Book Giveaway – SNOW GLOBE WISHES by Erin Dealey

Erin Dealey has written a new picture book titled, SNOW GLOBE WISHES, Illustrated by Claire Shorrock and published by Sleeping Bear Press. Sleeping Bear Press has agreed to share a copy with one lucky winner. All you have to do to get in the running is to leave a comment. Reblog, tweet, or talk about it on Facebook with a link and you will get additional chances to win. Just let me know the other things you do to share the good news, so I can put in the right amount of tickets in my basket for you.

Sharing on Facebook, Twitter, reblogging really helps spread the word for a new book. Thanks for helping Erin & Claire!

If you have signed up to follow my blog and it is delivered to you everyday, please let me know when you leave a comment and I will give you an extra ticket. Thanks!

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

As the worst snow storm of the year rolls in, one family hunkers down together in a cozy blanket fort for the night. A little girl makes a wish on a snow globe and, in the morning, the sun rises on a winter wonderland–beckoning all outside. And what if, on this snow-filled day, families shake their busy lives and everyone goes out to play? A lyrical holiday story about wishes and community and snow–lots and lots of snow.

BOOK JOURNEY:

Thank you, Kathy Temean, for inviting me to your blog. The journey of SNOW GLOBE WISHES began a few years ago, when every day felt more and more like the world needed a hug. (I know I did.) I’m a glass-half-full kind of person and all the negativity spinning us into division and anger went against everything I was taught to believe. I could feel it weighing heavily on people around me as well—like the worst snowstorm of the year.

About that time, my Sleeping Bear editor, Sarah Rockett, and I were reminiscing about lovely, heartwarming books like Jane Monroe Donovan’s WINTER’S GIFT (Sleeping Bear 2004), with themes of hope, kindness, and comfort. It had been a while since I’d read it, so I checked it out of the library. Donovan’s beautiful story about a snowstorm lead to this What If note:

I always work on What If ideas in my journal. To me, those moments with paper and a pen or pencil are key. I mean it when I tell kids at school visits that, “The sloppy copy is your friend.” It’s where I let the story out. My writing pals will tell you I am a scribbler—even in our PBJ (Picture Book Jammers) critique group. Here’s what the next step in my process looked like:

If you compare this to our finished book, you’ll see the phrases that were evolving. Draft by draft, the words began to spill out.

The next step was to take it to the PBJers. I am lucky to live near some awesome #kidlit writers, Patricia Newman, Lori Mortensen, and Bitsy Kemper, and we give each other feedback on manuscripts.

I took copies of one of my first drafts to the group. NOTE: If you are in a critique group, or you share your writing with your class, you know the reactions are not always what you hope for. (!) But honest feedback, delivered kindly, can be helpful. Also, friends–LISTENING is hard. It took me a long time to accept feedback without defending my manuscript. But here’s the thing. You don’t have to use everything people suggest. Ever notice how the contestants on The Voice have learned to thank the judges and keep smiling? Exactly.

Then again, if your group doesn’t get it, neither will your future readers.

The PBJers’ initial comments were things like:

“What is the theme? New Year’s? Peace? Everyone? Laughter? Together? Hope?”

“Where is the arc?”

“Awkward.”

“Yikes—do they die?”

Ha—as you can see, I knew I had more work to do.

Even the title changed as I revised:

1. Working title: JUST ONCE

2. Working title: WINTER WHISPERS (I told you I’m a scribbler!)

Also–have you noticed? There wasn’t a snow globe to be found anywhere in the text, until something clicked:

That was when the magic began…

A snow globe. That anything-is-possible feeling on a morning after a huge snowstorm.

That What IF idea became a child’s wish for kindness and inclusion that grew and grew.

We sent it to Sleeping Bear and crossed our fingers.

I am so very thankful that my agent Deborah Warren at East/West Literary believes in me.

Endless gratitude to editor Sarah Rockett at Sleeping Bear, who GOT it.

I say this because the text itself could be interpreted in many different ways. But the team at Sleeping Bear shared my vision, and then –WOW–illustrator Claire Shorrock took it even further.

Picture books are a group effort. You might say it takes a village. This story came straight from my heart, and the wonderful village that worked on SNOW GLOBE WISHES created more magic than I ever imagined. They are amazing!

I am thrilled and humbled our book has resonated with so many readers, young and old. Thanks again for letting me share this journey. May all of your Snow Globe Wishes come true.

ERIN’S BIO:

ERIN DEALEY (@ErinDealey) is a children’s author of over a dozen books, including SNOW GLOBE WISHES –A lyrical holiday story about wishes and community and snow–lots and lots of snow; K IS FOR KINDERGARTEN–with activities for almost Kindergartners and their parents who CAN’T wait for school, as well as Kinders and their K teachers learning/teaching about expectations;BABIES COME FROM AIRPORTS –a kid’s-eye view of adoption; DECK THE WALLS~about the kids’ table at a holiday dinner; and GOLDIE LOCKS HAS CHICKEN POX, and LITTLE BO PEEP CAN’T GET TO SLEEP two classics featuring a neighborhood of familiar nursery rhyme characters.

Among Dealey’s forthcoming titles are DEAR EARTH…FROM YOUR FRIENDS IN ROOM FIVE and PETER EASTER FROG.

ILLUSTRATOR CLAIRE SHORROCK’S BIO:

Claire Shorrock is a freelance illustrator based in Bristol, where she studied at the university of the West of England, graduating in 2011 with a BA (Hons) in Illustration.

In 2011 she won the Bristol Short Story Prize cover competition, as well as Receiving ‘Highly Commended’ in the Macmillan Prize for her picture book, ‘Magnus’, was published by Lion Children’s in July 2015. and was exhibited in Foyles gallery, London.

Erin, thank you for sharing you book and its’ journey with us. It is a beautiful combination of text and illustrations. Children should love this book about wishes and fun in the snow. BTW, I loved the journey and the peek into your process. So happy that the book was in the semi-finals on Goodreads for the Best Picture book for 2019. 

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy