Get Involved with The Book Fairies by Lindsay Gizicki

There’s been a campaign to encourage readers and spotlight authors in Michigan for a few years now. Maybe you’ve heard of it, or maybe you’ve yet to discover the charm of The Book Fairies. The Book Fairies launched in March 2017 in London and are now sharing books worldwide.

As Cordelia Oxley, our Book Fairy in Chief, writes: “The idea of The Book Fairies is simple. There are people who like to read, and to share the amazing books they’ve read.” And who doesn’t love finding a surprise? “These two things come together with The Book Fairies—giving people a chance to pop a sticker and some ribbon on a book and leave it somewhere to be discovered!”

You’d be surprised how happy this simple act can make people. As the Michigan-representative, I’ve received hundreds of messages from happy readers, ecstatic to find books waiting for them. The opportunity to pass on my own love for books has been something I’ve cherished the last few years I’ve had the honor to be a part of this initiative.

Back in 2019, fairies around the globe participated in a campaign for the movie Little Women. Emma Watson (who helped hide books around London in March of 2017 for Women’s History Month) wrote notes that were included inside books for fairies to leave. The campaign was a success and people went wild for it. We also did a similar campaign for the theatrical release of The Secret Garden last year.

On November 5, 2021, Emma hid over 300 books with our organization for an event we called #COPBookFairies. This event involved sharing books related to climate change, activism, and caring for our planet in partnership with the COP26 conference—the biggest summit the UK has ever hosted.

We’ve even had the honor of doing a campaign with HRH The Duchess of Cambridge to celebrate the release of Hold Still, published by the National Portrait Gallery to create a unique collective portrait of the UK during lockdown.

We also celebrate monumental days and events such as Indie Author Day, LGBTQ History Month, Black History Month, etc. Over the years, we’ve worked with many authors and publishers to promote their books.

Many authors have used our services simply as a self-promotional tool with either Michigan, national, or international campaigns. With every social media post, we share the plot of the book, author, and publisher accounts and any relevant hashtags.  

For more information on who we are and how you can get involved, visit https://ibelieveinbookfairies.com/about-the-book-fairies/, follow the hashtag #ibelieveinbookfairies on social media, or email me directly at bookfairiesmi@gmail.com.

Lindsay Gizicki graduated from Central Michigan University and pursued her passion for journalism. She is currently the editor of an architecture magazine based in Troy, Michigan and writes for publications all across the country. Lindsay is an avid book lover and the Michigan-representative for The Book Fairies Worldwide, leaving hidden books for potential readers all around the state. She’s also a frequent contributor for Detroit Mom. In her spare time she fishes Lake St. Clair with her husband, Cyle, and speaks nonsense with her 3-year-old daughter, Harper, and her 18-month-old son, Henry. Her debut children’s book, To the Moon and Back, launches February 28, 2022.

 

It Starts with Hello

Isabel Estrada O’Hagin

Do you remember the moment when you entered your first Shop Talk or SCBWI-MI workshop with a tinge of nervousness, and then someone in the room smiled and said hello? These friendly gestures led you to feel welcomed and allowed you to feel like you belonged—so you stayed! Fortunately, we’ve been able to adjust through the covid19 protocols and have said hello through our screens and monitors!

As your Outreach Coordinator, I invite you to share these moments with our community to celebrate and reaffirm the importance of how we foster relationships within SCBWI-MI. Our new column, It Starts with Hello, will highlight these positive personal memories that may inspire others. Based on my own experiences, I can attest those welcoming moments made me feel seen and valued. From the Conference Organizers and Shop Talk Coordinators who ask for first-time participants to stand and be recognized, to the empathetic person who invites you to join their table at lunch, together we form a network of creative kidlit professionals. Many of these relationships develop into long-lasting friendships and a support system we often need in our line of creative work.

The stories you submit will be shared on The Mitten blog throughout 2022. Send your It Starts with Hello submission (under 300 words) to Isabel Estrada O’Hagin by December 20, 2021 at: ohaginib@gmail.com

Note: I will post a second call for these submissions in 2022 as a reminder. Start thinking about which welcoming moment you’d love to share with us! 

 

It Starts with Hello with Lisa Wheeler

You’ve read about our new Outreach program, It Starts with Hello, in Carrie’s and Jodi’s monthly newsletters. Here it is! We kick-off the program with a post written by Lisa Wheeler. Our plan is to post these shared memories monthly throughout 2022, so please send me your submissions, 300 words or less, at: ohaginib@gmail.com.

We hope you’ll enjoy reading these mini-essays from your SCBWI-MI friends and may it inspire you to reach out to others in our organization. From “It Started. . . “ to “It Starts. . .”—we can continue to build and strengthen our relationships today through social media and online connections. We need each other’s support and encouragement more than ever!

