Savannah Hendricks's Blog, page 4
June 24, 2019
June 14, 2019
WHEN TO PUSH YOURSELF AND WHEN NOT TO
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There are days, weeks, maybe even months when we feel the need to push ourselves more so than normal. Sometimes it is okay to do this and sometimes it is not. So how do you know when you should and when you shouldn’t push yourself?
I can tell you from experience, you’ll probably get it wrong more than you get it right. I’ve misjudged things in my past and pushed myself when I shouldn’t have. I also misjudged myself and didn’t push myself when I should have.
We all have goals we wish to achieve. Big and small. Some everyone can understand and some not so easily understand by anyone other than those close to us.
So how the heck do you know what to do when?
Take your goal (one at a time) and a minute or two, maybe even five and ignore all things around you. Think about your goal. Ask yourself why you have the goal and why you made the time frame for it. By allowing yourself individual time with each goal you can assess the importance of NOW or LATER. Maybe the goal needs to be modified to better fit what you need NOW or what you need LATER since you’ve devoted time to it in the current moment. Don’t let someone else determine what’s best for you. Only you can do that.
May 30, 2019
World MS Day
For all my writer friends, nope, it’s not World Manuscript Day. Although how fun would that be? Take time off work to polish your stories?
Today is World Multiple Sclerosis Day. And the point of this is just as it seems, to bring awareness and share stories.
I won’t go on about my mom’s diagnosis, you’ve heard it before from me. But take the time to read up on the diagnosis if you are unfamiliar with it or learn how to support continued research.
May 24, 2019
Sissy Goes Tiny – Interview with co-author Rebecca Flansburg
Please welcome Rebecca Flansburg, co-author of Sissy Goes Tiny, the latest picture book releasing from Audrey Press this July!
ABOUT THE BOOK: Eight-year-old Sissy loves her life. She loves her toys, her Big house, and her Big backyard. But when Sissy’s parents decide they are going to live in a Tiny House on wheels and travel around the U.S., Sissy isn’t sure that she will like the idea of “living tiny.” But as she and her mommy and daddy learn about downsizing, re-purposing, and how “stuff is just stuff” in a positive way, Sissy soon understands that living Tiny has BIG possibilities; possibilities for all sorts of adventures and learning.
Q: What was it like to co-author a book?
Writing Sissy Goes Tiny was kind of a happy accident! Even though I have worked for years in the children’s publishing industry, I was never motivated to write a children’s book myself until B.A. and I created the story-line for our book. B.A. is not a parent, but she brings such a level of authenticity and accuracy about tiny house living to this book via her insight, wisdom and personal experience. She was an amazing co-author and will always be a great friend.
Q: What one word would you use to describe Sissy Goes Tiny?
Timely! I think people are really starting to gain awareness that we are living in a very “stuff orientated” world and how much we own will not make us happy. Meaningful experiences will trump “stuff” every time.
Q: The illustrations for this book were partially paid for with an artist’s grant; can you tell us more about that?
We are lucky enough to have The Five Wings Arts Council (FWAC) in our area. Five Wings is a non-profit that encourages and promotes arts creation, appreciation, and education through grant programs and technical assistance. FWAC believes that everyone should have access to take part in the arts. They have an annual Individual Artist Grant that B.A. and I applied for to help with illustration costs. A quality illustrator can be a costly part of creating a picture book but also completely worth it. The staff at FWAC was wonderful to work with and B.A. and I were awarded a $2250 grant!
Q: Your co-author, B.A. Norrgard, lives in a tiny house … have you ever thought about doing the same?
I’ve always told B.A. she is a braver soul than me! I’ve been in her tiny house many times and it is truly tiny (around 78 square feet). I would gladly live in a tiny home if it was more around the 250-300 square foot range. And my kids and pets would have to live in their own home because I’m not sharing… 
May 10, 2019
Selling Your House is Like Submitting Your Manuscript
Have you been through the process of selling a house before? Have you realized how similar it is to having your story on submission?
Let me explain.
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You decide you want to sell your home. Just as when you decide to submit your story. You do a little research, see what’s out there, what is selling, and then you take the leap.
You prefect your home/You perfect your story.
You’ve put your house up for sale/You’ve submitted.
Then you wait….and wait….
You check Zillow and Zip Reality, has anyone looked at the listing?/You check Query Tracker and writer forums for response times.
You wait and wait…
Oh, someone is coming to view your house!/Oh, you received a reply that your manuscript was received.
You wait and wait some more…
People have seen your house/People have read your story….
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BUT WHERE ARE THE OFFERS????
Ohhhh, look someone is making an offer, but first they need to have the house inspected/Ohhh, look someone requested a full!!
The inspector shows up/You submit the full manuscript.
You wait….and wait…AND WAIT….will they like it? What’s wrong with it? What do you need to fix? Sure it’s not perfect, but it’s yours. Will they accept it with some repairs? Maybe you shouldn’t have went with that bold blue/Maybe you shouldn’t have let your main character do that one thing he did.
