The first time I heard about Brian Gehrlein was when I read his article, 5 Things My 600 Rejections Taught Me. You know the feeling when you read or see something and you immediately like it? Well, that’s what happened to me. I immediately liked this guy. He was an actual “real person” with real writing struggles, encouraging not only himself but also others in the query trenches. Since then, I’ve gotten to know Brian through working with him in his critique services, and he is the real deal! I am grateful for his help, creative suggestions, and encouragement, and I highly recommend his critique and mentoring services.
I was thrilled when I was invited to be a part of the This is Not a Sleepy Bear Book Advanced Reader Team. At that point, I had already pre-ordered the book and was looking forward to adding it to my collection of picture books. Of course, The Book of Rules is part of that collection. I’m crazy about Dennis and wish I would have had this book during my years in the classroom. So, it was no surprise to me that Brian did not disappoint with his second book.
This is Not a Sleepy Bear Book by Brian Gehrlein and illustrated by Jennifer Harney is a show-stopper! From the minute you begin reading, it draws you into a cozy yet chaotic world of fun and shenanigans. The clever twist on a classic bear story and zany humor will have kids asking to have this book read to them again and again. And to top it all off, there’s a surprise ending! No wonder it got a Kirkus Star review! You can pre-order a signed copy of This is Not a Sleepy Bear Book at The Learning Tree.
At the end of Brian’s article 5 Things My 600 Rejections Taught Me he said: “So I hope I can remember what I’ve learned over the past two years. There’s power in perseverance and a number is just a number…not a reflection of your worth. Perhaps I’m only getting warmed up…”
I’m so happy that Brian didn’t give up, because now we have two of his amazing stories in the world, stories that kids will love, and giggle to for many years to come. And guess what, I think he’s still only getting warmed up!
I’m happy to celebrate the fall season with Maria Antonia, the author of Barnaby the Runaway Sheep. This heartwarming story with themes of trust and faith is the perfect story to share with little ones! Welcome Maria and thank you for taking the time to chat with me about your writing journey.
Me: Do you have a favorite season?
Maria: I like all the seasons of the year, and I look forward to all the changes. But I will say that I do love springtime! It’s the season of new beginnings. I do a bit of gardening, so I love when all the trees are coming to life. And the flowering fruit trees are the best! Not to mention, lilacs and lily-of-the-valley are some of my favorite flowers.
I love how Sayani Mukherjee (the illustrator for my picture book, Barnaby the Runaway Sheep) was able to incorporate so many of the seasons in the book. The flowering trees to show the spring and the wonderful, vibrant greens to depict summer. One of my favorite illustrations is one that shows Barnaby and the other sheep from overhead with the golden browns of autumn.
Me: How long have you been writing?
Maria: I’ve been writing and telling stories since I was a kid. However, I started to seriously pursue being a published author in 2018. I had been writing short birthday stories for my nieces and nephews and wanted to know if they were “good enough” for publication. I started to put my work out there within the online critique community. I had two short stories picked up by two magazines in the fall of 2020. I’ve had lots of magazine stories published since. And then in 2024 and 2025, my two picture books were released into the world! The Christmas Elephant and Barnaby the Runaway Sheep.
Me: What or who inspired you to write Barnaby the Runaway Sheep?
Maria: Barnaby was inspired by a real-life sheep named Shrek who ran away and lived out in a cave for a number of years. By the time his shepherds tracked him down, he couldn’t move due to his wool being so heavy and matted with dirt. He only survived because they found him!
I initially wrote about Shrek but ultimately decided to fictionalize the story. I had more creative license that way and didn’t have to stick to all the facts of Shrek’s story. The sheep’s name changed to Barnaby, which just felt like the perfect name for my little runaway sheep!
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?
Maria: This book is my second picture book in a 2-book deal with my publisher, Paraclete Press. Even though it was published second, it’s the book that got me the deal! We submitted my Christmas Elephant book after that, and they decided to lead with that story in time for Christmas. Barnaby came out for Easter!
I originally titled the book The Runaway Sheep, but there was another book by that name. Just before my book went to print, my editor contacted me and told me they wanted to change my title so it wouldn’t be confused with this other book. We came up with Barnaby the Runaway Sheep. I love the new title and now I can’t imagine it as anything else!