Thank you, Lisa, for being the first to submit your Hello story! Each time I read it, it feels like a warm fuzzy! (Yes, going retro on you, but it fits!)

Stay tuned for our next Hello and the story behind the story!

--Isabel Estrada O’Hagin, SCBWI-MI Outreach Coordinator

 

It Started with Hello

Lisa Wheeler

Back in the summer of 1997--when dinosaurs roamed the earth--I went online. The first thing I did was look for My People. Typing the words 'children's writers' into the search engine brought forth a beautiful yellow message board (Anyone remember those?) for children's authors and illustrators. I started reading and fell down the rabbit hole. I was closer than ever to finding My People.

A week later, a message on the board said something like: If you live in SE Michigan you are invited to the SCBWI Schmooze!

I wrote to the poster immediately.

What's SCBWI?

What's a schmooze?

Can I come if I haven't sold a book yet?

The answers came back swiftly and that Sunday, I drove to the house of our very own Kathie Allen in Beverly Hills, MI. I walked in the door and knew, without a doubt, I had found them--My People!

We all spoke the same language--children's books! Everyone was so kind and helpful. Rhonda Gowler Green gave a talk where she shared her first two books. I appreciated learning that it takes time and that I was on the right track.

That week, I joined SCBWI and learned more in 6 months than I had on my own in 3 years.

So to all of you newbies who are reading this, "Hello! Come on in and meet Your People!"

Submitted by Lisa Wheeler

You can follow Lisa online at:

Instagram: @littlelisais6

Twitter: @lisawheelerbook

Facebook: Lisa Wheeler Children's Books  

It Starts with Hello with Tammy Layman Hall

  

Taking a step in a new direction can be daunting, but it often opens up a new pathway. This is my takeaway from this month’s It Starts with Hello story submitted by Tammy Layman Hall. Tammy responded to a call for SCBWI-MI volunteers, and wouldn’t you know it—Carrie Pearson responded with an enthusiastic hello, as did a few others. Those friendly greetings gave Tammy an opportunity to meet many of our members as she set up events for our regional chapter and continues in the position as Registrar.

 

Thank you, Tammy, for sharing your hello story! You, too, can submit your hello story (300 words or less) at: ohaginib@gmail.com. I especially would love to hear from new members!

 

- Isabel Estrada O’Hagin

 

How?

 

How do you switch careers? How do you stop writing work instructions? How do you write stories for kids? Try writing for hire, I was told. Off to a workshop, I went. Join your local SCBWI chapter, I was told. Years ago, I joined. Not much came out of it. Besides, I was so far back on the path I did not feel I would ever catch up. How will writing fit into this already overfilled life? I will stay safe writing instructor guides to upload into learning management databases.  

 

Tammy Layman Hall

Then, SCBWI-MI posted a registrar position. Someone to set up events. I can do that! So, I sent an email. Carrie Pearson answered. She took the time to talk to me on a telephone call. What a difference! The time she takes with me each event we set up keeps me involved in SCBWI. Then, Ann Finkelstein said hello. She walked me through how to set up the mentorship. Isabel said hello. She invited me to KAST. I carved out time to go. Then, the Nonfiction Toolbox conference came. I had to put faces with the names from the database. Again, I carved out time to go. Then, COVID hit. Just as I was learning how! The world shut down. Why bother! Now it’s too hard to meet people, I thought. Yet, Zoom meetings meant more people saying hello. Conferences, webinars, and Shop Talks kept showing me how.  

 

So, that first hello pushed me to leap towards my dream. Now, so many hellos pull and prod me onward. Yes, my overstuffed life keeps pulling me from the writing chair. Still, deadlines are met. Submissions go out. Stories sell. Critique groups say hello. That first hello started to show me how.  

 

Tammy

tammy@layman-hall.com

 

Tammy lives in southwestern Michigan with her family and a crazy menagerie of pets. She is married to the reigning neighborhood Christmas light grand champion and got talked into adding a garden train to her cottage-inspired tangled yard of blooms. When she's not writing, you can find her hitching a ride over to the local park on our scratch-built go-kart, Oliver. Her stories are pending publication in High Five Magazine and Primary Treasure. As a storyteller, she has told stories at city gardens, museums, and nature centers.    

 

It Starts with Hello with Robin Pizzo

This month’s It Starts with Hello story is authored by Robin Pizzo, a long-time member of SCBWI who attends the Lansing Area Shop Talks (LAST). Our regional Shop Talks are a fabulous way to connect with other kidlit creatives, as are SCBWI-MI workshops and conferences. Don’t walk, run to your nearest Shop Talk!

-- Isabel Estrada O’Hagin, Outreach Coordinator

 

Sixteen years ago, my third child and first son neared two and would not wean. I know, just stay with me. I was researching how to get my picture books published and found some article about SCBWI. My husband suggested I attend the LA SCBWI Summer Conference and that would wean my little guy, plus I’d learn about the publishing process.

