01 Oct Tina Shepardson, THE SORRY SEEDS, and a GIVEAWAY!

EL: Welcome to Fall, everyone!  As the season turns to pumpkin spice and apple picking, it’s the perfect time to introduce THE SORRY SEEDS by Tina Shepardson and Bong Hyun Shin. When Courtney takes an apple from Ms. Smith’s tree without asking, Ms. Smith is unhappy and disappointed in her.  Courtney learns we all make mistakes, but an honest apology is more than words. Follow Courtney as she finds out how to really make amends and earn forgiveness.

Welcome, Tina!  Before we get into the book too deeply, will you please tell us a little about yourself?

TS: Hi Ellen, thank you so much for having me on your blog! After 33 years as a Syracuse, NY native teaching middle school in the district where I grew up, I shifted my focus to educating and inspiring kids through writing books and creating The Lil’ Leaders Podcast: Conversations With Kids. On the bimonthly podcast, I get to celebrate young leaders and literacy by interviewing kids about their everyday life experiences in the hopes of impacting others. When I was 8 years old, I made booklets out of crinkled paper, crayons, yarn, and a hole puncher. These went with me to every babysitting job I had. Although the writing was on the wall, I didn’t realize it yet.  I love volunteering with the Book Buddy Program to help students strengthen their literacy skills. I work with kindergarten and first grade students and it’s such a fun contrast to my middle schoolers. I really cherish the fact that these areas still keep me in contact with what I miss the most about my teaching years: the kids!

When I’m not writing, I love winter and snowstorms in Upstate New York (just not 7 months long), enjoying the outdoors with my husband, daughter, two Akitas, and lots of coffee and chocolate. Ollie and Mitzi are our 6th and 7th Akita, and they keep us busy!

EL: I totally relate to having to find something to keep connected to kids. What was your inspiration for THE SORRY SEEDS?

TS: During the pandemic, my first-grade teacher passed away. When I was teaching grade 5, she had moved to grade 6 by that point. She loved telling her students the story about how I took apples from her apple tree. In the fall of 1971, when I was almost 6, we were neighbors, and I thought she was still at school one weekday afternoon. I grabbed one of those gorgeous apples without asking her permission, and she caught me.

The kids thought it was a funny story. I remember it wasn’t funny to me because she walked me home to my strict European parents that day, and somehow, I had to face her in school the next morning. I thought about kids finding themselves in similar situations where they have hurt someone’s feelings and have to find a way to apologize from the heart. Easier said than done, and the seeds for this story were planted.

EL: I think the illustrations are perfect for your book. Did you get to communicate with your illustrator? When did you see the roughs?   

TS: Thank you! I LOVE the illustrations so much. Bong Hyun Shin created such relatable and adorable characters. They come to life with her abstract, layered art and the warm color palette she used. While I did not communicate with her during the process, the publisher, Sandra Sutter, chief gnome at Gnome Road Publishing, always shared images in various stages as they were created. This part is always so exciting for me because it feels like meeting my characters for the first time. Creating them with words is one thing but seeing them come to life in an illustration is an entirely different experience.

EL: Do you have a writing group or groups? How important do you think they are?

TS: Yes, I have two critique groups, and they are invaluable. They have a way of reviewing my work (and I theirs) that sheds fresh perspectives and constructive feedback that help me improve a story. Sometimes I am just stuck on how to improve a scene, create more tension between obstacles, and they offer so many ideas I can ponder. They catch things I may overlook, like pacing, character development, or language that’s too complex for young readers, and we discuss all things current within the industry to help and learn from one another. We always offer accountability and encouragement throughout the writing process. Our regular zoom meetings keep me on track, motivated, and push me to refine my work. I always want to give to my critique partners all of the same value in return. I’m so grateful for these ladies.

EL: I agree that critique buddies are the best! Do you have anything else in the pipeline you can talk about?

TS: Canines Unleashed: Hank’s New Pack will release November 19th. This middle grade, published by Clear Fork Press is about Hank, an Akita, who finds himself in Canines Unleashed, a doggie daycare, when his owner starts school. Paisy is excited about kindergarten while Hank is nervous about doggie daycare. How will he surf the kitchen counter for crumbs after lunch? What will a typical weekday look like from now on? Hank must find a way to face his fears, take responsibility for his actions, and accept new challenges he never experienced in his once sheltered world. The characters are based on real dogs. Hank was our Akita (@ollie_mitzi_handm) and we connected with Luna (@lunatheportie) on Instagram years ago. While they are no longer with us, their spunky spirits live on in this fun story. Alvina Kwong brought these scenes and canine characters to life with incredible heart, talent, and attention to detail.

EL: Congrats! What do you think is the best part about writing kidlit?  What is the most difficult part, in your opinion?

TS:  This is a great question and can even double as words of advice for aspiring kidlit writers which I still consider myself to be. The best part about writing for kids is that you can create something that can hopefully impact a young reader in many ways. Whether it is the enjoyment of your story, learning a new perspective or lesson, fostering an interest to read more books, shaping their values or morals, building their confidence, helping them understand emotions and how to handle them, or encouraging their creativity through the world you create with your words, these parts are so precious.

Also, another best part is the community. You really can’t write for kids without meeting so many like minded adults like yourself with the same goal in mind: inspiring kids through books. I have so much admiration, respect, and gratitude for these individuals within organizations, professional groups, courses, and critique partners who all bend over backwards to help if I have a question or three! I always make sure I add the same value in return when someone asks.

The hardest part, for me, is developing patience. Patience to let your story fully evolve before it’s ready to submit, to wait for responses to your queries, to hear back from agents about your submissions, and to work through the process of translating a story that runs through your mind onto the page. Most importantly, it’s having patience with yourself, and trusting that everything will work out. This is something I’m still working on, which is why connecting with other writers is so valuable—everyone is navigating similar challenges along the way. And…it’s all good!

EL: Thank you so much, Tina, and congratulations on your newest books! Here’s where we can learn more about Tina and buy her book!

Website: www.TinaShepardson.com

Amazon: https://a.co/d/1aBmn0f

And now a…

Tina is happy to give one winner a choice of three prizes…all wonderful! She is offering a critique, a classroom zoom, or a book. As always, comment on this post and let me know if you are a subscriber or have shared it to get an extra chance to win.

Good Luck!

Until next time,

Ellen

On a personal note, I’d love you to check out some of my books here. They are also available wherever books are sold. THANK YOU! 

DEBBIE’S SONG: THE DEBBIE FRIEDMAN STORY

https://bookshop.org/p/books/debbie-s-song-ellen-leventhal/18680277?ean=9781728443027

A FLOOD OF KINDNESS

https://bookshop.org/p/books/a-flood-of-kindness-ellen-leventhal/15150623?ean=9781546034582