Donna Provance – #9 on The Gittle List 2017
“Meet Odie” #9 on The Gittle List 2017.
Donna Provance won the #9 slot on The Gittle List for Meet Odie. In her exclusive Gittle interview, she shares the benefits of self-publishing. (Read Aviva’s review.)
How did it feel to win a spot on The Gittle List? I smiled broadly when I read the news. My first reaction was one of pleasure at being selected because it’s fun to win, quickly followed by relief that you, a professional editor/publisher, think my book is good. As a professional, your opinion carries more weight than friends, who might only wish to be kind and encouraging and not share any displeasure with my work. [Aviva says, “I don’t consider myself a ‘professional’ but a fellow self-publisher.”]
Odie looking glamorous in his pink wig.
What is your favorite children’s book? The Great Blueness by Arnold Lobel. If I need to tell a story from memory, I always tell the one about how our world became full of color. Everything was gray until a wizard created the color blue. Everything was painted blue. People loved the change and then they didn’t, so the wizard created yellow and everything was painted yellow. I was probably about 5 when I got the book from my dad, who always read to me when I was little. The detailed artwork is amazing and very different from most children’s books. I found a Youtube video with a reading.
Odie napping with a friend.
Why did you decide to self-publish? I wanted to self-publish because of cost, time, and control. It could take ages, if ever, for a traditional publisher to select my book and then publish it. It took me about 8 months from conception to publishing. From everything I read, even with traditional publishing, marketing would still fall primarily on me, but more people would be involved in the decision-making process. Self-publishing has unique decision-making frustrations (e.g., CreateSpace vs. IngramSpark/other, ISBN, etc.), but it also offered me career growth opportunities. Because of self-publishing, I started a company, designed my own website, joined a volunteer organization that teaches children about responsibilities toward animals, mentored others as they pursued self-publishing, and am learning ways to market my book. On the flip side, if I had to rely solely on my book for money, I would be starving. Selling books is hard work!
If you could wake up tomorrow as someone else, who would it be?
Odie in party mode.
A healthy, younger man living in enjoyable circumstances. It would be fascinating to experience life from a totally different perspective and you can’t get more different than the opposite sex.
What is the strangest job you’ve ever had? As a career project manager, I have been involved in oodles of projects. One project was testing mobile waste-to-energy units for military field camp operations. Our testing occurred at the vendors’ facilities. To mimic the Army’s waste stream, I solicited fast food restaurants for their garbage, which often meant dumpster diving and then sorting waste to eliminate Styrofoam(R) and other items not found in Army field wastes. Refuse sorting on hot summer days is not for those with squeamish tummies.
Contact Donna Provance:
D. S. Provance is a dog and book lover. During her more than two decades of managing military sustainability projects, she has written hundreds of technical reports and outreach products to promote technology innovation and deployment. Meet Odie was written for Odie’s young friends to answer their many questions.
If you initiate Amazon purchases from this website, I get a small commission. You get my undying appreciation. 🙂
Liza Fenech – #7 and #10 on The Gittle List 2017
#7 on The Gittle List 2017
Liza Fenech is part of a small group of indie authors who have won Gittle List awards for multiple books. She is the only one to land on The Gittle List for two books in the same series in the same year! (Read Aviva’s reviews.)
How did it feel to win a spot on The Gittle List? What was your first thought after hearing the news? It was so exciting to learn that I won not just once, but twice! I was quite a shock!
What is your favorite children’s book? This is always changing but at the moment it is You Nest Here With Me by by Jane Yolen and Heidi Stemple.
#10 on The Gittle List 2017
Why did you decide to self-publish? I have been traditionally published as well as self published. Creating the content for self published books is a little harder. I am always curious about different ways to tell visual stories and self publishing definitely lends itself to that exploration. Learning to wear all the different hats needed (editing, marketing, printing, distribution, etc) has been a big challenge and one I am still working on. I see a great deal of promise however in both self publishing and working with small independent publishers.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? My mother gave me the best advice I have ever received when I was a cranky 12 year old fussing about ‘working so hard’ studying. She took a deep breath and with all the love in the world said, “I love you Liza, but you have never worked hard day in your life.” I think of it almost everyday and it motivates me to be self aware about how hard I really am (or aren’t) working.
The path for a commercially successful book and a book that is just as you envisioned it are not the same.
