What inspired you to combine teaching and entertainment in your writing and illustration for children?
Since I was a kid I’ve had a very had a big imagination. Combine that with the love of drawing and there was a spark for something more. In high school, I became aware of the power of story through art. This carried into college when I learned creative writing, combined with illustrations, became a storytelling outlet. It wasn’t until I became a program educator at a natural history museum that adding a learning element to stories made a bigger impact.
Elementary age children are little sponges, learning from everything they experience. When I finally decided to write out my first story, there were little lessons, throughout the pages, that parents or caretakers can identify easily.
Can you share a pivotal moment from your childhood that solidified your love for horses and ponies?
I believe I was three years old when I saw my first pony. A photographer came around our neighborhood to take pictures with his pony. I was in love! By the time I was five I had no fear of horses or ponies - they were beautiful animals waiting for my crayon to capture! My dad got scared for me so rarely allowed me around them.That love for horses remained steady all my life
And I ride whenever possible!
I still have the picture of myself sitting on that pony.
How did you teach yourself to draw horses and ponies at such a young age?
A. I was determined to draw them anyway I could. Crayons were used in my early years. By eighth grade I finally figured out how to draw them more accurately. It had taken so long to get their heads and legs correct what a joy I felt when I finally saw the proportions were right!
What techniques do you employ to ensure that children have fun while learning from your books?
this is difficult to explain, but I find a deep part of myself where a little kid still lives. I can hear that voice as I begin to write - and that child is quite a character!
Could you describe a particularly memorable experience where a child learned a valuable lesson from one of your stories?
I was telling about how frogs lay eggs in special places around ponds and rivers, to a group of kids.Some learned to not disturb frog eggs if they found any near streams or ponds. You never know the power of a story until you see the result.
What do you believe sets your approach to teaching through storytelling apart from others in your field?
It might be the fact that I enjoy old fashioned storytelling. Adventures that appear in my imagination- I see the characters come to life there.. Exploits, silliness and lessons learned, altogether.
How do you balance the educational aspects of your work with the need to entertain young readers?
Inside every journey or adventure I write there is an element of real life. We learn lessons every day, all of the time. Childhood is full of both and so my stories reflect that.
Can you walk us through your creative process when writing a children’s novel?
To date, I have only written one chapter book. My original manuscript for Ali’s story. When I presented it to the children’s department head at the publisher, she just said, “Oh, no - this is a picture book!”
I had added three illustrations to go into the story. She liked them so much she wanted to give my artwork a showcase. That was the last of the chapter books!
What themes or messages do you prioritize conveying through your book, “Ali's Big Adventure”?
There are several little themes in the story. The first one that many miss is the consequence when we don’t listen. The other themes are finding/making friendships, overcoming obstacles (learning to think outside the box, sometimes), and restoration. There is a learning journey that takes place.
Have you encountered any challenges in integrating educational content seamlessly into your storytelling?
So far the lessons have come easily. They follow on one another in each story. I have never purposely sat down to teach a lesson. Instead I tell a story that ends up teaching something.
How do you ensure that the educational content in your books remains engaging and relatable to children?
If the characters aren’t having fun or aren’t making kids laugh, then I rewrite the story. We must learn to laugh about ourselves, even on a bad day. And we learn something about ourselves by the end of the story. Especially kids.
Can you share any feedback or reactions from young readers that particularly resonated with you?
Some of the kids say they are so happy that Ali can bounce! It might be a secret wish! A few are very happy Ali found home. Then there are those who like Scout - he’s beautiful, they say. I do get a kick out of hearing from these littles!
The older kids enjoy the journey, how Mika helped Ali.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors and illustrators who aim to follow a similar path in children's literature?
When you love something, don’t let go of that. Life got in my way for about 50 years. I discovered it’s never too late to fulfill your dream.
Stay at your writing or your artwork, or both! Don’t put it in a corner because you feel inadequate. Just find an outlet that works for you! (Never stop learning!)
How do you stay updated with current trends and educational standards in children's literature?
Recently, I have found a writers group that helps me stay updated on what books are available out there. Many are or were elementary teachers.
What is your takeaway based on your experiences with AllAuthor? What is it about this site that you like or dislike?
What I’ve found is a great place to connect with other authors, and make gifs and tweets for my book! This is something I had never imagined doing! There is a real plus to having an author page on AllAuthor, as well. With all of the media sites to keep up with, I find I can get real with myself here. I do learn something every time I log on.
