Sliced Dark: An Interview with Ohio Poet Wendy McVicker

Sliced Dark: a collaboration of poems and pictures

by Wendy McVicker & John McVicker

Sliced Dark: An Interview with Ohio Poet Wendy McVicker

Wendy McVicker is a gem in SE Ohio. She is a poet and Ohio Arts Council teaching artist. Wendy is the author of several books, including her most recent, a collaborative book project with her husband, John McVicker, Sliced Dark.  Spending time with Wendy earlier this year at a local poetry workshop was inspiring. She has a handle on writing poetry; it comes from deep within, the place where all great poetry resides. 

Sliced Dark is recommended reading and one of my favorite poetry collections. Recently, I caught up with Wendy and we talked about her poetry and much more.

Welcome, Wendy!

GM: At what age did you write your first poem?  

WM: I started writing stories for my younger brothers as soon as I learned to write. I think my first poem was a celebration of horses, written in the 3^rd grade. I’m sorry I can’t share it with you, but that’s probably just as well. I remember writing a Poe-like poem in 9^th grade about an abandoned mansion deep in the woods near my neighborhood — I was working on it in science class, and my science teacher called me in after school and told me I wouldn’t amount to much if I didn’t focus better in class! In high school I wrote moody pieces I called “thingies,” which I realized much later were prose poems. They’re all lost, too, thankfully! I only shared them with my two closest friends. 

I went on to college and majored in philosophy, so I wrote a lot of abstract papers, and letters to my friends far away. I took lots of English classes: I was (and am) a fiction junkie. My dream of writing, as old as my awareness of books, went underground, but if I thought about it at all, I assumed I’d write fiction.

After college, where I met my now-husband, creative- and life-collaborator, we moved to French-speaking Switzerland, where he had a teaching job. Fumbling through a new language, I turned to dance for my creative expression, and did that for a few years until we had our first child and decided to return to the States. Our second child was born in Kansas, where John was in grad school and I was falling in love with English all over again. This is when I started writing poetry, in secret, in those brief moments of quiet that were naptime. The first poem I remember completing was about the silvery olive trees outside the Friends Meetinghouse window — sadly, I’ve lost that notebook in various moves. I did write my first published poem, Evening Dishes, there.

We moved to Athens in 1985, when John got a job teaching English to international students at Ohio University. I was still a closeted poet, but when the clerk of the Friends Meeting arrived on our doorstep with flowers and tomatoes from her garden, I wrote her a thank you note that was really a sort of poem. She immediately called me up, said, “You’re a poet!” and pulled me out of that closet for good. She turned me on to the publication Friendly Woman, where I had my first publication, to a poetry workshop at Communiversity (remember that??), to Wayne Dodd’s graduate poetry workshop at Ohio University: to a whole new world I’ve been exploring ever since.

GM: You collaborated with your husband, John, on your current book, Sliced Dark. Tell us about the process...

WM: John was a Fine Arts (painting) major in college, but as you’ve seen, life took him in other directions. In retirement he has returned to this first love, and to photography, which had always been part of his creative process. Our first collaborations were in the form of “poem cards,” for which we paired a poem with a photograph he had taken. At some point, he began to feel that these were too illustrative, and he wanted to “riff” more on the poems. He was also interested in honing his skills in digital collaging. Thus, this project began: with his asking me for poems to meditate and “riff” on. First came broadsides, and then the book collection.

GM: Do you have a favorite poem of your own? 

WM: I always feel that poets say their most recent poem is their favorite: it still has the sheen of birthing on it! Thank you for mentioning The Names of Things; I love it, too, in part because I am deeply grateful to my father for having passed on to me a love of language and literature. But another fave is oh it’s snowing, in part for the memories it evokes for me, in part because I am happy when I feel I have (as Alicia Ostriker said) “pressed the most matter and spirit into least space” — or at least come within sight of this goal. I am fond of the lines “When you have become cloud/I will wait for rain” in Seawalls. They were a gift, dropped from the sky, and I continue to be grateful for them: my muse is rarely so generous!

GM: How do you maintain thoughts and ideas?

WM: Well, of course, I don’t always, like anybody else! But I do carry a notebook and pen with me, and I try to note down things I hear, things that come to me, phrases, images. I used to be much more casual about this; now I know that this is my toybox, and I need to keep it filled!

