Book Birthday Blog with Mary Marthey

 

Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!

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

 

Congratulations to Mary Marthey on the release of The Captain

 

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

The idea forThe Captain came to me one day when I was thinking about how important our attitude is toward our overall happiness. I very much admire these sage words by Charles Swindoll, “Life is 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you react to it.” A plot stirred in my mind:  An unhappy boy tries to flee from his problem.  He takes out his sailboat. A storm comes up. He survives it. He is shipwrecked, survives that. Then he’s marooned. But instead of feeling anger and self-pity, he explores and has a grand time. He returns home. The problem is solved. In reality, the problem is not solved, the problem still exists. But he is looking at it differently now. He chooses happiness.

What inspires you to write?

I am inspired to write continuously. There isn’t anything that happens that can’t be turned into a story, and a fascinating one at that, no matter how mundane the event may seem at the time. Mainly, I have a desire to share inspiration. I do not have children, so writing books is satisfying in two ways. I can impart some token of information, or encouragement, to help a child. As well, my books are what I have to leave behind.

What was the most difficult part of writing the book?

The most difficult part of writing the book was not the actual writing of it. The Captain is the fastest book I’ve ever written.  It took just a couple of hours. The challenge though, was working with an Italian illustrator who has no knowledge or familiarity with sailboats whatsoever. The time difference was no problem for us, each of us happily discovering the message the other had sent, every morning. But the nautical vocabulary, in addition to the language barrier, proved frustrating. The tiller for example, what is it and where is it? It behooves writers to verify the illustrator’s knowledge of the subject matter before embarking on a project together.

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

It is my sincere hope that the reader will take away the realization that problems exist in life, and we can’t run from them, but we can change our attitude toward them. In The Captain Donald is lost in a storm, problem! However, he fights the storm and comes through it. Then he is marooned, another problem! A huge one. But he is delighted with what he finds on the island. He explores and enjoys himself thoroughly. He has a new mindset. He is no longer a victim to circumstances. Juvenile literature does not have a ‘self-help’ category, so I don’t know how I will label this uplifting adventure tale. Seriously though, I hope it helps kids realize their problems aren’t so big after all.  

 

You recently released another book. Are your marketing plans similar for your new book or do you have a different approach?

 

Marketing the book, as well as launching the book, are the true challenges for self-published authors.  I’m proud that I’ve made my own website, using Wix. The website will be linked to my author’s page on Amazon. Also, I’ll try book readings in libraries this summer. Another, indie bookstores might appreciate having a local author’s book in their window. I live close to Lake Michigan, so The Captain will make a great summer read for kids.

 

A little bit about the book . . .

 

The title The Captain comes from the poem "Invictus"; ‘I am the captain of my soul.’ In The Captain we have Donald, a young boy who is disappointed by circumstances he can not control. He takes his sailboat out, thinking it will be a pleasure cruise, and a terrible storm appears. After fighting through it, his boat is washed up on shore and he is marooned on an island. He finds himself with three problems, the original one, the storm and now this! However, he explores and enjoys everything he discovers. In fact, he has a marvelous time on the island. Donald was able to concentrate on the good in the situation. He doesn’t realize he’s changed his attitude, but in time he wants to return home, and he’s looking forward to it. He stands at the helm of his boat and steers his life where he wants it to go.

 

Publisher: Books For Kids Publisher 

A little bit about the author . . .

Originally Mary worked as a travel agent. This career enabled her to both help people plan their trips as well as enjoy her own. She did just that, traveling internationally for twenty years. It was indeed fulfilling, but in time she began to desire more meaningful work. She went back to college and acquired her teaching degree from Wayne State University. Mary then became an elementary teacher, specializing in teaching reading. It was the pleasure of reading picture books to students that inspired her to write them. Sometimes students who enjoyed art, drew pictures to accompany the stories. Today, Mary is a self-published author whose books are illustrated by professionals.

 

Website:  https://www.booksforkidspublishing.com/

 

 

Book Birthday Blog with Mary Marthey

 

Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!

