Celebrating Halloween with Lynne Marie

On this first day of October, I’m absolutely thrilled to have a very special guest with us! And as we all know, it’s never too early to start celebrating Halloween! Lynne Marie is a multi-published author, the owner and director of RateYourStory.org and http://www.ThePictureBookMechanic.com, a Children’s Book Insider editor, a co-host over at SeasonsOfKidLit.com, and an editor at The Little Press. She is also my mentor, and I cannot say enough about how much she has helped me and other picture book writers in our writing journeys.

Welcome Lynne. Thank you for taking the time to chat with me today. I look forward to hearing about BroomMates journey to publication. It’s one of my favorite books for the Halloween season.

Me: Do you have any special plans for the fall?

Lynne Marie: I’m so happy you asked, because Fall is my favorite season of the year! I’m also a travel agent (and, among other specialties, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner), so I’ve planned a Girls Getaway weekend to attend Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party with my daughter and my Co-Host and Co-Celebration Connoisseur at #SeasonsOfKidlit.com, Heather Macht! Heather and I have some really great Halloween holiday books and agents and editors planned for our Annual Trick-or-Treat event, so I hope your readers will check it out and take advantage of the treats we have there (and prizes, too)! And wait until you see our costumes! The theme we chose this year is Villains. Mine is very uncharacteristic for me, but I think I’ve nailed it (LOL)!

Me: Are there any activities that you participate in related to the season?

Lynne Marie: Yes! Since, as an author, I have two Halloween tie-ins, Fall is a busy season for me with speaking engagements and author signings. But to be honest, since I had a busy summer visiting Central Europe (Hungary, Austria, Germany and the Czech Republic), I’m behind on scheduling (an important author task), so if anyone is looking for a guest author or speaker, please feel free to reach out (literallylynnemarie@gmail.com). I’m hoping to fill all my slots!

But a secondary activity which I LOVE is decorating for Halloween, pumpkin picking, pumpkin painting, and baking and making anything pumpkin flavored! So far, I’ve found pumpkin spice marshmallows, butternut squash ravioli and I’ve stacked a bunch of recipes to make!

On a cultural note, pumpkin seeds are very popular in Austria and used in baking and salads – so I bought a huge bag of them!

Me: How long have you been mentoring writers?

Lynne Marie: I have been officially mentoring as The Picture Book Mechanic since 2011 – and unofficially mentoring for quite some time before that. I went back to school to learn my craft and I’m a voracious reader of craft and trade books, so I became very studied in storytelling.

Me: What or who inspired you to write this book?

Lynne Marie: The BroomMates sisters are a compilation of me and my sisters, but no character is just one of us. While Mathilda is more my sister Jean (sporty and blonde) and Malin more my sister Michele and me (perhaps a little goth and dark), it’s not that clear-cut. I’m also the oldest, so in that way, I’m more like Mathilda, and they’re more like Malin. I think the main takeaway here is that I allowed the characters to become just who they should be without pigeon-holing them. Some of the situations are inspired by actual events (the line drawn down the middle and decorating the room) but therein lies another takeaway. I knew many siblings have their struggles and reading about human siblings might feel a bit trite and overdone. So I kept thinking about how to make the situation more compelling, and that’s when I thought of magic. Making them witches, not mortals, was the perfect fix. And now I am working on a chapter book for potential release, so it’s exciting!

Me: Tell me a little bit about this book’s journey to publication.

Lynne Marie: This book’s journey was not quick, but also a quick flight (confusing, I know). I had written the story with human siblings when I went back to school (sometime in 1995-2000) and then sometime thereafter made it witches. But after working on it during the Halloween season each year, it usually just fell by the wayside. Then, in October 2021, I was attending one of Michele McAvoy’s Girl Power Hours and she mentioned wanting a Halloween book. I knew she liked rhyme, so I asked my friend Brenda to work on perfecting the rhyme with me, and voila! BroomMates: A Brewing Boundary Battle came to life and was picked up by The Little Press in 2022 and published in 2024. I will be speaking at this year’s Girl Power Hour again (https://girlpowerhour.weebly.com/) with the topic of How to Hook an Editor, so be sure to sign up! There will be submission opportunities too!

Me: What is one piece of advice you can give to writers who are just starting out, or who are still in the query trenches?

Lynne Marie: I can’t emphasize enough the need to learn the craft of writing and storytelling and even writing poetry. You don’t need to write poems, but you really need to be able to integrate poetic devices into your writing.

Me: What are your plans for the future?

Lynne Marie: I am working on a kid-friendly conflict resolution class for children to present the book in conjunction with, as well as a webinar for writers entitled: How to Navigate Conflict and Resolution in a Picture Book. If anyone wants to be put on my notification list, please e-mail me.

Also, I am always planning travel for myself, friends and peers (it doesn’t cost a penny to use a travel agent). I hope to add more countries to my list next year and/or the year after, including Iceland, Norway, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, and MORE!

Me: I’d love for you to share a recipe with me.

Lynne Marie: When it’s hard to find pumpkin tortelli or butternut squash ravioli – this recipe is a nice go to:

https://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/pumpkin-pasta/ (YUM!!!)

SPECIAL BONUS:

Since you are one of my favorite Mentees, I am happy to share a special offer. To anyone who buys a copy of BroomMates, posts on social media and e-mails me a copy of the receipt to LiterallyLynneMarie@gmail.com and a link to the post, you can choose between a 15 min mini critique of a manuscript, cover letter, query or pitch OR a private or classroom reading of the book for 10 minutes with a few questions and answers!

Thank you for your kind words, and the giveaway. BroomMates in one of my favorite books, and you are one of my favorite people! Now, I just might try that pumpkin pasta recipe…

You can connect with Lynne here:

LiterallyLynneMarie.com

Getting Ready for Fall with Anne Wolf

As we get ready to begin fall, I’ll be chatting with Anne Wolf, whose debut YA paranormal mystery/thriller, THE TELLING, came out in March of this year. I am fortunate to know Anne from two critique groups, and she is one talented, creative lady!

Welcome Anne, and thank you for taking the time to chat with me about your writing journey. I love how you decided to answer my first question with a poem. I always tell authors that I’m flexible when it comes to my questions, and it’s refreshing how you took some creative license with this interview.

