Book Birthday Blog With Leslie Helakoski

 

Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!

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

 

Congratulations to Leslie Helakoski on the release of Fake Gnus

 

 

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

The original idea for this story came in the summer of 2019 while I was hiking on Isle Royale, the national park in Lake Superior. The island is known for its moose population and as my group hiked we listened and hoped to spot one or two.
 
But every time we heard something, it turned out NOT to be a moose. And I would think…Fake Moose. At home I tried writing a story about spotting a moose but it didn’t feel original and it just wasn’t singing. For the next 5 years, off and on, I worked on different versions. Finally, I let go of the missing moose and decided to play around with GNUS and NEWS and the importance of media literacy. I thought the need for this topic was only increasing. Plus, when I got to the last pages, there was a perfect spot to end the book with a missing moose!

You wrote and illustrated the book. Please describe your creative process. 

The art for Fake Gnus is watercolor and pastel on Arches hot press watercolor paper. I start with a rough dummy to establish a layout  and design for the book. Then I choose my favorite illustration and transfer it to the Arches paper including the text as a design element. I use Windsor Newton watercolors and Rembrandt pastels along with cut newspaper to emphasize the topic of news. 
 
Then, I push myself to make all my subsequent illustrations just as interesting. 

 

 

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

I hope readers will be reminded to ask kids where information comes from and to question the source. This is important even for young kids. I was a big Encyclopedia Brown fan when I was young and enjoyed making this into a mini-mystery.

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

I have been posting on blogs and setting up book signings. Some of these dates below have not been finalized. 

                 I will be at McLean and Eakin in Petoskey, MI on August 11.
                 Highlights Foundation on September 15-19
                 Louisiana Book Festival, Baton Rouge, LA October 31
                 Cavalier Books in Lafayette, LA  November.
                 Barnes and Noble, Lafayette, LA November
                 Book People in Austin, TX in November
 
Fake Gnus is available in most bookstores or online at Bookshop (which supports independent bookstores) https://bookshop.org/beta-search?keywords=helakoski
It is also available on Amazon.

What's next for you?

Next up…a book with Cathy Gendron called Crab Did It will be published by Charlesbridge in May of 2027. I’ve been a fan of Cathy’s work since we met years ago. We talked for years about collaborating on a project and when this came along, it was a perfect fit. Again, it is a mystery to find out who is pinching on the reef and who is not. No swimming to conclusions!

More about the book . . .

The gnu pen is empty! So where are the gnus? There are many different clues to follow, and it’s up to Scoop to decide if the evidence he hears and sees is true … or not! Someone tells Scoop they saw the gnus eating ice cream in Central Park. But this news site says they’re climbing the Empire State Building. And here’s a photo showing the gnus at a dairy farm. Can all of these sources be real gnus? Or are they fake gnus? Scoop reminds us that a fact is something that can be proven to be true. With every new source, Scoop always checks the facts! 

Published by: Groundwood Books 

More about the author . . . 

Leslie Helakoski is the author and sometimes illustrator of 17 picture books. Her newest addition is Fake Gnus, a School Library Journal selection (Groundwood Publishing). Recent titles are When the Rain Came Down (FSG) and Gator’s Big Mouth (Pelican). Upcoming titles are Crab Did It, and Crabby Claude (Putnam).
 
Leslie’s award-winning books are known for their humor and word play. Woolbur (HarperCollins) was nominated for book awards in 14 states, winning honors in Florida and Michigan. It was a Book Sense Hot Pick, a Gift of Literacy book in Oregon and a Great Lakes Book Award finalist. Big Chickens (Dutton) received starred reviews in SLJ and Kirkus, won the Michigan Reads One State One Book Award, the Great Lakes Great Books award and was nominated for awards in 5 states. 

Leslie served as a Regional Advisor for SCBWI Michigan and is now RA Emeritus. She runs a picture book workshop at Boyds Mills (Highlights) each summer. She divides her time between southern Louisiana and northern Michigan. See more about her books at https://www.helakoskibooks.com/.

Facebook: Leslie Helakoski
Instagram:  @helakoskibooks 

 

  

Featured Illustrator: Leslie Helakoski

The Mitten's spring 2025 banner by Leslie Helakoski

Tall tree, Yooper/Y'all, tons of talented Michigan Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Katrina, and Gators: Author/Illustrator Leslie Helakoski

Charlie Barshaw coordinates our regular Writer Spotlight feature and interviews writers of SCBWI-MI. In this piece, meet author, illustrator, author/illustrator,  former SCBWI-MI RA, and illustrator of our spring 2025 banner, Leslie Helakoski. To read an interview with Leslie from 2020, click HERE.

