Laundry
flapping in the wind? I’m sold. You all know how much I love hanging out
clothes. And I could use a new do myself … so I was delighted to see the cover of MAMA'S NEW
DO written
by Gretchen Everin and illustrated by Tara Britt Story. It’s a whimsical story about
the common-sense things we can do to be good stewards of the earth. So pull up
a chair – I wish we could all sit out together with a hot cup of tea and fresh
cranberry bread – and enjoy this conversation with Carrots, which is what
Gretchen goes by on the Blueboards (now part of SCBWI) and where we got
to know one another over the years. Now, she is a sister of my heart, who
not only encourages me with her words and prayers but has also introduced
me to a dear saint, Gemma, who has become a
wonderful companion to me. You’ve got to love friends who share their friends!
Please welcome Gretchen!
First, please tell me your background? I always find the
journey to writing itself interesting.
I grew up in the Midwest and dreamed of becoming a school choir
director. (Really, I just wanted a way to sing in harmony every day.)
Alas, my Music Education major fizzled out early during Freshman year when I
discovered that students were required to solo on command during Italian
Diction class. Way too insecure for that, I did the next best thing, which was
to get my degree in Elementary Education and take as many music electives as my
schedule would allow.
Me too! About the music electives.
After college, I moved to New England for a year of volunteer
work with Chi Rho Catholic Service Corps. Providentially, I was placed in an
inner-city school as the librarian and music teacher. What a dream! When my
stint ended, I stayed in the area and worked as a classroom teacher, never
missing the opportunity to integrate music and children’s picture books into
the lessons – even with older students! Then I got married, had my first child,
and became a stay-at-home mom.
And I suspect that's when you started writing, right?
On a whim, I wrote my first manuscript in 2005. The story makes
me cringe now, but the experience of writing it was life-changing. Truly.
Afterward, the stories poured out of me. I couldn’t write enough.
Then I read Harold Underdown’s invaluable book - THE COMPLETE
IDIOT’S GUIDE TO PUBLISHING CHILDREN’S BOOKS, which is now in its 3rd
edition - and became a regular visitor to his and Verla Kay’s websites. Their
wisdom settled me down and helped me focus. It made me want to do more than
write. It made me want to write well. So I took two classes through the Institute of Children’s
Literature, which were very beneficial.
Aha, so we're ICL sisters! It's uncanny what a similar path we
both took. I'm so thankful we both ended up on Verla's Blueboards.
I think it’s quite a coincidence that your book on taking care
of our earth coincides with Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato
Si'. Did you have any inkling of it?
Wasn’t the timing remarkable? Several months before MAMA’S NEW
DO was published, I learned of the upcoming encyclical, and by the time I
looked at it in the middle of June, the opening paragraph had me in tears. See,
Laudato Si was released on May 24. Just three days prior, I had emailed the
editor my dedication, which thanks God for this universe and gives a nod to St.
Francis of Assisi, who lovingly referred to Earth as “Mother.” To see Pope
Francis give that very same nod to St. Francis was thrilling. I even joked to
the editor that we were getting free publicity from Rome!
I no longer believe in coincidences, just God-incidences!
What/Who inspired you to write this story?
The wish list of a new indie publisher propelled me to write
MAMA’S NEW DO in 2009. Though it wasn’t ultimately a good fit for that
publisher, the editor gave me helpful feedback that was used in the current
version. I can’t remember how the concept came to me, but I remember where it
happened: in my car on the way to a doctor’s appointment! I went on to finish
the draft in the waiting room.
Spoken like a true writer!
I have to say, too, that the ideas of how to help Mama were
inspired by my parents, who were “green” before it was a thing. Their example
taught me to do what I can. Most of us can’t get solar panels or harness energy
from turbines, but there are a thousand little things we can do. My parents
consistently made time to do those things. They still do.
Your parents sound wonderful! My mom was
also recycling before it was even a word. I don't remember us
producing any garbage at all growing up in India -- everything we didn't
use ourselves was compostable.
Did MAMA come as a poem to you? It’s incredibly difficult
to write an entire story as a poem. I wondered why you didn’t choose
lyrical prose instead.
It did come as a poem, but I later rewrote it in prose. When I
was given the exciting opportunity to publish with Wandering in the Words Press, the
editor, who had read both versions, gave me the final decision. Being
sentimental about the original and loving to read poetry to my children, I went
with the rhymer.
I love the Grandmother character in MAMA'S NEW DO. Who is she
most like? Yourself, your mother or your gram?
Thank you. She definitely looks most like me but
her enthusiastic, supportive personality is from my mom and aunts. Her dancing
is a wink to my dear grandma, who loved to polka with my granddad on Saturday
nights (and who always had stylish hair!).
Aw,
that's so sweet. This book is going to be a family treasure. The cut paper
illustrations are gorgeous. Did you know ahead of time what the look of this
book would be?
Oh, those illustrations! I’m so glad you like them, too! I
first saw the line drawings a year ago and swooned. Mama and her care team had
come to life! Tara Story, the illustrator, told me she was going to add color,
but I didn’t know exactly what that would mean. What I did know is that she
would do a magnificent job. And she did, exceeding all my expectations.
