Book Birthday Blog with Lisa Rose

 Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog! 

Where we celebrate new books by Michigan's children's book authors and illustrators

Congratulations to Lisa Rose on the release of her new book, A Zombie Vacation!

Congratulations on the release of A Zombie Vacation! What inspired this ghoulishly fun story?

When I was researching Israel, I discovered that The Dead Sea was losing 1 meter of water per year.  This meant that the hotel I visited 20 years ago at the water’s edge, was now quite a schlep to the beach. I originally wrote this story as an environmental call to action in the form of a Travel Guide to hurry and visit The Dead Sea before it disappears! My editor liked the idea of a story about The Dead Sea, but wanted more of a narrative arc. Thus, my Zombie was born or maybe just unearthed!

Your zombie visits all sorts of places in Israel, like the Sea of Galilee, the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, and Luna Park in Tel Aviv! Why did you pick Israel as his vacation destination, and how did you decide on which places in Israel he would visit?

Well, since The Dead Sea is in Israel, I decided to make this “a no place like home” story.  I wanted the Zombie to visit others places near to where the Zombie stays. This is a way to expose kids about other places in Israel too.

Your book has a lot of great tie-ins to STEM subjects, like why things float in the dead sea, and the importance of preserving natural resources! Were these tie-ins a goal from the beginning of your writing process, or did they emerge later on?

The environmental element was always an ingredient. However, the STEM tie-ins came later when I was thinking about author visits. Then, I had to adapt even further with the pandemic. I ask the kids to do the STEM activities with me. This way it is more interactive. I didn’t want families to have to go out to the store to participate, so I had an extra challenge of finding items that most families would already have in their house. For example, cups, glasses, water, salt, and eggs.

You’ve created loads of great promotional content for A Zombie Vacation: a positively spine-chilling book trailer and lots of zombie-fied vacation photos, in addition to coloring and activity pages! Do you have any tips on creating promotional material for new books?

Personally, I love to dress up!  When I taught first grade, I was like Ms. Frizzle and had a costume for every lesson. After months of staying at home, I was just excited to do something fun. I think everyone needs a little fun now. So, I think you should just have fun with it! Find what works for you. If you love what you are doing, everyone will love it too. Also, for this book, I did have a very talented technical assistant to help me. In addition, our own Deb Gonzales the Pinterest Queen! It takes a team to write a book AND it takes a team to promote the book!

What has your experience with virtual author visits been like so far?

I have to admit, I’m not very comfortable, yet. Kids aren’t as playful and interactive. I enjoy the off-topic interruptions asking me if I have a second favorite reptile or telling me about their new Batman bed. Also, I learned the hard way that you can't really read the book like it is story time. You should have the book on PDF and present your screen.

Do you have any advice for authors who are trying to reach out to kids in the midst of social distancing and online school?

YES!!! I’m developing a platform called BOOK BOOK LOOK! which is part Netflix and Etsy. It will help connect authors to kids.  More details will be coming soon. I wanted to do this for years. I always thought it was silly for individual authors to advertise. I thought we should have one central location so schools, libraries, and religious organizations could easily search book authors for events. I will share one more thing: It will be free for authors to join and people to use. 

What’s up next for you? Do you have any fun projects on the horizon? Where can readers learn more about you and your work?

I have a very serious non-fiction picture book about the friendship between Marian Anderson and Albert Einstein titled The Singer and the Scientist that will be published by Kar-Ben on April 1, 2021.

A little bit about the book:

A Zombie Vacation

My walk lacked the proper stiffness. I had lost the urge to moan. My skin no longer had its lovely dull, sickly color. I wasn't scary anymore . . .

Where oh where can a tired, stressed out zombie get a little rest and relaxation? Sounds like the Dead Sea might be perfect!

Take a tour through Israel with an unusually adorable zombie who desperately needs a break.