When I asked Anne what her favorite season was, she shared this lovely poem.

Ode to Fall

Fall firelight casts eerie, ebony shadows

As we roast baking potatoes, chestnuts, and marshmallows

Huddled under woolen throws, sharing spooky stories

With my dad,

The Master Storyteller.

The season of the witch is my favorite.

The smokey scent of burning leaves,

The clip-clopping of majestic horses,

Crushing brittle leaves on rocky trails and

The excitement of Halloween preparations—

All made us wish that the fall would last forever.

Thanksgiving was a time when extended family

Arrived in hordes and the aromas of sweet potatoes and fruit pies

Wafted throughout the crowded rooms.

The cousins, the aunts, uncles, and grandparents

Stormed into our home as if it was the Bastille,

Spreading laughter and mischief throughout Mom’s house.

Uncle Henry planted himself under the dining room table

With a tape recorder, eager to spy on conversations and

Play them back after dinner, to the embarrassment

Of the featured performers.

Uncle Irving arrived in a sombrero with his glasses upside down—always a clown!

Yes, it was a great holiday, with the children falling asleep as the hour drew late,

Exhausted, wherever they passed out,

Often requiring a pre-dawn search for the missing troops.

This being, according to many, the “Dead Time” of the year,

I never understood why—

It was always the warmest season for the children in our family,

Cocooned in a house filled with life and laughter.

by Anne Wolf

Me: Fall is my favorite season too, and your heartwarming poem really made it come to life! So, how long have you been writing? Tell us about your journey.

Anne: I have been writing all my life, from the age of four, when I started my journey with a purple Crayola crayon. I took the crayon into the dining room with its clean white surfaces and wrote the only words I could spell on one very large wall. “A TOE” went up on one huge wall, approaching the size of a Broadway billboard, while my parents were drinking coffee in the kitchen. I stepped back and looked at my handiwork. I was impressed! My mother, when she spied it, not so much!

I kept on writing and eventually was awarded a mini-grant from the New York State English Council for my multicultural unit on short stories. In March, 2026, my debut YA paranormal mystery/thriller, THE TELLING, was published by Rowan Prose Publishing and the eBook was named Amazon’s #1 New Release in its Teen &Young Adult Visionary & Metaphysical Fiction category. Thank you, Kelly Rowan!

Me: What was the biggest obstacle you had to deal with in your writing journey?

Anne: Some writers are plagued with writer’s block; others have plotting difficulties. For some writers, developing characters is very challenging. My greatest challenge is technology. The changes in technology never stop coming. This is an area that young people take to like ducks to water. For me, I have to work at learning the vocabulary, the little tricks and how each program works. —Whatever challenges you, work through it. Persevere. You’ll have a great feeling of accomplishment when you experience progress. Take advantage of webinars, courses, etc. if you are just starting out and choose your supporters with care.

Me: What is one piece of advice you can give to writers who are just starting out, or who are still in the query trenches?

Anne: Be sure to join a critique group. You can’t imagine how helpful the input of others in the group can be. When it’s your turn to critique, always start with what you liked about a piece. Be kind but truthful when you offer suggestions. Also, don’t overlook contests. You’d be surprised how many writers got their start through a contest. Don’t give up! It’s not an easy journey but it’s a very rewarding one!

Me: What are your plans for the future? Writing or otherwise, traveling, hobbies, etc.

Anne: I plan to finish my YA novel in progress, create a collection of dark short stories, publish a picture book (in progress), and teach a mask-making workshop. Additionally, I’d like to see more of my friends (writing can be very isolating) and be healthy enough to travel with friends. I’d also like to spend more time with my family, get back to painting, and visit family in Israel. I love to try new things. I’m always up for new challenges!

Anne: This is a delicious side dish for Thanksgiving and I usually double it. Everyone loves it! Enjoy!

Corn Pudding (From TasteofHome.com)

Total Time: Prep:20 min. Bake: 45 min. Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream

1 package (8 ½ ounces) corn bread/muffin mix

1/2 cup 2% milk

1 can (15 ¼ ounces) whole kernel corn, drained

1 can (14 ¾ ounces) cream-style corn

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325ᵒ. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in sour cream. Gradually add muffin mix alternately with milk. Fold in corn.

2. Pour into a greased 3-quart baking dish. Bake uncovered for 45-50 minutes or until set or lightly brown.

*Note: For a Tex-Mex side, add a can of diced green chilies to the corn mixture and top with 1 Cup of shredded Monterey Jack.

I substitute light sour cream for regular sour cream to cut the amount of saturated fat.

Thank you, Anne, it’s always a pleasure chatting with you. The recipe you shared is the perfect fall recipe, and I look forward to making it!

You can connect with Anne here:

Celebrating National Yoga Awareness Month with Lizzie Brooks

I’m delighted to have Lizzie Brooks, the author of IMPERFECTLY PERFECT POSEY: A WOBBLY YOGA STORY, with us today. I’ve been following Lizzie for a while on social media, and she is such an inspiration to me in so many ways. So, when I realized that September is National Yoga Awareness Month, I immediately reached out to her. Despite the last-minute request, she graciously agreed to an interview. Lizzie’s second book, HOW HALLOWEEN ALMOST HALLOWASN’T, is coming out next summer, and I can’t wait to read it!

Welcome Lizzie and thank you for taking the time to chat with me about your writing journey. First, I want to congratulate you on getting a Kirkus Star review for IMPERFECTLY PERFECT POSEY: A WOBBLY YOGA STORY. This book was also endorsed by Adriene Mishler of Yoga with Adriene, which is also quite impressive!

Me: So, do you have any special plans for National Yoga Awareness month? Or the month of September, as we get ready to begin fall?

Lizzie: September is abuzz with a story of mine (a new genre for me) being considered at my dream publisher, so that’s fun. I also have an SCBWI in-person conference. Overall, I think I’m just excited about the publishing world “waking up” again!

Me: How long have you been writing?

Lizzie: I got a poem printed in the newspaper in second grade and I won “best writer” in 7th, so I was probably writing very rough drafts in the womb. 😉 Ha! I’ve been doing it more seriously since 2016.

Me: What or who inspired you to write this book?