 

Unfortunately, I missed my flight. My mom lived in Detroit, and I went home to cry on her shoulder. She would not accept my tears but gave me the money to fly out first thing the next morning. I made it just as the keynote was over and the audience had cleared. Again, tears. Then a man started with, “Hello,” and asked me what was going on. That man was Walter Dean Myers, one of my literary rock stars. Tears again. We talked for a while about my journey, and he encouraged me to keep writing.

For the next two days, I met Linda Sue Park, heard Jacqueline Woodson speak, and learned from great editors like Arthur A. Levine. I even roomed with Jennifer D. Chambliss who wrote the amazing Book Scavenger series. From there, I connected at a local bookstore with Lansing’s Regional Shop Talks. Although I’m a member of the SistaLoc Writing Group in Lansing, which is comprised of five professional Black women who write in a variety of genres, I’m the only one writing kidlit. The Regional Shop Talks are great for checking in with writers who focus primarily on children’s literature. This past September I enjoyed the outdoor gathering hosted by Charlie and Ruth Barshaw. It was a perfect mix of social distancing, fall foliage, fresh air, kid lit creators, snacks, writing journey, a Quinceanera, and book talk. 

More about Robin in her own words: I've been a writer since the age of five and my first published piece was a poem for my childhood best friend aka my grandmother printed in her obituary. I fell in love with books in 5th grade and historical fiction is my favorite genre. I still hate that I sold my Shakespeare anthology in college because I was broke and the buyback seemed better than selling plasma. I continue to write all the things but my ambition is to become a traditional children’s author publishing picture books to young adult and everything in between. I'm a Detroit girl, member of the Sistalocks Writing Group, a mom, wife and Education Director at WKAR Public Media where Elmo is my boss, according to my youngest!  

You can also read more about Robin in her interview with Charlie Bradshaw or follow her on Twitter or YouTube. 

Thank you, Robin, for sharing this uplifting story of perseverance!

 Enjoy reading about other member’s “Hello” stories? I do, and I bet you do, too! We each have a unique story to tell! Send your 300-word or less submission to ohaginib@gmail.com.

 

 

It Starts with Hello with Jean Alicia Elster

 “Hello!”

Three years ago, one of the initial tasks I undertook as the first Equity and Inclusion Committee Chair for SCBWI-MI was to get a sense of the interests and needs among our members through informal interviews. I contacted a few people and asked them to identify and share their perspective on what they thought were key issues. The importance of being made to feel welcomed as a new SCBWI member came to the forefront. Jean shared her thoughts on how she felt when someone took the time to say, “Hello,” at the first two SCBWI-MI conferences she attended. Today, she shares a poignant personal story with us.

New members may often feel like strangers and left to wonder if they really belong. Fortunately, as Jean relates and so many other members will attest, our SCBWI-Michigan members can and do take steps to welcome all to our community.

Jean’s broaching of this topic a few years back and subsequent conversations with others inspired me to start this series. We can learn to do better when we walk a mile in someone’s shoes through story and Jean has given us all a gift with hers. 

We’ll continue to share these personal stories of support with your help. Send your “It Starts with Hello,” submission, 300-words or less, to Isabel Estrada O’Hagin at: ohaginib@gmail.com. I look forward to receiving them!

Thank you, Jean, for sharing your story!

Warmly,

Isabel Estrada O’Hagin

Outreach Coordinator 

Let me begin by saying that there are now many members of the SCBWI Michigan chapter that I consider my dear author buddies. However almost 20 years ago, as a new member, I could not have imagined making that statement.

Yes, it was just under two decades ago that I attended my first Michigan chapter conferences. They were one-day events. Both times, when I arrived, I began to do what I normally do when I am at an event and I don’t know anyone: I walked around, smiled, and tried to make eye-contact. Folks just looked away. I said, "Hello," to people at the coffee table who were not engaged with others in conversations.  Nothing happened. I couldn’t connect with anyone. The vibe was decidedly cold and unwelcoming.  

At lunchtime, everyone rushed off to their tables. I looked around for an empty chair at a table and could not find one. There was an empty table so I sat down, ready to enjoy my lunch and keep myself company.

Then someone came up to me and said, “Hi, I’m Shutta Crum. Will you join us at my table?”  I was stunned. I looked over to where she gestured, and her table was full. I mentioned that fact. She grabbed my chair and asked one of the attendees to scoot over. “Now there’s room,” she said.

At the second event, something similar happened when Nancy Shaw saw me sitting by myself in the auditorium and sat next to me. She introduced herself and struck up a conversation.

Both of these SCBWI-MI members went out of their way to make a stranger to the organization feel welcome. And it is because of them that I stayed connected to this chapter. I am grateful for their kindness and count them as friends to this day.

