.

Until...one day at a bookstore I overheard a group of women analyzing the moves an author had made to build suspense in the book they were reading. After the group dispersed, I approached one woman who remained behind gathering her things and asked the name of the book they'd been discussing.

She introduced herself as Cynthia Furlong Reynolds and shared that her book group was composed of writers who analyze the work of other writers in order to inform their own writing. She shared that she was also a writer. PROFESSIONALLY. Until that moment, that was something I did not think was actually possible. She was kind and friendly and told me I should consider joining SCBWI. She belonged to the Michigan Chapter and because I lived in Michigan, I could too. In fact, I should come with her to the meeting next month.
I was terrified.
But I went.
It was tempting to sit in the back and hide in my notebook. But before I could, Cynthia introduced me to one person, then another. The hellos piled up; conversations began. I couldn't tell you who I met that day or what we talked about, but the message was overwhelming and clear: YOU BELONG.

I'm still afraid to say hello. But every time I do there's a new friend saying hello back. I've met some amazing people through SCBWI and I look forward to meeting even more.

Hello :)

Kat Higgs-Coulthard has been a writer as long as she can remember. She became a teacher out of a desire to help others share their words and has been a teacher for more than 20 years, first as an elementary teacher, then as a teacher educator at Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame. Her latest YA book, Junkyard Dogs, is due out in March 2023 from Peachtree Teen.

Thank you, Kat, for sharing your Hello story marked by these descriptions of authentic emotion. I think many of us can relate to your experiences. From being terrified to looking forward to meeting more amazing people through SCBWI—may our greetings and smiles welcome the new faces we encounter virtually or in person! Pass it on!

Do you have a Hello story you want to share? Send me your submission at ohaginib@gmail.com (300 words or less).

Interview with John Rodriguez, BIPOC Scholarship Awardee and Featured Illustrator

In this third of our series on our BIPOC scholarship awardees, we meet John Rodriguez—an exciting illustrator and multimedia artist. In addition to his interview, John delights our imagination by sharing a few exciting, action-packed illustrations that promise to grab his young readers’ attention! Marvel and enjoy, everyone!

 

Isabel Estrada O’Hagin

SCBWI-MI Outreach Coordinator

 

 

1.    How has the SCBWI membership been useful to you? 

Being a member of SCBWI has enabled me to expand my network of relationships with authors and other illustrators in the state of Michigan. The newsletters have been very informative and there have been opportunities for me to learn about how other professionals are trying to grow their business.  

 

2.    We’d like to get to know you! Tell us about your past creative work in the area of children’s literature or related areas of interest or expertise. You can also tell us about your studio or workspace.

I am working on growing as an illustrator of children’s literature. My recent interest started to develop after having children and spending time helping them to grow their imaginations. One of my children began to show interest in storytelling. So, we began to work on sketches toward a book production. After working with him on this project, I realized that I had a lot to learn in this growing industry. 

It is important to me to work on projects that showcase Black children. For a short time, I worked on putting together comic strips and illustrations featuring a young Black boy. This helped to further the conversation about what life can be like for Black boys. It is fun and filled with love and family.

 

I primarily work at home. I use a variety of media to create my pieces. This includes traditional mediums such as watercolor, acrylics, and oil paints. Most recently, much of my work has been on my iPad using the Procreate app with an Apple Pencil. Using this tool allows me to produce work at a faster pace and doesn’t have any significant prep time or clean-up. You still have to be able to illustrate and understand color theory to produce artwork. It allows me to work anywhere I enjoy.

3.    What in your childhood or youth piqued your interest in writing or illustrating? What were some of the major influences that led you to this road? 

 Drawing was always accessible. Since paper and pencils were readily available, it was an easy way to engage in something productive while waiting for time to pass or keeping myself occupied when being a noisy child wasn’t an option. I was very much inspired by early 80s cartoons such as Thundercats, Transformers, He-Man, Teenage-Mutant Ninja Turtles, and the like. I wanted to be able to draw these characters and tell my own stories. I am happy to say that I still engage with cartoons and continue to enjoy animation and the visual arts. 

 

4.    Please share anything about your current projects or what’s ahead in your creative work. We’d love to hear about it! 

