Book Birthday Blog with Laura Stewart

 

Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!

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

 

Congratulations to Laura Stewart on the release of Orchestra for Oliver: Even the Shortest Lives Are Special

 

 

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

After our family experienced a negative prenatal diagnosis in 2019 for our second grandchild, we banded together as a family to pray and make lasting memories. My original story has been compiled into a beautiful family photo book (using Snapfish) that I made for my son and his wife. Orchestra for Oliver: Even the Shortest Lives are Special is based on our story. It is a gentle way to prepare siblings and other family members of an unborn baby that may not survive. It thoughtfully guides families through making memories and opportunities for prayer during and after using a musical motif.

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

That they have more choices than they know. That continuing a pregnancy that is diagnosed “incompatible with life,” doesn’t mean termination. Families can find support if they aren’t receiving it from their medical community or from their extended family and friends. Education is vital and continuing a pregnancy even when the outcome may be tragic, helps the healing in the long term.

What was the most difficult part of writing this book?

Staying sensitive to the topic in general and honoring my family’s story. Many of the families that will read this story may have already gone down this road and had a vastly different outcome. I also revised this many, many times to broaden the scope for marketing purposes. It goes from our family story to “based upon” our family story. Originally, I wrote it from Oliver’s perspective. It eventually was revised to come from his older sibling’s perspective to make it more child friendly and to enhance a broader marketing approach.

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

On March 16, 2026, Orchestra For Oliver became available through all of your favorite bookstore places.

Pauline Books & Media has hired a publicist and has a marketing team, so my job is to make myself available for interviews and forward any social media posts. I am used to putting myself out there because I’ve had to for the past two books. It still challenges me. The radio and on camera interviews totally freak me out, and I find myself going blank even though I practice. I can get in front of an audience for presentations no prob. But say the word interview, and "um, and so, and ya know" comes out of my mouth. I tank. I freeze. I go blank. It's humbling to say the least. Word of the year for me: Humility.

What's next for you?

Pauline Media will promote for one full year. During the next six months, I’ve decided to hold off on new submissions so I can fully give to the stories already published as well as the next family camping caper story that will be released in 2027. We also have a new granddaughter on the way, so I like to make myself available for whatever comes up. 

More about the book . . .

Camile is delighted that she is going to be a big sister! But sad news from the doctor makes the family realize that they may not have much time with little Oliver after his birth. They decide to focus on spending well the time they do have, making intentional memories with him through trips and experiences tied to music.  

Published by: Pauline Books & Media 

More about the author . . . 

Laura Stewart lives in Michigan with her husband and has homeschooled her children for over twenty-eight years. She is steadfast in her commitment to uphold the dignity of live by participation in life-affirming events, and by making and distributing “Life” bracelets to local pregnancy centers and individuals. Orchestra for Oliver is inspired by the short life of Laura’s second grandbaby. Laura’s other stories include Puddle Jumper (2013), Building the Bridge School (2024 Mission Point Press), and Clucky’s Week (2025 Lawley Kids). 

https://laurastewartstories.com/

https://www.instagram.com/laurastewartstories/

https://www.facebook.com/laura.stewart.952050/ 

https://www.pinterest.com/laurastewartstories/historical-picture-books/ 

YouTube @LauraStewartStories

https://www.youtube.com/@laurastewartstoriesauthor

 

 

Book Birthday Blog with Laura Stewart

 

Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!

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

 

Congratulations to Laura Stewart on the release of Clucky's Week

 

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

The idea of Clucky’s Week has been incubating for many years and eventually needed to hatch. We have been raising “backyard” chickens since 2009, and both my family and I can attest to the hilarities that chicken raising, and care can bring. We have wrangled chickens, searched for hidden egg stashes, climbed trees in the night to extract dumb leghorns from branches, placing them safely back in the coop, and a day I’ll never forget, when we dared our potential son-in-law to chase a rooster down before he was initiated into our family’s flock. (Now my favorite <and only> son-in-law and my daughter are raising secret backyard chickens at an undisclosed location in mid-Michigan! Shhh…bock, bock).
 
My oldest son and his wife have taken raising poultry to a whole new level. They care for over 50 chickens and also sell eggs and hybrid baby chicks for profit. 

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

Clucky’s Week on the surface is a simple concept book. Days of the week, incubation of an egg, some prepositional cues. However, a slightly deeper look shows the tenacity (or in Clucky’s case, the pluckiness) it takes to think of new ideas and persevere until you have success. Much like the world of writers. So what if publisher “A” doesn’t accept a particular story? Keep thinking of new ideas for queries and new publishers to send it to. Publishers, like our farm-fresh eggs, come in all different shapes, sizes and colors. And that’s no yolk! 

What inspires you to write? 

