Book Giveaway: WHERE DO BUTTERFLIES GO AT NIGHT? by Jeanne Balsam

Jeanne Balsam debut picture book, WHERE DO BUTTERFLIES GO AT NIGHT?, illustrated by Stella Mongodi and published by Ethicool Books is coming out on August 30th. Jeanne has agreed to send a copy to the one lucky winner in the US.

Just leave a comment. Reblog, tweet, or talk about it on Facebook with a link and you will get additional chances to win. Let me know other things you did to share the good news, so I can put the right amount of tickets in my basket for you. Sharing on Facebook, Twitter or reblogging really helps spread the word for a new book. So, thanks for helping Jeanne and Stella.

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. If you want to make sure you don’t miss seeing that you won, please click “Notify Me of Follow-Up Comments by Email” box. I will leave a comment in reply if you win the book. Thanks!

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

‘Magical’, ‘evocative’ and a ‘masterclass in children’s writing and illustrating’ are just a few words that have been used to describe this stunning book. And yes, you should believe the hype.

Inspired by the author’s own observations of the butterflies just outside her window, comes a story of a child’s enchantment with the small cabbage white. They dance by the dozens among the flowers, slowly disappearing when shadows grow long.

As sleep calls, our little one wonders, “Where do butterflies go at night?”

BOOK JOURNEY:

You might say the journey of “Where Do Butterflies Go at Night?” started a long time ago when I took 3 courses in the Writing and Illustration of Children’s Books  with Uri Shulevitz at the New School. I was hooked, but my life took me in a different direction. However, the desire to be in this world and be published had been seeded inside me and was waiting for the right time to re-emerge.

That opportunity arose in 2008 when a call went out in the local paper looking for members to join a critique group. I attended and my children’s book journey began again. I’d actually written the first version of Butterflies in 2007, then titled “Where Do Butterflies Go?” The poem was inspired by what I saw outside my downstairs office window. In mid-morning, the privet hedge was covered by dancing cabbage white butterflies. As the day wore on, they slowly disappeared. I couldn’t help but wonder where they went. And then I imagined it through a child’s eyes, and it became just so magical.

I continued working on and improving Butterflies, often in between other manuscripts, and submitted it here and there at conferences, but the industry’s reception to stories in rhyme (and this is my only one in verse), was not very enthusiastic. So, as we often do with stories that don’t find a home, I shelved it. In the spring of last year, 2021, a friend brought my attention to a new and growing publisher, Ethicool, whose interests were in nature, the environment, and other subjects that truly mattered to kids. I submitted Butterflies; they loved it, and wanted to add it to their 2022 Spring releases.

I have been so excited and pleased to work with Ethicool and with Stella Mongodi, my illustrator. My own illustration style could not do justice to the magical nighttime journey taken by the cabbage whites, but Stella did it in spades. It is beyond rich and gorgeous. We’ve had some printing and delivery delays with supply chain issues and our release date had been pushed back a bit, but we are now looking at late July, and I sure hope Butterflies will be dancing into everyone’s hearts and homes. It’s still all magical to me.

JEANNE’S BIO:

Jeanne Balsam is an author, illustrator, graphic designer and Frenchie artist. She has also done extensive fundraising work on behalf of animals for decades. She began writing and illustrating for children quite some time ago, but life took her on a different path. She continued her education and became a psychotherapist, and some time later, the fundraiser manager and graphic artist for the largest humane organization in New Jersey. In 2008, she finally returned to children’s books. Jeanne currently lives in Hunterdon County where she continues writing and illustrating, as well as designing on a freelance basis and helping people self-publish.

jeanne@jeannebalsam.com

STELLA’S BIO:

Stella Mongodi was born in Italy but now lives in London. She earned her degree in Ancient theatre, while studying art and illustration for many years with renowned professionals such as Alessandra Cimatoribus, Anna Castagnoli, Carll Cneut and Stefano Moroni.

Even though she started with oil colors, acrylics and watercolors, her illustrations are now entirely digital. Still she thinks they have a “traditional media flavor” characterized by a dreamy, feathery but playful style.

Besides illustrating Where Do Butterflies Go At Night, she has illustrated Wally and Freya; Watermelon Pip; Wilbur’s Wish; Dance Stance; Siamo stelle/We are stars; and Brielle’s Birthday Ball.

Jeanne, thank you for sharing your book and journey with us. I am so excited for you. I know how much effort you put into your illustrating and Writing. It is always nice to see someone you know succeed. The book is lovely and a wonderful reminder of the things around us and the stories they tell. I can’t wait to read it. Stella did a wonderful job helping you tell the story.  Good luck with the book.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy