tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85202728992337970102024-03-13T06:10:15.224-07:00Lupine SeedsLinda Crotta Brennanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14271354107272417841noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8520272899233797010.post-72262849027341949092022-10-01T08:52:00.000-07:002022-10-01T08:52:16.265-07:00Nicole Tadgell: Watercoloring Windows into a Wider World<p> </p><p class="Body"><span lang="IT"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxjjetyaB-9b9gSYXfsdWoVSg3v8tOXjnVu5qLkawOECMxSBNfFU-eJVHqZr046GiZFKsDKYIZ5qV3S4nRuXoMGtPiOwfqvzeNFS0rhWxrDjcRnKGp9bxQrC8eO8vnfJrNnJRYNMKxAqWa0wtHkJf0JG-zlvIE4hvVoovNke7Ld5JAdA8bQ5U2gU-i" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3594" data-original-width="2304" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxjjetyaB-9b9gSYXfsdWoVSg3v8tOXjnVu5qLkawOECMxSBNfFU-eJVHqZr046GiZFKsDKYIZ5qV3S4nRuXoMGtPiOwfqvzeNFS0rhWxrDjcRnKGp9bxQrC8eO8vnfJrNnJRYNMKxAqWa0wtHkJf0JG-zlvIE4hvVoovNke7Ld5JAdA8bQ5U2gU-i" width="154" /></a></div><br />Nicole Tadgell, <a href="https://nicoletadgell.art/"><span class="Hyperlink0"><span lang="ES-TRAD">https://nicoletadgell.art</span></span></a> ,
is the award-winning illustrator of over thirty picture books. Her radiant
watercolors capture the heart and emotions of characters from a variety of
cultures and eras. Her goal is to bring stories to life while advocating for
diversity in children<span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span>s literature.
A winner of the Christopher Award and the Children<span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span>s
Africana Book Award, her books have also been included on the Bank Street
College, Smithsonian, and the New York Public Library<span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span>s
notable lists. Her forthcoming title, <i>Leaves to My Knees</i>, written by
Ellen Mayer, will be released this fall by Star Bright Books.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2CuNGFd7Uuy-35IdJa5hgjv2t5W9n0F3mufypm1qdBFDUN4VqMVDWDT534a_rdcctHiq0Wd2iZXf_aFz130sxREensQc0fNjElt8Yhm4umHYR80W2GzFs5OG0tSR1wRQPonTzmv6WIE6_L8yjewSlCLRp2mFVAEEgQ7DELmpfslUBIk8BFZONxAV_" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="536" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2CuNGFd7Uuy-35IdJa5hgjv2t5W9n0F3mufypm1qdBFDUN4VqMVDWDT534a_rdcctHiq0Wd2iZXf_aFz130sxREensQc0fNjElt8Yhm4umHYR80W2GzFs5OG0tSR1wRQPonTzmv6WIE6_L8yjewSlCLRp2mFVAEEgQ7DELmpfslUBIk8BFZONxAV_" width="242" /></a></div><p class="Body">I was lucky enough to get a sneak preview of this exuberant book.
Camille, the main character, is determined to rake a pile of leaves big enough
for jumping. Comparing her pile to her dad<span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span>s and her
little brother<span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span>s as she works, she<span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span>s frustrated when a vagrant wind blows some of her
leaves away. Will her pile ever be big enough for jumping? This sweet book
gently supports math concepts of size comparison and measurement.</p><p class="Body"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Body"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFNfHyfHoP2Y0OEIhA49nT1ynz06TNIjGT3qN9rTNsUDbCLXDqtOcGpN3AOShr1300jh-VFIj6fwkKNL5E0QLcqvxTuqR1OHBZANTwRT5ED6J2zCBxvdCyD-1ngsfXW5j-P4x307s81szlbeWQ5Ewq1kA8osppXtEvklf7T2BVfNBBE6mv9P1404kz" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="264" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFNfHyfHoP2Y0OEIhA49nT1ynz06TNIjGT3qN9rTNsUDbCLXDqtOcGpN3AOShr1300jh-VFIj6fwkKNL5E0QLcqvxTuqR1OHBZANTwRT5ED6J2zCBxvdCyD-1ngsfXW5j-P4x307s81szlbeWQ5Ewq1kA8osppXtEvklf7T2BVfNBBE6mv9P1404kz=w169-h200" width="169" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5vjwIfbSCdAfFxIaW_H1uptgmwJSDgc0F2AZibX_qj-LFo-QhhHuS4I8WEpG6G7DV5HUqmiVTWBmjVgocTgWAZnEQ9jvxCzFC3IzNd16oXtchZNHty1BkO76SNPoyhzHz7vdNQ1f8Uk1qTkuJtpqp2DfEAMpKTWIFC-DTpMnR_zvPbtA6tUnyJOfT" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5vjwIfbSCdAfFxIaW_H1uptgmwJSDgc0F2AZibX_qj-LFo-QhhHuS4I8WEpG6G7DV5HUqmiVTWBmjVgocTgWAZnEQ9jvxCzFC3IzNd16oXtchZNHty1BkO76SNPoyhzHz7vdNQ1f8Uk1qTkuJtpqp2DfEAMpKTWIFC-DTpMnR_zvPbtA6tUnyJOfT=w150-h200" width="150" /></a></div>Thank you for joining me today, Nicole. Measurement is a tough
topic to tackle in a picture book yet <i>Leaves to My Knees</i> is picture
perfect for its young audience. How did you become involved with illustrating
this project? <span style="color: #9437ff;"> I was approached through my agent, Christy
Tugeau with this project and was so excited as New England in the fall is
spectacular!</span><p></p><p class="Body"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Body">After receiving the author<span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span>s text for
a book like <i>Leaves to My Knees, </i>how do you approach planning out your
illustrations? How do you determine where the page breaks will be? Do you use
thumbnail sketches? Do these have to be approved by the art director along the
way? <span style="color: #9437ff;"> I like
to plan, and I have a method that works well for me. First I read the story
many times, often with a sketchpad and draw thumbnails of what I see in my
head. I can see page breaks where they make sense, and often the publisher has
notations as to what they would like to see. In this book, they definitely did
because of the leaf pile sizes. Yes, the team at Star Bright and I worked
together throughout the project, it was a good process!</span></p><p class="Body"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Body"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5PNLjcq0pEspzJnObIuJiOlNnuGXx25VThtgvazsxWxgklFV-lM1nMdst8d-9oR-gCyTNMiZsVfqAN1_dCM0bCzUwzlaF86q3v4dcZ5sgQGvtQgABko0pxFA7MTEUtwV2MZ8405zDNU43Bf8QJULwovmVDZ98Ajb6kY1kigXJ5HK1PyzGcX1Vo7bk" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5PNLjcq0pEspzJnObIuJiOlNnuGXx25VThtgvazsxWxgklFV-lM1nMdst8d-9oR-gCyTNMiZsVfqAN1_dCM0bCzUwzlaF86q3v4dcZ5sgQGvtQgABko0pxFA7MTEUtwV2MZ8405zDNU43Bf8QJULwovmVDZ98Ajb6kY1kigXJ5HK1PyzGcX1Vo7bk=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></div>As illustrator, you are the one who determines what a story<span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span>s characters will look like. What is your <br />method for
creating characters? Do you use models? How do you manage to capture emotions
so well? <span style="color: #9437ff;"> I’m
inspired by kids I know or memories of my siblings when they were young. I did
use models for this book! My sister’s friend had two kids the right age. Their
Dad was wonderful - instead of taking pictures of the kids playing in leaves,
he shot video so I could pause and sketch. They were perfect! Original down to
Camille’s double pom-poms and Jayden’s dinosaur coat. As for capturing
emotions, that is hard to describe! I like to immerse myself into the world of
the book, feel what the character is feeling.</span><p></p>
<p class="Body"><br /></p><p class="Body">What is your technique for varying your illustrations? Are you<br />
conscious of plot arc and pacing as you work? <span style="color: #9437ff;">Yes!
I feel following the energy of the story and the author’s intent is key in finding what the story needs. In this book, showing the leaf piles clearly was
a core intent, so I did my best to be sure everything stayed clear.</span></p>
<p class="Body">I<span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span>ve seen some of your
amazing fine art portraits. How is illustrating a book different from creating
a piece of fine art? <span style="color: #9437ff;">There’s more of a wandering,
explorative process in my portraits. I don’t need to be concerned about many of
the things I do in a book - like whether the character looks the same on each
page. Or making sure there’s room for text, or being careful about color
<br />choices for reproduction.</span></p><p class="Body"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Body"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjSzIoL4pJq__86u1Vvaa240BK7oVLoNgfZ5I59b5FeDLXFpRPLmSxBZixkEH2yhI6ANc7LFvBsqXsGaAONMlYdesdtW9l6sRpefQpwqKOqvImUOuJKHtw-8fTz3gENErzfSOmWiFV_Fsz72hs-cGF5sN24_HeV_-Qfoeotx_CgpX1oP-ZKOoBEbH8O" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="508" data-original-width="640" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjSzIoL4pJq__86u1Vvaa240BK7oVLoNgfZ5I59b5FeDLXFpRPLmSxBZixkEH2yhI6ANc7LFvBsqXsGaAONMlYdesdtW9l6sRpefQpwqKOqvImUOuJKHtw-8fTz3gENErzfSOmWiFV_Fsz72hs-cGF5sN24_HeV_-Qfoeotx_CgpX1oP-ZKOoBEbH8O=w200-h159" width="200" /></a></div>You have another career as the art director for an advertising
company. How does that job intersect with your illustration work? <span style="color: #9437ff;">Early mornings and weekends are my time for studio art!
Sometimes I’m lucky enough to be able to create watercolors for clients at the
agency, which is always fun.</span><p></p><p class="Body"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Body"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEilZ1DKquIQYb01FBrAhuAblky2IloCaqsFERPE97TY567Y2ILjU17sXk3uAlNWz-CUR1qt1LNZ2igqR87gs6FE7pdB0Evoy8bGJYbIkFZPSwmB1hNtlsizOG9VNRYqGkjwPDpZmQFVsD9lE2Whv5TQCL2nCAGn2VO6d41v-wRiA2HbN2IjoaeJcej2" style="clear: right; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="640" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEilZ1DKquIQYb01FBrAhuAblky2IloCaqsFERPE97TY567Y2ILjU17sXk3uAlNWz-CUR1qt1LNZ2igqR87gs6FE7pdB0Evoy8bGJYbIkFZPSwmB1hNtlsizOG9VNRYqGkjwPDpZmQFVsD9lE2Whv5TQCL2nCAGn2VO6d41v-wRiA2HbN2IjoaeJcej2=w157-h200" width="157" /></a>Many of the books you<span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span>ve
illustrated are nonfiction or have a strong nonfiction component. What is your
research like for books like <i>In the Garden with Dr. Carver, With Books and
Bricks: How Booker T. Washington Built a School,</i> or <i>Fatuma<span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span>s
New Cloth</i>? How do you ensure that your illustrations are historically
accurate? Do you visit the settings of books like <i><span lang="FR">Liberty</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span>s Civil
Rights Road Trip </i>or <i>Follow Me Down to Nicodemus Town</i><span lang="ZH-TW">? </span><span style="color: #9437ff;">I love doing research! It’s hard to pull away from it to
start those nonfiction titles! Accuracy is important to me. I use libraries,
the library of congress has an extensive image library, and I’ve even reached
out to professional historical costume designers to check on clothing. I visit
as many locations as I can, such as Nicodemus, Kansas.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-align: left;"><img alt="" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="640" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhsfXQ7X__OifB6lWG4IJDVBSX3TM8V1rQJ8jQ7OWn7o6nn4YBYTYmsPoiQ5xwrNNgL3z4IyQ3TM09ZSEaYyW-biCeQiQhQkgM_VH0SzBgLK-G1bpc1cz_Ro96tKdWYbk-32diNEMEdxrzNoQN6RXQZ8wMuoMLb-aWXnmGSlPCEgorX83ZzDErcQZRJ=w160-h200" width="160" />The scope of your work is amazing. Your characters come from so
many cultures and eras. Do you actively pursue projects that represent humanity</span><span dir="RTL" style="text-align: left;"></span><span dir="RTL" style="text-align: left;"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="text-align: left;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span></span><span lang="ZH-TW" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;">s variety?</span> </span><span style="color: #b4a7d6; text-align: left;">Not
yet! I do have ideas on writing my own stories, hopefully this will come to
pass soon.</span></div><p></p><p class="Body"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMazJbDwSHTpGOnP-8JNfpWrLQguR3p2NqREkMpVL77bdC3o3tCCLkKKU5HzqZ4uZX9lEXyszWQuPY1AElwE28ftU-YWKzwQ1rSYN2o1USNBL8X-GIJtBpY4fkIkzHcd5OjRo42WYkMUjkyx_Yf3eoi2i3Ntmib7ncIH3S9I7-x-BLwrZnEiYG58VP" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="203" data-original-width="248" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMazJbDwSHTpGOnP-8JNfpWrLQguR3p2NqREkMpVL77bdC3o3tCCLkKKU5HzqZ4uZX9lEXyszWQuPY1AElwE28ftU-YWKzwQ1rSYN2o1USNBL8X-GIJtBpY4fkIkzHcd5OjRo42WYkMUjkyx_Yf3eoi2i3Ntmib7ncIH3S9I7-x-BLwrZnEiYG58VP=w200-h164" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><p class="Body"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Body">Looking back at all the books you<span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span>ve
illustrated do you see a theme or thread that ties them all together? <span style="color: #9437ff;">Love! Connection. Family. Friendships. A character with
relentless curiosity and determination. These are what pulls me to each of these
books.</span></p><p class="Body"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Body">Is there anything else you<span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span>d like to
share with our</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEik55VLUQOP9n5pii3X5LHOBYaz4g6N-x9MbQ_DqAM7PXprO_0-sIBr-y09Kt4wZsQUZx_0hjsZ24t5vEI6bf7-IR5OtsgFBID1VI6RURijIY58optmMs548Sy7Ny7hmEIoeeOWNPfiV2yYhNJ1JZ7G8wznjTvM1rqh5cd4rFzLBrSln5aIP5-ash_9" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="831" data-original-width="640" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEik55VLUQOP9n5pii3X5LHOBYaz4g6N-x9MbQ_DqAM7PXprO_0-sIBr-y09Kt4wZsQUZx_0hjsZ24t5vEI6bf7-IR5OtsgFBID1VI6RURijIY58optmMs548Sy7Ny7hmEIoeeOWNPfiV2yYhNJ1JZ7G8wznjTvM1rqh5cd4rFzLBrSln5aIP5-ash_9=w154-h200" width="154" /></a></div><br /> readers? <span style="color: #9437ff;">Knowing the season, I began
with fall colors: reds, oranges, yellows. I felt that contrast would help our
family stand out, so I chose cool colors for Camille and Jayden. I chose earth
tones for Dad to make the kids stand out even more. Interestingly, in the images I
used for reference the real leaves had lost their color, so I just painted them
colorful. I did make our Jayden a bit younger than the model’s age. I found a place nearby that had an interesting fence and small
leaf-filled yard. I watched as cardinals flit between branches and squirrels
chased each other – inspiration came for the animal antics in the background!