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: You have to be persistent. This business is full of rejection, and if you can’t handle that, this is probably not the job for you. Also, keep working on your writing craft. You can always learn to do better. Keep writing new stories. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different writing styles to find your voice. Write what excites you!
Me: What are your plans for the future? Writing or otherwise, traveling, hobbies, etc.
Maria: I am working on all sorts of different stories at the moment. I have a few manuscripts on submission with my agent. I’m gearing up for school visits this fall/winter, both in-person and virtual visits. I love interacting with young readers. As a former teacher, it’s fun to be back in the classroom.
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.
My Recipe for Peanut Butter Fudge!
Ingredients
2 ¼ cups chunky peanut butter
3/4 cup butter
2 cups powdered sugar
½ cut powdered milk
2 tsp vanilla
Directions:
Combine peanut butter and butter on low heat.
Remove from heat and add powdered sugar, powdered milk, and vanilla. Mix well.
Spread mixture in a buttered 9×9 pan (or line with wax paper or parchment paper).
Refrigerate overnight.
Cut into small, bite-sized squares. Keep refrigerated until ready to eat!
Me: Thanks for taking the time to chat with me; it was fun getting to know you more, and I have a feeling I’ll be asking you back again. I haven’t had peanut butter fudge in a long time, and it’s nice to have a recipe for it now.
Maria Antonia learned to write her name at five years old and tried typing with an old manual typewriter at age eight. However, it was when she met the computer that she never turned back. Many years later, she still clickety-taps out her stories onto the screen, stories that have turned into picture books like The Christmas Elephant and Barnaby the Runaway Sheep. In addition to writing, Maria also enjoys sipping a nice cup of hot tea and capturing the world with her camera. She has lived in Sunny Spain, Busy New York City, and currently resides in the Great White North of Canada.
Sayani Mukherjee is an Indian illustrator based in Dublin, Ireland. Sayani embarked on her artistic journey with a passion to observe and recreate children’s expressions and activities in a whimsical art form. Her love for children’s literature combined with her artistic prowess led her to specialize in illustrating books for young readers. With a growing portfolio of acclaimed projects and awards, Sayani’s work continues to brighten bookshelves and inspire young readers worldwide.
I’m so excited that we will be celebrating the Winter Wonders season with Joyce P. Uglow, the author of STUCK! THE STORY OF LA BREA TAR PITS, a lyrical non-fiction picture book that explores the origin story of La Brea Tar Pits. STUCK! is coming to book shelves on March 4, 2025 just in time for us all to unearth ourselves from all our winter outwear.
Welcome Joyce and thank you for taking the time to chat with me about your writing journey.
I can’t believe it’s already December and before you know it, winter will be here! I don’t mind, since I love the holiday season, and the cold weather gives me an excuse to stay in and read some great books. I can’t wait to hear all about your book, and how it came about. So, do you have any special plans for the winter?
Joyce: I’m mostly a warm-weather kind of person. But during the colder months here in southeastern Wisconsin, I bundle up and go wonder-walking on the country roads near our home anyway. Fresh air, you know? It’s good for the mind and body. My favorite seasons involve anything that gives me opportunities to admire trees, notice everything nature, and cheer from the sidelines at our grandsons’ games. Oh… that means I love all four seasons. I also love traveling to the places where I can enjoy family, ocean, mountains, and wildlife. I prefer movement over staying stuck in one place.
Me: How long have you been writing?
Joyce: In fourth grade, Mrs. Jaske turned me on to creative writing. I typically wrote and told stories about my horses, family, and friends. Of course, I had a diary in which I wrote my biggest secrets. Hehehe! What secrets? I come from a family of seven, so we knew everything… At least I thought we did.
Writing became a part of my teaching style when I saw that some of my students needed a differentiated teaching styles to in order to learn to read. The kids would tell me their experiences, I’d write their words, and then we’d read their stories together. Soon, the tables turned and they wrote for themselves, wrote some of mine, and read our stories at the Author’s Chair. I also loved using picture book mentor texts to teaching writing to my students. I’d read aloud, we’d think about the author’s techniques word choices, make charts for our walls, and then we’d create our own. Because I wrote at the same time, I built up a stack of manuscripts. When I retired from teaching and leading in elementary schools, I began to study the art of the picture book in earnest. I joined SCBWI, Julie Hedlund’s 12 X 12 Picture Book Challenge, and accumulated more manuscripts. Being a part of critique groups helped me to realize nuances and the rules When I was a kid, my mom modeled that writing is a part of life by submitting editorials, articles to women’s magazines, and her stories to publishing houses. Reading and writing are, and have always been, an important part of me.