I am currently working on a project with the Ann Arbor District Library where I am creating a visual piece that represents Michigan culture. Most recently, I designed the artwork for Ann Arbor’s 2022 Juneteenth Celebration.  Since I am a multimedia artist, I do a variety of work including photography and video production, as well as illustration. 

Other samples of my work can be found at:

johnrod.myportfolio.com

Instagram: @bruinprophet

Facebook: @jrartsite 

John Rodriguez is a marketing and communications professional at the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. John holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). John is of Afro-Caribbean descent, having been born in the U.S. Virgin Islands. He is a husband and father of two young boys. His work as a visual artist explores the dynamics of culture and emotions through portraiture and storytelling that build community awareness and challenge stereotypical narratives.

BIPOC Scholarship

This scholarship awards a one-year membership to SCBWI for new members who identify as BIPOC kidlit creators.

Qualifications: Must be a Michigan resident, at least 18 years of age, who identifies as BIPOC and is a writer and/or illustrator of children’s literature.

Award: A one-year membership to SCBWI.

Applications Accepted: September 1st – October 1st (via a link that will be posted here).   Awardees will be notified on or before Oct. 15th.

To donate to this scholarship, click or tap HERE.

It Starts with Hello with Charlie Barshaw

My first SCBWI conference was a weekend stay at the Yarrow Golf Course and Conference Resort in 2010. I had a roommate who was not my wife, and a freshly-written novel about Friday the 13^th.

Charlie Barshaw

As I stepped nervously up to the registration table, I was greeted with genuine warmth by Rachel Anderson, who seemed positively happy to see me, a complete stranger. I would later that weekend share a critique session with her and others, and it would be there that I’d hear an initial draft of what would become The Puppy Predicament.

Rachel’s warm smile and welcoming attitude got me started on what was soon to become a learning experience. I learned, for instance, that I snored so badly that my roommate packed up and stayed at a friend’s house Saturday night.

I also learned that my perfectly polished novel was not, in fact, polished or perfect, and I remember stewing in a miserable funk during the final session Sunday morning, counting the minutes until I could scurry from this place and give up writing for good.

Which, thank the Muse, I didn’t.

Mostly I learned that writing for kids is not for the lazy or thin-of-skin. On the flip-side, I learned that children’s book creators are some of the friendliest, sharing-est, best commiserators anywhere.

That first encounter (and I doubt she even remembers it) led to hundreds, thousands of heartfelt hugs and handshakes over the years since, and I embrace my SCBWI experience as a joyous journey of discovery.

Thanks, Rachel.

Charlie Barshaw is a published author of seven middle grade short stories on Amazon Rapids , pre-published author of several MG and YA novels, and an interviewer for the Writer Spotlight feature on The Mitten. Check out his website CharlieBarshaw.com.

 

Thank you, Charlie, for sharing your Hello story and relating your aha moment with a good dose of honesty—a necessary trait for any writer/illustrator who desires to grow and deepen their understanding of the art form. I love hearing these stories and it makes me think of both sides of the hello—the greeter and recipient. While it takes courage to attend that first event or an event where you don’t know anyone or only a few people, it also takes confidence on the part of the greeter to reach out, to break the ice, to move us from being strangers toward becoming professional colleagues and perhaps friends. May Charlie’s Hello story inspire you to take that first step!  

Has anyone made you feel welcomed to an SCBWI-MI event and made you feel like you mattered? Share your Hello story with the rest of us by sending a three-hundred word or less post to Outreach Coordinator, Isabel Estrada O’Hagin at ohaginib@gmail.com.

It Starts with Hello with Robin Pizzo

This month’s It Starts with Hello story is authored by Robin Pizzo, a long-time member of SCBWI who attends the Lansing Area Shop Talks (LAST). Our regional Shop Talks are a fabulous way to connect with other kidlit creatives, as are SCBWI-MI workshops and conferences. Don’t walk, run to your nearest Shop Talk!

-- Isabel Estrada O’Hagin, Outreach Coordinator

 

Sixteen years ago, my third child and first son neared two and would not wean. I know, just stay with me. I was researching how to get my picture books published and found some article about SCBWI. My husband suggested I attend the LA SCBWI Summer Conference and that would wean my little guy, plus I’d learn about the publishing process.