GM: What are you currently writing?

WM: I have been involved in a residency in Cincinnati, at the Kennedy Heights Arts Center, for the past month, in collaboration with my friend and gifted fabric artist, Nancy Gamon. Our project is called Common Threads, and we invited people to write and then get their words (stories, poems, thoughts) onto an already-existing garment, thus creating wearable art and (we hope!) connections. I have been working on several poems about hands (all that hand work! not my forté, exactly); a poem about aging; and reworking a couple of older poems. I’m not ready to share any of these just yet! But here’s a piece:

These hands 

have work to do:       

Grabbing hold  

and getting to know,

taking notes, recording:

This is their work

and they won’t let go

GM: Beautiful, Wendy. I love reading your poetry. In your opinion, what makes the perfect poem?

WM: Oh my gosh! I love a poem that is economical in its language, touches my senses, speaks to something deep — without being heavy, without telling me what I should think or feel. I love rich imagery and the sounds of language — I want these to play off each other in a poem. Some poems touch me at a particular moment, and then lose their power — others stay with me, reading after reading. These become favorites.

GM: Who is your favorite poet? Do you have a favorite poem?

WM: I never know how to answer this: there are so many poets and poems that speak to me at different times. Poets I return to over and over are William Stafford, Mary Oliver, Mark Strand, Anne Carson…for different reasons, but all because they can go deep with apparently simple language, and with rhythms and imagery that stir me.

GM: Do you have advice for novice poets and those looking to put their thoughts on the page?

WM: Two of my favorite writers have what I consider to be great advice: Grace Paley said, “…if you say what’s on your mind in the language that comes to you from your parents and your street and your friends, you’ll probably say something beautiful,” and William Stafford said, “Each poem is a miracle that has been invited to happen,” and “Poetry is language with a little luck in it.” I encourage people who feel compelled to put their thoughts, musings, words, on paper or screen, as many of us do, to trust that impulse, and trust the language that comes to them. Also: read, read, read! Read what you wish you could write, read to learn as well as for pleasure. Carry a notebook. Scribble. Let your hand and your mind develop the habit of writing. When it gets scary or hard, know that you are really doing it, and the rewards of living a deepening life are well worth it.

About Sliced Dark (from blurb.com)

Poet Wendy McVicker and artist John McVicker have created a collection of twenty-one poems, each with an accompanying digital collage on a facing page - each image is a sort of meditation on the poem with which it is paired. The book explores love, loss, and roads not taken, and the poems and images are intended to invite repeated reflection, producing thoughts and visions that weave themselves into your dreams. 

“The choreography between the words and images in this quietly visionary project is luminous and unsettling. Look, then look again.” Claire Bateman, poet, author of The Bicycle Slow Race 

“The waters run deep in this modest, evocative tome and it deserves to be read and read again, with each new reading providing new revelations.” John Zorn, musician.

Order your copy of Sliced Dark here.

More poetry from Wendy...

A Cultured Girl: An Interview with Author Terri Mash

A Cultured Girl: An Interview with Author Terri Mash

Ohio writer Terri Mash launched her fist book A Cultured Girl: A Collection of Poems and Short Stories (Monday Creek Publishing) in April of this year. Terri, living in rural Ohio, spends many days on her front porch overlooking her wooded acreage, writing songs and poetry. Terri comes from a long line of musicians. Besides lyrics and poetry, Terri also enjoys painting. She is a good artist, capturing her pets, friends, family, and more…

Welcome, Terri!

GM: What is the premise for your book, A Cultured Girl?
TM: I wanted to pay tribute to my family, and the simple country way of life in those times. I wanted it to send a message of positivity that hard work and determination pay off.

GM: As a new author, have you enjoyed the process from manuscript to paperback book?
TM: Yes, it forced me to open my mind and dig deep and be creative in a new way.  It boosted my self-confidence.

GM: Do you have a favorite poem or short story?  
TM: Yes, a poem, Grandma's Little Cottage. My memories of her are so vivid. She sparked my creativity and spent so much time with us in our younger developing years. She had a profound influence on my life.

GM: Who is your favorite author?
TM: I don't confine myself to a favorite author.  I love to read biographies mostly, and mysteries.

