move! gotta see, look!
time for hunting, you’re blocking-
where’s that tasty bird?
tasty bird by Angie Quantrell
Monet, the hunter
Yakima Valley
Haiku Moment: tasty bird
Category Archives: The Writing LIfe
Just One Pebble. One Boy’s Quest to End Hunger by Dianna Wilson Sirkovsky: Author Interview
Just One Pebble. One Boy’s Quest to End Hunger
Written by Dianna Wilson Sirkovsky
Illustrated by Sara Casilda
(Clavis; September 15, 2023)
I’m excited to have Dianna Wilson Sirkovsky visit my blog today. Dianna is the author of the soon-to-be released picture book, Just One Pebble. One Boy’s Quest to End Hunger. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Dianna’s newest book.
Welcome, Dianna! I’m so glad you are stopping by today to visit. Tell us a little about yourself.
Thanks so much for having me, Angie! I have always wanted to write but only in the last few years have I found the time to do so. I’ve always loved picture books. I particularly enjoy and appreciate what illustrations bring to a story. What draws me to these books, other than simple delight, is the endless opportunity to create something wonderful – bringing to life the next story waiting to be told. And, in the process, hopefully creating a book a child will love and remember forever.
I agree with your thoughts regarding picture books. They are truly delightful!
Congratulations on your new picture book Just One Pebble. One Boy’s Quest to End Hunger (Clavis, September 15, 2023). This is such a beautiful book! I love the message. What inspired this story?
I first read about Braeden and his work on The Hunger Site. I knew immediately that I wanted to write about this amazing 9-year-old! I started writing and researching within days. Once it was written, I reached out to Braeden’s family.
Wow! You jumped right into this story. It is an amazing story!
What writing journey did you follow as you wrote Just One Pebble. One Boy’s Quest to End Hunger? How long did it take from idea to publication?
I started writing the story in the Fall, 2020 and began submitting to publishers the following Spring. Clavis purchased the story in June, 2021 and the Dutch edition was published Fall 2022. The English version will hit bookshelves this September 15, 2023.
That’s interesting that it was printed in Dutch first. I’m glad that it is being printed in English as well. It’s such an important message and cause.
The text is perfectly enriched by Sara Casilda’s illustrations. How much input did you have as your book went to Sara to be illustrated?
I always say that Sara’s beautiful work is the magic that brings my books to life! We emailed regularly and having websites showed her what Braeden and his mom looked like. I’m not sure if that made it easier or harder! Illustrating a living person must be stressful but Sara did a stellar job. They look true-to-life and simply amazing! It is my sincere hope that we’ll have the chance to work together again.
She did an amazing job, and I imagine it would be harder to illustrate a living person. At least I would be challenged. But then I only draw stick figures. It’s neat that you could email back and forth. I hope you get to work together again too!
And thanks, Dianna, for sharing the website for Braeden. Read more about Braeden here.
What special plans do you have for the book birthday (book release) of Just One Pebble?
Well, it’s a double birthday as the book comes to shelves on September 15, my 65th birthday! I haven’t given it much thought, to be honest, but will certainly celebrate our joint appearance on this beautiful planet.
Happy birthday! What a special release day AND birthday! I hope you have a wonderful birthday (both the book AND you). CONGRATULATIONS on the Kirkus review. Wow!
What tip(s) could you offer to picture book writers who are seeking to get their books published?
I know it’s difficult and we often feel like we are writing in a void. Write the stories of your heart; don’t write to trends; find reliable critique partners – they will be your strongest support; keep learning – take advantage of all the free webinars out there and purchase the ones you are able to that will further your craft and answer your specific questions and needs. The world needs our stories, so please keep writing them.
Excellent advice. Thank you!
Your first picture book, James’ Reading Rescue, came out in 2021. What other projects can you share?
I’m very happy to share that JRR has published in 8 languages, including English. Sara and I are so excited to have our book reaching so many children around the world. We can only hope for the same with Just One Pebble!
I’ve been busy writing and revising this summer. I have a couple of new stories that I’m really happy about, one with an inanimate MC. This was a revision challenge from my critique group and it really threw me, at first, but I’m so pleased with the outcome. I am hoping to submit a few stories in the coming months. I’m also querying agents, as well.
