Wanda Luthman's Blog, page 46
July 16, 2016
Summer Book Event
Thank you, Emma, at Ossorio’s Cafe & Bakery in Cocoa Village for a great book event today!
July 14, 2016
Summer Book Event Reminder
Don’t forget this Saturday, July 16th from 9AM-2PM at Ossorio’s Cafe & Bakery in Cocoa Village, FL—get your free ice cream with purchase of one of my book’s and cool off from this summer heat! And sign up for the Basket Giveaway! It’s going to be fun!!
July 11, 2016
Author Interview
Today, I’d like to introduce you to an amazing woman. She is not only an illustrator, she is an author and creates apps for kids! Meet Joyce Hesselberth
Tell me something about yourself. (Where did you grow up, significant relationships, what do you do for fun besides writing, as little or as much as you want).
I’m a Baltimore-based illustrator and now author. I was born in Ohio, but never really lived there. My family moved around quite a bit and I grew up in Delaware, North Carolina, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. After I graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University, I moved to Maryland and it has been home for the past 25+ years. My husband David Plunkert and I co-founded our studio, Spur Design in 1995. We make posters, books, art prints, logos, apps, animations, and more. A lot of our work is editorial illustration for newspapers and magazines. I also teach illustration at the Maryland Institute College of Art.
Tell me about you as a professional. What do you do to make a living, if it’s something outside of writing.
We’ve been fortunate to support ourselves primarily as illustrators/designers for most of our careers. I’ve recently added teaching to my list of professions too. In my case, the writing part of my job is not separate from the illustrating part, at least not yet.
When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
I remember thinking in college that it would be amazing to make a children’s picture book. I was studying to be a graphic designer though and I quickly realized that I didn’t have the skill set I needed. I wasn’t confident as an illustrator or writer. Over the years I started pushing myself in both those areas. My design training is still really helpful too!
What have you written? Tell me about them.
My debut, authored picture book is called Shape Shift. It’s an early concept book that teaches kids to recognize shapes, but then takes it a step further and encourages them to make art with their shapes. It’s published by Henry Holt and came out in 2016. I have some more books that I’m pitching, but those are secret for now!
You make apps too. Can you tell me about them?
I have two apps, PrestoBingo Shapes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/prestobingo-shapes-puzzle/id494347130?mt=8) and PrestoBingo Colors (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/prestobingo-colors/id885161196?mt=8). They are both available in the Apple App Store. The shapes app was the inspiration for my book Shape Shift. I was having a lot of fun creating the illustrations for this app and hiding as many shapes in a scene as I could. It became a game for me, and I was thinking that there are many ways for kids to play games with shapes. In the app, I’m really just teaching shape recognition. In the book, I try and encourage kids to make their own art with shapes.
The process for making the apps was a lot of fun. We were able to figure out how to produce both apps in our small studio. We recorded voices (some of them are my kids and husband), made animations, and even learned to code.
You can probably guess that one of my next book pitches is about color, and is loosely based on the color app.
What is your favorite genre to write?
Right now I’m enjoying narrative picture books and early concept picture books.
Tell me about your writing process.
I start with sketches and then work back and forth with sketches and words. The best part of being and author/illustrator is that you have permission to change either part of the story. My first sketches are tiny thumbnails, and then as I rework and refine them, I sketch closer to actual size.
Where do you get the inspiration for your picture books?
I pull from things around me, which I’m guessing is what many people would say. I try to use those things as starting points and then let the stories become a little more fantastic or magical as I go.
How do you market your book?
Even though my publisher has given me a lot of support, it is still important for me to market my book. I’ve set up book-signings with local book and toy stores. I’m planning on exhibiting at the Baltimore Book Festival with SCBWI. We put together a book trailer (https://youtu.be/TDTOqusZvN0) and I made a video that shows the process behind my book (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MR6dURbfW3g). I’m scheduling school visits and speaking at a conference as well. I’ve even walked my book around to local stores to make sure I get it in everyone’s hands.