Lizzie: I’ve taught yoga since 2000. Many kids and adults struggle with mindfulness, movement, and yoga poses in general. I wanted to highlight that it’s normal to wobble and waver in yoga and in life, but if you stick with things, you might find something worthwhile. Many of the yoga books on the market–though great–don’t have a named central character and traditional story arc.

Me: Oh my gosh, I love that! Yes, it’s normal to wobble and waver in yoga and in life, I’ve done that many times! Tell me a little bit about this book’s journey to publication, were there any bumps and bruises along the way, obstacles you had to overcome, aha-moments? You can share the good, bad, ugly lol, or not.

Lizzie: Posey was written in 2016, I think. I used to say 2018, but I think it was before. I’m not sure because at one point, my entire computer was erased, and I lost all my manuscripts! Different versions went to acquisitions at three publishers before the fourth was a charm (Spinning Wheel Stories). Once at Spinning Wheel, my editor had me change a few things and asked me to add a refrain. I came up with “Perfect’s not the point!” I’m SO glad she asked, because I say this to myself DAILY and people message me all the time that they are using it too!

Me: What is one piece of advice you can give to writers who are just starting out, or who are still in the query trenches?

Lizzie: You will make missteps. You will submit work too early (before your BEST version eventually arrives to your mind). You will misspell things–possibly even an agent or editor’s name. You will come up with the perfect title after you’ve already sent your manuscript out with a different one. These are rites of passage and we’ve ALL done them. So give yourself grace, learn for next time, and move forward. Also–be uniquely you. Be weird. Phrase something only the way YOU can. Break from formula a bit. You’ll stand out as a result.

Me: What are your plans for the future? Writing or otherwise, traveling, hobbies, etc.

Lizzie: My plans are to learn how to market my silly, bonkers Halloween book that releases next summer, titled: HOW HALLOWEEN ALMOST HALLOWASN’T. It’s the made up origin story of Halloween (it was all a series of misunderstandings between a thousand-year-old mummy named Hobbleshank Halloween and his zombie-butler, Moboo). 🙂 Summerween, anyone?

Me: I’d love for you to share a recipe with me; I have a collection of recipes from friends and family that goes back many years. I would love to include yours, as well as share it with my readers.

Lizzie: I tend to break from recipes quite often but as a yoga and fitness instructor since 2000, I’d love to share a recipe for a movement snack! Science shows that exercise increases creative output!

INSTA VIDEO: https://www.instagram.com/p/DcBfzMcP0iz There’s also all sorts of yoga and fitness stuff to choose from on my YouTube channel, too (from 5 mins to an hour): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtOqESAw0A-UeWhYPHD17JA.

Thanks so much for your time, it’s always fun getting to know writing friends. I love the advice you gave us about moving forward after missteps, this can certainly be applied to all areas of life. Now I think I’ll go do one of those movement snacks…

You can connect with Lizzie here:

Book Critique/Author Services Website

Celebrating Back-to-School Season with Maria Wen Adcock

Today we are celebrating the back-to-school season with Maria Wen Adcock, the author of IT’S CHINESE NEW YEAR, CURIOUS GEORGE! and MY NAME IS AI LIN.

It’s hard to believe that the back-to-school season is upon us; it seems like just yesterday that summer began! Today, we will be discussing the perfect back-to-school book.

Welcome Maria, and thank you for taking the time to chat with me about your writing journey. I’m fortunate to know you from a critique group, so I know what an incredibly talented writer you are. MY NAME IS AI LIN is one of my favorite books, and as a retired ESL teacher, I believe this book belongs in every classroom.

Me: Do you have any special plans for the rest of the summer? Do you have a favorite season? Is it Summer?

Maria: My favorite season is the summer. I enjoy warmer weather, and the kids are out of school, so it’s a slower pace than during the school year. Every year, my family spends a few days on the east end of Long Island in Montauk. We also fly to Michigan to visit my side of the family for an extended time. We’ll be doing the same this summer, and I’m looking forward to it!

Me: How long have you been writing?

Maria: I have had an interest in writing since I was a kid. However, I didn’t know how to pursue this as a grown-up and ended up working in marketing for many years. Eventually, I did a career change about 15 years ago and started freelance writing. This led to me founding a bicultural parenting blog, and that’s why I started to revisit my childhood dream of writing a book.

Me: What or who inspired you to write this book?

Maria: My Chinese culture and my children inspired me to write MY NAME IS AI LIN. The book is based on the true-life Chinese names of my children and their meanings. In many cultures, coming up with the name of your child has ties to traditions. I wanted to honor this aspect of Chinese culture in my book.

Me: Tell me a little bit about this book’s journey to publication, were there any bumps and bruises along the way, obstacles you had to overcome, aha-moments? You can share the good, bad, ugly lol, or not.

Maria: When my agent submitted my manuscripts to editors, there was early interest. One publisher asked me to revise and resubmit. I did, and then they asked for another revise and resubmit. In the meantime, another publisher loved the book just the way it was and extended an offer. I accepted, and it was a sound choice. I was very happy that Sleeping Bear Press acquired the book. About a month before my book launch, I found out my PR contact at the publisher had left the company due to a family emergency. The editor stepped in to help with the book’s PR in its final weeks. She did a great job on short notice.

Me: What is one piece of advice you can give to writers who are just starting out, or who are still in the query trenches?

Maria: I recommend joining your local chapter of SCBWI (Society of Book Writers and Illustrators), which offers workshops to help writers learn about the industry and fine-tune their writing skills. It will also be important to join a critique group to receive feedback on your manuscript. Sometimes we’re too close to our stories to notice if something isn’t working quite right. That’s where your critique group members come in. Even published authors continue to be in critique groups because they’re that essential.

Me: What are your plans for the future? Writing or otherwise, traveling, hobbies, etc.

Maria: I recently found out that one of my manuscripts, which was in the acquisitions stage at the publishing house, was acquired! I’m not allowed to provide more details yet, but I’m very excited that I will have a 3rd children’s book coming out in the future. In the meantime, I’m continuing to write, and my agent is currently subbing out several of my manuscripts. I’m hopeful for the future!

Maria: Here’s one of my favorite recipes – it’s so easy to make and tastes delicious!

