BETH ANDERSON: Will Write for Cookies Plus Giveaway

Posted on June 8, 2024 by viviankirkfield

WILL WRITE FOR COOKIES

INSIGHT – INFORMATION – INSPIRATION

FOR WRITERS, ILLUSTRATORS, PARENTS, TEACHERS, LIBRARIANS,
AND BOOK LOVERS EVERYWHERE

TODAY’S GUEST

It’s always great fun when Will Write for Cookies has repeat customers…that is…authors who come back for a second interview. And today’s guest is so prolific, she could probably come back every year. Beth Anderson is a dear friend and esteemed CP – her feedback on my manuscripts has been invaluable over the years.

Beth Anderson has always been fascinated with words and language—from sound and meaning, to figurative language and point of view, to cultural and scientific aspects of language. After earning a B.A. in linguistics and a M.Ed. in reading, she taught English language learners for more than 20 years. That classroom community taught her valuable lessons as she advocated for students and encouraged them to share their voices. Surrounded by young people from all over the world, with literature as her favorite tool, Beth used the power of story to teach, connect, and inspire.
When she’s not writing, she might be weaving, gardening, exploring nature, or playing with her grandkids. Born and raised in Illinois, she now lives near the mountains in Colorado. Beth believes in laughter, learning, and investing in young minds. And…that truth really can be stranger than fiction.
Contact Beth via email or visit on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest.

ME: WELCOME! It’s so good to have you here, my friend. I’m so excited about your newest book, THOMAS JEFFERSON’S BATTLE FOR SCIENCE: BIAS, TRUTH, AND A MIGHTY MOOSE. I remember loving it when I saw early drafts. And how kind of you to offer a giveaway of a copy to one of my blog followers…who I know are excited to learn more about you…so let’s get started.
Who were your favorite authors/illustrators when you were a child?

BETH When I was a young, we didn’t have a fantastic array of picture books like we have today. My mom took us to the library often. I remember fairy tales, folk tales, Golden Books, Dr. Seuss books, a riddle book, and some informational series on the shelves. I don’t remember having A favorite author. I loved the Little Bear books by Minarik. My mom read from the big thick classics Pinocchio, Winnie the Pooh, and Heidi at bedtime. As I got older I read a lot of biographies and Nancy Drew books. I can see the impact of all this still—word play, people from the past, mysteries, the world around us, timeless stories. But my love for digging into history is more recent as I’ve discovered the power of finding humanity in history and how we all play a role each day as we face the challenges of our time and place. I never thought about that as a child, so I love to bring that to kids with my books.

Here’s a picture of a bio of Abraham Lincoln from 1952 that I picked up at our library used books sale. 😄 We’ve come a long way!

ME: What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started writing?

BETH: That’s such a loaded question. 😄 Sometimes I think if I knew what I know now, I would’ve been afraid to jump in. Sometimes naivete is a good thing, right? I was fortunate to learn about SCBWI right from the start (once I’d found enough courage to utter the words, “I want to write children’s books.” Haha!) and hooked up with some super people that took me in, encouraged me, and provided lots of resources. I think by starting later in life, after retirement, I was used to life’s ups and downs, and didn’t take feedback and rejection as hard, or as personally, as if I was younger. Life experience was a huge plus. The most difficult part is not knowing what you don’t know. Though I was fortunate to learn early about the incredible kid lit community and all it offers, I think that’s the one thing that might have pushed me forward even sooner if I had been aware of it.

ME: Where do you like to write – inside, outside, special room, laptop, pen and paper?

BETH: I’m pretty routine in that regard. Over the years, I’ve created an office space surrounded by what I need. Laptop on an adjustable computer desk with access to the credenza, files, and desk just a chair turn away… and a few steps away from the bookshelves. Lots of room to spread out books, spirals, papers, and more! The reason I stick to this spot is because everything I need is right there. But…some of the best ideas, rewordings, and offramps from being stuck come when I’m on the move. Even just getting a cup of coffee or transferring laundry from washer to dryer can jar something loose. For some, those are distractions, but for me they’re needed brain shift opportunities. Also – Walks. Showers. And of course the 4am wake ups.

I do most writing on the computer, but there are certain things I write by hand. I take a lot of notes and organize the information I’m working with in a spiral and also do brainstorming by hand. My brain just works differently. Ideas pop, and I’m able to easily sort and jot them down so I can find them later. I would say the creative side comes “by hand.”

ME: When do you write – early morning, late in the day, middle of the night, on schedule, as the muse strikes?