And finally, my partner Anthony was kind enough to pose as the Dad in the book!</span><p></p><p class="Body"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Body">Thank you so much for being my guest today, Nicole. I wish you
all the best with the delightful <i>Leaves to My Knees</i>! You can find out
more about Nicole Tadgell and her illustrations at <a href="https://nicoletadgell.art/"><span class="Hyperlink0"><span lang="ES-TRAD">https://nicoletadgell.art/</span></span></a>.</p><p class="Body"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Body"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="Body"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="Body"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="Body"><o:p> </o:p></p>Linda Crotta Brennanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14271354107272417841noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8520272899233797010.post-88766175811351407512021-10-12T01:00:00.001-07:002021-10-12T01:00:02.071-07:00Nancy Tupper Ling: Poet, Children's Book Author, and Anthologist<p>Today I’d like to welcome the delightful Nancy Tupper Ling <a href="http://www.nancytupperling.com">www.nancytupperling.com</a> to Lupine</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-w1aCHOOP-zA/YU4yYHHhmtI/AAAAAAAAScg/9RfruWcFj8EkuZTLiQ26MwgoOUPzfy7MACLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="320" height="320" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-w1aCHOOP-zA/YU4yYHHhmtI/AAAAAAAAScg/9RfruWcFj8EkuZTLiQ26MwgoOUPzfy7MACLcBGAsYHQ/w256-h320/image.png" width="256" /></a></div><br /> Seeds. A poet and children’s author, Nancy is a superb wordsmith who won both the prestigious Writer’s Digest Grand Prize and the Pat Parnell Poetry Award. Recently retired as a librarian, she is the founder of Fine Line Poets, finelinepoets.com, who seek to give voice to contemporary womanhood. Her children’s books include My Sister, Alicia May, Double Happiness, The Story I’ll Tell, and The Yin-Yang Sisters and the Dragon Frightful. She also has a number of books for adults, including Toasts and Family Celebrations. <p></p><p>Today, she’s visiting my blog as part of her tour promoting her latest title, For Every Little Thing. This beautifully illustrated collection of poems and prayers is such a lush celebration of life. What was the genesis for this collection?</p><p><b>Truly, it’s been such an honor to be work with the Queen of Anthologies, June Cotner. I’m amazed at all her book ideas that she’s constantly generating. The initial impetus for our anthology, FOR EVERY LITTLE THING, was to name it “Counting Blessings,” which was based on a poem by a long-time contributor, Barbara Younger. As we started gathering poems to inspire gratitude in a child’s day, I wrote a poem called “For Every Little Thing.” This became the title poem for our book and we began to refer to it as FELT in our daily emails. In March of 2018, we signed with Eerdmans and they hired the fabulous illustrator, Helen Cann https://helencann.co.uk/ to bring our poems to life.</b></p><p>You contributed a number of poems for this book. They are some of my favorites. Where did you find inspiration for poems like “Hearts in My Pocket” and “Tonight…”?</p><p><b>Thank you so much, Linda! I’m thrilled that you liked those poems. I wrote “Hearts in My Pocket” when our editor, Kathleen Merz, specifically requested a piece that would speak to families who have experienced divorce or separation. On the other hand, “Tonight . . .” was inspired by my daughter, Elizabeth, when she was about six-years old. We were visiting family in San Francisco, and after a beautiful day, she said: “Mama, tonight I will dream of the purple flowers, the ones that made you smile today. They’ll dance overhead. Their blossoms looked like fingers waving to the people. And I will dream that an orange fox sits beside me.” And there it was! Sometimes poems come to us as gifts and we need to be ready to receive them. </b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hG4f3ydloYQ/YU4yqQhSw9I/AAAAAAAASco/iY3GpX7y46InkEdC7yIpt6SPmGnTAj8wgCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="660" data-original-width="660" height="320" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hG4f3ydloYQ/YU4yqQhSw9I/AAAAAAAASco/iY3GpX7y46InkEdC7yIpt6SPmGnTAj8wgCLcBGAsYHQ/w320-h320/image.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />Some of the poets represented in For Every Little Thing are quite famous, others are lesser known. Some are older poets, one is only eight. How did you hunt down the poems you wanted to include in this anthology? <p></p><p><b>Great question! When we wrote the initial proposal, June and I included a variety of poets, dead/alive/famous/lesser known. Like you said, this requires a lot of research and “hunting down.” Since June has been creating anthologies for nearly thirty years, she has a database of over 1000 contributors. We also begin with a physical binder full of potential poems. Eventually, a “Call for Submission” goes out. We share the proposal as well, so potential contributors know what we’re looking for in terms of topics, themes, and chapters. As you can see, there are a lot of moving parts.</b></p><p>You worked on For Every Little Thing during the pandemic. Did world events influence you? </p><p><b>By the time the pandemic started, our anthology was in the capable hands of illustrator, Helen Cann. She worked during multiple lockdowns in the UK. In her words: “I was grateful for such a large project that not only kept me employed when so many others were losing their jobs, but it kept my brain occupied at a time of great stress.” Helen blogged about this difficult time and I’ve added the link here because it’s such a heartfelt description of how the practice of gratitude and appreciation for “the smaller things” in life can really provide hope.</b></p><p><b> <a href="https://helencannillustration.wordpress.com/2021/09/06/thanks-for-every-little-thing/">https://helencannillustration.wordpress.com/2021/09/06/thanks-for-every-little-thing/</a></b></p><p>Helen Cann’s post is heartwarming, a great reminder that, even now, children and adults have so much to be grateful for. Who do you imagine as the audience of For Every Little Thing? </p><p><b>According to Kirkus Reviews, FOR EVERY LITTLE THING contains “thoughtfully selected and prettily illustrated verses for religious households.” While this description is lovely, we’re hoping our selected poems are for every household, to encourage appreciation for little and big encounters in a child’s life.</b></p><p>Which came first, writing poetry or writing for children? How do the two aspects of your writing intersect? </p><p><b>Poetry came first. Ironically, when I was young, I vowed that I would never write poetry since that was “my Mom’s thing.” (My mother, Jean Tupper, is a published poet) That attitude changed in high school when I had a fabulous creative writing teacher, Ms. Alice DeLana. By my senior year, I was winning prizes for my poetry. I know it’s a bit of a cliché, but I didn’t start writing picture books until I had two children of my own. In 2005 I won the Writer’s Digest Grand Prize. Part of the prize was a flight to New York City to meet an editor or agent of my choice. I quickly realized it would be best to present my children’s manuscripts that I’d been working on, rather than my poetry. Getting a picture book accepted is monumentally more challenging, and I needed all the help and advice I could garner.</b></p><p>My Sister Alicia May was your first published children’s book. Tell us about your journey to</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GyuFyT5RcLo/YU4y3Nsu6JI/AAAAAAAAScs/mVHLLNGXbJICxCGmL0Bmkino-hr_mY_BACLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="660" data-original-width="660" height="320" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GyuFyT5RcLo/YU4y3Nsu6JI/AAAAAAAAScs/mVHLLNGXbJICxCGmL0Bmkino-hr_mY_BACLcBGAsYHQ/w320-h320/image.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /> publication. <p></p><p><b>In many ways, the Writer’s Digest prize led to my first picture book. When I sent my story, My Sister, Alicia May, to editor, Jean Cochran, at Pleasant St Press, the fact that I had won the Writer’s Digest Grand Prize definitely got her attention. Turns out she fell in love with the story too, which is based on two real-life sisters, one of whom has Down syndrome. Of course, I thought having one book under my belt would ensure others would easily follow. Ha! That was not the case. It’s been a long winding road, with lots of submissions, plenty of rejections, and conferences, workshops, and great critique groups mixed in along the way. </b></p><p>Double Happiness is written in poetry. What was your process?</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EIS1wOSqXrE/YU4zDN5uIsI/AAAAAAAASc0/2bpDpvbZcpcZF8N_kn_Cwahyv6sU1rfOQCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="660" data-original-width="660" height="320" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EIS1wOSqXrE/YU4zDN5uIsI/AAAAAAAASc0/2bpDpvbZcpcZF8N_kn_Cwahyv6sU1rfOQCLcBGAsYHQ/w320-h320/image.png" width="320" /></a></div><b>It took ten years before Double Happiness was published. It had so many different iterations, but it began as one poem. The poem was about a brother and sister who are bored on a rainy day, so they gather treasures around their house and put them in their happiness boxes. Each object lent itself to a poem. That was the easy part. The hard part was trying to sell the idea to publishers. Finally, one editor suggested it needed more movement. I thought hmm? Maybe it should have a literal move, from one part of the country to another. That was the storyline that sold to Chronicle Books. </b><p></p><p><br />You’ve mentioned that you draw inspiration from your multicultural family. Can you tell us more?</p><p><b>Yes, my husband is Chinese-American, and so our two daughters are multiracial. When they were younger, I noticed there weren’t many picture books that represented children from blended families like ours. Certainly, this has changed in the past five years for the better, and I’m excited to see how many more choices and new authors await this next generation.</b></p><p>Do you have any advice for poets and children’s writers? </p><p><b>My favorite bits of advice:</b></p><p><b>~Ask questions</b></p><p><b>~Listen </b></p><p><b>~Be generous </b></p><p><b>Even now I need to be reminded of all three of these. They may look simple, but it’s not easy for some writers to listen to advice. Sometimes we think we already know what we’re doing. I also hope I’ve become stronger writer in spite of or because of the mistakes I’ve made along the way. One of my favorite poetry teachers was a quiet, soul-filled man named Donald Sheehan who ran the Frost Festival in Franconia, NH, for many summers. Daily, he reminded the participants that while we might be desiring to break into the world of publishing more than anything in the world, if we’re unable to have a kind and generous spirit along the way, we’re missing the essence of the journey. I couldn’t agree more. </b></p><p>Are there any new projects in the works? </p><p><b>Just last month, June Cotner and I had another children’s anthology accepted. This one is entitled Bless the Earth: A Children’s Book of Prayers and Poems for Honoring the Earth and will be published by Keren Baltzer at Convergent/Penguin. We’re excited that this book will convey a spiritual perspective of caring for and appreciating the world, and will be the perfect way to acquaint children with the idea of respecting and being kind to our home.</b></p><p>Exciting news! In this time of environmental crisis, <i>Bless the Earth</i> sounds like a much-needed title.</p><p>Thank you so much for being my guest today, Nancy. I wish you the best of luck with For Every Little Thing, which is available for preorder here: <a href="https://bookshop.org/shop/nancytupperling">https://bookshop.org/shop/nancytupperling</a> or <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Every-Little-Thing-Prayers-Celebrate/dp/0802855199/ref=sr_1_1?crid=37G8APXGZ6OPU&dchild=1&keywords=for+every+little+thing+nancy+tupper+ling&qid=1632190888&sprefix=for+every+lit%2Caps%2C163&sr=8-1">https://www.amazon.com/Every-Little-Thing-Prayers-Celebrate/dp/0802855199/ref=sr_1_1?crid=37G8APXGZ6OPU&dchild=1&keywords=for+every+little+thing+nancy+tupper+ling&qid=1632190888&sprefix=for+every+lit%2Caps%2C163&sr=8-1</a></p><p>To learn more about Nancy Tupper Ling and her work, you can visit her website at <a href="http://www.nancytupperling.com">www.nancytupperling.com</a></p><div><br /></div>Linda Crotta Brennanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14271354107272417841noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8520272899233797010.post-1646137534892403062021-09-20T03:00:00.062-07:002021-09-20T03:00:00.264-07:00Mary Jane Begin: Illustrator Doing the Work She Loves<p> </p><p class="Body" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span lang="DE"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5TZpjh7F-4Y/YUZdMGS9pnI/AAAAAAAASZk/QtX4-OI0OUYaUaoBpFQx5zGpC_wFzqRHQCLcBGAsYHQ/s3088/Mary%2BJane%2BBegin.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5TZpjh7F-4Y/YUZdMGS9pnI/AAAAAAAASZk/QtX4-OI0OUYaUaoBpFQx5zGpC_wFzqRHQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Mary%2BJane%2BBegin.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><b>Mary Jane Begin<span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS", serif;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span>s <span class="Hyperlink0"><span style="color: black; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black;"><a href="http://new.maryjanebegin.com/">http://new.maryjanebegin.com/</a></span></span>
illustration career has been incredibly varied and prolific. A Rhode Island
School of Design graduate, she is now a member of their Illustration faculty.
She<span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS", serif;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span>s
won multiple awards of excellence and held one-woman shows in places like New
York, Beverly Hills, and the National Museum of Illustration in Newport. She<span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS", serif;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span>s created
art for corporations and for children<span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS", serif;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span>s books.</b><p></p><p class="Body" style="margin-left: 0in;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="Body" style="margin-left: 0in;"><b>Mary Jane<span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS",serif; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span>s art has an arresting
larger-than-life quality, exemplified in her most recent picture book, <i>Ping
Meets Pang</i>. Written and illustrated by Mary Jane, it will be released in
July. When a red panda and a giant panda meet at the Panda Palace, they
initially notice their differences, but soon discover the many similarities
they share in this heartwarming and lushly illustrated book. <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="Body" style="margin-left: 0in;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KiOyEVe7WoY/YUZfBCMAroI/AAAAAAAASaM/vA57TZ7GXZw7OM-TNMkFy_VJI2aR0jJ6ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Ping%2BMeets%2BPang.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KiOyEVe7WoY/YUZfBCMAroI/AAAAAAAASaM/vA57TZ7GXZw7OM-TNMkFy_VJI2aR0jJ6ACLcBGAsYHQ/w320-h320/Ping%2BMeets%2BPang.jpg" width="320" /></a><b></b></p><p class="Body" style="margin-left: 0in;"><b><b><br /></b></b></p><b>Welcome to Lupine Seeds, Mary Jane! Could you tell us</b><b> about </b><b>your inspiration for <i>Ping Meets Pang</i>?</b><p></p><p class="Body" style="margin-left: 0in;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: times;">I visited China a few years back and went to a panda sanctuary in Chengdu. I was delighted to see the sleepy giant pandas but was surprised to also see just over a large wall, red pandas racing up and down trees. When I saw the red pandas I thought “THAT is a panda? It looks like a raccoon!” Then I imagined a red panda being rather annoyed by my comment. That led to the idea of the two pandas meeting unexpectedly, each incredulous that the other claimed to be a panda. I started to sketch out the two pandas, and named them Ping and Pang, Mandarin for ping pong, going back and forth with their rebuttals. I imagined them initially in a much longer story, but realized it needed the text needed to be swifter like a game of ping pong. I started with some simple character sketches, then created the image of the cover that was actually the sample piece for the book.</span></span></i></p>
<p class="Body" style="margin-left: 0in;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0xcYyxPpnR0/YUc3zL6dgDI/AAAAAAAASaw/ZiemcYw5xAYKxjBwHlsVLW5nYHO3G4NygCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Ping%2Band%2Bpang%2Bsketch%2B2883.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1873" data-original-width="2048" height="293" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0xcYyxPpnR0/YUc3zL6dgDI/AAAAAAAASaw/ZiemcYw5xAYKxjBwHlsVLW5nYHO3G4NygCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Ping%2Band%2Bpang%2Bsketch%2B2883.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div><b><br />You wrote and illustrated <i>Ping
Meets Pang</i>, but you</b><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><b><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS",serif; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span>ve also illustrated many books authored by </b><b>others. How
you approach an illustration project written by someone else versus one you</b><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><b><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS",serif; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span>ve
written yourself?</b><p></p><p></p>
<p class="Body" style="margin-left: 0in;"><i>The beauty of writing a book myself is
that I can ask the writer to change something, and she usually does it!
Seriously, there’s something rather lovely about being able to bounce back and
forth between the text and pictures, and make changes to strengthen the book,
right up until the book goes to the printer. When you have creative control
over the whole project, it’s easier to work on it as a whole, like the director
of a film orchestrates all the players and makes the magic.<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="Body" style="margin-left: 0in;"><b>Your <i>My Little Pony</i> books and your
<i>Willow Buds</i> books were part of a series. Does series work present any special
challenges? Benefits?</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qCHvnyBuFyQ/YUZd7HWG9aI/AAAAAAAASZ0/-YJEgws75HMJaBcWJy7oEVPMj2cyxW_YACLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="320" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qCHvnyBuFyQ/YUZd7HWG9aI/AAAAAAAASZ0/-YJEgws75HMJaBcWJy7oEVPMj2cyxW_YACLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" width="240" /></a><b></b></div><p class="Body" style="margin-left: 0in;"><i>When you develop a set of characters
that need to adhere to a specific design and/or storyline, it’s more
complicated, as you are building a larger world. For the Pony books, I had to
pay very close attention, not only to the look established by Hasbro for the
ponies, but also the world of the animation. They refer to it as “cannon” and
the fans of pony would be upset if I broke with the established lore!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That said, I did explore my own style for the
ponies, as Hasbro supported me in both creating original stories and bringing a
special spin to the dimensionality of them. As to the Willow Buds, that was my
own invention based off of the classic tale The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth
Graham, and I had much more control. I did follow the established characters
personalities though and made sure that the prequels were set in the right time
frame based on the original story.<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="Body" style="margin-left: 0in;"><b>Your illustrations have a luminous
quality, offering a glimpse of a magical world. How do you achieve that sense
of hyper-realism? <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="Body" style="margin-left: 0in;"><i>Although I vary my materials from
watercolor and colored pencil or pastel to watercolor and acrylic, I have a
very specific layering technique that creates luminosity. My method involves
layering colors based on Renaissance techniques and is also very focused on
light. I’ve been obsessed with how light creates the illusion of form in a
painting ever since I was a child, and am endlessly fascinated with how it
affects color, both in the real and imagined world of a painting.</i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X3bnS1o0tqM/YUc4LnMnmfI/AAAAAAAASa4/nMQ7hoQt9u8ishuFPRFr0pgwqKwqs5t5QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Cat%2Bwith%2Bthe%2BRed%2Band%2BWhite%2BHat%2B-%2B3X3%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1601" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X3bnS1o0tqM/YUc4LnMnmfI/AAAAAAAASa4/nMQ7hoQt9u8ishuFPRFr0pgwqKwqs5t5QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Cat%2Bwith%2Bthe%2BRed%2Band%2BWhite%2BHat%2B-%2B3X3%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="250" /></a></i></div><i><br /><o:p></o:p></i><p></p>
<p class="Body" style="margin-left: 0in;"><b>You</b><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><b><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS",serif; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span>ve also created art for Celestial
Seasons, Hasbro, Disney, and Universal Studios, among others. Sounds exciting!
Do you have any interesting stories to tell us? <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="Body" style="margin-left: 0in;"><i>I’ve done a fair amount of advertising
illustration, a very different pursuit than working on books. With books, you
work with a publisher, who gives you tremendous freedom typically. With
advertising, the images are very prescribed based on the client’s desires. I
remember painting a Celestial Seasonings package and having to count the exact
amount of chamomile flowers that would be in the field, as well as make the
shine of the Mama Bear’s nose on the right not the left side! My painting was
quite small, about 4 inches by 9 inches, so it seemed like such a funny thing
to focus on, but in the end, I was happy with the illustration, and it stayed
on the box for many years.<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="Body" style="margin-left: 0in;"><b>What drew you to children</b><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><b><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS",serif; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span>s
literature? Which came first, your corporate work or your work as a picture
book illustrator? <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="Body" style="margin-left: 0in;"><i>I was drawn to children’s books
specifically because of one book: Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg. I was in a
drawing class at RISD as an undergrad and saw this book sitting on a desk. I
was absolutely floored by the soft, gothic illustrations and the unusual story.
I ended up taking several courses of Chris’s when he taught at RISD and fell in
love with the idea of telling stories with pictures. When I graduated, I did
both books and commercial work, mostly illustrations for elementary grade textbooks.
As an illustrator, I’ve found that the staying power is all about having a few
different sources of income, and a nice variety of projects to keep me
creatively satisfied. Many artist’s need variety as their spice of life…maybe
we get bored easily or maybe change and variation keep the juices flowing, but
certainly, it’s a common refrain amongst creatives.<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="Body" style="margin-left: 0in;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-i6SiYkcZeHE/YUZeKL65tJI/AAAAAAAASZ4/z9XBvhvToAg0rUyVMzIgcfEhETMND8XlACLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="320" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-i6SiYkcZeHE/YUZeKL65tJI/AAAAAAAASZ4/z9XBvhvToAg0rUyVMzIgcfEhETMND8XlACLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" width="240" /></a></b></div><b><br />How has your style evolved?<o:p></o:p></b><p></p>
<p class="Body" style="margin-left: 0in;"><i>My style varies between a more
stylized way of working like the My Little Pony Books and Willow Buds series,
to a more realistic approach like Little Mouse’s Painting or R is for Rhode
Island Red. It is really dependent on what the project calls for, though it’s
still certainly within a range that people recognize as my work. I can’t say
that my style has evolved dramatically, but my openness to try different
subject matter, and to work on fine art/noncommercial work has grown. I painted
a series of landscapes and seascapes that pushed me out of my comfort zone with
being object oriented and tested my ability to let things be soft and illusive
in a painting. I did a charcoal series on breast cancer a few years back that
was raw and emotionally expressive in a way that is very different than my
children’s book work or my commercial work. Being an artist means taking
chances and trying things you’ve never tried before.<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="Body" style="margin-left: 0in;"><b>You teach at the college level, offer
professional workshops for adults, and visit elementary school classrooms. How
do you manage to reach students across this broad age spectrum? <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="Body" style="margin-left: 0in;"><i>That’s an excellent question, one that
I’ve never really thought about before! I think that storytelling is not unique
to any age group, nor is the imagination. When I engage people, I try to tap
into who they are and what they want to share.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>With adults, I try to dust off their imaginations and re awaken their
passion for creative ideas for making art themselves. As a Professor at RISD, I
teach a lot of students who want to illustrate books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my role as Chair of Illustration for
Hollins University MFA in Children’s Literature program, I work with students
that are writing and illustrating books as they gain their master’s degree.
With the kids, I play illustration games and create projects, as well as teach
them about what I do as an illustrator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the end, I think that people of all ages like to look at images and
hear stories and I have plenty to show and tell :) <o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="Body" style="margin-left: 0in;"><b>Teaching, commercial art, book
illustration, how do you juggle them all and keep your balance?</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gYK7c8AyoTI/YUZeZQHQcWI/AAAAAAAASaA/meepVWqaFqQOaD5ajLRfuQZIMcj12MTWQCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="320" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gYK7c8AyoTI/YUZeZQHQcWI/AAAAAAAASaA/meepVWqaFqQOaD5ajLRfuQZIMcj12MTWQCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" width="240" /></a></b></div><p class="Body" style="margin-left: 0in;"><i>I do like the variety- it keeps me
hopping creatively…and I enjoy the juggling. My brain tends to have 10 tracks
running at any given moment. I think it comes from raising kids and all that
multitasking, though when my kids were young it was harder for sure. Now I have
more time, and the biggest challenge is carving out swaths of time to draw and
paint for myself. I sometimes find that life stuff pops up and I’m swimming
against a tide to get to the art making. Covid was helpful for getting me to
stay put and work with focus for <b>Ping Meets Pang.</b> I finished that book
in 6 months which is quite fast for me!<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="Body" style="margin-left: 0in;"><b>What is your advice for beginning
illustrators? <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="Body" style="margin-left: 0in;"><i>My advice to beginners is to carry a
sketch book and draw EVERYTHING! Draw from life, draw from your head…just
draw.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The 10,000 hours rule definitely
applies to illustrating. Be sure to learn about illustrators, both past and
present as it helps to know context for the thing you want to do. Taking
classes, finding the peers that support your interests, and giving yourself
clearance to make art unapologetically, are all good places to start.<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="Body" style="margin-left: 0in;"><b>Do you have any new projects in the
works? <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="Body" style="margin-left: 0in;"><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p3bvdXpBIDU/YUc4cwRWD1I/AAAAAAAASbA/1MZ09EzJv0oMt71dodDbwdrPvSmjmHuoACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/ping%2B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2032" data-original-width="2048" height="199" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p3bvdXpBIDU/YUc4cwRWD1I/AAAAAAAASbA/1MZ09EzJv0oMt71dodDbwdrPvSmjmHuoACLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h199/ping%2B.jpg" width="200" /></a></i></div><i>I just started a new book entitled
Mama’s Purse about a dog’s life. The idea started when I was getting my car
fixed and had a conversation with the owners of the auto body shop about their
Boston terriers, Oscar and Meyer. We talked about how hard it is to say goodbye
to an old pooch, and how these two terriers- one old and one young- were
amusingly attached to their mama’s purse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A story began to form in my head shortly thereafter and it’s now written
and being storyboarded. You never know when inspiration will show up, but when
it does, you should always welcome it with open arms.<o:p></o:p></i><p></p>
<p class="Body" style="margin-left: 0in;"><b>Is there anything else you</b><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><b><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS",serif; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span>d
like to share with our readers?</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: left;">I hope that they will check out my new
book, as its theme is so important right now.</i></div><p class="Body" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The
book is about otherness, differences and friendship. Ping and Pang are both
Pandas, but they don't look a thing like one another and that's a problem. Each
maintains they possess the true qualities of being a Panda; the correct color,
the size and shape of their ears, the even fluffiness of their tails. It is
only when they realize what they have in common do they slowly appreciate each
other's differences. The analogy to today's political and racial climate points
to acceptance of the other side's differences and finding common ground. Here
is a KIDLIT TV link of my reading Ping Meets Pang that your readers might
enjoy: </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><a href="https://www.kidlit.tv/2021/07/read-out-loud-ping-meets-pang/"><span class="Hyperlink1"><i><span style="background: white;">https://www.kidlit.tv/2021/07/read-out-loud-ping-meets-pang/</span></i></span></a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span class="Hyperlink1"><i><span style="background: white;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LnW_7N_pl-U/YUc49TpWlqI/AAAAAAAASbM/VWgbTGBwvBQicpKFBH8yAkBFkbEzPx5fwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1502/pang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1502" data-original-width="1492" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LnW_7N_pl-U/YUc49TpWlqI/AAAAAAAASbM/VWgbTGBwvBQicpKFBH8yAkBFkbEzPx5fwCLcBGAsYHQ/w199-h200/pang.jpg" width="199" /></a></span></i></span></span></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span class="Hyperlink1"><i><span style="background: white;"><br /></span></i></span></span><p></p>
<p class="Body" style="margin-left: 0in;"><b>My granddaughter loved <i>Ping and
Pang</i>! Thank you so much for being my guest today! To find out more about
Mary Jane Begin and the wide range of her work, visit her website at </b><span class="Hyperlink0"><span style="color: black; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black;"><span style="color: black; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black;"><a href="http://new.maryjanebegin.com/">http://new.maryjanebegin.com/</a></span></span></b></span></span><o:p></o:p></p>Linda Crotta Brennanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14271354107272417841noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8520272899233797010.post-66745889099723033912021-03-08T10:56:00.000-08:002021-03-08T10:56:56.184-08:00Jeanne Zulick Ferruolo Finds Her Brave<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LFWWLRNgvk4/YEZv2P8fCZI/AAAAAAAAQUc/4X6WBZlowkYMp3ElmYHDxscngHXwa65mACLcBGAsYHQ/s720/Zulick%2BFerruolo%2BHeadshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="576" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LFWWLRNgvk4/YEZv2P8fCZI/AAAAAAAAQUc/4X6WBZlowkYMp3ElmYHDxscngHXwa65mACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Zulick%2BFerruolo%2BHeadshot.jpg" /></a></div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;">Kids discover their inner BRAVE
in Jeanne Zulic<i>k Ferruolo’s <a href="http://www.jzulferr.com/"><span style="color: windowtext;">http://www.jzulferr.com/</span></a> award-winning
middle grade books. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0in;"><i style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">In her first novel, </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Ruby in
the Sky</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">, Ruby has just moved to Vermont and she tries hard to be invisible,
especially after her mom is arrested. But that isn’t possible when Ahmad Saleem,
a Syrian Refugee, declares he’s her best friend and when Ruby’s elderly
neighbor, Abigail, reaches out to her. As Ruby’s mother’s trial date draws near,
Abigail is about to be evicted. Will Ruby find the courage to speak out to
protect those she loves?</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0in;"><i style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Jeanne’s newest book, </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">A Galaxy of
Sea Stars, </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">was released in February 2020. Izzy’s whole world has shifted
since her dad returned from the war in Afghanistan. Her family lost their home
when Dad could no longer fish and they moved into the marina that he’s running
instead. Except Izzy’s mom didn’t move in with them. Izzy wants to forget all about
the war, but she can’t when an Afghan family her dad knew overseas moves into
the marina’s upstairs apartment. Their daughter Sitara is Izzy’s age and Izzy’s
life-long friends make fun of Sitara’s hijab and refusal to eat cafeteria food.