What do you do to market your books? I use the paid promotion tools on KDP, Facebook, and Pinterest. I have worked with social media influencers and bloggers to promote books. I post about them on social media. Entering The Gittle List Book Competition is a new one to add to the list as well.
Any advice for writers thinking about self-publishing a children’s picture book? Know what your goals are. The path for a commercially successful book and a book that is just as you envisioned it are not the same. There is a lot of continuous honesty and self awareness needed.
Liza Fenech is an illustrator, graphic designer, and product designer (BFA in Illustration from Rochester Institute of Technology; AA in graphic design). She spent three years in fashion design before turning to illustration full time. Liza uses digital tools and hand drawing to create illustrations with a soft, humorous sensibility. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, three year old daughter, and Great Dane.
Learn more about Liza:
www.PuddleDuckPress.com
www.LizaFenech.com
If you initiate Amazon purchases from this website, I get a small commission. You get my undying appreciation. 🙂
Desirée DiGerolamo – #4 on The Gittle List 2016
Desirée DiGerolamo won the #4 spot on The Gittle List 2016 for I Am An Art Superhero. Read my review here. In this exclusive interview, Desirée shares the best advice she ever received. Of course it was from her mom. 🙂
#4 on The Gittle List 2016
How did it feel to win a spot on The Gittle List? In a matter of moments I felt shocked, excited, emotional and accomplished – then I went back to the site to check it again thinking I had made a mistake.
What was the inspiration behind your book? It was a very long journey getting I Am An Art Superhero to become a book. It began as an actual incident that happened in my art classroom. It evolved into a story I told friends, a “lesson” I taught my students, a fully funded Kickstarter project and ultimately a published book.
Interior illustration by Desirée DiGerolamo
Which children’s book contains your favorite illustrations? I would have to say that Jan Brett is one of my favorite illustrators. She has a very distinctive style with much attention paid to detail. I love details. Her colorful illustrations are filled with warmth and humor. The Mitten is one of my favorites.
What is your favorite children’s book? My favorite children’s book is Love You Forever by Robert Munsch and illustrated by Sheila McGraw. I read this book over and over to my boys when they were young. It perfectly describes a parent’s unconditional love for their children. It does exactly what a book should do – it makes you feel.
Interior illustration by Desirée DiGerolamo
Tell us 3 strange and wonderful things about you. I am fearless in my ability to follow my passions. I am simultaneously confident and insecure. I have a wicked sense of humor.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? My mother always said, ”You can be anything you want to be, as long as you are willing to work hard enough.” She was right – I have had many different careers in my life, each one of them a creative steppingstone to the next.
What was a defining moment in your life? Moving from Connecticut to Los Angeles by myself at 18 years old to pursue an acting career.
Contact Desirée:
Desirée DiGerolamo – #4 on The Gittle List 2016
I am a curious, creative soul who loves learning new things. My creative side came out early in life with my love of photography- I’ve always enjoyed capturing moments and nature on film. I began to write captions for those moments and that ultimately led to my writing books. I have worn many artistic hats. I was a working actress, a Trade Show spokesperson, directed Musical Theater productions, and am currently teaching Drama and Art to elementary students. My husband Jeff and I produce and sell a family line of olive oil, Rancho DiVine, from our ranch in Paso Robles, CA. Together we have raised two very creative sons, Dylan and Cody.
The Gittle List is a book competition exclusively for self-published authors of children’s picture books. It is hosted by Aviva Gittle, owner of Aviva Gittle Publishing. To enter the contest, select “The Gittle List” from the top menu, then “Contest Rules.”
Bev Stone #1 & #5 on The Gittle List 2016
#5 on The Gittle List 2016
Bev Stone is the first indie author to win two spots on The Gittle List. She is also the first to get four Gittle List awards, and to win the #1 spot twice. Bev won the #5 spot this year for Rumbly Grumbly and the #1 spot for Snowpuppies and the Snowdeer. Read my review here. In this exclusive interview, Bev shares reveals her favorite character in the Snowpuppies series.
#1 on The Gittle List 2016
How did it feel to win a spot on The Gittle List? I watched every day form the tantalizingly first announcement. When I saw that Rumbly Grumbly was number five on the Gittle List, I was super excited. It’s always nice to know that someone out there who has no connection to you, likes your work. I had no expectations after that so when I finally saw number one, I screamed! Yep, I was by myself but I actually screamed. I was so excited! Snowpuppies and the Snowdeer is my “baby” so it’s gratifying to know that it’s appreciated. I have to add that Aviva Gittle’s reviews are always so beautifully written that receiving them is a gift.
