The Layers of Meaning and Themes Part of the Writing Life

Photo Credit: Jane Kurtz

One of the things I especially love about being a children's book author is discovering, uncovering, and finding new ways to lean into the themes of my books. I say discovering and uncovering because, even as the author of a book, it's not unusual for me to learn about and discover, over time, new layers of meaning and embedded themes in my own stories, particularly as folks read and respond to my work. Simply put, of course I meant to say something with my book, but in reality, a book's meaning has much more to do with what it means to its readers than what the author might have intended to say. 

According to the official marketing copy (and likely excerpted from my long-ago query letter) for my most recent picture book, LUCY'S BLOOMS, "is a multigenerational story about a young girl who learns from her grandmother about the enduring nature of love, the strength in rejecting labels, and the wisdom of standing with those who are different." That's still spot on, but I've also come to realize that the story is also about kindness and caregiving. It's not a wonder. The story is inspired by my relationship with my own Gram, a woman who spent her life caring for others, and, it was written during a time in my life when I was caring for aging parents and my children. So, I didn't necessarily "set out" to write a book about kindness and caregiving, but those themes definitely come through for readers, as evidenced by the various reviews the book has received since it was published in 2021. 

For example, fellow author, Carrie Finison had this to say:

And, fellow author Kathy MacMillan had this to say:

I love learning about my stories through the eyes of my readers, and I love that LUCY'S BLOOMS inspires kindness. What better time to celebrate that than today, World Kindness Day. 

by Dawn Babb Prochovnic and Alice Brereton

Looking for other books about kindness to pair with LUCY'S BLOOMS? Check out: 

Be Kind, by Pat Zietlow Miller and Jen Hill (Roaring Brook Press, 2018) 

Rice From Heaven, by Tina Chao and Keum Jin Song (Little Bee Books, 2018 - you can read a guest post by Tina and her book, here.)   

The Power of One, by Trudy Ludwig and Mike Curato (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2020)

And any of the books on Kind World Publishing's growing list.

Plus these beauties from Familius, (the publisher of my next book!):

Kindness Rocks, by Megan Murphy and JiaJia Hamner (Familius, 2025) 

1001 Ways to Be Kind, by Dallas Woodburn and McKay Rappleyea (Familius, 2024)

I Dig Being Kind, by Michele Robbins and Ekaterina Ladatko (Familius, 2020)

Looking for other opportunities to #MakeKindnessTheNorm? Check out these resources:

Action for Happiness

The Be Kind to People Project

The Great Kindness Challenge (takes place annually in January) 

The Growing Kindness Project

Random Acts of Kindness Foundation 

And, check out Paul Avellino's (aka the Garden Guinea's) social media posts, like this one. I find his social media feed inspiring and uplifting. I hope you will, too. 

And to quote Paul, "I'd love to hear about a kindness you've received...something simple or life-changing" in the comments below. 

********

The Writing Life is an occasional feature of Dawn Babb Prochovnic's blog. Dawn is the author of over 20 books for young readers and the proud recipient of the esteemed “Pleasure Reading Award” (her most memorable 5th grade achievement). She has devoted her life’s work to initiatives that support literacy and the literary arts, including early literacy enrichment programs; school author visits; writing workshops; and her educational blog. Dawn’s work has been short-listed for the Oregon Book Award; she was named an Oregon Library Supporter of the Year for her library advocacy efforts; and she received the Walt Morey Award in recognition of significant contributions that have enriched Oregon’s young readers. Contact Dawn using the form at the left, or learn more at www.dawnprochovnic.com. 

Why I'm Voting an Enthusiastic YES on Our Local Library Levy -- Even Though (Especially Because) Community Members are Facing Financial Challenges

Hi Friends.

This post falls in the category of the “Using My Voice,” part of the Writing Life. 

An Example of One of My "Small" Library Hauls

Our local community has a library levy on the current ballot. It’s significant in that the library levy is an increase from past levies (vs. a continuation of the current rate), and if the levy fails (I sure do hope it doesn’t fail!), library services across our county will be significantly reduced.

A neighborhood friend I respect and admire (and who has been a longtime and vocal supporter of libraries right alongside me) posed some questions to me related to the library levy and her current concerns/inner conflicts about voting in favor of it. 

Her first concern is the increase going from 22 cents/$1000 in assessed property value to 37 cents, which she correctly calculates as a 68 percent increase. 

She also notes that since property values have increased over time, and more houses in our area have been built, the proposed increase was in her words, “hard to swallow.” She acknowledged that the library has indicated the reasoning for the increase includes greater demand for services, the higher costs associated with digital book licenses, and other rising costs, etc. but she worried that it is hard for her to justify increasing taxes right now “when our economy is so precarious and we have so many people losing jobs, SNAP benefits, coupled with rising insurance rates, grocery prices, etc.”

She acknowledges her longstanding support of libraries, and the role of libraries helping to “level the playing field even just a bit between the richest and the poorest,” but also worries that the levy increase would be an undue burden our poorer community members. 