As Izzy comes to admire Sitara’s bravery, she is forced to choose between her forever
friends and standing up for Sitara. </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i>Jeanne, I invited you to my blog
because I admired your writing, but after learning more about you, I admire you
so much more. Before becoming an author, you had a career as a public defender.
Can you tell us what your role was? How has that experience influenced your
writing?</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Hi Linda! Thank you so much for
having me. I admire your writing as well! For many years I worked in both
private practice as a criminal defense attorney and later as a public defender.
As you know, under the Sixth Amendment, the U.S. Constitution guarantees legal representation
to citizens facing incarceration. I loved working as an attorney in the
Connecticut Public Defenders office because of the high standards and passion
its attorneys, social workers, investigators and support staff bring to the
job. I’d like to think we changed people’s lives for the better. In court I got
to experience the true power of story. Telling a client’s story in a way that a
judge or jury will understand best can mean the difference between freedom and
incarceration. I saw firsthand how the first version told isn’t always the true
one, and that that there’s another side to every story. My clients’ courage
inspired the character Dahlia Hayes (Ruby’s mom) in </span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Ruby in the Sky</i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">. I
met many Dahlias in my time, and I’m a better person for knowing them!</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0in;"><i style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bs3jPuF5-rI/YEZx8ITcLDI/AAAAAAAAQUw/PuhL26AMdEg5nz2dOjoMYjGkw5eqbalJQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/RUBY%2BSKY_cover%2BHD%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1324" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bs3jPuF5-rI/YEZx8ITcLDI/AAAAAAAAQUw/PuhL26AMdEg5nz2dOjoMYjGkw5eqbalJQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/RUBY%2BSKY_cover%2BHD%2B%25281%2529.jpg" /></a></i></div><i style="background-color: white;"><br /> <span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">You’ve said that your volunteer work
with the Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services was your inspiration for </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">A
Galaxy of Sea Stars. </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">You interviewed a number of young women there and they
helped you in crafting Sitara’s character. Tell us more!</span></i><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">I began working with Integrated
Refugee & Immigrant Services (irisct.org) in New Haven, Connecticut, when I
was writing </span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Ruby in the Sky</i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">. Some friends at IRIS organized a book club with
young men and women refugees who read </span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Ruby.</i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> They generously shared their
experiences coming to the U.S. as refugees, advised me on the character Ahmad Saleem,
and helped ensure the accuracy and authenticity of the story. When we finished
that project, six young women expressed interest in working on another book.
Before I even began writing </span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">A Galaxy of Sea Stars</i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">, I sat down with
Hilla, Asma, Nour, Maria, Safia and Deyana and began with this question: “If
you could go back to when you first came to the U.S., what would you tell your
peers that would have made your transition easier.” The unanimous answer was, “Be
kind. You don’t know what other people have gone through.” From there we went
on to discuss their experiences leaving their homes and families and friends
and coming to the U.S. Through our conversations, the character Sitara was
born. We met for close to two years as the ladies read several drafts of the
book and offered their expertise and advice. I was sad when the project ended
because I miss seeing them so regularly, but we keep in touch. They are truly
inspiring and continue to do many amazing things. If you want to learn more
about these wonderful women, you can read the interview at the back of the
recently released paperback version of A GALAXY OF SEA STARS!</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i></i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jym5-xEr6eI/YEZyIAM_QoI/AAAAAAAAQU0/3YNU1XkGuFkGaT3Qo4ahRRxC6IetbKLCQCLcBGAsYHQ/s225/galaxy%2Bcover%2Bimage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jym5-xEr6eI/YEZyIAM_QoI/AAAAAAAAQU0/3YNU1XkGuFkGaT3Qo4ahRRxC6IetbKLCQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h400/galaxy%2Bcover%2Bimage.jpg" width="400" /></a></i></div><i><br />The immigrant experience is close to
your heart, since you are the granddaughter of immigrants; how did that inform
your writing?</i><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">I grew up with my grandparents’
stories of the struggles they faced as immigrants. These injustices have stayed
with me, so when I see xenophobia and prejudice continue today, I feel not only
compelled to speak up, but obligated to. I only hope that my books serve to
elevate the already powerful voices of immigrants and refugees.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i>Have you drawn on other aspects of
your life to create these stories?</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">My books are drawn from </span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">every</i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
aspect of my life. From growing up in a rural town as the granddaughter of
immigrants, to handfeeding chickadees with our elderly neighbor, to being a shy
kid who liked to hide behind her bangs, to worrying about losing friends when moving
to a regional school. I am lucky that my mother saved all the journals I kept
since I was a kid. Before I start each new book, I re-read them to remember how
life felt for 10-year-old Jeannie. Then, I do my best to bring these emotions into
my stories.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0in;"><i style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">You live in Connecticut, but </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Ruby
in the Sky</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> is set in Vermont and </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">A Galaxy of Sea Stars</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> is set in
Rhode Island. Do you have a special connection to these states?</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">My family and I spend a lot of time
in both states. Although my books are set in fictional towns— Fortin, Vermont
is inspired by Chester and Cavendish, and Seabury, Rhode Island is based on
Charlestown and South Kingstown. Everything my characters do in my
books—snowshoeing, boating, even measuring the pond—are based on things I’ve
done. I’m so grateful for every second I get to spend in these beautiful locations!</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i>Why are you drawn to writing about girls
who struggle to find courage?</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: 0.5in;">Probably because it has never been
something that has come easy for me. In my books, I like to remind kids that
courage might come in lots of different shapes and sizes, but it’s inside each
one of us. The important thing is to find your own kind of brave.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i>What has your writing journey been
like? Were you able to publish the first book you wrote? What was your revision
process? How long did it take you to find an agent? Have you been helped by being
part of a writing community?</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">I’ll try to give you the Reader’s
Digest condensed version of a long answer! The first book I wrote was called </span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Listening
in the Snow</i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">, and no, it will never be published. I struggled to write that
book and in fact quit writing altogether over its demise. But I think as
artists, we can’t stay away from the things we love, so when I was ready, I
eventually put pen to paper and began all over again with the line, “Sometimes
people disappear…” which became the first words to </span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Ruby in the Sky</i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">. As
our good friend Lynda Mullaly Hunt has said, “the people who get published are
the ones who don’t give up.” Lynda’s words really stuck with me and inspired me
to persist. I eventually met my agent, the wonderful Stacey Glick, with Dystel
Goderich and Bourret, through PitchWars. Stacey sold </span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Ruby</i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> to my editor
Janine O’Malley, at Farrar Straus Giroux/Macmillan. I’ve gone on to do two more
books with FSG and (fingers crossed) will do many more! Of course, the writing
community is instrumental in any writer’s success. I can confidently say that I
would have never been published without the help the many friends I’ve met
through NE-SCBWI!</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0in;"><i style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">(To access the phenomenal community
that the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators offers, go to </span><a href="http://www.scbwi.org/" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">www.scbwi.org</span></a><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
)</span></i></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0in;"><i style="background-color: white;"><br /><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"></span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="background-color: white;"><i style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">You did a lot of hands-on research
for both your books. What were some of the things you did?</i></i></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">If it happens in my books, I’ve done
it, witnessed it, or both! I’ve snowshoed, got my boat license, experienced a
middle school news production, measured Charlestown Pond with a knotted string
and fishing weight, drove a boat through the breachway, and enjoyed a melmastiyâ
feast. For my next book, </span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Each of Us a Universe</i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">, I learned to rock climb
(the steep stuff!) with ropes and a belay device, and even scaled a rock face
at Smugglers’ Notch, Vermont. This kind of “active research” is my very
favorite part of each book!</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i>You’ve also taught English in
Slovakia and worked on Capitol Hill. Did either of these experiences plant
seeds for future stories? What can we expect from you in the future?</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: 0.5in;">Working on Capitol Hill showed me
the power of the spoken word. I was lucky enough to witness many powerful and persuasive
speeches on behalf of issues I care deeply about such as poverty, homelessness,
equality and justice. I had the privilege of working for U.S. Congressman Sam
Gejdenson (D-CT) who fought for these things and was one of the first members
of Congress to push for Universal Healthcare legislation. That experience
constantly reminds me of the importance of speaking up and fighting for issues you
care about.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-indent: 0.5in;">My next book comes out on February
1, 2022, and is titled <i>Each of Us a Universe.</i> It is about Calliope Scott
(12), who, a</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">fter her mother becomes sick with cancer, sets out with her
new friend, Rosine Kanambe (12), to scale the impossibly tall Mt. Meteorite to
find the magic she believes will heal her family.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: 0.5in;">I’m also currently working on a
historical fiction set in Communist Czechoslovakia, inspired from my experience
teaching English there.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0in;"><i style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-indent: 0.5in;">Thank you so much for being my
guest. I’m so glad that I had this opportunity to get to know you better and I can't wait to read Each of Us a Universe. To
find out more about </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Jeanne Zulick Ferruolo and her books, visit </span><a href="http://www.jzulferr.com/" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: windowtext;">http://www.jzulferr.com/</span></a><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">.</span></i></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;">Thank you, Linda!<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p><p></p>Linda Crotta Brennanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14271354107272417841noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8520272899233797010.post-89583926337257905952021-01-11T01:00:00.003-08:002021-01-14T13:55:18.149-08:00Matt Forrest Esenwine: Picture Books, Poetry, and Voice<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y3KnFmM02vE/X-ojG1dBM5I/AAAAAAAAPns/z17ZjJ3d_MAWj2Dwrm29n123pZnGCt2RgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/matt%2Besenwine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1537" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y3KnFmM02vE/X-ojG1dBM5I/AAAAAAAAPns/z17ZjJ3d_MAWj2Dwrm29n123pZnGCt2RgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/matt%2Besenwine.jpg" /></a></div><br />Today I want to welcome picture book author and poet, Matt
Forrest Esenwine <a href="http://mattforrest.com/">http://mattforrest.com/</a> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Matt started out in radio, working behind the
scenes and on the air. He still maintains a career as a voice actor. But the
publication of one of his poems in a college journal when he was just a high
school student led to a passion for poetry that’s never waned. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Matt has written poems for adults and children. His lighthearted
verses have appeared in prestigious children’s magazines such as Highlights, and
in numerous collections including many edited by the renowned Lee Bennett
Hopkins. Matt’s picture books include the spooky <i>Flashlight Night </i>and<i>
</i>the rollicking <i>Don’t Ask a Dinosaur, </i>which was co-authored by
Deborah Bruss. <i>Once Upon Another Time, </i>co-authored by Charles Ghigna,
will be out in 2021. And I hear there is a lot more to come. I can’t wait!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What draws you to poetry, Matt? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IGcdoyH1Qzg/X-okXA7ZRsI/AAAAAAAAPoY/dubwxPu6zm4OEu8QbEIKkBeouLWE7u0mACLcBGAsYHQ/s300/Feel%2Bthe%2Bwind%2B-%2Bsmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IGcdoyH1Qzg/X-okXA7ZRsI/AAAAAAAAPoY/dubwxPu6zm4OEu8QbEIKkBeouLWE7u0mACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Feel%2Bthe%2Bwind%2B-%2Bsmall.jpg" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />I always tell people
that one of the main reasons I love poetry is that you can say so much in a
tight, compact little package. A poem can be full of imagery, emotion, wit, and
beauty – and you don’t need 500 pages, or even 32. And with my attention span,
I love that I can write a short little scene in just a few lines and then move
on to something else!<o:p></o:p></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Is it difficult to get published as a poet? Is it true that
many editors discourage submissions of rhyming picture book texts? How do you
approach marketing your work? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">It is difficult, but
I think the more you get your name and work out there, the easier it gets. I’d
been writing poetry since I was in high school, but had never been published as
a children’s writer, so it took some effort to show decision-makers what I
could do. A lot of beginning children’s poets feel that they need to write
silly poems, or write poems that rhyme, or use simple words…and none of that is
necessarily true. There’s a wide variety of poetry out there for kids and the
one thing you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">don’t</i> want to do is try
to be the next Shel Silverstein or Dr. Seuss. Be your own writer and develop
your own unique style.<br />
<br />
As for editors, it’s true that many discourage rhyme, but that’s because they
see so much bad rhyme: words that are simple or expected rhymes; slant rhymes,
which are words that almost rhyme but don’t quite (man/hand, down/loud,
can/pans); words that are used only for the sake of the rhyme and not to move
the story forward; and uneven rhythm/meter. So in my cover letters, I rarely
tell editors I have a rhyming PB, lest they develop a preconceived negative
expectation – I just say it’s a PB and let them read it for themselves!<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I created my blog
back in 2012 as a way of showcasing my abilities – knowing how difficult it
would be to promote my poetry – so that has been a very useful means of
marketing. Taking part in online events like #PoetryFriday and #PBPitch has
helped me promote and market my writing, and I’m very active on social media,
which also helps tremendously. Moreover, having spent 25 years in radio as an
on-air personality as well as a commercial production director, I’ve learned a
lot about advertising!<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Do you have any suggestions for those of us, like me, who’d
like to sharpen our poetic skills? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I’d say the first
thing anyone should do is read, read, read! As I mentioned earlier, so many
folks just getting started are unfamiliar with the variety of children’s poetry
out there:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the witty rhyming poetry of
Douglas Florian, the understated simplicity of Charles Ghigna, the emotional
insight of Nikki Grimes, the variety of voice and style of Jane Yolen. And
there are so many others! Joyce Sidman, Marilyn Singer, J. Patrick Lewis,
Rebecca Kai Dotlich…the list goes on and on, and that doesn’t even include the
long list of past children’s poets who have come before us.<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">As for honing one’s
craft, I suggest paying attention to the story or scene; don’t just rhyme a
word because you need a rhyme, don’t use words or imagery that a reader might
already anticipate, and definitely pay attention that you’re not speaking down
to the reader. Kids are smarter than you think! In fact, don’t even worry about
rhyming in the first place –free verse poetry is a wonderful (and quite
popular) option, and is a great way for beginning poets to practice learning
their subject and honing their skills without worrying about rhyme and meter.<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What suggestions do you have for teachers who’d like to
share poetry with their students? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Again, introducing
children to a variety of poetry is crucial, because I think the reason many
adults don’t appreciate poetry is because they were never introduced to the
right ‘kind’ of poetry – that is, poetry they actually <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">enjoy</i> – as children. People who love Shakespeare might not like the
work of Charles Simic; those who love poetry slams probably can’t get into Robert
Frost. But it’s all poetry, whether it’s Jack Prelutsky or Kwame Alexander! A
few books I recommend:<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Catch Your
Breath: Writing Poignant Poetry</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">, Laura Purdie Salas (Capstone, 2015)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Poems Are
Teachers: How Studying Poetry Strengthens Writing in All Genres, </span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Amy Ludwig
VanDerwater (Heinemann, 2017)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Poem-Making:
Ways to Begin Writing Poetry</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">, Myra Cohn Livingston (HarperCollins, 1991)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Strange
Terrain: A Poetry Handbook for the Reluctant Reader</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">, Alice B.
Fogel (Hobblebush Books, 2009)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You were one of the judges for the new poetry collection, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Friends and <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Anemones</span></i>. How did it feel to be on the other side of the
desk, selecting poems instead of submitting them? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">It was definitely an
unusual experience! I’ve critiqued poems and manuscripts through critique
groups and the SCBWI, but never in this particular situation. Kip and I used a
spreadsheet program to vote 1, 2, or 3 (1 was yes, 2 meant good but needed
work, 3 meant likely not) and then the editors compared our notes to theirs and
we moved forward. <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4MG-IEPsqRw/X-ojik76jeI/AAAAAAAAPn4/VcwYvegoBc4rRFuNFMlghjN9BCl3BexywCLcBGAsYHQ/s748/DAAD%2BCover%2B%2528Final%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="732" data-original-width="748" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4MG-IEPsqRw/X-ojik76jeI/AAAAAAAAPn4/VcwYvegoBc4rRFuNFMlghjN9BCl3BexywCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/DAAD%2BCover%2B%2528Final%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />You wrote <i>Don’t Ask a Dinosaur </i>and <i>Once Upon
Another Time</i> with co-authors. What was that like? How did you share in the
creation of these books? <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jane Yolen has said
in the past that co-authored books are twice the work and half the pay – which
is funny, but true! However, the experience is extremely gratifying, as well,
because you get twice the insight and joy of watching your baby grow with both
“parents.” For each of these books, I was given the germ of an idea by my
co-author, spent a great deal of time considering narrative possibilities,
wrote the initial rough draft, and then worked with the co-author on 20 or so
revisions before we’d finally polished it to the point of being
submission-ready.<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Even after the manuscripts
were picked up by their publishers, it was a great deal of fun working on
editorial revisions, bouncing ideas of each other and seeing what surprising,
creative solutions we’d come up with. I’m actually in the process of submitting
a poetry collection that is also a collaboration with a highly esteemed
children’s poet, so fingers crossed!<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jXr8aanQoZc/X-ojrKsiq3I/AAAAAAAAPoA/MiTZ_lUvnsM0k03kE7Y8sO0Voozt01TagCLcBGAsYHQ/s3486/Flashlight%2BNight_hi-res%2Bcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2775" data-original-width="3486" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jXr8aanQoZc/X-ojrKsiq3I/AAAAAAAAPoA/MiTZ_lUvnsM0k03kE7Y8sO0Voozt01TagCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Flashlight%2BNight_hi-res%2Bcover.jpg" width="320" /></a></i></div><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br />Flashlight <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Night</span></i> was unique in many ways. You
wrote it in second person, a device that invites the reader to participate in
its adventure. You also the worked closely with illustrator in creating the
book. How did this book evolve? <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I wrote the
manuscript after a long drive at night, when all I could see were my car’s
headlights. The phrase, “Flashlight…opens up the night” popped into my head,
and I had no idea what to do with it. So I worked on it as I continued my drive
home and eventually nailed it down after a couple of weeks. I deliberately
wrote it in such a way as to have the reader as the person on the adventure –
there’s no “Billy did this” or “Sally said that” – there are no characters
mentioned at all, save for the flashlight! <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">It’s interesting to
note that a published author critiqued the manuscript and had a number of
concerns, including: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a) I was using 2<sup>nd</sup>
person POV; b) flashlights show reality, not imagination, c) a tomb was too
scary for kids, and d) I needed a better opening line. Good thing I stuck with
my instinct, or we wouldn’t have a book to talk about!<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Illustrator Fred
Koehler are Facebook friends, but we didn’t work together directly…although you
might think we did! The seamlessness of text and picture are all due to editor
Rebecca Davis’ magical juggling handiwork, keeping Fred and I apprised of what each
of us was doing. At one point, there was one scene where Fred had a lot going
on in a spread, but Rebecca felt it was taking the reader away from my
narrative, so she had to “reel him in,” so to speak – but there was another
part in the book where his sub-narrative of the flashlight showing the story
didn’t really mesh with my initial ending, so I had to slightly alter my text
to better match his vision. In the end, Rebecca’s work made for a beautiful
blend of art and text, and the book has even been used as a mentor text for
that very reason.<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pMQaiqdt83U/X-ojyjjGP7I/AAAAAAAAPoI/-wUiaKxepDUsm0_BIp1xhmNV6j56loOoACLcBGAsYHQ/s1647/once%2Bupon%2Banother%2Btime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1647" data-original-width="1400" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pMQaiqdt83U/X-ojyjjGP7I/AAAAAAAAPoI/-wUiaKxepDUsm0_BIp1xhmNV6j56loOoACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/once%2Bupon%2Banother%2Btime.jpg" /></a></i></div><i><br />Once Upon Another Time</i> is coming out in March 2021<i>.</i>
How exciting! What is it about?<i><o:p></o:p></i><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">It’s a poetic look at the natural world
around us, what it used to be like before humans made their mark, and how we
can all experience that world again. Charles Ghigna (aka, “Father Goose®”)
initially shared with me the first 4 stanzas he’d written back in 2012; not
knowing where to go with them, he asked if I had any ideas. So I thought about
it for a while and came up with a proposal for a storyline, and sent it to him
along with 4 more stanzas so he could get a sense of what I was thinking.
