Will Write and Illustrate for Cookies: KIDLIT CLUBHOUSE Plus Multiple Giveaways

Posted on April 13, 2024 by viviankirkfield

Hold onto your hats, dear friends. And grab a cup of your favorite beverage. You are in for a treat! And stick around for the entire post because the fabulous folks from Kidlit Clubhouse are each sharing a favorite yummy recipe AND giveaways!

ME: WELCOME!!! It’s lovely to see all of you fabulous creators! I already know many of you from #50PreciousWords and/or social media. Thank you all for stopping by to share your insights, writing journeys, and upcoming books…plus of course, we are thrilled some of you have offered recipes for sweet treats AND giveaway opportunities. We’ll take turns with the Q&A – and at the end of the post, I’ll list the four giveaways so that when people leave a comment, they’ll let us know which prize they’d prefer if they are one of the lucky winners.
First, here’s a little bit about our guests:

Kerisa Greene is the author-illustrator of I AM BOTH: A VIETNAMESE REFUGEE STORY (Feiwel & Friends, 2024) and LEGENDARY CAKES (Feiwel & Friends, 2025). She has also illustrated for publications such as Ladybug Magazine (Cricket Media, 2023) and THE IMPOSTER (Gnome Road, 2024).
Kerisa is a first-generation Asian-American who loves her grandma’s cooking and always craves a big bowl of phở. As a previous preschool teacher and children’s book buyer for an indie bookstore with a background in graphic design, Kerisa has combined her love of illustrating and storytelling into a passion for crafting picture books. When Kerisa isn’t drawing or writing stories, you can find her munching on chocolate chip cookies, exploring new places with her family, and petting every dog that walks by.
Website: kerisagreene.com
Email: hello@kerisagreene.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kerisagreene
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kerisagreenebooks/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kerisagreenebooks
Sales Order Links:
East City Bookshop
Barnes and Noble
Amazon
Bookshop.org
Target

Chloe Ito Ward
A former curriculum director, Chloe has a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction. She spent the last decade teaching kindergarten, where she discovered her passion for picture books.
Chloe’s debut picture book LOVE GROWS HERE releases April 2024 with Albert Whitman & Company. Her other picture books include: MADE FOR MORE, arriving WINTER 2025 with HarperCollins and CHOPSTICKS ARE, coming SPRING 2026 with Chronicle Books.
When Chloe isn’t perfecting her ramen recipe, you can find her rock climbing or dancing in the kitchen with her husband, son, and their imaginary dog Miso.
Pre-Order LOVE GROWS HERE at
https://bookshop.org/p/books/love-grows-here-chloe-ito-ward/20303779
http://www.chloeitoward.com
https://www.instagram.com/chloeitoward

Jamie Ofelia is the author of the humorous and heartfelt picture book MIGUEL MUST FIGHT!, which is slated for publication with Little, Brown Books for Young Readers in summer of 2024. As a biracial Latina, Jamie writes fiction and nonfiction stories so Latinx kids can see themselves reflected as heroes in mainstream children’s literature. She holds her master’s degree in marriage and family therapy and is currently a stay-at-home mom living in Dallas, where she spends her days reading diverse picture books with her son. When her son gets bored, she continues reading diverse picture books all by herself.
JamieOfelia.com
https://bookshop.org/p/books/miguel-must-fight-jamie-ofelia/20368176

David McMullin is a picture book writer, illustrator, and children’s poet. His poems are featured in several magazines and anthologies. Honors include an SCBWI Ann Whitford Paul Award, an Astra International Picture Book Writing Contest award, a Madness Poetry championship and he was a Picture Book Rising Stars mentor. David and his husband are currently full time world travelers, bird nerds, and YouTubers. In past careers he was a Broadway actor, an educator, and a children’s librarian.
Website: http://www.davidmcmullinbooks.com/welcome/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidmcmullinpb/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/davidmcmullinpb