GM: What are you currently reading?
TM: A Remarkable Mother by Jimmy Carter, and Afterlife, My Journey from Incarceration to Freedom by Alice Marie Johnson.

GM: What are you currently writing?
TM: I am working fun little song lyrics, and a short story.

GM: How do you maintain the thoughts and ideas for future stories
TM: I listen very carefully to others and pay close attention to what is going on around me. So often when we talk to others, we are so intent on our response, we miss a lot of what they are saying and feeling. Being a better listener helps me write, because people inspire me.

GM: What advice do you have for novice writers?
TM: Believe in yourself! We are each unique and have a story to tell. When you write your story down and share it with others it becomes a masterpiece. Truth and heartfelt thoughts are the place to start.

GM: List 10 things your fans may not know about you…
TM: 1. I love to fish. I have a lucky straw that helps me catch the big ones.

2. I like to do yoga, especially restorative Zen. It relaxes me.
3. I am 4' 10", I can buy my clothes in the children's department.
4. I still have my troll dolls from childhood.  (This one is scary and hard to admit.)
5. I love the water, swimming and kayaking.
6. All my life I've had dreams that I could fly.
7. I say a prayer of thanks daily for my family and their continued health. I feel very blessed.
8. I don't like to cook but love to eat other people's home cooking.
9. My mother passed away in 1998, she is my guardian angel.
10. I believe I have an inner child that lives within my heart. She inspires me to create. It helps me stay young, because I'm not done yet!

Connect with Terri

Amazon Author Page

Mary Whalen (Terri's sister) and Terri signing books earlier this summer.

Excerpt from A Cultured Girl by Terri Mash

Terri's goat - for real and in art. (c) Terri Mash

Meet Author Mary Whalen

Meet Author Mary Whalen

An Author Interview with Gina McKnight

From Ohio USA, Mary Whalen is the author of The Forgotten Rose, a heartfelt tale of planting, growing and blooming. Sincere and inspiring, follow along as the author tells the life of a rose, beginning in the Garden of Eden, reseeding throughout history, finally to modern times where the rose continues to represent love and beauty. 

Welcome, Mary!

GM: When did you realize you wanted to become a writer?

MW: In high school I always enjoyed reading and it sparked my interest in writing short stories.

GM: What is the premise for your new book The Forgotten Rose?

MW: It was a writing assignment during my senior year of high school. I wrote it to honor my grandmother.

GM: As a new published author, can you share your experience and your thoughts about the publishing process?

MW: It was more complicated than I thought it would be but satisfying to see the finished product.

GM:  Who is your favorite author? why?

MW: My favorite author is the one whose book I am reading at the time. Harper Lee is one of my favorites.

GM: What are you currently reading?

MW: The Life She was Given by Ellen Ruth Wiseman.

GM: What are you currently writing?

MW: I am working on a couple of short stories.  Once I get an idea, I start the writing process and go back to refine it.

GM: What advice do you have for novice writers?

MW: Just write your thoughts, ideas, or story lines and go from there.  Getting started is the hardest part.

GM: List 10 things your fans may not know about you...

I'm an introvert except with my family.

I like flowers, animals and nature.

I believe in angels and Heaven.

My favorite vacation is going to the ocean.  It is so relaxing.

I enjoy cooking especially making a big pot of sloppy joes for my grandchildren.  It is their favorite.

I went to school in a two-room schoolhouse, second through sixth grade.  It had an outhouse that was painted white.

When I was young my favorite instrument was the accordion, but I never learned to play one.

Once my Mom put henna on my hair.  I slipped in extra henna and my hair turned bright orange.  I could have done an ad for Wendy's!

My first car was an old Rambler station wagon.

Both my children were born on the same day, five years apart.

I was widowed at age 42.  My husband passed away with cancer shortly after he was diagnosed.

The Forgotten Rose was published October 2018 (Monday Creek Publishing) and is available in paperback from Barnes and Noble. For a signed copy by the author, please send an email to mondaycreekpublishing@gmail.com.

Right: A photo of Mary Whalen at home with her book The Forgotten Rose. 