A little bit about the author:

My first picture book Shmulik Paints the Town (Kar-Ben Publishing 2016) was a PJ Library Selection in May 2016 and 2020. It was sent to over 50,000 homes in North America. My chapter book series Star Powers (Rourke Educational Media, 2018) is about a second grade girl who wants to be an astronaut and also uses a wheelchair. I have several stories published with Amazon Rapids, an app designed for at risk readers. I founded the Missing Voice Picture Book Discussion Group, whose mission is to highlight new picture books featuring diversity and little-known subjects on a monthly basis. Look out for more information about Book Book Look! Learn more about me at www.LisaRoseWrites.com

Illustration Value and Light with Kirbi Fagan

Coming up from SCBWI-MI:

This Sunday, Sept. 20th, 1-3pm, a FREE community-wide virtual presentation with Kirbi Fagan

Value and Light

http://kirbifagan.com/

“Value” is the backbone of any illustration. In this 6 Part lecture, Kirbi Fagan will go in depth about value and lighting. This information will show you how to improve narrative, style and mood using value. Using examples of techniques from a wide range of imagery including historical artwork, illustration and film, Kirbi will break down difficult art fundamentals such as exposure. This lecture will show you tools to examine and diagnose issues with value using photoshop. This lecture is appropriate for any level artist, beginners to professionals.

Part 1: Basic Lighting
Part 2: Major and Minor Key for narration and mood
Part 3-4: Values for improved readability and making your work “pop”
Part 5: Exposure: A complex topic that will change how you think about value.
Part 6: Using Film Lighting Techniques to inspire your unique voice and style.
Q&A

Click HERE to join the Zoom webinar, Illustration Value and Lighting or go to the SCBWI-MI website: https://michigan.scbwi.org/events/illustration-value-and-lighting/

Sunday, September 20th 1:00-3:00 pm (Est.)

***This presentation will be recorded and available for a limited time.

The 2020 Members For Members Scholarship Awards

This year the SCBWI-MI E&I Team sponsored our first-ever Members for Members Scholarship Awards. Thanks to generous donations from our members and community we were able to fund five scholarships! Congratulations to this year’s awardees:

Elyse Arring

Stephanie Campbell

Ann Dallman

Rebecca Grabill

Sarah Lynn John

The following is a condensed version of our online interviews.
~ E&I Team Coordinator, Isabel Estrada O’Hagin. 

How did you use your award? 

Elyse: I attended my first national kidlit conference. Prior to the Summer Spectacular Conference, I wrote for middle grade through adult. I had the opportunity to listen to presenters who write picture books, which may not have happened in a traditional conference. The thoughtful and engaging presenters inspired me to try writing a picture book.

Stephanie: I attended the Summer conference, and this award made it possible. After the conference I felt inspired to continue my journey as an author and to never give up because we all start somewhere. After watching Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen’s webinar, I gained insight on book layout, both words and illustrations. I also was reminded to do what works for me and not to compare myself to authors because we are all unique in our own ways.

Ann: I applied it toward my membership fee that has helped me stay connected with the writing world. I live in the area of Michigan’s UP bordering Wisconsin. So, at times, it is easy to feel disconnected from the writing world, but the MI chapter’s wonderful website and blogs keep me up-to-date with valuable information.

Rebecca: The scholarship enabled me to continue my SCBWI membership, connecting me to this wonderful community of authors and artists who so freely share their wisdom and talents. As the global pandemic shuttered schools and businesses this spring, my plans for school visits, workshops, and the like evaporated. I watched my membership lapse and given the coronavirus pandemic I couldn't justify the expense of renewal over, say, groceries or school supplies. I’m grateful for this award.

Sarah Lynn: Because my membership dues were extended, I was able to sign up for the Summer Spectacular. The conference speakers were inspiring! I scribbled page after page of notes. Their words and life experiences triggered many ideas for my own future writing projects.

How did this new information influence your writing/illustrating of diverse books for children?

Elyse: I felt SCBWI did a superb job of cultivating a virtual conference that was both engaging and helpful. SCBWI showed up—for kids and for diverse creators and readers of all kinds. The commitment to justice and caliber of presenters made me proud to call myself a SCBWI member and deepened my commitment to my own work. I hope to bring underrepresented kids to the page, that they might see themselves in more and more books—that they will grow up knowing that all people are thinkers, and doers capable of courage and magic.

Stephanie: This information informed my decision to write for diverse children’s books because I truly strive for every child’s sense to feel alive when they read my books!

Ann: I taught for 15 years on a reservation in Michigan’s UP and continue to stay in touch with many of my former students. They asked me to write a book about them and for them. “Cady and the Bear Necklace” is that book. It has been recognized for a 2020 State History Award by the Historical Society of Michigan. This was in The Books: Children and Youth category for 2020.