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

 

Congratulations to Mary Marthey on the release of On Thin Ice

 

 

 

You are super busy with creating your website and releasing your debut picture book (and have another book on the way). What advice do you have for creatives as they prepare to launch their first book?

Launching a first book . . . yes, isn't that a challenge? I read four 'How to Self-Publish Children’s Books’ and, of all the information in them, the most overwhelming were the chapters about The Launch. One book suggested a launch team. This sounds helpful, but it requires the author to ask family, friends and coworkers, to help them spread the word using their social media. There are Facebook groups for authors, indie book shop gatherings, parties and giveaways. To be honest, none of these ideas truly felt comfortable to me.
 
I recalled the launches of J. K. Rowling’s famous books, the lines of buyers gathering at midnight in anticipation, the police guarding the stores. This image calmed me because I reminded myself; I’m a newbie author with a lovely picture book to share.  Just go ahead, I thought, put the book on Amazon, ask people you know who plan to buy the book, to buy it, and write an honest, positive review.
 
I do believe that writers who already have an online presence, those who use social media and are familiar with sharing their accomplishments publicly, will have a successful launch. It’s about advertising and self-publicity, in any form one feels comfortable. The more comfortable we are with broadcasting our success in completing a book, the wider range the coverage of the launch. Blow your horn and celebrate. We only get one chance to launch a new book.

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

The idea for On Thin Ice came to me quite easily because of my concern about climate change. It is overwhelming when we educate ourselves about what is happening to nature, the animals, humans of course, the oceans, the landscape. I love picture books! I so enjoy reading the books slowly and admiring the artwork, both fiction and nonfiction picture books. It occurred to me to write an educational book for children using the quintessential polar bear. After much research I found it almost impossible to write such a book without upsetting the reader. It took years of revisions to develop a plot with a happy ending. Originally, On Thin Ice was nonfiction, but I realized that people might not want to read it. What good is an educational book no one reads?

 

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

 

My hope is that readers of all ages will take away this fact; it is not too late to prevent these bears from disappearing. It is not too late to prevent the ice from melting. It is not too late to stop global warming. I want the reader to know, no matter how young or old they may be, that everything we do, and every decision we make, can help save our planet. Even the smallest of actions, on an individual basis, can make an incredible difference.

What are your marketing plans for the book?

   

I was a teacher prior to writing children's books.  Teaching students ages six through twelve to read was my specialty. I plan to ask the local schools if I can visit them and read to the students. For a while I took a Humane Society dog to schools to teach children about taking care of their pets. After the initial nerves I enjoyed myself very much. If we’re proud of our presentation and familiar with it, it’s a rewarding experience. I have yet to sell my book in person, so I am not familiar with the economics, but perhaps this is the marketing niche I’ll feel most comfortable with.

 

What's next for you? 

 

The Captain will be coming soon. When I was searching for an illustrator for On Thin Ice, I found two wonderful artists who were both interested in the project. I wanted to say “Yes” to both, so I gave one of them another completed manuscript. The Captain tells the story of a boy who takes his sailboat out by himself. I know, it’s preposterous, but it is a book for children. A storm comes up and he survives the storm, enjoying the challenge. It’s a life lesson kind of book.

 

A little bit about the book . . . 

 

It is spring in the Arctic. At long last a mother polar bear and her cub emerge from their den. She takes her curious baby into the cold habitat and onto the ice.  Suddenly, their sea ice breaks away from the mainland and they float slowly out into the Arctic Ocean. Beautifully illustrated in watercolor, On Thin Ice tells the fictional story of two bears, while simultaneously depicting the hard facts about life in the Arctic in the 21st century. Younger readers will enjoy a suspenseful tale, while older readers will learn the powerful truth about climate change.

 

Publisher: Books For Kids Publishing

 

A little bit about the author . . . 

 

Mary graduated from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, with a Master of Education. During her years teaching she spent the summers traveling the world.  Her love for science, social studies, geography and foreign cultures brought knowledge and enthusiasm to her work. Fascinated by all she experienced and desiring to impart a love for books and reading, Mary now writes picture books for children, hoping to share what she has seen and learned.

 

Website: https://www.booksforkidspublishing.com/