How exciting! Eight languages for James’ Reading Rescue. And at least two languages for Just One Pebble! Best wishes with your querying. I’m so curious about your inanimate object main character. Fascinating.
Surprise us. What else would you like to share?
Well, both Sara and I love cats. I try to have one in almost every story! In addition to picture books, I’m a huge fan of history, mystery and time-travel stories. I am a cookie decorator and love to make gingerbread houses. I also paint but lately that has taken a back seat writing. There are only so many hours in a day!
Thanks so much, Angie!
Having a cat in almost every one of your stories—that’s a fun idea! I love cats too. And sadly, yes, there are only so many hours in each day. I love doing so many things, but one must at least occasionally sleep.
Thanks again, Dianna, for stopping by. All the best wishes to you!
Connect with Dianna.
Accidental Science Experiment: Fire Warning!
I grew up reading those cartoons and comics that featured characters shining a magnifying glass on something on the ground with the sun shining through the glass. A fire always occurred! 🔥At the least, SOMETHING felt the heat.
Well. The grand and I left this tripod magnifying glass in the shade on my wooden potting bench. Wouldn’t you know, I walked by later with the laundry basket and smelled smoke. What??!!! Sure enough, the shade was gone and the sunshine glared brightly through the glass, burning my bench!!! Eek! Note to self: Keep magnifying glass shut up in the shady TARDIS (my tool hut).
And just look what showed up a few days later in my honey’s The Far Side Gary Larson Desk Calendar! Hahahahaha
Be careful out there people!
Haiku Moment: crazy beans
the beans are going
crazy-climb, bloom, grow, dangle
veg for every meal
crazy beans by Angie Quantrell
photo by Angie Quantrell, Yakima Valley
Haiku Moment: paper bug
sunflower world dwarfs
ghostly guest, wrinkled yet strong
eerie paper bug
paper bug by Angie Quantrell
photo by Angie Quantrell
Yakima Valley, WA
P.S. Does anyone know what this paper bug is actually called? Because of the massive forelegs (for its size), I wondered if it was a relative of a praying mantis. But the rest of the body doesn’t seem to fit that category.
Haiku Moment: feed me
waiting, hungry, watch
feed me feed me feed me-me!
waiting, hungry, watch
feed me by Angie Quantrell
photos by Angie Quantrell
flycatchers in the Yakima Valley
Every year, we have a pair of flycatchers nest in our parking shelter, an old cattle loafing shed. They LOVE this space to nest. Sadly, the first batch of hatchlings were all destroyed by a variety of cannibalistic birds! It was terrible. But I’m happy to say that all 4 in batch 2 have made it to the fledgling stage, are flying around willy-nilly, and will soon learn to hunt for themselves (the above exhausted parent and I both agree this needs to happen very soon).
Well. That Road Didn’t End Up Where We Thought It Would.
Last week my honey took me rock hunting. I have a thing about rocks. We thought we would explore a dirt road up in the mountains, one that required the 4×4. Packed a picnic lunch and off we went. According to what we “thought” our daughter had said (a regular off-roader), the road ended up in Cowiche.
It was a hot but gorgeous day. So very dry everywhere (except where the wildland firefighters had just finished putting out a fire-we met them on their way back down the one-lane dirt road!). The desert needs some rain!
We stopped off for our picnic lunch in the shade of huge pine trees. We “thought” we were well on our way to the other end of this road. Hahahahahaha The joke was on us!
The dirt road, complete with rocks, potholes, and 4×4 climbing options, kept going up. We’d hit the top of a hill, think we were as high as we were going, have beautiful views across the top of the hill, dip down for 100 feet, then head straight back up. When we saw Mt. Rainier off in the distance, we knew our expectations were not correct.
So. Maybe the road ended up out in Tampico, way out west from where we live. But there was no sign of any going down. Just up, up, west, up, up, up. We resigned ourselves to get home really late.
Regardless of the long distance, heat, and dust, we had exceptional views. For a hot day in July, I was amazed at how many wildflowers were still in bloom.
And good thing for us, there were two cell towers! Way out in the middle of nothing. I finally decided to just call the daughter. “Where are we going to come out? Where are we?”