Rebecca: Giving voice to the voiceless has always been a driving mission of mine, more now than ever before. Diversity of class, and the devastation of poverty, diversity of safety and the realities of domestic violence and exploitation of children, diversity of ability whether due to injury or genetics ... these are just a few of the faces of diversity that need to be reflected in literature for children, and some of those I am uniquely qualified to write. This award is helping me to continue a mission already well underway. Together we can change the world.

Sarah Lynn: One of my current WIP’s is a MG sci-fi whose protagonist has Type 1 Diabetes like my son. At the conference, the words of Jacqueline Woodson, Meg Medina and Grace Lin filled me with ideas of how I could bring more of my personal experiences to the page that would help broaden the perspective of children and cultivate more acceptance and empathy.


In closing, our awardees expressed their deep gratitude for the combined support, inspiration, and camaraderie found in our amazing, welcoming community.

We are indeed kindred spirits!

Isabel Estrada O’Hagin (Ph.D.), Equity and Inclusion Team Coordinator and Kalamazoo Shop Talk (KAST) Co-Coordinator, has been a member of SCBWI since 2013. As a pre-published author, she writes stories steeped in Latino culture from the borderlands in Arizona where she lived most of her life. She has written two middle-grade novels, several picture books and is currently working on a YA novel. In 2018 she was recognized as a runner-up in the SCBWI-MI Novel Mentorship Contest. Her publication credits include teacher education articles, book chapters in early childhood music, and serving as editor for a state education journal.  








Thank you, Isabel! Learn more and read quarterly posts from the SCBWI-MI E&I Team at the Equity and Inclusion Corner of our blog. We're excited about their newest initiative. Learn more below:

Book Birthday Blog with Tara Michener

Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog! 

Where we celebrate new books by Michigan's children's book authors and illustrators

Congratulations to Tara Michener on the release of her new book, I'm Just O.K.!

Congratulations on the release of I’m Just O.K. and welcome to the Book Birthday Blog! What inspired your newest picture book story?

Thank you so much Lauren! I appreciate being featured on the Book Birthday Blog and having the opportunity to talk about I’m Just O.K. I was inspired to write this book because I know how hard it is for kids to express their feelings with words although they feel a lot. It is very hard to experience a lot of emotion without knowing how to convey the emotion. This book is purposely simple to help kids and parents to both have dialogue in a narrative that entertains as well as educates on the matter. 

You speak in your TEDx Detroit talk about how challenging experiences can become great ideas. What were some challenges and successes in the process of writing and publishing I’m Just O.K.?

Ironically one of the biggest challenges was my professional schedule speaking and working and making the time for this project to be launched. Everything needed to align in order to have a successful opportunity for this book to be introduced. This seemed like an obstacle but the time is right for this book right now as so many kids are facing very real concerns during this pandemic that has directly impacted them from the way that they play, learn and live. I am hoping that the success is that it gives kids a viable resource during a challenging time. 

You’ve written several books for various age readers, like the picture book Who I Am Not What I Am! and the YA novel No Longer Besties: And Other Assorted Teenage Drama. How would you say those experiences differ? Do you enjoy writing for one age group most?

The experience writing for picture book readers involves the need to align the words and illustrations in simple ways to convey complex messages. It has to be succinct enough to hold interest but also fun and on a level that multiple age groups can relate to it. When I write chapter books for older readers I use more character development tools as I cannot rely on illustrations to provide details. I enjoy writing for all youth based age groups.  

You can find more of Tara's books on her goodreads page!

Has your experience as a therapist impacted how or why you write, or what you write about?

My experience as a therapist has impacted how and why I write in a huge way. The topics that are relevant to my writing are relevant issues that some kids might see a counselor about including emotions, race, self-esteem, bullying…I write about what kids need to talk about but they may lack representation. When a kid sees a character like Janelle from Who I Am Not What I Am they may open up a whole new way of thinking that builds a foundation for that reader that helps them to solve a problem that they have. I believe that being a therapist does give me additional insight about my target readers.   

Could you talk a little bit about your company, TMI LLC, what it does, and how it ties into literacy and children’s literature?

