Ariel Bernstein: Will Write for Cookies PLUS Giveaway

Posted on September 2, 2017 by viviankirkfield

WILL WRITE FOR COOKIES

Plate of Cookies

INSPIRATION, INFORMATION, AND INSIGHT

FOR WRITERS

TODAY’S GUEST

FullSizeRender

ARIEL BERNSTEIN

I met Ariel a couple of years ago while participating in many of the kidlitland writing challenges. Then, when my debut picture book was scheduled to launch this year, I joined PICTURE THE BOOKS 2017, the group founded by Ariel, Katey Howes and Julie Segal Waters. And even when my book got pushed, they let me stay in the group…which just goes to show you what an awesome person Ariel is.

Ariel Bernstein is a children’s book author. Her debut picture book, I HAVE A BALLOON, illustrated by Scott Magoon, releases Sept. 26, 2017. Her chapter book series, WARREN AND DRAGON, illustrated by Mike Malbrough, will be published Summer 2018.

Ariel, I’m thrilled to welcome you to Picture Books Help Kids Soar.

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

ARIEL: My parents had a book of Russian folk tales that I read and reread many times. I thought that Baba Yaga was the creepiest villain and it felt kinda crazy that she was allowed to be in a children’s book, which made the stories all the more enticing. The illustrations, by Ivan Bilibin, are incredible.

baba yaga.jpg

And I loved Beverly Cleary’s RAMONA books. Ramona was also a younger sister, so I felt like I was seeing myself in some of those situations. I appreciated that she was a relatable kid in so many ways – she didn’t always do or say the right thing, but she always felt real.

ramona

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

ARIEL: When I first started writing, I heard a lot about writers who write every day, no matter what. So I thought I needed to do that. I ended up getting burnt out and not enjoying the process at times. I realized it’s 100% fine to take a break and then go back to writing. Every writer works differently. For some, it really does help to write every single day, even if it’s just for a few minutes. For me, breaks help me to write with a clearer mind and more creative energy.

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

ARIEL: I like to write on my laptop while inside, usually in my living room. I often think of my best ideas while walking though, so I’ll take my phone and every once in a while I’ll have to stop to write something quickly in the notes, otherwise I’ll forget it by the end of the walk!

workspace

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

ARIEL: I try to get most of my writing done in the morning or early afternoon during the week before getting my kids from school. I wish I was one of those writers that can grab 10 minutes here or there to write, but I need a big block of time to devote to writing.

ME: Why do you write for children?

ARIEL: I love reading books when you can practically hear the narrator dictating the words aloud, such as stories by David Sedaris. With picture books and chapter books, they actually do get read out loud by parents, teachers, librarians, and beginning readers. So it’s fun to write them knowing the reader will often get the experience of hearing the voice and tone interpreted by whoever is reading it.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, ARIEL! I loved getting to know you a little better…I can’t believe that Baba Yaga was your go-to book when you were young…MINE, TOO!!!!

Dear friends, Ariel is generously offering a giveaway of a copy of I HAVE A BALLOON. Please leave a comment here or on yesterday’s Perfect Picture Book Friday review of the book. Her book is available for preorder on Amazon or at Indie bookstores everywhere…and remember…a review on Amazon or Goodreads is a gift of love for your favorite books.

book cover

You can find more about Ariel at http://www.arielbernsteinbooks.com, and on Twitter and Instagram @ArielBBooks.

And now…drum roll please! Time for Ariel’s favorite cookie recipe!

Super Chocolate-y Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Preheat oven to 300

INGREDIENTS

1/2 lb butter

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup white sugar

2 TBS milk

2 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

2 3/4 cups oatmeal

2 cups ground walnuts (optional)

2 packagas chocolate chips

INSTRUCTIONS

Melt the butter

Beat together butter, brown sugar, and white sugar

Add the mixture to milk, eggs, and vanilla. Beat together.

Add and beat together flour, baking soda, and baking powder.