And after some thinking, she finally figured it out-just as we pulled off to look out over a valley with what we suspected was Rimrock lake, AND Mt. Rainier, she said, “Oh, that’s probably Jump Off Joe. There should be an old building you can go in.”
I looked right, and there it was, a bit further up the road on a different rock spur. Wow! Jump Off Joe (named for obviously sad reasons) is an old fire lookout tower. Pretty creaky if you go inside, and I was walking careful! But the views are fantastic!
Note: I googled this once we got home, and it is listed as Jumpoff Lookout. You can find it here: https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/jumpoff-joe-lookout
Also. We did not hike it. We thought we were driving a through road. Nope. We had to turn around and drive back down, between 12-13 miles from Highway 12. The hike is only 10 miles RT, but also. You have to work it to finish that hike! The only other people we saw were the firefighters, dirt bikers, and a group of 8 women driving their 8 Subarus on adventure (the guest book signature said that). We figured it out as they flew past us kicking up clouds of fine dust.
Look at that view, both the handsome guy and Mt. Rainier. Just beyond the lookout is a very steep drop-off. Definitely keep track of small children in this area.
Rimrock Lake and Mt. Rainier. No wonder the mountain kept getting so close! This is not Cowiche OR Tampico.
It took us about an hour and a half to drive back down the road, using first and second gear. But we stopped at the Tieton River so I could stand in the cool water. Ahhhh.
Next time we go rock hunting, I will talk with Chelsie first. Just to make sure.
Haiku Moment: summer hunger buzz
summer hunger buzz
seek, discover, pollinate
satiating feast
summer hunger buzz by Angie Quantrell
photo by Angie Quantrell
Yakima Valley
Gardening Day #summer
Gardening day began early since the heat was headed up to the triple digits. Monet LOVES when mama works in the garden. She is often on guard. Or supervising. The fence is new from the middle of last year’s garden, and it seems to be doing a wonderful job of keeping wild bunnies from free-grazing the crops.
First up was harvesting about half of the onions. They are de-greened (I’m sure there is a fancy name for that) and drying in the shop. Only one has gone to seed!
The carrots are doing well. Last year, the wild bunnies* ate off the tops as fast as they grew. I didn’t get anything but stringy roots. This year, ta-da! Now. Next year’s goal is to THIN them so I can get normal carrots. I think of all the crops growing in the garden, freshly harvested carrots smell the best. Mmmmm.
It got hot fast. Monet and I recovered in the breakfast nook aka shade patio west of the sunflowers. The mornings are lovely in this spot. The afternoons are brutal. Bountiful SUN. For the sunflowers.
“We” (Monet???) also harvested another large bowl of peas, 4 zucchini (2 days ago, I only saw 1), and wax and green beans. Tomatoes are coming. The kale is doing fine. Herbs are great. Sadly, there’s a bumper crop of weeds, especially crab grass. Yuck. I harvested a wheelbarrow full of weeds as well.
Now we’re hiding from the sun. But I’m thinking a swim with the grands would be a good fit.
How’s your garden doing this year? How are you staying cool?
*Our wild bunnies came from people dumping “formerly pet” bunnies in the neighborhood. They are adorable when small, but destructive when adults. Digging holes, eating everything, attracting predators, and reproducing like crazy.
Two things.
- People. Both does and bucks can be altered by a veterinarian! I did not know that, but now I do. The “neighbors” have six pet bunnies and all but one have been spayed or neutered. Practice crowd control.
- People. Life in the wild is fraught with predators. We have personally witnessed a run-by cat (not Monet) who snatches baby bunnies and hauls them off for a meal. This happened several times. There is a hawk nest not too far away, and every year the parents raise one or two baby hawks. The raising involves teaching them to hunt. Guess what they hunt? Bunnies. I once saw something weird over the fence and went to investigate. A hawk had landed on a baby bunny. I scared it off and the bunny ran off. It was okay, but later a cat got it. Before you commit to having a pet bunny, remember how long they live. Don’t be a dumper.
Haiku Moment: feast here
bees at work, seek host-
summer blooms shout, come! feast here
happy all around
feast here by Angie Quantrell
photo by Angie Quantrell, Yakima Valley
Love, Laughter, and Life 