She asked for others’ perspectives, including mine. I thought I might just share what I wrote back to her, in case you are a voter in my community or also considering a similar levy in your local area. I wrote this quickly and off the cuff … so please forgive if there are wonky sentences and likely some points I could have gone into more deeply, etc. My response gives the gist of where I fall on this issue:

***

Thanks for reaching out. 

While I can appreciate the concerns you’ve raised, I am not at all conflicted in voting an enthusiastic YES on this ballot measure. 

I don’t actually think framing this issue in terms of the percentage increase is the metric I would narrow in on. For example, the percentage increase would appear as less, if the libraries had raised their ask more incrementally during past levy cycles. The bottom line from my perspective is the library services that the community benefits from via a robust cooperative library system spread across the county is a steal of a deal at the current rate AND at the proposed new rate. 

By my calculation, our household tax bill will go up about $10/month (about 33 cents/day). That’s for HEAPS of borrowed books, ebooks, movie and magazine viewings; borrowings of “things” (from our libraries that have a collection of “things” to borrow); a quiet office area to get work accomplished at no additional cost (not even a need to buy a cup of coffee or other beverage); a gathering place for community groups; and the ability to attend a well curated selection of cultural experiences and community talks all around the county (many of which in turn provide a tad bit of funding to subject matter experts/entertainers/book creators/many different types of artists, etc. etc. who are sharing their expertise with the library community and for which the library programming office pays to them a very small fee). 

Although I realize your concern is with folks who may not be able to afford the small increase in tax to fund this treasure, I would encourage you/others to look beyond that element and think of the social services our libraries are currently providing (e.g. a warm place to rest a body that is without a home, or for a family with limited heat in the home to hang out after school; a place to wash hands and use a clean toilet; free access to the internet; a place to print out something from the internet for about a dime a page (vs. twice the cost at a copy center); a safe place for teens to gather after school (and on occasion, have access to gaming devices they may not have access to at home); a place to seek help in finding a job and/or to find information/resources re: where to access food and clothing; a place for low income families to get a weekly supply of free classes for their children’s enrichment; a place to get free tax advice and support completing tax forms. I could go on and on and on. 

I realize I’m preaching to the choir here, as you, too, are a library supporter, but in my view it is in these tight times that we need to lean into our community spaces, such as our parks and our libraries, as resources that can benefit especially those who are hurting from the current administration’s myriad of wraths. I often feel very small and ineffectual in terms of contributing in meaningful ways to the wellbeing of humanity on a national (and/or international) level. Supporting my local library levy (and vocalizing that support to others) is one way I can make a genuinely meaningful difference in my local community. 

Any opening hours lost will fall the hardest on families working multiple jobs to make ends meet re: their schedules are the least flexible. Any reduction in books/ebooks will hurt poor readers the most — those of us who can afford to just buy the book, will do so. Any reduction in staffing will reduce the level of supports involved in standing up for the freedom to read (book challenges by well-organized right wing groups have cost libraries dearly across the country as they fight for our right to have a wide variety of materials available on library shelves.)

I would also say that many of our lowest income friends and neighbors are quite likely renting and do not own their own homes … yes, the cost will be passed along to them via their landlords, but in my observation (having several dear friends and family members who are at the mercy of a landlord’s whims), those rents are going up, up, up to the state or city allowed maximums as long as the market will bear it … year after year after year … library levy or not. 

So those are my two (well, 25) cents on the topic.

Thanks again for reaching out and sharing your concerns. I always appreciate how thoughtful and well-researched you are in considering various issues. 

***

And thank you dear readers for considering your local libraries and the role they play in your community as you go out to vote this season. I am so very hopeful that our local levy here in Washington County, Oregon will pass resoundingly. 

The Revised Book Title Part of the Writing Life

Hello Readers! In my last post I shared the loonnnnnggg and winding road leading to the publication of my next book, and now I have some teeny, tiny updates: 

First things first, the book I have most recently referred to as MAMA'S HOME! will heretofore be entitled....drumroll please .... MISSING MAMA.  

My last post provided abundant details about the various iterations and working titles for this story over the years, and now that it will soon be published, it's been re-titled yet again.

It's actually not at all uncommon for a book to go through a title revision once the sales and marketing teams get involved, and this book is no exception. The publishing team felt that the working title of MAMA'S HOME ran the risk of being mis-interpreted as being about "the home of Mama." There were several alternate ideas considered to help clear up that potential misconception, and the winning title was MISSING MAMA.

Although it will take some getting used to to call my book by its new name, I'm actually quite pleased with the new title. It puts the energy and focus on what the children in the book are feeling at the beginning of the story, (they are MISSING their MAMA!), and it leaves the excitement associated with Mama's eventual return to unfold over the course of the story. 

I also think these little behind-the-scenes morsels of info are really fun to share with young readers at school and library author visits. Kids always seems to be intrigued by this type of thing.