 

You can follow Jean online:

Instagram: @jeanaliciaelster

Twitter: @j_a_elster 

Facebook: Jean Alicia Elster Books

Pinterest: @jelsterwrites

 

Goodbye to “Hello!” by Isabel Estrada O'Hagin

 

Our heart-warming It Starts with Hello series began in January 2022 to celebrate community and reaffirm the importance of how we foster relationships within SCBWI-Michigan. Before I sign off with a final good-bye to our Hello stories, I want to thank everyone who shared their personal stories of support this past year. Special kudos to the friendly souls who were acknowledged in these posts. May the thought that you made a difference add some sparkle to your halo.

Perhaps these stories reminded you of the person who made you feel seen when you needed a friendly smile. Like many of you, my list of names would be quite long. Here’s one story I’d like to share. . .

I joined SCBWI after attending an author’s panel held at the Haslett Public Library—listening to that group made me want to become a published author, too. Soon after, I learned about the Midwest Conference being held in Fort Wayne, IN. Yay, my first SCBWI conference! Unfortunately, everyone I’d just met in the Lansing Meet-up group who planned to attend already had their roommate situation set. Ann Finkelstein suggested I post a request on the listserv, and—lo and behold—someone responded! That’s when I met Angie Verges and Cheryl Adams—the three of us roomed together at the 2013 Midwest Conference (side note: We brought so many munchies for late-night snacking, we could’ve opened our own concession stand; - ). As I was still a newbie to SCBWI, Angie shared her knowledge of the who’s who in SCBWI and introduced me to her circle of friends. She took the time to share information about the wide world of children’s lit and her own journey. Angie and I became friends, roomed together at two other conferences, and stayed in touch. We also served on the first Equity & Inclusion team for our region.

Thank you, Angie, for your kindness and support all these years!

Back then I had no idea Angie—so considerate, polite, and kind—was a budding comedian! Need a good laugh? Catch her on Instagram: writermama223

It’s true—our Michigan chapter is a friendly group! It’s also true that walking into a room where you don’t know anyone can be intimidating. As someone expressed to me: “You look to see if anyone else in the room looks like you. You scan the room and hope you’ll be accepted. You want to feel safe.” Let’s continue our good work, Michigan!

This year we welcomed several new members to our Michigan chapter. Do you know the new members in your local community? As Co-Coordinators for our Kalamazoo Area Shop Talks (K.A.S.T.—where everyone’s a star!), Melanie Bryce and I make an effort to reach out to the newbies and make sure they know when we’re meeting.

As we slowly transition to in-person events this coming year, let’s welcome our newest members (from 2020-2022) and continue to support those already in the fold. It starts with “hello!”

 

Isabel Estrada O’Hagin

SCBWI-Michigan Outreach Coordinator

It Starts with Hello with Charlie Barshaw

My first SCBWI conference was a weekend stay at the Yarrow Golf Course and Conference Resort in 2010. I had a roommate who was not my wife, and a freshly-written novel about Friday the 13^th.

Charlie Barshaw

As I stepped nervously up to the registration table, I was greeted with genuine warmth by Rachel Anderson, who seemed positively happy to see me, a complete stranger. I would later that weekend share a critique session with her and others, and it would be there that I’d hear an initial draft of what would become The Puppy Predicament.

Rachel’s warm smile and welcoming attitude got me started on what was soon to become a learning experience. I learned, for instance, that I snored so badly that my roommate packed up and stayed at a friend’s house Saturday night.

I also learned that my perfectly polished novel was not, in fact, polished or perfect, and I remember stewing in a miserable funk during the final session Sunday morning, counting the minutes until I could scurry from this place and give up writing for good.

Which, thank the Muse, I didn’t.

Mostly I learned that writing for kids is not for the lazy or thin-of-skin. On the flip-side, I learned that children’s book creators are some of the friendliest, sharing-est, best commiserators anywhere.

That first encounter (and I doubt she even remembers it) led to hundreds, thousands of heartfelt hugs and handshakes over the years since, and I embrace my SCBWI experience as a joyous journey of discovery.

Thanks, Rachel.

Charlie Barshaw is a published author of seven middle grade short stories on Amazon Rapids , pre-published author of several MG and YA novels, and an interviewer for the Writer Spotlight feature on The Mitten. Check out his website CharlieBarshaw.com.

 

Thank you, Charlie, for sharing your Hello story and relating your aha moment with a good dose of honesty—a necessary trait for any writer/illustrator who desires to grow and deepen their understanding of the art form. I love hearing these stories and it makes me think of both sides of the hello—the greeter and recipient. While it takes courage to attend that first event or an event where you don’t know anyone or only a few people, it also takes confidence on the part of the greeter to reach out, to break the ice, to move us from being strangers toward becoming professional colleagues and perhaps friends. May Charlie’s Hello story inspire you to take that first step!  