An Interview with Ohio Author Cristina Sicard

Illustrator Katie Drakulich and Author Cristina Sicard at Monday Creek Publishing

An Interview with Ohio Author Cristina Sicard

From Ohio USA, meet children’s literature author Cristina Sicard! I first met Cristina when she was a student at Ohio University. Now, pursuing her Masters degree away from home, she continues to inspire and motivate! Her first children’s literature, Harmony, was released in December 2019. Harmony is the story of an Ohio llama who thinks about his relatives in Peru. A cute story that has become a favorite of many, Harmony continues to be enjoyed by children around the world!

Welcome, Cristina!

GM: Your new children's book Harmony is adorable! How did you come up with the idea?

CS: Realizing writing gave me the power to share stories, I dreamed of writing a children’s book from the time I could talk. Entering Ohio University as a journalism major, I told myself I would try my hardest to find a way into the publishing world. As part of my News and Information Capstone, I interviewed a llama owner, Donna Moore, for Southeast Ohio magazine. That day, I brought my good friend from high school, Katie Drakulich (Harmony’s illustrator), because I had a feeling this was it. From little Harmony’s fluff and friendliness to Donna’s commitment and charisma, I wanted to tell their story with a touch of my own. I was fascinated with all these lovable llamas, thinking how in the world did they end up here? This was a question I asked myself many times growing up away from family. Harmony gave me the chance combine real-life components with a message of appreciation and love.

GM: Writers are always writing, coming up with new ideas. How do you maintain thoughts and ideas for storylines?

CS: There is nothing better than all of this! It has felt unreal sharing Harmony and interacting with the next generation of leaders. I get emotional when kids share stories of their own with me. From reading to the child I tutored to whole classrooms, I have adored and am thankful for every event. If I had to choose, I’d say it’s a tie between reading to my grade school St. Paul and my hometown library in North Canton, Ohio. They were full circle moments in which I saw teachers and adults from my childhood—unbelievably special. I never imagined having the opportunity to revisit my stomping grounds with a book to call my own. Everyone was so supportive, and we had fun crafting all things llama. With summer now here, I am open to any events in Ohio or Georgia!  

Writing doesn’t always have to be physical. I am constantly thinking what children’s story to write about next. I keep a “inspiration notebook” with me where I jot down people, places, things, or interactions that catch my attention (that notebook journeyed with me to the llama farm). I also type what catches my eye in my notes on my phone whenever I misplace the inspo notebook. I keep ideas alive by listening to children and teachers in classrooms, especially during recess and lunch. I listen to what they are talking about—what matters to them. I try to identify their needs and what stories aren’t being told and need heard. I also grab ideas from looking at old pictures of when I was a child, recalling what stories could have represented my community or me. I believe every day can be turned into a grand story!

GM: What are you currently writing?

CS: I just finished writing what I hope is my second children’s book, Sábana the Sloth! Sábana hangs in a tree practically on the ground in Peru worrying about it all. Just like me, Sábana has high anxiety that seems to get in the way of him living. The little girl he meets, Lula (which means famous warrior), is the complete opposite. Like Harmony, this story has touches of personal pieces mixed with humor and hope. With anxiety leading mental health issues among children in this nation, we need to end the stigma about mental health. Sábana the Sloth has actually been really hard to write because I’ve had to open myself up. Above all else though, it’s resulted rewarding. Just thinking about its impact on children exhilarates me. The story includes Spanish words too. I simply can’t wait to share it with you!

GM: Who is your favorite author?
CS: My favorite author regularly changes depending on what’s going on in my life. However, Eric Carle and Gail Gibbons have stayed with me since forever. I admire how they both write and illustrate so beautifully (they make it all look easy). I didn’t necessarily have to read to enjoy Eric Carle’s stories. But once I could—I couldn’t stop rereading his style. And Gail Gibbon’s books made me feel like the smartest kid in town. Both these authors motivated me to craft my own picture books as a child.

GM: Do you have advice for novice writers?

CS: START. Start somewhere with your writing and have fun. Do not look back and do not compare yourself to others (I struggle with this daily, but I know a strong mentality takes people far). Envision your story as a television show or movie (this helps with my character and plot development). Team up with your friends or family to create a story (it could be turned into a play or more). As terrifying as it may feel at times, share your work. Find people who will constructively criticize your work. Keep a notebook with you or use your phone to jot down ideas for storylines. And lastly, read your story out loud to check for rhythm. What sounds okay in our heads oftentimes needs polished once we share it aloud.