Stir in oatmeal, walnuts, and chocolate chips.

Cool the batter for two hours.

Bake for 20 minutes (or until done).

YUM…those sound

This past week has been a nightmare for many in Texas and surrounding areas. Please keep them in your prayers and help in any way you can. Many kidliters are banding together to raise money. The fabulous Kate Messner has a KIDLITCARES auction going on with fantastic items like critiques and more: KidLitCares Hurricane Harvey relief effort

Thank you for spending some of your precious time here, dear friends…we’ve got several treats in store next week when PENNY PARKER KLOSTERMANN is in the house…and then a dynamic duo Q&A over the weekend with author NANCY CHURNIN and illustrator DANNY POPOVICI.

Jen Goldfinger: Will Write for Cookies

Posted on August 26, 2017 by viviankirkfield

WILL WRITE FOR COOKIES

INSIGHT, INFORMATION AND INSPIRATION

FOR WRITERS

TODAY’S GUEST

JEN GOLDFINGER

Earlier this year, I went to lunch with one of my local critique buddies. We drove to a lovely restuarant in Massachusetts and met with two other author/illustrators. I really connected with Jen and, when I found out she wrote and illustrated picture books, I knew I’d want to have her on Will Write for Cookies.

Jen is a sweetheart and this past May, when I held the 2nd Annual #50PreciousWords Writing Challenge, she offered to donate a copy of her newest picture book, HELLO, MY NAME IS TIGER.

Jen lives in a town a quick drive away from Boston and Cambridge, with her husband and two daughters. She has a studio in an old Mill that’s on a bike path. It takes her 5 minutes to bike there, but it’s downhill from her house, so it takes twice as long to get home. She usually drives to the studio so she can bring her dog Lila. Sometimes they take breaks to go rollerblading.

I’m so glad Jen took a break to visit with us.
ME: Welcome, Jen! It’s so good to have you here. I know everyone is anxious to hear about you.
Who were your favorite authors/illustrators when you were a child?

JEN: I lived on a farm as a young girl and it was a big outing to go to the library to get books. We’d come home with stacks and stacks to hold us over until the next long drive to the library. I have such a strong memory of reading THE PLANT SITTER and HARRY THE DIRTY DOG by Gene Zion and Margaret Bloy Graham. In the PLANT SITTER, I was so taken by the visuals of plants taking over a whole house that the walls fell down revealing a house shaped plant. I also loved HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON, THE FIVE CHINESE BROTHERS, WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE, WINNIE THE POOH and CHARLOTTE’S WEB.

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

JEN: I know how to break down a story now to see if it has the elements that makes it have tension and resolve, how flaws in the protagonist and their failed attempts can make the story progress. Before I would write and cross my fingers that it worked.

I’m also getting better at showing not telling in my longer books. The use of words can make a sentence much more dynamic if you don’t describe too much. I don’t have as much trouble with this in picture books since I’m an illustrator. I tend to picture what I’m going to illustrate at the same time I’m writing it, so the illustrations pull a lot of weight.

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

JEN: When I’m stuck on an issue an a book, I “write” when I first wake up in the morning and my eyes are still shut, I also “write” when I’m scrubbing my hair in the shower and even when I’m walking my dog. This is when ideas pop into my head, or problems are worked out.

The physical part of writing, I do in a couple of places. Inside, I write on a laptop, on a big brown fuzzy couch in my living room next to a giant window looking out a the treetops. Because I’m also an illustrator and fine artist, I also have a studio in an old mill where I do my artwork and sometimes write, although I do many first sketches on that couch too.

I also have what I call a “meditation chair” hanging on my porch. I go out there to think, solve problems and pound on my keyboard.

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

JEN: It varies… I write when I have any free moment. As I said earlier, I’m also an illustrator and a fine artist, so I toggle between writing, illustrating and painting. I can work from 2 to 16 hours a day depending on other commitments and deadlines. If I have the time I can work for hours on end, I’m so immersed, it still feels like only a few hours. As a fine artist I sell my paintings in a gallery in Provincetown, MA called the Rice Polak Gallery.

