Congratulations June! All the members of On the Scene in ’19 are proud of you and wish you the best of luck with your middle grade debut, RES-Q TYLER STOP. With such a unique background, you are a modern-day renaissance woman. We know you bring all your life experiences and love of history to your writing. Compiling mountains of research and completing your book is a major accomplishment. Kudos! 
 




​What other jobs or careers have you worked in prior to becoming an author?
 
I have held a wide variety of jobs since I was a teenager. Here's a short list: Babysitter, house cleaner, movie theater usher, pizza maker, insurance secretary, legal secretary, executive secretary, marketing secretary, research and development secretary, library assistant, sewing/quilt designer, columnist, and technical editor. My 'what do you want to be when you grow up?' job since the time I was about four years old was to be a school teacher! 
 
I was blessed to spend twenty-one years as a classroom teacher working with students in Kindergarten through fourth grade. It was an extremely rewarding career, and I told parents I had the best job in the world working with youngsters to teach them the gift of reading—among other skills. 
 
I was a literacy mentor in our district for three years. This involved high-level training in all aspects of language arts. I believe this training from language arts specialists has helped me in my writing for children and adults. Lastly, working with several student teachers and mentoring new teachers allowed me to pass along to the next generation of teachers some of the wisdom I had learned from my mentor and my years in the classroom.
 
 
Describe your process of taking an idea and developing it into a story.

Usually, an idea percolates in the back of my mind for awhile before I begin putting it down on paper or on my computer. Once I have the basic story, characters, and setting formulated, I usually use color-coded index cards to write down my thoughts about the plot, setting, and characters. By using a different color for each of these elements I feel like I can stay organized. Being organized is part of my make-up.
 
I know some authors use Excel spreadsheets, outlines, or story maps. The index card method works best for me because it was how I organized my research projects and term papers in high school and college—in the days before computers were available to schools and consumers! As the old saying goes, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."
 
Next comes the research. I do a lot of research for my fiction writing. For this book, 'RES-Q Tyler Stop', which is set in Sonoma County, California in 1968, I borrowed and read numerous books from the library on the history of California, Sonoma County, and the Pomo Nation. I also read biographies of some of the famous characters who are named in the story. My goal was to paint an accurate, authentic, and respectful picture of the Pomo people and the time period in this area.
 
After I am satisfied I can go forward with confidence to write the best story possible, I begin typing my manuscript into a Word document on my computer. I usually work for a few hours a day, or as much as time allows, until I have the basic story recorded. Then I begin reviewing the story and editing and polishing.
 
 
What do you hope your writing will do for those who read your work?
 
As I mentioned above, I want readers to come away with a sense of an accurate, authentic, and respectful picture of the issues addressed in the story. I hope readers will be inspired to maybe open their minds to an idea or culture they had not previously known about or thought about. 
 
The sacred rule in my classroom was two words, "Be kind." In this middle-grade novel in particular, I would like young readers to feel the compassion for animals and people exhibited by the main character, Weston Gregg, and his family. Perhaps readers will consider transferring these feelings and traits over to their own lives—that would be very rewarding to me as an author!
 
 
Are you working on something new at the moment?

I am working on Book Two in this Tyler Stop series. Weston and his younger sister, Wendy, have more adventures in store for readers! I don't even have a working title for this second book yet, but I have the story elements written out on my colored index cards. 
 
Of course, there will be a lot of research for me to work on before I begin typing up the manuscript since this second book will feature new issues and people for the main characters to work with and new problems to face. I hope to have this one ready to publish by early 2020. 
 
What do you do in your free time?

I learned to sew by hand and stitch hand-embroidery when I was around eight years old. Then I learned to use a sewing machine when I was eleven. I've pretty much been stitching, sewing, and quilting ever since! I enjoy sewing clothes, gifts, and home décor. I spend a good deal of my stitching time making quilts for the local women and children's shelter in our county. The quilting group to which I belong also makes comfort quilts with scriptures written on them. When I want to relax, I work on cross-stitch or hand-embroidery projects.
 