GM: List 10 things your fans may not know about you…

CS: 1) Two videos of mine have made it on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. One was a Mother’s Day video about my mom being the best and the other was one of Ellen’s crazy challenges where I went “koalaing” or jumping on strangers like a koala.

2) Running and I have an on and off relationship at times, but I mostly love it. Joining track my senior year of high school was one of the best decisions I’ve made. I had the chance to travel with the team to the state championship. Since then, I’ve ran two half-marathons, woo!

3) I LIVE for warm weather and sunshine. My family is from the Dominican Republic, so it may be the tropical blood in me that makes me feel so dependent on the sun. I absolutely love being outside (ideally a beach). Most of my writing happens outdoors (when the sun is out of course).

4) The summer following my freshman year at Ohio University, I lived in New York City interning at a start-up media company. One of my greatest memories was walking the entirety of Central Park with my favorite Aunt Julie. I dream of going back to the Big Apple one day.

5) The travel bug bites me often. I have traveled to Costa Rica, China, Italy, Greece, and Kenya. One of my dearest trips was traveling to Cambodia with my incredibly talented Ohio University Global Leadership Center (GLC) classmates to work as consultants for real world projects. I already can’t wait for our GLC reunion!

6) I journeyed from Athens, Ohio to Athens, Georgia. I just completed my first year of graduate school at the University of Georgia. I am getting my masters in teaching preK-5. My hope is to become an elementary-school teacher and help as many children as possible. Hopefully, I’ll get to use my fluent Spanish in the classroom and continue writing stories inspired by the children.

7) I LOVE Enrique Iglesias, Michael Bublé, One Direction, and Camila Cabello. These beauties bring out all my emotions! I convinced my Dominican family to take me to an Enrique Iglesias concert—there are no words to describe his presence.

8) I prefer experiences over tangible things. So, I don’t watch a lot of

television, but I did finally finish The Office (started this sophomore year of college). The Office is my everything.

9) Dancing is the best. I prefer it over talking. I dance in front of the mirror anytime I have a big project, exam, interview, or just about anything! I love making up dances with friends or family because it’s hilarious and good for the soul.

10) I luckily call mi Mami my best friend. She thinks I’m the funniest person and supports me in everything. We are quite the duo. Love you Mami.  

Connect with Cristina...

Amazon Author's Page

The "real" Harmony at home in Ohio.

Illustrator Katie Drakulich and the Author with Harmony at home in Ohio.

A Cultured Girl by Terri Mash

New!

From Ohio, USA, Terri Mash finds joy living in the rural hills of southeastern Ohio. Sitting on her front porch, Terri writes of her family, friends, horses, dogs, and more. She finds quiet time by the creek and under the pine canopy, nestled in the needles, where she remembers her past as she plans her future. A heartfelt poet and illustrator, Terri invites you into the mind of A Cultured Girl.

An Interview with Children's Literature Author Kaitlin Kulich

Kaitlin Kulich is the author of Pawpaw is My Favorite Flavor! Launched in 2018, Kaitlin’s book is available in hardcover with beautiful illustrations by Ohio artist Laura Dobrota. Graduating next month from Ohio University, Kaitlin has a lifetime of writing and creativity ahead! With the success of her first book and plenty of charisma to propel her career, we wish Kaitlin all the best as she follows her dreams…

GM: Your new children's book Pawpaw is My Favorite Flavor! is adorable! How did you come up with the idea?

KK: I have come to really love the history and culture of Southeast Ohio. That being said, I really wanted not only to showcase this beautiful part of the State but give back to the community that I fell in love with ever since I arrived here my freshman year at Ohio University. I have always loved reading and writing thanks to my mom who was an elementary teacher for many years and I have always loved working with for kids at various camps I have been a part of. So I developed this dream to one day to write a children's book but I didn't know what to write about until I went to my first Pawpaw Festival. After learning about pawpaws and tasting them I wanted more people to know about this fruit and to encourage kids to try new ( and healthy) foods. And I thought a book would be a perfect way to do that!

GM: Reading to groups of children, attending book signing events, and sharing your book with the world is rewarding. To date, what venue have you enjoyed the most and where is your next book event?