 

Unfortunately, I missed my flight. My mom lived in Detroit, and I went home to cry on her shoulder. She would not accept my tears but gave me the money to fly out first thing the next morning. I made it just as the keynote was over and the audience had cleared. Again, tears. Then a man started with, “Hello,” and asked me what was going on. That man was Walter Dean Myers, one of my literary rock stars. Tears again. We talked for a while about my journey, and he encouraged me to keep writing.

For the next two days, I met Linda Sue Park, heard Jacqueline Woodson speak, and learned from great editors like Arthur A. Levine. I even roomed with Jennifer D. Chambliss who wrote the amazing Book Scavenger series. From there, I connected at a local bookstore with Lansing’s Regional Shop Talks. Although I’m a member of the SistaLoc Writing Group in Lansing, which is comprised of five professional Black women who write in a variety of genres, I’m the only one writing kidlit. The Regional Shop Talks are great for checking in with writers who focus primarily on children’s literature. This past September I enjoyed the outdoor gathering hosted by Charlie and Ruth Barshaw. It was a perfect mix of social distancing, fall foliage, fresh air, kid lit creators, snacks, writing journey, a Quinceanera, and book talk. 

More about Robin in her own words: I've been a writer since the age of five and my first published piece was a poem for my childhood best friend aka my grandmother printed in her obituary. I fell in love with books in 5th grade and historical fiction is my favorite genre. I still hate that I sold my Shakespeare anthology in college because I was broke and the buyback seemed better than selling plasma. I continue to write all the things but my ambition is to become a traditional children’s author publishing picture books to young adult and everything in between. I'm a Detroit girl, member of the Sistalocks Writing Group, a mom, wife and Education Director at WKAR Public Media where Elmo is my boss, according to my youngest!  

You can also read more about Robin in her interview with Charlie Bradshaw or follow her on Twitter or YouTube. 

Thank you, Robin, for sharing this uplifting story of perseverance!

 Enjoy reading about other member’s “Hello” stories? I do, and I bet you do, too! We each have a unique story to tell! Send your 300-word or less submission to ohaginib@gmail.com.

 

 

Writer Spotlight: Isabel Estrada O'Hagin

Summers with nana and tata, Whoppers, "Gone with the Wind" in one day, Equity and Inclusion, and the Tribute Fund

Charlie Barshaw coordinates our quarterly Writer Spotlight feature and interviews writers of SCBWI-MI. In this piece, meet Isabel Estrada O'Hagin, the SCBWI-MI Outreach Coordinator.

You grew up one of seven children in the barrios of Tucson. Since then, you’ve traveled to 14 countries and relocated to Michigan. Have you been back to Tucson? Has it changed much over the years? Is your childhood neighborhood still intact?

I love Tucson and the surrounding area! Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic I visited my family in the Ole Pueblo yearly. In some ways it’s much the same, but the city continues to grow—unfortunately, that means more bulldozing of the rapidly disappearing Sonoran desert.

My barrio is still intact, as are most of them. Some families leave, new ones move in. The celebration of Mexican-American culture is visible everywhere: bilingual signs, restaurants, shops, tortillerías, and the architecture. Restaurants there when I was a kid are still open. One great addition is a Latino-based bookstore.

You talk about spending summers in Nogales with your nana and tata. What do you remember about those summers with your grandparents?

I remember the love we shared and the relaxed lifestyle. My tata, Don Alberto, greeted everyone wherever we walked. We would cross the border and do our shopping while my tata chatted and then chatted some more. Mis abuelos lived in a magnificent old house full of intriguing nooks and crannies that I constantly explored. I was a curious child!

I remember running up and down the hilly streets of Nogales. Nana had a chicken coop perched on the side of the hill—we all remember the adventures in the chicken coop. I also remember the picnics we had in Patagonia on our way back to Tucson. The creeks were filled with water back in those days. We often had to jump out of our station wagon and push it out of the mud.

You mention “mud pies, mud people and mud villages.” That suggests your family was dirt poor, but also that you kids had a boundless imagination. What worlds did you construct in your young mind?

Oh, we were poor, but so was everyone else in our barrio. We had a piano, plenty of toys, board games, bikes and so on, but we liked to play outside. In that part of Arizona, you can live outdoors most of the year.

