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Trillium Sisters Interview & 2 Book Giveaway

By on May 26, 2021   /   Author Interviews, Giveaways  

I’m thrilled to welcome Laura Brown and Elly Kramer to the Mixed-Up Files to celebrate their upcoming release of two exciting new chapter books: Trillium Sisters 1: The Triplets Get Charmed and Trillium Sisters 2: Bestie Day. They’re illustrated by Sarah Mensinga and will be published by Pixel+Ink on June 1, 2021.

Three sisters discover that they and their pets have superpowers they can use to protect the world around them in this fantastical new chapter book series about family, friendship, and environmental responsibility perfect for fans of Mia Mayhem and The Wish Fairy.

This is such an amazing concept for a series. How did you come up with the idea?

Laura: It was originally inspired when I was on a family ski trip in Colorado. I was alone on a slope when I found myself by a gorgeous stand of Douglas Firs. The setting was so beautiful, I just had to stop. I began to imagine what it might be like to live in that beautiful spot, surrounded by nature! Who might live there and how? I couldn’t stop thinking about it. When I got home, I called  Elly and we built the world and characters from there.

Elly:  So, we had the setting. We knew where the stories would take place but had to figure out who the stories would be about. I had always wanted to tell a story featuring families. While they all look different, it’s something that every reader can relate to. And as someone who has an incredibly special relationship with my sister, the idea of writing about sisters popped into my head. (And in case he’s reading this, I love my brother very much, too. Trillium Brothers is next!) 

 

What inspired the two of you to co-write the Trillium Sister series?

Elly: Laura and I had worked together in children’s television for years and we had recently co-written some scripts for a show on Nick Jr. We loved the collaboration and realized we had some ideas of our own. That sparked the partnership. We both wanted to do something that empowered girls to be the heroes of their own stories. We call that modern princess magic.

Laura: It was also important to us that there were strong boys/men beside these strong girls. That’s why the family is headed by a single, nurturing dad and there’s a little brother who has his own unique gifts. 

 

What are some of the pros and cons of co-writing, and do you have tips for anyone who is considering working with a co-writer?

Laura: I think co-writing was natural for us given that we came from television. We’ve both been part of writer’s rooms where story ideas are workshopped with lots of different people at once. It’s loads of fun to create stories collaboratively – it’s almost like playing pretend when you’re little! My favorite part of co-writing is taking an idea in an unexpected direction when the other brain gets involved. Elly and I call this  “yes anding” each other!

Elly: What I love about our co-writing process is that we get each other unstuck. If I’m unsure where a chapter is going or if Laura wants the dialogue punched up, we turn to each other.  In terms of co-writing tips, I’d say figure out what you are each best at and lean into your strengths. No one has to do it all.

Laura: Yes, and pick a partner who has different strengths than you do so you each bring unique qualities to the team. Then, talk, talk, talk! You don’t want anything left unsaid when you’re writing together.

Elly: And don’t over use semi- colons! Apparently I used them way too much! 

 

LOL. It’s easy to see how well you work together. It sounds like such a fun way to write, brainstorm, and revise.

How have your backgrounds and lived experiences helped with your new chapter book series?

Elly: Having worked in television, I was used to thinking about all of the elements that go into telling stories. Things like, knowing who your audience is. How to think about world building and character development. There are some practical things that are different between developing for television and books, but ultimately you want your audience to fall in love with what you’ve created and to keep coming back for more.

Laura: The older I get, the more I love and respect nature. So few kids today have the opportunity to spend a day in the woods! My passion for the natural world really shaped the book. In terms of career, I’m an educational psychologist and I’ve spent years running focus groups with young children, exploring how they react to stories. That gives me a strong understanding of what engages children and what they understand at different ages. 

 

What surprised you the most while writing these books?

Laura: How easy it was to get lost in the stories! I love the world so much that sometimes I’d write an entire scene only to realize it wasn’t going to work. I had done it because I wanted to explore that part of Trillium Mountain! Of course, that doesn’t mean the writing was always easy. It wasn’t, but that’s when it was essential to have a partner and a great editor. Bethany Buck helped us in so many ways, but one thing that stands out is what she taught us about pacing the reveal of new information over the course of the series. 