The second update is that I've now seen all of the final art AND the planned cover art. (I wish I could share some of this with you now, but alas, it is still top secret!) It will likely be several months before I can do a cover reveal, but I'm getting super excited for that aspect of the book publishing journey! (Spoiler alert: The art is ADORABLE! You can get a sense for the treat you are in for by following illustrator, Adèle Dafflon's, work on Instagram. )

And...last, but not least, I've received word from Familius, the publisher, that we now have a tentative publication date for MISSING MAMA: October 13, 2026 ... almost exactly ONE YEAR from TODAY. That seems like a long time still to wait, but alas, there are SO MANY things to do to get ready for this new book baby. Watch this space for updates as they are available. Thanks for sharing this journey with me, dear readers and friends! 

********

The Writing Life is an occasional feature of Dawn Babb Prochovnic's blog. Dawn is the author of over 20 books for young readers and the proud recipient of the esteemed “Pleasure Reading Award” (her most memorable 5th grade achievement). She has devoted her life’s work to initiatives that support literacy and the literary arts, including early literacy enrichment programs; school author visits; writing workshops; and her educational blog. Dawn’s work has been short-listed for the Oregon Book Award; she was named an Oregon Library Supporter of the Year for her library advocacy efforts; and she received the Walt Morey Award in recognition of significant contributions that have enriched Oregon’s young readers. Contact Dawn using the form at the left, or learn more at www.dawnprochovnic.com. 

The Patience and Perseverance Part of the Writing Life

Hi friends! Thanks for your patience awaiting a new blog post (and thank you for giving this DIY Author Visits post so much attention -- it's become one of the most popular posts in "The Writing Life" series).  

"Secret Garden" in Bronze, by Mark Lundeen (seen in Golden, CO July, 2025) 

While the blog has been quiet, my cup has been overflowing with: spending time with family and enjoying summer travel; supporting the work of musical artists and other book creators; using my voice to support positive change and resist a growing number of deplorable actions by our current lawmakers; reading excellent books on craft (two recent favorites include Laura Stanfill's IMAGINE A DOOR and Maggie Smith's DEAR WRITER)... 

Book Covers of Dear Writer (by Maggie Smith) and Imagine a Door (by Laura Stanfill)

...sharing my own books with young readers at story time events; actively engaging in professional development communities such as SCBWI and 12X12; swapping critiques with longtime critique partners; revising several picture book manuscripts; journaling and finding my way into a new project; actively querying; responding to feedback opportunities related to the (fantastic!) artwork for my next book; and moving into pre-book-launch mode for that very same next book! Yep, another book is on the way, friends. At long last, MAMA'S HOME! is scheduled for release Fall 2026. 

It's often said that bringing a new book into the world requires a great deal of patience and perseverance, and this book is no exception. When I say, "At long last," I mean at loonnnnngggg last. To give you a sense of what I mean by that, here's a behind-the-scenes look at the timeline for this story, from idea to (eventual!) publication: 

-Initial idea comes to me as I'm watching my young son blissfully engage in imaginative play at our local children's museum. I scribble words onto a scrap of paper I find in my pocket and in notes on my (flip) phone. For context, that same son graduated from COLLEGE last year. 

-I'm in love with the idea of a slice-of-life story about a joyful, play-filled, childhood, and begin formulating that idea into a poetic story about everyday, child-centered activities that bring joy into a child’s life. The story is tentatively entitled CHILDHOOD BLISS and is just over 40 words. I share it with my critique group multiple times. 

-As the revision process unfolds, I begin to envision the story in a board book and/or a motion-oriented novelty book format that incorporates American Sign Language vocabulary, my original hook (spoiler alert: that particular hook/vision does not materialize).

-I get the manuscript into "shareable shape" and seek professional critiques at multiple SCBWI-Oregon events. The story and concept piques the interest of several acquiring editors that I meet during these events, and I begin submitting in early 2008 (this is not a typo). 

-I have some great back-and-forth exchanges with multiple editors, (several of whom are now big names in the publishing industry--I won't name-drop, but trust me on this). This is back in the day of snail mail submissions with SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) enclosed for correspondence. Nearly every editor I write to back then writes back to me, often with a personalized response. I continue actively submitting throughout 2008 and feel like the manuscript is going to find a home, but alas, a contract offer does not materialize.

-Around this same time I sign my first book contract, which leads to 16 books in the Story Time with Signs & Rhymes series. For the next several years, most of my creative energy focuses on writing/revising/promoting the books in this series.  

-In 2010, I occasionally revisit and tinker with my BLISS story. (And by tinker, I mean making REALLY minor changes, like changing the title from CHILDHOOD BLISS to A CHILD'S BLISS, lol!) I seek fresh feedback from my critique group and professional (and peer) critiques at SCBWI events. By this time, I am very focused on my Story Time books, so the creative energy for my BLISS project is quite limited. 

-In 2011 and 2012, after the launch of eight additional books in the Story Time series, I once again revisit my BLISS manuscript, and decide it needs more layers and/or a new hook in order to become a book. I experiment with different ideas, and the manuscript evolves into a story about the joyful experience of spending time with an active and engaged grandparent. I focus the text on incorporating non-traditional activities shared between a child and an active, “Boomer” grandma. The story is tentatively re-titled GRANDMA'S HOUSE IS HAPPINESS. The core theme of a joyful, play-filled, childhood endures. 