Charles couldn’t believe how closely our writing styles matched, and suggested
I finish writing the rough draft.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">So that’s what I did! And after about a
dozen revisions back-and-forth, we began sending it out. A lesson in tenacity
and persistence to those who are just starting their publishing careers: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>our manuscript was rejected at least 25 times
before getting picked up by editor Naomi Krueger at Beaming Books. Twenty-five
times – and that’s with the gravitas of Father Goose’ name attached to the
project! So if you send out a manuscript once or twice and it goes nowhere,
don’t give up!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><br /></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You have an incredible number of other books in the chute. (Something
like eight, right?) Certainly, something to look forward to in the future! Tell
us more! <i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZPdJekc-8DM/X-okAjScU0I/AAAAAAAAPoQ/ppCdYe7Fkxc6XvtfNKHegegk5EV4E3ZuQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Eliot%2BThe%2BHeart-Shaped%2BFrog%2B%2BCover-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZPdJekc-8DM/X-okAjScU0I/AAAAAAAAPoQ/ppCdYe7Fkxc6XvtfNKHegegk5EV4E3ZuQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Eliot%2BThe%2BHeart-Shaped%2BFrog%2B%2BCover-4.jpg" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />Yes, eight more books
under contract, including a board book to kick off the new year, </b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1628858028/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i15"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Elliot,
the Heart-Shaped Frog</i></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> (Rainstorm
Publishing, 2021). I have two other board books on the way (possibly this
year), a few more picture books, and a poetry collection I’m eager to talk
about – but can’t yet!<o:p></o:p></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Wow! That’s extraordinary! Is there anything else you’d like
to share with our readers? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I would just say that
if you’re considering writing for children, do your homework and read as much
as you can – not only to get a sense of the varieties of storytelling and books
out there but to get a sense of the market. Learn as much as you can about
craft, the industry, and the people already doing what you want to do. What’s
that saying, “if you want to get better at something, surround yourself with
people who are better at it than you?” That’s absolutely true! It’s what I did,
reaching out to as many folks<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>as I could
through social media as well as through the Society of Children’s Book Writers
& Illustrators (</b><a href="https://www.scbwi.org/"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">SCBWI</b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">). <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">In fact, I tell
people I owe my entire career to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">lunch</i>.
I was attending my first SCBWI conference in 2011, and while chatting during
lunchtime with my New Hampshire neighbor, the late Tomie dePaola, and SCBWI
co-founder Lin Oliver, I mentioned that I write poetry. Lin told me I needed to
contact the late Lee Bennett Hopkins, since he was “the” children’s poetry guy!
I had no idea who Lee was, but we eventually connected and he was so taken with
my work he said he’d do what he could to help me with my career. He eventually
introduced me to his longtime friend, Rebecca Davis, who would become my <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Flashlight Night</i> editor and the editor
for several of Lee’s poetry anthologies to which I’ve contributed. <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">So don’t forsake
networking, don’t forsake learning the craft, don’t forsake revisions – and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">keep at it!</i><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you so much for being my guest today. Whether you’re
interested in Matt Forrest Esenwine’s work as a children’s author or a voice
actor, you can find out more at <a href="http://mattforrest.com/">http://mattforrest.com/</a>.<o:p></o:p></p>Linda Crotta Brennanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14271354107272417841noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8520272899233797010.post-34819581967088466622020-12-27T07:07:00.001-08:002020-12-27T11:53:21.229-08:00Valerie Bolling: Let's Dance!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r-QMiOAvrk4/X-ih7oKTdBI/AAAAAAAAPnM/K-kCUnw0VOUBD14XDRnZzbTeL1briShEwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/valerie%2Bbolling.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1605" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r-QMiOAvrk4/X-ih7oKTdBI/AAAAAAAAPnM/K-kCUnw0VOUBD14XDRnZzbTeL1briShEwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/valerie%2Bbolling.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Today I’d like to welcome Valerie Bolling </span><a href="http://www.valeriebolling.com/"><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">www.valeriebolling.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">, to
Lupine Seeds. She’s a master teacher and the debut author of the foot stomping <i>Let’s
Dance!, </i>a snap, twirl, and spin through the world’s dances. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Let’s Dance!</span></i><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> is your first published book. Congratulations!
It’s a romp to read and set my preschool audience off jiggity-jigging. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">What was it like to see your book in print?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">It was amazing, Linda! After almost two years from
the time I signed my contract, I was able to hold the actual hard copy of <i>Let’s
Dance!</i> in my hands, and it was a wonderful feeling. I felt a sense of
reality, accomplishment, and gratitude. Furthermore, I was thrilled with Maine
Diaz’s beautiful illustrations that really made my book “pop.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Is <i>Let’s Dance!</i> the first book you’ve written? If
you’re like most authors, you have manuscripts in the drawer which never
reached the public but were valuable because they served as your apprenticeship
texts. Can you tell us about your book’s predecessors and your path to
publication? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Let’s Dance!</span></i></b><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> is my first
book that’s been published, but I have many other manuscripts. Some of them
will be published, and some won’t. That’s just the way it works in the
publishing world.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The predecessors to <i>Let’s Dance!</i> may never
be available for the world to read, but they did spark my pursuit
to get a book published, so I have no regrets about writing them. Two were
inspired by my nieces, and I recently revised another – so significantly that
it’s a different story. I’m hoping that one will get published.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">As you know, Linda, the publication journey is
different for everyone. <i>Let’s Dance! </i>was acquired as a result of
receiving a “like” in a Twitter pitch (#PBPitch) in June 2018 by Jes Negrón, an
editor at Boyds Mills & Kane. Jes and I had a phone conversation on July 2;
I signed my contract later that month; and the book was published on March 3,
2020.</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qRBtJ2WCiLc/X-iiwX99SjI/AAAAAAAAPnU/jt4AK9WAnLEcuB_dB9MtT1jhlM5XIE2HgCLcBGAsYHQ/s605/lets%2Bdance.jpg.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="496" data-original-width="605" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qRBtJ2WCiLc/X-iiwX99SjI/AAAAAAAAPnU/jt4AK9WAnLEcuB_dB9MtT1jhlM5XIE2HgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/lets%2Bdance.jpg.png" width="320" /></a></span></b></div><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">When I do school visits, I ask students to guess how many
times I rewrote my first published piece. (Hint: more than 10, less than 20.)
In a short rhyming text like <i>Let’s Dance!</i>, every word has to be just
right. Did you have to wrestle with this story to bring it to perfection or did
it seamlessly spring into being? How long did that process take? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">So far, my stories written in sparse, rhyming text
don’t require as many rounds of revision as do my stories written in prose.
That said, my first version of <i>Let’s Dance!</i> needed revision. In fact, my
first version had a different title: <i>I Love To Dance</i>. An author-librarian-storyteller-friend,
Marianne McShane, provided feedback that helped me transform my story and get
it submission-ready. I’m forever grateful to her because I didn’t have a
critique group at the time.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">You’ve said that it was important that your book represented
children of diverse backgrounds. Did you find many “mirror” texts when you were
growing up? Do you think that modern children’s literature offers a wider
cultural perspective to readers?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Unfortunately, Linda, I don’t recall reading any
“mirror” books as a child. I loved to read anyway, but I should’ve had the
opportunity to see myself in books.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">In recent years, there’ve been more diverse books,
but we still have a long way to go. According to 2018 statistics reported by
the Cooperative Children’s Book Center, School of Education, University of
Wisconsin-Madison, only 5% of authors are Black. That means that often when
stories have Black characters, the author isn’t Black. (The CCBC didn’t report
the percentage of Black illustrators.) We need more diverse representation in
the publishing industry and in books. All children deserve to see themselves in
books and to learn about others who are different from themselves. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Moreover, I want BIPOC children not only to see
themselves in books but also to realize the possibility that they can become
authors, contributing to a canon of literature that represents more diverse
voices.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Promoting a new book during a pandemic poses special
challenges. How did you approach that?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Linda, I approached the promotion of my book like
a parent with a newborn. I wanted to hold it close and love on it, but I also
wanted to share it and have it bring joy to everyone who held (or heard) it.
Thus, I went after book promotion with a sincere commitment. I contacted
librarians and bookstore owners; I reached out to bloggers; I responded to
requests on social media for authors to read their books to students. I was
open to just about anything.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I believed that children needed to hear my book.
They needed to see children who looked like themselves as well as those who
didn’t. They needed to know that we can all be connected through dance. In the
midst of the pandemic shutdown, children actually needed to dance! And they
still do.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">You’ve been a teacher for over 25 years, working in elementary,
middle, and high schools, and now serving as an Instructional Coach,
collaborating with teachers to implement strategies which will bring out the
best in their students. How has your teaching informed your writing? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The fact that I know kids informs my writing. Children
are always at the forefront of my mind as I write. I’m always thinking about
what message I want to offer them to dissect –what I want them to take away. I
know, however, that children need to make these discoveries on their own.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">When I was a classroom teacher, I stressed
revision as an essential aspect of the writing process – the most recursive
part. As a writer, I constantly revise. Thus, I have become my own student. My
former students might find irony, or even humor, in this realization, but they
wouldn’t be surprised.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Do you have other projects in the works? Can we expect to see
more picture books, more poetry? Or are you exploring other genres? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Linda, I have a number of projects in the works.
Currently, I’m starting my research to write a non-fiction picture book. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">You can definitely expect more books from me – two
are due out in 2022 and two more are slated for 2023. All are picture books,
similar in style to <i>Let’s Dance!</i><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Terrific! I can’t wait to read them. Thank you so much for
being my guest today. I expect to read many more of your books in the future. If
you’d like to learn more about Valerie Bolling, you can visit her website at <a name="_Hlk58577445"></a><a href="http://www.valeriebolling.com/"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk58577445;">www.valeriebolling.com</span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk58577445;"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk58577445;"></span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Thank you so much for taking the time to interview
me, Linda. In addition to my website, readers can connect with me on Twitter </span><a href="https://twitter.com/valerie_bolling"><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">https://twitter.com/valerie_bolling</span></a></b><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> and on
Instagram </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/valeriebollingauthor/"><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">https://www.instagram.com/valeriebollingauthor/</span></a></b><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Linda Crotta Brennanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14271354107272417841noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8520272899233797010.post-71107305150443561722020-12-02T13:25:00.018-08:002020-12-02T14:54:44.035-08:00Anika Aldamuy Denise: Planting Picture Books<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-small;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>(Photo by Stephanie Bernaba)</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gftw1OUS66w/X8gHUzBsItI/AAAAAAAAPVk/VX_Gec3Dc1Y7L_oBKbYn8XN5QViAlg4AgCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="441" data-original-width="640" height="221" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gftw1OUS66w/X8gHUzBsItI/AAAAAAAAPVk/VX_Gec3Dc1Y7L_oBKbYn8XN5QViAlg4AgCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Anika Aldamuy Denise</b> <a href="https://www.anikadenise.com/">https://www.anikadenise.com/</a>
is the author of an astonishing array of picture books, from the sweet <i>Baking
Day at Grandma’s</i> which was illustrated by her husband, Christopher Denise,
to the rollicking <i>Monster Trucks</i>. Then came her glittering Carmen books
(<i>Staring Carmen</i> and <i>Lights, Camera, Carmen</i>) and her powerful biographies
of Latinx women, <i>Planting Stories: the life of Librarian and Storyteller
Pura Belpre</i> and the newly released <i>A Girl Named Rosita: The Story of
Rita Moreno</i>.</p><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Planting Stories</i> racked up no fewer than 15 awards,
including the coveted ALA Pura Belpre Honor. A number of Anika’s books have
been inspired by her Puerto Rican heritage. While her stories are aimed at
young readers, many delve deep. In fact, I recently used her thought-provoking <i>The
Love Letter</i> with <o:p></o:p>my adult English Language Learner.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you so much for being my guest today, Anika. I’m in
awe of the versatility of your work. What initially led you to writing picture
books?</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RZajvPpUN6A/X8f_oV2h7iI/AAAAAAAAPU8/IsJFICD2hIw9CpfgEqUXlieIiUaOjWalACLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="229" data-original-width="185" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RZajvPpUN6A/X8f_oV2h7iI/AAAAAAAAPU8/IsJFICD2hIw9CpfgEqUXlieIiUaOjWalACLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" width="194" /></a></b></div><b><br />Thanks, Linda! I think it was my husband’s children’s
book illustration career and seeing his process of choosing which manuscripts
he felt connected to and wanted to illustrate that sparked my desire to try writing
a picture book of my own. Though I was a professional writer, I’d never written
for children. So I read as many picture books as I could, joined SCBWI, and was
fortunate to have a mentor in Chris’s editor at the time, Patti Gauch, who
really helped me understand and appreciate the art of writing picture books.</b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You’ve explored so many avenues with your writing. What was
your vision of a career in children’s literature when you began? How has that
vision changed? What led you into each new genre?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mdOEWdUWvUA/X8f_6wXzX7I/AAAAAAAAPVE/sxTTA2N6FVUaf0ZsowmEGoOd_nvifOvWQCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="235" data-original-width="185" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mdOEWdUWvUA/X8f_6wXzX7I/AAAAAAAAPVE/sxTTA2N6FVUaf0ZsowmEGoOd_nvifOvWQCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" width="189" /></a></b></div><b><br />At first, I wasn’t confident enough to believe a career
in children’s books was possible. I didn’t give up my day job(s) and pursued
children’s book writing on the side. I remember reaching an inflection point when
I realized that if I wanted a meaningful career writing for kids, I had to
commit to it fully. So I began researching agents and was fortunate to sign on
with Emily van Beek at Folio Literary. She helped me articulate the kinds of
stories that excited me. And while I loved writing books for Chris to
illustrate (and still do), I also had a desire to explore identity, culture,
and girl-power in my stories. I’m not sure my vision changed necessarily. It’s more
that I gained the confidence to try new things. <o:p></o:p></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-f9kDiUpAJbw/X8gAla6ah6I/AAAAAAAAPVU/Mc4obBSvyqAAJhkaXuoabY1A8hDlY--GQCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="185" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-f9kDiUpAJbw/X8gAla6ah6I/AAAAAAAAPVU/Mc4obBSvyqAAJhkaXuoabY1A8hDlY--GQCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" width="197" /></a></div><br />What was it like creating a book with your husband? How was
the process different when someone else was illustrating your words?<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>It’s always such a joy to work on books together. They’re
often inspired by our daughters so it’s fun to celebrate and preserve those
memories in picture book form. The process is a little different when we work
together in that each of us is more involved with the other’s process than we
would be if we were working with other people. He helps me develop the
manuscript and I consult on sketches and final art. If something isn’t working,
he can ask me to tweak the text directly without an editor as go-between. <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Your earlier books were fiction, but two of your recent
titles have been biographies. How does your approach to a nonfiction differ from
your approach to fiction? Do you prefer one over the other?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>My approach is different in some ways and similar in
others. For both, I need to find the heart of the story, make sure the
structure is working, the language is lyrical, and the ending is satisfying. I
want both to have kid-appeal and not to feel too adult or (yikes!) boring. With
my nonfiction projects, the research component is a heavier lift. But even for
fictional picture books I research and fact check. My Google searches are
filled with random questions like, “How spikey are hedgehogs?” Ha. <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You grew up in Queens, but you live near the water in small-town
Rhode Island. Your dad was Puerto Rican and your mom Italian. You and Christopher
have three beautiful daughters. How does your personal story echo in your work?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>I think my personal story echoes, to different degrees,
in every story I write. Food, family, the arts, poetry, language, urban and
rural settings are threads that run through my stories and have run through my
life. <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sY-zVlSQznY/X8gZ9i3yWpI/AAAAAAAAPVw/VX1A8Y2pjsoxn4QFphyUSV2lDVvrL8wiQCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="617" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sY-zVlSQznY/X8gZ9i3yWpI/AAAAAAAAPVw/VX1A8Y2pjsoxn4QFphyUSV2lDVvrL8wiQCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" width="187" /></a></div><i>Planting Stories </i>garnered so much attention and won
so many awards. What did that feel like? Can you share some of your most
exciting moments? <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>It was surreal to be honest. I hoped people would read
and like it. I knew that even though books existed about Pura </b><b>Belpré</b><b>, I had
something to add to the literary canon. The journey became especially poignant
because I lost my father during the period of researching and writing it. When the
book was recognized with awards, I felt proud not only as an author but as my
father’s daughter. I knew he was smiling down on me. The most exciting moment
was getting “the call” from the Pura Belpré Awards committee. There were so
many wonderful Latinx stories out that year. And a book about Belpré had
already won an honor. So I wasn’t expecting it. It was evening, not early morning,
when the call came. And when I answered, I literally dropped to the floor and
could not believe it.</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dZ9CFv7H-Sk/X8gAXaNiBkI/AAAAAAAAPVQ/48jhFcQhVVko61f8Ukh8tplFTC8O8UbjgCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="314" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dZ9CFv7H-Sk/X8gAXaNiBkI/AAAAAAAAPVQ/48jhFcQhVVko61f8Ukh8tplFTC8O8UbjgCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" width="188" /></a></i></div><i><br />A Girl Named Rosita: The Story of Rita Moreno, Actor,
Singer, Dancer, Trailblazer </i>was just released. Tell us all about it!<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>It’s an American Dream story and an immigrant’s story.
Rita Moreno (Rosita) came here when she was 5 years old from Puerto Rico. Her
beginnings were humble. Her mother worked two or three jobs at a time to pay
for their tiny apartment and dance lessons for Rosita. Even after she landed Broadway
roles and a movie studio contract she was discriminated against as a Puerto
Rican woman. There were sacrifices, joys, trials, and triumphs. I hope young
readers will enjoy learning about her and feel inspired by her talent and
perseverance. <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Many of your anticipated author events were cancelled
because of the pandemic. How did you deal with that? Did you find other ways to
reach out to your readers? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>At first, it was really hard. This past summer, ALA was
cancelled and that meant not getting to go to the Belpré luncheon and celebrate
with the other honorees and my publisher. I had to mourn that. And then I had
to move on. There was a new book coming that deserved my attention. Even though
I couldn’t do in-person events, with the help of libraries, literacy
organizations, and amazing independent booksellers across the country, I was
able to connect with readers virtually for story times, panels, and book talks.
I’m also offering free story times to classrooms throughout the school year.