Elly: To see how these girls have come alive off the page! We put mood boards together while we were developing the books. Everything from their clothing, to their rooms, to what kind of music they would listen to. We compiled images of what we envisioned they would look like before they were designed. My niece recently was looking through my phone and saw an image of a young girl. She said, “That looks like Giselle!” and it was a piece of inspiration I had pulled for Giselle. To see and feel how dimensionalized these girls have become, even though they’re not animated, has been incredible. 

Pics that inspired the sisters. Emmy is sensitive and compassionate. She loves nature and all living things. Clare has big out of the box ideas and loves design and fashion. And Giselle? She lives to move and she’s a confident decision maker. 

I love that your niece was able to look at your inspiration photo for Giselle and recognize her! The inspiration photos for the girls are amazing, and I can’t stop smiling at the inspiration photos for their adorable pets, too. Readers will want their own mini’mals after meeting these cuties.

Inspiration for the pets – Soar the eaglet, Fluffy the wolf pup, Claw the bear cub

Here’s the inspiration for the incredible world they created. What an amazing place to live! It’s an alpine oasis with touches of the fantastical. Where you can drink daisy juice, bring your pet to the Paw Pad for a massage, and find the most exquisite rocks. Trillium flowers hold special meaning for the girls.

 

Can you share a writing exercise with us?

Laura: One thing I struggle with is getting out of my everyday brain (which has a lot of “to do” lists in it) and into my creative brain. To do that, I go for a walk with my dog, Charley Brown. Then, I go home and “vomit write” for 10 minutes, which means I write whatever pops into my head without worrying if it makes sense.  It’s something I used to do with my daughter when she had trouble coming up with a writing topic for school. There’s often a little gold in all the mess.

Elly: Similar to Laura, I just write at first. I get everything out and then go back to re-read and edit. I’ve also found it incredibly useful to give myself  time and space between each revision. I see things differently the next day than I do after working on a chapter for 4 hours. 

 

Thanks for the great writing exercise and tips! Fast-drafting without allowing a pesky internal editor to interfere helps me discover so many gems, too. And giving myself time between revisions is a huge help! 

What’s next for both of you?

Laura: I’m working on a picture book and another chapter book series. The picture book is a humorous take on sibling relationships, based loosely on my own kids. They’re grown now and very close but when they were little, I worried it wouldn’t work out that way!  Elly and I are also writing some short stories for an online platform.

Elly: I have some new TV ideas I’ve been working on, but one of the greatest things that have come out of this process has been working with Laura. I am so much better working with someone else. It’s hard for me to come up with ideas in a vacuum. Laura and I are always talking about what we can do next together. I can always tell when she’s been out walking Charley … she usually calls with some great new idea as soon as she gets home from her walk. 

 

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers? 

Laura: I want readers to know Trillium Sisters is first and foremost an adventure fantasy. We hope kids get lost in our stories and have fun.  In our opinion, those experiences teach us the most and make passionate readers.

Elly: Nothing to ‘yes and’ there. Perfectly said. 

 

Thank you so much for stopping by the Mixed-Up Files, Laura and Elly. It was great chatting with you.

Laura and Elly: Thank you! This was trilltastic!

 

Laura Brown, an early childhood expert, collaborates with organizations to create high quality educational media properties and products. She has written curricula and scripts and served as Content Expert and Research Director for series produced by Nick Jr., Disney Junior, Amazon Kids, DreamWorks Animation Television, PBS Kids, and many others. She is currently Curriculum Director at WarnerMedia Preschool/Cartoonito. A mother of three, she lives in Tenafly, NJ, but in another life, she would happily live in a treehouse in the forest. (Instagram: @laurabrownauthor)

 

Elly Kramer is currently the VP of Production & Development at Imagine Entertainment in their Kids and Family division and has created and led the development of numerous award-winning and highly-rated TV shows, online games, and innovative apps. As VP of Production and Development with Nickelodeon, she led the development of long and short-form content. She has also produced and developed over thirty-five shorts. Elly is a frequent speaker at film festivals and industry events. She lives in Los Angeles, CA. (Instagram: @ellykramerauthor)

 

Enter the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win a copy of both Trillium Sisters 1: The Triplets Get Charmed and Trillium Sisters 2: Bestie Day. (U.S. only)

Trillium Sisters 1: The Triplets Get Charmed

Eight-year-old triplets Emmy, Clare, and Giselle are excited to celebrate Founding Day, the day their dad found them and they became a family. The girls want this year’s celebration to be extra special. And Dad has a big surprise—trillium petal charms that he found with the girls.