Joëlle Retener is a 1st generation Haitian American children’s author from the DC metro area. Once upon a time, they traveled the world hobnobbing with foreign dignitaries and senior government officials. They now work as a reproductive justice advocate and community birth worker. Joelle has a BA in Spanish from Spelman College and an MA in International Studies from American University. When they’re not tending to their homestead, you can find Joelle on their porch sipping a cup of herbal tea with their partner and 3 tiny humans. Joëlle is represented by James McGowan at Bookends Literary.
Social media
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joelleretener/
bluesky: @joelleretener.bsky.social
www.joelleretener.comPreferred purchase link:
https://bookshop.org/p/books/marley-s-pride-joelle-retener/20576412

ME: And now it’s time to ask the questions. Who were your favorite authors/illustrators when you were a child?

KERISA: Some of my favorite books as a kid were Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes, Stellaluna by Janell Cannon, and Dinotopia by James Gurney.

CHLOE: I loved Don Freeman’s picture book DANDELION. I had such a strong emotional response to it as a kid, it still makes me cry. Also, the limited color palette for that book is lovely! The first book I read and thought, I want to be an author, was ELLA ENCHANTED by Gail Carson Levine. It’s immersive, magical, and empowering. I must have read that book 50+ times the year my mom bought it for me. I still have that book, with dog eared pages and tomato soup stains!

JAMIE: Frances Hodgson Burnett’s books, The Little Princess and The Secret Garden, captured my imagination in a big way when I was a kid.

DAVID: My favorite was Roald Dahl, especially James and the Giant Peach. I also loved The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. They both created such fantastic worlds.

JOELLE: Growing up I loved reading books by Beverly Cleary, Judy Blume and Stan and Jan Berenstain.

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

KERISA: Hmm, when I first started I took all the writing courses I could, which was so incredibly
beneficial but I realized I learn and grow the most from actually writing and editing stories. So I guess I wish I wasn’t so afraid to just write and just gave myself the space to learn and grow with each manuscript without the pressure of thinking that everything I wrote needed to turn into something. I wish I knew that it’s okay to just play and try out an idea for fun!

CHLOE: Everyone talks about voice. But finding and creating your voice as a writer takes time and lots of practice. It wasn’t until I started leaning into my love of poetry that I really found my own distinct voice.

JAMIE: I’ve learned that as I’m drafting, it doesn’t help me much to worry about whether what I’m writing will impress others. In order to craft an exciting story, I have to follow my own nose and focus on impressing myself first. I know that if I love the story, that passion will come through stronger in my writing.
Critique partners are essential to my revision process, but only after I’ve finished drafting something I love.

DAVID: How important it is to make connections within the writing community. I can attribute much of my growth and success as a writer to the relationships I built with other writers. So get on those socials and start socializing. I wish I had started making connections earlier.

JOELLE: As a recovering perfectionist I really struggled with the idea of sharing unpolished manuscripts with fellow writers. What would they think? What would they say? It’s taken a while to work through the anxiety but I now recognize that art is really a collaborative process. My critique partners each bring unique perspectives and insights into the mix which ultimately strengthen my work. They help me to stretch and grow as an author. So don’t be afraid to get an extra set of eyes on that SFD (sh*tty first draft).

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

KERISA: With a young baby, I’ll write wherever I can which usually means I’m typing up ideas and drafts on my phone. I do prefer to edit on the computer though and need a quiet space to sit with all my thoughts!

CHLOE: Since I’m the primary caregiver of a toddler I typically write at either the kitchen counter or table. I need to have one eye on my son and another on my computer. I dream of having a desk one day!

JAMIE: I write when and where I can! Usually it’s on my laptop at a café or on the couch. Sometimes an idea strikes while I’m in the middle of doing dishes or walking the dog, and I have to quickly tap it into the Notes app on my phone. If I don’t write it down, I WILL forget!

DAVID: I prefer to work curled up on a couch. My medium depends on the style of writing. Prose goes right onto the computer. If I’m writing in rhyme, I work on paper so I can have all of the pieces spread out in front of me.