Tara Michener Industries includes my practice, my anti-bullying work, speaking, curriculum building and more. Many of these elements of my business tie in easily but some clients might only be interested in one aspect so it is important to have a company that encompasses options to pick and choose consultation needs.

If there was one thing a child could take away from reading I’m Just O.K. what would you want it to be?

I hope that if there is one thing that a child takes away from reading I’m Just O.K. is that they will be just o.k. but they are so much more. They are delightful humans that can encompass a variety of emotions all at once and that does not make them bad or horrible. I hope that after reading this book that they are feeling less alone and more equipped to cope with and identify their feelings.  

What’s next for you? Any new projects or ideas in the works? How or where can readers learn more about you and your work?

I am working on many related resources for teachers, parents and children that help them expressly during this time of pandemic and that can help them afterwards as well. One of my biggest requests right now from clients and those interested in my services are author visits and speaking engagements-many through Zoom which has opened up opportunities to meet a bigger group of needs. I also have some other programs, books and curriculum in development at this time. My info is easily found at therapybytara.com  

A little bit about the book:

Mad can feel hot like fire. Happy can feel bright like the sun. I'm Just O.K. is a story that takes you on an emotional adventure. Get ready to explore!

A little bit about the author:

I live in Novi, MI. My dream has always been to write stories that inspire self-esteem and acceptance of others. I am now living my dream. I hope that my books inspire children to be well-rounded and to realize that if they have a dream it can come true as well. I am available for school visits, library programs and more. Contact me at whoiamnotwhatiam@yahoo.com

Learn more about Tara on her website therapybytara.com, on her twitter @Taramichener, or on her goodreads page.

Writer Spotlight: Three New Members

Charlie Barshaw coordinates our quarterly Writer Spotlight feature and interviews writers of SCBWI-MI. In this piece, meet three new to SCBWI-MI writer/illustrators: Michelle Nunley, Anna Lunt and Alice Wilds.

Three New(er) Members Tell You a Story and Draw You a Picture

 

Alice Wilds

Alice Wilds

Who or what influenced your drive to create images for children?

When I was younger, I would always draw a flop-eared rabbit. One day I was looking at painting I had made with my father when I was in the fourth grade of that little rabbit. The idea came to me that I should do something with my little bunny, so I created Katie and Darcy twin bunnies with long floppy ears who love going on adventures.

Artwork by Alice Wilds

What path did your life take to bring you to this moment?

I had always wanted to write books, but I was told that I should get another dream for I am dyslexic. My teachers did not think I had what it would take. So I tried cake decorating instead but I found I hate baking. I tried a few other odd jobs but I always came back to wanting to create children's books. It may be hard work, but I love it and would not want to do anything else.

How did you discover SCBWI?

I was at a craft fair at a library where some members of SCBWI were selling their books. It was a very slow fair, and one of them wandered over to my table. She told me she used to be a teacher for creative writing. With great care, she looked over my book and told me I had talent and that I should join SCBWI. So I did.

What are you working on right now?

Right now I am working on a series of picture books about two twin bunnies who like to go on adventures. My books are a mixed media of photographs and hand-drawn illustrations. In the next book, I will be introducing new characters. Three raccoon brothers will be coming to give a little playful mischief to Acorn Valley.

What dream do you embrace for your future?

My goal is to write many more books featuring the friends of Acorn Valley. I dream of being able to share my love of my cute little critters with children from all walks of life.

Ask the Editor with Katherine Gibson

Welcome to our quarterly Ask the Editor feature! Katherine Gibson is an editor at Zonderkidz and was previously at Eerdmans Books for Young Readers. She's collecting questions from SCBWI-MI members and sharing her answers with our community. Did you miss her other Q&As? See the links at the end of this post.

Here's Katherine:

Hi everyone! Thank you to all of you who sent me your questions! I hope you find this post helpful and informative.

As with my previous Ask the Editor posts, I humbly ask that you take my comments in the spirit in which they’re intended. The advice here is meant to be friendly and helpful; I don’t want anyone to finish this post feeling vulnerable or discouraged.

Also, a general disclaimer that my thoughts are my own; I do not speak on behalf of all publishing. I would not be surprised at all to learn that you’ve heard an editor or agent say something that directly conflicts with my perspective. Everyone in publishing has their own views and preferences, and I can only be honest about my own.

