Webinar this Sunday

 Sharing an important and affordable webinar by Tara Michener this Sunday, Aug. 14, at 3:00 PM!

This Community-Wide Webinar focuses on the benefits of Multicultural author visits, the opportunities for authors, illustrators, and educators, and the student community at large. Tara Michener will talk about the concept of windows and mirrors from the scope of representation and social-emotional learning. This featured program is designed to help the participants think outside the box and create inclusive and meaningful ways to engage readers and creators.

 Join Us for SCBWI MI's School Visit Webinar with Tara Michener
Register today for How To Make Your School Visits More Multicultural

Bio: Tara is the author of six books from early readers to young adult that emphasize social-emotional learning, diversity, and self-esteem. Tara is a TEDx Speaker, Lecturer and has created curriculum, presentations, and content for various organizations, including Library of Michigan, Princeton Prize in Race Relations, and more. Tara is a board-certified licensed professional counselor and is licensed in Michigan, New Jersey, and Wisconsin. She has been awarded Diversity Champion by CORP! Magazine twice and has been deemed Young Alumni of the Year from Oakland University and Madonna University.

Lessons from the Critique Carousel

 

Having had the opportunity to be part of last year’s Author/Agent Critique Carousel gave us a birds-eye view of what to expect when dealing with agents and critiques.

Logo by Cathy Gendron

First of all, we can’t emphasize enough what a phenomenal opportunity this is for creators to get a one-on-one critique with an agent. It’s why many of us attend in-person conferences. We’ve all heard stories of creators who show up to a conference, manuscript in hand, only to be forced to resort to ridiculous antics like following an agent into the restroom to discretely slip their manuscript under the door while the agent is indisposed. To be clear, neither of us has resorted to that type of behavior and we do not condone it. Signing up for the Critique Carousel is a much more civilized approach to contacting an agent and is less likely to get you kicked out of SCBWI or arrested.

One of the most important bits of advice we can give creators is to make sure you research, research, and then do a little more research when shelling out cold hard cash for an agent critique. Check the agent’s website, their Manuscript Wish List online, and wander over to the Literary Rambles website run by Michigan’s own Natalie Aguirre, who helped us create last year’s agent list. Make sure the agent you choose represents the type of story you want critiqued. There is nothing worse than someone choosing an agent who has zero interest in what the submitter is writing. Yes, they may be great at critiquing whatever you put in front of them, but agents really want to acquire creators that line up with their wish lists. Give yourself the best chance of not only receiving a phenomenal critique, but also connecting with the right agent interested in your work.

In fact, that’s exactly what Kristin Bartley Lenz did after parting ways with her previous agent. Yes, even experienced published authors struggle finding just the right fit. Kristin only entered last year’s Critique Carousel after researching the agents on our star-studded list. According to Kristin, Sera Rivers from Martin Literary Management’s wishlist contained essentially a description of Kristin’s novel. Having already revised the story many times, Kristin sent very polished pages, written in an unusual and experimental style with multiple perspectives.

Sera began her critique by saying, “These beginning pages blew me away! I read through them twice, and I honestly do not have much criticism.” She ended her critique with, “I would LOVE to read this!”

Another agent may not have been quite so into Kristin’s experimental style. It appears Sera and Kristin prove that our match-making Critique Carousel works when you’ve done your research!

There’s one more bit of advice Kristin took to heart from Sera, and it can benefit everyone seeking representation. After you’ve polished your work, flesh out your query letter and include what inspired you to write this book. Are there personal connections? Is there research you’ve done on the topic or the theme? Is your llama book based on the summer you spent on a farm in an obscure part of the world befriending a pack of llamas? Let the agent know!

Connections do happen when you put yourself out there. But for most of us, getting our work in the hands of an agent is mostly about having an actual publishing professional provide their opinion of the story you want to submit and hopefully give you what you need to make that piece stronger and marketable. Once you’ve made the changes suggested, if they ring true to your vision, send the agent your revised version along with an appropriately written cover letter. Being able to submit is one of the perks of being part of this event.

Let’s also keep in mind, agents are human. We know this is a shocker, but they have their own opinions, likes and dislikes. It’s not uncommon for two agents to have opposing opinions. During our time with SCBWI, we’ve both witnessed agents giving advice that have shut people down. DO NOT TAKE THEM TO HEART. Listen to what they have to say. If the comments ring true, then embrace them and apply them to your work-in-progress. If they don’t, try to figure out a way to use their comments to strengthen your work anyway. During last year’s events one of us was told their submitted piece read like a movie script rather than a middle-grade novel. One way to handle this is to throw a temper tantrum. This may or may not have happened. Who’s to say? A far healthier way to look at that comment is to consider your writing style might be a better fit for a graphic novel rather than a traditional book format.