 

Leslie Helakoski

You mentioned in a Cynsations interview, that your love of language sprang from where you grew up. Growing up in Louisiana, you’ve got your French and Spanish and Creole languages just dancing with each other in the streets of New Orleans. Have any of your books been translated to other languages?

Language has always fascinated me. From  14^th century Cajun French to words that sound like a chicken.

BIG CHICKENS was translated into Korean.

And WOOLBUR was translated into Hebrew.

Glamour Pic of Leslie and Carrie in their RA days

Since we interviewed last, you’ve retired from your role as Regional Advisor for SCBWI-MI. You and Carrie Pearson presided over the organization during some glorious years. What do you miss about running a society of children’s book writers and illustrators? What do you miss least?

Oh I cannot tell you how much I miss the connections to our members that running the organization fostered. Having regular events kept me informed about what our members were doing and what was going on in the industry. As for what I miss least, that would be managing finances. That is not my strength but I’m proud that I did it without any catastrophes.

You’ve always had a dual affection for Louisiana (where you were born) and Upper Peninsula Michigan (where your husband Ward came from). Recently, you’ve been spending time in both places. I imagine the U.P. in the summer, and Louisiana during the winter? How’s life between two places?

Life between Louisiana and Michigan is perfectly designed for me. Mild winters down south are a treat and just try to get me out of the UP in the summer and fall.

I think living in different places is beneficial to writers –makes us think outside the norm.

 

Leslie and Ruth, E.B. Lewis, Kristen Reminar, Deb Gonzalez and Matt Faulkner

I was delighted to see you mention fellow author/illustrator Matt Faulkner as someone who coached you on illustrating for kids. He asked you to consider the character of each of your characters. Was it an “Eva Gabor or Phyllis Diller” type of pig? Lori Eslick, Ruth McNally Barshaw and you formed an art critique group. Who else helped get your books illustrated by you?

Yes, Ruth Barshaw, Lori Eslick and I met for years supporting each other and laughing our heads off as we tried to navigate this business. My art was not published yet and Ruth was just starting her Ellie McDoodle series. Our small group later expanded to include Cathy Gendron, Heidi Sheffield, Deb Pilutti, Kirbi Fagan, Matt Faulkner, Deborah Marcero and Lindsay Moore—all amazing illustrators! I still share work with several of these artists and know I can ask them if I need advice. Having others to discuss your work with is invaluable.

 

WOOLBUR

FAIR COW was the first book you wrote and illustrated. Publishers were happy to purchase your manuscripts, but they passed on having you illustrate. I’m sure you had art ready to show what the finished page would look like. When you started pursuing picture books, it was as an illustrator. What kept you going until you got the chance to show off your stuff?

I did think illustration would be my ticket in. But when I attended my first SCBWI event (which was in Green Bay, Wisconsin) I found the writing excited me more and I realized that my art needed more work.

I paid more attention to artists I admired and sought to transfer some of that energy into my work. I passed up the opportunity to sell Fair Cow to a major publisher and went with a small press in order to illustrate. Since then I’ve illustrated 6 of my 17 books. I don’t always want to illustrate my stories but sometimes---we creators have to get pushy.

One of the things that kept me going were those interactions with other members. The generosity of this kidlit community is unbelievable.

Your career, over your many years, has had dry periods. You broke out of a publishing slump when you published HOOT AND HONK. You said the lean years made you analyze what was selling, reading the new stuff, and finding ways to make your book useful for educators. What are the current trends you’re seeing in children’s publishing?

After 20 years in this business, I am not hunting for trends. I am writing what I’d like to see in the marketplace—mainly fun and interesting stories that make me laugh. That is my strong suit and I have some great things lined up.

You have formed a partnership with author Darcy Pattison. You present to Highlights as the PB&J (Picture Book and All that Jazz). How do the two of you collaborate for one worthwhile writing program?

Darcy Pattison and I met about 15 years ago at a Michigan SCBWI event. Darcy was one of the speakers. Something she said resonated with me and I showed her how I applied it to a manuscript I was working on. (BIG CHICKENS). Soon we were swapping manuscripts and stayed in touch. Now, we are honest and tough with each other as well as supportive. 