In addition to all kinds of sports, we liked to dig. Once we dug a hole in the backyard for over a month convinced we would find treasure. My kid brother loved to carve dirt roads for his race cars and we played, too. Our soil was always dry so we turned on the hose to carve out race tracks, streets, rivers, mountains and villages encircled by walls. I guess you could think of it as an organic sandy mudbox.

Another favorite pastime was hosting talent shows in the backyard. Our stage was an old wooden table painted red.

You said the family tradition was of telling “sapos” or whoppers. Was oral storytelling an important part of parties or every-day life? Have you ever written any of these tall tales for all to enjoy?

Yes, oral storytelling is still an important part of our family life. We would gather around the piano on Saturday evenings and sing, with stories coming afterward. My dad loved to tell stories of his childhood when he would hike the monte with his buddies and stay out all day. We listened to exciting tales of his mischievous youth, but he liked spinning spooky stories, too. We had a live-in family ghost and told lots of stories about her. I’ve not written any of these stories, but they live in my heart.

You loved to read. Where did you find your books? Was there a person or persons who encouraged your voracious appetite--like reading “Gone With the Wind” in one day!?

We didn’t have any public libraries near our home, but we could check out books from our school library and there was a mobile library that would come to the barrio. I don’t remember any particular teacher, but they all encouraged us to read. I do remember this practice at elementary school: if you finished your class assignments, you could get a pass to the library and hang out there. I learned to complete my assignments in lickety-split time.

Gone with the Wind? I was in eighth grade and bored and thought why not? Hooked immediately, I stayed in my bunkbed until I finished reading the book. I remember my shoulders were stiff and my eyes stung after that experience. I read through the night, so maybe technically the reading rolled over into day two. I only read it that one time, but I’ve seen the movie a couple of times.

You didn’t find many books where you could see yourself, that reflected your experience and identity. Which books came closest? What are you reading now?

Sadly, I didn’t encounter any books or articles where I saw myself on the page in grades K-12. None. I sometimes wonder what my childhood would’ve been like if I could have read books like Esmeralda Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan. I did like books with strong girl characters such as Ramona, Nancy Drew, and Laura in Little House on the Prairie. 

Fortunately, my barrio experiences and the city of Tucson offered many opportunities to affirm my cultural identity. Today, some of my favorite authors include Meg Medina, Donna Barba Higuera, Elizabeth Acevedo, J.C. Cervantes, and Erin Entrada Kelly. I could go on and on: Kate DiCamillo, Katherine Applegate, Grace Lin, Kelly Barnhill. . .

You discovered modern dance and choreography in high school. You also found expression in poetry and creative writing, so much so that you eventually became editor of the journal. Was high school an awakening for you?

Absolutely! My school had a diverse student population of about 2,500—people from all walks of life—a real eye-opener for me. We were an open campus with the university and downtown only a few blocks away—a school without walls. My teachers were a super dedicated bunch who pushed us toward excellence. I took summer courses each year so I could fill my schedule with dance, choir/band, and creative writing during the regular semesters. I knew this is what I wanted to do the rest of my life— imagine, improvise, create!

Describe your path to teaching music, dance, and drama.

Throughout my childhood, I was passionate about music and dance, loving to perform. I wanted to be a famous opera singer, but I decided being a teacher was a great way to contribute to making the world a better place.

After I graduated with a music degree and a minor in dance, I taught music to elementary school children, and then I took a break to attend grad school. I returned to teaching music, dance, and drama to middle schoolers.

I was invited to start a creative dance program at a newly designated gifted and talented/arts middle school magnet where dance was a required subject for everyone. It was a blast! The school district built us a professional dance studio with an indoor and outdoor stage. Those were the days! 

You grew up in the arid Southwest but moved to Michigan. What, besides the obvious differences in climate, were the adjustments you had to make up North?

Our first “It Starts with Hello” story by Lisa Wheeler related how she sought “her people” and it had a happy ending. I undertook a similar quest when I moved to Michigan, to find my people—other Latinos. It was easier when we lived outside the Lansing area, but it’s been more of a challenge in Kalamazoo.

We’ve only lived here for a little over three years and the pandemic has made it difficult to explore the area and get involved with the Latino community. Hopefully, we’ll be able to return to a new normal soon. I miss the music and community celebrations—the fiestas!