JOELLE: My writing habits are a bit eclectic. I usually write indoors on my laptop but when I am feeling stuck or experiencing writer’s block, I like to switch things up by writing with pen and paper. I have random notes on receipts and there are pieces of loose leaf paper with my notes and musings scattered across the house. I find that moving between digital and analog helps eliminate the self censorship that naturally occurs with easy access to a delete button.

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

KERISA: As the muse strikes! Which usually happens late in the evening or when I’m supposed to be working on something else.

CHLOE: I get in little bits of writing throughout the day, during breakfast/lunch/nap or when my son is entertaining himself with building blocks or painting. But I prefer to write when the world is quiet, so either early in the morning or after everyone goes to bed. I drink a LOT of coffee and tea!

JAMIE: I’m a morning person; My brain is fresh and eager to work early in the day. Lately, I’ve been writing for about 30 minutes before my family wakes up, and then again for maybe another hour while my kiddo is in morning preschool.

DAVID: I am highly distractible. I work best in the wee hours of the morning before the rest of the world wakes up.

JOELLE: I typically do my best writing in the morning- ideally at the crack of dawn (I’m talking 4-5am). There’s something about writing when the world is still wrapped in stillness that really gets my creative juices flowing. With that said, I don’t schedule my writing. I really like to honor my creative rhythms instead.

ME: Why do you write for children?

KERISA: There’s so much joy and wonder in the way children see the world and it’s that awe that I want to imbue into the books I create. Writing for children is such a gift, kids can empathize with an emotional book while also laugh themselves silly at a fart joke and it’s amazing!

CHLOE: I taught kindergarten for over ten years and there is something so special about being a part of a child’s life. I find that picture books are a great tool to help kids grow mentally and emotion ally. Growing up I didn’t have stories with characters like me so I hope to bring that, I want kids to feel heard, seen, and accepted.

JAMIE: I write for children because they’re the most important people on this planet! Kids deserve riveting, joyful books that reflect their experiences and their families, and they also deserve the opportunity to read about families whose culture is different from their own!

DAVID: I was one of those kids who only read when I had no other choice. It wasn’t until I was an adult that I discovered what a joy reading could be. I write because I would love to create the kind of books that reluctant readers, like I was, reach for and can’t put down.

JOELLE: Writing for children is an opportunity to affect change and make an impact on future generations. It’s a chance to dream up a world that is better than what we’ve got and empower children to strive to make it a reality.
Writing for children also allows me to step outside of my adult roles and responsibilities and jaded perspectives and connect to my inner child– we can all use a little more fun and joy in our lives.

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.

CHLOE: There were so many times on my publishing journey that I thought, this is impossible, I’m not good enough, what am I doing? But I have so many wonderful friends that encouraged me to keep going, reminding me that contrary to the nagging voice inside my head, I am talented. We can be so self-critical. So please, talk to yourself the way you would a friend, be gentle with yourself, and find your people, the kidlit community is the best!

DAVID: Feel “Free to Be Fabulous!” at all times! That’s not just the title of my book, it’s a great way to approach the world. Parents, teachers and librarians, help kids make reading choices that are different, adventurous and fun. Kids can learn, be, do anything in the pages of a book. And writers, create those fabulous stories. Be brave and daring. Say what your heart wants you to say.

JOELLE: This is a message for all of those who write, consume and share diverse books. Don’t give up on these stories. I know the fight is exhausting and that you may be scared but keep going. Our kids need these books and they need us to keep pushing to keep them accessible for all. Let’s continue to work together to ensure that children can see themselves affirmed through the media around them. The future of future generations is in our hands.

What an amazing high note to end on! Thank you so much, dear guests! And of course, the sweetness isn’t over yet! Here are some of their favorites treat recipes:

KERISA’S Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
1-1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup dark chocolate chips
1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut
Directions
Grab a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar then beat in the egg. Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt; add to the creamed mixture. Stir in the chocolate chips and coconut.
Scoop out the dough into small balls onto a baking sheet. Bake at 375° for about 12 minutes or until golden brown.
Let them cool and enjoy this delicious writing snack!