If you have any questions about writing, editing, or publishing that aren’t addressed here, please reach out to me. I’m always happy to gather questions for my next post!

Thank you, and happy reading!

Does a picture book have to have a takeaway to be marketable in this day and age? If you simply write a funny read aloud or a silly text, is it less likely to be acquired? Does adding layers help? And what are several examples of good layers? Is it possible that the takeaway is something the reader/editor/publisher reads into it, rather than having it be explicit?

I don’t think a picture book necessarily has to have a takeaway — I think you can find an exception to every book-related “rule” there is! That being said, children aren’t the only audience you have to consider when writing a picture book; there are parents and teachers and librarians too, and in my experience, readers of all ages tend to appreciate (and are more likely to reread) books with some substance. To be clear, when I talk about a book’s takeaway, I’m not saying it has to have a moral or lesson, just that there should be a deeper meaning to the book.

Adding layers to the story is a wonderful way to give your picture book some extra staying-power without sacrificing the fun or the whimsy. Look at Nothing Rhymes with Orange by Adam Rex. It’s a hilarious, zany read-aloud, AND an introduction to different kinds of fruit, AND a book about feeling left out and wanting to belong. My guess is that whatever you’re writing about could lend itself pretty easily to a couple different layers. Maybe it already has them!

In fact, I think you could pick up just about any funny picture book and find something to take away from it. This Is Not My Hat? The bad things we do have a way of catching up to us. Shh! We Have a Plan? If you can’t solve a problem, try looking at it a different way. The Octopuppy? What makes you weird makes you awesome. None of these things are said explicitly, so don’t feel like you have to shoehorn in a message when you’re writing your book. I think both publishers and readers prefer when the takeaway isn’t explicitly stated, but something they find on their own.

What’s the best market fit for free verse novels, in terms of age category and genre?

I think you tend to see novels in verse more often in the YA sphere, but they can work well in the middle grade market too. As far as genre goes, I think the poetry format is very vers-atile (sorry, couldn’t resist), but it’s particularly effective for novels that are focused on tough topics. Poetry is great for evoking an emotional response in a reader, and a story that might be too graphic and gritty in prose can be softened in free verse without sacrificing the emotional impact. Ellen Hopkins’s books and Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds are great examples of this.

That being said, I think something a little more unexpected, like a funny middle grade novel in verse, could make a nice splash in the market too. Everybody still loves Moo, right? I’d say if a story just works better in free verse than it does in prose, then it will naturally find its readership.

My current novel-in-progress was started before the pandemic, but now that our lives have been so altered by the coronavirus, I feel like I need to incorporate it into my story, even though I’d rather not. Should this contemporary story just remain set in pre-pandemic times, or should I try to at least reference the pandemic, knowing that this book won't actually be published for at least a few more years? 

This is the million-dollar question these days! Honestly, at this point it’s still really tough to predict how heavily we’ll reference the pandemic in our books, movies, TV shows, etc. in the coming years. Right now it seems like books either don’t acknowledge it at all or are completely centered around it; I don’t think we know what the gray area looks like yet. 

All that to say, I don’t think there’s a right or wrong way to handle it in your novel. If you’d rather not incorporate it into your novel, then I think it’s perfectly fine to set the story in pre-pandemic times. Or, if you feel compelled to incorporate it, maybe the story can start shortly after things return to “normal” so it doesn’t change the plot too much. 

Essentially, I wouldn’t advise doing massive rewrites to a manuscript or setting a project aside until a vaccine is found, unless of course you want to. None of us can predict what the future is going to look like (goodness knows we didn’t predict this!), but that shouldn’t stop us from telling the stories we want to tell. 

If you submit to a publishing house without an agent and they like your manuscript, what should an author know or do to make the best of the situation? What questions should a new author ask? Are there red flags to look out for? If there isn't an agent in the picture, are there other professionals that could look over an agreement to make sure it's sound?

If a publisher likes your manuscript and has made you an offer, step one is do a happy dance! Step two is to reach out to anyone else you sent that manuscript to and let them know you’ve received an offer. Typically, you give them a time frame in which to counteroffer — I’d personally suggest no more than a week or two. (If a publisher has expressed interest but has yet to make an official offer, I’d still reach out to everyone else and let them know, but you don’t need to give them a deadline in that case.)