A lot has caused you stress during this process, so make sure you don’t take the first offer without doing your research. Either way, at some point your house/your story will sell.
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Happy submitting!!!
May 1, 2019
Picture Books About Flowers
Happy May 1st! Spring has sprung (regardless of some snow across the upper United States) and soon it will be summer time! Every time I think of picture books about flowers, Miss Rumphius always comes to mind. I remember my father reading the story to me several times as a child. I also remember pulling the book from my book shelve and flipping through it, looking at the pictures. I still own a copy of that very book. Here are a few other flower picture books perfect for the end of spring.
A rhyming story with regards to who cares about flowers and who doesn’t.
A richly drawn picture book showcasing a flower for each letter of the alphabet.
This book is a bold delight of colors and fun story too.
Visually appealing picture book, especially the cat and dog. This story is brimming with conversation starting illustrations.
April 24, 2019
Magnolia Journal Vegan Modification – Banana + Chocolate
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Since I tried the other two breads in the Magnolia Journal, I had to attempt to vegan modify the third one, Banana + Chocolate (Spring issue, 2019). While I loved the first two, this one tasted good, but not my favorite over the others. I’m not a big banana fan, so that might be why.
For this one I swapped out the butter for oil (equally) and eggs were replaced with soaked chia seeds. The oil made an already dense bread extra heavy. If I make this again I’ll add more pecans!!
April 12, 2019
Release Day for GROUNDED IN JANUARY!!
[image error]The day has finally arrived and now YOU can enjoy my first sweet romance novel. I’ve loved this story from the first idea (a fearful flyer), and my drive to include multiple sclerosis in a story (for my mom who suffered from the disease). From there the idea grew in Grounded in January. And, an important note, for many of you who remember Bayou, I hope you find this book extra special. While this story is a work of fiction, Bayou’s mannerisms are brought back to life (and his name) throughout the book. I do hope YOU find this story to be funny and inspiring.[image error]
Advance praise for Grounded in January.
Grounded in January is a heartwarming, down-to-earth tale that will convince you that two people, no matter how imperfect, can still find a perfect love. – Cassidy Carter, author of Love on Location and The Perfect Catch from Hallmark Publishing.
Grounded in January is a story of resilience and rebirth that will warm your heart. Kate and Ox reminds us that having faith in love can be the greatest leap we can make. – Maggie Wells, author of Love Game from Sourcebooks Casablanca.
A heartwarming tale of two people dealing with real-life issues that lead you on an emotional journey filled with angst and laughter. This story is a fantastic reminder that love can make all the difference in someone’s life, especially when other factors are full of uncertainty and out of one’s control. Inspirational! – Elsie Davis, author of Back in the Rancher’s Arms from Entangled Publishing.
Add Grounded in January to your Goodreads list!
Purchase it on Amazon! And request it for your local library and bookstores!
April 3, 2019
Interview with Meg Raby, author of My Brother Otto
Please enjoy my interview with children’s book author, Meg Raby, and her first picture book, My Brother Otto.
[image error]photo credit: Michelle Sterling @averyandaugustine
During an Instagram story you gave viewers the opportunity to learn that My Brother Otto almost never happened. Tell us your thoughts about when you decided to send it off to Gibbs Smith Publishing.
About four years ago I had some eyes I highly respected take a look at my manuscript, which was then called PIPER AND OTTO, and tell me that it needed a lot of work and actually encouraged me to take the picture book in a whole different direction. If I had listened to this advice, I would have been writing something that was not my own—and not the point of MY BROTHER OTTO.
Because of the status of some of the people who provided initial feedback and because I found the whole process to be exceptionally vulnerable, I set the manuscript down and told myself to let it go—it wasn’t meant to be.
Fast forward about two years later and I’m in an accountability group all about taking risks (don’t worry, the healthy kind!), and they encouraged me to pick up the manuscript again—to risk the rejection all over. I picked it up, ended up making some significant, albeit important, changes to the manuscript and MY BROTHER OTTO was born.
Because Gibbs Smith Publishing publishes some of my family’s favorite books that seek to “Enrich and Inspire Humankind,” and because I thought it would be an incredible and more personal opportunity to actually get to meet the editor and other staff members of Gibbs, I put them at the top of my list. I will let you know my list was lengthy but that I never had to submit to any of the other publishers, because I heard back within 1 month.
Oh how my heart exploded!
Where/when did the idea to write My Brother Otto start?
I had known facts about autism spectrum disorders (ASD) but never had direct relationships with any child or adult with ASD until graduate school. I went to the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and received my Masters in Speech and Language Pathology with an additional certification in ASD. Before graduate school, I could list off the common characteristics of autism and write a strong essay, but I did not truly know what it all meant.
In graduate school I had the chance to do a clinical experience, or practicum, at a local autism center. This experience lead me to my first job as a speech and language pathologist with kiddos on the autism spectrum. Oh how I wish I could share with the perfect words how much that practicum and job melted my heart and forever created a love for the children and their families.
