11 Dec Joanna Rowland, THE MEMORY TREE, and a Giveaway!

EL: Another incredible writer guest has dropped by today! As has been said many times, one of the best things about writing kidlit (aside from the kids, of course!) is the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people. Joanna Rowland is one of those wonderful people.  We “met” quite a few years ago, and I’ve always admired her writing and who she is as a person. A few years ago, I was lucky enough to meet her in real life at the Big Sur Workshop. Unfortunately, we didn’t have nearly enough time together, and I hope we remedy that someday.

Joanna has written a lovely new book called The Memory Tree, which is beautifully illustrated by Thea Baker. There are many ways of remembering a person who has passed away, and this story highlights an unusual one… a Christmas Tree. The Memory Tree is based on a family’s true experience, which makes it especially poignant.

Thank you so much for being here, Joanna! Will you tell us a little bit about yourself?

JR: Hi Ellen, Thank you for having me on your blog. I live in Sacramento, CA. When I’m not writing, you’ll find me teaching at an elementary school. I love that it’s part of my job to read picture books every day. My youngest is a senior this year, so it’s a busy year. And if I’m not at work or watching my daughter ride, I love to be in nature.

EL: Joanna, your books are filled with emotion; many are about grief. Where do you pull from to write about it so eloquently?

JR: Thank you for the kind words. When I wrote The Memory Box: A Book About Grief, it took me two years to find the right words. With The Memory Tree, because it was inspired by a true story of “The Marisa Tree,” I really wanted to honor the spirit of the Higgins’ tradition they started after the loss of their daughter Marisa, whom I had coached.

EL: How does your background as a teacher complement and help your writing?

JR: As a teacher, I get to discover what type of stories captivate children, what subjects and topics interest them, and how young children interact with each other.

EL: Can you tell us about the road to publication for The Memory Tree?

JR: After The Memory Box, I didn’t expect to ever write another picture book on grief. My editor, Andrew DeYoung from The Memory Box: A Book About Grief, reached out wanting to work on another book in the series. It’s the first time I sold a book I hadn’t written yet, which was both exciting and terrifying all at once. We discussed different ideas on how to approach another book about grief. He asked what I thought about a memory tree. What Andrew didn’t know was that I got to be part of a family’s tradition over a decade ago where they used a Christmas tree to share memories of their daughter, Marisa. It was such a comforting and healing tradition to get to be a part of in an unimaginable time. I will always be thankful for how generous The Higgins family was. They let us be a part of Marisa’s last Thanksgiving before she passed away at the hospital and a part of their first Christmas without her. I’ve learned so much from them on how to love after loss.

When I started to write the story of The Memory Tree, I really wanted to capture the spirit of their tradition and how the community came together.

EL: That’s so lovely, Joanna. Thank you for sharing. Let’s talk a bit about the craft of writing. Do you have a writing group or groups? How important do you think they are?

JR: Critique groups are the best. For the last ten years, I’ve gone in person to meet with my picture book critique group once a month. We all write picture books, so it’s great to have everyone knowledgeable in that. We always read someone else’s story out loud because you can learn so much when others read your story out loud, and then we go around giving our thoughts. I’ve learned so much from my group, and I am a better writer because of them. I think critique groups are one of the best things you can do to grow as a writer.

EL: I agree! What do you do when the words won’t come?

JR: When the words don’t come, I allow myself to take a break. I believe you have to experience things outside of writing to grow as a writer. I do find that you can’t do everything well at the same time. I usually try to catch up in other areas of my life, whether it’s spending time with family, watching movies, catching up on house work, etc. I find that after I put balance back in other areas in my life, I’m ready to write more. I also find reading lots of books, especially ones that inspire me, helps.

EL: Putting balance back in other areas of your life is interesting. It’s something I’ll try to remember. The illustrations in The Memory Tree are beautiful. Did you have any communication with your illustrator? Or was it all through your editor?

JR: In most cases, I don’t have any communication with my illustrator before their work is done. But because this story was inspired by real life, I sent Thea a few pictures so she could see the real  Marisa Tree. She was very sweet to sneak in a few special illustrations for the family that inspired this story, and I will be forever grateful for that.

EL: What do you think is the best part about writing kidlit as well as the most challenging part?

JR: The best part about writing kidlit is the kidlit community. Everyone is so supportive, no matter what stage you are in your writing journey. The most difficult part is trying to shake the imposter syndrome.

EL: Ah yes, imposter syndrome. I know it well. Do you have any words of advice for aspiring kidlit writers?

JR: Don’t give up. Every story has a different timeline. Enjoy the journey!

EL: Great advice! Joanna, thank you so much for joining us today. To learn more about Joanna and her books, visit her website at https://www.writerrowland.com/

And now for a

Joanna is happy to give away  copy of The Memory Tree to one lucky winner.   To get in the running, please comment on this post and let me know if you’re a subscriber or if you have shared this post to get an extra chance to win.  

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On a personal note, I’m currently scheduling school author visits for the rest of the 2025-2026 school year as well as the 2026-2027 school year. I’d love to visit YOU or a school near you! Please check out  https://EllenLeventhal.com.   

Here’s a review! 

Ellen Leventhal is an amazing presenter who tailors her presentations to meet the needs of all students and age levels.  I am amazed at how she can talk about her love of writing, how to become a writer, encouraging students to do what they love and how we can all be kind into a 45 minute presentation. A school visit from Ellen Leventhal is a treat for everyone!  Suzanne Ritchey:  Carroll T Welch Elementary School Clint, TX

Until next time,

Ellen