-2012-2017, I take the story through more rounds of critique with my critique group, and I periodically submit the story to various editors I meet at conferences and/or have developed relationships with over the years. No contract offers materialize. I file the story away, again. 

-In 2015 I'm invited to participate in an anthology called OREGON READS ALOUD. This book launches in 2016. As a result of the promotional process for this book, I meet the team that will eventually acquire and publish my next three books: WHERE DOES A PIRATE GO POTTY?, WHERE DOES A COWGIRL GO POTTY?, and LUCY'S BLOOMS. I focus my creative energy on writing/revising/promoting these new books (two of which are published in 2019 in a pre-pandemic environment, and the later in 2021, in a mid-pandemic environment).

Dawn holding her three latest books for WRAD 2025 event

-2018-2021: My kids are now both away at college. I'm actively working on new stories, some of which are reflective of my current headspace as a mama whose children are now grown, and as an adult daughter who is caring for an aging mother. I once again pull out my beloved BLISS story from the file, and begin tinkering with it again; this time my tinkers are more robust. I begin re-shaping the poetic text into a story about sharing everyday, joyful activities with a parent who returns home after being away for an extended period of time. With this angle, the current title, MAMA'S HOME!, emerges, and I revise the story to incorporate the preparations for and anticipation of Mama’s return home. 

-I am a stronger writer now. I take the story through more rounds of critique with my critique group. My beloved story idea has matured into a 90-word story, with a plot and an emotional story arc, but the reason Mama has been gone is still vague at this point. Through my engagement with the kidlit community, and specifically interviews with other authors for this very blog, I learn about Familius, the publisher who will eventually acquire MAMA'S HOME! 

-In early May of 2021, I submit MAMAS HOME! to Familius. In late May of 2021, Christopher Robbins, the co-founder and publisher of Familius reaches out to me to request revisions. Specifically, the Familius team wonders if I might be open to a more specific reason for Mama being away—the arrival of a new sibling. This brings additional revisions that incorporate the anticipation and preparations for a new sibling along with Mama’s return and features activities that could be engaged in with an infant in tow. For this revision, I also look for opportunities to emphasize and lean into the enduring and evolving nature of the relationship between Mama and an older child. The core theme of a joyful, play-filled, childhood endures. 

-In June of 2021, I send a revision to Familius, and Christopher circles back soon after to say that they like my revision! By mid-June, I have the pleasure of a engaging in a Zoom meeting with Christopher, and soon after, a draft contract is in my inbox. On July 26, 2021 I happily sign a contract with Familius for MAMA'S HOME!, with publication planned for 2024. 

-The publishing industry begins what has become the familiar process of Wait. Wait. Wait. HURRY! HURRY! February of 2023, I learn that my book has been pushed back to Summer of 2025. In November of 2023, that date is shifted again, to Spring of 2026...and then Fall of 2026. 

-October 2024, I learn that talks are underway with the potential illustrator for MAMA'S HOME! Yippee!! This means a book is really happening!!

-December 2024, I learn that Adèle Dafflon has been selected as the book's illustrator. Yay-Yay! Adele's work is full of color and joy. The decision is made to have two older siblings depicted in the illustrations. I love this idea. This is another element that makes the book unique--most "new sibling" books focus on one chid awaiting the arrival of another child. Also, most of these types of books focus on the adjustments required as a new child joins the family--this book keeps the primary focus on the close and enduring relationship between mother and child and the experience of being a contributing member of a loving and growing family. The story is still centered on the original, core theme of a joyful, play-filled, childhood. 

 Image that offers a sense of Adèle Dafflon's artistic style (via a screen shot from her Instagram)

-January 2025, I see character sketches for MAMA'S HOME! for the first time--I love them! I also meet, Leah, the editorial director who will now be overseeing this project. (The prior editorial director, Brooke, whom I've been in communication with since the original contract signing in 2021 is shifting to art directing at Familius, so she will still be involved in the project, but in a different role.) 

-March 2025, I see story boards for the project and get an opportunity to provide feedback. I LOVE this part of the process. It is so cosmic to see my words become interpreted with illustrations. 

-April 2025, I see the first samples of color art and again get an opportunity to provide feedback. I adore the art so much! 

-June 2025, I see several more rounds of color art, and I learn that Leah will be leaving Familius. I meet Gretchen, who is the new editorial director. Some fine-tunes (with both text and illustrations are discussed). The book is really coming together now. 

-July 2025, I'm asked to update my marketing Tip Sheet by the end of the following week (more on that in a future post), but OH BOY!, this means MAMA'S HOME! is now moving into the pre-marketing phase of the life cycle of a book. I'm so excited! I need to refresh my memory about what inspired me to write this story in the first place, so I can properly shift into the promotional phase of author life for this book)--and so, I research and begin to write this very blog post. 

And here we are today, in the first week of August 2025, preparing for the planned release of MAMA'S HOME!, tentatively scheduled for publication in late August 2026. Patience and perseverance. Wait. Wait. Wait. HURRY-HURRY! That's the publishing industry in a nutshell, friends. 