If the agent you researched comes back with ways to improve your already “perfect” manuscript, consider what they have to say. They are deeply involved in the industry so their opinion—we emphasize opinion—should carry a little more weight than a family member who thinks your manuscript is the best thing ever!

Other than connecting with your dream agent, receiving at least one new thing that can be applied to your manuscript from a critique is considered a success. See if you can find that one thing that aligns with your vision and use it to strengthen your manuscript. On the flip side, if you’ve heard the same advice from more than one source, it might be worth adjusting your vision based on those comments. Sometimes the thing we fight against most is the one craft element that might make all the difference.

Good luck to those taking a spin on this year’s Critique Carousel!

 Respectfully,

 Your Previous Critique Carousel Coordinators, 

Anita Fitch Pazner, MFA and David Stricklen, IMHO

Anita Fitch Pazner is the author of the recently released Topsy-Turvy Bus that takes kids on a journey discovering alternative energy sources and organic gardening, along with ways to help repair the world one fresh new idea at a time. Anita received her master's degree in writing for children and young adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Volunteering for SCBWI has been one of the many ways she stays connected to her writing community and friends across the country. 

 

In a former life, David Sticklen was the Grand Rapids airport police chief with 30 years experience in law enforcement. After retiring, David went all in on his creative side. He has written a series of middle grade fantasy adventure books: Beneath and Beyond (a Midwest Book Review Bookwatch Selection), Through the Eyes of the Beast and TheHeart of the Swarm. His newest release is a contemporary middle grade fiction entitled Ripley Robinson and the Worm Charmer, which is reviewer recommended by Kirkus Review, featured in their October 2019 magazine and listed as one of the 35 great middle grade books worth discovering. His books and school visits are always filled with magic and creativity.

David’s reverse perspective painting was an ArtPrize (world’s largest attended art competition) 3D 2018 popular vote finalist & a Colors of Community 3D & 2D (ArtPrize category) first place winner. His 2021 reverse perspective painting won 1^st prize mixed media in the Colors of Community competition.

Dave has volunteered in many roles with the SCBWI for nine years, assisting with SCBWI conferences as a chair or go-to-guy. He is the former Michigan Shop Talk Liaison and is the current Michigan Indie Coordinator and Grand Rapids Shop Talk Co-coordinator.

 

Dreams Do Not Have an Expiration Date by Cindy Williams Schrauben

Sitting down to write this post, the old adage, shoulda, woulda, coulda, came to mind. We’ve heard it all before… “I could never do that,” “I should have done that ten years ago,” or “It’s too late now.” Regret and unanswered dreams seem to go together, but that doesn’t have to be the case. Sometimes, time is your best friend.

First is the obvious fact that dreaming alone isn’t enough. The bottom line is this… a dream without action is just fantasy. Realizing a dream requires risk, gumption, and perseverance. But, there’s more. I certainly don’t have all the answers, but am happy to share a few insights from my own journey.

Recently, I was a guest on the NOT YOUR AVERAGE GRANDMA podcast with Laurie Wright (listen HERE). Laurie is a coach who inspires people (especially those over 50) to find their SPARK. Talking with her gave me some valuable insight. The key to finally realizing a dream is the WHY. WHY do you want to write children’s books? How important is it? If the intrinsic motivation isn’t there, it simply won’t happen. My WHY? Sharing my passion with children (after all, being rich and famous will never pan out). Finding your own WHY can take a bit of introspection, but will definitely move the process along.

Laurie’s wisdom also helped me discover that the WHEN was a crucial component in my journey. I have always had the desire to write books for kids, but for years it was a dream without action. Combining that crucial WHY with the appropriate WHEN was the answer for me. As soon as my WHEN was right, everything clicked. The correct timing included my life position (empty nest), enough time and mental bandwidth, confidence, and the wisdom that can only come from age. It was important for me to realize that not achieving my dreams earlier was not a failure – I was gaining valuable experience and wisdom that would be beneficial when the time came to write. As I look back, I can see that every step along the way afforded me what I needed to achieve this goal.

In addition to the WHY and the WHEN, there is also the HOW.

 

One of my biggest hurdles early in life was the fear of failure, feeling unworthy, or looking silly (imposter syndrome). It wasn’t until after my picture book, THIS COULD BE YOU, was published that I started seeing the stark connection between its message for children and my own growth mindset as an author. THIS COULD BE YOU encourages children to shoot for the stars, to go for their dreams, to learn from their struggles, and bounce back.