Has anyone made you feel welcomed to an SCBWI-MI event and made you feel like you mattered? Share your Hello story with the rest of us by sending a three-hundred word or less post to Outreach Coordinator, Isabel Estrada O’Hagin at ohaginib@gmail.com.

It Starts with Hello with Kat Higgs-Coulthard

Hello used to be hard for me.

It's one of the reasons I started writing--in the high school cafeteria, bending over a notebook, pen in hand, made me look busy instead of lonely. Creative, not terrified. I wrote words to avoid speaking them.

Until...one day at a bookstore I overheard a group of women analyzing the moves an author had made to build suspense in the book they were reading. After the group dispersed, I approached one woman who remained behind gathering her things and asked the name of the book they'd been discussing.

She introduced herself as Cynthia Furlong Reynolds and shared that her book group was composed of writers who analyze the work of other writers in order to inform their own writing. She shared that she was also a writer. PROFESSIONALLY. Until that moment, that was something I did not think was actually possible. She was kind and friendly and told me I should consider joining SCBWI. She belonged to the Michigan Chapter and because I lived in Michigan, I could too. In fact, I should come with her to the meeting next month.
I was terrified.
But I went.
It was tempting to sit in the back and hide in my notebook. But before I could, Cynthia introduced me to one person, then another. The hellos piled up; conversations began. I couldn't tell you who I met that day or what we talked about, but the message was overwhelming and clear: YOU BELONG.

I'm still afraid to say hello. But every time I do there's a new friend saying hello back. I've met some amazing people through SCBWI and I look forward to meeting even more.

Hello :)

Kat Higgs-Coulthard has been a writer as long as she can remember. She became a teacher out of a desire to help others share their words and has been a teacher for more than 20 years, first as an elementary teacher, then as a teacher educator at Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame. Her latest YA book, Junkyard Dogs, is due out in March 2023 from Peachtree Teen.

Thank you, Kat, for sharing your Hello story marked by these descriptions of authentic emotion. I think many of us can relate to your experiences. From being terrified to looking forward to meeting more amazing people through SCBWI—may our greetings and smiles welcome the new faces we encounter virtually or in person! Pass it on!

Do you have a Hello story you want to share? Send me your submission at ohaginib@gmail.com (300 words or less).

Featured Illustrator Sara Kendall

Sara Kendall is a freelance illustrator based in Ann Arbor, MI. She works mostly digitally and is always looking for middle grade projects featuring the weird, the ridiculous and the fantastical (bonus points for all three).

Sara has a BFA in Illustration from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, and enjoys reading speculative fiction, looking closely at bugs, and playing Jenga with the stack of unread books on her nightstand.

Hi Sara, we are excited to get to know you a little better. Are you from Michigan? Did you go to school for art? 

Hello Darren, and greetings to the Mitten readers! I was born and raised right here in Michigan. Specifically (but vaguely) I grew up in a rural bit in the Southeast of the state, where I could catch frogs in my family’s pond and try to make dragonflies land on my finger (it works more often than you’d think!)

My art education career has been a super long one. I went to college for art—twice in fact! I started out at U of M Flint with an aimless but determined desire to make representational art. A million thanks to my instructors, who taught me the basics and introduced me to the greats of illustration when I didn’t know what part of the art world I could fit in. 

With this new zest for art, I later transferred to the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, to study illustration specifically, and graduated with a BFA in 2017. 

I also did an extracurricular stint at the Illustration Academy in Kansas City, MO, in 2016, where I was able to learn from a lot of the same people I idolized when I first learned illustration was a viable career. 

Oh, and last and most, I was the recipient of a mentorship program through SCBWI. My mentor Kirbi Fagan helped me immensely in figuring out the direction I wanted to go, and the steps to take to get there. (From grade school to college, there are way too many dedicated and kind art teachers in my life to thank individually. I hope I was appreciative enough at the time, but regardless if you’re reading this please know that I’m forever grateful.)

Your art is highly stylized (and beautiful). What has inspired or helped shape your work?

Being an artist for me has been a long path of picking up what aspects of other artists’ work tickles my brain and discarding what I don’t enjoy. 

My Pinterest account can attest to me obsessing over a bajillion different artists over the years, but as far as whose influence I still see most clearly in my work, there are a few that stick out. As was true for most people my age, Mary Grandpre’s illustrations for Harry Potter, and Bret Helquist’s work for A Series of Unfortunate Events took up permanent residence inside my skull. Also, pretty much anything by Lane Smith always wowed me (his paintings also scared me, but hey sometimes kids like that!) In college, Mark English, Gary Kelly, and Charlie Harper steamrolled over my little gray cells and jump started my obsession with shapes and puzzle-like compositions. 

And, of course, my college art teachers played a huge role in helping me discard what wasn’t working and stick with what was.

Tell us about your process and tools. 

