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| Tonight! illustrated by Eric Parrish |
With Tonight! A bedtime book Jamie Siebrase has written a delightful bedtime story which features animals of the Rocky Mountains. Eric Parrish who is affiliated with the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research illustrated the text. Muddy Boots an imprint of Globe Pequot, the trade division of Rowman & Littlefield published Tonight! Each evening a boy visits a different wild animal ranging from a large carnivore to birds to herbivores.
Jamie has donated a copy of Tonight: A bedtime book as a giveaway. Please comment after the post to enter the drawing.
Interview with Jamie Siebrase
ETC: Welcome Jamie. What advice would you give K-12 students who would like to be writers?
Note: Jamie’s response has been edited for clarity and space.
JS: Hmmm, that's a really good question. I've wanted to be a writer for as long as I can remember.
My sixth grade Language Arts teacher, Mr. Winston, had students keep a dream journal for a month. I was so nervous to present mine in class! On the cover of the journal, in big, bubbly pre-teen girl handwriting I’d written: I dream of being a writter. Writter with two Ts. Right before class, when it was too late to change anything, my dad looked at the journal and said, “If you’re going to be a writer, maybe you should learn how to spell it. Then, immediately after class ended, my best friend, Lindy, came up to me and said in this really snobbish voice, “You know, Jamie, nobody ever does what they say they’re going to do.”
I think these important people were helping prepare me for a lifetime of rejection.
The first thing to do is write. Preferably every day if you can.
The next thing to do is read as much as humanly possible. If you stopped scrolling through Instagram, stopped watching TikToks and YouTube shorts, just think of all the actual reading you could accomplish!
I'd also recommend taking some writing courses. . . . But could you take a few writing classes while pursuing a degree that might someday pay the bills? Here in Colorado we're so lucky to have lots of continuing education options. The Lighthouse Writers Workshop in Denver, for example, offers adult classes as well as many youth workshops and classes.
Last but not least, let criticism and rejection roll off your back. Even Stephen King was rejected with his first novel, Carrie.
ETC: Thank you, Jamie.
Jamie has generously donated a copy of her book to give away. My first give away! Thank you, Jamie. Please comment below to be eligible for the drawing. Please send an email if the comments do not work. U.S. addresses only, please. Drawing will take place January 16, 2024.
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