Authors need those same growth mindset qualities to succeed.

●      Negative critiques are an opportunity to learn and improve.

●      I’m not published YET means you’re still trying.

●      Rejection proves that you are submitting your work and without that you will never get published.

I asked the amazing children’s author, Vivian Kirkfield, for some inspiration. Vivian wrote her first book in her mid-60’s, has several more under her belt, and isn’t stopping any time soon. She said, "It's never too late to follow your dreams because nothing is impossible if you can imagine it," and "The only failure is the failure to keep trying."

That brings me to the WHO. I am positive that I would not have persevered in this business without the support and guidance of the kidlit community – find your people!

So, if you aren’t there YET, don’t despair. As my book says, “Believe. It could be you.”

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Cindy Williams Schrauben lives in central Michigan where she writes books for kids that range from the truly serious to the seriously silly. Before embarking on this path, she held positions as a preschool administrator, teacher, and assistant director of a children’s museum -- always striving to empower kids. When not writing or honing her craft, Cindy might be found dissecting her grandsons’ shenanigans for story ideas, reading on the floor in the bookstore, or eating ice cream… ideally all at once. Her debut picture book was published in 2022 by Cardinal Rule Press and she is a speaker for their Bucket Fillers series of books.

You can connect with Cindy at www.cindyschrauben.com or www.direct.me/cindywilliamsschrauben.

On the Shelf by Tara Michener: With You Wherever You Go by Martine Foreman

With You Wherever You Go by Martine Foreman
illustrated by QBN Studios (One Nine Press)

When I was a kid I used to pretend that I had my own school. I took this very seriously...I had my own chalkboard and everything, and my stuffed animals were my dedicated students. I did not want school to be a place that was filled with drudgery and pain...I wanted kids to be able to feel free. I made up a concept called feelings class. This was a place where kids could express themselves and know that they would be heard and valued. 

With You Wherever You Go is a book written by Martine Foreman that recognizes the emotions that children feel, and she strives to help them connect to faith as an answer to some of the harder questions.

When we look at "On the Shelf" it is so vital to see that every child should be able to see a book that resonates and helps, and in this book the need for comfort and safety is addressed as well as the reminder that they are not alone. This book addresses the tough times that many of us face and it also reassures and gives guidance that is centered in a higher power. It is important to note that the themes are clearly aligned with religion as a source of coping and compassion. The book features characters of a variety of skin tones and races and includes colorful imagery. I am pretty sure that a younger Tara would have been eager to read this to herself and her stuffed animals for feelings class.    

Tara Michener is the author of six children's books that focus on self-esteem, diversity and anti-bullying. She is a TEDx speaker, therapist and owns her own private practice in Novi, MI. Tara has been recognized in publications such as Prevention Magazine, Essence Magazine, FREEP and more! She is the Committee Chair of E&I at SCBWI-MI. Her favorite days usually include spending time with her hubistrator, Jason, her son Cannon and her favorite snack Twizzlers and Diet Coke. You can follow her on Twitter @Taramichener. 

Congratulations, Novel Mentorship Winners and Runners-Up!

Congratulations to the winners and runners-up of the SCBWI-MI 2022-23 Novel Mentorship Competition!

(Runners-up are listed in no particular order.)

Patrick Flores-Scott mentorship:
Winner:
Heather Brewer with WE ARE WANDERERS
Runners-Up:
Shanti Thirumalai with ELEPHANT'S CHILD
Lisabeth Posthuma with CHASTITY DIXON IS GOING TO HELL

Kelly J. Baptist mentorship:
Winner:
Joan Donaldson with BROTHERHOOD
Runners-Up:
Pat Trattles with STEPHEN, ME AND THE CAVE
Betsy McKee Williams with FALLING OUT OF TIME

(Song) Writer Spotlight: Kitty Donohoe

Grandmother Woody, playing piano at six years old, 'There Are No Words', Northwood Kids, and Scottish tours: author/singer/songwriter Kitty Donohoe

Charlie Barshaw coordinates our regular Writer Spotlight feature and interviews writers of SCBWI-MI. In this piece, meet world-famous musician and author Kitty Donohoe.

You grew up in Royal Oak, the oldest daughter in a family of eight kids. Your family didn’t have a TV for many years. Do you think that was intentional? It sure seemed to spur your young creativity.

It certainly was intentional on my father's part. He specifically said that his kids were acting like cartoons and he didn't like that, thus the "broken" TV set. It was some years before we had a "working" TV again. 

You used to write stories on your Grandmother Woody’s old typewriter, which now sits on the piano in your home. Do you remember any of your early stories? 