Crunchy Ramen Asian Salad

Thanks so much for your time; it’s always fun getting to chat with writing friends, and congratulations on your upcoming book! I can’t wait to find out more about it.

You can connect with Maria here:

Celebrating Summer with Tonnye Fletcher

I’m so excited to celebrate summer with Tonnye Fletcher, whose debut picture book Music Plants Hope came out in May of this year. I have been a fan of PBJamz for quite some time, and when I found out about Tonnye’s new book, I couldn’t wait to feature her on my blog.

Welcome, Tonnye and thank you for taking the time to chat with me about your writing journey.

Me: Do you have any special plans for the summer? Or are there any activities that you participate in related to the season? Do you have a favorite season?

Tonnye: This summer, we are doing a combination book tour, visiting kid lit folks and other friends and family, and taking 9 days to explore Cape Breton and Prince Edward Island in Canada. I’m looking forward to lots of book events and excited to meet lots of kid lit friends for the first time in person. Our last few summers have been full of amazing trips abroad. Australia/New Zealand, and Spain/Italy/France! In spite of the amazing travel, which I love, summer is not my favorite. I do enjoy being out of school and being able to travel, but fall is actually my favorite season. The crisp days, the leaves under my feet, the glorious colors, the disappearance of bugs, hanging out at the firepit, S’mores, hot chocolate, warm pajamas . . . everything about fall is wonderful!

Me: How long have you been writing?

Tonnye: Since I started school?! LOL – I began finding my voice with poetry in the fourth grade. Because I’ve always loved reading and writing, I dabbled in lots of different kinds of writing through the years. I have many beginnings of romance novels, devotional books, Bible studies, picture books, chapter books, etc. I got very serious about my writing and began treating it like a second career in 2019.

Me: What, or who inspired you to write this book?

Tonnye: An agent-at-the-time shared the link to the concert on Twitter. I watched it and was fascinated by the concert. She mentioned a possible picture book coming out of this concert, so I wrote three different versions – an expository account, this lyrical retelling, and an SEL-focused book that followed the journey of ONE of the plants from nursery to concert to home with a healthcare worker.

Me: Tell me a little bit about this book’s journey to publication, were there any bumps and bruises along the way, obstacles you had to overcome, aha-moments? You can share the good, bad, ugly lol, or not.

Tonnye: Well, after writing this book specifically to send to this agent, I sent her all three semi-polished versions with the hopes that one of them might impress her – or that the very fact that I was dedicated enough to write it three different ways and hone and fine tune all three of them would get me in the door, but she didn’t like any of them. So it didn’t look so good for any of them for a long time. I queried all three of them to no avail. Nothing but crickets. I pitched them for various pitch events. Crickets. For almost 3 years. The journey to publication is long, arduous, full of rejection and not for the faint of heart. This one was no different. But then, there was a Twitter PB Pitch Party. I didn’t have anything new. I had pitched everything before, so I started not to post my pitches. I decided kind of last minute that they were ready and it would only cost me time. So I threw my hat in the ring one more time, and THAT was the right time. You never know. I guess the AHA moment is to always take your shot. You never know. And also, I talk a lot about “cosmic alignment” – we have to have the right story, the right person at the right time. All three elements must align. It’s much rarer I think than we realize because we surround ourselves with “new deals” and PW and we are inundated with people who have been successful, and I think it’s easy to forget what a rarity it is.

Me: What is one piece of advice you can give to writers who are just starting out, or who are still in the query trenches?

Tonnye: I’m going to cheat and give two:

Keep moving forward and do NOT give up – no matter how hard it gets. Shift, pivot, rest, regroup, revise, but do NOT quit. That is the only surefire way to failure. . . .
Cultivate relationships with READERS, not just writers. Find ways to connect with readerly audiences – libraries, schools, literacy organizations, book clubs, bookstores, etc. Those relationships take time to cultivate, but they will benefit you when it’s time to publish!

Me: What are your plans for the future? Writing or otherwise, traveling, hobbies, etc.

Tonnye: I am really looking forward to retiring next May and being a full-time author. One thing I think we often don’t understand on the pre-published side is how rare it still is to get published once you’ve published. For me, it’s been 3 years, with an agent and no more book deals. I am still hopeful, but I look forward to having more time to delve into perhaps educational market writing, other genres, and lots of presentations for Music Plants Hope. I always keep a very full plate, so I’m sure I’ll have plenty to do.

Me: I’d love for you to share a recipe with me; I have a collection of recipes from friends and family that goes back many years. I would love to include yours, as well as share it with my readers.

Tonnye: I believe Mama got this recipe from one of our church ladies, but it’s been a part of our family celebrations as long as I can remember. It’s been made for holidays and birthdays (and sometimes because we had lots of carrots that needed using.) We often jokingly said if you had this with a glass of milk, it was a balanced meal. LOL I don’t know so much about that, but I do know it is moist and delicious! If you give it a try, I hope you love it as much as we do.

Carrot Cake

Ingredients:

1 ½ cups corn oil (can substitute your favorite oil)

2 cups sugar

4 eggs

2 cups flour

1 tsp cinnamon

2 cups shredded carrots

Blend first three ingredients.

Add cinnamon.

Gradually add flour.

Mix well

Fold in carrots.

Pour into 2 round or square cake pans or a 9×13 pan (greased and floured)

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 box (16 oz) powdered sugar

1 stick butter (softened)

1 8-oz block cream cheese (softened)

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups nuts

Combine all ingredients except nuts and mix together until well-blended using handheld or stand mixer

Fold in 2 cups of nuts (We use pecans)

Once cake is cool, frost the cake

Tip: Dip your knife or spatula in hot water to help spread icing evenly.

If you’d like to garnish, use some finely chopped nuts or halves to create.

Just before serving, you can add some carrot curls if desired.

(To make carrot curls, use a vegetable peeler to peel some strips of carrot. Put them in ice water until you’re ready to put them on the cake. Shake excess water before placing them atop the cake.)

Thanks so much for your time, it’s always fun getting to know writing friends. You sure have a busy summer planned, and I hope you enjoy every moment of it! Fall is also my favorite season, and I plan on making your carrot cake recipe when the weather cools down. I’m sure I’ll love it as much as you do!