BETH: I spend most of the day doing writerly things…but my best time for working on a manuscript is the morning. And, I need a good chunk of time so I can get my head into the time, place, and character. The anxiety of the pandemic taught me to turn off notifications and news alerts. I’ve found that I shouldn’t work on a manuscript a few hours before going to bed as it’s like verbal caffeine – it keeps me up with ideas circulating and ruminating.

ME: Why do you write for children?

BETH: I enjoy the challenge of creating with words on the page, but… I write for children because that’s just fun, the interactive experience with them is the best, and it’s a way I can give something of value (hopefully) that has the potential to impact kids’ lives in a positive way. I write what I write because of my experience in the classroom. It’s the power of true stories to surprise, fascinate, and inspire. The ability of story to connect us no matter where we’re from or what our experiences. The curiosity awakened, the questions posed, the push to know more. The deeper understanding of our world, and the realization that we are all participants on this path called history.

ME: Also, if you have any thoughts or advice for aspiring writers, please share. As well as anything else you want to talk about that parents, educators, writers, librarians might want to hear.

BETH: For writers: Be brave. Be patient. Be receptive. Be intentional. Be part of the writing community.

For all the parents, educators, writers, and librarians who instill the love of reading in children: THANK YOU!!

Thanks so much, Vivian, for inviting me to be part of your amazing blog! And thanks for all you do to support the kid lit community!

It’s been a joy, dear Beth! And the sweetness isn’t over yet because I know you’ve got an amazing treat for us!

BETH: Here’s my grandmother’s recipe for date balls—a family favorite. And it just happens to be gluten-free.

Warning: Keep heat medium to low and stir constantly to prevent scorching.

Boil together for 1 min.: 1 cup sugar, ¼ lb margarine or butter, 1 beaten egg
Add ½ lb dates diced (Tip: precut date pieces don’t work as well.)
Boil for 10 min. (stir constantly)
Off burner: Stir in 3 cups Rice Krispies.
Let cool for a bit until you can roll into balls.
Roll in powdered sugar.

And Beth is also sharing additional materials that can be used by parents and teachers to extend the learning experience:

Intro video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4CTq_vXMQ0

Publisher book page: https://astrapublishinghouse.com/product/thomas-jeffersons-battle-for-science-9781635926200/

Educator Guide: https://astrapublishinghouse.com/resources/thomas-jefferson-guide/

And here’s a special video for teachers – a classroom visit with author and illustrator! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ea-8Lq5CE3s&t=6s

Website https://bethandersonwriter.com

What a fabulous collaboration between author and illustrator!!! The book is so important – because these days, students need to learn how to vet information they receive online, in books…basically everywhere. And reading a book like THOMAS JEFFERSON’S BATTLE FOR SCIENCE can show them that misinformation is not a new concept.
And how can we help this fabulous book become a success? We can
Buy the book
Review the book
Place the book on our Goodreads Want to Read Shelf
Tell friends about the book (please share on your social media)
Ask your local library to purchase copies for their collection.

Thank you all for spending your precious time with us! I hope you all have a safe and wonderful weekend.

Happy Book Birthday: AVA LIN: BEST FRIEND Plus Giveaway

Posted on June 4, 2024 by viviankirkfield

Hurray! So glad you stopped by! Today’s a very special day because it’s the book birthday of AVA LIN: BEST FRIEND, a brand-new chapter book in a brand new chapter book series. And it’s written and illustrated by someone who holds a very special place in my heart. Vicky Fang approached me back in 2016, right after the first #50PreciousWords, and offered to design a logo for the contest. And then, when I added the challenge for kids in 2018, she created the logo for that as well. And now, when it’s HER book birthday, SHE’S giving the gift…a copy of AVA LIN to one lucky blog follower. Our kid lit community is the BEST!

Take a good look at this engaging cover! I love so much about it – especially the notations that tell us what things are most important to Ava Lin. So many kids will relate to loving tiny treasures…and having a special notebook.

And lucky us…Vicky stopped by to share some thoughts about the path to publication for this book.
ME: Welcome, dear Vicky! Thank you for popping in. It was so good to see you at NCTE in Ohio last year. I love how our paths intersect every now and then.

VICKY: Thank you for having me on to talk about my new chapter book series, Ava Lin! Ava Lin is about a 6-year-old girl navigating school, family, and friends—with a knack for getting herself into (and out of) sticky situations. I wanted to write something intensely funny that featured a Chinese American girl, and I hope that young readers find these books both relatable and hilarious!