CHLOE’S SUPER SECRET Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
Preheat the oven to 350
Mix wet ingredients first
2 eggs
1 cup Crisco oil
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
Then blend in
2 cups of flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup oatmeal
6 oz chocolate chips
Bake for approximately 7-12 minutes depending on cookie size and enjoy!

DAVID’S Dream Cookies
Ingredients
1 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons vanilla
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups flour
Preparation
Melt butter until golden
Cool
Mix all ingredients
Make little balls and press down with two fingers
Bake at 250 for 30 minutes

Yummy!!! Summertime and the kids are home and baking delicious cookies is such a fun activity.

And here are the giveaways:
Kerisa: PB Critique (Manuscript or Dummy)
Jamie: Picture book critique
David: A fiction picture book critique, or a 30 minute ask me anything zoom call.
Joelle: PB manuscript critique (fiction, non rhyming)

How special is that, dear friends!!! Please make sure you comment below and tell us which prize you would prefer if you are one of the lucky winners – and perhaps 2nd choice. Also, please share this post widely…that’s how we can thank authors and illustrators for all the hard work they do. Of course, buying a copy of their books, reviewing them, and asking your local library to purchase copies are all fabulous things we can do, as well as placing them on our Goodreads Want to Read Shelf.
By the way, I hope you’ll all be back tomorrow, bright and early…we’ll be posting the results of the #50PreciousWords content….tick…tick…tick.

Will Write/Illustrate for Cookies: BENSON SHUM Plus Giveaway

Posted on February 3, 2024 by viviankirkfield

WILL WRITE FOR COOKIES

INSIGHT – INFORMATION – INSPIRATION

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

TODAY’S GUEST

Hurray! I love when our favorite blog guests return! And I’m especially thrilled to welcome back Benson and have a chance to spread the word about his latest book, IMAGINE YOU AND ME, that just launched. (Dial, January 23, 2024).

Benson Shum is an award winning children’s book author and illustrator. He uses watercolor, ink and digital tools to create his illustrations. His books, Anzu the Great Listener and Anzu the Great Kaiju were selected as Kid’s Indie Next List Recommended by American Booksellers Association (ABA) and was also awarded for Outstanding Achievement in Social Emotional Literature by the Children’s Literature Council of Southern California (CLCSC).Aside from writing and illustrating, Benson is also an Animator at the Walt Disney Animation Studios, where he was a part of such films as Frozen, Big Hero 6, Zootopia, Moana, Frozen 2, Encanto and Wish. Originally from Vancouver, BC, Benson now lives in sunny southern California.

ME: Welcome, Benson! It’s lovely to see you! I’m so happy about your newest book that launched last week…and the other 2024 book, that comes out July. I know everyone is excited to find out more about you, so let’s get started.

BENSON: It’s always fun to visit Picture Books Help Kids Soar, Vivian. Thanks for having me.

ME: Who were your favorite authors/illustrators when you were a child?

BENSON: My favorite authors and illustrators were Judy Blume, Quentin Blake, Roald Dahl, Mary Blair and Alice and Martin Provensen. I was drawn to their whimsical drawings and paintings. The storytelling they put into their words and art is incredible.

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

BENSON: I believe everyone has a story to tell. It can be scary, as I know I was always scared of writing. I was never confident in my English growing up. I spoke a lot of chinese with my grandparents. And when I started elementary school, I struggled. But language is something we can learn, but the stories through our struggle will make us unique.

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

BENSON: I like to change up the places where I write. Usually I’m at my desk, but when I’m out and about, I’ll bring my laptop (or paper pad) to the park, library, coffee shop, anywhere that has a bit of noise. I like to be able to look up and see things happening. It may spark an idea or inspiration. Of course if the noise is too distracting, then I’ll find another place. Ha!

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

BENSON: I don’t have a specific time. I do it sporadically during the day. But it’ll be little pieces/ideas that I’ll jot down. When I have more time, usually at night, then I’ll flesh out those ideas.

ME: Why do you write for children?