Teachers can email me for a link to the sign-up sheet and I’ll Zoom into their
class, read, and answer a few questions. <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What is your advice to those who would like to write picture
books? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>First, make sure you know what a picture book <i>is</i>. It’s
not a chapter book. It’s not a lesson. It’s not that funny story your Aunt Irma
told you about the squirrel who keeps getting into her attic. (Well, maybe
that’s a start but it’s going to need one or two more key elements—such as a
plot.) Pick up a copy of Linda Ashman’s primer <i>The Nuts & Bolts Guide to
Writing Picture Books</i>. Become a member of your local SCBWI chapter. Read
picture books for the joy of it and for the master class they can deliver in 32,
40, or 48 pages. Then give writing one a go. And while you’re writing, think
about what you<i> </i>loved in your favorite picture books as a kid. What made
you laugh? What made you worry? What made you wonder? <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What can we expect from you in the future? More picture book
fiction? More biographies? Something entirely new? Are you working on a project
now? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>I have three new projects in the works. And they are all super-secret
right now because they haven’t been announced yet. One is fiction. The other
two are nonfiction. And somewhere in a deep, dark, neglected corner of my
works-in-progress drawer, there is a middle grade novel, that once I meet all my
deadlines, I plan to get back to. Middle grade is the next “new thing” I need
to gain the confidence to try. Wish me luck!<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Good luck with that middle grade novel. I know you’ll rock
it! Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing your thoughts with our
readers, Anika. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Thank you for having me, Linda! Be safe and have a happy,
healthy holiday season.<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You, too, Anika, and all our readers. If you want to find
out more about Anika and her books, visit <a href="https://www.anikadenise.com/">https://www.anikadenise.com/</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Linda Crotta Brennanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14271354107272417841noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8520272899233797010.post-66635521600252157932020-10-26T01:00:00.000-07:002020-10-26T01:00:04.626-07:00Sky Gazing with Meg Thacher<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U3eoXgp5PUI/X4murx8wIVI/AAAAAAAAPAA/tOBKXXvFrlgZQmKyFHOy09dX60BTDYRWgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Thacher%2B%2528002%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1910" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U3eoXgp5PUI/X4murx8wIVI/AAAAAAAAPAA/tOBKXXvFrlgZQmKyFHOy09dX60BTDYRWgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Thacher%2B%2528002%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">My guest today is Meg Thacher <a href="https://megthacher.com/">https://megthacher.com/</a>, author of <i>Sky
Gazing, </i>a brand-spanking new, bright and beautiful introduction to all
things astronomy. Its chapters invite the reader to step into the sky, moon, sun,
planets, and stars with clear explanations, tidbits from history, legends from
diverse cultures, and hands-on activities. This comprehensive book is the
perfect introduction to the universe for kids, and for adults. It even includes
a star map you can cut out to use for your own night sky explorations. I can’t
wait to try it. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Meg Thacher has also written over thirty science articles
for kids on topics ranging from coral reef critters to chemotherapy. She is a
Senior Laboratory Instructor for the Astronomy Department at Smith College.
She’s also the Academic Director for Smith College’s Summer Science and
Engineering Program for high school girls. She’s an advocate for women and
underrepresented minorities in science. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Sky Gazing</i> is your first book. What was it like
opening your box of author copies?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Fantastic! It really hit home that <i>Sky Gazing</i> is
now a real thing that I made that exists in the world. My book designer and
illustrator made it look so much better than I ever could have imagined.<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What do you love most about writing nonfiction? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hxucOxixVXY/X4mu8_2NLWI/AAAAAAAAPAI/FGMDxxH2oFUTp8Bv6cqPbRHH7fKk90UsQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/sky%2Bgazing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hxucOxixVXY/X4mu8_2NLWI/AAAAAAAAPAI/FGMDxxH2oFUTp8Bv6cqPbRHH7fKk90UsQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/sky%2Bgazing.jpg" /></a></b></div><b><br />Everything. I love writing an outline (I’m a plotter),
getting lost in research, and even revising my work. I love learning new
things. But the thing I love the very most is explaining cool science so that
kids can understand it and also think it’s cool. I want kids to understand
their world and be excited about everything we haven’t discovered yet.<o:p></o:p></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Were you interested in science as a child? What got you
hooked on the field of astronomy? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Yes and no. My dad used to take us on “nature walks”, and
I was always interested in why and how things worked. But I didn’t really think
about science as a career until college, when I took introductory physics and
astronomy from two amazing professors. I love the hands-on nature of science
and the way that math helps us explain natural phenomena.<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Where has your career as an astronomer taken you? Do you
have any science adventures to share with us?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>I visited Kitt Peak National Observatory (outside Tucson,
AZ) several times while I was in graduate school, to do research. It was
amazing being around all those giant telescopes and hanging out with other
astronomers. One morning, after a 13-hour night of observing, I ran into a
coati (“co-WATT-ee”, a racoon-like desert critter) in the entryway of my
telescope building. It had somehow gotten in and knocked over a trashcan to
retrieve a Snickers bar. When it saw me, it didn’t know whether to eat or run. It
finally gave a little snarl in my direction, grabbed the Snickers, and ran for
the back door. *<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You are an advocate for women and minorities in science. Have
you faced any difficulties as a woman in science? <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Author at Kitt Peak: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mjquqt61oBU/X4mvLdGmsZI/AAAAAAAAPAQ/hvENjt4idqIrIxgEmFa2PLoMRY3kFeWewCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/observatory%2B%2528002%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1219" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mjquqt61oBU/X4mvLdGmsZI/AAAAAAAAPAQ/hvENjt4idqIrIxgEmFa2PLoMRY3kFeWewCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/observatory%2B%2528002%2529.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>I’ve had a high school teacher tell me and other girls
that we should be in home economics class instead of physics, and I’ve been
mistaken for a secretary while making copies in my department office. Only
about 20% of astronomers are women, so I do feel underrepresented at
professional meetings. But because I’m a middle-class, straight, cisgender
white woman, no one has ever truly questioned my right to be in those spaces.
The culture of physics and astronomy is much less welcoming to intersectional
folks—people who differ from the majority in more than one way, like BIPOC or
LGBTQ+ women. It’s past time for us to change the culture of astronomy and
physics into one that is comfortable for everyone. Otherwise, we’re losing a
lot of talent to fields that have already figured this out!<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">During the school year, you teach college students, and in
the summer your students are teens. Yet your writing for middle grade readers
is pitch perfect, clear, lively, and engaging. Was writing for this younger
audience a challenge for you? How did you manage it? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Thanks very much! Most of what I know about writing for
kids I learned writing for magazines. My first article in <i>Ask</i> (for ages
7-10) needed a <i>ton</i> of help from an extremely patient editor, but I’ve
improved with each article. Magazines require an engaging voice and concise
style. The first draft of <i>Sky Gazing</i> was really a series of articles,
though it became much more coherent through my dozens of revisions.<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Your articles have appeared in noteworthy magazines such as <i>Highlights,
Ask,</i> and <i>Muse</i>. Most have been about astronomy, but you’ve also
tackled other topics: the history of the text message, chemotherapy, ocean
reefs, and wastewater treatment, to name a few. You even wrote a reader’s
theater for an old Welsh tale. Where do you find your subjects, and how do you
approach your research? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Subjects are pretty easy to find: most nonfiction
magazines list either their monthly themes or a wish list of article topics. I
check out their submission webpages and then let my mind wander. The
chemotherapy article was for an issue on poison, and the wastewater article was
for an issue on trash.<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Honestly, the way I approach initial research is Google
and Wikipedia! I also check out books from my local library about the topic—for
both adults and kids. I look for articles about current research by
professional scientists. I can read scholarly articles in astronomy and
physics, but for subjects I wasn’t trained for, I stick to magazines written
for popular audiences—like Discover, Scientific American, and Science News—and
the News section of university and lab websites. These are very good sources of
people to interview, too.<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>I take notes on my computer, typing them into the
appropriate section of my outline. That becomes the an <i>extremely</i> rough
first draft of my article. Most magazines require a list of sources; I list
them in the draft as I go.<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What is the hardest part of translating research into an
engaging piece for young readers? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Probably figuring out what is developmentally
appropriate. For that, I look to the Next Generation Science Standards, which
is like the Common Core for science. It’s got topics arranged by grade level,
so I can check if, for example, my target audience understands what atoms and
molecules are. If not, I have to find another way to explain the concept, or
provide a sidebar (a box with explanatory text) or glossary term. The
Children’s Writer’s Word Book by Alijandra Mogilner is another fantastic
reference.<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Sky Gazing</i> is your debut book, though I’m sure there
will be many more. What challenges have you faced in launching a book during a
pandemic? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>I really think the only thing I’ve missed is a fun,
in-person book launch party. A lot of marketing is already done online. I’ve
watched plenty of webinars about how to leverage your online presence; the best
advice I’ve seen is to do as much as you are comfortable doing and what you
have time to do. As long as I do <i>something</i>, I feel fine.<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Do you have anything else you’d like to share with our
readers? What’s the next project on your horizon? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>I’d like to tell every pre-published author to write a
few magazine articles. It’s a great way to get published, and it gives you
experience working with editors and illustrators that is really valuable going
forward. And it’s so satisfying to see your work in print and have your family
and friends brag about you!<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>I’m currently working on a fact-based middle grade novel
about a girl who loves astronomy and plans an adventure for her family that
doesn’t go as expected. And like all kids’ writers, I’ve got several picture
books that I’m slowly submitting to editors and agents.<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you so much for being my guest! Readers can find out
more about Meg Thacher and her work at <a href="https://megthacher.com/">https://megthacher.com/</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">*Coati photo: <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MexicanCoati2.jpg">https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MexicanCoati2.jpg</a><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Linda Crotta Brennanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14271354107272417841noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8520272899233797010.post-54465488301254979562020-10-07T06:18:00.000-07:002020-10-07T06:18:54.647-07:00Cameron Kelly Rosenblum and raffle for THE STEPPING OFF PLACE<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0qKQ73u38cQ/X3yshX3wqfI/AAAAAAAAO4g/4PQE0o7-aJ0UGmfEkxvT7zgI5gBCoMoDACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Author-Photo-Cameron-Kelly-Rosemblum.jpg.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="424" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0qKQ73u38cQ/X3yshX3wqfI/AAAAAAAAO4g/4PQE0o7-aJ0UGmfEkxvT7zgI5gBCoMoDACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Author-Photo-Cameron-Kelly-Rosemblum.jpg.png" /></a></div><br />Let<span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS", serif;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span>s
welcome, <b>Cameron Kelly Rosenblum</b> <a href="https://www.cameronrosenblum.com/">https://www.cameronrosenblum.com/</a>, author of <i>The
Stepping Off Place. </i>Released in July 2020, her book has already earned high
praise from <i>Booklist</i> and a starred review in <i><span lang="DA">Kirkus</span></i>. Given the book<span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS", serif;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span>s passion and unforgettable characters, I predict it
will receive many more accolades.<p></p><p class="Body"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Body"><i>The Stepping Off Place</i> deals with shifting friendships and
romances, grief and mental health, with profound realism. When Reid<span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS",serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span>s inseparable friend
Hattie leaves for her family<span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS",serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span>s
private island in Maine the summer before their senior year, Reid isn<span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS",serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span>t sure she can
navigate the dynamics of her new position in the popular crowd alone. Reid is
devastated when, days before Hattie is due to return, she learns Hattie has
drowned. As she uncovers the circumstances surrounding her friend<span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS",serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span>s death, Reid is forced to reevaluate everything she
thought she knew about her friend. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Body"><b>I’ll be raffling off a copy of <i>The Stepping Off Place </i>to
one of the lucky people who leave a comment on this post.</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZPGDe1xdxiM/X3yssTu53rI/AAAAAAAAO4k/0V_qHAF6cqExNxyoF0AojQr_5FSQUAAowCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/SteppingOffPlace_FINAL_7.30.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="424" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZPGDe1xdxiM/X3yssTu53rI/AAAAAAAAO4k/0V_qHAF6cqExNxyoF0AojQr_5FSQUAAowCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/SteppingOffPlace_FINAL_7.30.jpeg" /></a></b></div><b><br /><o:p></o:p></b><p></p>
<p class="Body"><i>The Stepping Off Place </i>is your debut novel, Cameron. Can
you tell us about your journey to publication? Did you have mentors along the
way? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Body"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Mine is the Aesop’s
tortoise of publishing journeys. But, like the tortoise, I’ve enjoyed the trip!
For eight years I worked (and reworked) the same middle grade novel. I remember
speakers at workshops telling us that first novel attempts often end up in a
drawer, that they’re a sandbox for honing your craft, and I thought,
"Nope, not mine!" But that MG currently resides in a Staples box in a
closet. </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="Body"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Through rejections
and painfully close calls, I’ve been buoyed by wonderful mentors and writing
friends, most of whom I met through SCBWI events in New England. During one
Nashua conference, I met a pre-published woman named Lynda Mullaly Hunt at a
peer critique roundtable. She read her first page and I remember the whole table
going quiet. We all looked at each other, like, “You can go next.” “Oh no, you.
I insist.” Lynda and I remain great friends, and she got me hooked on the
Whispering Pines Retreat, which inspired me and my writing pal Julie Kingsley
to start a small retreat on Squam Lake in NH. </span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hCIPNMsJ6kA/X3ytAb0_b-I/AAAAAAAAO40/YogI4wosVugSTw4PZ8R2nTdPtcNmkqGEACLcBGAsYHQ/s480/Julie%2Band%2BCameron.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hCIPNMsJ6kA/X3ytAb0_b-I/AAAAAAAAO40/YogI4wosVugSTw4PZ8R2nTdPtcNmkqGEACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Julie%2Band%2BCameron.jpg" /></a></span></b></div><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><br /></span></b><p></p><p class="Body"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">All along, I gained wisdom from
the industry professionals at SCBWI events. Many gave me powerful feedback, and
many are just excellent teachers. Laurie Hals Anderson, M.T. Anderson, Cynthia
Lord, Jo Knowles, Jennifer Jacobson, editor Christian Trimmer and agent John
Cusick left lasting impressions on how I think about writing and my career.
SCBWI is a network like no other and I am so glad I joined, lo, those many
years ago!<br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></b><p></p>
<p class="Body">The novel<span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS",serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span>s
settings of Scofield, CT and a private island in Maine are palpably real. So
are the characters who inhabit them. You grew up in Connecticut and now live in
Maine. How much of this novel is taken from your own experience?</p><p class="Body"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Body"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Scofield is an
enhanced version of my hometown in Connecticut, because this book is a highly
fictionalized tribute to a dear friend of mine from childhood. My friend died
by suicide when we were adults, but we were so close in our formative
tween/teen years, her loss remains very powerful to me. I wanted to write about
that kind of friendship. I also wanted to address mental illness in a nuanced,
respectful way that encourages healthy conversations among readers. As for the
characters, writing <i>The Stepping Off Place </i>was art therapy for me. I was
processing a loss and I wanted to give myself distance. By exaggerating Reid’s
dependence on Hattie, and also taking Hattie away from Reid when the girls are
still in high school (not adults, as in my personal situation), I was able to
tackle my subject with a clearer eye. I imagined totally different backstories
for both of them, including adding Reid’s brother, Spencer, who has autism. My
son has severe autism, so I felt comfortable imagining how that would shape
Reid’s outlook on things. As for Maine, I moved here with my husband in 1999,
and I continue to appreciate the bold<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>beauty of the landscape every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In <i>The Stepping Off Place,</i> liked how the dual settings ended up
working as metaphor— Reid is groomed rosebushes and clean sidewalks; Hattie is
wild sea roses and waves crashing on cliffs.</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="Body">Love that metaphor!</p><p class="Body"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Body">You didn<span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS",serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span>t
write <i>The Stepping Off Place </i>in linear sequence. Instead you shifted
back and forth between Reid<span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS",serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span>s
current experiences and her memories, until sometimes the two seemed to bleed
together. Why did you choose this format? What challenges did you face and how
did you manage to keep your timeline straight? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Body"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">In the first draft I
wrote by instinct, focusing on alternating emotionally raw scenes with fun,
carefree ones. In the process, I found this back-and-forth created its own
tension, simply by the juxtaposition. The “before” scenes were built as Reid's memories,
which came whether she was ready or not; I wanted the structure to reflect the
chaos of a grieving mind. In revision, I nailed down Reid’s character arc. She
grows from being a sidekick to a person ready to stand in her own light. As
such, Reid’s story <i>starts</i> where Hattie’s life ends. So, for me, this
format worked on a bunch of levels.</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="Body"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Challenges? Oh, yes!
But mostly during revisions. The trickiest part was moving scenes around. I had
to make sure all the details matched where the scene fell in the story. In a
linear narrative, that isn’t so hard. Think: Goldilocks can’t sit on Baby Bear’s
chair before she sits on Papa Bear’s chair. But without the traditional
timeline of events, we needed to triple check all the details. Foreshadowing
hints had to be traced through three timelines. It’s the difference between a
domino effect and an echo effect. Thankfully, I had wonderful editorial
co-agents (Brianne Johnson and Allie Levick of Writers House) guiding me, and
later my awesome editor Karen Chaplin at HarperCollins.</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="Body"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nLqo-et6sdc/X3ytLtFQ4qI/AAAAAAAAO48/uYERcSjxz3I4cwMiQflVQd6oBr4j7S4_gCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/post%2Bits.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nLqo-et6sdc/X3ytLtFQ4qI/AAAAAAAAO48/uYERcSjxz3I4cwMiQflVQd6oBr4j7S4_gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/post%2Bits.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div><p></p><p class="Body">Hattie appears to Reid after her death. Is that her ghost? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Body"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">On a deep level, I
was grappling with big questions through writing this story: Why would my
friend take her own life? And more universally, what happens to a beautiful
soul after its corporeal vessel ceases to exist? For Reid, it</span></b><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><b><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS",serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">s simply </span></b><b><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: FR;">impossible</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"> to believe that Hattie is gone, poof.
Maybe Reid is imagining Hattie</span></b><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><b><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS",serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">s appearances to cope with the shocking
loss. Or maybe the essence of Hattie stays to help Reid. I don’t know the answer
myself, but wouldn’t dismiss either possibility. </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="Body"><i>The Stepping Off Place </i>tackles the topic of mental illness
and you provide a number of resources where people can get help in the back of
your book and on your website. Can you talk a little about this issue and why
it is so important to you? <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">As I said, this book
is a tribute to my friend. It’s true I saw myself as a bit of a sidekick to her
superhero in real life; that’s why her loss remains difficult to wrap my mind
around. I thought she had it all. But mental illness doesn’t discriminate.</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="Body"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Initially, I shied
away from the teen suicide topic— it’s so important to do right. But I very
quickly realized that the suicide <i>is</i> the story. And that for suicide
loss survivors, there is often no answer to<i> why,</i> other than simply, she
or he succumbed to depression or another mental illness. The deeper into the
story I got, the clearer my mission became: To stoke constructive conversations
about mental illness and its stigma so that we can address the alarming trends
in suicide rates. </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="Body">Originally you thought you<span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS",serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span>d
like to write middle grade novels. What made you pivot to writing for young adults? Do you think you<span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS",serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span>ll
write middle grade books in the future, or have you discovered your true
audience in teens?</p><p class="Body"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Body"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">When I finally
surrendered my middle grade novel, it was because I had turned it into a
Frankenbook. I made the mistake of listening to <i>everyone’s</i> advice over the
years and choosing their ideas over my own. The narrative got all out of whack.
It’s definitely important to listen, but I know better now when to trust myself. Our novels are our own, first and foremost! I was a more skilled and
informed writer by the time I started <i>The Stepping Off Place, </i>so it may
be a coincidence that I executed it better than my previous work. Or maybe I
should have been writing YA all along. In any case, I’m staying with it!</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="Body">Is there anything else you<span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS",serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span>d
like to share with our readers? Do you have a new project in the works? I
certainly hope so! The world is eager to hear from you again.</p><p class="Body"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Body"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">I’m working on a
second YA for HarperCollins, due out in winter 2022. This time I’m going after
sexual assault in a #MeToo aware world, and the boys are coming in for the
conversation.</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="Body">To learn more about Cameron Kelly Rosenblum and <i>The Stepping
Off Place, </i>visit her website at <a href="https://www.cameronrosenblum.com/">https://www.cameronrosenblum.com/</a></p><p class="Body"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Body"><b>And to be entered in our raffle for a copy of <i>The Stepping
Off Place, </i>just leave a comment on this post. Good luck, people!<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="Body"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JY7fTXiJcOw/X3ytUYM0tBI/AAAAAAAAO5E/2L_NJX7w42UYmR_mSM8D7Wz_vWJ83un_QCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/SteppingOffPlace_FINAL_7.30.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="424" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JY7fTXiJcOw/X3ytUYM0tBI/AAAAAAAAO5E/2L_NJX7w42UYmR_mSM8D7Wz_vWJ83un_QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/SteppingOffPlace_FINAL_7.30.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b><p></p>Linda Crotta Brennanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14271354107272417841noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8520272899233797010.post-16214529961513729522020-09-07T00:00:00.002-07:002020-09-14T10:16:59.610-07:00Heather Gerry Kelly on Collaboration and Community<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--eWZBcQaO7Y/X1E9xgtcE2I/AAAAAAAAOjE/w5IdhF7D8zY7-nETeO3muTv0dALKPaGOACLcBGAsYHQ/s321/hgk.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="321" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--eWZBcQaO7Y/X1E9xgtcE2I/AAAAAAAAOjE/w5IdhF7D8zY7-nETeO3muTv0dALKPaGOACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/hgk.png" /></a></div><br />Today I’d like to introduce Heather Gerry Kelly, founder of
the Writer’s Loft <a href="https://www.thewritersloft.org/">https://www.thewritersloft.org/</a>
in Sherborn, Massachusetts. As a teacher, editor, author, and director, Heather
strives to find ways to help writers become more prolific storytellers. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Welcome, Heather! Collaboration is a theme that runs through
all you do, from running the Writers’ Loft to publishing your remarkable series
of anthologies. Could you tell us why you think collaboration is so important?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Thank you so much for having me! I am so humbled to be
here with you! There are so many ways I could answer this question, but I’m
going to say that collaboration is so important for two reasons—one: this
writing thing is hard to do alone, and exponentially better when we do it with
others. When we think about the work we do with our fellow authors—critiquing,
supporting, cheerleading—something magical happens when we think of those jobs
as collaboration rather than simple support. Two: every single time I’ve
collaborated with another author, the outcome far exceeds my expectations.
