Each month I’m chatting with a creator and gathering tips to help me with my career and yours! This month I’m welcoming debut picture book author Ellen L. Ramsey.
Read on to read Ellen’s pinch-me moments on her publishing journey and who inspired her to write.
Welcome to Creator Chat, Ellen! Tell us about your background and how you became an author.
I’ve always loved listening to stories, reading stories, and writing stories. I wrote creatively in grade school through college—stories, poetry, and plays. As an English teacher, I wrote lesson plans and graded stacks of papers. One creative endeavor was for my seventh grade classes—to enliven spelling tests, I created silly stories using the spelling words of the week. In my current job as a technical editor, I revise and rewrite technical documents. Fortunately, several years ago, my mom, an artist and elementary school art teacher, urged me to write creatively again. I took her advice and plunged into writing stories, poems, articles, and picture book manuscripts. I joined SCBWI and participated in Storystorm and 12x12. My debut picture book, A BOOK FOR BEAR*, is dedicated to my mom, and the book is a love story to what she taught me about the joys of reading and creating. I hope that reading A BOOK FOR BEAR will inspire kids to write and illustrate their own stories.
What would you go back and tell your beginner-writer self if you could?
Keep writing, foster a sturdy sense of humor, don’t sweat the rejections (although I probably wouldn’t have listened, it’s good advice). Remember you can’t edit a blank page so feel free to write “drafty drafts”!
“Remember you can’t edit a blank page so feel free to write ‘drafty drafts’” - Ellen L. Ramsey
What’s been the most rewarding moment of your creative career so far?
My book launch party at Children’s Book World in Haverford, PA. Many writer friends and work friends attended, the bookstore staff were marvellously supportive, and best of all, my daughter was able to attend. When I read the book, I felt like I was reading a picture book to her much younger self.
Do you have any I-need-to-pinch-myself-to-make-sure-this-is-real moments that you can share?
Several memorable moments:
· Opening the box with the author copies of A BOOK FOR BEAR. I loved seeing MacKenzie Haley’s final art and was eager to see the inside cover. It’s officially called the “undie,” and it’s different from the book jacket image.
· Seeing first graders’ drawings of unusual disguises for Bear in his search for “a book of his very own.”
What three pieces of advice would you give any creators hoping to get published?
Persevere in writing and find writer friends to share the journey. Supported and encouraged by writer friends, I persevered through years of writing and rewriting until Bear’s book found the perfect home at Flamingo Books/Penguin Random House. I greatly appreciate the critique comments and the support and encouragement of my writer friends.
Read widely and find inspiration in many types of books.
Play with words and ideas and experiment! Enjoy the magic of creating!
“Play with words and ideas and experiment! Enjoy the magic of creating!” - Ellen L. Ramsey
Do you have any rituals (eg light a candle, make tea, go for a walk) that help you get a creative session started?
Grab a freshly made cup of coffee,
Read poetry or part of a favorite book or play a word game, and
Plunge into writing and revising!
When I’m stuck with a writing problem, I head outside and take a walk or a bike ride.
Is there something else creative that you’d like to learn how to do? (e.g. illustrate books, play an instrument, embroidery etc.)
Because my mom was elementary school art teacher, I had many opportunities to play with art materials. I loved making collages and drawing designs. Now I’d like to expand my artistic endeavors and take a class in watercolor painting.
Quick fire round
Lake or Ocean?
Ocean
Donuts or Cupcakes?
Cranberry oatmeal cookies instead? Please!
Bookstore or Library?
Both!
Thank you for joining me today, Ellen.
🎉 GIVEAWAY! Ellen is generously giving a copy of A Book for Bear to one lucky commenter. Just leave a comment on this post by Friday October 13 at 9pm PST to be entered. A winner will be drawn randomly after the giveaway is closed.
Ellen Ramsey’s love of reading and writing led her to careers as a teacher, technical editor, and an author of stories for children. Her stories, poems, and articles have appeared in Highlights, Spider, Ladybug, Muse, and Fun for Kidz, and she has won an SCBWI award for one of her poems. Her debut picture book, A Book for Bear*, is about Bear’s search for a book of his very own. Like Bear, Ellen loves visiting schools, libraries, and bookstores, but unlike Bear, she typically does not need a disguise. She and her husband live in a house filled with thousands of books, many teddy bears, and lots of laughter! Visit Ellen on her website at https://www.ellenlramsey.com/ and on Instagram @EllenLRamseyBooks or Twitter @EllenLRamsey1.
P.S. links marked with a * are affiliate and may earn me a small percentage of the sale at no cost to you.
Our house is filled with books and I collect teddy bears. My daughter and I love the blue hair of the main character and can't wait to find out how and if Bear gets a book.