Some of the KAST cast

You found SCBWI, and for years would attend Shop Talks in Lansing. When you moved to the Kalamazoo area, you started your own Shop Talk, and with an ambitious agenda and talented neighbors, you’ve built it into one of the premier regional meetings in the state. How?

You may remember, Charlie, that I was one of the quieter attendees at LAST, but I paid attention to all that you and the various leaders did to make the Shop Talks successful. Thank you for being such great role models!

I moved to Kalamazoo in July 2018 and at one of our state conferences I spoke to Carrie Pearson and Leslie Helakoski about my plans to start a Shop Talk. They suggested I speak to Jay Whistler.

Jay put me in touch with other writers in the area and in January 2019, we held our first informal introductory meeting at this is a bookstore in Kalamazoo. We had about nine people attend and our Shop Talks took off. Throughout that first year, we kept asking our members what topics they wanted to discuss.

Like most of our Shop Talks around the state, we’ve gone mostly virtual the past two years, but Melanie Bryce and I continue to work hard to stay in touch with our local members. We send out an email newsletter to bring our local members up to date.

You were awarded the Tribute Fund Award in 2021. What did that mean for you?

The Tribute Fund is a tremendous honor to receive and I deeply believe it is a shared award. For me, it represents how SCBWI recognizes the importance of volunteers who provide service to the organization. I believe that getting people involved and inviting them to share their expertise with others is one way to keep the organization functioning at the highest level. We can be here to support each other as we strive to become better at what we do as illustrators and writers for children’s literature. In other words, the Tribute Fund is a team award. Toot your horns, everyone! Yay, team SCBWI-MI!

You were one of the founders of the Equality and Inclusion Team.  What were the goals of the group, what has it achieved, and where has it set its sights?

The E and I Team worked diligently to write the mission statement that’s posted on our website: SCBWI-MI includes, engages, and embraces disparate voices. Our E & I Team met the challenge of how to best implement the 2020 initiatives outlined by the SCBWI national office, and we led successful outreach efforts such as the Books With Barbers book drive and the E & I Corner Blog in The Mitten. Doing so in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic meant we had to transition toward online efforts such as hosting a Zoom social hour. I’m glad to see that equity and inclusion issues are at the forefront of our current SCBWI initiatives.

You’ve got a unique cure for “writer’s rut.” What helps get your muse unstuck?

I wonder if you’re referring to my dancing? I’ve always loved to blast music throughout the house and dance freely. Improvisation is my thing! My approach doesn’t include a playlist, but I do find that if I play music that resonates with the core of my story and dance or spin while I write I’m free to embody the setting as its own character—and the story comes to life. Moving through music and imagery frees up my imagination. Or were you referring to the mental calisthenics where I channel a particular master writer and dictate? ; - >

You’ve got two mid-grade novels you’re working on (as well as picture books and a YA).  “Chavela’s Quest” deals with Aztec, Mayan and Inic lore. How extensive is the research required to keep the story authentic?

I’ve done extensive research to ground the story in relation to authentic lore and historical artifacts such as various codices that exist (library sources and purchased copies) and collections of various oral traditions. I have a full-color restoration of The Codex Borgia—it’s fabulous! I’ve traveled through Mexico and Guatemala, toured some of the Aztec and Mayan ruins, and visited several museums known for their Pre-Columbian collections.

Seeing those items first-hand and in some cases purchasing contemporary reproductions brings the history to life. I have a list of research books I’d like to own and study—that’s next on my list. BTW—I created the Inic, magical pre-Columbian, organic beings who live underground. I even made up a language for them that’s a mixture of Uto-Aztecan, Olmec, and Mayan languages steeped in my imagination.

Fun, fun, fun!

What is the WIP closest to your heart and writing brain at present?

I’m taking a break from contemporary settings to write a middle grade manuscript that takes place during the high middle-ages. It’s a story about a girl who escapes from al-Andalus and makes her way north. As a musician, I performed in several early music ensembles and sometimes feel I’m a medievalist born in the wrong century. I also studied and choreographed Renaissance dances and so this manuscript is close to my heart in a myriad of ways.  