I cannot wait to share more of this sweet story with you! Watch this space (and follow me on Instagram), to keep up with more fun news in the weeks and months ahead! Thanks for joining on the path to publication for what will be my 20th book (21st if you count the anthology!) 

******

The Writing Life is an occasional feature of Dawn Babb Prochovnic's blog. Dawn is the author of over 20 books for young readers and the proud recipient of the esteemed “Pleasure Reading Award” (her most memorable 5th grade achievement). She has devoted her life’s work to initiatives that support literacy and the literary arts, including early literacy enrichment programs; school author visits; writing workshops; and her educational blog. Dawn’s work has been short-listed for the Oregon Book Award; she was named an Oregon Library Supporter of the Year for her library advocacy efforts; and she received the Walt Morey Award in recognition of significant contributions that have enriched Oregon’s young readers. Contact Dawn using the form at the left, or learn more at www.dawnprochovnic.com. 

The DIY, Virtual-Virtual Author Visit Part of the Writing Life

I've mentioned many times that one of my favorite parts of author life is connecting directly with young readers. 

I love all kinds of author visits: in person, one-on-one virtual visits, and also special occasions such as World Read Aloud Day, aka, WRAD. Sometimes schools and classrooms aren't able to host me for an in-person or virtual visit (or students are absent for scheduled author events), and for these folks,  I offer a Self-Guided Virtual Author Visit (aka, DIY Virtual-Virtual Author Visit), using a comprehensive collection of free remote resources that I've compiled. here . It's not quite the same as a personalized virtual visit (or an in-person visit), but these resources do allow young readers to connect with an author in some fashion. 

And...one of the most fantastic things about connecting with young readers is sometimes they send written notes, and sometimes they ask more questions in those notes. 

Letters from Young Readers are THE BEST

Whenever students write to me after an author visit, I do my best to write back to them, and DIY visits are no exception. Here is the letter I recently wrote to the students in Mrs. Fallon's class that had to miss out on their originally planned WRAD visit: 

*****

May 13, 2025

Dear Mrs. Fallon’s Class, 

Thank you for reading my book, LUCY’S BLOOMS, and for taking the time to write to me to share your comments and questions. My responses are below:

1. Abigail said my story reminded her of summer and spring! That’s exactly what I was thinking about when I wrote it! 

2. Claire mentioned that her grandma and grandpa on her mom’s side have a gigantic garden! My grandma on my mom’s side had a very small garden, but I very much enjoyed the flowers she planted in that garden when I was a young child.

3. Natasha encouraged me to make a new book, and I’m currently doing just that! My next book is called MAMA’S HOME!, and it will be available next year! 

4. Alex X. encouraged me to keep writing books. I will do that for sure! (I hope you will, too!)

5. Nguyen mentioned liking the title of the book. I’m so glad to hear that. I like the title, too. Here’s something most people don’t know: The title for my first draft of this book was, BEST BLOOM WINS (I like that title, too, but I prefer the title, LUCY’S BLOOMS).

6. Clara pointed out that weeds can become beautiful dandelions. Lucy and I agree completely!

7. Teddy shared that the story shows how much you can love a plant, no matter what the plant is. I’m so glad that message came through for you. I also think the same is true for people! 

8. Jackson said that he liked that Lucy worked so hard. I like that about Lucy, too! 

9. Owen suggested I should write a story that goes even further, where Lucy finds a flower that harms the weeds, so she has to choose to give up the weeds or give up the flowers. That is quite an idea. I think you should write that story! When you create new stories that incorporate characters and/or expand on plots from other book(s) that you like, you are writing something that is called fan fiction. Lucy and her blooms would LOVE to be the subject of some fan fiction! 

10. Sareena asked if I like HELLO KITTY books. I do! (And, I’m actually working on a new book of my own with a cat character named Kitty – not Hello, Kitty, just Kitty ;)

11. Oliver said I was a good writer. Thank you very much! Here is a tip: The easiest way to become a strong writer is to read and read and read some more! Of course, you have to practice writing, too, but reading is the best way I know of to become a better writer! 

12. Angel asked about my favorite thing to do. I have many favorite things that I like to do! I love to read (and write!), and I also enjoy bicycle riding, hiking, paddle boarding, gardening, laughing, teaching, and traveling!  

13. Krishan (and someone else who didn’t sign their name!) said they thought LUCY’S BLOOMS was amazing. Thank you both very much!

14.  Lexi, Calvin, Charlotte, and Miles thanked me for the story. You are all very welcome. Thank you for reading it and for writing back to me! 

15. Lulia said she would like to know more about me. Here are some fun facts about me:                                              

Favorite Author as a Child: Judy Blume                    Now: Anne Lamott

Favorite Animal as a Child: Horses                           Now: Cats

Favorite Music as a Child: The Beatles                     Now: Paula Cole

Most Amazing Places I’ve Visited: Greece and the Netherlands

Can’t Wait to Visit: Thailand 

And here are the answers to some questions I am asked frequently: 

What got me interested in making books?