These days I work mostly on my iPad Pro in Procreate. I miss working traditionally, and I love my adjustable drafting table that I got for cheap on Craigslist, but you can’t beat digital for speed. 
For fancy Procreate brushes, I can recommend the Retro MaxPack by Max Ulichney, and the Vivi brushes by Vivien Mildenberger have some lovely textures. The brushes that come with the program work just as well, though. Generally, for most of the painting before I get to the details, I use the “Dry Ink” brush that comes with the program. I modified it to be bigger, so it doesn’t cramp my hand, but it’s a versatile tool at any size. Recently I tried out blocking in shapes on different layers using a digital airbrush. I don’t usually do this, but it was very satisfying and it might stay in my repertoire.

When it's time to draw, how do you prepare and set up your space? (Or are you more spontaneous?) Sometimes I have to trick myself into getting to work.

Oh tricking is the only way to get to work! I have a problem with perfectionism, and that can make me think myself into inaction, especially at the start of a project. The most foolproof way for me to get working is to have another task that I’m procrastinating on. Barring that, a reliable way for me to get my juices flowing and start ideating without overthinking it starts with sending a playlist to my bluetooth speaker, cranking it up and zoning out. Sometimes singing along is in the cards as well (I live alone, so I’m free to be super annoying about it.)

I do all early thumbnails and character designs on paper, because it’s easier for me to relax and be spontaneous when I’m not staring at a blank document. My sketchbook will never be one of those fancy ones you can display in galleries, but I like it that way. 

Once I have a few thumbnails, I take a photo of them with my phone (doesn’t need to be good) and import them to my iPad. I put them into a file on Procreate that’s the right aspect ratio for what I’m working on, but only at about 10% the size of the final so that I have access to more layers and I don’t get too stuck in the details, and I warp the original thumbnail  and draw on top until I like the result. Then, I start blocking shapes in black and white. When I have a design I like, I add color by putting adjustment layers over top, and then painting over them. When I like the sketch, I paste it into a document that’s the final size or larger, always at least 8 inches wide and 300 dpi. Then it’s just painting and dealing with an inner monologue alternating between “I’m a genius!” and “Wait, I forgot how to paint!” until I run out of time or ideas.

Where in your art can we find hints about who you are? Are there underlying themes you hope people pick up on?

It’s very important to me to avoid gendered stereotypes when designing characters, and I make a real effort to unlearn any that might creep into my drawing. When I was growing up in the 90’s, it always upset me when character design for cartoon animals had a “male design” which looked pretty much like the animal, and a “lady design” where the animators would add long eyelashes and an hourglass figure. There is a lot of this in human kids’ designs as well, where the girl characters will look like they’re wearing makeup as a baseline. No shade to people who draw kids that way, but it did always upset me that even when going on adventures and being the hero, girls were always expected to be pretty and put together, and boys weren’t ever allowed to be. Even the way they pose, in cover illustrations for middle grade fantasy books for example, are often gendered: boys are posed to emphasize power, with a wide stance, and girls are often drawn more gracefully, and in a way that flatters their angles. That’s not fair to any gender. When I design kids, I always do my best to imagine that gendered stereotypes don’t exist, because that’s what I wish I’d have more of when growing up.
 

Tell us something(s) about you that people might not know…

I like gardening and planting native wildflowers in my spare time, and I’ve plowed up a lot of my lawn to plant a native prairie from seed. (It takes several years for everything to come in, but this year the black-eyed susans and tickseed are really coming into their own, and it makes me happy to look at.) The eagle-eyed (or even bat-eyed, really) can probably tell I like monarchs from this month’s illustration, but what you might not know is that I love watching those chonky caterpillars chow down on milkweed, and later seeing if I can find their chrysalis.. The very hungry caterpillar was very effective propaganda, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Thanks Eric Carle!

Thanks for sharing with us, Sara! 

Be sure to check out sarakendall.net and instagram for more.

Writer Spotlight: Isabel Estrada O'Hagin

Summers with nana and tata, Whoppers, "Gone with the Wind" in one day, Equity and Inclusion, and the Tribute Fund

Charlie Barshaw coordinates our quarterly Writer Spotlight feature and interviews writers of SCBWI-MI. In this piece, meet Isabel Estrada O'Hagin, the SCBWI-MI Outreach Coordinator.

You grew up one of seven children in the barrios of Tucson. Since then, you’ve traveled to 14 countries and relocated to Michigan. Have you been back to Tucson? Has it changed much over the years? Is your childhood neighborhood still intact?

I love Tucson and the surrounding area! Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic I visited my family in the Ole Pueblo yearly. In some ways it’s much the same, but the city continues to grow—unfortunately, that means more bulldozing of the rapidly disappearing Sonoran desert.

My barrio is still intact, as are most of them. Some families leave, new ones move in. The celebration of Mexican-American culture is visible everywhere: bilingual signs, restaurants, shops, tortillerías, and the architecture. Restaurants there when I was a kid are still open. One great addition is a Latino-based bookstore.