Why did you decide to self-publish? Let me just say that I’m definitely open to traditional publishing but after doing some research, I found that most of the publishing houses are closed to unsolicited submissions, so I decided to check out self publishers. I did, and aside form marketing issues, it’s been a great experience. I’m about to publish my 8th children’s book with many more to come.
Do you prefer to work digitally, by hand, or both? I work by hand, watercolor on paper. I’ve been painting for many years in both oil and watercolor but when I decided to illustrate I thought watercolor would be a good fit. I have to confess, I know very little about illustrating digitally so I stuck to what I was familiar with. I have to say that it’s really been a joy for me to illustrate my stories. I hope when you read them you can tell how much fun I’m having.
Tell us about your latest project. I have several books that I’m currently illustrating. Although I do write stories that don’t rhyme, these will be rhyming. I just can’t help it; I love to rhyme! :0) I can tell you that my next book features a big bug and I’m already working on the next Snowpuppy series. It’ll be a fun one which will introduce some interesting new characters and exciting adventures. When I was at a recent book signing, several people came up to me and said “snowpuppies would make a great kids movie!” ;0)
What do you do to market your books? Hmmm, marketing! Now that does not come easily! That’s definitely a drawback to self publishing. The one thing I’ve done that has really helped, is entering The Gittle List contest. It’s really the only contest that I’ve entered so far and its online presence, plus the advice that Aviva Gittle has given, has really helped. I recently started a non profit for kids, supported by the money I make from book sales, so I’m more motivated than ever to try and learn more about marketing my books.
Who is your favorite character in the books you’ve written? I think I’d have to say that so far my favorite character in one of my books is, Poe, the snowman in ‘Snowpuppies.’ Poe, along with Wind, watches over them all. He ‘speaks’ by signing and has a little squirrel who accompanies him wherever he goes. He’s a kind and loving snowman. You’ll hear more about him in future books, along with some other characters who may compete with him for my favorite. 🙂
Bev was introduced to art at an early age and that introduction started her on a journey to experience many different art mediums throughout the years. “I can’t remember when art wasn’t a part of my life. In 2013, Bev decided to combine her love of art with her love of writing and started illustrating some of her many children’s stories. She just published her 7th book with an 8th due out this Spring.
If you initiate Amazon purchases from this website, I get a small commission. You get my undying appreciation. 🙂
Christopher P. Stanley – #6 on The Gittle List 2016
Christopher P. Stanley won the #6 spot on The Gittle List 2016 for The Tree Watcher. Read my review here. In this exclusive interview, Chris shares his reaction to winning and the best advice he’s ever received. (Hint: It involves sin.)
#6 on The Gittle List
How did it feel to win a spot on The Gittle List? It felt so fantastic to win a spot on The Gittle List! My first thought after hearing the news was, “Hey, I’m an award-winning author!” Ha! In all seriousness, I was taken aback and quite humbled. It’s truly amazing to have my work recognized in this way. I’m pretty sure I stared at the Gittle List website with a smile on my face for about 15 minutes making sure that it was real and I wasn’t just seeing things.
What’s you earliest memory of drawing or writing? One of the earliest memories I 
have of writing something of significance was when I was in 5th grade in 1990. I wrote a paper on the War of 1812 and won some school writing award. I remember my teacher gushing to the class that I used the phrase, “Unlike the British.” I honestly can’t remember anything else about it except the feeling associated with being recognized for my writing. That, and my friend Michael teasing me for having to stand in front of the class on the carpet area. Then my teacher sent me down to the office to give something to another teacher with the instructions that I was to tell her that, “she was a life saver, but not the kind with a hole in it.” So off I went, skipping merrily down the hall!
Which artists or writers most influenced or inspired your work? The Tree Watcher was definitely inspired by Nancy Tillman’s, On the Night You Were Born. The first time I read that book to my daughter it took everything I had to get to the end without crying. I had to blame the tear that rolled down my face on yawning – which was a solid excuse, by the way. 
My daughter totally bought it. But what I enjoy about that book is that it is equally loved by both parents and children alike. The sentimentality on every page really struck a chord with me and I attempted to evoke similar emotions in my book. It’s been one of the greatest joys of my life so see that, at least for some of my readers, I was successful and The Tree Watcher touched them in the same way Tillman’s book touched me.
