CM: Your brilliantly crafted Blink and Glow story will delight any primary-grade school child. (See review below) When you began to compose this story about the young children’s excitement and preparation for Show and Tell at their school, what parameters or limitations did you prescribe for yourself? Did you know early on, for example, the age of your projected young readers? Did you define page number limitations?
Howell: The idea for Blink and Glow was mined from illustrator Ann Pilicer’s artwork, specifically a picture depicting children in a woodsy evening setting, gazing into a glass jar of sparkling fireflies.
I was collaborating with Ann. She had submitted artwork to a publisher running a picture book contest for children’s illustrators. Together she and I worked out plots and pictures for a mermaid-themed story, and the two main characters from Blink and Glow evolved. They were originally hunting for mermaids, not fireflies and salamanders.
At some point, while composing a storyline and coordinating images, we veered toward a more realistic plot with the gentle message of kindness toward our natural environment.
Because of the specific publisher contest rules Ann was limited by, we worked with the age range and subsequent word choice requirements. So, we had some parameters.
CM: How did the idea for the book’s theme change?
Howell: The change in storyline from mermaids to fireflies was initiated from the above-mentioned beautiful illustration Ann had posted in her portfolio. When I saw her portrayal of children admiring a twinkling jar of fireflies, it reminded me so much of my own childhood, and the magic of those summer evenings, warm breezes, the scent of sweet jasmine in the air, the wonderment of lightning bugs.
Ann and I imagined children in a serene early summer night exploring the back yard and finding glowing enchantment. Then, as children do, desiring to share the discoveries with others.
CM: Did your story run through several edits before you thought it ready for publication?
Howell: Our editor was happy with the manuscript I submitted. We made some simple tweaks, maybe just 3 or 4 small text shifts. Ann adjusted a couple of pages, as well, involving only minor details.
CM: The relationship of young children with their grandparents is often a very special relationship. Did you plan from the start for “Grandma” to become a character in your appealing story?
Howell: I gravitated toward Grandma naturally when I was writing the story. But it’s funny you ask because it has only been in hindsight that I realize my mother (who is a grandmother and a great-grandmother now) was the inspiration and reason I chose to use that character. When I was growing up, she was a big influence on me, especially regarding caring for and being respectful of nature, animals, and all living things.
CM: In my view, books for and about children are as important as books for adults. Do you write for various age levels and do you find special satisfaction in writing for a specific age group?
Howell: Over the years, I’ve written predominantly for children ages 4-8, however some of my children’s poetry compilations are geared for early middle schoolers, up to age 11 or 12. These days, some of my favorite books I love sharing are for preschoolers, like my board book, My Community, and picture books, Mattison Mouse Counts, and Keep Trucking, one of my new ones.
CM: What personal activities or experiences nourish your obvious joy in writing for children?
Howell: Visiting students in classrooms and participating in children’s events such as story time in libraries and bookstores nourish my joy of writing. Also, my cherished grandnephews and grandniece have inspired a couple of my books.
CM: I’m acquainted with your work through various media outlets and through your exquisite book The 20 Little Poems for 20 Little Gnomes. (It’s reviewed here at this site.) Please tell us your plans for future books, for children or adults.
Howell: I have a new book on the horizon my publisher is releasing soon–an early chapter book, appropriate for 4th to 7th graders titled The Charms of U.S. Farms. I also have a couple of more imaginative picture books on publishers’ release schedules. One is a humorous take on Grimm’s The Fisherman and His Wife. It’s titled The Fisherman and the French Flounder. The other one is titled, Glow. It was originally written as a long prose poem. It evolved into an inspirational picture book and was picked up for publication a couple of years ago.
CM: Like many authors who market their own works, I’m curious how you handle the marketing and distribution of your children’s books and how this might differ from the promotion of adult books. What publicity tools have you used (or plan to use) for Blink and Glow? Readers might like to know, for example, if you share reading nights with other authors? Do you enjoy giving readings? Do you use other publicity techniques you’d like to share?
Howell: I find it much easier to promote my work as a contributing writer for the children’s magazines I work for. I have opportunities to interview great talents in the kid lit community and it’s incredibly uplifting. I try to share that enthusiasm with fellow readers, authors, and lit lovers, whether that’s in the slant of the feature or article I write, or when I post about it on social media.
Having said that, my publishers handle distribution and promotion for my own books. Book marketing for me is when I land in a bookshop for a meet-and-greet, or at a book fair with children to story-tell. I enjoy participating in events both solo and with other authors and have made dear friends over the years. I think it’s always beneficial to share book events. Having common goals, we are all very supportive of one another.
CM: Please tell us about any specific publicity events you’d like to share.
Howell: One event in particular stands out for me. Earlier this year, I was invited to a library book fair. The librarian had invited authors from a variety of genres. We were set up in the same room and it was fabulous for those attending. Grandparents looking for kids’ books came to the children’s author tables, those looking for romance checked out the romance authors, and the horror authors, etc. But amazingly, everyone became involved with genres unfamiliar to them. It became a nice mixing. I loved the atmosphere. It was like a big colorful family event, with book lovers meeting authors of different genres.
CM: You are justifiably proud that the publisher of Blink and Glow donates a portion of its proceed to support our natural environment. Please tell us how that connection came about and why you chose Tielmour Press? If you don’t mind this question, did you or the publisher provide the wonderful illustrator, Ann Pilicer, for this beautiful hard-bound book?
Howell: When I signed with the publisher, I submitted my manuscript along with Ann’s illustrations and crossed my finger for a positive response. After a couple of weeks, I received a note of interest. The story’s gentle message and Ann’s artwork was what they were looking for. We couldn’t have been happier!
Blink and Glow Cover
MY REVIEW OF RAVEN HOWELL’S BLINK AND GLOW
In addition to their enjoyment of the colorful illustrations, kids ages 4 to 8 will take to heart the lesson Grandma shares with her grandchildren, in this fine children’s book. The young heroes of Blink and Glow are all set for their class’s Show and Tell, Leo with his captured firefly and Lilly with her salamander. But something happens to change their plans. Grandma brings her knowledge and her experience to the children.
Not only is the book a visual delight, it offers in addition to its engaging storyline, an underlying lesson for the children, teaching them to respect their natural environs. Author Howell gives the book another added dimension by including an age-appropriate craft object the children can create and share. I can heartily recommend Blink and Glow to young readers and to parents and caregivers who want quality reader matter for the young ones in their lives!