You talk about spending summers in Nogales with your nana and tata. What do you remember about those summers with your grandparents?

I remember the love we shared and the relaxed lifestyle. My tata, Don Alberto, greeted everyone wherever we walked. We would cross the border and do our shopping while my tata chatted and then chatted some more. Mis abuelos lived in a magnificent old house full of intriguing nooks and crannies that I constantly explored. I was a curious child!

I remember running up and down the hilly streets of Nogales. Nana had a chicken coop perched on the side of the hill—we all remember the adventures in the chicken coop. I also remember the picnics we had in Patagonia on our way back to Tucson. The creeks were filled with water back in those days. We often had to jump out of our station wagon and push it out of the mud.

You mention “mud pies, mud people and mud villages.” That suggests your family was dirt poor, but also that you kids had a boundless imagination. What worlds did you construct in your young mind?

Oh, we were poor, but so was everyone else in our barrio. We had a piano, plenty of toys, board games, bikes and so on, but we liked to play outside. In that part of Arizona, you can live outdoors most of the year.

In addition to all kinds of sports, we liked to dig. Once we dug a hole in the backyard for over a month convinced we would find treasure. My kid brother loved to carve dirt roads for his race cars and we played, too. Our soil was always dry so we turned on the hose to carve out race tracks, streets, rivers, mountains and villages encircled by walls. I guess you could think of it as an organic sandy mudbox.

Another favorite pastime was hosting talent shows in the backyard. Our stage was an old wooden table painted red.

You said the family tradition was of telling “sapos” or whoppers. Was oral storytelling an important part of parties or every-day life? Have you ever written any of these tall tales for all to enjoy?

Yes, oral storytelling is still an important part of our family life. We would gather around the piano on Saturday evenings and sing, with stories coming afterward. My dad loved to tell stories of his childhood when he would hike the monte with his buddies and stay out all day. We listened to exciting tales of his mischievous youth, but he liked spinning spooky stories, too. We had a live-in family ghost and told lots of stories about her. I’ve not written any of these stories, but they live in my heart.

You loved to read. Where did you find your books? Was there a person or persons who encouraged your voracious appetite--like reading “Gone With the Wind” in one day!?

We didn’t have any public libraries near our home, but we could check out books from our school library and there was a mobile library that would come to the barrio. I don’t remember any particular teacher, but they all encouraged us to read. I do remember this practice at elementary school: if you finished your class assignments, you could get a pass to the library and hang out there. I learned to complete my assignments in lickety-split time.

Gone with the Wind? I was in eighth grade and bored and thought why not? Hooked immediately, I stayed in my bunkbed until I finished reading the book. I remember my shoulders were stiff and my eyes stung after that experience. I read through the night, so maybe technically the reading rolled over into day two. I only read it that one time, but I’ve seen the movie a couple of times.

You didn’t find many books where you could see yourself, that reflected your experience and identity. Which books came closest? What are you reading now?

Sadly, I didn’t encounter any books or articles where I saw myself on the page in grades K-12. None. I sometimes wonder what my childhood would’ve been like if I could have read books like Esmeralda Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan. I did like books with strong girl characters such as Ramona, Nancy Drew, and Laura in Little House on the Prairie. 

Fortunately, my barrio experiences and the city of Tucson offered many opportunities to affirm my cultural identity. Today, some of my favorite authors include Meg Medina, Donna Barba Higuera, Elizabeth Acevedo, J.C. Cervantes, and Erin Entrada Kelly. I could go on and on: Kate DiCamillo, Katherine Applegate, Grace Lin, Kelly Barnhill. . .

You discovered modern dance and choreography in high school. You also found expression in poetry and creative writing, so much so that you eventually became editor of the journal. Was high school an awakening for you?

Absolutely! My school had a diverse student population of about 2,500—people from all walks of life—a real eye-opener for me. We were an open campus with the university and downtown only a few blocks away—a school without walls. My teachers were a super dedicated bunch who pushed us toward excellence. I took summer courses each year so I could fill my schedule with dance, choir/band, and creative writing during the regular semesters. I knew this is what I wanted to do the rest of my life— imagine, improvise, create!

Describe your path to teaching music, dance, and drama.

Throughout my childhood, I was passionate about music and dance, loving to perform. I wanted to be a famous opera singer, but I decided being a teacher was a great way to contribute to making the world a better place.

After I graduated with a music degree and a minor in dance, I taught music to elementary school children, and then I took a break to attend grad school. I returned to teaching music, dance, and drama to middle schoolers.

I was invited to start a creative dance program at a newly designated gifted and talented/arts middle school magnet where dance was a required subject for everyone. It was a blast! The school district built us a professional dance studio with an indoor and outdoor stage. Those were the days! 