A few years later it happened that we were both speaking at SCBWI Pennsylvania event at the Highlights Foundation’s Barn. We ended up waiting in the airport for a couple of hours together. Inspired by the programs Highlights was sponsoring, we came up with a proposal of our own. 

We’ve been teaching there now for 10 years. We are both passionate about teaching writing though we approach it very differently. Our differences help us provide feedback to our students in different ways.

Our original workshops were called PBJ (Picture Books and All that Jazz) but the format has evolved over the years and Highlights has changed the name to Picture Book Authors and Illustrators Working Retreat.

WHEN THE RAIN CAME DOWN had a personal history of devastating storms. Over your lifetime you’ve seen dozens of hurricane rains, winds and floods. The book references a specific hurricane, but you had others in mind, too, didn’t you? What other storms influenced you?

You are right, Charlie, growing up in south Louisiana did provide a front row view of many storms. However, the storm that took my childhood home was not a hurricane. It was a stalled low pressure system that hovered over the gulf for days and days, dumping unprecedented water on the coastline.

Hurricane Katrina is such a well-known storm, and though it is alluded to in my book, it is not mentioned by name. I wanted the book to have a larger reach-- especially since flooding can happen in every state of the union.

I saw GATOR’S GOOD IDEA advertised, and also GATOR’S BIG MOUTH. Same gator?

I didn’t write gator’s good idea—sounds like a fun title. Sometimes that’s all it takes to get me scribbling..

BACK TO THE WOODS. Where does that stand? What’s it about?

Back to the Woods was a flat fee project with Kiwico, which creates craft kits for kids. They like to include books into some of their themed packages. Unfortunately, this means they are not in book stores and at this time are only available in the kits. This might change.

CRABBY NEIGHBORS (Putnam) and FAKE GNUS (GroundwoodBooks).  Tell us about these upcoming book babies.

FAKE GNUS (pronounced NOOZ)  is something I am working on illustrating right now. The art should be done in about a month. I’m having a great time with it and can’t wait to get it out there.

CRABBY NEIGHBORS, published by Putnam, started out as an early chapter book. Something different for me. While I was gathering rejections on it in that form, one editor passed on it but asked if I’d consider turning into a picture book.  That being my wheel house, I gave it a whirl and now it’s in the pipeline. The publisher has a strong vision for it. We just signed illustrator Alex Willmore for the project and expect it will be out in late 2027 or early 2028.

There are whispers that you’re working on a novel. Like, long-term working on it. Please say that you haven’t totally given up on your long-form brainchild.

It’s true I have been working on a novel for a few years. (YIKES) And it is almost finished—(More YIKES.) Writing a novel is SO different than writing a picture book. I love the complicated weaving of characters and scenes. But I miss the playful language that comes out of younger stories.

I am anxious to get back to polishing that novel. Of course, I’ve had a couple of writer friends look over it for me. I hope  to get it out to my agent after I finish the art for Fake Gnus.

When asked, who would you, living or dead, want to have lunch with, you said Mary Cassatt. Is she still your Plus One?

Hmm, that was when I read an article on the struggles that the impressionists went through --women in particular. But today I’d like to have lunch with that group of illustrators I mentioned earlier.

You’re also a writing coach, and you do manuscript critiques. What can a writer expect when they add you to their creative team?

First of all, I’m a sucker for a story. I’m a teacher at heart and love digging into what makes a story work. I’ve published 17 picture books over the years in many different formats. I encourage writers to explore different approaches to getting a story down. I push writers to reach and never to settle. 

Text can do more than just tell a story, it can cast a mood, tickle funny bones and weave in facts. I work in both prose and rhyme. I tend to be very wordy with my critiques, which I warn writers, can be a bit overwhelming. But I love getting feedback myself and think more is better than less in that department.

What’s next?

My agent has a few picture book manuscripts ready to circulate if I ever get that novel off my desk.

And Darcy and I are planning a new PB workshop at Highlights in September 13-16. We will have guest editor Matt Phipps from Putnam, and art director Aram Kim from FSG, along with me and Darcy and another guest writer.

Please share any social media platforms:

Helakoskibooks.com

Instagram:helakoskibooks

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Book Birthday Blog with Leslie Helakoski

 

 

Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!