KK: Reading to classrooms and libraries has been such a blast! The questions and comments I get from kids after reading them my book, showing them some pawpaw seeds I have collected, and teaching them a pawpaw song are just amazing. It's so wonderful to see how interested the kiddos become about pawpaws and how excited they get when they tell me they have written short stories of their own. I enjoy every event I have done but one that stands out the most is when I read to a crowd of about 200 kids at the Stark County Library in Canton, Ohio. The kids where such great listeners and they asked so many questions and even wrote me thank you notes! I go back and read those notes often and they instantly fill me with joy. My next event will be April 11th at Near West Intergenerational School in Cleveland Heights!

GM: Writers are always writing, coming up with new ideas. How do you maintain thoughts and ideas for storylines?

KK: I really like pairing characters who are different in age. In my book, the two characters are a little boy and his grandpa. I myself feel like I learn a lot and connect really well with people who are younger and older than me. Writing about people with different ages and backgrounds allows for a wide range of people to connect with the story. I also read A TON of books ( I never leave my house without a book in my purse just in case I have downtime during the day to read). So, reading other people's stories also keeps my mind thinking about how certain plot lines and ideas can make for great stories.

GM: What are you currently writing?

KK: For lent this year I have decided to write letters to people in my life I really care about or who I feel I need to reconnect with. I have found the letters are not only enjoyed by the people I send them to but allow me to really dig deep within myself and discover what challenges I am facing currently and what challenges I have been able to overcome. I also have an idea for a new children's book! I haven't started writing it yet but it will involve a young girl, her grandma, and a fishing trip on Lake Cable ( a lake I grew up on in Canton, Ohio).

 

GM: Who is your favorite author?    

KK: This is so hard! Right now I would say my favorite author is Fredrik Backman. He is the author of many books - A Man Called Ove and My Grandma Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry are just two. Many of his books are about relationships between a young child and an older man or women (what I like to write about too!). He is able to touch on some dark themes while still being able to incorporate humor charm.

GM: Do you have advice for novice writers?

KK: Don't let anything make you feel like your writing isn't good enough. I have dyslexia and for most of my childhood, I was ashamed of my writing and embarrassed to show even a simple school paper to my own mother. But I have built up some confidence and have seen the importance of letting other people see and criticize my work- it has only made me a better writer and all around more confident person. Spell check was made for a reason! 

GM: List 10 things your fans may not know about you...

KK: 1) I have PKU. A genetic disorder that hinders my ability to break down certain proteins. But thanks to modern medicine, I'm able to eat more food ever since 2008.

2) Pigs are my favorite animal and I really want to have my own one day!

3) I'm vegan (so my pig will not be eaten). Having PKU made it easier for me to give up meat and dairy since I couldn't have those foods until  turned twelve

4) I love hiking and have hiked part of the Balkans Trail through Kosovo, Montenegro, and Albania

5)I'm currently a reporter for WOUB TV in Athens and love creating stories about Southeast Ohio for our nightly TV news show

6) I was born in Atlanta Georgia on July 6th, the same birthday as President George W. Bush

7) One of my first words I spoke was chien, which means dog in French. My mother was a French teacher and she spoke French to me as a baby

8)My favorite TV show is Golden Girls and my favorite Golden Girl is Rose Nylund ( AKA Beatty White)

9) I can do some pretty good bird calls- especially the Quail

10) When I grow up I want to work for PBS Kids and continue to write books for children!

Connect with Kaitlin…

https://woub.org/post_author_new/kaitlin-kulich/

Pawpaw is My Favorite Flavor! Amazon

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An Interview with Children’s Literature Illustrator Marjorie White McVey

An Interview with Children’s Literature Illustrator Marjorie White McVey

by Gina McKnight

Late last Spring, I had the great opportunity to meet with Ohio children’s literature illustrator Marjorie White McVey. Marjorie and I, along with Marjorie’s sister, author Betty White Jenkins, met at my barn office to discuss layout, design, and the creation of How do We Know That Spring’s Aglow?

Welcome, Marjorie!

GM: The illustrations for your new book How Do We Know That Spring’s Aglow? are fun and inspiring. What medium did you use to create the illustrations?

MWM: For the illustrations in the book, How Do We Know That Spring’s Aglow?, I used chalk pastels and colored pencils.

GM: Did you use a model or have inspiration for the characters and scenes in the book?

MWM: Mainly I tried to fit the drawings to bring the text to life.