Dropping Daisies, 36″x 48″ Wax, oil stick, pastel

ME: Why do you write for children?

JEN: I’ve noticed when casually talking to other author friends that we tend to write for an age that we had strong memories and emotions. I lived on the farm from ages 6-12. I remember so many stories, feelings and hardships from those ages. I think my super power is seeing the world like a 6 year old.

Bored, gouache, colored pencil, watercolor.

BEAR BIRD, antique and colored paper, colored pencil, gouche

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. 🙂

JEN: Many people want to be children’s book authors and/or illustrators. One of the most important things to do is keep pushing yourself by writing and rewriting, go to conferences, show your work around, write it again, get knocked down, cry a little and take a deep breath and do it all over again. The people I know who are successful in this field did what I mentioned above, again, again and again.

ME: Thank you so much, Jen! This has been fabulous. I love hearing about how others have taken journey…and it’s especially helpful to hear it from the double perspective of an author/illustrator.

Dear friends, if you’d like to find out more about Jen, her artwork, and her wonderful books:

Children’s book website

And I know you are waiting anxiously (just like the little boy in HELLO, MY NAME IS TIGER) for the sweet treat at the end of the post. So please take it away, Jen!

JEN: My favorite cookie is a fresh baked variation on the Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie. It’s one of the only things I bake and I’ve memorized the recipe when I was a child. I tend to put in less flour, and bake a little less than the recipe because I like gooey cookies. Recently I’ve changed up the recipe even more because my daughter is vegan.

I’ve discovered that replacing the butter with coconut oil, I like the cookies even better than before. It has a slight coconut taste and it lasts longer than the butter version. I don’t think substituting the egg makes a difference in the quality of the cookie, so choose your preference.

In the picture below I also substituted 2 cups of almond flour for one of the cups of flour (because I ran out of flour and I was curious how it would come out, delicious and extra nutty, btw).

INGREDIENTS:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

1 cup coconut oil

¾ cup of brown sugar

¾ cup of white sugar

2 eggs or egg substitute for vegan cookies

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

¾ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 cups flour

1 cup vegan chocolate chips (trader joes’ chocolate chips happen to be vegan)

1 cup broken walnuts

INSTRUCTIONS:

I only like to use one bowl, so I mix the wet ingredients first then add the dry ingredients and mix well. Put tablespoons worth of batter on a cookie sheet with room around the blobs and cook for around 8-9 minutes. Watch carefully so the base is slightly brown and the rest is slightly soft.

ME: Oh dear…this sounds just too tempting. I may have to try these when my grandson comes for Grammy Camp next week.

Meanwhile, don’t forget to leave a comment to enter the giveaway of a copy of HELLO, MY NAME IS TIGER.

And for those of you in the path of the Texas storm, we are praying for you.

Sara O’Leary: Will Write for Cookies PLUS Giveaway

Posted on August 19, 2017 by viviankirkfield

WILL WRITE FOR COOKIES

INSIGHT, INSPIRATION, INFORMATION

TODAY’S GUEST

SARA O’LEARY

One of the most fun things about this kidlit community is that it is composed of people from all of the world. I have critique partners in New Zealand, France, and South Korea. Some of my fellow Storm Literary Agency authors and illustrators live in Switzerland, Australia, and Stockholm. I hope to one day travel around the world, stopping in to meet all of these amazing friends. And perhaps, if I stop in the Canada, I will get to meet today’s guest, Sara O’Leary.

Sara O’Leary writes for both children and adults. Her most recent picture books are A Family Is A Family Is a Family with Qin Leng and You Are Three with Karen Klassen. She has a degree in screenwriting from University of British Columbia and has taught children’s writing at Concordia University in Montreal. Her first novel, The Ghost in the House, will be published next year.