BENSON: I feel like picture books are for both adults and children, so I like to write for both because we were all children at one time. And we sometimes forget the little things that kids find joy in. So I want to share stories that will take us away from the hard daily adult life. I also want to share that no matter our age, we go through the same feelings on the inside. And I try to bring those in my stories.

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.

BENSON: I hope you’ll find the courage to write your stories. It’s a long and hard journey, but to share your stories is a wonderful thing. Read in the genre you want to write in. It was how I got the bravery to do it. I also have activities and teacher’s guides to go along with my books on my website. You can find them here. https://bensonshum.com/activities/. Aside from IMAGINE YOU AND ME, I also have another book in 2024 called MOONCAKE MEANS FAMILY, which celebrates the Mid-Autumn Festival with this sweet story of food and family.
And here’s a cool recipe for Mooncakes: https://www.cooking-therapy.com/mooncake-recipe/

To connect with Benson and learn more about his books:|
Social Media links:
http://bensonshum.com/
https://www.instagram.com/bshum79/h ttps://twitter.com/bshum79?lang=en
https://www.facebook.com/bshum79
https://twitter.com/bshum79?lang=en

Indie bookstores:
Once Upon a Time Bookstore:
https://www.shoponceuponatime.com/autographed-books-benson-shum
Children’s Book World
https://www.childrensbookworld.com/benson-shum-personalized-books
Bookshop.org
https://bookshop.org/shop/bensonshumbooks

Thank you so much for sharing all of this, Benson…and for the sneak peeks inside IMAGINE YOU AND ME. And also for the giveaway…a SIGNED COPY OF IMAGINE YOU AND ME, plus stickers!

Dear friends…we know the best way to help authors and illustrators is to buy their books…and you’ll find links to the best places to purchase Benson’s beautiful books in this post. But there are other ways we can help – and those ways don’t even cost any money.
Review the book
Put the book on your Goodreads WANT TO READ shelf
Tell friends about the book (by sharing thjs post on your social media
Ask your local library to purchase copies for their collection.

Thank you for spending your precious time here with us. And don’t forget to leave a comment to be entered in the giveaway from our lovely featured guest. You might be the lucky winner of a SIGNED COPY OF IMAGINE YOU AND ME, plus stickers.

CHRISTY MIHALY AND DIANA MURRAY: Will Write for Cookies and Golden Books Plus Giveaway

Posted on January 6, 2024 by viviankirkfield

WILL WRITE FOR COOKIES

INSIGHT – INFORMATION – INSPIRATION

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

TODAY’S GUESTS

Double the pleasure and double the fun – that’s what happens when TWO kid-lit friends have brand new GOLDEN BOOKS launching! I’ve know Christy Mihaly and Diana Murray for a LONG time…and when I heard they both had GOLDEN BOOKS coming out, I knew I’d want ask them to visit Picture Books Help Kds Soar.

Remember those Golden Books, dear friends? I still have a few of the originals that sat on the little bookshelf my sister and I had in our room. And I can’t wait to chat with Christy and Diana about how their books came to be. Plus, because I’m such a fan of both of these authors PLUS Golden Books PLUS the people they showcased, there will be TWO lucky giveaway winners…just let us know in the comments which Golden Book you would prefer and, if you are the lucky winner, I’ll send it right out to you.
But first, here’s a little bit about our guests:

Christy Mihaly is an award-winning children’s author, former lawyer, environmentalist, and poet who has published more than 35 titles on topics from hayfields to free speech to food. Recently, she enjoyed a little change of pace, writing a Little Golden Book Biography of comedian/actor/producer/director Mel Brooks (Jan. 2, 2024).

Christy has written many books about civics and government, including the picture books Free for You and Me: What Our First Amendment Means and The Supreme Court and Us (Albert Whitman 2020, 2022). She has a picture book about Congress coming out later in 2024. Her 2021 Barefoot Books WATER: A Deep Dive of Discovery, received a Kirkus star and Nautilus Book Awards Gold Medal. Her other picture books include Hey, Hey, Hay!, a mother-daughter farming book(Holiday House, 2018) and Patience, Patches!, in which a dog learns to deal with the addition of a new baby to the family(Dial, 2022).