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

 

Congratulations to Leslie Helakoski on the release of When the Rain Came Down

 

 

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

I grew up on a bayou in south Louisiana where my family lived through many storms, one of them leaving 5 feet of water in our family home. WHEN THE RAIN CAME DOWN was inspired by those storms and Hurricane Katrina and Rita in particular. In the aftermath, everyone I knew had taken people into their homes. Everyone volunteered in some capacity, everyone spoke of before and after the storms and noted water marks that are still there today. The phrase, ‘When the rain came down and the water rose up,’ came to me when I was trying to write a story about neighbors.

At the same time I was working on RAIN, I had another idea involving hurricanes in a more whimsical way. GATOR’s BIG MOUTH is also about a storm displacing locals –alligators this time. It was inspired by a trip through the marsh after a hurricane. The storm damage made me wonder what happened to the alligators when their homes were destroyed.

What inspires you to write and draw?

The work of other artists and other writers inspires me all the time. Finding work I love and respond to, makes me want to do the same thing.

How do you approach the creative process? Plotter, panster or combination of the two?

I don’t consciously plot out picture books. I get an idea about a character or a problem and start writing about it. Once I have something down, I may do a bit of plotting to see what is missing or not working.

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

I’m lining up school visits and speaking at Michigan Reading Association this spring. There are many festivals and book fairs where I will promote the book. It will be available at most bookstores and online. You can get a signed copy or pre order from Book Bug, a great indie,  here: WHEN THE RAIN CAME DOWN

What's next for you?

I just sold a picture book to Putnam that will be out in fall of 2025.
And GATOR’S BIG MOUTH will release in April–you can pre-order it here: GATOR'S BIG MOUTH

More about the book . . .

WHEN THE RAIN CAME DOWN is about the strength that arises when a community bands together to overcome immeasurable hardship. It was inspired by Hurricane Katrina and influenced by Leslie's personal experience living through rising waters on a bayou in south Louisiana. WHEN THE RAIN CAME DOWN follows the devastating effects of flooding and the enduring heart of the community.

Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux (Macmillan)

More about the author . . .

Leslie Helakoski is the author and sometimes illustrator of 18 picture books. Her books like BIG CHICKENS and WOOLBUR are known for their humor and wordplay and have won many state book awards and starred reviews. Her recent title, ARE YOUR STARS LIKE MY STARS? was chosen as a best diverse book in 2021. Leslie served as Regional Advisor for SCBWI Michigan for 11 years and is now RA Emeritus. Each summer Leslie also runs the PB&J picture book workshop at the Highlights Foundation.

Facebook: Leslie Helakoski

Instagram: helakoskibooks 

 

Interview with Picture Book Mentor, Leslie Helakoski

Welcome to part two of our SCBWI-MI Mentorship Interviews! If you missed it, click here to read part one, in which we interviewed Kim Rogers, our PB prose mentor. For this installment, we talk with Leslie Helakoski, our PB verse mentor.

What is the mentorship, you ask? Great question. Every year, SCBWI-MI provides an opportunity for our members to work with a published author or illustrator who will help you not only improve your current work-in-progress, but the goal is to help you hone your craft overall. This year, we are focusing on prose and verse picture books. To learn more about our mentorships, click here.

Many of you may be familiar with Leslie, who is a former co-RA for our region. She’s also the author and illustrator of over a dozen picture books. Check out her bio on her website here.

Without further ado, enjoy this more personal glimpse of Leslie and her writing.

-Jay Whistler, Mentorship Coordinator

  

Mentorship Interview with Leslie Helakoski

What do you like best about writing picture books? 

I’ve been playing with words ever since I was very young and I’d find the word puzzle page in Reader’s Digest. I continued to play with words while working in advertising. I even like designing with words. I love that certain words can define, set a mood, show character, or make me laugh.

What do you like least? 

Marketing and self-promotion.

Describe a typical writing day.

In the morning, I tend to exercise (pickle ball, anyone?) and answer email, which includes answering questions at the national help-desk for SCBWI. That leaves me free to write creatively in the afternoon. I’ve tried many times to do creative work first, but I have to trick my head into believing I’ve got nothing else pending and am free to write for myself. I’ll often write until I notice I am uncomfortable sitting or my eyes are tired. If I am illustrating a book, I will paint all day. For weeks. I’m not fast.

Which of your books was the most fun to write? Why? 