You can connect with Tonnye here:

Celebrating Spring with Stephanie Henson

I’m thrilled to have Stepanie Henson with us, the author of the award-winning picture book No School My Rules! and Tall as the Sun, which was released today. Congratulations, Stephanie, and thank you for taking the time to chat with me about your writing journey.

Me: Do you have any special plans for the spring? Are there any activities that you participate in related to the season? Do you have a favorite season?

Stephanie: This spring we will be busy prepping our Ocean City, NJ beach house for the summer season. We have been going there for over 20 years, and my kids have been going their entire lives. There is so much to do (beach, dining, shopping, mini golf, boardwalk), and there are events down there prior to the “busy season” that we enjoy, including the Annual Spring Craft Fair, which is an open-air festival where vendors line the streets of Downtown Ocean City. It’s so much fun. Tall as the Sun is inspired by and dedicated to Ocean City, NJ.

But my favorite season is actually fall, and fall at the beach is just as beautiful!

Me: How long have you been writing?

Stephanie: I have been writing since I was about 8 years old. My mom told me that I had a talent for writing, and those words have stuck with me my entire life.

Me: What, or who inspired you to write this book?

Stephanie: Tall as the Sun came to be from an interaction that I witnessed in Ocean City, NJ, on the 34th Street beach between a young daughter and father. He hoisted her up on his shoulders, and she was calling out everything that she could see. It was adorable to see father/daughter bonding firsthand. From there the idea sparked in my head – what if she imagined herself getting taller and taller as she encountered things such as kites, airplanes, and the sun?

Me: Tell me a little bit about this book’s journey to publication. Were there any bumps and bruises along the way, obstacles you had to overcome, aha-moments? You can share the good, bad, ugly lol, or not.

Stephanie: The idea came to me in the summer of 2024. I wrote and workshopped it with my critique partners and then submitted it to my agent, who I had just signed with at the time – Katie Monson of SBR Media. She loved it and we put it on submission right away. The contract came in the day before Thanksgiving in 2024. Since it’s a summertime book, we knew that trying to make a 2025 publication date would be a challenge, so here we are in 2026! It takes a LONG time for an idea to become a book. It’s difficult because I am not the most patient person. But I really am thrilled with how the vision of the story came to life and the belief that Watchful Wizard Publishing has in this book.

Me: What is one piece of advice you can give to writers who are just starting out or who are still in the query trenches?

Stephanie: Don’t query a first draft, lol. I wish that was a joke. When I first started out, I knew nothing, so I actually did that! But getting yourself a good critique group is so important. But my favorite advice is to invest in yourself, whether that is through classes, webinars, conferences, etc. Always try to learn and grow your craft. Some resources are even free!

Me: What are your plans for the future? Writing, traveling, hobbies, etc.

Stephanie: We will definitely spend most of the summer at the beach. Hopefully I can finish up a middle grade novel in Verse that I have been working on for forever. We are also going to a few concerts this summer which should be fun. As for writing, I am a writer for life whether or not anything else gets published. I am hopeful though.

I’ve talked a lot about the beach, and my favorite thing to eat in OCNJ is blueberry pancakes at Uncle Bill’s Pancake House. I searched the internet and found this recipe, which is supposed to be close! Hope everyone enjoys it.

Ingredients

2 c. sifted unbleached all-purpose flour
2 c. buttermilk
2 pints blueberries
6 eggs (at room temperature)
5 T. vegetable oil (or melted butter)
5 t. sugar
4 t. brown sugar, packed
2 T. baking powder
2 t. baking soda
2/3 t. salt
Optional: 2 oranges, zested and marinated in a splash of Grand Marnier or triple sec Travels with Mai Tai Tom

Instructions

Prepare the mixture: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugars, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Combine wet ingredients: In a separate bowl, mix the buttermilk, eggs, and vegetable oil (or melted butter).
Mix: Gently combine the wet and dry ingredients, stirring until just mixed. A few lumps are fine.
Add berries: Gently fold in the blueberries.
Cook: Heat a greased griddle or skillet over medium heat. Pour roughly 1/4 cup of batter per pancake.
Flip: Cook until bubbles form on top and the edges are set, about 2-3 minutes. Flip and cook until golden brown.

Thanks so much for your time; it’s always fun getting to know writing friends. The blueberry pancake recipe looks delicious; I think I’ll give it a try. Have a wonderful time in Ocean City NJ this summer, and again, congratulations on this beautiful book coming into the world!

You can connect with Stephanie here:

Website

Twitter/X

Instagram

Celebrating Asthma Awareness Month with Jacob Lockett

May is Asthma Awareness Month, and we are celebrating it with Jacob Lockett, whose debut picture book My Life as an Asthmanaut came out last month. I’m a huge fan of this book and believe it belongs in every home, classroom, and school nurse’s office.

Welcome, Jake, and thank you for taking the time to chat with me about your writing journey.

Me: Do you have any special plans for the spring or for Asthma Awareness Month? Or are there any activities that you participate in related to the season?

Jake: I’m currently planning my book launch for Asthma Awareness Month, specifically around World Asthma Day on May 5th. For the rest of the month, I’m considering additional author events.

Me: Do you have a favorite season?

Jake: As someone who lives in the middle of the Allegheny Mountains in Pennsylvania, where it’s quite cold for a lot of the year, I’d say my favorite season has to be summer. Though I do love the feeling of renewal that spring gives.

Me: How long have you been writing?

Jake: Ever since I was little, when I started writing and illustrating my own comic books. As I got older, I came up with plots and lore for fantasy novels that I, unfortunately, never got around to actually writing. I guess I procrastinated a bit! In my 20s, I enjoyed sending letters to podcasts, magazines, and radio stations. Many of my opinions and reviews got published in Doctor Who Magazine and read on BBC Radio. It was also during my 20s that I began to write stories for young readers with the goal of being traditionally published.

Me: Tell me a little bit about this book’s journey to publication. Were there any bumps and bruises along the way, obstacles you had to overcome, or aha-moments? You can share the good, bad, ugly lol, or not.

Jake: I had always played around with the notion of writing a picture book about my experiences with asthma. However, I was unsure of what approach to take. Should it be fiction? Non-fiction? Told in first person or third? What themes should I incorporate? I didn’t know where to start. So the project had become more of a far-off dream rather than a set goal.