Once you’ve accepted an offer, the publisher will send over a contract for you to look over. Book contracts aren’t terribly complicated, but it’s a big enough deal that you’ll want to have someone with experience look it over before you sign. If you’re interested in having an agent, try reaching out to a few. Agents are usually a LOT more willing to sign someone who’s already received an offer from a publisher. If you don’t want an agent, then I’d suggest bringing the contract draft to a lawyer to look over, or at the very least someone who has worked in publishing and encountered book contracts before. 

The editor and/or contract itself should be able to answer any questions you have: what the payment schedule will be, what rights you’ll retain, the proposed schedule for the book, etc. If you have a reasonable question that the editor can’t answer, that could be a red flag. Another (obvious) red flag: the publisher asking you to pay — in part or in whole — for the production of the book, or an agent requiring a signing fee or some other unexpected cost. 

Basically, whether you’re negotiating the terms of the contract yourself or having someone else (an agent or lawyer) do it on your behalf, you should be crystal clear on what you’ll be getting and what will be expected of you. If you’re not, then talk to your agent/editor and ask questions until you do feel certain of the terms. That’s what we’re there for! 

Katherine Gibson is an editor for Zonderkidz, having previously worked for Eerdmans Books for Young Readers. She graduated from the University of Denver Publishing Institute in 2013 and has spent the last five years editing and publishing award-winning children’s books, including Sibert Medal and Caldecott Honor book The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus and Plume, which was a New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book.

Thank you, Katherine!

To submit a publishing question, email Mitten blog editor Kristin Lenz with "Ask the Editor" in the subject line, and she'll forward your question to Katherine. Or, stay tuned on the SCBWI-MI MichKids listserv – Katherine will ask for questions a few weeks before her next post.

To read Katherine's previous Ask the Editor posts, click on these links:

• https://scbwimithemitten.blogspot.com/2020/01/ask-editor-with-katherine-gibson.html
• https://scbwimithemitten.blogspot.com/2019/09/ask-editor-with-katherine-gibson.html
• https://scbwimithemitten.blogspot.com/2019/05/ask-editor-with-katherine-gibson.html
• https://scbwimithemitten.blogspot.com/2019/02/ask-editor-with-katherine-gibson.html

Our quiet summer is wrapping up, and the Mitten Blog editors are planning for a fall season full of blog posts. Here's a peek ahead, but we're still looking for more content. We want to celebrate with you and share information and experiences. We'd love to hear from you! Please see our submission guidelines.

Coming up on the Mitten Blog:

Book birthdays, a New Member Spotlight, Diversity Dialogue, Hugs and Hurrahs, and a new Featured Illustrator.

See you in September!

Book Birthday Blog with Rachel Anderson

Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog! 

Where we celebrate new books by Michigan's children's book authors and illustrators

Congratulations to Rachel Anderson on the release of her new book, The Puppy Predicament!

Congratulations on the release of your debut novel, The Puppy Predicament! What inspired you to write this book?

Thank you, Lauren. I’m on Cloud 900! When our girls were growing up, we had a dog named Falon. They loved her. I saw so much joy in their faces when playing with Falon. I started thinking about what would happen if a girl wanted a dog and couldn’t have one. What would be the reasons she couldn’t have one? What lengths would she go through to get her own dog? And then I wrote a sweet story about Emily Hanover, a girl who wanted a dog. And she found a way to get a dog and lived happily ever after. The End! Well, it was the end of that version. I had a lot of work to do to make it a novel vs. a story.

I had the manuscript critiqued many times over the years always hearing that it was sweet story but needed more depth. And since I wrote the story as historical fiction, being set in the mid-1960’s, I had to ground it in that era. I decided Emily’s brother was serving in the Vietnam War, and they would write letters to each other. 

What would you say was the most successful and most challenging part of the writing and publishing process?

Successful: Receiving critiques where the reader gets the story, loves the plot, loves the characters, and only has minor revisions for me to consider. Yes, that is success! And finding an editor who loves my story as much as I do = success. My editor, Janice Broyles, of Late November Literary, loved my story so much she’s waiting for a sequel. (No pressure!) She made the publishing part easy, smooth, and rewarding.