GM: With the success of your first book, a sequel or series is expected from your fans! What are you currently creating?

MWM: Currently we are working on another book using the same format-- How Do We Know That Winter’s Aglow?

GM: What are your methods for layout and design when illustrating a children's book? Do you sketch the entire story first and then go back and apply color, or do you have a different method?

MWM: I  make a rough sketch of each page and then put it all together to see how it flows.

GM: In your opinion, and as an educator, what elements create the perfect children's book?

MWM: Simplicity, brilliant colors, appropriate grade level, and familiar subject matter.

GM: Can you summarize the illustration process to inspire other illustrators and motivate their creativity?

MWM: Just do it!!  Don’t be afraid to try!

Order your copy of How Do We Know That Spring's Aglow?

Barnes & Noble

Amazon.com

To purchase an autographed copy by the author and illustrator, send a message to mondaycreekpubishing@gmail.com

An Interview with Children's Literature Author Betty White Jenkins

An Interview with Children’s Literature Author Betty White Jenkins

by Gina McKnight

Late last Spring, I had the great opportunity to meet with Ohio children’s literature author Betty White Jenkins. Betty and I, along with Betty’s sister, illustrator Marjorie White McVey, met at my barn office, a warm day when the windows were open and creativity was in the air.

Betty's original book

Betty brought an old story she had written in college. It was a hand-made book put together for a class project. I was hesitant when she handed me the book – the cover a little worn and faded. When I opened Betty’s book, the simplicity of the illustrations along with the adorable story drew me in. I immediately felt Betty’s vision for the book. We agreed that with a few tweaks here and there, the book would make a nice hardcover edition. Now, almost a year later, we celebrate Betty’s wonderful story.

Welcome, Betty!

GM: How Do We Know That Spring's Aglow is a beautiful book. I adore your passion for life. As a writer, you have set the stage for future volumes. What is the premise of your story and who is your target audience?

BWJ: The premise of my story is identifying some of the signs of Spring.  The target audience is K-4.

GM: As a writer, how do you maintain thoughts and ideas?

BWJ: As thoughts and ideas come to me, I jot them down in a notebook for future reference.

GM: Who is your favorite author?

BWJ: Dr. Suess is my favorite author because all of his books are written in rhyme and have colorful illustrations. My favorite Dr. Suess book is Thidwick the Big Hearted Moose.  It is one of his earliest books.

GM: Reading Dr. Suess is always a fun experience, no matter your age! I love Dr. Suess, too. What are you currently writing?

BWJ: Currently, I am working on a second book about another season.  This one is about winter and has the same format as How Do We Know That Spring's Aglow?

GM: Do you have advice for novice writers?

BWJ: I would tell novice writers to keep their writing simple and focus on one target audience.

GM: In your opinion, and as an educator, what elements create the perfect children's book?

BWJ: In my opinion, as an educator, having taught in the elementary classroom for 30 years, the elements that create the perfect children's books are: Simplicity, colorful illustrations, and subject matter the audience identifies with and are interested in learning about.

GM: A perfect answer! Your writing embraces all of the qualities you listed! Did you find that the publishing process was challenging? If so, in what way?

BWJ: I think any new venture presents challenges.  Since this was my first experience with publishing a book, I was a bit overwhelmed with all the details.  However, I am happy to say that it was a very rewarding endeavor when I saw my book in print.  Also, my publisher (Monday Creek Publishing) was phenomenal in guiding me through the process.

GM: Thanks for your kind words, Betty. I enjoy working with you. You bring good energy to the creative process. Can you summarize the writing process in a brief statement to inspire other writers and motivate their creativity?

BWJ: With any project, the first step is planning, and in my opinion the most important.  You need to determine the purpose, and choose a topic.  The next step is to brainstorm all the ideas about your topic and write them down.  Next,  compose a rough draft, revise and edit, proofread and finally publish.  All of these steps, take time and remember some of your best ideas will come to you when you least expect it.  Many times I wake up in the middle of the night to write down my thoughts, or driving in my car, something I see will spark an idea, so always keep notepad and pen handy!

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Betty's next book How Do We Know That Winter's Aglow? is currently in illustration and will be released in 2019. To purchase an autographed copy by the author and illustrator, send a message to mondaycreekpubishing@gmail.com