Then, in 2023, I discovered Free Spirit’s call to authors to submit children’s story manuscripts for the disability book series they were planning. I started to seriously consider writing an asthma picture book, but I first had to apply. I found some bravery and crossed my fingers as I sent one of my published short stories to Free Spirit as a writing sample.

The publisher eventually got back… inviting me to submit a full book proposal! I was over the moon, but still a little reluctant about tackling the project. That same old question returned: “Where would I start?”

But after I read Free Spirit’s series guidelines and mission, I felt inspired. I decided to explore topics like fear and loneliness in the story, things that I’ve experienced living with asthma and other chronic illnesses throughout my life. This naturally led me towards a space theme for the book and using an astronaut metaphor to help explain what it’s like living with asthma.

I wrote the book fairly quickly, and it was a good thing too, because I only had a few weeks to submit it. After I sent the manuscript, I waited. I was on pins and needles to say the least! Then the acquisitions editor got back and said she was impressed by the story! She requested revisions, suggesting mostly to simplify the metaphor, tone down some of the sad language, and devote more text to showing strategies. I was given a couple of deadline dates for the revisions. The closest one… four days away.

I could’ve chosen the date that was further out to give myself more time to consider the feedback, but I wanted to know a bit sooner that my story was going to succeed. So I aimed for the earlier date and was surprised by the amount of creativity that came out of me in such a short time frame. I sent the revised manuscript (two days before the deadline), and the editor took the story to the acquisitions committee for consideration. Soon, it was accepted!

Me: What is one piece of advice you can give to writers who are just starting out, or who are still in the query trenches?

Jake: As someone who’s been in the query trenches since 2018 (yes, you read that correctly), writing and submitting can feel discouraging at times. But you must remember to stay persistent while maintaining a growth mindset. Query widely (your story deserves it) but also pivot when it becomes clear that something isn’t working.

Me: What are your plans for the future? Writing or otherwise, traveling, hobbies, etc.

Jake: I’m currently planning heavy promotion for My Life as an Asthmanaut to make sure it gets into the hands of kids (and adults) who really need it. I hope to travel to other states to spread asthma awareness with the book.

Me: I’d love for you to share a recipe with me, I have a collection of recipes from friends and family that goes back many years. I would love to include yours, as well as share it with my readers. I’d love to! When researching material for my children’s story, “Going Ape for Grape Juice,” I found this recipe for making your own grape juice:

What you’ll need:
8 lbs. Concord grapes, washed and stems removed
Water
3/4 cup sugar
2 Large pots
Ladle/large spoon
Strainer
Large bowl
Pitcher

What to do:
1. Add the grapes to the pot and enough water to cover them.
2. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium. Simmer for 10 minutes until the skins are soft, and the purple juices are released. Don’t forget to stir!
3. Ladle the mixture through the strainer set over the large bowl. This separates the juice from the pulp.
4. Pour the strained juice into a clean pot. Bring to a boil. Add the sugar and stir until dissolved.
5. Transfer the juice to the pitcher. Chill. Serve in glasses!

Thanks so much for your time, Jake, it’s always fun getting to know writing friends. I like how you let us follow you on your journey through the submission process of this wonderful, much needed book. You are truly an inspiration to me, and it gives me joy that there is a book in the world that empowers children that have asthma.

You can connect with Jake here:

Website

Twitter/X

Bluesky

Celebrating Spring with Cynthia Mackey

I’m excited to celebrate spring with Cynthia Mackey, the author of several picture books, including If a Bumblebee Lands On Your Toe. I was thrilled to be a part of Cynthia’s launch team for Butterfly Sea, a beautifully written book, which was released in January of this year.

Welcome Cynthia and thank you for taking the time to chat with me about your writing journey.

Me: Do you have any special plans for the spring? Or are there any activities that you participate in related to the season? Do you have a favorite season?

Cynthia: Thank you for the interview, Patricia. I love the springtime. I’m hoping like to add a small wildflower garden to my front yard in an effort to do some rewilding. We have a big front lawn – too big and have been slowly adding more plants, especially native plants. I would like to attract butterflies and other pollinators.

This spring, I’m excited to be out visiting schools and childcare centres in my area to read my books aloud. I’m looking forward to sharing my books with young readers.

Me: How long have you been writing?

Cynthia: Since I was a child, I have enjoyed writing – both creative writing and journal writing. I didn’t start writing picture books until around 2015. That’s when I first joined SCBWI. I wrote one picture book and then decided I needed to write at least 3 more. After that I joined the 12×12 picture book challenge in 2017, and my writing habit snowballed from there.

Me: What, or who inspired you to write Butterfly Sea?

Cynthia: BUTTERFLY SEA began with the title, when I was documenting butterfly photos for citizen science and was surprised to discover a butterfly near the seashore.

Cynthia: At first, I wrote BUTTERFLY SEA as a poem, and for me, that seems to be an excellent starting point when writing picture books. I made the decision to attend the Andrea Brown Big Sur Writing Workshop in 2024, and I wanted to bring this story to workshop there. Because of that, I was motivated to work EXTRA hard on polishing the manuscript before I went. It went through several revisions and the manuscript really started to shine once I added the younger sibling. I needed the editorial feedback, otherwise, I might not have seen the potential a sibling could add to the story. I’d call that an aha-moment when I realized the new possibilities I could explore.

Another question I had in my mind while developing the story was about the camera. What kind of device, phone or camera, should the main character use to take the butterfly photos? I liked the sound of ‘grandma’s camera’ and the internal rhyme as well as the idea that the camera could be borrowed. Isabella Kung was my critique group leader at Big Sur and when I shared BUTTERFLY SEA, she reinforced the idea that a camera could work well, (even better than a phone) for this story. With the feedback from Isabella and the rest of the writers in my critique group, I gained the confidence I needed to send it to publishers. Sending it out was the next step and I did send it to several editors and agents. Butterfly Sea captured the interest of an agent, but not enough for her to offer representation. In June, I sent Butterfly Sea and some other stories to Tielmour Press and they contacted me in August to express interest in publishing the book!