I have no idea of those. We all read a huge amount (see 'no TV' and you'll know why!) and I'm pretty sure they were take-offs on whatever I was reading at the time. Some stories about magic, boy-meets-girl stuff, a bit of adventure...

You started playing piano when you were six years old. You used to watch your Mom play piano, so there’s that. But you must have also shown a love of music. 

Like her, I think I was born with an innate knack for making music, as well as for rhyming, so that creativity has been with me all my life. When I hear people say they don't 'like' music, that baffles me. It's like not enjoying breathing or something. Very foreign to me.

You graduated from high school and moved to Nova Scotia. Were you seeking sea shanties? 

Not at all. That trip was because of a curiosity about Nova Scotia and a love of the sea (even though I hadn't been near one yet and didn't know what a sea shanty was at the time.)

That said, I feel very drawn to Canada now, and my father's mother was born in Ontario and moved to Michigan. So there may be some kind of natural instinct toward that place and those songs. 

You eventually moved back to Detroit, specifically Corktown. What did you find in old Irish Detroit?

I wasn't really there that long. My best friend was living there then and we were both getting into our Irish heritage and Corktown was a great intro to the Irish culture in Michigan. We hung out at the Gaelic League a whole lot (where Irish bands played 6 nights a week) and that alone was a great introduction to all things Irish.  

You may be best known for “There are No Words,” penned after the 9/11 tragedy. Obviously you were moved to write the song. Is songwriting your go-to release?

I've always written songs, for as long as I can remember. Not just as a release but as an expression, for all kinds of things. My song is one of hundreds written on that day (if not more) as it certainly moved so many with the need to express our outrage and sorrow.

A reviewer once wrote that you never in your career showed stage fright. Are you good at hiding the jitters, or is it true, you’re a natural performer? 

I actually don't know anything about that review! Yes, I certainly have had my share of 'jitters', though not so much anymore. And I don't know that I'd say I'm a 'natural performer' but I am a natural creator of music, and performance is the most direct way to bring my music to anyone who wants to hear it. 

You’ve written and published Bunyan and Banjoes: Michigan Songs and Stories, and Henny and Benny Bunyan and the Maple Syrup Adventure. What can you tell us about Gypsie Bird Press?

Gypsie Bird Press is my own little outfit (publishing company with plans for expansion someday) because when I was writing the Henny & Benny story, I discovered that the traditional press world has restrictions that I didn't like.  

In particular, the author rarely gets to pick the illustrator for the book and I had very specific ideas of what I wanted the characters to look like. It's not uncommon to wait a couple of years for your book to come out if it's picked up; and I know many authors who make very small amount of money on the books they sell. That all seemed like a reason to create my own publishing company.

The first book comes with a music CD, so it's part of your brand. But Henny and Benny is a straight-up children's book. What prompted you to write a non-musical story?

At heart I'm a storyteller, first and foremost, so I included the CD to augment the tale but it works just fine without it as well.

A second Northwoods Kids book was in the works at one time. What’s the status? 

I have books 2 and 3 essentially figured out and plan to most likely release them together. Possibly this fall.

How are songwriting and children’s book writing similar? Different? 

Since I have songs for both kids and adults the difference is obviously in the approach. And there can be some crossover between the two but I basically tell tales/write for kids in a simpler way than I do for adults.

You've done hundreds of school visits. How do you keep up the energy necessary to face four tough audiences in one day?

Well, these days I'm not doing quite that same intensity, especially as I've had some health issues in the last year. I loved doing school shows and still plan to promote that part of what I do but with more of an emphasis on being a Visiting Author (who also plays songs) than the high-energy 'everybody sing' efforts in the past. 

It was a glorious bunch of years though, and I STILL hear from adults who heard me as children and can actually remember things like how high and how long the Mackinac Bridge is because of my song about it. It's quite an honor to think my songs will long outlive me.

Tell us about “Lost Voices.” 

Lost Voices was started by my friend Mike Ball, who had a vision about bringing songwriters together with at-risk teens, and he got me on board early on. The program is still going strong, and I know Mike has visions for expanding to other states. 

You’ve offered a musical tour of Ireland most summers for more than a decade. How did the idea of a bus and a B&B and nights full of Irish pub music for 20+ people come about?

I actually joined the Inishfree Tours group in 2015, so not quite a decade. It's a great concept and the tours easily sell out a year ahead of time, although they took a big hit with Covid, obviously.

The company hires performers who have a fan base and can sign up some of those fans to travel around Ireland for 10 days, see the sights and hear traditional Irish music every night. 