I first started writing books with a goal of becoming a published author because I wanted to share my love of American Sign Language with more people than I could directly teach in the sign language workshops I taught for young families. Eventually I branched out into writing other types of books for young readers. Here is a blog post where I talk about my path to publication for my very first books in the Story Time with Signs & Rhymes series: https://www.dawnprochovnic.com/2012/02/my-path-to-publication.html

And here is a blog post where I talk about my inspiration for Lucy’s Blooms: 

https://www.dawnprochovnic.com/2021/04/the-inspiration-part-of-writing-life.html 

Why do I like making books?

I love making books, and I love being an author. I think it’s one of the best jobs in the world. One reason is I like words. They are powerful. They get things done. They help people understand one another. Words give people a voice. I like when my voice is heard. I have written an entire blog post with some of the other reasons I like to write. You can find it here: https://www.dawnprochovnic.com/2012/04/why-do-i-like-to-write.html

 I will also say that I love reading books, I have written a couple of blog posts about why I like reading. You can read those here: https://www.dawnprochovnic.com/2018/09/the-reading-part-of-writing-life.html

and here: https://www.dawnprochovnic.com/2019/03/the-reading-part-of-writing-life-part-2.html

I also credit my fifth-grade teacher, Mr. Snook, for inspiring my love of reading, which greatly contributed to my love of writing. (And as I already mentioned above, in my experience, reading books is one of the easiest ways to become a better writer!)

A couple of years ago I was honored with a literary award and mentioned Mr. Snook in my award acceptance speech. You can read all about that (and also find link to a video of my acceptance speech) here: 

https://www.dawnprochovnic.com/2023/04/the-literary-legacy-part-of-writing-life.html 

How old was I when I wrote my first book?

The first book I ever made was a poetry book that I hand-wrote as a Mother’s Day gift for my mom back when I was in middle school. 

The first book I had published, See the Colors, came out in 2009. (I’m currently 57, so you can do the math to find out how old I was when that book was published!) The most recent book I’ve had published was Lucy’s Blooms, which came out in 2021. I also had two humorous books that were published in 2019: Where Does a Pirate Go Potty? and Where Does a Cowgirl Go Potty?

Image of author Dawn Babb Prochovnic holding her three most recent books.

How many books have I written? 

I have written 20 stories that have been published into books. You can learn about all of my different books here: https://www.dawnprochovnic.com/p/blog-page.html

You should be able to find all (or most) of my books in your local library. Here is a link to help: https://search.worldcat.org/search?q=dawn+prochovnic&offset=1 .  If you can’t find my books in your library, you can find videos of me reading them (and songs to go along with my most recent books, including Lucy’s Blooms) on my YouTube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/user/dprochovnic/featured

Thank you again for reading LUCY’S BLOOMS and for writing to me. If you’d like to read more about my life as a writer, you can visit this section of my blog where I talk about my writing life: 

http://www.dawnprochovnic.com/2018/04/the-writing-life-summary-post.html

Write On! 

Sincerely, 

Dawn Babb Prochovnic

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Please get in touch if you'd like to schedule your own personalized in-person or virtual author visit, or please feel encouraged to utilize the comprehensive collection of free remote resources for Self-Guided Virtual Author Visits that I've compiled here: https://www.dawnprochovnic.com/2025/02/the-wrad-part-of-writing-life-2025.html . (And you do utilize the DIY Author Visit materials, I'd love to hear from you and your students, and I'll do my very best to write you back!) 

Write On!   

Have Swag Will Travel: Planning Library Visits, Webinars, and Other Outreach, by Kathy MacMillan

Hello readers! I am delighted to bring you today's interview with author Kathy MacMillan. Kathy and I have several interests in common including kidlit, libraries and American Sign Language. I first interviewed Kathy in 2014 and again in 2020, and she has featured my work on her information-rich blog multiple times (Lucy's Blooms here, my potty-humor books, here, and my Story Time with Signs and Rhymes series, here ). Fun Fact: Kathy and I will be publishing house siblings when my next book, MAMA'S HOME, comes out with Familius in 2026! 

by Kathy MacMillan and Ekaterina Ladatko

Kathy's latest book, NITA'S FOOD SIGNS, (the third title in her Little Hands Signing series), came out on February 4, 2025 (illustrated by Ekaterina Ladatko, Familius), but she has MANY books to her credit. I've long said that one of my favorite parts of being an author is connecting with young readers at school, library, and bookstore visits, and in my Birth Stories for Books series, I often ask authors for one piece of advice related to planning successful book-related events. Since Kathy and I already took a deep dive into her path to publication for NITA'S DAY, Kathy's first book in the Little Hands Signing series, we decided to use today's conversation to take a deeper dive into planning book-related events and promotions. So let's get to it! 

Dawn Prochovnic: Welcome back to the blog, Kathy! I'm so happy for you to be here. And congrats on your latest book! 

Kathy MacMillan: Hi Dawn!  Thanks for having me!

DP: You offer a wide variety of innovative, collaborative virtual and in-person events. You present regularly at public libraries, you offer a variety of webinars and eCourses, and I even recall a fun and informative Instagram Live event with fellow author, Tracy Gold, when your book SHE SPOKE first came out. I’d love to learn more about your experience planning/implementing one or more of these events.  Let's start with libraries: 

Reflecting on the (many!) library programs you have facilitated, both traditional, and virtual, are there any elements/activities that stand out that the young readers (and/or their parents/caregivers) seemed to enjoy the most? 