But when the girls’ little brother, Zee, slips into the river while helping them plan a special surprise, something magical happens: The charms are drawn together, forming a glowing flower, and the girls suddenly have superpowers! Channeling their new abilities, they work together to try to save Zee, but will they be able to figure out how to help in time?

 

 

 Trillium Sisters 2: Bestie Day

The Trillium Triplets are flying into action!

Wondering if their powers will return, Clare, Emmy, and Giselle throw themselves into preparations for Bestie Day, when everyone in Trillsville celebrates the special people in their lives. The girls are planning to make presents for one another from fallen flower petals. That way, they can enjoy the beauty around them without causing harm.

But at the flower field, instead of finding beautiful blooms, the Trills find a big problem. Two girls from town are cutting so many flowers for their Bestie Day bouquets that the bees can’t get enough nectar. And without the bees, the entire mountain ecosystem could fall apart! When their Trillium powers activate, will the sisters be able to buzz to the rescue?

The winner will be announced on Sunday, May 30. Good luck. 😊

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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STEM Tuesday — Geology — Interview with Author Jennifer Swanson

By on May 25, 2021   /   Geology, STEM Tuesday  

Welcome to STEM Tuesday: Author Interview & Book Giveaway, a repeating feature for the fourth Tuesday of every month.Go Science-Tech-Engineering-Math!

Today we’re interviewing Jennifer Swanson, author of recently released OUTDOOR SCHOOL: Rock, Fossil, and Shell Hunting. In a shining starred review, Kirkus says it’s a “stellar guide that engages readers with rocks, minerals, fossils, and shells.”

Mary Kay Carson: How did you come to write Rock, Fossil, and Shell Hunting?

Jennifer Swanson: I wrote this book because the publisher reached out to me to ask me to write it. That happens sometimes when you are a STEM nonfiction author. The publisher comes up with an amazing idea and then they look for an author to write the book. Why did they ask me? Well, probably because of my background as an author of STEM books for kids, but also because I am a huge fan of science and the outdoors. I grew up with a creek in my backyard and practically spent my entire childhood running around outside along the creek, climbing trees, tromping in the forest, and much more. Writing this book was awesome! because it helped me to relive my childhood in a lot of ways.

There is a whole Outdoor School series! Check out the other two amazing books: Outdoor School: Hiking and Camping by Jennifer Pharr Davis and Haley Blevins, and as you know, Outdoor School: Animal Watching by Mary Kay Carson. If you have kids who love the outdoors, these three books are a must. Kids of all ages will find themselves armed with tons of maps, tips, and tricks to explore the outdoors like never before. If you want to continue the fun, draw images of what you see, organize the collections that you gather, and get to the library to look for more fun books about these topics.

MKC: The book is billed as “The Definitive Guide” and is 440 pages. What was researching it like?

Jennifer: As I mentioned before, I spent  my childhood outside, so I guess you could say that I’ve been researching this book my whole life. But to be more specific, with a book this long, there is a lot of research. I got very familiar with adult field guides of rocks, fossils, and shells (those are very big books, if I do say so myself). And then I wrote the experiments and actually did them. I mean you have to make sure they will work, right? The writing part took a lot of time, as did the editing. We had to go over each illustration to make sure it accurately represented every rock, fossil, and shell in it. Plus, I added in some safety notes throughout as well as suggestions for where to go to find all of these amazing objects to add to your collection.

MKC: Were you a rock or shell collector as a kid? Are you still?

Jennifer: Yes! I collected them all, or tried to anyway. I had a ton of rocks as a kid and shells, too. I never did find a dinosaur fossil, though. Isn’t that the goal of every kid? But I did get close (sort of). I found a cow skull when I was eight. It was the prize centerpiece of the science club I had in my garage. As an adult, I don’t collect as many rocks, fossils, or shells, as I realize that they are important parts of the ecosystem. So while I look for them, I usually leave them in place in the wild.

MKC: To whom did you imagine yourself writing to while drafting this book?