She enjoys school visits and running poetry workshops and lives in Vermont, where she enjoys walking in the woods and playing cello (though not simultaneously). Christy (like Diana) is represented by Erzsi Deak of Hen&ink Literary Studio.

DIANA MURRAY is the author of over twenty five children’s books, including Firehouse Rainbow, Pizza Pig, Love Stinks!, the bestselling Unicorn Day series, and Jr. Library Guild Selections like Goodnight, Veggies and City Shapes.

Diana is a first-generation immigrant who grew up in New York City. She still lives nearby with her husband, two daughters, and a dog who loves trips to the beach. http://www.dianamurray.com
FB: https://www.facebook.com/diana.murray.718
Instagram: @dianaMurrayAuthor
Twitter/X: @dianaMWrites

ME: Welcome, dear friends! I’m so excited you both stopped by to visit and chat with us. I’ve featured some of your earlier books years ago – it’s wonderful to have you back! So, let’s get started because everyone’s here.
Who were your favorite authors/illustrators when you were a child?

CHRISTY: As a kid, I fell in love with specific books and didn’t pay much attention to the creators behind them. Before I could actually read, I had a favorite picture book: Do Baby Bears Sit in Chairs? by Ethel and Leonard Kessler. I had that thing memorized – and insisted on “reading” it to whoever was around.

That’s little Christy ‘reading to her Grammy

Later in life, I loved and re-read Charlotte’s Web, Harriet the Spy, A Wrinkle in Time and The Secret Garden. I think one reason I read a lot of middle grade and YA today (besides that it’s “my job”) is I crave that feeling of possibility that comes with being a young reader and just sinking into a good book.

DIANA: I didn’t read many picture books as a child, but I do distinctly remember reading some Little Golden Books. I think one of them was The Tawny Scrawny Lion. The first author I remember loving is Lucy Maud Montgomery, after I read Anne of Green Gables.

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

CHRISTY: I wish I’d known two things: First, writing is a journey rather than a destination. There are so many stepping stones and milestones along the way, and I wish someone had told me to celebrate each one (while surviving all the rejections and disappointments); and second, it’s so important to find others in the amazing writing community to celebrate these things with – and to lift one another up.

DIANA: I wish I hadn’t spent so much time on the very first story I ever wrote. I should have just put it aside, accepted that it wasn’t ready to be published, and kept on writing other stories. But I guess trying to get that story right was just part of the learning process.

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

CHRISTY: Laptop. My handwriting is atrocious and I hate it when I cannot read something that I scribbled. I move around, depending on the weather, the light, and my mood. In winter, I keep the woodstove burning so I set up in the dining room near the stove. In the summer I move out to the barn. I can’t write outside – too many distractions.

DIANA: I always use my laptop and I often sit on the couch or outside on the patio. But it’s difficult to get comfortable and I have chronic pain in my neck and elbows. So I try to prop up various pillows and beanbags to get myself at the right angle or use plastic boxes and other items to get my computer at the right height. It’s a little comical. My family is used to my quirky ways.

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

CHRISTY: I’m trying to make a living at this writing gig, so I write as often for as long as I can. When I have a looming assignment or deadline, I tend to spend most of my waking hours writing. I’ve learned that long days cause back injuries – so, now I set a timer to remind me to take breaks to get up and move around. When I’m “between jobs,” it’s a little harder to keep the B in the C. Those times, I schedule “brainstorming time” or “revising time” in my calendar, to make sure I sit down and get at least some words on the page.

DIANA: All day long, basically. Sometimes I jot things down when I’m in line at the grocery store or I scribble things in the middle of the night. This is my full-time job and my kids are older so I’m able to devote a lot of time to it. Writing is my favorite thing to do. I rarely take breaks, even when I’m on vacation. Why would I? I love it! It’s important to remember, though, that writing doesn’t always look like writing. Sometimes it involves just staring into space and thinking.

ME: Why do you write for children?