That would be…BIG CHICKENS. The story came easily—maybe because it is based on a true story—I was a very big chicken when I was young! Plus, the editor was sharp and easy to work with. It was also my first book with a major publisher (Dutton—remember them?). I met the illustrator, Henry Cole, and we became fast friends, which made creating the second two chicken books a lot of fun. The editor, Henry, and I all met in New Orleans, since the last book was set there, and took photos of settings around the city. I love collaborating on a book, especially with an illustrator whose work I adore.

When you’re reading for pleasure, what features of a book typically impress you the most?

In novels, it’s when I notice that I LOVE the character already, and I have to stop and look back to figure out HOW the author made me feel that way. In picture books, it’s the story. I always look for the story first.

What brings you joy?

Family, being in the woods, talking about books with writing friends.

What inspires you?

Well, sorry to be so obvious but….children, of course. I’ve always been drawn to young children. I love to watch them play and see them learn and hear them speak. When I’m writing, I imagine specific children listening, and it keeps me focused on addressing the child.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

Every time I read this question, I come up with a different place I’d love to see. Most recently I’ve been dreaming of Greece—the sun, the water, the sheer antiquity everywhere…

If you could have dinner with any person throughout history who would it be? What would you discuss?

The impressionist painter Mary Cassatt has always interested me. Not only her gorgeous work but how she navigated her career as a painter in a field of men who didn’t always recognize women, much less their artwork. She defied her father’s wishes and pursued her painting in Paris, eventually joining the impressionists. She helped open doors for other women. I think we might have tea in a flowering garden and perhaps invite her good friend Edgar Degas to join us.

What aspects of being a picture book mentor are you most looking forward to? 

I’m always happy to hear new and original voices and stories. I have missed our Michigan writer’s community over the past few years, and I’m delighted to feel connected to it again in this way.

Can you tell us about any upcoming projects?

My newest upcoming book, WHEN THE RAIN CAME DOWN, with FSG, is about a community’s response to flooding on the Gulf Coast, where I grew up. It was inspired by losing our family home to high water and storms. The illustrator, Keisha Morris, is working on the art now, and it will release next winter. AND I am happy to report that I pulled a project out of my drawer a couple of weeks ago, where it’s been wallowing a loooonnng time. I revised it and sold it to a small press! GATOR’S GOOD IDEA was originally written ten years ago. The text is filled with playful Southern language. I’m already working on the illustrations and having lots of fun including all the small details that make illustrating fiction so much fun.

Resolution vs. Motivation: Either Way, It’s Crunch Time! by Jay Whistler

I’m generally of the opinion that New Year’s Resolutions are a waste of time. You know the drill: make a hasty resolution at the end of December that this year, by gum, you WILL finish your manuscript/picture book dummy/query letter and submission packet, etc., repeat it to yourself as you raise your glass of sparkling cider at midnight, focus for approximately nine days, and by January 10, you’ve already “failed.” 

You could google how to make and keep resolutions. The results will provide lots of practical tips on how to reframe everything. They need to be measurable goals, with concrete steps you take over time. You have to create a game plan for how you will get yourself back on track when you stumble. And you need to remind yourself that there’s no such thing as perfect because you will stumble, blah blah blah. 

But none of that provides you with what you really need: motivation. 

That, my friends, is where I come in. After years as the SCBWI Michigan mentorship coordinator, Ann Finkelstein has stepped back for a well-deserved retirement from the position. Before she handed over all the files, Ann spent several months working with me to get me up to speed. So now, I am happy to share with you details of your newest New Year’s Resolution motivational tool: the 2023 Picture Book Mentorship. 

For 2023, we have two picture book mentorships available. The first will be with our own Leslie Helakoski, author of over a dozen picture books, including the upcoming When the Rain Came Down (Farrar Straus & Giroux, 2023). If you are familiar with Leslie’s work, you will know she loves lyrical word play. So it should come as no surprise that Leslie will be mentoring a lucky member with their verse picture book. You can find out more about Leslie on her website.

Our second mentorship will be a prose mentorship with Kim Rogers, whose debut PB, Just Like Grandma, will be released in January 2023, and already has a starred review from Publishers Weekly and is getting great advance buzz. She has two more upcoming PBs, one scheduled for summer 2023, and a NF PB bio scheduled for winter 2024. Kim also a short story and a poem included in the anthology Ancestor Approved: Intertribal Stories for Kids. Check out her website to learn more about Kim and her projects. 