Me: Who or what inspired you to write this book?
Joyce: When visiting Los Angeles for the SCBWI summer conference in 2018, my son and I visited La Brea Tar Pits. There, I became mesmerized by the notion that an entire ecosystem of ice age megafauna (big animals) got trapped in sticky stacks with insects, birds, fish, and plants in asphalt seeps over the course of 50,000 years. At the museum, I couldn’t tear myself away from Smilodon fatalis and all its fossil glory. I knew I needed to write a picture book about Smilodon and other unsuspecting animals that got mired in the mysterious muck. If you ever get the chance to visit La Brea, take a stroll through the museum, pause at the sticky seeps in the park, and get mesmerized by fossils’ story.
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.
Joyce: STUCK! THE STORY OF LA BREA TAR PITS, written by me and illustrated by Valerya Milovanova was originally scheduled for release on November 5, 2024. However, the publication date moved to March 4, 2025. It is not hard to understand that many moving parts go into publishing a book and schedules sometimes have to be changed due to a variety of circumstances. The process of getting a book into the hands and hearts of young readers takes the time it takes. Right? I’m looking forward to wearing my Smilodon hat while talking to kids about the book, its story, and of course – the fossils’ story.
I was honored to be a part of the Bushel & Peck Books booth at the 2024 American Library Association conference in San Diego in June 2024. I got the chance to meet and talk to a wonderful line of readers, librarians, publishers, and book buyers who came get an autographed copy of STUCK. I have to say, I had an absolute blast meeting my amazing editor, Ryan G. Van Cleave and Stephanie and David Miles, the inspirational owners of Bushel & Peck Books.
It is exciting to share with kids that paleontologists study the connections between the climate, environment, and fossils. Fun fact: In the 4000 dire wolf individuals found at La Brea, scientists have discovered that over thousands of years, the shape of the skull, snout, and body size evolved as their ice age environment changed.
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?
Joyce: Take the time to notice how the marriage of art and words make the picture book a masterpiece. In terms of the query trenches… Are you patient? While you’re waiting to hear back from agents and editors, continue to read more and write new manuscripts. Don’t get lost in the mysterious muck of thinking that first one is the ONE.
Even though you asked for one piece of advice, here’s another tidbit. I believe you’ll come to know picture books and writing on a deeper level by participating in the amazing Julie Hedlund’s 12 X 12 Picture Book Challenge and be elevated by the inspirational Bethany Hegadus at her Writing Barn top notch courses within the Courage to Create. And it goes without saying that membership in SCBWI is essential.
Me: That is some wonderful advice you gave for those of us who are still in the query trenches. So, what are your plans for the future? Writing or otherwise, traveling, hobbies, etc.
Joyce: It is important to me that I leave a legacy of respect for the planet. I treasure nature and love traveling to places where I find surprises. Those experiences spark my curiosity and inspire me to write kidlit poetry and picture books of wonder that keep kids curious. I’m hooked on the discovery process.
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.
This easy, no-bake cookie is loved by all.
Peanut Butter Candy Cookies
Yield 3 dozen
Ingredients
2 C. granulated sugar
1 stick butter
½ C. milk
½ tsp. salt
1/3 C. baking cocoa powder
3 C. quick oats
½ C. peanut butter (I use chunky peanut butter.)
1 tsp. vanilla
Instructions
In a medium sauce pan, bring sugar, butter, milk, salt and cocoa to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil for 75 seconds (no longer!!) and remove from heat.
To the hot mixture, add oats, peanut butter, and vanilla. Stir well to combine.
Drop by the spoonful on the parchment paper or wax paper and let harden.
Store in a tightly covered container – if there are any left.
Me: It’s been great getting to know you, and I’m inspired to learn more about the La Brea Tar Pits, which sound quite fascinating! And of course, I’ll have to try your no-bake cookie recipe, it sounds scrumptious.
Pat Brown Books 