Why did you decide to self-publish? I decided to self-publish because I believed I had something to contribute to the world of children’s books – that I had a voice – and I didn’t want it to fall into the Wasteland of Bureaucracy that is the traditional publishing world and have nothing come of it for years on end. I don’t know literary agents and, sadly, I don’t have thousands of dollars to spend on attending writing conferences to meet them, so I knew it 
would be very hard to break into that scene. I am also lucky enough to be friends with a professional editor and one of my best friends is an artist, so he and I decided to start our own publishing company. Honestly, the process was harder and more labor intensive than I could have imagined. Self-publishing is a lot of work, but when I’m holding a copy of my book in my hands for the first time, it’s all worth it.
Draft of cover for upcoming project. (By Alex LeVasseur.)
Tell us about your latest project. My latest project is a book I’m working on with my friend and artist Alex LeVasseur called Dr. Ulysses J. Picklebottom’s Guide to Everyday Household Monsters and How to Defeat Them. While still in its nascent stages, Alex and I have some really solid, funny ideas outlined and ready to expand. The basic gist is that we categorize monsters that dwell in houses, such as monsters that live under the bed, in the closet, etc. and detail humorous ways that kids can thwart their plots. I’m excited to see the finished product later this year!
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? Back in my college days (may they ever reign) one of my favorite professors, Dr. Kathleen Riley, constantly captured my imagination and inspired me to succeed. Stealing a line from Martin Luther, she used to say, “If you are going to sin, then sin boldly.” I really took this metaphor to heart, and I think about it often as I am getting ready to attempt some sort of crazy project. It has helped me to cast aside my self-doubts and, more generally, to not be afraid to embrace my ambitions. We only get one shot at this life, after all. I have passed her advice on many times over these intervening years, and it continues to be the most impactful advice I’ve ever received; in fact, it was her words that echoed through my head as I began to write a novel last year. If not for this piece of advice, the thought of writing books might have been too intimidating to attempt. Thank you, Dr. Riley!
Christopher P. Stanley grew up in Grove City, OH and had a childhood that centered around imagination, play, and exploring the outdoors (mixed in with a healthy amount of Nintendo). He is an award-winning children’s author and a co-founder of Jump Splash Books, a publishing company that aims to highlight imagination and celebrate the joys of childhood. A graduate of Ohio Dominican University, Christopher has been an educator for the past ten years in both the K-12 and Higher Education settings. He currently lives in Upper Arlington, OH with his wife, four children, a dog named Captain Theodore Wookiee Roosevelt and a rodent called Alexander Hamsterton.
Contact Christopher:
The Gittle List is a book competition exclusively for self-published authors of children’s picture books. It is hosted by Aviva Gittle, owner of Aviva Gittle Publishing. To enter the contest, select “The Gittle List” from the top menu, then “Contest Rules.”
Lauren Kramer-Theuerkauf – #8 on The Gittle List 2016
Lauren Kramer-Theuerkauf won the #8 on The Gittle List 2016 for her book Priceless Penny. In her exclusive interview with Aviva, she shares her favorite color and reveals her next project. Read my review of Priceless Penny here.
#8 on The Gittle List
How did it feel to win a spot on The Gittle List? I am truly honored to have won a spot on The Gittle List. I was so excited that I immediately called my husband to tell him the good news. The first thought that ran through my mind after hearing the news was that Penny’s story had touched someone’s heart. It means the world to me knowing that Penny is such an inspiration to others.
What’s you earliest memory of drawing or writing? I was about three years old when I began writing. I used to make up stories about fairy tale characters and create my own newspapers. My parents encouraged me to keep writing and to follow my dreams.
Which artists or writers most influenced or inspired your work? Brian Jacques, author of the Redwall series, is the author who has most influenced my work. He had a way of creating whole worlds through his words. I could always visualize the characters that he created in my mind as I hungrily read each book in the series. I hope to create such depth in my written works.
Interior illustration by James Sell.
What is your favorite color or color combination? My favorite color is orange. I love orange because it reminds me of my favorite time of year, fall. I love seeing the bright orange pumpkins lying in the fields as the smell of burning leaves wafts through the air. Seeing pumpkins reminds of wonderful childhood memories where my parents would take me pumpkin picking at Eckert’s Family Farm.