Sometimes the music is a pub session, but we've also had private concerts with a solo harpist, a 'sean nos' (Irish traditional Gaelic) singer, a duo who play accordion and guitar and get everyone up and dancing...it's always amazing music and SO much fun! 

And I think one of the best things about the tour is that everyone has become lifelong friends by the end of the trip. With such a small group it lends itself to the intimacy of friendship and I know several folks from my first year still hang outl

In 2022 you’ve begun to offer a second tour to Scotland. Looks like July is going to be exhausting and immersive for you.

We'll see! The health issues I mentioned are having a serious ankle break in October and a very recent hip replacement. Neither of them life- threatening, but they have slowed me down a bit! I'm very much looking forward to getting back into the swing of things.

If anyone is interested in the Ireland and Scotland tours for next year they can contact me at kitty@kittydonohoe.com 

You've always been a "hustler," in the best sense of the word. Did your decision to rely on entertainment as a career force you into this hurly-burly world of road trips and non-stop performances? Or is it a built-in part of you who wants to see and experience the world?

I don't know that I'd call myself a 'hustler,' but in this world of performing you pretty much have to stay on top of things - going for gigs, lining up tours, promoting yourself as a songwriter. 

There are some great organizations out there - Folk Alliance and FARM (the Midwest version of Folk Alliance) that are a tremendous source of information, camaraderie, a chance to learn more about what we do and a non-stop support system.

I highly recommend anyone looking to be in the biz (or who is already there) to check out the above and look around for other resources.

It's rough to be self-employed, and knowing others like you are out there is a huge help. For me, one of the biggest shifts in the past couple of years is the demise of the physical CD and the rise of downloads.

I take great issue with that direction (I won't go into it here) - but it makes supporting live music even more important these days. in particular, I'm developing a platform to get my music - songs and instrumentals - to music buyers for TV, movies, ads. It can be a great source of revenue if you're lucky.

I think when you're doing what you should be doing, you find new ways to get it out there.

Please include any social media platforms you wish to share.

Right now I only have 2 Facebook artist pages and a Youtube page that has some of my songs set to film - tho on my 'list of things to do' before I go to Scotland is to develop more social media presence.

https://www.facebook.com/kitdonohoe

https://www.facebook.com/Kitty-Donohoe-Songwriter-326282462156216

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC798dnlM0ABDgm4l60U7OhQ

 

 

 

 

A Slice of Sales with SCBWI by Cathy Collison

Summer reading fests can really rock – and I was grateful to get word from SCBWI in the spring about the Rockford (sorry on the rocking pun) tent and table the Society was offering to writers – and readers.

Sure, it was a little bit of a trek across the state in June (before the $5 gas), but with the tent and table free, I considered it the perfect way to spend a Saturday to sell my book, co-authored with Janis Campbell, MeetThe Pets: Presidential Animals From A to Z.  It was my second event with SCBWI, the first in December 2021 was in Ann Arbor at an annual holiday art fair that allowed space for authors as well.

OK, did I sell 30 books at the two events? No, but close! The Ann Arbor venue had many browsers ready to gift family and friends at the holidays.  At Rockford, eight books were purchased, but both opportunities gave me a boost – don’t we all need that these days? —connecting with Suzanne Lipshaw, site coordinator, on a sunny brisk day, and mainly connecting with readers.

The Rockford celebration of reading – with an audience that chose to stop by a book fair before heading to the beach – was as refreshing as a sip of my favorite iced tea (with a splash of lemonade). The same was true for last December’s tent event – a chilly December afternoon, but a warm buzz with authors from metro Detroit connecting, reading aloud and a natural boost.   Writers and illustrators of children’s books naturally often spend time in their own solitary nook – whether a desk at home or just a cozy corner – and often prefer the creativity of writing to the business of book sales. Tips on school visits, shared insights into contests or giveaways – it was all part of the SCBWI Michigan tent.

It was such fun to see what a community of writers can do together. If anything, I suspect we sell more books together at the fests, from Ann Arbor to Rockford, and across the state, because we can reach many more readers at these than a bookstore signing, much as those are appreciated, which are more rare these days.

Hope to see more SCBWI members and thanks, Michigan SCBWI, for subsidizing these tables, giving us more affordable bookselling opportunities, sprinkled with the fun of sharing a day with writing colleagues.

See you at the next fest!

Cathy Collison is a metro Detroit writer and retired Detroit Free Press journalist.  She and co-author Janis Campbell have teamed up on several books, meeting when they both worked at the Free Press’ magazine for young readers and newspaper education program. Both love animals and are history buffs, inspiring them in their latest book, illustrated by Wendy Popko. Her website is www.cathycollison.com.