I enjoy spending time touring historic homes, gardens, and art and history museums. I love to walk by the ocean and in parks. I like to cook and bake, and trying out my own recipes is fun for me. Of course, I love to read, write, and blog.
 
 
What would you like readers to know about you?
 
This story might tell you a little about my personality. A few years ago after we had toured a beautiful historic home in Northern California, the docent asked me, "So what did you like about this home?"
 
Without missing a beat I said, "I loved everything!" The docent smiled and told me she'd never had anyone answer her question quite that way.
 
I love history and nature, and I love seeing and learning new things. My curious, inquisitive, creative nature has led me to write down my thoughts in the form of books and short stories to share with others. There simply isn't enough time in the day for me to get answers to all of my questions, but I love to try.

We are incredibly happy for Pippa as her debut picture book is set to release on April 5th, 2019. Parents will love reading COUNTING SHEEP to their children at bedtime. We imagine Pippa was inspired by all the fleecy sheep frolicking along the England countryside, where she grew up. Are we right? You can learn more about where Pippa gets her inspiration in this interview, whether it’s from the U.K. or her current home in Singapore. Congratulations, Pippa!



What other careers have you worked in prior to becoming an author?
 
Before becoming an author I worked in Public Relations for a major Food and Retail chain in the UK. I wrote press releases on store openings and clothes lines which was great fun, but the part I enjoyed the most was helping to promote their fantastic social work with unemployed and homeless people. It is a wonderful thing to write positive stories that can really make a difference to other people’s lives. Following that I embarked on a career as a Primary School Teacher where I taught reception level children. I loved in particular teaching them phonetic reading skills and comprehension and this is where I developed my greatest love, children’s picture book stories. I couldn’t get enough of them then and I still can’t!
 
Where do you find your ideas?
 
I often find inspiration whilst out in the countryside on dog walks with my bouncy spaniel Jasper. We always have great fun spotting squirrels, sticks and birds! I also find inspiration in my three children, the way they play and interact with friends and the things they say. Sometimes I discuss new ideas with my children to see if they think they might work before I pen them down. The other place I seek inspiration is through visits to the zoo. I love fascinating facts about animals an often find a story buried in amongst the factual information written up on boards beside the animal.
 
What does my writing schedule look like on a weekly basis?
 
Being a mum of three young children who love to be active means I don’t get as much writing time as I would always like. I have to squeeze it in where ever I can. One of my favourite places to write, edit and daydream are on my dog walks, which have become a source of great creativity for me. I also like to work in coffee shops where there is a quiet hum of general life around me as writing at home day in and day out can be a little lonely if you never venture out. I am a member of a number of critique groups too so I meet other lovely writing friends twice a week each week and hone my editing skills! Typically my week goes a bit like this: on Monday I critique and then on Tuesday I write, on Wednesday I critique again and on Thursday and Friday I write some more.
 
At what point in your life did you know you wanted to be a writer?
 
For me that was very early on. I wrote often as a child to help process my thoughts and better understand my feelings and the world around me. It felt a natural thing to do and I have never stopped. I even have a beautiful beaded blue diary which contains poems I wrote throughout my childhood, particularly from the ages of 13 onwards that still lives in a cupboard beside my bed. It is a reminder that if you don’t give up dreams really can come true! When I studied English Language at A-level as part of my coursework I chose to write, illustrate and bind my very own picture book, it was called The Tale of Fluke the Dolphin. Someday I hope to pull it out of storage and revisit it!
 
What do you do in your free time?
 