Why did you decide to self-publish? I decided to self-publish so that I could have more creative control over the book creation process. I actually found it to be easier than I thought it would be. James Sell, my illustrator, and I worked wonderfully together which made the process flow smoothly. I loved being able to bounce ideas off of James directly instead of having to go through a team of people to reach the illustrator.
Interior illustration by James Sell.
Tell us about your latest project. The latest project that I am working on is the second installment in the Priceless Penny series. In Penny Discovers Hope, Penny meets Hope, a double dapple Dachshund that was born without eyes and is completely deaf. Penny soon learns that Hope can still accomplish amazing things even though she is differently-abled.
Tell us 3 strange and wonderful things about you. 1. I have a double uvula. 2. I have a screw in my pinky finger on my right hand. 3. I have a tooth in a tooth. This occurs when a tooth actually grows around a pre-existing tooth.
Lauren Kramer-Theuerkauf received her Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communications-Print Journalism from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. While there, she earned the Outstanding Student in Journalism award in 2006.
Priceless Penny is the second book written by Kramer-Theuerkauf. Her first book is a collection of poetry entitled More Than Words that was published in 2010. In 2015, she created her own publishing company called Theuerkauf’s Tails, LLC. She is also an active member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) and the Dog Writers Association of America (DWAA).
Contact Lauren:
The Gittle List is a book competition exclusively for self-published authors of children’s picture books. It is hosted by Aviva Gittle, owner of Aviva Gittle Publishing. To enter the contest, select “The Gittle List” from the top menu, then “Contest Rules.”
Lisa Connors #9 on The Gittle List 2016
#9 on The Gittle List 2016
Lisa Conner’s book, Milkweed Matters, Illustrated by Betty Gatewood, won the #9 spot on The Gittle List 2016. Aviva Gittle says, “It is a wonderful introduction to the natural world and provides opportunity to discuss the ‘circle of life’ with your little one.” [Read the full review]
How did it feel to win a spot on The Gittle List? I was quite shocked. Milkweed Matters was my first self-publishing attempt and while I felt it turned out well (it looked like a real book!), I wasn’t sure how it would compete.
Milkweed Matters interior illustration by Betty Gatewood
What’s you earliest memory of drawing or writing? I used to write plays and make my younger siblings act them out for our parents during the holidays. I remember one for Easter where the Easter bunny was confused and adding elements from other holidays into his plan for delivering baskets. I was probably 10 or 12 for that one. It was well received. We got a standing ovation by our biased audience of two!
What is your favorite children’s book? There are so many children’s books I love to pick just one, but there is one that always comes to mind for me: Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell Hoban. I love Frances’ character and how her mother (behind the scenes) helps her solve her problem. Picture book authors are taught now to ‘kill the parents’ and have strong characters that solve their own problems. But real life isn’t like that and children should feel comfortable asking for help when a problem is too big.
Milkweed Matters interior illustration by Betty Gatewood
Which artists or writers most influenced or inspired your work? Again, there are many but Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss) particularly comes to mind because he could make a book incredibly fun to read while presenting an important message about equality or the environment. In my work, I want to teach about nature – animals, plants, ecology and how we need nature – within a story that I hope is fun to read.
Tell us about your latest project. My current self-publishing project is an ABC Book of Gardening for young children. I hope to have it ready by spring 2017.
Any advice for writers thinking about self-publishing a children’s picture book? I think this is the same advice for someone pursuing traditional publishers – to read constantly in the picture book world, especially current releases. Study text, illustrations and layout as well as the types of books: concept, fiction, nonfiction and blends. This immersion in the field is probably more important when self-publishing because you’re competing with the masters and want to make sure you put something out in the world that you’re proud of.
Lisa says: “I grew up in a suburb south of Pittsburgh and have always loved the outdoors. I spent many days in a nearby undeveloped lot climbing trees, discovering caterpillars and dreaming. I have a fondness for the often-maligned predator in food chains and wanted to be a wolf biologist when I was younger. Instead, I have experimented with being a medical technologist, a molecular biologist technician and a teacher. But there’s always been a desire to write. Arbordale Publishing will release my first traditionally published book, Oliver’s Otter Phase, in August 2017.”
Contact Lisa:
Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/
Blog: https://lisaconnors.wordpress.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LconnorsAuthor
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