Illustrators have often exceeded my wildest
imagination! Love how they bring a story to life.
Since you and the illustrator are in the same town, was there
any back-and-forth at all?
From the beginning, Tara was careful about wanting to respect my
vision, but I was equally insistent that she just do her thing. I’ve known her
for many years and completely trusted her interpretation. In fact, the only
time I felt led to put my oar in was the day I saw the line drawings. On the
cover, Tara had made my name significantly larger than her own! I insisted that
illustrators are every bit as important as authors – maybe more! Thankfully,
Tara made her name equal in size.
That rings right to me!
What
are you working on now? Or is it to be kept a secret?
No secret! I’m working on revisions of a chapter book. Waiting
in the wings are another chapter book revision and a few picture book
manuscripts that need to be finished.
Wonderful news! I looked them up -- Gretchen's chapter
books will be published by Splashing
Cow Books.
Writer-mamas everywhere want to know how you make time for
writing while also taking care of a busy family. Do you have a routine? Please
share any tips you have … I could use them even though my kids are teenagers
and sleep till noon.
I wish I had a writing routine! Fortunately, my youngest still
naps, so that would be an ideal time…..if I didn’t find myself filling it with
washing dishes and folding laundry and catching up on emails. Usually, I write
in the margins, grasping those moments whenever and wherever I can - waiting in
the car to pick up the children, during commercials, even in a doctor’s office,
as with MAMA. And although I’m a morning person, it’s never been a productive
time for me to write. The few long, uninterrupted sessions I’ve had have been
late at night. But I can’t do that very often.
If I have a story to tell, I am restless until I have told it.
So my only advice to others is to say “Yes!” to the story. Tell it. Surrender.
Even if it’s TILLY TAPIR LEARNS TO TANGO, there’s some reason it’s in you.
Write it! (Then snuggle with your children and read it to them!)
LOL Gretchen! Excellent advice! Especially to surrender to
the story. Thank you so much for sharing unstintingly of your time and
talent here. I look forward to your future projects. May God bless all your
endeavors.
You all can learn more about Gretchen in the Newport Daily News as well as take a
look at the covers of her MeeGenius books, which are now part of HMH.
I am sure she will be happy to answer any questions you might
have.
The Biggest Story: How the Snake Crusher Brings us backto the Garden by Kevin DeYoung and Don Clark. I came across the trailer and loved the art so much, I requested a
review copy. I was not disappointed in the illustrations. They are stunning. However, the writing is
too casual. In fact, quite terrible. I’ve always felt that language for kids should be rich and
beautiful because it elevates their minds to higher things, which is the whole
point of the Bible in the first place – to reflect upon the sacred mysteries. Though the author succeeds in showing the fall and redemption of man, he fails in showing how man's cooperation with God's will works. Mary's Fiat is completely missing. So also the institution of Church. So if I have so much to criticize, why do I put this on my blog? Because it is a beautiful book. I recommend you tell the story in your own words. Trust me, you can do better. 
This weekend feels so celebratory! We are still in the Octave of the Immaculate Conception, yesterday was the Feast of our Lady of Guadalupe, and today is Gaudete Sunday and the Feast of St. Lucy. The Church is full of joy; our Lord is nearer still!
I came across a wonderful review of a biography of St. Jose Maria Escriva by Pilar Urbano, and was delighted to learn it's been recently translated into English. Will have to check it out.
Laundry
flapping in the wind? I’m sold. You all know how much I love hanging out
clothes. And I could use a new do myself … so I was delighted to see the cover of MAMA'S NEW
DO written
by Gretchen Everin and illustrated by Tara Britt Story. It’s a whimsical story about
the common-sense things we can do to be good stewards of the earth. So pull up
a chair – I wish we could all sit out together with a hot cup of tea and fresh
cranberry bread – and enjoy this conversation with Carrots, which is what
Gretchen goes by on the Blueboards (now part of SCBWI) and where we got
to know one another over the years. Now, she is a sister of my heart, who
not only encourages me with her words and prayers but has also introduced
me to a dear saint, Gemma, who has become a
wonderful companion to me. You’ve got to love friends who share their friends!
Please welcome Gretchen!
I love the Grandmother character in MAMA'S NEW DO. Who is she
most like? Yourself, your mother or your gram? 
LOL Gretchen! Excellent advice! Especially to surrender to
the story. Thank you so much for sharing unstintingly of your time and
talent here. I look forward to your future projects. May God bless all your
endeavors. 
I suppose it is fitting that I am hoping and longing and waiting for Harry to disappear completely from my life in a season devoted to hoping, longing and waiting for the Messiah. It's been four weeks since I had my first set of Botox injections and after an initial response that kept pain to manageable levels, now I'm still in severe pain most days. It's very discouraging and I've cried bitterly over how long it taking. However, the pattern has changed a bit. It's easier to control the pain. I've had a taste of completely pain-free days. Sometimes it's just a day and once even two days in a row. It's such a gift when I wake up without a migraine. And I want more and more of these days. So I continue to hope and pray for complete healing.
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