Do you design your own book covers?
Yes. I showed a few cover options to the publisher. They have a design team and I worked with them to do the fine-tuning.
Do you have a special place where you write?
Our studio is in a renovated factory building in Baltimore. It’s my favorite place to write/draw/paint. But since I divide my time between home and work (we have 3 kids) I make a point of being able to work wherever I go. I usually have a sketchbook with me, and maybe even some gouache or watercolor paint.
Do you have any type of music you listen to while you write?
I like it quiet while I’m working, but that doesn’t usually happen. I tend to tune out whatever is going on around me.
How long does it usually take you to complete a book?
It’s hard to say, since I don’t work straight through on one idea. Between my editorial and teaching schedules, I start and stop a lot. I could probably finish a book in 3 or 4 months if I weren’t interrupted.
What made you decide to sit down and actually start something?
I was at a point in my career where I need to shake things up. I decided that each day I would take one hour to work on my picture book idea. After a couple of months, I had the whole dummy sketched and written. It felt like it took forever. I sent it to editors, and got some very nice responses, but no offers (in hindsight I understand why). I eventually abandoned that story, but some of the contacts I made from that first book were very helpful. In fact, one of the editors I showed it to eventually published Shape Shift!
How do you think you’ve evolved creatively?
I think my work has become more playful as I’ve gotten older. I’m a little more willing to take risks. I hope that’s a trend that I can continue.
What are you passionate about?
Creative freedom. Sushi (when I get to choose the restaurant it’s usually sushi). Playing in the dirt. My family. Cats. Chickens. Praying mantises (they have such nice triangle heads). Sustainable living (I want solar panels on my house). Making messes.
Do you find yourself returning to any recurring themes within your writing and, if so, are you any closer to finding an answer?
Recurring themes, yes. Although I don’t think those themes have answers. One recurring theme I’m exploring is creative play. In my early concept books, I’m hoping to inspire kids to be creative and to look at the world in their own unique way. Another theme that I would say is recurring is nature.
What can we expect from you in the future?
Right now I’m working on a couple of picture books that are more narrative – just pure story with no underlying lesson.
If you could jump ahead in time, what would be happening for you?
I’d like Shape Shift to become the first in a series of concept books that teach art to kids. Then I’m hoping to work on some longer narrative pieces. Who knows, maybe a chapter book will be in my future someday!
You can follow Joyce on Twitter here https://twitter.com/hesselberth
or purchase her apps here
PrestoBingo Shapes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/prestobingo-shapes-puzzle/id494347130?mt=8)
PrestoBingo Colors (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/prestobingo-colors/id885161196?mt=8)
July 10, 2016
Share A Poem On Ink and Quill
If you’re a poet here’s a great blog to post it on
Share a link here of your favourite poem/s, which you have written or a poem written by a fellow poet. Or both!A poem/s which may have moved you, or are close to your heart. A poem, you thought about, long after you finished reading it.
I will repost all links.
As you are probably aware. I love poetry. So I can’t wait to read and share your links.
Please feel free to reblog this post!
I want to support my fellow bloggers, by sharing their work.
A small way of saying I appreciate you.
Thank you!
I was blown away with this response to my post.
Thank you SO much to everyone! You all are amazing. I love being part of the blogging community. You all are so supportive.
July 9, 2016
Summer Book Event
Hey, everyone! Don’t miss out on my Book Event next Saturday at Ossorio’s in Cocoa Village, FL. I’ll be signing books and have a Gift Basket Giveaway, plus a free child-size ice cream with every purchase will be given!! Don’t miss it! Please share the news.
July 5, 2016
Bravery in our Children
The Fourth of July is a time of celebration to be sure but also of contemplation. We celebrate our country’s freedom. The men who fought to free us were incredibly brave. What would have happened had they not been brave? One can only guess.