Me: What is one piece of advice you can give to writers who are just starting out, or who are still in the query trenches?

Cynthia: The reality is you have to be sending work out to get published. Expect a lot of silence or passes. Try sending a story out in batches of five, then if there’s little or no response, re-read the manuscript and to look for missed opportunities and attempt to revise to add something deeper to the story. Or if you cannot see a way to improve upon it, send it back to your critique group to seek more feedback before sending out the manuscript again.

Me: What are your plans for the future? Writing or otherwise, traveling, hobbies, etc.

Cynthia: My husband and I have a spring trip to Europe planned – we’ve never been! We are going to get the chance to visit 5 different countries in two and a half weeks.

I like variety so I do a lot of different hobbies, walking/hiking, community choir, playing piano and guitar, crochet, stand up paddle boarding, gardening, and documenting butterflies for citizen science. I’m also learning to draw, sketch, and paint with watercolors. Of course, I love to read and keep coming up with new stories – I can’t help myself.

Cynthia: My first self-published book is called KATIE SHAEFFER PANCAKE MAKER (2016). Katie hopes to make golden brown, fluffy as a cloud, perfectly round, pancakes. What could possibly go wrong? The book has a recipe in the back, and I’m going to share it, with a twist, add some maple blossoms. Spring is the perfect time for harvesting them and if you’re in Canada, like me, there are plenty of maple trees around. The flowers offer a subtle maple flavour that goes very well with maple syrup. Harvest the flowers before the edges of the petals turn brown. Yes, you really can eat them! The maple blossoms are optional.

Recipe: Maple Blossom Pancakes

1 egg

1 cup all-purpose flour

¾ cup milk

1 tablespoon of sugar

2 tablespoons of vegetable oil

3 teaspoons of baking powder

½ teaspoon of salt

Maple blossoms, one for each pancake, if desired

Beat egg until fluffy. Beat in remaining ingredients except maple blossoms, just until the batter is smooth. For thinner pancakes, add an extra ¼ cup of milk. Grease heated griddle if necessary. For each pancake, pour about 3 tablespoons of batter onto hot griddle. Add a maple blossom in the centre of each pancake if desired. Cook until puffy and dry around edges. Air bubbles will pop. Flip pancake and cook second side until golden brown. Eat and enjoy!

Thanks so much for your time. It’s always fun getting to know writing friends, and now I suddenly have a craving for pancakes…

You can connect with Cynthia here:

A Tribute to Military Families with Lisa Wheeler

I’m excited to have Lisa Wheeler, the award-winning author of more than forty books, with us today. She will be discussing her latest picture book, It Takes a Family to Serve: A Tribute to Military Families.

Welcome Lisa and thank you for taking the time to chat with me about your writing journey.

Me: Do you have any special plans for the rest of the winter? Or are there any activities that you participate in related to the season? Do you have a favorite season?

Lisa: My favorite season is Fall. I love everything about it—the colors, the crisp air, the holidays, the food and. . . the reduction of biting insects! We love hiking and Fall is the best time, around here, to do it.

In Michigan, once winter sets in, I become a virtual hermit. The skies are always gray, except when it’s bitter cold. Then, the sun finally shines! We often head to see family in Florida for a few weeks each winter. I wish I enjoyed the winter outdoor activities, but the older I get, the more I feel the biting cold.

Me: How long have you been writing?

Lisa: Like most writers, I’ve been writing all my life, but I didn’t decide to try it as a career until about 30 years ago. I’d always received encouragement from family and friends to give it a go, but it took time to believe in myself. I jumped in with both feet and I was hooked.

Me: What, or who inspired you to write It Takes a Family to Serve?

Lisa: The initial inspiration came on Veteran’s Day of 2021. While visiting my dad–my favorite veteran—I saw a post on social media featuring my cousin and his family. Bryan, who is career Airforce, had been deployed six times while raising his family. I knew that his wife, Melissa, often had to be the one to move the whole family from state to state, look for a new teaching job, and have everything handled when Bryan returned. The kids also had to be flexible, always starting new schools. But they have an amazing family, and I’d always been impressed with how they functioned. I recall looking at that picture and thinking, It takes a family to serve. That was how the book idea began.

Lisa: The book sold, through my agent, to Nancy Inteli at HarperCollins in 2022. We then set out to find the perfect artist for it. That summer, I came across The Impossible Mountain, written and illustrated by David Soman. (Little Brown Books for Young Readers). I saw in it the depth of character I had imagined when writing the book. I also saw beautiful landscapes, which I also felt was necessary for the title. I shared this with my editor, not knowing if they would feel the same. But they did! And David Soman came on as illustrator. Since David had numerous projects to complete, I had to be patient and wait until the Spring of 2026 to share the book with the world.

I think the bumpiest thing I had to contend with—am still contending with –is how to get this book in front of the military families who need to see themselves inside its pages. My publisher is setting up some signings at independent bookstores near bases for me. That will help and I’m eager to meet my readers there!

The second bump in the road is that I started developing health issues after writing the book. So, traveling has become a bit more difficult. My intentions were to go across the country, visiting bookstores in cities with lots of military families.

Fortunately, I’ve learned—because of Covid—to be flexible. Loren Long and I were supposed to go on a tour in the Spring of 2021 to promote Someone Builds the Dream. That wasn’t happening, so we did a virtual tour. Despite the setback, the book continues to do well.

Me: What is one piece of advice you can give to writers who are just starting out, or who are still in the query trenches?

Lisa: Do your homework. When I started out 30 years ago, we didn’t have the internet. I went to the local library, and the librarians helped me find the information I needed. I also joined a poetry writing group, SCBWI, and several critique groups. This is a business and you don’t know what you don’t know. So be kind to everyone you meet along the way. I didn’t sell my first book overnight. But 4 years after I took the plunge into the world of children’s books, I got a YES!

Me: What are your plans for the future? Writing or otherwise, traveling, hobbies, etc.

Lisa: Other than promoting It Takes A Family to Serve, and school and library visits, my husband and I hope to take a trip. Our 45^th wedding anniversary is in March, (which is also reading month!). We’ve had to cancel our last four vacations because of health, his, mine or my dad’s. So we hope to finally get to see the Redwoods in Northern California in a month that isn’t March. I’ve wanted to see them since I was a kid looking through my View-Master at pictures of National parks.