While our schedule is not yet set in stone, you have plenty of time to whip your manuscripts into mentorship-ready condition. In spring, we will share the full schedule, including the submission window (currently planned for the summer), when announcements of the winners will be made, and when the mentorships will begin (currently planned for fall). Also keep an eye open for mentor interviews on The Mitten blog.

If this doesn’t provide you the motivation you need to find a critique group, take that online course you’ve been eyeing, or dust off the manuscript of your heart, then perhaps your resolution should be for someone to give you a good swift kick in the behind to get moving! 

In the meantime, you can keep tabs on the mentorship by checking out the SCBWI Michigan mentorship page here. 

SCBWI-MI HappySad Changes and Celebrations

A chill is in the air, the kids are back to school, and changes are underway for our SCBWI-MI chapter. After 11 years serving as Regional Advisor, Leslie Helakoski is handing over the reins to another energetic and enthusiastic volunteer - Jodi McKay. Jodi leaves her busy PAL Coordinator role to join Carrie Pearson as Co-RA. The PAL Coordinator position has been renamed Published Members Coordinator, and a huge thanks to Lauren Nyquist for stepping into that role!

Did you follow all of that? These movers and shakers each have an outgoing or incoming message for you, so I’m turning this blog post over to their words. Here's Leslie, Jodi, and Lauren.

From Leslie Helakoski:

Dear Michigan SCBWI-ers,

Well, I can hardly believe this myself, but after 11 years of being a regional advisor in Michigan, I am stepping aside. It’s been a wonderful time and I’m grateful I was able to spend all these years helping this wonderful group.

I first joined SCBWI in 1998 --I’d been attending SCBWI events in Wisconsin and was reluctant to let go of that group when my family moved downstate. The Michigan group was bigger and couldn’t possibly be as wonderful as the Wisconsinites. Could it? But at that very first event in Michigan, I met Shutta Crum, Lisa Wheeler, Kelly DiPucchio and Monica Harris. I had a new community.

Back then, Shirley Neitzel was RA with Buffy Silverman as ARA. They were followed by Mindy Krasner (now Tiedgen), then the wonder twins, Ann Finkelstein and Paula Payton. I became part of the planning committee called AdCom. This is when everyone was mailed a hard copy of the quarterly newsletter after we laid it out by hand. We signed up for events by mailing in registration forms and sending in checks. We did not have google docs for sharing documents! And I remember the big discussions on going electronic because some people just didn’t want to convert to getting info by email! What changes!

Monica Harris and I became RA’s in 2008. Monica was followed by Rachel Anderson and finally, Carrie Pearson and I have been RAs for the past 6 years. What a ride! 

One of the things I tried to accomplish as RA was welcoming new attendees at events. We can all remember that old feeling of being the new kid in the room/class/event. I ask all of you to continue with the practice of being especially welcoming to newbies. All organizations need new blood, new ideas and new volunteers.

Many of us can say we wouldn’t be published without this organization and I know for sure that I wouldn’t have had as much fun on this journey without it. But as much fun as it’s been to run this chapter, it’s a big job, and I look forward to spending more time on my own projects. Luckily, I feel comfortable doing that as we still have Carrie Pearson at the helm and she’ll be joined by Jodi McKay who shows every sign of being a fabulous RA for our region.

I’m not leaving the chapter. I’m only saying goodbye as RA.  I’ll still spend summer and fall in Michigan and hope to attend events as much as possible but winters will be spent down in Louisiana. (Y’all be sure to let me know if you travel that way.) Thanks to all who have sent notes and comments about times we’ve shared, it warms my heart.  I’ve learned so much from all of you and our generous sharing community.

Emeritus Regional Advisor
Leslie Helakoski

From Jodi Mckay:

Hi everyone, I know we will see each other, chat quite a bit, and work together for a while yet so I won't take up too much of your time. I just want to say that I am so happy to step into a role that allows me to support all of you in so many ways. Our Michigan region is a community of generous, brilliant, talented authors and illustrators (I know this because as the PAL coordinator I've met so many of you these past few years!) and I look forward to working with you as we continue on in this wonderful world of creating books for children.

Jodi McKay
Co-Regional Advisor with Carrie Pearson

From Lauren Nyquist:

Hi, I’m Lauren! I’m an illustrator and writer, born and raised in Michigan and a graduate of the College for Creative Studies. I create children’s book illustration and stories, and designs for greeting cards, along with some copywriting here and there. I became an SCBWI member in 2018, and I’m so glad I have! I’m excited to be a part of this community, and to start working as your Published Members Coordinator!