And here is the cover of her next picture which will launch next year

I’m so thrilled to welcome her to Picture Books Help Kids Soar!

ME: Hello, Sara! Thank you so much for stopping by to chat. Let’s start!

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

SARA: I loved Russell Hoban and Lillian Hoban’s Frances books. I remember being somewhat surprised as an adult to realize that Frances was a badger so complete was my identification with the character. Arnold Loebel’s Frog and Toad stories appealed to me for their gentle humour as did Else Holmelund Minarik’s Little Bear with those sweet Sendak illos. I loved Joan Walsh Anglund’s Look Out My Window and spent a good few years drawing trees because of that book. Alice was also very important to me and I still have my battered green cloth edition of Through The Looking Glass. I also loved fairy tales and nursery rhymes and verse by writers like R.L. Stevenson and A.A. Milne. I think the echoes of all that early immersion in literature run deep in my writing. And if I could ever write something I love half as much as I love Ogden Nash’s “Adventures of Isabel” I would consider myself a success. Maurice Sendak’s Nutshell Library books are such a perfect marriage of form and content and I love them as much now as I did when I was small.

2. What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started writing?

SARA: When I first started writing children’s books I didn’t really think of it as being who I was but more as something I did. Now I consider myself a children’s writer and very lucky to be one.

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

SARA: Anywhere really. I write on a laptop for first draft and then somewhere along the line I write the whole thing out by hand. I also make a very, very rough dummy to get a sense of page turns and the amount of text on the page. At this stage I find I am able to eliminate a lot of text by imagining what the illustrator can do.

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

SARA: Anytime. And most of it is done in my head as I walk or do mundane chores. One of the reasons I like picture books so is that you really can carry the whole text around in your head for a spell and let it tumble around like a bit of dull, rough stone in a rock tumbler.

Why do you write for children?

SARA: Because they are the very best readers. Because I know what it is to carry a line or two somebody wrote a hundred years ago around in your head throughout childhood and into adulthood. Because they laugh at my jokes.

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.

SARA: Reading is key. I was a child who was read to often and I often think of the line from the poem by Strickland Gillian: “Richer than I you can never be–I had a Mother who read to me.”

ME: Oh my gosh…that is one of my favorite quotes!!!

To find out more about Sara and her books:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/saraoleary

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sara-OLeary-246685492054006/

Blog: https://123oleary.blogspot.ca/

And now for the sweet treat…take it away, Sara!

SARA: My good friend, Marina Endicott, is a novelist and also writes the most beautiful recipes. Once she had a good laugh over one of my overly minimalist recipes. It might have been this one for my mother’s variation on her mother’s shortbread.

Ginger Shortbread

3 cups flour

1 cup brown sugar

1 1/2 cups butter

salt

ginger

2 x 9 inch round pan

60 mins at 300

SARA: Looking at this recipe I now realize that I do sometimes let the reductive impulse go too far! I fail to mention that the ginger referred to is the crystallized variety and that you’ll want to finely mince it. I also fail to mention the quantity required. But really that all depends on how much you like ginger.

ME: That’s okay, Sara…I think most of us would use our own tastes when it comes to adding the ginger.

Thank you so much, Sara, for sharing your insights with us. And thank you, dear readers, for spending some of your precious time here. Please leave a comment here or on yesterday’s Perfect Picture Book Friday post in order to be entered in the giveaway of a copy of A FAMILY IS A FAMILY IS A FAMILY. Big thanks to Groundwood Books for offering the giveaway. (U.S. and Canadian addresses only)

But wait! One more thing! We need to give away a copy of Melissa Stoller’s THE ENCHANTED SNOWGLOBE COLLECTION: Return to Coney Island.

And the winner is:

TRACY POTASH

Congratulations, Tracy…I’ll be in touch and connect you with Melissa.

Enjoy this next to the last weekend in August, dear friends. And please do come back next week for more book reviews and author/illustrator interviews…and of course, more giveaways!