CHRISTY: I love doing it, and I keep having new ideas! I’m drawn to nonfiction, and I’ve got a particular passion for writing about civics and government for young people. I believe our best hope for the future is raising a generation of people who love to read. My wish is that by giving kids books that are engaging and fun, we can spark their love of learning, foster the critical thinking skills that this generation is going to need, and encourage kids to stand up for what’s right.

Christy at a school visit in New Hampshire

DIANA: When my first daughter was born (she’s 18 now), we were constantly reading together. I quickly fell in love with the genre of picture books. They combine so many of my favorite things: art, wordplay, philosophy, humor. And the fact that they’re so short, makes them particularly impactful. But more than that, I fell in love with the experience of reading together. Reading together, with your child on your lap, is just so special and wonderful. It makes me happy that I still get to be part of that in a way.

Celebrating Unicorn Day at the Story Shop Bookstore in Georgia

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.

CHRISTY: Here’s something to try if you’re stuck: write a poem. As Diana knows, I like to experiment with different poetic structures. It’s like working a word puzzle, but instead of earning a Queen Bee crown, you end up with a completed poem – tada! Lately I’ve had fun with Fibonacci poems. Other forms I’ve enjoyed are reversos, double dactyls, roundels, cinquains, and golden shovels. I’d say sonnets, but I’ve only completed one of those …

DIANA: My advice to writers is to keep writing and don’t get discouraged by rejections. Every time you revise or write something new, you learn. And even if you don’t publish a particular story, aspects of that story might creep into something else. So nothing is ever wasted. Just keep writing.

ME: Wow! I loved getting to know more about both of you. But we aren’t done yet! You’ve brought a great recipe that combines a bit of both of the main characters in your upcoming Golden Books…Mel Brooks loves healthy eating and is a huge fan of Raisin Bran…and the raisins? They are from Arnold Schwarzenegger’s home state, California.

CHRISTY: In a 2023 interview, the 96-year-old icon shared his secrets to longevity, including: “Eat Raisin Bran.” https://www.distractify.com/p/mel-brooks-health-update.

So, how about this Betty Crocker recipe for peanut butter Raisin Bran cookies? https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/peanut-butter-raisin-bran-cookies/ab5f81e2-c49d-4e85-9607-c3e1aa84ac54

Hahaha…I’m also a fan of raisin bran and peanut butter…these look amazing!!
Thank you to both of our guests…their books are available at all indie book stores and at major retailers like Barnes & Noble and Amazon. Plus, their NEW Golden Books JUST launched, so please help them be successful by:
Buying them
Reviewing them
Put them on your Goodreads WANT TO READ shelf
Tell friends about them (sharing the post on social media really helps)
Ask your local library to purchase copies for their collection.

Local independent bookstores are wonderful to partner with – that way you can offer signed copies of your books. Here’s a list of Christy’s that are available through her favorite bookstore:

You’re welcome to buy my books anywhere you find them … but if you’d like me to sign and personalize your copy, you can order online through Montpelier’s Bear Pond Books, my local indie. https://www.bearpondbooks.com/. ***Just scroll to the end of the checkout page to specify in the special instructions/comment box how you’d like the book signed, and I’ll stop by and sign it before they send it out to you.***
Specific picture book links:
Mel Brooks: A Little Golden Book Biography: https://www.bearpondbooks.com/book/9780593648391.
Barefoot Books WATER: A Deep Dive of Discovery: https://www.bearpondbooks.com/book/9781646862801
Patience, Patches!: https://www.bearpondbooks.com/book/9780593108291
The Supreme Court and Us: https://www.bearpondbooks.com/book/9780807576649
Free for You and Me: What Our First Amendment Means: https://www.bearpondbooks.com/book/9780807524411.
Hey, Hey, Hay! (A Tale of Bales and the Machines That Make Them): https://www.bearpondbooks.com/book/9780823436668.

Please remember to leave a comment and let us know which Golden Book you’d like to get if you are one of the lucky winners.
And come back on MONDAY when we have a very special COVER REVEAL of a book written by one of my #PBChat Mentees – it was the manuscript I feel in love with that made me choose Kerry Aradhya.