Depends. I have been writing while raising my family since 1997. That was the year I first submitted a story. We’re talking manila envelopes stacked in a row, stamped and addressed to different publishers with a pre-stamped return envelope included. I guess one word sums it up. Anticipation. I love to anticipate the possibility that one of my many stories would be brought to fruition through lively illustrations, and also the hope that one day I would physically hold each story in my hands while reading to children. Encouraging smiles and joy is such a satisfying thought. My forty or more children’s stories are in a variety of genres, all waiting for the right time and publisher. Anticipate! 

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

Clucky’s Week book launch will be at Krep’s Apple Barn in LaSalle, Mi on Nov. 8, 2025 @ 1 p.m. A fabulous farm and consignment gift store, that includes a loft with tables, chairs and fresh DONUTS! Feel welcome to join us in the relaxed autumn atmosphere that will surround my family fun and interactive presentation of Clucky’s Week, while you sip your delicious, crisp apple cider. Marketing is underway through social media, and hand delivered flyers are being delivered to libraries and other appropriate locations. Books are available for pre-sale through all of your favorite book retailers. 

 

What's next for you? 

My next publication is titled Orchestra for Oliver: Even the Shortest Lives are Special (Pauline Media, 2026) This is a sanctity of life story based on our family’s heavenly saint, Oliver.  

More about the book . . . 

Someone has taken Clucky's egg! Determined to hide her next one, she gets clever and uses her egg smarts to find the perfect spot. But when her daily efforts are foiled by the farmer and his family, she must come up with a new plan each day. 

Will Clucky outsmart her farm friends? Follow this momma hen in Clucky's Week, a playful, interactive story about one persistent poultry.  

Publisher: Lawley Publishing

More about the author . . . 

Laura lives by a river in rural Michigan with her family, a sweet (if slightly confused) golden retriever, and a flock of chickens. Her backyard birds often inspire her stories, including Puddle Jumper and Building the Bridge School (August 2024). Learn more at  https://laurastewartstories.com/.

 

 

Scholarship Winner Laura Stewart's SCBWI New York Conference Experience

In addition to regional conferences, SCBWI hosts two national conferences - one in Los Angeles in the summer and one in New York in the winter. Our SCBWI-MI chapter has sent members to the New York conference for several years thanks to a scholarship offered by author Shutta Crum. This year's scholarship winner was Laura Stewart, and we asked her to fill us in on her New York adventure.
Here's Laura:

On the eve of flying out for the 2019 N.Y.C. conference I was a jumble of feelings. A healthy amount of nervousness, excitement and pure exhaustion. I had just returned 52 hours prior from Arizona after seeing my first grandbaby in the NICU born by an emergency c-section. With jet lag alive and active, I conserved my energies over the next day and a half to prepare for
my next adventure.

This experience as an attendee and the fact that I was in N.Y.C., completely pushed me out of my comfort zone. There was a definite feeling of camaraderie in this community of storytellers. I was honored to be part of the SCBWI history this year, from celebrating Jane
Yolen’s 80th birthday to witnessing Elizabeth Acevedo give her first keynote speech. Both truly beautiful people.

One of the threads woven throughout the conference and shared by key speakers, was that no one should eliminate themselves as having the potential to become an author. Even when the voice in our head tells us we really have no clue what we’re doing in this space with such talented individuals. Each of the intensives I attended gave me practical tools to dissect and improve my stories and also polish my queries. I came away feeling more confident in my ability, direction and a renewed perseverance to succeed in publication.

I am thankful to Shutta for offering this scholarship and to SCBWI MI for offering the
stipend. I have enjoyed being part of this community of writers and am grateful to be a part of
your story. Thank you for being a part of mine.

Laura lives just a short stroll from the banks of the peaceful River Raisin, where she has gleaned many of her story ideas while canoeing, kayaking and daydreaming. While raising her family, Laura has continued to write stories, songs and prayers. Learn more at https://laurastewartstories.com/.


Go to the Official SCBWI Winter Conference Blog for plenty of photos and takeaways.

Find more inspirational highlights here: https://scbwi.blogspot.com/2019/02/ten-inspirational-ny19scbwi-highlights.html

If you weren't able to attend the New York conference, SCBWI has more opportunities in the coming months.

The SCBWI Annual Summer Conference in Los Angeles will be August 9-12th.

Closer to home and coming up soon is the SCBWI Marvelous Midwest Multi-Region Conference May 3-5th in Chicago.

Don't miss our special SCBWI-MI Features and Programs, here on the Mitten Blog and on the SCBWI-MI website:

• Learn tips for Painless Self-Promotion from author/educator Deb Gonzales.

• Celebrate Book Birthdays!

• Read our first Ask the Editor post where editor Katherine Gibson answers your questions about children's publishing. Do you have a question for her? Email your questions to Mitten blog editor Kristin Lenz.

• Introducing The Teacher's Corner, a new resource on the SCBWI-MI website where connecting with a local children’s book author or illustrator is made easier.

• 75 new books were donated to students at Burton Elementary through the SCBWI-MI ABC program! Thanks to PAL Coordinator Jodi McKay for coordinating the program and collecting the books, thanks to Nick and Ashley Adkins for delivering the books, and thanks to all the authors who donated copies of their books!