Most of my free time is spent with my three children, swimming, going to the beach and playing games, my eldest is now getting into scrabble! But when I am not with my family I enjoy having a coffee with friends, country walks and most of all singing! I am a member of a lovely choir in Singapore that performs twice a year in public and practices the rest. I have made wonderful friends doing something I love and it always brings me great joy to sing. I am also a member of a book club which keeps me engaged with different genres and writing styles all the time. Last month we read a fantastic memoir and this month we are reading a historical fiction novel. I love books and reading and it is always lovely to get together with my friends to discuss a good book. 
 
What would you like readers to know about you?
 
I love living with my family in Asia. Not only does it have great weather, but it is a melting pot of different cultures, religions and ethnicities and we are surrounded by the beauty that diversity brings to life. I am ever grateful that my children are brought up in a community that does not judge each other by their religion or race.  I hope that one day, during my writing career, that I am able to write a book that will inspire others to share my vision of a more loving world.

Welcome June. We are so proud to have you as a member of On the Scene in ’19. Congratulations on your debut book, ODD ANIMAL ABC'S. It comes out in April, just in time for warmer weather and educational family trips to the Zoo. Your love for animals really shines through this book, and it’s a wonderful way to introduce children to lesser known species. We can just picture children bringing this book to the Zoo or the Aquarium, playing “I spy” for their favorite animals. We wish you the best of luck with your launch!
 

Where were you when inspiration struck for your story?
I was at a yard sale wondering why the ABCs always had the same animals as when I was tiny. I've seen five-year-olds rattle off scientific names of dinosaurs. They are capable of learning more than apple, ball, cat, and dog. Then I couldn't get the idea out of my head. I even discovered that gorilla's (creatures that kids are now very familiar with) were once not believed to exist. Scientists had to bring back specimens. Once people learned about them, they became common knowledge. I wanted to do this with fun animals like the quoll or the numbat or the fossa and that is how Odd Animal ABC’s was born.
 
Describe your process of taking an idea and developing it into a story.
My process varies from story to story. Sometimes I jot down ideas, names, key points and then build from there. Other times I know how a story should feel, but I have to mull over it for months before ever writing anything down. The one thing that never changes is revision. I share with my critique partners, tear things apart and build them back up as needed. For me, as long as I keep that original feeling - the heart of my story - I can make many changes without batting an eye. Some stories have a number of completely different manuscripts, styles, POV, even main characters in order to find the right fit for that original story idea.
 
At what point in your life did you know you wanted to write?
I have always written. I loved words and books and stories for as far back as I can remember. It was just part of who I was. I wrote for fun all the time. Then after growing up and starting a family I realized I didn't write anymore. And I missed it. 
I started writing again just for fun, for a few years that was all it was, but then I wanted to share my work. So, I got serious and YEARS later I have books going out into the world.
 
Are you working on something new at the moment?
I'm working on something every moment. I typically have a few manuscripts that I'm working on. If I get stuck on one, I jump to the next. My brain can’t sit still. Right now, I'm working on a chapter book and some for picture books, I've had birds on the brain. I live with note pads, post-its, and cell phone notes for whenever new ideas strike.
 
Where do you go to improve your writing?
I'm sort of addicted to learning. I watch webinars, attend classes, SCBWI conferences, I've attended Highlights Retreats, and I share with my critique partners. This way I am always pushing myself, so I never feel stagnant. I have a budget, but through SCBWI you can sometimes find webinars as cheap as $10. I’ve even gone to the library, picked up books, and started case studies. One day it was all Character Driven books and what worked. Another day is was Openings and how they made me want to turn the page. You don’t need money, just a library, a pencil, and paper.
 
What were favorite books when you were a kid? 
Anything with humor, animals, and survival. I read the Saddle Club Series, Island of the Blue Dolphins, The Cay, Calvin and Hobbs, The Secret Garden, The Snowman, My Side of the Mountain, Garfield, and any non-fiction with an animal on the cover. I never really had one favorite.
 
What would you like readers to know about you?
I believe the world is full of amazing things to discover and that learning and discovering should never ever stop. And I hope my writing inspires others to be curious about the world around them.