Lauren Nyquist
Published Members Coordinator

One more photo of the dynamic duo. Thanks for your leadership and friendship, Carrie and Leslie! Leslie - we wish you the best with your new projects. Carrie - we're so glad you're still here to lead on!

In other news...

It's the Mitten Five-Year-Blogiversary! 

280 posts later, here's a flashback to our very first post back in 2014:
https://scbwimithemitten.blogspot.com/2014/08/welcome-to-mitten.html

A huge thanks to Jodie Fletcher for helping me transition our SCBWI-MI chapter newsletter into this public blog with a much broader reach. Thanks to the volunteers who've stepped up since then to brainstorm and conduct interviews and create illustrations and so much more. Cheers for our blog team - Patti Richards, Nina Goebel, Charlie Barshaw, Jodi McKay and now Lauren Nyquist who will be doing our Book Birthday celebration posts. But the biggest thank-you goes out to all of the SCBWI-MI members who have contributed ideas and posts and photos and artwork throughout the years - we couldn't do this without you!

Happy reading and writing!
Kristin Lenz

Behind the Scenes with SCBWI-MI Co-Regional Advisors, Leslie Helakoski and Carrie Pearson

Leslie Helakoski and Carrie Pearson share the Regional Advisor (RA) job for the Michigan Chapter of SCBWI. They devote countless hours of work on our behalf, creating and coordinating opportunities for writers and illustrators around the state with the support of AdCom (Advisory Committee). Some of us have known them for years, but newer members may have yet to meet them in person. Here's an introduction and a glimpse behind the scenes. Take it away, Leslie and Carrie!

LESLIE: When Carrie and I teamed up four years ago, one of our goals was to focus on building a strong community in our region. Since writing and illustrating are solitary endeavors much of the time, having a support network is invaluable -- and fun! To that end, we set up free regional meet ups for members known as Shop Talks that have been running for the last few years. At this point, we have four regular Shop Talks around the state -- Lansing, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, and Farmington Hills. 

CARRIE: Yes, there's no doubt our Community (with a capital "C") keeps us all moving forward during the times when we wonder if we should have become racehorse jockeys instead of professional creators. Since I live in Marquette and can't physically attend Shop Talks, book launches, and other fun social events downstate, I understand how it feels to be on the periphery. So I've been excited to build our networks. We hope our social connections on Facebook, Twitter, and the Michkids listserv keep us informed and engaged and that the Mitten blog and the SCBWI-MI website act as home-base for our region. All of these pieces connect us between events and strengthen our bonds as friends, comrades, and members. And isn't it the just the best to have many ways to toot horns when there's happy news?  

LESLIE: It takes a lot of volunteer hours to keep our region vibrant and growing.  And of course, Carrie and I both need time to work on our own projects. Thankfully, we get lots of help. Our  Advisory Committee (AdCom) is a huge source of talent and support, and volunteers across the state help in many ways. There are always more offers of help than we can accommodate but we appreciate each one— from stacking chairs at events to writing a blog post. Carrie, do you have a strategy for balancing your SCBWI work and your own creative work, not to mention family and business?

CARRIE: Strategy and practice are sometimes different beasts, right? My strategy is not very technologically advanced...I’ve blogged about it here...it’s an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper divided into 6 blocks. I handwrite a title for each block (SCBWI, Freelance, Home, My Books—they get two blocks—Volunteering) and then make bullet points and a deadline for each to-do item. It is so satisfying to cross them off! When a block is done, or there’s no more room, I start a new sheet. Soon, I’ll have a new dedicated block called “Children’s Book Connections” which is my new consulting business to help writers position their work for an agent and/or editor and to help them find the right agent and editorial match. I hope to launch by the end of the summer.

So that’s the strategy. In practice, the deadlines get pushed back, unexpected to-dos are added...life intervenes. What about you, Leslie? How do you manage the various pieces of your to-do list?

LESLIE: Here’s what my schedule is like when I am at home. 1. Creative work for a couple of hours. 2. Go to the gym. 3. Answer emails and follow up on SCBWI business and personal business.

Do you believe me? Well, I do follow that expectation some days but I often find myself answering emails first. I tell myself I’ll just peek to see if there is exciting news there. (It’s possible!) But if I’m not careful, the mail sucks me in. I am always proud of myself when I resist that temptation and work on creative stuff first.