Jennifer Swanson is the award-winning author of over 35 children’s books, including Brain Games, Super Gear, Astronaut-Aquanaut, and Save the Crash-test Dummies. A self-professed science geek, she started a science club in her garage when she was 7 years old. When not researching cool STEM stuff or writing about it, you can find her walking along the beach with her husband and her dogs, looking for shells. jenniferswansonbooks.com

Jennifer:  Like all my books, I write my books for kids who love science, engineering and the outdoors. For me, writing STEM/STEAM books is about having a conversation with a young reader. It’s about getting them excited about the topic so that they get curious, ask questions, and want to explore more on their own. I love including fun facts so that my readers say, “Wow! I didn’t know that.”  The target audience is kids ages 10-14 years, but really it’s a great book for kids of all ages (yes, that means adults, too). If you love the outdoors or just want to get more familiar with it, this book is awesome for just that!

MKC: Could you give us a peek into your process by sharing where you are right now on a current project?

Jennifer: Right now I’m working on my new book, Saving the Amazon which features a team of scientists from the Field Museum in Chicago who work to help countries decide if a certain part of the land in the Amazon should be conserved for national parks or protected lands. The team goes into an area and  inventories everything! from the animals that creep on the land to the birds that fly in the trees to the fish in the waterways, plus the plants and people that live there, too. It’s a fascinating process and one I’m honored to be able to tell kids about. My process is to interview each scientist/expert on the team, look through photos, papers, and other resources they have and then to visit the Field Museum for onsite research. For me, this is one of the most exciting parts about writing the book– doing the research and interacting with the scientists. The book will be published by Charlesbridge Publishing in 2023. I’m so excited about it!

Win a FREE copy of ROCK, FOSSIL, and SHELL HUNTING!

Enter the giveaway by leaving a comment below. The randomly-chosen winner will be contacted via email and asked to provide a mailing address (within the U.S. only) to receive the book.

Good luck!

Your host is Mary Kay Carson, author of Wildlife Ranger Action Guide, The Tornado Scientist, Alexander Graham Bell for Kids, Mission to Pluto, and other nonfiction books for kids. @marykaycarson

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Taking Up Space: Author Interview + Giveaway

By on May 24, 2021   /   Author Interviews  
book

Think back to yourself in middle school. Were you comfortable in your own skin? Many kids are trying to make sense of all the changes that are happening to them—both inside and out. I enjoyed reading Taking Up Space by Alyson Gerber. It really reminded me of various internal battles that age group faces and how alone one can feel. Here is my interview with the author of Taking Up Space, Alyson Gerber. Be sure to enter the raffle at the end of the post for a chance to win a free copy of her book.
Taking Up Space book

About the Book

Hi Alyson! Thank you for sharing Taking Up Space with me. Can you give us a short summary about the book?

TAKING UP SPACE is the story about a basketball player struggling to feel good about her body and herself.
When did it come out?
Tuesday, May 18!

 

Tell us who would especially enjoy this book?

TAKING UP SPACE is for readers who love basketball, YouTube cooking competitions, and friendship stories. This book will start honest conversations between parents and kids, students and teachers, and among friends about just how hard it is for most of us to feel good about ourselves and in our bodies.


About the Author

Did you enjoy writing as a child? Do you remember anything you wrote?
I always loved storytelling and writing. I kept a journal at certain times. But most of the creative writing I did was actually in theater. I wrote scenes and plays. I had a very cool director, Mr. Wann, who really encouraged us to express ourselves and think differently. At graduation, he gave out his own awards to students who he knew wouldn’t be recognized by the institution. He instilled a confidence in me that helped me find my voice and taught me to appreciate the process of writing.

 

Tell us about you—what other jobs did you have that were or were not related to writing? 

Before I became a full-time author, I was the senior director of communications at a college. I loved the work, and I actually use a lot of the skills I learned from my years of in-house public relations and marketing in my job now.

 

How did you end up becoming an author?
I took a class on writing for magazines and newspapers. That was the first time I started exploring my experience. I tried writing a memoir, but it didn’t work. Fiction gave me the freedom to work out my feelings, while using my imagination to create drama, conflict, and tension. I don’t write real people or events. I invent characters and build out a made-up plot, but I use my real experiences and emotions to fuel the imaginary reality. I eventually got an MFA at the New School in Writing for Children and Teens, and that set on me the path to becoming an author.

