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.

A TON OF GIVEAWAY PRIZE NOTIFICATIONS

Posted on September 21, 2018 by viviankirkfield

I must apologize, dear readers. We’ve had many giveaways in the past two months…but my life got crazy busy with travel planning for next year (more about that later) and I neglected to award the prizes. Plus, for some reason, Facebook is not letting me use my share button to post on my own page. I can share someone else’s posts. And I can post on anyone else’s page. And I can comment everywhere. But on my home page, the share button is disabled. If any of you more tech savvy people out there have any idea of what is going on, your input would be much appreciated!

I believe the last giveaway we awarded was a copy of Anna Redding’s GOOGLE IT! to Rosie Pova. I know Rosie received it already because she posted about it on Facebook. Rosie, I know you will love the book.

So, the first giveaway today is from author/illustrator Emilie Boon…a copy of ELLA AND MONKEY AT SEA. And the winner is…CARMELA SIMMONS

After that we have a copy of H IS FOR HAIKU written by Sydell Rosenberg and brought to the world by her daughter, Amy Losak. And the winner is…TRACY HORA.

Next is a critique by the talented Christy Mihaly, author of HEY, HEY, HAY. And the winner is…TINA CHO.

Then we have a copy of MAXIMILLIAN VILLAINOUS by Margaret Greanias. And the winner is…LISETTE CRUZ

And last, but certainly not least, is Robin Newman’s hilarious NO PEACOCKS!

And the winner is…Carol Gordon Ekster.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE WINNERS! And a big thank you to all of the authors for writing these wonderful books and to the illustrators for bringing the stories to life with their pictures.

I’ll be connecting with all of you to make sure that you receive your books!

I truly appreciate you all coming to visit and read and comment. I’ll be skipping this week’s PPBF and WWFC, but I’ll be back with SIX STRAIGHT WEEKS OF AWESOME Debut Picture Books and Q&A’s with their authors. Heads up, everyone, because we’ve got:

AN INCONVENIENT ALPHABET by Beth Anderson

THE DIAMOND AND THE BOY by Hannah Holt

SCARLET’S MAGIC PAINTBRUSH by Melissa Stoller

SOPHIE AND LITTLE STAR by Amber Hendricks

TEACH YOUR GIRAFFE HOW TO SKI by Vivianne Elbee

ROCK AND ROLL WOODS by Sherry Hyberger Howard

You won’t want to miss any of these books!

Speaking of books…I’m blessed to have sold five manuscripts in the last couple of years. And those manuscripts are being made into books. And those books are soon to be published. I hope to have some cover reveal posts in next month or two. But I thought to myself, what could I do to celebrate this realization of a dream. And how could I best promote those books and spread the word far and wide.

Spread the word far and wide? Why not take a trip around the world?

So, this is the plan:

I leave for Sydney on Februry 19th. (24+ hours of actual flight time) I’ll be presenting at the Australia/NZ conference and meeting up with several kidlit friends…plus my agent, Essie White, is the keynote speaker.
I fly to Auckland and will stay with one of my dearest critique buddies. And while I’m there, I will do a program for the regional NZ SCBWI.
On March 19, I’ll hop another LOOONG flight (again over 24 hours of actual flight time) to Geneva where another wonderful critique buddy will pick me up and I’ll stay with her for a couple of weeks until…
We train to Italy for the Bologna Book Fair where I hope to meet up with some of the wonderful editors who are publishing my books and another incredible critique partner.
And after the conference, we’ll take day trips by train to Florence, Milan, and..
Back to Boston on April 8.

Phew! And just to let you know…the #50PreciousWords Writing Challenge will still take place…I’ll be reading all of your wonderful stories while I’m in New Zealand. I’m already on the look-out for prizes for next year so, if you’d like to donate a critique or a seat in an online writing class, please FB PM me or email me at viviankirkfield@gmail.com.

But for this weekend…if you are in a state where the leaf colors change like here in New Hampshire, I hope you get to see them. And if you drive, please be safe. We’ll be heading up to Lake Winnipesaukee to cheer for my son and son-in-law as they compete in the Tough Mudder. And then on Sunday, we’ll head to Connecticut to spread some of Stuart’s ashes on the river where he loved to fish. A bittersweet weekend, for sure.

Christy Mihaly: Will Write for Cookies PLUS Picture Book Critique Giveaway

Posted on August 25, 2018 by viviankirkfield

WILL WRITE FOR COOKIES

INSIGHT – INFORMATION – INSPIRATION

FOR WRITERS

TODAY’S GUEST

CHRISTY MIHALY

I usually reduce the size of the headshot for my Will Write for Cookies guests…but I just couldn’t take away one inch of this glorious scene. It looks so much like a photo I have of my grandson and me at a lake in New Hampshire which figures because Christy is right next door in Vermont.