KM: Anything interactive! So many authors (and people in the general public) think that storytime is just holding up a book and reading it, but there is so, so much more to it! An effective storytime includes lots of opportunities to connect and interact with your audience. That can mean pausing to ask questions, singing songs together, using props, or inviting volunteers up to help act out a story – or all of the above! If there is nothing for the kids and families to do but sit there, I consider that a failed program.

I have been presenting storytime programs that teach American Sign Language at libraries and schools since the early 2000s, so all of my programs (even my workshops for adults and writing programs for teens) include some American Sign Language. It’s a great way to get kids moving while still being engaged with the content. 

© Maryland State Arts Council 2023, MSAC.org

When it comes to programming and presentations, my motto is “Connection over perfection.” It’s much more important to be engaged with your audience than it is to get through everything on your plan. You have to be tuned in to the group, and if they need a wiggle song where I planned a story, then they get a wiggle song!

DP: Such great advice. And I LOVE that motto! 

Do you have any fun anecdotes and/or pictures to share from your past events? 

KM: Here are some pictures of various programs and storytimes I have done. The problem with being very animated, and with using a lot of ASL in my programs, is that inevitably there are a lot of pictures of me making weird faces! 

© Maryland State Arts Council 2023, MSAC.org

Image provided by Kathy MacMillan

Image provided by Kathy MacMillan

DP: Love it! 

Do you have any event mishaps or cautionary tales that other storytime/book event planners might benefit from knowing about (or simply get a kick out of)?

KM: This story comes from a writing workshop for middle schoolers, but it’s a great example of leaning into participation and of being resourceful. In a writing workshop about plotting, I had planned to show a clip of the movie Cars to illustrate effective finales. We set everything up ahead of time and worked around the school’s firewall, and everything was working fine. But in the workshop itself, the video wouldn’t play. So I got a couple of volunteers to come up and act out the scene instead. It was hilarious and so much fun that I ended up doing that for all my future presentations, instead of playing the clip at all!  Sometimes last-minute inspiration to get around an obstacle can yield the best activities.

DP: What a great story! I can just imagine how much fun that part of the program is for the participants!

I noticed on a recent promotional piece for a library story time that "all attendees will receive a free book," funded by the Friends of the Library. How did that fantastic arrangement come to be?  

KM: This was a very cool initiative by the Friends of the Newark Free Library (DE). They had several authors presenting over the course of the year, and the Friends provided money to purchase copies of each author’s books to be distributed at the programs! 

I have also been able to do book giveaways at some of my programs which were funded through the Maryland State Arts Council’s Arts in Education program. This is a fabulous program, and many other states have something similar. Basically, the way it works is that the teaching artist has to apply to be a part of the roster (and it’s a pretty intense process, so if you are brand new to doing arts or literary programs in schools and libraries, you might want to wait to get some experience before you apply.) Once you are on the roster, schools, libraries, and nonprofits can access grant funding to cover teaching artist fees and program materials (including books to distribute.) The best part about the Maryland program is that the application process for the teachers and librarians is super easy, with the teaching artist handling most of it.

DP: Those are great tips! Thanks for sharing your approach here. 

You also offer a variety of webinars and eCourses. Are there any particular resources you rely on and/or recommend for others who might want to offer remote programming? 

KM: I have taught online courses through the American Library Association for many years, and I vastly expanded my webinar offerings during the pandemic, when library staff needed online professional development. I have had great success with offering online library and educator workshops, and far less success with offering online workshops for writers. I think the difference is that my offerings for library staff and educators are fairly niche; I focus on serving Deaf patrons in libraries, and on strategies for incorporating ASL into storytimes in an effective and respectful way. There are simply very few people offering these kind of trainings, while there are a LOT of people offering online writing workshops. 

So my advice is to figure out what you can offer that very few others can, and then market directly to your audience. I post about my webinars on my website and social media, of course, but most of my registrations come from my direct contacts with library staff and state library organizations.

DP: Super advice, Kathy!

You write in a wide variety of genres, from board books and picture books, to YA and instructional books for librarians and educators. What specific event planning advice do you have for folks like yourself with a wide range of work that is intended for vastly different audiences?

KM: When I first started offering specialty programs for libraries (long before I had books to promote!), I built my storytime programs around public library summer reading programs. That’s because many libraries only have money to pay for outside presenters during the summer. And summer programs are typically all-ages programs. (Even if they are advertised as for a particular age group, you never know who is going to show up!) So for every program I do, I think in options: What if only babies show up? What if it’s all older kids? What if it’s a mix? 

Speaking of summer reading: Many public libraries across the country now use the Collaborative Summer Library Program, which means that many libraries nationwide are now using the same theme. This is great for authors and teaching artists, as it means we can develop one program related to the theme, and market it everywhere! (Even better, the themes are announced several years in advance, giving us plenty of time to plan.) I have had great success sending out a postcard mailing to public libraries in my area and surrounding states with information about my programs in January, and offering a 15% off discount for anyone who books by February 1. Check out my 2025 offering here.