Challenging: The years when I kept getting rejected. Many times, I had received the same comment from an agent or editor: “We like your story. It has good bones, but I don’t know where it fits on the bookshelf or library shelf. The Vietnam War isn’t taught as part of school curriculum, and it isn’t on the summer reading programs.” Talk about a gut-punch. I had this great story that I wanted to share with the world, and I couldn’t even get someone to give it a chance. That was challenging; that was heartbreaking. That caused my novel to go into a drawer and stay there for a year or more. On the bright side, I had a well-known editor tell me to write the best story I could no matter the era, no matter the negative comments, and it would find a home. Yay! At the same time, Emily whispered in my ear that she was still waiting for me to tell her story, and ideas began to percolate. I pulled out the novel, read it, and decided I still loved Emily and her family and her story. And then I got back to writing and revising.

Who are some writers that inspire you?

There are many children’s writers whom I could mention, but then I’d accidentally leave someone out and I’d be sad about that. So, to the SCBWI-MI writers, you ALL inspire me! And to all PB authors, I wanna be you. 

Some authors of other genres: Charles Martin, Suzanne Redfern, and Suzanne Collins. I’ve always been a fan of Cinda Williams Chima.

Why did you decide to set your story in the mid-1960’s?

I’m giving away my age, but I was 10 years old back in 1965. I wanted Emily to be 10 or 11 (turns out she’s 11). It’s a great age to still be a kid at heart yet learning that with more “wants” comes more responsibilities. I could relate to a country-raised girl wanting a dog of her own, and not being able to have one. While I was only bullied once, I know from other kids what that felt like. And I know what it’s like to want something so bad, you’ll lie to get it (thinking you’re just doing what’s best).

Do you have any tips for authors also looking to write a story set in a historical time period?

Research, research, research. I studied how much things cost back in that time, what kids wore, what slang words were used, favorite foods and television shows, even what school subjects were taught. I couldn’t just go by memory, as I was always second guessing myself. When it was time to add elements of the Vietnam War, I wrote out what I wanted to know about the war and the troops and researched those questions. Once I had a good idea of what might have happened in some particular circumstances, I created a questionnaire and sent it to a couple of veterans who agreed to fill it out based on their time in the war. After that, when I thought I knew exactly what I wanted to put into my novel, I sent the questions and answers from the veterans to one more veteran, who helped me put it all into perspective. Whew! 

If your readers could take away one thing from your book, what do you hope it would be?

Remember to never give up. The task, or goal or wish, may seem insurmountable, but if you give up, it is. Instead, keep on trying, keep on reaching, keep on learning. Emily wanted a puppy of her own…I wanted to publish her story. I did. You’ll have to read the book to find out if Emily gets her puppy. Sorry!

Is there anything coming up for you? Any new ideas in the works? Where can readers find out more about you and your work?

I am pulling together ideas for the next MG book, tentatively titled: A Doggie Dilemma. I’m having fun with my grandson, who is helping with the plot line and challenging scenarios. I’m also finalizing a YA fantasy adventure. I’ve been rejuvenated since the publication of The Puppy Predicament.

You can find me at:

website: https://rachelandersonauthor.com

Facebook: https://facebook.com/rachelandersonauthor

Instagram: https://instagram.com/rachel_writing_gal

(rachel_writing_gal)

Email: rachelandersonauthor@gmail.com

A little bit about the book:

Eleven year old Emily Hanover learns that her neighbor’s golden retriever had a litter of pups...mutt pups. When she finds out the neighbor doesn't want them, Emily is determined to rescue them and keep it a secret. She soon discovers that the puppies are loud, always hungry, and a whole lot of work. How is she going to keep them fed and keep them hidden? Emily takes on the challenge. And maybe, just maybe, if she does a good job, she can convince her parents to let her keep a pup for herself. Set in a small Michigan town in the mid-1960s, Emily learns how to stand up for herself, to be true to her commitments, and to never, ever give up.

A little bit about the author:

Rachel Anderson grew up on a farm in rural Michigan. On the farm they had cows, horses, pigs, chickens, a dog named Queenie, and many cats and kittens. And that is one reason she loves to include animals in her stories (even mutt puppies). Rachel likes to volunteer in the community with a local pregnancy resource center, and her church. She has been a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators for many years. She is married to Craig, and they have 2 daughters and one grandson. She writes picture books, middle-grade, and YA. This is her first published novel.