Okay, a funny story on the path to publication for this book…

In Book 1, there is a scene where Ava goes to a Chinese restaurant with family friends and another kid puts something gross in her bubble tea. Final art for the book was done, ARCs were in progress, when I did a presentation at my kids’ school and they all said, “ Do you mean boba?” I panicked! I’m familiar with both terms, but I typically call it “bubble tea” and wondered if that was a dated term that wouldn’t resonate with kids! I went down a long and frantic rabbit hole to find out if kids call it “bubble tea” or “boba” or gosh maybe also, “boba tea”, these days. I roped in my editor who kindly did a quick mockup of the book with “bubble tea” replaced with “boba” throughout and helping me weigh the options.

AVA LIN: BEST FRIENDS written & illustrated by Vicky Fang

It turns out, “bubble tea” vs “boba” is a regional thing, and I must have picked up “bubble tea” from my time in New York way back when and passed it along to my kids, while most kids in California say “boba.” Lately, “boba” seems to be gaining traction, though “bubble tea” is still pretty common. Trader Joe’s has a “boba” product, Google maps lists “bubble tea” shops, etc… can you feel the depths of my rabbit hole?? In the end, we decided to stick with “bubble tea” because that’s what my kids and I call it and my editor felt the term was appropriately descriptive for all kids to understand, especially with illustrations.

Phew! All that to say, when a book is getting ready to launch, I have these little panic moments often! It’s hard to let your book baby out into the world. I’m so grateful for my critique partners and my agent and my editors who are so understanding and help me survive the path to launch.

If you do read AVA LIN (and I hope you do!), rest assured that I had a similar panic about the term “pupu platter” and please laugh with me as you read it.

You can order AVA LIN anywhere books are sold, but if you order from my favorite indie bookstore: Linden Tree Books,

Thank you so much for having me, Vivian! For anyone in the SF bay area, come join me for my launch on Sunday, June 9 at 11am at Linden Tree books!

Thank you so much, Vicky…and thank you everyone, for spending your precious time with us! Please remember to leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of AVA LIN. And remember that our support helps books get noticed. You can buy the book, review the book, put the book on your Goodreads Want to Read shelf, tell friends about the book (by sharing the post on social media), and you can ask your local library to purchase copies for their collection.
I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Jackie Morera: Will Write for Cookies Plus Giveaway

Posted on June 1, 2024 by viviankirkfield

WILL WRITE FOR COOKIES

INSIGHT – INFORMATION – INSPIRATION

FOR WRITERS, ILLUSTRATORS, PARENTS, TEACHERS, LIBRARIANS,
AND BOOK LOVERS EVERYWHERE

TODAY’S GUEST

JACKIE MORERA – Janet Randolph Photography

Jackie Morera is a Cuban-American author of books for young readers of all ages. Born and raised in Miami, Jackie now lives in Central Florida with her husband, son, and goofy pup where she enjoys telling stories, savoring pastelitos, and cozying up for a good nap. Her picture books include Abuelo’s Flower Shop, illustrated by Deise Lino; Together We Remember, illustrated by Violeta Encarnación, coming in the Summer of 2025; and an unannounced book slated for Fall 2026.

Jackie invites you to visit her online at jmorerabooks.com and on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter/X @jmorerabooks. She also has a monthly newsletter sharing the details of her publishing journey. Signed copies of Abuelo’s Flower Shop can be ordered from her local indie, White Rose Books & More, here!

Jackie would also love to invite you to a Virtual Launch Party on June 2nd at 12pm ET. RSVP here to receive the Zoom link.

ME: Welcome, Jackie! We are so very happy to have you here. I know everyone is excited to learn more about you, so let’s get started!
Who were your favorite authors/illustrators when you were a child?

JACKIE: I loved so many authors as a child but a few of my favorites were Madeleine L’Engle, Frances Hodgson Burnett, Lemony Snicket, and Roald Dahl. As for illustrators, I distinctly remember squealing when I discovered The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales written by Jon Scieszka and illustrated by Lane Smith at my local bookstore. The pictures were so wonderfully odd and I was immediately obsessed with them. There were many more illustrators I admired, of course. Talent abounds!

ME: What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started writing?

JACKIE: I wish I knew it was okay to call myself a writer outright. I hid behind aspiring writer for so long, almost as if I needed permission from someone else to take myself seriously. I believe that small but powerful mental shift kickstarted my career and, if I could go back, I might tell myself to drop the prerequisites sooner.

ME: When do you write – early morning, late in the day, middle of the night, on schedule, as the muse strikes?