DP: Looks like your summer is going to be loads of fun! 

You also have an ABUNDANCE of book-related EXTRAS (learning extensions, activity ideas, and other educational resources, etc) for young readers and their grown-ups on your Storytime Stuff website. Since Women's History Month is observed in March, (and two of your books, SHE SPOKE and SHE SPOKE TOO are particularly relevant to this topic), can you point us in the direction of some helpful extras on your website that you've developed in support of this observance?  

KM: You can find all the goodies for SHE SPOKE and SHE SPOKE TOO at https://tinyurl.com/shespoke (We snagged that url when the first book was published, so we had something easy to put in the book itself. I just have to make sure to keep the link up to date!).  Our latest additions are SHE SPOKE and SHE SPOKE TOO word searches, made with the free worksheet generator at Education.com.

 She Spoke Word Search (printable .pdf)

 She Spoke Word Search answer key (printable .pdf)

 She Spoke Too Word Search (printable .pdf)

 She Spoke Too Word Search answer key (printable .pdf)

DP: Wow! That tinyurl is jam-packed with great resources and learning extensions!  

Do you have any new projects and/or special events coming up that you’d like to put on our radar? 

KM: I’m so excited to be celebrating Women’s History Month with SHE SPOKE TOO: 14 MORE WOMEN WHO RAISED THEIR VOICES AND CHANGED THE WORLD. You can find an interview with me and my co-author, Manuela Bernardi, where you can learn more about the book here.

by Kathy MacMillan and Manuela Bernardi

I also want to share my most recent book, NITA’S FOOD SIGNS, which came out in February. This is the third book in the Little Hands Signing board book series, which combines family stories with instruction in basic ASL vocabulary. Check out NITA’S FOOD SIGNS storytimes in ASL and English and learn more about the series here.

© Maryland State Arts Council 2023, MSAC.org

DP: I just received an early copy of NITA'S FOOD SIGNS and I love it! (The book design in that series is absolutely marvelous!) 

Is there something you wished I would have asked you that you haven’t had the opportunity to share? 

KM: As someone who spent years on the other side of the library desk booking programmers, my best advice for anyone who wants to perform in libraries is: make it easy on the people who are hiring you! Make sure your program titles and descriptions, rates and policies, and promotional materials are easy to find on your website. One of the best things I ever did was add an availability calendar to my website—I can update it from my phone and it shows my availability in real-time.

And here are a couple of other resources that authors and illustrators who want to connect with public libraries might find helpful:

Working with Public Libraries: A Guide for Authors, Part 1 by Kathy MacMillan (at PubCrawl)

Working with Public Libraries: A Guide for Authors, Part 2 by Kathy MacMillan (at PubCrawl)

Storytime Magic for Picture Book School and Library Visits (Webinar recording; 90 minutes)

DP: Wowza, Kathy. I cannot thank you enough for your willingness to share so many of your event and book promotion experiences and ideas with us. 

Dear readers, you've heard me say it before: the best way to thank an author whose insights have been helpful and/or inspiring to you is to support their work. Follow them on social media. Subscribe to their newsletter. Buy their books. Request them from your library. Read and share them with others.  Let's give Kathy's books some love:

She Spoke Too purchase links:

Deaf Camps, Inc. Online Bookstore (autographed copies that support a great cause!)  

Bookshop.org   

Amazon.com   

BarnesAndNoble.com   

Familius.com

Nita’s Food Signs purchase links:

Autographed copies from the Deaf Camps, Inc. Online Bookstore

Bookshop.org 

Amazon.com  

BarnesAndNoble.com  

Familius.com 

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Image provided by Kathy MacMillan

Kathy MacMillan (she/her) is a writer, nationally certified American Sign Language interpreter, librarian, editor, and signing storyteller.  She writes picture books (including The Runaway Shirt and the Little Hands Signing series from Familius Press), children’s nonfiction (including the She Spoke series from Familius Press and Super Cities!: Baltimore from Arcadia Publishing), middle grade fantasy (the Chronicles of Cavallon series under the pen name Kim Forester), and young adult fantasy (Sword and Verse and Dagger and Coin, both HarperTeen). Her debut novel, Sword and Verse, was a finalist for the Compton Crook Award. She has also published eight resource books for educators, librarians, and parents, including 5 volumes in the bestselling Storytime Magic series from ALA Editions. Kathy lives in Baltimore, MD. Find her online at KathyMacMillan.com or on Twitter and Instagram at @kathys_quill.

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Have Swag Will Travel is an occasional feature of Dawn Babb Prochovnic's blog. Dawn is the author of multiple picture books including, Lucy's Blooms, Where Does a Cowgirl Go Potty?, Where Does a Pirate Go Potty?, and 16 books in the Story Time With Signs & Rhymes series. Dawn is a contributing author to the award-winning book, Oregon Reads Aloud, and a frequent presenter at schools, libraries, and educational conferences. Contact Dawn using the form at the left, or learn more at www.dawnprochovnic.com.