You grew up in the arid Southwest but moved to Michigan. What, besides the obvious differences in climate, were the adjustments you had to make up North?

Our first “It Starts with Hello” story by Lisa Wheeler related how she sought “her people” and it had a happy ending. I undertook a similar quest when I moved to Michigan, to find my people—other Latinos. It was easier when we lived outside the Lansing area, but it’s been more of a challenge in Kalamazoo.

We’ve only lived here for a little over three years and the pandemic has made it difficult to explore the area and get involved with the Latino community. Hopefully, we’ll be able to return to a new normal soon. I miss the music and community celebrations—the fiestas!

Some of the KAST cast

You found SCBWI, and for years would attend Shop Talks in Lansing. When you moved to the Kalamazoo area, you started your own Shop Talk, and with an ambitious agenda and talented neighbors, you’ve built it into one of the premier regional meetings in the state. How?

You may remember, Charlie, that I was one of the quieter attendees at LAST, but I paid attention to all that you and the various leaders did to make the Shop Talks successful. Thank you for being such great role models!

I moved to Kalamazoo in July 2018 and at one of our state conferences I spoke to Carrie Pearson and Leslie Helakoski about my plans to start a Shop Talk. They suggested I speak to Jay Whistler.

Jay put me in touch with other writers in the area and in January 2019, we held our first informal introductory meeting at this is a bookstore in Kalamazoo. We had about nine people attend and our Shop Talks took off. Throughout that first year, we kept asking our members what topics they wanted to discuss.

Like most of our Shop Talks around the state, we’ve gone mostly virtual the past two years, but Melanie Bryce and I continue to work hard to stay in touch with our local members. We send out an email newsletter to bring our local members up to date.

You were awarded the Tribute Fund Award in 2021. What did that mean for you?

The Tribute Fund is a tremendous honor to receive and I deeply believe it is a shared award. For me, it represents how SCBWI recognizes the importance of volunteers who provide service to the organization. I believe that getting people involved and inviting them to share their expertise with others is one way to keep the organization functioning at the highest level. We can be here to support each other as we strive to become better at what we do as illustrators and writers for children’s literature. In other words, the Tribute Fund is a team award. Toot your horns, everyone! Yay, team SCBWI-MI!

You were one of the founders of the Equality and Inclusion Team.  What were the goals of the group, what has it achieved, and where has it set its sights?

The E and I Team worked diligently to write the mission statement that’s posted on our website: SCBWI-MI includes, engages, and embraces disparate voices. Our E & I Team met the challenge of how to best implement the 2020 initiatives outlined by the SCBWI national office, and we led successful outreach efforts such as the Books With Barbers book drive and the E & I Corner Blog in The Mitten. Doing so in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic meant we had to transition toward online efforts such as hosting a Zoom social hour. I’m glad to see that equity and inclusion issues are at the forefront of our current SCBWI initiatives.

You’ve got a unique cure for “writer’s rut.” What helps get your muse unstuck?

I wonder if you’re referring to my dancing? I’ve always loved to blast music throughout the house and dance freely. Improvisation is my thing! My approach doesn’t include a playlist, but I do find that if I play music that resonates with the core of my story and dance or spin while I write I’m free to embody the setting as its own character—and the story comes to life. Moving through music and imagery frees up my imagination. Or were you referring to the mental calisthenics where I channel a particular master writer and dictate? ; - >

You’ve got two mid-grade novels you’re working on (as well as picture books and a YA).  “Chavela’s Quest” deals with Aztec, Mayan and Inic lore. How extensive is the research required to keep the story authentic?

I’ve done extensive research to ground the story in relation to authentic lore and historical artifacts such as various codices that exist (library sources and purchased copies) and collections of various oral traditions. I have a full-color restoration of The Codex Borgia—it’s fabulous! I’ve traveled through Mexico and Guatemala, toured some of the Aztec and Mayan ruins, and visited several museums known for their Pre-Columbian collections.

Seeing those items first-hand and in some cases purchasing contemporary reproductions brings the history to life. I have a list of research books I’d like to own and study—that’s next on my list. BTW—I created the Inic, magical pre-Columbian, organic beings who live underground. I even made up a language for them that’s a mixture of Uto-Aztecan, Olmec, and Mayan languages steeped in my imagination.

Fun, fun, fun!

What is the WIP closest to your heart and writing brain at present?

I’m taking a break from contemporary settings to write a middle grade manuscript that takes place during the high middle-ages. It’s a story about a girl who escapes from al-Andalus and makes her way north. As a musician, I performed in several early music ensembles and sometimes feel I’m a medievalist born in the wrong century. I also studied and choreographed Renaissance dances and so this manuscript is close to my heart in a myriad of ways.  

 Follow Isabel Estrada O’Hagin here:

Instagram: isabelohagin

Website: https://isabelohagin.com