Christy Mihaly lives and writes in Vermont, overlooking the hayfield that inspired her picture book, Hey, Hey, Hay! She has published a half-dozen books in the educational market, on topics from California’s redwood forest to cosplay to elephants and moose. She writes for children’s magazines about science, nature, and history. Her poetry has appeared in publications including Imperfect: Poems about Mistakes, an Anthology for Middle Schoolers; Highlights; and the SCBWI Bulletin. Christy also co-wrote a nonfiction book for YA readers, Diet for a Changing Climate: Food for Thought, to be published October 1 by Lerner/TFCB. Christy loves walking in the woods and playing the cello (though not simultaneously). She is represented by Erzsi Deak, of Hen&ink Literary Studio.

You can connect with Christy on any of these platforms:

Blogging at GROG

Instagram: @christymihaly

Twitter: @CMwriter4kids

Facebook Author page

But right now, we are going to connect with Christy right here.

Welcome to Picture Books Help Kids Soar, Christy! We are so happy to have you hear!

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

CHRISTY: As a kid, I read all the time, but for the most part I didn’t think much about the people writing the books. I loved classics like The Borrowers and The Secret Garden. I also read and re-read Harriet the Spy and A Wrinkle in Time. And I guess the exception to my ignorance about authors was Beverly Cleary – if I saw her name on a book, I picked it up!

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

CHRISTY: I wish I had appreciated the importance of meeting others who are doing this work. In the beginning, I didn’t understand that you’re not fully a children’s writer until you engage with the community of writers and illustrators. Even more than publishing my first magazine pieces, what made me feel like a real writer was meeting with others who were also writing for kids—and joining a critique group!

Conferences and writing retreats are a great place to connect with others in your field. This is from the 2015 WOW retreat in Helen, Georgia. I see a bunch of familiar faces there. (Vivian left early that morning with Ann Magee and a couple of others because they had an early plane to catch out of Atlanta so they missed the photo).

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

CHRISTY: Everywhere! I write on scraps of paper in the car, on my phone in the middle of the night, and in a notebook I keep in my purse. I write in my head when those words come in the middle of a walk in the woods. Still, most of my writing is on my trusty laptop, which I move around a lot – kitchen, porch, desk, seeking different views of trees and fields … As a writer, I am peripatetic.

Note from Vivian: I had to look that word up…peripatetic: traveling from place to place, especially working or based in various places for relatively short periods.

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

CHRISTY: I’m lucky right now to be writing for a living. So – I write all the time. I spend more time writing, in fact, than some people around me might prefer … [What, we’re out of dog food again?]

Sometimes I sit down first thing in the morning and write a poem. Other times, I’m facing a book deadline and writing all day and at 4:00 I realize I forgot lunch. I do some of my best work after dinner and into the wee hours, but that can’t happen too often or I get sleep-deprived and cranky.

ME: Why do you write for children?

CHRISTY: Because I keep having new ideas that I want to write about and I love doing it! And because I believe that 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, and also foster the critical thinking skills that this generation is going to need.

ME: Also, if you have any thoughts or advice for aspiring writers, please share.

CHRISTY: Vivian, you didn’t ask me about the many rejections I’ve received. I do love sharing about my published pieces – but the manuscripts that don’t find (or haven’t yet found) a home are equally important. Each one that gets a “pass” from an editor can help in my writing journey, because I learn from it: What works and what doesn’t work? What grabs an editor’s attention and what leaves her cold? How might I better address a subject I really want to tackle? How can I make this story sparkle? Or … which editor might like this story better? Rejections are never easy, but they’re inevitable, and they feel less awful if I remember that each one is a step forward.

Thanks, again, Vivian, for all you do to support children’s books and writers and illustrators. This has been fun.

ME: Christy, I love that you talked about rejections…and your attitude towards them is spot on! And it’s my honor and pleasure to feature authors and illustrators and to review all of their wonderful books! And hosting the #50PreciousWords Writing Challenge is something I am truly passionate about…providing a safe and encouraging platform for fellow writers.

I know you aren’t finished here, Christy…there’s a VERY special recipe you’ve got in store for us!

CHRISTY: Yes…for a summer change of pace, how about a little switchel?

Switchel—or ginger water—is the traditional haymaker’s drink. In one of her books, Laura Ingalls Wilder refers to Ma’s zesty ginger-water, declaring that after a blazing hot summer day working in the fields, nothing could quench the thirst quite so well. Or, as my narrator reports with delight in Hey, Hey, Hay!,

“Mom calls out, ‘Let’s take a break … for switchel and a piece of cake!’”

There are many regional variations, and you can make your own adjustments to taste. This simplified recipe (included in the back of HAY) is based on the Vermont version of the drink. And yes, they’re bottling this stuff now – but why not make your own?

Photo courtesy: The Vermont Switchel Company

Make Your Own Switchel

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

4 tablespoons pure maple syrup

1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger

4 cups water (plain or sparkling)

Combine the ingredients in a large jar with a lid, and shake. Pour the mixture over ice cubes to serve right away, or chill it in the refrigerator for a few hours. Stir well before pouring it into your glass. Makes about a quart.

Variations:

You can add mint leaves, lemon, or cucumber – why not experiment? Try some switchel with ginger cookies!

Thank you so much, Christy! This has been so much fun. And I want to remind everyone that Christy has generously offered to do a picture book manuscript critique…so make sure you leave a comment to be entered in the giveaway.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Stay safe and be happy!