Lisa: Here’s the recipe for Ugly Pie. (It’s from my book of the same name, illustrated by Heather Soloman—Harcourt)

Ugly Crust

2 ½ cups flour 1 cup lard (shortening or butter)

½ tsp salt 6 to 8 Tbsp of icy cold water

First, mix together the flour and salt. Then, using a fork, cut little chunks of that ugly lard into your flour until you get what looks like itty-bitty pea-sized balls. *Set aside HALF of this mixture in another bowl for later.* Next, sprinkle 1 tablespoon of icy cold water over those pea-sized balls. Gently toss it with a fork. Repeat until your flour mixture forms and ugly ball of dough.

Spread a little bit of flour out on a flat surface. (like your kitchen counter). Pat that ball of ugly dough down like you mean business. Then roll it with a rolling pin until it becomes flat, ugly crust. It doesn’t matter if it looks nice and round and pretty. This is Ugly Pie! Place in a 9” deep-dish pie plate.

Ugly Filling

6 cups of peeled and sliced granny smith apples ¼ cup molasses 1 tsp lemon juice

In a large bowl, toss apple slices with lemon juice. Then mix in molasses until apples are completely coated with ugly brown goo. Set aside.

5 Tbsp flour ½ cup white sugar ¾ cup brown sugar

1 tsp cinnamon ½ tsp nutmeg

In a medium sized bowl, mix the dry ingredients listed above. Add to the ugly apple mixture until everything is nice and moist.

¾ cup red raisins (cran-raisins work great!) ¼ cup walnuts chopped fine

Toss raisins and walnuts into apple mixture. Make sure all ingredients are well coated. Place into pie crust. Your pie should look fairly ugly by now.

Ugly Topping

Take the crumbly flour mixture you set aside earlier. Sprinkle it over the top of the pie.

Cover pie with an aluminum-foil tent to prevent overbrowning. Bate at 400 degrees for 40 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 20 minutes.

When your pie is done, you will have the most delicious, most beautiful Ugly Pie you ever saw.

Thank you, Lisa, for the inspiring interview and (beautiful) Ugly Pie recipe. Your love for families of the military truly shines through, and I hope you get this book in the hands of the many military families that need it. I can’t wait to try that ugly pie! And please keep it between us, but I used to love looking through my View-Master too. 😉

You can connect with Lisa here:

Celebrating the Launch of I’m Busy with Debbie Ridpath Ohi

I’m thrilled to have Debbie Ridpath Ohi with us today. Debbie is a children’s book author and illustrator who has illustrated books for Judy Blume and Michael Ian Black. I’m Busy, the newest addition to the I’m series of picture books, written by Michael Ian Black and illustrated by Debbie, launches on February 24^th.

Welcome Debbie, and congratulations on your newest picture book! Thank you for taking the time to chat with me.

Me: Do you have any special plans for the rest of this long, cold winter? Or are there any activities that you participate in related to the season? Do you have a favorite season?

Debbie: My favourite season is autumn. I do love early winter and would definitely miss that season if we ended up having to move somewhere that was always warm. However, winters in Ontario are looooong, and we’re all pretty much ready for it to end by March. 🙂 My plans for the winter: Since I’ve just come back from work travel in NYC and vacation travel in New Orleans, my plans for the rest of the winter consist of cocooning in my cozy basement studio and working on my middle grade novel!

Me: How long have you been writing?

Debbie: I have been writing and wanting to be a writer for as long as I can remember, honestly. I wrote my first chapter book when I was nine years old and was delighted that my teacher liked it and the illustrations I added.

Me: What, or who was the inspiration for this book?

Debbie: I asked Michael why he wrote I’m Busy, and he said, “I wrote I’m Busy as a reminder for the over-scheduled kid (or parent) that even though we’re so lucky we get to do so many amazing things, it’s also important to take some time to hang out with your buddies and just look at the clouds.”

Me: Tell me a little bit about your journey as the illustrator of this book. Were there any bumps and bruises along the way, obstacles you had to overcome, aha-moments? You can share the good, bad, ugly lol, or not.

Debbie: There were definitely some bumps and bruises during the illustration process, at least in terms of challenges to figure out along the way. I’ve learned, though, that this is actually a good thing…it means that the project is pushing me to be more creative, to step outside my comfort zone, that I’m growing as an illustrator. For I’m Busy, the challenge was deciding on how I wanted to draw the background in illustrations that already had a lot of stuff in the foreground. One example: the spread where thegirl is walking away from the “camera”, with a ton of papers, notebooks, scheduling materials, pens, pencils etc. trailing behind her. My solution: to draw the background in a softer and more muted illustration style. That way, it wouldn’t interfere with the foreground elements or making things look too “busy” (despite the title of the book, heh).

Me: What is one piece of advice you can give to writers who are just starting out, or who are still in the query trenches?

Debbie: No matter how busy you are, always make the time to read. On the most hectic days when I barely have enough time to eat, I still always make sure to read for at least 10-15 minutes a day. I read in all formats: print, digital, and audio.

Me: What are your plans for the future? Writing or otherwise, traveling, hobbies, etc.

Debbie: I’m excited about being the cover artist for two Judy Blume titles that are being reissued by Simon & Schuster Children’s! The titles are As Long As We’re Together, and Here’s To You, Rachel Robinson. I’ve been working with Lauren Rille, Hope Kim, and Jin Soo Chun. The new covers are not ready to share yet, but hopefully soon!

Debbie: I confess that this is the question that took me the most time, because I’m not really a natural cook or baker; I rely heavily on cookbooks. One of my favourite breakfasts is oatmeal with a fried egg on top. Does that count as a recipe? I can also share my current favourite recipe website, which is Just One Cookbook at https://www.justonecookbook.com/. A friend pointed me there when she found out I was looking for simple tasty Japanese home cooking recipes. It’s wonderful!

Thank you for stopping by, it’s always fun getting to know writing friends. I feel truly honored to have interviewed you and want to thank you for all you do for the Kid Lit community on Bluesky and through the resources on your website. And thank you for sharing your favorite recipe website, the Japanese fried noodles recipe looks delicious!