Alone, I can shoot for the moon, and I can also get there, but when I
collaborate, I shoot for the moon and we find ourselves out on Saturn. I can’t
stress enough how amazing books can become when you add collaboration into the
mix. And it doesn’t hurt that you do so much less work when you collaborate.
Imagine finishing drafting a book in half the time, and it’s ten times as good!
I challenge every writer reading this to think about collaborating in some
small way with someone right now. <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qTjW019lBzE/X1E956ZQUUI/AAAAAAAAOjI/Jv8L2BXouto1V3Yo7qg-v-nfOSe26JMNACLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/writers%2Bloft.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="559" data-original-width="1000" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qTjW019lBzE/X1E956ZQUUI/AAAAAAAAOjI/Jv8L2BXouto1V3Yo7qg-v-nfOSe26JMNACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/writers%2Bloft.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />What exactly is the Writers’ Loft and what drove you to
create it? How has the function of the Loft changed during the pandemic?<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>I started the Writers’ Loft in 2013, and it was such a
huge risk! I thought, if I am finding this writing business hard, I’m sure
other people are too! I wanted to be a support for other writers to find a
place to write, and start a community of serious and kind writers. We grew the
Loft by word of mouth, so that we knew the caliber of writers joining us. We
leaned on our roots with NESCBWI (I was helping to run the conference when I
started the Writers’ Loft) and will forever be grateful to that community. We
think of the Writers’ Loft as a yearlong conference, a place you can find
critique partners, knowledge, support, and access to industry professionals,
like agents and editors. We always wanted to have a virtual component to the
Loft, but we were way too busy organizing in-person events to figure it out (we
run exclusively on volunteer energy!). When the pandemic hit, we immediately
brought all of our features and events online and started to expand our
outreach to support writers no matter where they live. We’ll continue to offer
virtual events even after things return to normal; we always seek to protect
the most vulnerable among us. If you are writing, and are supportive and kind
to other writers, please seek us out! <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You mentioned that you’re collaborating on a YA series with
Natasha Sass. How exciting! Can you tell us about it? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>I LOVE collaborating with Natasha. She’s amazing. This
project started with a mentorship opportunity with the founders of Sterling and
Stone, and we met some blockbuster self-publishers along the way. Natasha and I
are writing a very cool dystopian series together, utilizing our different
skillsets—my favorite part of writing is world-building; hers is dialog. We
can’t wait to publish the series in 2021. The most important feature of our
collaboration is that every day, even when we are focused on our own projects
and not the Surge series, we are pushing each other forward. Right now, my main
focus is my non-fiction workbooks—Natasha helps me with those—while her main
focus is her amazing cozy mystery series, featuring the sassiest cat ever. (Check
her out under her pen name at JulieKoty.com—especially if you love cats with
attitudes.) We support each other’s careers on a daily bases, along with our
collaborations!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CXhj84T1qy4/X1E-oLBfvrI/AAAAAAAAOjU/p_LiNg1pg4wVShHeNUstwsd_15xI2kmwQCLcBGAsYHQ/s842/Jumpstart%2BWorkbooks%2B%25E2%2580%2594%2BHeather%2BKelly.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="842" data-original-width="644" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CXhj84T1qy4/X1E-oLBfvrI/AAAAAAAAOjU/p_LiNg1pg4wVShHeNUstwsd_15xI2kmwQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Jumpstart%2BWorkbooks%2B%25E2%2580%2594%2BHeather%2BKelly.jpeg" /></a></div><br />You’ve written two craft books for writers, <i>Jumpstart
Your Writing in 30 Days </i>and another book coming out this fall, <i>Jumpstart
Your Querying in 30 Days. </i>How did those books come about? Where can our
readers purchase them? <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>I love helping other writers—especially on a one-on-one
situation. When the Loft was smaller, I used to try to support and mentor
writers when they walked in the door. Now that it’s grown so much (we have over
500 active writers and illustrators involved) I found I couldn’t reach all the
writers that I wanted to personally. My workbooks are a way to share my
knowledge and support with writers doing the hard work on a daily basis. You
can buy them anywhere books are sold—although the pandemic has certainly slowed
down their delivery! I’m also busy writing a revision workbook and a marketing
workbook. The workbooks follow the idea of small goals each day that make a big
change over the course of a month. Kinda like I’m there, holding your hand, as
you face the mindset, skillset, and knowledge barriers that can block the path
to writing success. <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You created your own publishing house, Pocket Moon Press, to
publish these. How did you go about that? What special challenges did you face?
What joys? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>The idea behind Pocket Moon Press (another collaboration
with my brilliant friend, Kristen Wixted) is that we all have moons in our
pockets—amazing secret stories that need to be told! I love to think outside
the box with publishing and I love the idea that I can be an entrepreneur and
control the creative aspects of my production. We have amazing teams that
assist in publication—editors, copyeditors, book designers (shout out to Bob
Thibeault of Teabow Designs), cover artists, etc. But to be clear, this is a
self-publishing venture. Everything that Kristen and I do, you can do too! We
are learning the ins and outs of Kickstarted right now, to push forward some of
our Pocket Moon Press ventures in creative ways! <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bKrECTv2KDc/X1E_FdTz6dI/AAAAAAAAOjc/TLPnYe62AyQkLXS_iTb6xaj2FtaFoaaOQCLcBGAsYHQ/s218/animals.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="161" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bKrECTv2KDc/X1E_FdTz6dI/AAAAAAAAOjc/TLPnYe62AyQkLXS_iTb6xaj2FtaFoaaOQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/animals.jpeg" /></a></div><br />Every two years the Writers’ Loft puts out an anthology created
by its members. So far there has been three: <i>An Assortment of Animals,
Firsts</i>, and <i>Friends and Anemones</i> all fine examples of creative
collaboration. What is your process for pulling these anthologies together? <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>The Writers’ Loft Press is spearheaded by Kristen Wixted.
We do a call for submissions for poems (for <i>Firsts</i> it was a call for
short stories) in the summer and then we take the authors on a whirlwind
process of critiques, edits, copy edits, etc. In the winter, we put out our
call for illustrators and work with them on the same process—critiques, edits,
art direction and book design. Right now, we are in my favorite part of the
process—showing the authors their illustrated pieces. I can’t tell you how
beautiful <i>Friends and Anemones</i> will be when published Nov. 2020! We have
some blockbuster authors and illustrators involved—and that’s a part of the
thrill. New authors sit alongside Jane Yolen. New illustrators rest side-by-side
with Brian Lies. <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You offer a number of workshops including “Creatively WIN
Your Writing,” “Nurturing Big Ideas,” and “Stick with your Buddy.” Who are your
workshops for and how did you develop them? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>I’ve developed these workshops for several conferences;
Hollihock (which will be online October 24,25,26) and NESCBWI (April 30-May 2
2021), along with various workshops I give at the Writers’ Loft. It’s always my
goal to help writers become more effective and productive writers. I love
talking to a room of writers and helping them connect and get to the next
level! My workbooks are now an extension of these workshops and all the
mentoring I still do. <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What is your background beyond writing and how did it lead
you to all you do today?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>In high school, I was chosen to attend a journalism
conference with other young writers from around the United States—two students
from each state, I believe. One of the first speakers we heard from was Cornell
West. Right then and there, I gave up my idea of being a journalist or
novelist; I studied Sociology and Psychology at Colby College, instead of
English classes which had originally been my plan. I thought I could always
write, but I wanted to understand societal and psychological struggles and help
people. I was on track to become a social worker, but the work I was doing was
way too emotionally draining to also raise kids. So, I decided to put my mind
to writing instead! I’ve been producing novels for over ten years, and am
excited to start to see some of the fruits of my labor out in the world!<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You are so prolific! Is there anything I missed? Anything
else you do? Anything else you’d like to share with our readers?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>I’d like to say that writing is still hard. I commend
anyone who is on this journey. If you are looking for community, everyone is
welcome at the Writers’ Loft, regardless of who you are or where you are on the
road to publication. And now, where you live in the world! If you need
community, check out our classes and webinars at our website <a href="http://www.writersloftma.org/">www.writersloftma.org</a> or our Facebook
group: </b><b><span face="" style="background: white; color: #65676b; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">www.facebook.com/groups/writersloft/</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you so much for being my guest today! You can find out
more about Heather Gerry Kelly at <a href="https://www.heatherkellyauthor.com/">https://www.heatherkellyauthor.com/</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Linda Crotta Brennanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14271354107272417841noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8520272899233797010.post-53528142290870721372020-08-07T09:14:00.000-07:002020-08-07T09:14:22.971-07:00Meet Prolific Author, Debbi Michiko Florence<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wxDaDYZjwok/Xy18nZtOgEI/AAAAAAAAOVE/qAAjZy1oXGIgofrX5-z9h3oudxCPi1wJgCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/debbimichikoflorencephoto-scaled-e1579101706790-600x600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wxDaDYZjwok/Xy18nZtOgEI/AAAAAAAAOVE/qAAjZy1oXGIgofrX5-z9h3oudxCPi1wJgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/debbimichikoflorencephoto-scaled-e1579101706790-600x600.jpg" /></a></div> <p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">Debbi Michiko Florence <a href="https://debbimichikoflorence.com/"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://debbimichikoflorence.com/</span></a>
is the author of a multitude of books for young readers, including the highly
successful <i>Jasmine Toguchi</i> and <i>My Furry Foster Family</i> chapter
book series. I don’t have room to list all the accolades she’s won. (<i>Jasmine
Toguchi Mochi Queen</i> alone garnered ten awards.) She recently launched her
debut middle grade novel, <i>Keep It Together Keiko Carter </i>which has
already earned glowing reviews and been chosen as a New England Book Award
Finalist. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I just finished <i>Keep It Together Keiko Carter </i>and
I loved how Keiko cared so much about everyone around her and tried to make
everyone get along. Sometimes that worked, sometimes it didn’t, but she learned
much about herself and others in the process. You’ve captured the complex
dynamic of middle school perfectly. How do you manage to connect so well with
this age group?</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-36J8Bm-5bEg/Xy18yKmyj0I/AAAAAAAAOVI/Y37qGw0or9EoZh-mebyRUgLok4AtjYABQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/keepittogether-rgb-1-674x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="674" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-36J8Bm-5bEg/Xy18yKmyj0I/AAAAAAAAOVI/Y37qGw0or9EoZh-mebyRUgLok4AtjYABQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/keepittogether-rgb-1-674x1024.jpg" /></a></b></div><b>Thank
you so much! As for connecting with this age group, my strongest memories are
from middle school – so many big changes and big emotions! And I think my
internal age is stuck somewhere between 12 – 14.</b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Most of your previous books were early chapter books for
7-10-year-olds. My granddaughters adored them. How is writing for the chapter
book set different than writing for middle schoolers? Which age group is more
challenging?</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I’m
so happy to hear your granddaughters enjoyed my chapter books. While writing
chapter books and middle grade novels both require strong character
development, the plots for chapter books are more straight-forward. Since
chapters books are for the newly independent reader, I focus on one main story
arc and one main emotional arc with no subplots. While I am a pantser by nature
and do not outline for my novels, I do outline for my chapter books. There
isn’t a lot of room for me to stray and wander off. I think writing for any
audience comes with their own challenges. I love writing for both chapter book
and middle grade readers.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">You draw on your Japanese heritage in your writing, yet
each of your books is totally relatable for readers of other cultures, even when
you address the difficult topic of bigotry. How do you decide what aspect of
the Japanese culture to highlight in a book? Do you rely on your own experience
or do you couple your experience with research?</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">It’s
important to me to write contemporary stories starring Japanese American
characters. When I was growing up in Los Angeles, I was fortunate to have a
large Asian American community. While being Japanese American is integral to
who I am, back then, I saw myself as a typical American teen. I loved reading
contemporary stories when I was a young reader, but I never saw Japanese
American characters dealing with friendship challenges, crushes, and family
drama.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">When
writing my books, I always start with a premise – usually focusing on relationships,
such as family or friendship or in the case or my middle grade novels, romance
– and a character. My characters are always Japanese American, and being
Japanese American involves more than just that identifier. Culture and
tradition run deep and it’s natural that many of my own experiences and
emotions become part of my characters.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I
also research when necessary, making sure I get facts right, particularly in
the Jasmine Toguchi series since Japanese culture played a big part in each
book. For <i>Jasmine Toguchi Drummer Girl</i>, I took a taiko lesson so I would
know how Jasmine would feel learning to play the Japanese drum. That was so
much fun!</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sx0mWdXDn5M/Xy18_pxdgLI/AAAAAAAAOVQ/v1nq4qI9HlMTQixPYeCWBX-yzo2HeWoggCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/Jasmine%2B1-9780374304102_FC-683x1024-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="683" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sx0mWdXDn5M/Xy18_pxdgLI/AAAAAAAAOVQ/v1nq4qI9HlMTQixPYeCWBX-yzo2HeWoggCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Jasmine%2B1-9780374304102_FC-683x1024-1.jpg" /></a></b></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I remember that you had a group of Japanese drummers at
your book launch, too. They were amazing.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">You’ve volunteered as a raptor rehabilitator and worked
as a zoo educator. Your family includes a rescue dog, rabbit, and duck. Your
love for animals comes through in <i>My Furry Foster Family</i> series. A dog
has an important role in the plot of <i>Keep It Together Keiko Carter, </i>too<i>.
</i>How do you approach creating animal characters for your stories?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">With
the exception of the <i>My Furry Foster Family</i> series which obviously had
to have animals as a focus for each book, I didn’t purposefully intend to add
animals to my other books. It just kind of happened. It makes sense, though,
because I have been an animal lover all my life and I have a degree in zoology.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The
flamingo in the <i>Jasmine Toguchi</i> series came about because my editor
asked me what Jasmine’s favorite animals was. I knew that Jasmine, due to her
independent nature, wouldn’t choose a typical animal and because my editor was
originally from Miami, the flamingo seemed like a fun choice. I did research
flamingos, particularly for the fourth book <i>Flamingo Keeper</i>. The
ultimate reward was getting to feed juvenile flamingos for my book launch at
the L.A. Zoo!</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">For
Keep It Together Keiko Carter</span></i></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">,
I gave Conner a dog because it added layer to make him likeable since he is not
very nice to Keiko at the beginning of the book. He was a dog-lover so he
couldn’t be all bad, right? And then it just became a great connection between
Keiko and Conner that she loved dogs and wanted one, too.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Readers
can expect to see other animals pop up in future books for sure. Having worked
at a pet store, the Humane Society, and having now had six dogs in my life
definitely helps me write dogs into my books. (I’ve also had fish, hamsters, a
guinea pig, snakes, birds/parrots, and a cat.)</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--vQGpqGXVUg/Xy19ggywpII/AAAAAAAAOVY/eGpn5srNnbg3qkuvV5T4DRe-U-kDzRRBACLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/MFFF_Truman-727x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="727" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--vQGpqGXVUg/Xy19ggywpII/AAAAAAAAOVY/eGpn5srNnbg3qkuvV5T4DRe-U-kDzRRBACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/MFFF_Truman-727x1024.jpg" /></a></b></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">You’ve traveled widely and have lived in China and
Mexico. Have you mined those experiences in your books? Will you in the future?</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I
haven’t yet, although I do have a few ideas for books set in Japan where I
spent many summers when I was young and is one of my favorite places to visit.
And I love books about traveling so don’t be surprised if I write a travel
story.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Both <i>Jasmine Toguchi </i>and <i>My Furry Foster Family
</i>were series. I hear that there will be a sequel to <i>Keep It Together
Keiko Carter</i>, too. How is writing a series different than writing a one-off
title? Do you have any advice for writers who’d like to see their books made
into a series?</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I
think writing a series is not hugely different than writing any book, you need
a strong main character and a good story. To be honest, I originally wrote the
first <i>Jasmine Toguchi</i> book as a stand-alone because I had the idea for <i>Mochi
Queen</i> and couldn’t let go of it. I’d been writing novels up till then and knew
that the idea for this book wasn’t quite right for a middle grade novel since
my main character was in 3<sup>rd</sup> grade. So, after studying many chapter
books, I wrote my first chapter book. But when my editor made an offer on <i>Mochi
Queen</i>, she asked for a series which was wonderful, and I came up for three
more ideas.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">A
similar thing happened for <i>Keep It Together, Keiko Carter</i>. My editor
asked if I had an idea for a sequel and I told her I really wanted to write a
book from the point-of-view from Keiko’s best friend – and so I got to write <i>Just
Be Cool Jenna Sakai</i>, which will be published in August 2021. I’m very
excited about this book!</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">One
thing I can share about writing series is to give your main character unique
traits that can be carried throughout the series – such as Jasmine’s love for
flamingos. I’m co-teaching a virtual workshop at </span><a href="https://www.highlightsfoundation.org/programs/1891/developing-a-series-in-chapter-books-online-workshop-2020/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Highlights
Foundation</span></a></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">
in a few weeks about writing chapter book series. I’m hoping it will become an
in-person workshop in the future.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Do you have another project in the works? What final
thoughts do you have for our readers?</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I
just turned in copyedits for <i>Just Be Cool Jenna Sakai</i>. I feel very lucky
to have been able to write Jenna’s story. While Keiko is a people-pleasure,
Jenna is a bit more prickly and independent, so she was a fun character to
write. Readers will get to see Keiko in this book, too. I’m working on another
middle grade book with my editor at Scholastic, hopefully to be published in
2022, and I’m currently revising a middle grade fantasy about a girl who ends
up in a Japanese fable. I have ideas for a chapter book series, as well.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I
co-authored a picture book biography with Jamie Michalek, <i>Niki Nakayama: A
Chef’s Tale in 13 Bites</i> with gorgeous art by Yuko Jones that will be
published in fall of 2021 (Farrar Straus Giroux). This will be my picture book
debut and I’m very excited!</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">While
at a glance one may be awed (as I am) that since 2016 I have had 16 chapter
books and one novel published with two more novels and a picture book biography
on the way, it’s important for me to share that I have had a very long journey.