If I am illustrating a project, that means a hard deadline which makes me jump into creative work and stay there most of the day.

My own business of critiquing picture book manuscripts (info at my website) is something I tend to do in the evening. I try to answer critique requests within a week of receiving them.

I keep an ever-present long messy list of things I don’t want to forget to do. And that includes calls to Carrie—we talk a few times a week especially if a conference is brewing.

Once a week I think about marketing. Notice I said THINK. I ask myself, do I need to work on my website, guest blog post, or plan an owl visit with the local nature center? Usually the answer is yes, so I make myself do at least one of those things. Sometimes it is just to make myself post on Twitter. My favorite way to market is to watch what my SCBWI friends do for their books. And copy. Speaking of which...Carrie, your newest book will be released in 2018 and knowing you, you are already making plans to market that book. Can you let us know any of your plans or strategies?

CARRIE: As we often see in our industry, production on my new book (about the world’s tallest tree) has been slower than anticipated so the release date will be pushed back. Hopefully it will be in 2018 because that year lines up with a big marketing advantage but there’s a good chance that won’t happen. The silver lining for this new schedule isn’t showing up yet but I believe it will! When I have a date, I’ll work backward with my own marketing plans (blog posts, guest blog posts, video of the making of the book, school visits, and hopefully a launch at Redwood National Park). I’ll tie my efforts in with those of my publisher and connect them to bigger happenings like Earth Day, Arbor Day, Love a Tree Day, etc. Since we just had a stellar Marketing Boot Camp (that sadly, I could not attend), can you share one new marketing tip you will apply, Leslie?

LESLIE: I have a few.

From Kirstin Cappy: Create an interactive activity for your book. I have a teacher guide for my book already but Kirstin inspired me to make a game for teachers and librarians that can be promoted easily. I’ve come up with a great game to play with my newest book, Hoot and Honk. It involves hiding eggs with facts about owls and geese inside them. Kids have to guess which facts are about geese and which ones are about owls. What fun!

From Sally Langley at Okemos Public Montessori: Post a video clip of yourself on your website. I want librarians and educators to see that I can connect to kids and put on a good strong program when visiting schools. I’m working on a clip that I’m creating with the program Animoto.

Being part of SCBWI is my most important marketing tip. I am always getting advice from other members and learning from their experiences. It is such an amazing supportive network. And I’m quite sure I wouldn’t have stuck around this long without it.

CARRIE: I second that! Cheers to our creative community!

Carrie Pearson lives on the shore of Lake Superior in Marquette. She has been an SCBWI member since 2005 when she decided she'd better learn more about writing for children if she was going to spend so much time doing it. Carrie is the PAL author of three science/nature picture books, has won the SCBWI-MI Picture Book Mentorship Award, and received an SCBWI Works of Outstanding Promise research grant. She loves helping people in the children's book community learn about the business and improve their craft. Visit Carrie's website and connect on Twitter at @carrieapearson. Plus, here's a sneak peak at her new consulting business website which will launch later this summer: Children's Book Connections.

With a degree in illustration and advertising, Leslie joined SCBWI in 1998 with a plan to illustrate books, not write them. Now, after writing ten picture books, including Big Chickens (the Michigan Reads Picture Book for 2007, Great Lakes Great Books Award) and Woolbur (a Book Sense pick, and nominee for state book awards in 11 states) she has illustrated her most recent four. Fair Cow, Doggone Feet!, Big Pigs, and Hoot and Honk Just Can’t Sleep. Her books are filled with word play, fun language, and humor. Learn more at www.helakoskibooks.com.




Coming up on the Mitten Blog: Hugs and Hurrahs! We want to trumpet your success. Do you have an upcoming book release? Did you sign with an agent? Did you publish a children's story or poem in a magazine? Did you win a contest? We want to know! Please send your good news to Kristin Lenz by June 26th to be included.

https://michigan.scbwi.org/2017/04/16/illustrator-mentorship-2017-2018/

* June 26th is also the submission deadline for the SCBWI-MI Illustrator Mentorship with Kirbi Fagan. Learn more here.

* June 26th is also my birthday! Make my day by submitting an idea for a blog post! The Mitten blog is always looking for contributors. See our Submissions page for suggestions and guidelines.



Happy creating!
Kristin Lenz