 Follow Isabel Estrada O’Hagin here:

Instagram: isabelohagin

Website: https://isabelohagin.com

 

 

 

Welcome Aboard, Rita Seay!

In the second of our quarterly interviews with last year’s BIPOC Scholarship awardees, Rita Seay will amaze you with her background and experiences. We hope to hear more about Rita’s creative endeavors in children’s literature in the near future! Take a few minutes to learn more about one of our new members and welcome her to SCBWI-MI!

- Isabel Estrada O'Hagin, Outreach Coordinator

How has the SCBWI membership been useful to you?

The SCBWI membership has been useful in preparing me to immerse myself in achieving my goal to be a children's book author. I read the blogs and gain insight into the craft of writing children's literature from both professional and emerging authors. I have attended a webinar offered by SCBWI and will register for others that fit in my schedule. I recently discovered that SCBWI has a podcast. The podcast is saved in my phone for convenient access, especially when I am driving and can't find meaningful programming on the radio. Overall, the membership has inspired me to fulfill my life-long dream of writing for children.

We’d like to get to know you! Tell us about your past creative work in the area of children’s literature or related areas of interest or expertise.

During my sophomore year in college, I registered for a children's literature course. I was so fascinated with the content that I vowed to write a children's book by the time my yet to be conceived child was able to read. I kept a journal of story ideas and character profiles. A few years later my son was born and I maintained that vow. Unfortunately, the hardships of life derailed my plans to fulfill my vow. 

As a veteran educator, I have had the opportunity to write programs and skits for students to perform. In my nearly 30 years of working as a teacher and administrator, I have certainly acquired an abundance of story ideas that are timeless as well as relevant for youth today.

 

What in your childhood or youth piqued your interest in writing or illustrating? What were some of the major influences that led you to this road?

During my elementary years, my teachers always read a chapter book to the class after recess. I enjoyed stepping into the stories to experience what the characters experienced. My desire is to provide vicarious experiences for the children who read my stories. 

During my childhood we had a set of books entitled Lands and Peoples, which I frequently reviewed with great interest. As a child, I had a pen pal from Holland. I have always been interested in other cultures. I have book ideas relating to writing about other cultures to help children develop a fascination with learning about youth from around the world. My travel experiences as an adult have provided plenty of story ideas for a volume on international youth.

 Please share anything about your current projects or what’s ahead in your creative work? We’d love to hear about it!

My son is now 46 with a 12-year-old son. I am currently writing a middle grade series with a male protagonist who experiences the benefits of living in a multigenerational family, as well as the challenges of navigating the typical pre-adolescent social scene. This series is dedicated to my son. It is a testament to his ability to overcome the dysfunction of his childhood and become a hospital COO, but most importantly to become a phenomenal father.

I am an ACE Master Trainer. I have conducted workshops for organizations that have a mission to support children. I have also shared this information with students in teacher training programs at local universities. The knowledge I acquired while training to present Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) workshops has inspired me to write with the purpose of empowering youth. My stories will reveal the trauma children experience, as well as their journey to overcome those experiences.

I am interested in writing realistic fiction and non-fiction for children. Topics will include youth from other cultures, youth with disabilities, and career exploration for kids.

 

Email: Inspiring.Narratives@gmail.com.

It Starts with Hello with Tammy Layman Hall

  

Taking a step in a new direction can be daunting, but it often opens up a new pathway. This is my takeaway from this month’s It Starts with Hello story submitted by Tammy Layman Hall. Tammy responded to a call for SCBWI-MI volunteers, and wouldn’t you know it—Carrie Pearson responded with an enthusiastic hello, as did a few others. Those friendly greetings gave Tammy an opportunity to meet many of our members as she set up events for our regional chapter and continues in the position as Registrar.

 

Thank you, Tammy, for sharing your hello story! You, too, can submit your hello story (300 words or less) at: ohaginib@gmail.com. I especially would love to hear from new members!

 

- Isabel Estrada O’Hagin

 

How?

 

How do you switch careers? How do you stop writing work instructions? How do you write stories for kids? Try writing for hire, I was told. Off to a workshop, I went. Join your local SCBWI chapter, I was told. Years ago, I joined. Not much came out of it. Besides, I was so far back on the path I did not feel I would ever catch up. How will writing fit into this already overfilled life? I will stay safe writing instructor guides to upload into learning management databases.  