JACKIE: I’m trying to be more disciplined about this but, honestly, I’ve never been successful drafting under the “butt in chair” mentality. I can’t force words on the page if I’m not quite there creatively so it’s a regular battle between finding the time and finding the inspiration. The muse is fond of striking while I’m in the middle of something “more important” and so I often find myself writing in stolen moments throughout the day.

ME: Where do you like to write – inside, outside, special room, laptop, pen and paper?

JACKIE: I bounce back and forth between my office

and “my spot” on the couch but my preference is to write somewhere with more hustle and bustle than my home. Fortunately, when it comes to coffee shops in the Greater Orlando area, we’re spoiled for choice. I also enjoy writing at the library or, if the weather allows, I’ll find a shaded spot in a park. And always on my laptop!

ME: Why do you write for children?

JACKIE: Because grownups are no fun! But in all seriousness, I write for any child who scans the shelves of their library or bookstore looking for characters who look not only like them but also like the people who fill their world. I write for the children who are curious about our differences and who are open to understanding them. I hope my books help readers, regardless of age, to grow in empathy and kindness.

ME: Also, if you have any thoughts or advice for aspiring writers, please share. As well as anything else you want to talk about that parents, educators, writers, librarians might want to hear.

JACKIE: Something that helped me tremendously while querying, and holds true for nearly everything else in this industry (i.e. contest entries, pitching conference and events, going out on submission!), is this: What you don’t already have can’t be taken from you. A rejection is not a loss because whatever “it” is—the agent relationship, editor acquisition, scholarship win, award, and so on—was never yours to begin with. Rather, they were all incredible opportunities to share your work and be considered. Try not to get too caught up in the “possibility of a thing” until it’s actually yours to be had. Doing so makes the “yeses” so much sweeter!

What a fabulous interview!!! Thank you so much, Jackie. And I know things are going to get even sweeter because you are sharing something amazing with us. Take it away, Jackie!!

Pastelitos de Guayaba (Guava Pastry) Recipe:

JACKIE: As a pastelito enthusiast, living in an (until recently) guava pastelito desert, I’ve made my fair share of at-home pastelitos de guayaba. Okay, full disclosure, it’s my husband who makes them because I’m a hazard in the kitchen but I digress … If you’re interested in trying your hand at the world’s best (yes, I said it) treat, then look no further.

Note: the following is courtesy of Marta Darby of the “My Big Fat Cuban Family” blog. Her website is a treasure-trove that’s worth exploring!

Ingredients

1 pkg. Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry Sheets
1 bar guava paste
1 pkg. Cream cheese (optional)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Thaw the puff pastry according to package directions.
Use baking parchment to line your cookie sheet so the guava won’t stick.
Unfold one of the pastry sheets and place on pan.
Cut guava into 1/4 inch slices and place on the pastry sheet.
Spread cream cheese over guava paste slices (optional).
Unfold second pastry sheet and place on top of guava paste.
Cut guava pastry to desired size before baking.
Bake at 400 for 25 to 35 minutes or until golden brown.

Dear friends…thanks to our generous guest, we have a Giveaway!!! A signed copy of Abuelo’s Flower Shop and bookish goodies (double-sided bookmark, character stickers, a plantable heart, and a selection of floral clear-backed stickers). Make sure you leave a comment and SHARE the post on your social media, place the book on your Goodreads Want to Read shelf, buy the book, review the book, and ask your local library to purchase copies for their collection.

Here’s Detailed Info About Jackie’s Book

Title: Abuelo’s Flower Shop
Author: Jackie Morera
Illustrator: Deise Lino
Publisher: Beaming Books
Age: Preschool (3-5 years); Early Grades (5-8 years)
Publication Date: June 4, 2024
Synopsis:
“Te recuerdo y te extraño.” I remember you, and I miss you.Elena is finally old enough to sell flowers with her abuelo in his shop. But she notices that many of the people who visit have tears in their eyes. Abuelo tells her the shop is the last stop before people visit the garden beyond the gate. A place for telling the ones you’ve loved and lost, “Te recuerdo y te extraño,” I remember you, and I miss you.AB

Tender and insightful, Abuelo’s Flower Shop celebrates the beauty of intergenerational love while gently teaching readers about grieving the loss of a loved one. Grandparents and grandchildren will delight in Elena and Abuelo’s heartfelt relationship, and readers of all ages will be inspired to find their own ways to say, “I remember you, and I miss you.” This thoughtful story is the perfect resource for navigating difficult conversations about grief.

And a final note from our wonderful guest:
JACKIE: I’ll leave you with a photo of my Abuelo Antonio, who sold flowers from a cart in front of his Miami home catty-cornered from a cemetery. Abuelo, te recuerdo y te extraño.