 

Many of your books address issues that teens and tweens face. When you began writing, did you plan to write for this age group?

It didn’t take me very long to figure out that I was most interested in writing for tweens and teens. I had to grow up really fast, because of my scoliosis. I was managing adult responsibilities early on, so I could easily identify the adults who took me seriously from the ones who didn’t think I mattered or should get a say in what was happening to me. I want every kid to know they matter and deserve to be heard and seen and validated. 

What’s your connection with the topics in Taking Up Space you choose to write about?
TAKING UP SPACE is based on my experience overcoming struggles with body image, body dysmorphia, self-worth, and disordered eating.

 

Are you a basketball player? What position did you play?

I’m not a basketball player. But I’ve always loved the sport. And I definitely would have played guard!


What authors would you say influenced your writing style?
Judy Blume, Beverly Cleary, and Ann M. Martin!
 

 

Research/Writing

What was your original spark for the book?

I started writing TAKING UP SPACE, because after being in therapy and recovering from disordered eating, I had a relapse while I was pregnant with my daughter. The changes to my body triggered me and made me feel like I was going through puberty all over again. It was really scary for lots of reasons. But I got professional help immediately, and then I starting writing this book.


What research did you need to do?
While TAKING UP SPACE is own-voices and based on my experience, I did a lot of research. I interviewed social workers, psychiatrists, teachers, people in eating-disorder recovery. I also interviewed a few different people who grew up in houses where food was complicated. Between revisions, I read non-fiction books and research about bodies, food, trauma, and health. I really wanted to be informed and have a deep knowledge of the intersectional history of diet culture. I knew this story was so much bigger than me and my experience and I wanted to make sure I had a complete understanding of that bigger picture.

Did you face any challenges while writing Taking Up Space?
Writing this book was one big challenge after another for me. I had to face a lot of painful thoughts and feelings I had about myself. I knew it would be worth it and I was ready to take on this important topic, but every day when I went to write or revise, I had a sense of pushing myself to be as honest as possible. It felt a lot like cutting myself open and digging deep inside to see what I might find.

Share any writing exercises you did to learn more about your main character, Sarah.
I always do a few rounds of putting each of my characters into bad situations that are completely unrelated to the plot of the book to see what they do. I never use those scenes, but that writing helps me figure out how my characters make decisions. I get the chance to learn what matters to them and what doesn’t.

 

For Teachers

Any suggestions for ways to use Taking Up Space in the classroom?

Right now, there are a lot of news stories circulating about bodies and food in the pandemic. I really hope teachers will use TAKING UP SPACE to support students. Kids are encountering diet culture—a society that values weight, size, and shape over actual well-being—starting at a very, very young age. By 8 years old, at least half of kids want to be thinner, and they feel better when they’re on a diet. Kids need the tools to navigate the information they’re encountering so they can help themselves and their friends. And struggles with food, body image, and self-worth impact kids of all ages, genders, races, sizes, and socio-economic classes.
Scholastic will be offering a one-sheet to educators that will be available at the start of the school year! 

What other groups do you see using this book?
TAKING UP SPACE is a perfect district, all-school, or grade-wide read. It would also be amazing in book clubs where adults and kids read together. 

Are you doing school visits related to this book? Tell us more!
Definitely. I am already booking up for the fall! Most of the visits I do are for students in fourth grade through eighth grade. I usually present to one or two grades at a time, depending on the size of the school. Students have the chance to go on an interactive journey with me, where they learn what I went through and how writing and telling my truth helped me develop agency. But recently I’ve had a few requests for programs that are geared toward families and also just adults, which is exciting!

 

How can we learn more about you?
Website: alysongerber.com/books
Twitter: @alysongerber
Instagram: @alysongerber
Facebook: @alysongerberbooks 
Thanks so much for your time, Alyson!
Alyson Gerber will be giving away a copy of Taking Up Space to a lucky reader. Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win a copy. (U.S. addresses only)

Taking Up Space is available here:

amazon.com

Alyson Gerber is the author of the critically acclaimed, own-voices novels Braced and Focused published by Scholastic. Her third novel Taking Up Space will be in stores on May 18, 2021. She has an MFA from The New School in Writing for Children and lives in New York City with her family. Visit her at alysongerber.com and find her everywhere else @alysongerber.
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