In light of their bravery, I wondered how we teach our children to be brave. I think bravery is best role-modeled for, not only children, but adults as well. As in this news article about a boy and his friend who were enjoying their day at a theme park on a roller coaster when it malfunctioned and sent them crashing to the ground. People rushed to help them and remarked about the one boy, Liam, who showed such bravery.
He was calm and even joked. He was especially worried about his friend even when his own injuries were severe. I’m impressed by this little boy. I pray he recovers fully from his injuries and the theme park fixes the roller coaster so this never happens again.
But, here’s to Liam, for showing bravery in light of a very scary situation. May we all learn a little something from you and how you have role-modeled bravery for us today.
To read the full article, go to http://www.motherwelltimes.co.uk/news...
June 29, 2016
Summer Fun
Hi Parents,
Welcome to summer! Sometimes during the summer months, we need some ideas to entertain our kids. We might be hosting a birthday party or just a summer fun party or we might want an indoor craft idea because it’s raining or super hot outside.
I am going to be adding resources for parents under the Parents Link on my website to help you with raising your child. Some resources will be just for fun and some will have some more serious information about instilling values in your child, etc.
But, today, I bring you the PBS website. I don’t know about you but I think PBS is a fabulous channel. I’m not getting any kind of payment from them, I’m just highlighting their website to you so you can find great things to do this summer.
Enjoy your summer and this time with your kids. We only get one time to raise our children, let’s cherish every moment.
June 26, 2016
Mermaid and Turtles
My children’s book, A Turtle’s Magical Adventure, is out now on Amazon but in the future I will have one out about a Mermaid. Stay tuned!
June 20, 2016
Loving Lilacs in Florida
As someone who loves lilacs, but never having lived in the Northeast where they grow, I was interested if lilacs grew in my state of Florida. I Google’d it and lo and behold, I found a discussion group. I was delighted to find so many people who love lilacs as much as I do! I’m happy to tell you that there are a few varieties that do grow in Florida, especially Central Florida (where I live). One is called Blue Sky and another other is called The Ivory Silk. One that sounds most promising is called “(Syringa vulgaris) or ‘Snowy Beach Party’, a true, white-flowered bush which is said to grow and bloom even in Zone 10!” One more that grows in FL but not Zone 10 where I live is called Lavender Girl. It grows in Zone 8, up in the Panhandle.
I’m very excited to get my own plant and see how it does. I’m thinking I may just pot it inside so it has a cooler temperature and hopefully has better success. I don’t have a green thumb by any means, so I want to give the poor plant a fighting chance. I’m likely to plant something outside and then forget to water it. My husband, thankfully, is the green thumb in the family!
We visited Alaska last year and picked up a packet of Forget Me Nots (Alaska’s State Flower). We planted them recently, outside in a pot. They’re coming up, but boy, does my husband have to water them every day! I’ll take a picture of them if and when they bloom.
Just as a disclaimer, I’m not sharing the discussion group link as a commercial for Target, the people in the discussion group talk about purchasing from Target’s Garden Center. I’m sure you can find other stores that sell lilacs and there’s always the internet.
And there will be people who feel we shouldn’t try to grow lilacs in Florida because they are not native plants. My personal feelings are that it’s all North America and as long as a plant isn’t introduced that would be bad for the environment, like one that takes over and kills native plants, then I think it’s ok to adapt plants for other regions. I know some palm trees that can grow further north in chillier weather.
I love all kinds of flowers. I lived in Hawaii for a couple of years and love plumerias. I have several plants in my yard. I also have gardenias. I LOVE how they smell! And I have a beautiful purple crepe myrtle. I know they don’t smell like lilacs but they do look like them in their delicate blooms.
I’m not a gardener and this isn’t meant to give gardening advice, I’m just a fellow lover of lilacs! I’m a children’s author and every book I write has lilacs in it in some way. If you’d like to follow me, you can at http://www.wandaluthman.wordpress.com
Hope this article has been helpful to you and if you’d like to access the discussion group, I’ve provided the link below