I started writing with the intention of getting published in 2001. I have
collected hundreds of rejections. I have written books that will never see the
light of day (rightly so). I didn’t give up. And now my dreams are coming true.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I am in awe, not only of the number of books you’ve published,
but of all the projects you have in the works. Wow! Thank you so much for stopping
by.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">You can purchase personally signed copies of Debbi’s
books from Bank Street Books through these l<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">inks: Keiko Carter: <a href="https://www.banksquarebooks.com/keiko-carter" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">https://www.banksquarebooks.com/keiko-carter</span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jasmine Toguchi: <a href="https://debbimichikoflorence.com/books/jasmine-toguchi/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">https://debbimichikoflorence.com/books/jasmine-toguchi/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">If you’d like to learn more about Debbi Michiko Florence
and her books, visit her website at <a href="https://debbimichikoflorence.com/"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://debbimichikoflorence.com/</span></a></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>Linda Crotta Brennanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14271354107272417841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8520272899233797010.post-45219059175802417312020-07-31T12:54:00.004-07:002020-07-31T12:55:38.472-07:00Jeannine Atkins and her Pioneering Women<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C_Ai8aRXS0s/XyR2GE_nwtI/AAAAAAAAONA/4mTgvnVL7kYvrTU9KAc1m97QtoKE2UjbACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/AtkinsJeannine2020AuthorPhoto%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C_Ai8aRXS0s/XyR2GE_nwtI/AAAAAAAAONA/4mTgvnVL7kYvrTU9KAc1m97QtoKE2UjbACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/AtkinsJeannine2020AuthorPhoto%2B%25282%2529.jpg" /></a></div>Today I welcome Jeannine Atkins, the acclaimed author of over
a dozen books for young readers and for adults. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through the years, her books have garnered a galaxy
of starred reviews and awards. Jeannine teaches writing at Simmons University
and makes her home in western Massachusetts.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Welcome, Jeannine! You have written about pioneering women
in science, math, the arts, religion, and more. So many courageous women! Did
you make a conscious decision to concentrate on writing about women or is this
a theme that evolved in your work?</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>I tend to write in forms I love to read and as a girl some
of my favorite books were biographies. And my favorites featured girls,
including fiction and biographical blends such as Little Women. As an
undergraduate at UMass I took a course called Lost New England Women Writers
and learned the joys of research, which set a course.</b></p><p class="MsoNormal">How do you find your women? What draws you to a subject? Are
you always on the lookout for someone new to write about?</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>One woman often opens a door to another. Recently I’ve
focused on women in math and science, and while some names have been more preserved
than others, the well-known women often worked with and were friendly with
other women, just as famous men worked with men whose names are now barely
known. I’m drawn to people who were dedicated to various kinds of wonder, but
also those who appreciated ordinary and beautiful parts of life such as spending
time with children, working in gardens, having tea with friends.</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Have you traveled in the course of your research? Where and
for whom? What do you seek in traveling to a place where your subject lived or
worked?</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Place is really important to me, and is one reasons I like
writing historical verse rather than biography. The places where someone lived
can fill in details that add texture and may even bloom to metaphor. I like
traveling when I can and feeling a sort of mystical connection that also
happens in archives, but sometimes I rely on letters or photographs. Concord,
Mass. is close enough to feel almost like a second home and it was a treat to
walk where May Alcott walked. One Mother’s Day, my daughter walked with me from
the Alcott’s home to Walden Pond.</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You’ve discussed some women, such as Mary Anning and the Alcotts,
in more than one book. How do you manage a fresh approach to a subject you’ve
written about before?</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Mary Anning and Louisa and May Alcott had such rich lives
that have affected me long before and after I’ve written about them. Becoming
Little Women: Louisa May at Fruitlands, was the first book I wrote, though not
the first to be published. I deeply connected with Louisa as a young writer.
Learning about her led me to her artistic sister, May, and many years later I
focused on her after seeing her wonderful drawings and paintings in the
historic Orchard House, where Louisa wrote Little Women, and being
flabbergasted that she could be so dismissive of May/Amy’s art. Unlike the
Alcott family where much was recorded, we don’t know many facts about Mary Anning,
and I wanted to go back in Finding Wonders and explore more than I could in the
picture book, Mary Anning and the Sea Dragon. I loved visiting her home by the
sea in England, a small town where by the end of the day a shopkeeper greeted
me by saying, “You must be the woman who loves our Mary.”</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I interviewed you on Lupine Seeds in 2009, soon after your
picture book, <i>Anne Hutchinson’s Way</i>, came out (<a href="http://lcbrennan.blogspot.com/2009/">http://lcbrennan.blogspot.com/2009/</a>).
In that interview we discussed your approach to “creative nonfiction” and the
line you draw between fiction and nonfiction. I noticed that <i>Finding Wonders</i>
and <i>Little Woman in Blue</i> are shelved in my library’s fiction stacks. <i>Mary
Anning and the Sea Dragon</i> and <i>Wings and Rockets</i> are in nonfiction. How
do you view the differences between these books? Was your writing process
different?</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>No, my writing process wasn’t different and I don’t really
see them differently. My technique does pose problems for librarians as there’s
a blend of nonfiction and fiction, so most shelve where they think readers who
want such books are likeliest to find them. Historical fiction like Little
Woman in Blue is easier, but I think of my books as being based on true
stories, and I stick with the known facts, but imagine my way into the gaps. Poetry
has historically blended fact and fiction, which is one reason I love it.</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WIbv1DIoEGw/XyR1QMLt4wI/AAAAAAAAOM0/yiTSgz7nzUASDHFQLARe6BsZB1sa66biwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/grasping-mysteries-9781534460683_lg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="269" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WIbv1DIoEGw/XyR1QMLt4wI/AAAAAAAAOM0/yiTSgz7nzUASDHFQLARe6BsZB1sa66biwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/grasping-mysteries-9781534460683_lg.jpg" /></a></div>Your next book, coming out in August, is <i>Grasping
Mysteries: Girls Who Loved Math. </i>It’s written in verse, as was <i>Stone
Mirrors, Borrowed Names</i> and <i>Finding Wonders</i>. How do you choreograph
the dance between poetry and fact? Do you practice poetry regularly? Do you
have any advice for those who aspire to writing poetry? <p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>For me the core of writing free verse about history is
compression, so my guideline as I revise is: Can I say this more succinctly?
Often details help. I hope small things taken from particular places not only
add to setting, but also characterization and even plot and theme as I show how
something appeared at one moment, then seems changed in another. I practice
poetry regularly, but for me it works best in alliance with story, which is why
I like verse narrative. I also read poetry regularly. Some of the tomes,
letters or articles I rely on for research are not beautifully written, so for
balance, I look to poetry to remind me what language can do.</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Most of your books have been for children, but <i>Little
Woman in Blue, </i>a historical novel about May Alcott, was written for adults.
What made that subject more suitable for adult readers? Do you think you’ll
write for adults again?</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>I was moved by May’s story, but there wasn’t anything in
particular about her childhood I wanted to explore. The themes that mattered to
me were that of ever-present work versus romance along with sisterly rivalry/ambition
and love, so those were adult themes.</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Do you have anything new in the works?</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>I’m smitten with another scientist!</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Wonderful! I can't wait to discover who it is. Anything else you’d like to share with our readers? </p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Thank you for reading!</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Indeed! And thank you so much for joining me on Lupine Seeds. To find
out more about Jeannine Atkins and her books, visit <a href="https://www.jeannineatkins.com/">https://www.jeannineatkins.com/</a>.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><br />Linda Crotta Brennanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14271354107272417841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8520272899233797010.post-44400687052920494352020-05-25T01:00:00.012-07:002020-05-25T01:00:08.890-07:00Interview: Hayley Barrett<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hIfnMdEPtK4/XsWVD1vAP0I/AAAAAAAANTc/Hpm_q5ABEosZlvhfm9q8t1pacAOYhTVhgCK4BGAsYHg/hayley%2Bhead.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="797" data-original-width="1024" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hIfnMdEPtK4/XsWVD1vAP0I/AAAAAAAANTc/Hpm_q5ABEosZlvhfm9q8t1pacAOYhTVhgCK4BGAsYHg/s320/hayley%2Bhead.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>My
guest today is Hayley Barrett, the author of three very distinct picture books.<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">In
the lyrical <i>Babymoon</i>, a tiny new person has arrived. Mom and Dad and
Baby learn the rhythm of being together through this dawn to dusk story of a baby’s
day, taking the time they need to fall in love as a family. (This is the
perfect gift for new parents or toddlers welcoming a new brother or sister.)</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qhyz22UtoJI/XsWVt0Sp0hI/AAAAAAAANTw/wB6-hHVKvr4EDt8BN6DhZhfNprsE2pv_wCK4BGAsYHg/BABYMOON-Cover-263x300.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="263" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qhyz22UtoJI/XsWVt0Sp0hI/AAAAAAAANTw/wB6-hHVKvr4EDt8BN6DhZhfNprsE2pv_wCK4BGAsYHg/BABYMOON-Cover-263x300.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Hayley’s
second book, <i>What Miss Mitchell Saw</i>, recounts the story of astronomer Margaret
Mitchell’s amazing discovery of a comet. Back in 1847, her find caused an
international sensation. Could a woman claim the gold and glory of a royal
reward? <i>What Miss Mitchell Saw</i> garnered a starred review from <i>School
Library Journal</i> and was named a Mighty Girl’s Book of the Year. <span> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1abFwpeesL0/XsWV1B--OEI/AAAAAAAANT8/eiqRFSVttboyNzh6Rrav8jMIGVX_NKWXQCK4BGAsYHg/WMMS-246x300.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="246" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1abFwpeesL0/XsWV1B--OEI/AAAAAAAANT8/eiqRFSVttboyNzh6Rrav8jMIGVX_NKWXQCK4BGAsYHg/WMMS-246x300.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Hayley adds, since
we last connected, it was named a MA Book Must Read and longlisted for a MA
Book award. It’s also one of five NE finalists for SCBWI’s Crystal Kite Award. </span></b><b><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: wingdings; font-size: 12pt;"><span>J</span></span></b><b><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> I couldn’t be more proud of it.</span></b><b><span style="color: #4472c4; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Hayley’s
third book, <i>Girl Versus Squirrel,</i> is the rollicking tale of an intrepid
girl and a resourceful squirrel’s battle of wits. It will be coming out on
August 11<sup>th</sup> and I can’t wait to read it.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GBa7CKFZAMI/XsWV88-JynI/AAAAAAAANUI/IDM1_xL5y8QLlDZLbCMZTsHkJcqyFV9IQCK4BGAsYHg/Girl-Versus-Squirrel-Official-Cover-1024x1024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GBa7CKFZAMI/XsWV88-JynI/AAAAAAAANUI/IDM1_xL5y8QLlDZLbCMZTsHkJcqyFV9IQCK4BGAsYHg/s320/Girl-Versus-Squirrel-Official-Cover-1024x1024.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Hayley,
you’ve written fiction and nonfiction, poetic books and funny books, books for the
very young and books for school age readers. Everything you write is a new and delightful
surprise. What threads tie your body of work together? You’ve mentioned that
there are elements of nonfiction in everything you write, can you tell us more
about that?</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">As a young person, I
was more information-hungry than entertainment-hungry. I looked to books to
teach me about the world. When I read (and reread) the LITTLE HOUSE books, I
wanted more than to pal around with the Ingalls family. I longed to learn how to
build, grow, and make whatever I might need. When I read (and reread) BLACK
BEAUTY, I learned how to respectfully care for horses and how to avoid the
careless mistakes that ruin them. In books, information was there to be found,
and I wanted all of it.</span></b><b><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">This is why I try to
include solid, well-researched facts in all of my books, even the lighthearted,
fictional ones. For example, in GIRL VERSUS SQUIRREL, the animal character’s
behavior is believable because it’s scientifically accurate. I know because during
my research, I consulted a well-known squirrel expert. Yep.</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Why
newborns? Why Maria Mitchell? Why squirrels? What was the spark that generated
each of your projects? What do you hope your books accomplish?</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Well, this world is
a fascinating place, isn’t it? I find I’m interested in nearly everything, so
naturally, I like to write about nearly everything. That’s one of the joys of
writing picture books. I can write about whatever catches my fancy.</span></b><b><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The inspiration for BABYMOON
happened many years ago. At that time, I was attending Penn’s nursing school in
preparation to become a Certified Nurse Midwife. Although our family plans
changed and I did not complete the program, I never forgot what I learned about
the importance of welcoming babies with gentleness and respect. A new family
must be allowed to rest and bond, but in our increasingly busy and distracted
world, such families are often pressured to “bounce back” to “normal life.” We
forget to take time to nurture and protect those who need it most. BABYMOON—the
term was coined by a British anthropologist—is my effort to reclaim that sense
of restful space.</span></b><b><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">I must have read
about Maria Mitchell when I was a girl, and she stayed with me. From time to
time, I’d come across her name in something I was reading, and it always piqued
my interest. Finally, I was interested enough to research her life and
accomplishments in earnest. That’s when I began writing WHAT MISS MITCHELL SAW.</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">GIRL VERSUS SQUIRREL
also came from my childhood days. As a kid, I spent hours watching the
squirrels that lived in my neighborhood. If they were feeling sociable, they’d
sometimes sit on the fence and let me talk to them. I’d cluck and chirp as best
I could and they’d reply in fluent squirrel. If they ever tried to speak my
language, I never noticed, but I wouldn’t be surprised. Squirrels are mighty
smart people.</span></b><b><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">What
obstacles have you had to overcome in your writing process? Is there a
particular aspect of the writing journey that challenges you most or is each
project different?</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Some writers enjoy
the revision process, but I find it deeply challenging. A picture book’s text
is necessarily spare, yet its story and characters must be well-developed and
engaging. To accomplish this requires painstaking work and focus, and the
resulting manuscript is delicate, much like a sandcastle. Changing even one
small part of the whole invites collapse of the structure.</span></b><b><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Still, unless I want
my work to molder in a drawer, I must revise. The process of revising BABYMOON
was profoundly instructive and, to be honest, something of an ordeal. Revising
any manuscript is tricky, but one that rhymes? Doubly so. To follow the sandcastle
metaphor, it’s like trying to modify a castle that’s finished and dry. At the
slightest touch, those seemingly solid walls with their boxy battlements will disintegrate
and must be resurrected into an entirely new, structurally stable, and equally
compelling creation. GULP.</span></b><b><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">I’ll probably spend
the rest of my life making peace with the revision process, but that’s a happy
prospect. I’m fortunate to be doing the work I love.</span></b><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Your
picture books have all been illustrated by others. What is your experience with
the author/illustrator dance?</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">I love partnering
with illustrators! They get to do what they like to do best—create art—and I
get to do what I like—wrangle words. There’s a strange sort of disconnected collaboration
that’s required to make a picture book. Both parties are creatively separate
and yet somehow, they end up in a new place together. That’s the magic we all
hope for and work toward. When it happens—that magical pairing of words and
images—the result is something truly special.</span></b><b><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Now that I have a
few books in the world, I realize how much I enjoy having books that differ
from one another visually. BABYMOON bears no resemblance to WHAT MISS MITCHELL
SAW, and GIRL VERSUS SQUIRREL looks nothing like THE TINY BAKER. I appreciate
each of my illustrators, and I’m committed to supporting not only our shared
“book babies,” but all of their future work too.</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ay7bOh8prpc/XsWWUcfKCoI/AAAAAAAANUo/Ekgu9XHCQpASs-BGlyUgmQrPh0X9x1n4wCK4BGAsYHg/An-Assortment-Of-Animals-5-210x300.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="210" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ay7bOh8prpc/XsWWUcfKCoI/AAAAAAAANUo/Ekgu9XHCQpASs-BGlyUgmQrPh0X9x1n4wCK4BGAsYHg/An-Assortment-Of-Animals-5-210x300.jpg" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">In
the middle of creating these books, you also contributed to a poetry anthology,
<i>An Assortment of Animals. </i>What was it like collaborating with other
authors on this project? Does your work as a poet influence the way you
approach picture books?</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Writers’ Loft is
the center of my writing life, and I’m glad I can contribute to their
anthologies. I only rarely write poetry, but I adore rhyming. Once I begin to
hear the music and rhythm of a poem in my head, I can’t help but work on it.
That’s what happened for the first anthology, AN ASSORTMENT OF ANIMALS, for
which I wrote a poem about a prehistoric equid. There’s another anthology
coming, all about the ocean and its creatures, and I contributed two poems, one
about diatoms and another about right whales.</span></b><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">I
hear that there is a fourth book, <i>The Tiny Baker</i>, on its way.