Hi Connie. We are so pleased to have you as one of the members of our community. Congratulations on your debut picture book, FROM A TO Z WITH ENERGY! You have such an interesting background in dance, and we love how you’ve incorporated that passion into your new book for kids. Thank you for answering these questions and giving us more insight into your creative process. 
 
 
 

Where were you when inspiration struck for your story?
 
I was walking on a trail near my home. I had recently written a four-stanza action verse about the first four letters of the alphabet, and was going to submit it to Highlights along with some other verses. But as I was walking along, I thought, Why stop with D?
 
Once I opened that door, a lot of new ideas began to come to me. E is for the Energy you need to run and play! F is for the Fun you’ll have while moving every day!
 
These 26 stanzas eventually became my new picture book.
 
What other jobs or careers have you worked in prior to becoming an author?
 
I feel so fortunate to have had a long career in the field of dance. I went to Denison University and was one of that school’s first dance majors. I received my MFA degree from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. I performed professionally for twelve years in the US and Latin America, and have been a dance teacher since I was a teaching assistant in both undergraduate and graduate school.
 
I began to format and compile my creative dance lesson plans to share with teachers of young children.This eventually became my first book: Dance, Turn, Hop, Learn! Enriching Movement Activities for Preschoolers, followed by a second one, One, Two, What Can I Do? Dance and Music for the Whole Day, both published by Redleaf Press. I also began to submit verses to Highlights and to write articles about movement for magazines and journals. 
 
What other responsibilities or activities do you have as a writer?
 
I have been a presenter since I wrote my first book for teachers in 2006, offering workshops to teachers and others in the early childhood education community. In these presentations, I demonstrate ideas and techniques for bringing dance into the classroom for brain breaks, for lively and playful activities, and for teaching subjects and concepts through movement. 
 
How did you get started writing for kids?
 
Writing picture books and other works for children is the result of a natural evolution. I often use rhymes, stories, and books in my dance classes to inspire children’s imaginations.
 
I wrote several verses and some stories in my two books for teachers, and continued to do so after I finished my second book. I began to wonder if some of them could be ideas for picture books. 
 
I went to (and continue to attend) workshops, conferences, and online classes to learn about writing picture books; joined SCBWI, Authors Guild, and other organizations; and helped to form a critique group.
 
Once I changed my focus from writing for teachers to writing directly for children, I found my voice.
 
What’s your favorite thing about writing for kids?
 
Kids are my favorite people! I have spent so much wonderful time with my own children, with my grandchildren, and with the young students in my classes during my career as a dance teacher. I am always honored when I can enter a child’s world of imagination, and see things through his or her eyes.
 
I look forward to sharing From A to Z with Energy! with children, and together finding new ways to dance along to the story.
 
What would you like readers to know about you?
 
My favorite dance quote: There are shortcuts to happiness, and dancing is one of them. (Vicki Baum)
 
I have created several flash mob dances!
 
I do a lot of traveling. I have children in three different parts of the US. Also, my husband and I have spent a lot of time in Latin America, we have friends there, and we try to travel to that area whenever we can. 
 
I like to sew, and I love to read!

Welcome to our website. We are a creative bunch of debut picture book and middle grade authors publishing in 2019. Social media brought us together, the way it does for so many. We’re all delighted to be on this journey to publication and plan to share our learnings with all of you. And there will be learnings! We’re sure there will be as many bumps in the road as there are successes. We’ll give you an inside glimpse into the world of children’s books, from the perspective of newbies on the scene. 
 
Oh, and we’ll have a lot of fun too! Let’s not forget, we’re lucky enough to be putting our stories out there into the hands of children. It’s an incredible feeling and we won’t leave out the whimsy. From interviews to book giveaways to fun promotions, we plan to have a blast. 

​Follow along with us. Have some fun. Ask questions. This is a community we started so we can grow and we welcome all of you to be a part of it with us. Cheers!
 
From,
All The Members who are On The Scene in '19