I think it’s a common misconception that if you have a diagnosis of ASD then you are “living in your own world” and don’t have social needs. You see a bunch of odd behaviors and that’s it. This couldn’t be further from the truth. I became friends with a 3-year-old who was nonverbal and who displayed a high amount of tantrums and aggression. This child was merely communicating frustration in a way he knew how—he was upset, and I realized that if others weren’t understanding what I was trying to communicate that I’d be upset, too. This same child grew to trust me and to enjoy our interactions. He’d see me in the hallway and flap his hands in excitement. On the occasion, he’d even hug me. I knew this needed to get out there for others to hear—I’m cutting my response to this question a bit short, because I could discuss dozens of more children (and adult) relationships similar to this one.
I do want you to know that the very first thing that set off my pursuit of writing this picture book was Ellen Degeneres’s statement to “Be kind.” She says this at the end of each show, and I love it. I love her. In order to be kind, especially when a child and when something or someone seems different or maybe even weird, gaining understanding and walking in their shoes to get a new perspective is absolutely essential. Gaining understanding leads to love—to kindness.
Your Instagram account, Bedtime Stories Forevermore, blossomed quickly. What was your hope when you started the account and did you think it would bloom into what it has?
My goal was merely to do something creative and to connect with others who love children’s books as much as I do. Sure, as a speech and language pathologist I know the importance of literacy and want to always advocate for more time reading together (it’s insanely important), but I also know the magic and the fun that comes from falling in love with books. I want to share only books that I believe will be endlessly beloved and help along in the “falling in love” process.
I will say as soon as I learned MY BROTHER OTTO was being published that I took the opportunity to address awareness and acceptance of children and adults on the autism spectrum on my account. I am so excited to spread the love for a misunderstood or often-overlooked community on Bedtime Stories Forevermore. I’ve connected with inspiring parents and friendships have formed. If even one person can gain new understanding or one parent can help their child understand their classmate on the autism spectrum and encourage kindness, then my job on Instagram is worth it.
Some states have a large group of writer programs/events and groups, while others lack. How does Utah stack-up?
Utah is a hub for children’s authors and for writing seminars and conferences. I honestly did not know this prior to moving here three years ago, but if you are looking for support in the children’s literature world, this is certainly a great place! I’m actually on my way to grab brunch with author Lezlie Evans—we met when her book FINDING CHRISTMAS came out and became instant friends. She’s so lovely.
Do you have any other picture books in the works?
Sitting in the hands of the publisher? Yes. Given the green light for publishing one of the manuscripts yet? No. I currently have a sequel about Otto that is being reviewed and actually a holiday book not related to Otto that is also being reviewed. We shall see what happens! It’s definitely a practice of patience in this field of work—but totally worth it.
[image error]My Brother Otto released on March 19, 2019. What is your ultimate goal with its release (how do you hope it inspires/helps the Autism community)?
I want MY BROTHER OTTO in the hands of all young readers—whether they have any association with autism or not. Currently 1 in 59 children are diagnosed with ASD in the US, so it’s safe to say there is most likely 1-2(+) classmates or neighbor kids in their daily life with this diagnosis. My goal is to make ASD understandable to the youngest of readers and to show that these classmates and neighbors like to learn, play, have friends and have fun just like they do. I want everyone to fall in love with Otto.
You can purchase My Brother Otto on Barnes & Noble, Amazon and directly from Gibbs Smith
You can follow Meg on Instagram at: bedtime.stories.forevermore
March 28, 2019
The Location of Your Writing
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Last weekend I had the opportunity to hear Cassidy Carter, author of Love on Location (you can find my interview with her here) and the director of Hallmark Publishing, Stacey Donovan, speak at a local Barnes and Noble writer workshop.
The group met in an open area of the bookstore and the ladies chatted about writing and Hallmark Publishing. How Stacey and Cassidy conducted the workshop made everyone feel welcome and comfortable to ask questions. I’ve been to many writing workshops and conferences and I can say that this informal setting, and the way Stacey and Cassidy presented the material (and themselves) made it one of the best ones I’ve attended. And this one was FREE!
What I loved the most, and what I learned from was the three writing prompts Stacey gave us. We had three minutes per one given. Being someone who takes a while to feel comfortable in a new setting and around strangers I didn’t think anything would come when the first prompt was given. But it did! I think my ability to channel my love and comfort of writing happened quickly because I was out of my comfort zone. I needed familiarity, security, and I always find it in my writing.
I walked away with a wonderful new story idea. And Stacey had mentioned being free of distractions and in a different setting can often increase these odds. She was correct.
So I encourage writers to try this, to mix it up and see if these help when they are feeling stuck or needing a new idea. If you have ever stepped out and written outside of your normal spot did it help you or were you distracted by the new setting? What did you learn about yourself/your writing when you did this?