 

Tammy Layman Hall

Then, SCBWI-MI posted a registrar position. Someone to set up events. I can do that! So, I sent an email. Carrie Pearson answered. She took the time to talk to me on a telephone call. What a difference! The time she takes with me each event we set up keeps me involved in SCBWI. Then, Ann Finkelstein said hello. She walked me through how to set up the mentorship. Isabel said hello. She invited me to KAST. I carved out time to go. Then, the Nonfiction Toolbox conference came. I had to put faces with the names from the database. Again, I carved out time to go. Then, COVID hit. Just as I was learning how! The world shut down. Why bother! Now it’s too hard to meet people, I thought. Yet, Zoom meetings meant more people saying hello. Conferences, webinars, and Shop Talks kept showing me how.  

 

So, that first hello pushed me to leap towards my dream. Now, so many hellos pull and prod me onward. Yes, my overstuffed life keeps pulling me from the writing chair. Still, deadlines are met. Submissions go out. Stories sell. Critique groups say hello. That first hello started to show me how.  

 

Tammy

tammy@layman-hall.com

 

Tammy lives in southwestern Michigan with her family and a crazy menagerie of pets. She is married to the reigning neighborhood Christmas light grand champion and got talked into adding a garden train to her cottage-inspired tangled yard of blooms. When she's not writing, you can find her hitching a ride over to the local park on our scratch-built go-kart, Oliver. Her stories are pending publication in High Five Magazine and Primary Treasure. As a storyteller, she has told stories at city gardens, museums, and nature centers.    

 

It Starts with Hello with Jean Alicia Elster

 “Hello!”

Three years ago, one of the initial tasks I undertook as the first Equity and Inclusion Committee Chair for SCBWI-MI was to get a sense of the interests and needs among our members through informal interviews. I contacted a few people and asked them to identify and share their perspective on what they thought were key issues. The importance of being made to feel welcomed as a new SCBWI member came to the forefront. Jean shared her thoughts on how she felt when someone took the time to say, “Hello,” at the first two SCBWI-MI conferences she attended. Today, she shares a poignant personal story with us.

New members may often feel like strangers and left to wonder if they really belong. Fortunately, as Jean relates and so many other members will attest, our SCBWI-Michigan members can and do take steps to welcome all to our community.

Jean’s broaching of this topic a few years back and subsequent conversations with others inspired me to start this series. We can learn to do better when we walk a mile in someone’s shoes through story and Jean has given us all a gift with hers. 

We’ll continue to share these personal stories of support with your help. Send your “It Starts with Hello,” submission, 300-words or less, to Isabel Estrada O’Hagin at: ohaginib@gmail.com. I look forward to receiving them!

Thank you, Jean, for sharing your story!

Warmly,

Isabel Estrada O’Hagin

Outreach Coordinator 

Let me begin by saying that there are now many members of the SCBWI Michigan chapter that I consider my dear author buddies. However almost 20 years ago, as a new member, I could not have imagined making that statement.

Yes, it was just under two decades ago that I attended my first Michigan chapter conferences. They were one-day events. Both times, when I arrived, I began to do what I normally do when I am at an event and I don’t know anyone: I walked around, smiled, and tried to make eye-contact. Folks just looked away. I said, "Hello," to people at the coffee table who were not engaged with others in conversations.  Nothing happened. I couldn’t connect with anyone. The vibe was decidedly cold and unwelcoming.  

At lunchtime, everyone rushed off to their tables. I looked around for an empty chair at a table and could not find one. There was an empty table so I sat down, ready to enjoy my lunch and keep myself company.

Then someone came up to me and said, “Hi, I’m Shutta Crum. Will you join us at my table?”  I was stunned. I looked over to where she gestured, and her table was full. I mentioned that fact. She grabbed my chair and asked one of the attendees to scoot over. “Now there’s room,” she said.

At the second event, something similar happened when Nancy Shaw saw me sitting by myself in the auditorium and sat next to me. She introduced herself and struck up a conversation.

Both of these SCBWI-MI members went out of their way to make a stranger to the organization feel welcome. And it is because of them that I stayed connected to this chapter. I am grateful for their kindness and count them as friends to this day.

 

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