Illustrated by Alison Jay; it will be published by Barefoot Books. <span> </span>Could you tell us a little about that?</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Gladly! THE TINY
BAKER is a sweet story about the proprietress of a bustling teashop that caters
to stylish ants and other elegantly attired insects. When kitchen disaster
strikes, her can-do clientele work together to help their baker friend. I just
saw the color proofs, and the art by <a href="https://childrensillustrators.com/ajay/portfolio"><span style="color: #1f4e79;">Alison Jay</span></a>
could not be more perfect. Wait ‘til you see the sugary delights she cooked up!</span></b><b><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Oh, sounds delicious! Is
there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HttmhFW0IkU/Xsa26ljo4mI/AAAAAAAANVk/Y5gHzcpwhe8hCMAodtCd7QSnQeDeHQgxQCK4BGAsYHg/Hayley-and-Sittin-Pretty-e1515944829368-200x198.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="198" data-original-width="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HttmhFW0IkU/Xsa26ljo4mI/AAAAAAAANVk/Y5gHzcpwhe8hCMAodtCd7QSnQeDeHQgxQCK4BGAsYHg/Hayley-and-Sittin-Pretty-e1515944829368-200x198.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">I’d like to add that
the children’s literature community is wonderfully friendly and welcoming. If
any of your readers are thinking about writing or illustrating for young
people, they should go ahead and jump right in. The water’s fine, I promise.</span></b><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Thank
you so much for being my guest today! You can find out more about Hayley
Barrett and her books at <a href="https://hayleybarrett.com/"><span style="color: windowtext;">https://hayleybarrett.com/</span></a>. <span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><br />Linda Crotta Brennanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14271354107272417841noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8520272899233797010.post-3742825066992187832020-05-18T06:11:00.001-07:002020-05-18T06:11:50.580-07:00Author Roundup: Hazel Mitchell<div class="MsoNormal">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--rF1so6IX-4/Xr7w3B16BLI/AAAAAAAANKI/iZABjDPWTLEnUnFU1lO6Yq1o8gmLvSdbwCK4BGAsYHg/Hazel%2Band%2BToby%2Bclose%2Bup.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1660" data-original-width="1860" height="179" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--rF1so6IX-4/Xr7w3B16BLI/AAAAAAAANKI/iZABjDPWTLEnUnFU1lO6Yq1o8gmLvSdbwCK4BGAsYHg/w200-h179/Hazel%2Band%2BToby%2Bclose%2Bup.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hazel Mitchell and Toby</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When I interviewed Hazel Mitchell back in 2012, <a href="http://lcbrennan.blogspot.com/2012/02/hazel-mitchell-interview-and-contest.html"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">http://lcbrennan.blogspot.com/2012/02/hazel-mitchell-interview-and-contest.html</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">,
she had just illustrated her first nonfiction book, Hidden New Jersey. She was
hoping that project would lead to others.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Boy, did it! At this point Hazel has illustrated or written
and illustrated twenty-two books. Here is just a partial list of her titles:</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><i>Oceanly, </i>written by Lynn Parrish Sutton and illustrated by Hazel Mitchell, </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-align: right;">a sweet lullaby for beach-going toddlers.</span></div>
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<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Borrowing Bunnies,</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> illustrated by Hazel Mitchell, a heartwarming
book written by Newbery Honor winning author, Cynthia Lord, about her
experience fostering rabbits. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q860HLmgpko/Xr7zR1AnxcI/AAAAAAAANK4/9mxoBkmgrvcqcIhMPc-LKjVWppBM1pWjACK4BGAsYHg/ImanisMoon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="938" data-original-width="750" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q860HLmgpko/Xr7zR1AnxcI/AAAAAAAANK4/9mxoBkmgrvcqcIhMPc-LKjVWppBM1pWjACK4BGAsYHg/w160-h200/ImanisMoon.jpg" width="160" /></a></i></div>
<i>Imani’s Moon, </i><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">written by JaNay Brown-</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Wood and illustrated by Hazel Mitchell, about tiny Imani and her Maasai village where the animals always have something to say and a girl can touch the moon. (Reading is Fundamental Multicultural Booklist) </span><br />
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<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">How Do Fairies Have Fun In The Sun?,</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <i>Fairies 1,2,3, </i>and
<i>Do Fairies Bring The Spring?</i> all part of a fun fairy series written by Liza Gardner Walsh and illustrated by Hazel Mitchell. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_1x0CbsmXfI/Xr7ztY4dPcI/AAAAAAAANLM/eaGPHt-r4eQu2PIYuk6Yazp4EakJMOIeQCK4BGAsYHg/Toby%2Bcover%2Bwith%2Bmedal.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2811" data-original-width="3075" height="183" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_1x0CbsmXfI/Xr7ztY4dPcI/AAAAAAAANLM/eaGPHt-r4eQu2PIYuk6Yazp4EakJMOIeQCK4BGAsYHg/w200-h183/Toby%2Bcover%2Bwith%2Bmedal.jpg" width="200" /></a></i></div>
<i>Toby,</i><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> written and illustrated by Hazel Mitchell, about a rescue dog’s struggle to adjust
to life within a family and the boy who helps ease him into his new home. (Dog
Writer’s Association Children’s Book of the Year) This book was inspired by Hazel's poodle, Toby. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Hazel’s 23<sup>rd</sup> book,<i> The Fall Fairy Gathering, </i></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">the last of her seasonal
fairy series, will be coming out in July from Down East Books. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">She
has another book coming out in 2021 which she will write and illustrate. What
is it about? That’s still a secret, but there just might be kittens…You can
find out more about Hazel Mitchell and her delightful books at </span><a href="http://www.hazelmitchell.com/"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">http://www.hazelmitchell.com/</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
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<br />Linda Crotta Brennanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14271354107272417841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8520272899233797010.post-63236268662534502012020-05-04T07:25:00.002-07:002020-05-04T12:15:48.660-07:00Author Roundup Leslie Bulion<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2QSI6E_aSRY/XrAg61wW2RI/AAAAAAAANBU/1sj2bcNAJAwu5YV_JL8I5AcxLlEGER6oQCK4BGAsYHg/leslie%2Bbulion.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2697" data-original-width="1800" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2QSI6E_aSRY/XrAg61wW2RI/AAAAAAAANBU/1sj2bcNAJAwu5YV_JL8I5AcxLlEGER6oQCK4BGAsYHg/w134-h200/leslie%2Bbulion.jpg" width="134" /></a></div>In my first interview <a href="http://lcbrennan.blogspot.com/2012/09/leslie-bulion-and-universe-of-fair.html">http://lcbrennan.blogspot.com/2012/09/leslie-bulion-and-universe-of-fair.html</a>
with Leslie Bulion, she discussed her humorous middle grade novel, <i>The
Universe of Fair. </i>This is one of my all-time favorite books, with quirky
characters involved in riotous situations which often tug at the heart. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The Universe of
Fair</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> also incorporates physics. Physics,
as in science? Yup, that’s right. And the physics is woven into the story in a
seamless and amazing way. Leslie has a master’s degree in science, so it makes
sense that it often wends its way into her writing. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-641a3tUyZwc/XrAk-NymP1I/AAAAAAAANDA/8sS4gyUD0YUOJn8D_AWEWExHC7oFGWjHQCK4BGAsYHg/amphibian%2Bacrobats.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1396" data-original-width="1362" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-641a3tUyZwc/XrAk-NymP1I/AAAAAAAANDA/8sS4gyUD0YUOJn8D_AWEWExHC7oFGWjHQCK4BGAsYHg/w195-h200/amphibian%2Bacrobats.jpg" width="195" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">In fact, Leslie’s recent series pairs science
with poetry. <i>Hey There Stink Bug, At the Seafloor Café, Random Body Parts:
Gross Anatomy Riddles in Verse, Leaf Litter Critters, Superlative Birds, </i>and
her latest </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">title,</span><i style="font-size: 12pt;"> Amphibian Acrobats</i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> are fun and fabulous. </span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">Superlative Birds </i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">was just named to NCTE Notable Poetry List and both it and </span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">Amphibian Acrobats </i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">received starred reviews from Kirkus and Booklist. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">To quote Kirkus’ review of Superlative Birds:</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="color: #045184; font-size: 12pt;">"With
characteristic humor and carefully crafted language, poet Bulion offers readers
amazing facts about birds of our world...</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br /></div><p></p></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AFsj1ZKSIYM/XrAlLrWalwI/AAAAAAAANDQ/q07QzlOHt78VgvwjzrbBBNwDcTGB6tiCACK4BGAsYHg/superlative%2Bbirds.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1327" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AFsj1ZKSIYM/XrAlLrWalwI/AAAAAAAANDQ/q07QzlOHt78VgvwjzrbBBNwDcTGB6tiCACK4BGAsYHg/w181-h200/superlative%2Bbirds.jpg" width="181" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">When I talked with Leslie Bulion about
her Author Roundup, she was just about to Zoom out to meet with students in
Texas. So if you’d like to know more about Leslie, her books, or her workshops,
visit </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://www.lesliebulion.com/">https://w</a></span><a href="https://www.lesliebulion.com/" style="font-size: 12pt;">ww.lesliebulion.com/</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ePn2z5GSY-k/XrAlYkboPOI/AAAAAAAANDg/WSR5i3crFxo-zDZN4PKQusue2wCoIGpcQCK4BGAsYHg/leaf%2Blitter%2Bcritter.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1701" data-original-width="1237" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ePn2z5GSY-k/XrAlYkboPOI/AAAAAAAANDg/WSR5i3crFxo-zDZN4PKQusue2wCoIGpcQCK4BGAsYHg/w146-h200/leaf%2Blitter%2Bcritter.jpg" width="146" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><br /></p><o:p></o:p><p></p>Linda Crotta Brennanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14271354107272417841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8520272899233797010.post-67548151493328917602020-04-10T12:55:00.000-07:002020-04-11T14:59:58.476-07:00Author Roundup: Kimberly Newton Fusco and Alexis O'Neill<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qja7aJ8RqL8/XpDNkIaAiRI/AAAAAAAAM2c/oRUeH2tOVeIs-9ddA64M2H7fMvHxYKeSgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/chasing%2Baugustus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="330" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qja7aJ8RqL8/XpDNkIaAiRI/AAAAAAAAM2c/oRUeH2tOVeIs-9ddA64M2H7fMvHxYKeSgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/chasing%2Baugustus.jpg" width="209" /></a>When I last interviewed <a href="http://lcbrennan.blogspot.com/2011/10/interview-with-kim-newton-fusco.html">Kimberly Newton Fusco</a>,
she had written a memorable YA novel, <i>Tending to Grace</i>, about Cornelia, dumped in
a backwoods cottage to live with her great aunt Agatha. That book won numerous honors,
including the ALA Schneider Family Book Award.</div>
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Kim had just come out with
her second book, <i>The Wonder of Charlie Anne, </i>set during the Great
Depression. Charlie Ann mucks out the privy, makes vinegar pies, and befriends an
African American girl, inflaming the bigotry of her backwater town. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That book also reaped two starred reviews (<i>Kirkus</i> and <i>School Library Journal</i>) and multiple awards. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Since then, Kim’s published two more beautiful novels, <i>Beholding
Bee</i> (published in the U.K. as <i>The Daring Escape of Beatrice and Peabody</i>)
featuring Beatrice who has been orphaned by her carnival parents. Bee travels with
the show, helping Pauline at the hot dog stand and trying to hide the
birthmark that covers almost half her face. Pauline assures Beatrice that the
mark was put there by the kiss of an angel. When Pauline leaves to take a
better job, Beatrice strikes out with a stray dog, a piglet, and an angel only
she can see, to find her true home.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Kim’s newest novel is <i>Chasing Augustus. </i>Dumped with her
grumpy grandfather when her mother takes off for California, Rosie’s only
friend is her dog, Augustus. When grandpa tells Rosie she can’t keep a big sloppy
dog like Augustus in their skinny apartment, she sets off on her bike,
searching for her dog on a new road every day. <i>Chasing Augustus</i> was a Junior
Library Guild Selection and a Random House Children’s Indie Spotlight Pick. To
read a sample of her luminous prose, visit <a href="http://www.kimberlynewtonfusco.com/">http://www.kimberlynewtonfusco.com/</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cYhbQxsFaUM/XpDNuv7VrQI/AAAAAAAAM2g/KSDLV8rwDOEInNQ8UIq5yJ70byD0LguaQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/jacob%2Briis.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="279" data-original-width="220" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cYhbQxsFaUM/XpDNuv7VrQI/AAAAAAAAM2g/KSDLV8rwDOEInNQ8UIq5yJ70byD0LguaQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/jacob%2Briis.webp" /></a>Alexis O’Neill is the author of the acclaimed <i>Estela’s
Swap, Loud Emily, The Worst Best Friend Ever,</i> and <i>The Recess Queen</i>. I
interviewed <a href="http://lcbrennan.blogspot.com/2014/01/alexis-oneill-on-kite-that-bridged-two.html">Alexis</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"> </span>when she had just come out with <i>The Kite that
Bridged Two Nations</i>, a nonfiction book about young Homan Walsh who managed to
fly his kite across the roaring Niagara River, a kite carrying the first line for
the bridge that would connect the United States and Canada. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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This past March, Alexis published <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Jacob-Riiss-Camera-Bringing-Tenement/dp/1629798665/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Jacob+Riis%E2%80%99s+Camera%3A+Bringing+Light+to+Tenement+Children&qid=1586546823&sr=8-1">Jacob Riis’s Camera: Bringing Light to Tenement Children</a> the biography of a pioneering
photojournalist. It’s already Amazon’s number one title for Children’s American
History of the 1800’s and garnered glowing reviews.
Find out more about Alexis and her books at <a href="http://www.alexisoneill.com/">http://www.alexisoneill.com/</a></div>
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<br />Linda Crotta Brennanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14271354107272417841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8520272899233797010.post-11465086062548705202020-03-31T07:44:00.000-07:002020-04-01T07:22:31.558-07:00Author Roundup: Padma Venkatraman and Leslie Connor<br />
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When we last talked to Padma Venkatraman, she had just
released her second book, <a href="http://lcbrennan.blogspot.com/2011/11/padma-venkatramans-islands-end.html">ISLAND'S END</a>.<br />
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Since then she’s published two more wonderful books. The first was A TIME TO
DANCE, the uplifting story of a dancer struggling to recover from a
debilitating accident.<br />
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Then came THE BRIDGE HOME, which I love, love, love.
Apparently, others do, too, since it has won over twenty awards, including the
Golden Kite and being named the middle grade Global Read-Aloud for 2019.<br />
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THE
BRIDGE HOME is the heartwarming story of Viji and her developmentally disabled
sister Rakku as they gather a chosen family and make a home in the dangerous
streets of Chennai. You can <a href="https://www.booksontape.com/embed/551690?ref=%20PRH250D4A0FC5">listen to a sample</a>. To find out more about Padma and her incredible books, visit her website <a href="https://padmavenkatraman.com/">Padma Venkatraman</a><br />
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Leslie Connor visited my blog back in 2013 to talk about <a href="http://lcbrennan.blogspot.com/2013/04/author-leslie-connor-talks-about-crunch.html">CRUNCH</a> the story of how a young boy with a bicycle repair shop copes when the nation’s gas pumps run dry.
Every book she’s published since has been extraordinary. <br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zX-uY7i9KAY/XoNWSxicUyI/AAAAAAAAMtM/dwlquWbAkSMYljQ73Ucz-cfxxzhUS2KPQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/goddess%2Bdogs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="331" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zX-uY7i9KAY/XoNWSxicUyI/AAAAAAAAMtM/dwlquWbAkSMYljQ73Ucz-cfxxzhUS2KPQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/goddess%2Bdogs.jpg" width="209" /></a>ALL RISE FOR THE HONORABLE PERRY T. COOK
follows Perry, whose mother is incarcerated. He has grown up with her in prison,
but the new district attorney insists he be removed and put into foster care. Desperate
to be reunited with his mom, Perry searches for the truth about her crime.<br />
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THE
TRUTH AS TOLD BY MASON BUTTLE gives voice to Mason, who struggles with
reading, but always tells the truth as he knows it. The bully next door
torments Mason, saying he is responsible for the death of his best friend, Benny,
found dead in the Buttle family orchard. When Mason’s new friend Calvin goes missing,
Mason is desperate to find him.<br />
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Both these books won multiple prestigious
awards and MASON BUTTLE was a National Book Award finalist. I expect no less
from Leslie’s latest book, which just came out in February. A HOME FOR GODDESSES
AND DOGS tells Lydia’s story as she deals with grief after her mother’s death
and adjusts to life with her quirky Aunt Brat, her wife, and a troublesome
stray dog. Learn more about Leslie Connor and her books at <a href="http://www.leslieconnor.com/">www.leslieconnor.com</a></div>
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<br />Linda Crotta Brennanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14271354107272417841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8520272899233797010.post-67219764109727822522020-03-24T04:00:00.000-07:002020-03-24T04:00:02.812-07:00Kristin J. Russo: Iron Will<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">My guest today is <span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><a href="https://www.kristinjrusso.com/">Kristin J. Russo</a>, </span>author of over
20 nonfiction books for young readers, including titles in Capstone’s <i>Facts
and Fibs</i> and <i>What You Didn’t Know About Military Life</i> series, and
Cherry Lake’s <i>Viewpoints & Perspectives</i> library. A fun and energetic presenter, Kristin has taught writing and rehetoric at the university level for nearly ten years. An experienced editor, copy editor, indexer, and proofreader, she is also a dog lover, a surprising good tap dancer, and a terrible cook. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Today she’s here to talk about her
latest books in Full Tilt’s Iron Will survival series, <i>Surviving the Storm, Surviving
the Ice, Surviving the Cave</i>, and <i>Surviving in Space</i>, and her Capstone
Edge book<i>: Survival, Facts or Fibs</i>. These are books that I would have
loved as a kid, packed with real life adventures. Loaded with great survival
tips, they empower kids to face the challenges of our changing world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(As I write this in the midst of the CORVID
19 crisis they seem more pertinent than ever.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Welcome, Kristin, so glad to have you!
Can you tell us about how this new series came about?</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Hello
Linda! Thank you for having me. I am delighted to be here. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I
am a work-for-hire author and work mostly with editors who already have
projects in mind and need a writer who can produce them fairly quickly. An
editor reached out to me in August 2018 asking if I could write this series and
have it completed by the end of October 2018. I said yes. With a few bumps in
the road, as is the way of things, the entire writing and editing process was
completed by spring 2019 and the books were on the shelves in September 2019. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This
is often how work-for-hire projects go—very quickly and accomplished on very
tight deadlines. It was a whirlwind, but I really loved the whole process of
writing these books!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">How do you go about researching books
like these? Did you have any of your own adventures along the way?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I’ve
traveled widely and had some fun adventures prior to becoming an author that
have helped me bring nonfiction stories to life. Years ago, I explored a bat
cave in Morocco, and I’ve visited several cave systems in the U.S., such as
Howe Caverns in New York and Indian Echo Caverns in Pennsylvania. I drew upon
those experiences to write about cave disasters in Surviving the Cave. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What’s
fun for me is that though the nonfiction books I’ve written are technically
about specific topics and include historical and scientific facts, in the end,
they’re really about people and how humans can accomplish amazing feats in
unimaginable circumstances. So, these science and history books are in many
ways biographies, which I love to read and really love to write.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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unearth in your research? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When
it comes to research, I’m lucky that as an adjunct professor of English and
Composition, I have access to a university library that subscribes to a number
of academic databases, so I can trust that my sources are solid primary sources
or peer-reviewed and vetted secondary sources. For some events that are too
recent to have scholarly work available—the Thai soccer team cave disaster, for
example—I use up-to-date, trustworthy news sources and online interviews. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">One
discovery that was very powerful for me was realizing how supportive the
families of the Thai cave disaster victims were of one another, and the strength
of the bond they shared. There were 12 boys trapped in the cave, plus their
coach, who was rescued last. When they started, the rescuers did not believe
that they would have a 100 percent success rate, but they undertook the
challenge anyway and hoped for the best. The boys were freed from the cave one
at a time, and each rescue took eight hours. After days of gripping suspense,
the rescue was a complete success after all!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As
each boy emerged, he was brought to a nearby hospital. You’d think that the
families would have been so flooded with relief that they would have clung to
their sons and gone with them to the hospital. But no, that is not what
happened. All the families remained together at the cave site until the last
boy was out. Then they went to the hospital together as a group. I am deeply
moved by this. It wasn’t widely reported, and in fact there was no room for it
to be mentioned in my book, but it’s a powerful thing and I’m glad that I know
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Wow, that is an incredibly powerful
story. Has what you've learned through your writing made you look at life
differently?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In
the Iron Will series, I wrote about people who found themselves in scary
situations, but through their own tenacity, endurance, and ingenuity, found a
way to survive. None of the stories are the same, yet they all touch on the
same theme—that our strong survival instinct comes with an indomitable spirit. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">That
is holding me in good stead right now, as I watch events related to the global
pandemic unfold. We humans are capable of great strength and great courage and
great hope. I know, </span></b></div>
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<b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u_i325dDYMM/XnkXbnptLSI/AAAAAAAAMoY/nZkaJRHzzBsYPQSRiap2ETxQW9ZUCClJwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Surviving%2Bin%2BSpace%2Bcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1254" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u_i325dDYMM/XnkXbnptLSI/AAAAAAAAMoY/nZkaJRHzzBsYPQSRiap2ETxQW9ZUCClJwCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Surviving%2Bin%2BSpace%2Bcover.jpg" width="156" /></a></b></div>
<b>because it’s written in the history books, all of them—not
just mine! <o:p></o:p></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">You’ve talked to me about “finding
your people.” What does that mean for you and how did you go about it? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As
an English major and later a teacher, I came to realize that many of the
authors whose works I loved to read actually knew each other in real life.
Edgar Allan Poe was friendly with Charles Dickens, who had a pet raven named
Grip. Nathaniel Hawthorne lived next door to Louisa May Alcott, who lived down
the street from Ralph Waldo Emerson, who had a gardener named Henry David
Thoreau. And so it occurred to me that if I wanted to find my place in
children’s publishing, I would have reach out and look for a group of people
who shared my passion for learning and reading and sharing and teaching. I
would need to find my people.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">To
that end, I joined a few select professional groups, including the Society for
Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and the Writers’ Loft in Sherborne,
MA. I’m so glad I did! All of my opportunities as a writer and editor in children’s
publishing have come from my association with the amazing people I have met in
these groups. We all have so much in common! I am so very glad that I’ve found
“my people” and that they have welcomed me. I cherish the many great friendships
I’ve made in the kidlit community through the years. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What do hope young readers take away
from your books?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I’ve
written about Ada Blackjack, who, 100 years ago, survived being stranded alone
without adequate supplies on an island in the Arctic Circle. I’ve written about
survivors of the Dust Bowl, the sinking of the Titanic, the attack on Pearl
Harbor, equipment malfunctions in outer space, Hurricane Katrina, and more. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I’ve
written about people who were afraid, who felt lost and uncertain, and who
experienced crippling self-doubt. I want my readers to know that that’s okay.
That is going to happen. It’s part of the human experience. From my books, I
hope my readers learn that it’s possible to harness their own courage,
ingenuity, and indomitable spirits, and that they do have the strength to
overcome the challenges they will face in their own lives. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Is there anything else you’d like to
share with our readers? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Hello
readers! I see you! Thank you for sharing your time with me here on Linda’s
blog. I think you’re all brave, and strong, and wonderful. I’m sorry that we’re
facing such challenges at this time, but thanks to Linda, I’ve found you and
you’ve found me. We’ve found our people. Let’s get through these challenging
times together. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">To learn more about Kristin, please
visit her website at <a href="https://www.kristinjrusso.com/">https://www.kristinjrusso.com/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Linda Crotta Brennanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14271354107272417841noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8520272899233797010.post-74262963893532856242020-03-18T07:29:00.000-07:002020-04-10T12:56:24.232-07:00Author Roundup: Mitali Perkins, Stacy DeKeyser and Lynda Mullaly Hunt<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NNZ0iVl_zzk/XnIupP-X3hI/AAAAAAAAMkg/FPajCN3TeM0sph_uggi7Fc6TlEc3rvFQQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/rickshaw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="357" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NNZ0iVl_zzk/XnIupP-X3hI/AAAAAAAAMkg/FPajCN3TeM0sph_uggi7Fc6TlEc3rvFQQCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/rickshaw.jpg" width="142" /></a></div>
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<br />
Thought you might want to revisit some of the authors featured in my past blogs to see what they were up to now.<br />
<br />
Mi<a href="http://mitaliperkins.com/">tali Perkins</a> just won a slew of awards, including ALA Notable Book, for her new picture book, BETWEEN US AND ABUELA.<br />
A movie, based on her novel, RICKSHAW GIRL, will be released in May 2020. You can read our original interview <a href="http://lcbrennan.blogspot.com/2015/09/mitali-perkins-author-of-tiger-boy.html">here.</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.stacydekeyser.com/">Stacy DeKeyser</a> just released a laugh-out-loud novel, RHINO IN <br />
RIGHT FIELD, which is up for a number of Children's Choice awards. Here is our <a href="http://lcbrennan.blogspot.com/2012/10/brixen-witch-interview-with-author.html">original interview</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q3DvQFxEEo4/XnIvRmr_SOI/AAAAAAAAMko/WimRo2SBI10y_jQhUdZQBujKT5k8kEPFQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/rhino.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="335" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q3DvQFxEEo4/XnIvRmr_SOI/AAAAAAAAMko/WimRo2SBI10y_jQhUdZQBujKT5k8kEPFQCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/rhino.jpg" width="133" /></a><br />
<a href="https://www.lyndamullalyhunt.com/">Lynda Mullaly Hunt</a>'s latest middle grade novel SHOUTING IN THE RAIN, is a New York Times bestseller. Check out our <a href="http://lcbrennan.blogspot.com/2012/11/lynda-mullaly-hunt-interview-one-for.html">interview.</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41pZBajlEOL._SX328_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41pZBajlEOL._SX328_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="132" /></a>We'll catch up with more of my past guests in future posts!Linda Crotta Brennanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14271354107272417841noreply@blogger.com0